Season 6 - Episodes 4-13

I'll go for record today as I lack time in the weekend, but it does look impossible.

Episode 4: Itchy & Scratchy Land
For an Itchy & Scratchy fan this episode is a treat, but as a Simpsons episode it's not up there with the best. It had some amusing gags, but it just doesn't hold the interest up. Especially the Bort-gag was hilarious and memorable and there was Scratchtasia and Pinitchio for I & S fans. For some reason though it feels too wacky, but it also has some real vacation feel to it - for better and for worse. Overall it's an entertaining episode and somewhat of a classic, 5/10.

Episode 5: Sideshow Bob Roberts
Sideshow Bob episodes tend to be at least solid and this is no exception. Perhaps the ending was a bit easy and it could've done with more laughs, but still, it had plenty of good stuff in it. We see the republican party headquarters for the first time, and there's some good political satire in it. Lisa driving a car and Homer being told to stay away by those Riverdale folk was funny too, just to mention some things. It's a good solid episode, worthy of 6/10.

Episode 6: Treehouse of Horror V
This was a great THOH. The Shinning was a great parody of a great movie. I'm glad it followed so accurately the movie, but managed still to make it very funny. Homer was just made to go insane Jack Nicholson -style. You gotta love his expressions in the door scene. The time travel segment was pretty good too, but nothing could top the first segment. Third was also pretty good, but it had pretty poor ending. That said, it's the only real flaw of the episode. It's the best one so far, 8/10 for the rating.

Episode 7: Bart's Girfriend
A classic episode, even if it isn't one of my favorites. Plenty of good jokes, solid characterizations and interesting plot make this an excellent episode. Homer's stuff about glasses, Bart strutting and finally Bart scrubbing while talking about how some people will do anything for a pretty face are among the top jokes of the episode. I didn't spot any flaws in this, so I guess it's the standard 7/10 for a good episode.

Episode 8: Lisa on Ice
I've said it before: I'm sucker for emotion. And this episode climaxed so beautifully that I can't help but to like it. The episode had some flaws though - Homer was an asshole, Lisa's failing in PE class was somewhat of a stretch (I mean, who fails PE at second grade? I'm willing to overlook that though since it was necessary for the episode) and then the way she suddenly became strong enough to beat up bullies (that said, it was overlookable as well since it was played for laughs). Most of it was gold though and despite it's flaws, I'm going to give it a 8/10. You just can't beat the impact the end's emotional high has.

Episode 9: Homer Badman
Not the kind of emotional impact in this, but it's a fun episode nonetheless. It has some slower moments, but most of it's great stuff. The funniest jokes in it, like all of Rock Bottom are among the top jokes in the Simpsons all-time. Good satire added with an interesting plot makes it a great one. That said, the ending was a bit of a cop-out with Willy coming out of nowhere to save Homer. That said, it's one of the great episodes of Simpsons despite it's flaws so it's another 8/10 rating.

Episode 10: Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy
Grampa is in top form in this sex-joke filled Season Six episode. The main plot with Homer and Grampa might be a bit heavy, but it's made well and delivers lots of good jokes. Subplot with Bart and rest of the kids thinking alien invasion is at hand keeps them occupied and gives a few good jokes, if nothing else. Very solid outing with little in the way of flaws, hard to go lower than 6/10 for it.

Episode 11: Fear of Flying
When the couch gag of doom started I already worried and it was a somewhat mediocre episode. Not much funny things going on and the way they ended up to Marge's fear of flying was weird. Marge as a central character is a tricky thing to pull off and we ended up with way too serious plot. That's not to say this is completely devoid of humor and even with continuity issues it's not one of the absolute worst, but especially being in the middle of the Season Six it really seems weak. Put it in the middle of Season Twentyone and it would mix quite nicely. In other words, 3/10.

Episode 12: Homer the Great
I actually disliked this episode during the first run and didn't get at all why people liked it. But now, even if I dislike the Stonecutters, I can appreciate this episode. It has just solidly characterized Homer and plenty of good jokes along with decent plot. The song also annoyed the hell out of me during the first run, but not this time. Overall it might lack a bit of plot depth, but not so much that it would bother me. I guess I can give it as high as 5/10, but honestly it's just a solid episode that isn't even among personal favorites.

Episode 13: And Maggie Makes Three
It wasn't quite as great as I remembered it, but the ending had me in tears anyway - magnificent episode. The fact though was that it didn't have as much humor as we're used to and the Lisa's First Word might be the best flashback episode after all. But it's pretty close despite that, the emotional impact is so strong. While I say there wasn't as much humor as we're used to, there's still funny stuff going on, like Homer saving the plant in his imagination and his head exploding. Overall, it's 8/10 episode, one of those that will have a permanent impact on everyone who watches it.

I started 11:30, now it 16:00, meaning it took exactly 4½ hours to watch these 10 episodes. My head explodes unless I take a short break now. I'm happy with the pace I'm keeping up though, gives us a slight chance of record.