The Simpsons: 5 Times Homer Was The Best Dad (& 5 He Was The Worst)

Homer Simpson will go down in history as one of the most iconic TV dads, both for the times he was the best father, and the ones he was the worst.

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The Simpsons series continues, and the family’s patriarch Homer is never depicted as the sharpest tool in the shed. Homer’s parenting skills are portrayed as lackluster and frankly, alarming. But he has his moments that show how much he truly loves his family.

Homer Simpson does not have the best track record as a parent, but he sometimes tries to be the best dad he can be. Then there are times where he has no patience or compassion, proving he’s terrible. Here are five times Homer was the best dad, and five times he was the worst.

10 BEST: Bought Lisa a Saxophone

Lisa’s love of jazz and her passion for the saxophone is often played for laughs. But in truth, it was Homer that started her on her musical path. Homer and Marge are advised of Lisa’s status as a prodigy and they want to encourage her gifts by sending her to a private school. But they can’t afford the tuition.

When a heatwave strikes and Homer is sent to buy a new air conditioner, he instead spends the money on Lisa’s sax as a way to encourage her intelligence.

9 WORST: Always Chokes Bart

The running gag on The Simpsons is that every time Bart does something to make Homer angry, his father yells, “Why you little…” and chokes him relentlessly. It’s meant to be funny but in truth depicts an abusive relationship between father and son.

Homer’s angry outbursts that lead to violence are toxic and alarming. Although the gesture is seen as a joke in the cartoon, if anyone saw that happening in real life, they’d call child services immediately. Homer’s abuse proves he has a long way to go to become a good father.

8 BEST: Tries to Lose Weight

During a church outing with the family, Bart becomes embarrassed by his father’s obesity. Homer wants to make his son proud, so he starts to secretly work out to lose weight. Power Sauce bars are part of his diet for weight loss. Soon, Homer becomes impressively fit.

A Power Sauce representative seeks a spokesperson to climb a dangerous mountain for a publicity stunt for the product. Bart suggests Homer do it, so the Simpsons patriarch does. It’s a moment that shows Homer is willing to go the distance to make his kids happy.

7 WORST: Pits Bart and Lisa Against Each Other

When Bart and Lisa start playing hockey, Homer immediately pits them against each other. Rather than ensuring his children that he loves them equally and is proud of both of them, he encourages unhealthy competition to win their father’s love. Marge, of course, is not happy with Homer’s antics.

Hockey is already a violent and dangerous sport. But when Homer eggs the kids on, it leads to a vicious rivalry. Thankfully, Bart and Lisa remember their love for each other and throw down their hockey sticks, much to Homer’s dismay.

6 BEST: Maggie’s First Word

When Maggie still hasn’t shown signs of talking, the family goes down memory lane and recalls Bart and Lisa’s first words. This leads to the realization that the kids have only ever called their father by his name. It’s a joke that’s played for laughs, but Homer is genuinely troubled by it.

One night as he puts Maggie to bed, he tells her the sooner kids learn to talk, the sooner they talk back, and that he hopes she never says a word. After he’s gone, she removes the pacifier from her mouth and says, “Daddy!”

5 WORST: Exploits and Exaggerates Bart’s Injuries

When Mr. Burns hits Bart with his car, he offers the family $100 as compensation. Bart did not get seriously injured, but Homer is insulted by Mr. Burns’ lack of concern over the incident. He exploits Bart and makes him exaggerate his injuries in court to sue Mr. Burns for more money.

He uses phony doctors and shifty lawyers to make his case, all the while claiming he wants the money to better his family. But it seems more a matter of pride. Encouraging his son to lie about his injuries doesn’t set a good example.

4 BEST: Smart Homer Bonds With Lisa

After the family discovers a piece of crayon lodged in Homer’s head causes his lower intelligence, they have it removed. This leads to Homer becoming the intellectual equal of Lisa, the family genius. For the first time ever, Homer and Lisa understand one another and bond.

But Homer’s new intelligence makes him enemies and he returns to life as an idiot by having Moe lodge a crayon back in his brain. Before he goes back to the old Homer, he leaves Lisa a note telling her he better appreciates how smart she is now.

3 WORST: Bets the Family Christmas Money

When the Simpsons are down on their luck and have a low budget for Christmas presents, Homer bets it on a dog race. His intentions were good, but his actions were reckless. The little money they have for a meager Christmas is lost on a race that was never a sure thing.

Still, it does lead to the adoption of Santa’s Little Helper, the dog that becomes a permanent part of their family. But Homer should have been more responsible with the family’s budget and kept it for whatever holiday gifts he could buy.

2 BEST: Do It For Her

One of the funniest memes comes from a heartfelt moment in the show. Homer hates working at the power plant and quits to work his dream job at a bowling alley. But when he finds out Marge is pregnant with Maggie, he knows he has to go back.

Mr. Burns leaves a plaque in Homer’s office that says, “Don’t Forget: You’re Here Forever.” But Homer takes pictures of Maggie from the family photo album and uses them to cover the board that now says, “Do It For Her.”

1 WORST: Tries to “Turn” Bart Straight

In one of the most problematic episodes of The Simpsons, Homer makes a new friend that he gets along with great until he founds out John is gay. Bart spends time with John and Homer fears he’s turned his son gay.

In a gross misunderstanding of how queerness works, Homer starts making Bart do “manly” things against his will to turn him straight. He even goes so far as to take Bart to a reindeer pen to hunt. Homophobia is not a good look for Homer Simpson.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/the-simpsons-homer-best-worst-dad-moments/