There's no denying it: I'm a sucker for Lisa episodes, from Moaning Lisa (season 1) to Lisa Gets an A (season 10). It's no surprise, then, that I'd recommend the season 8 finale The Secret War of Lisa Simpson (though it's also a Bart episode); I think it's slightly underrated.
In this episode, Bart's latest prank causes Homer and Marge to think he could be better disciplined through military school. The family goes to a military school to enroll Bart, who doesn't like the idea at all. While there, Lisa becomes attracted to the academic side of the school and decides she wants to enroll too. She's accepted, becoming the school's first female student. The other kids reject her, however, and Bart distances himself from Lisa to avoid being an outcast too. On a final test (moving along a rope), Lisa struggles but Bart cheers her on, and she passes.
This isn't the funniest episode, but it's well-written, entertaining and touches on the elemental subjects of hazing at a new school, sexism, and loneliness. It's interesting to see Lisa handling a gun- ineptly, unsurprisingly since it's not in her nature to use them. It's also nice to see Bart supporting Lisa- they don't always get along, but they do love each other.
In this episode, Bart's latest prank causes Homer and Marge to think he could be better disciplined through military school. The family goes to a military school to enroll Bart, who doesn't like the idea at all. While there, Lisa becomes attracted to the academic side of the school and decides she wants to enroll too. She's accepted, becoming the school's first female student. The other kids reject her, however, and Bart distances himself from Lisa to avoid being an outcast too. On a final test (moving along a rope), Lisa struggles but Bart cheers her on, and she passes.
This isn't the funniest episode, but it's well-written, entertaining and touches on the elemental subjects of hazing at a new school, sexism, and loneliness. It's interesting to see Lisa handling a gun- ineptly, unsurprisingly since it's not in her nature to use them. It's also nice to see Bart supporting Lisa- they don't always get along, but they do love each other.