Lisa Simpson, This Isn't Your Life
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- "Lisa, one of the hardest jobs I have is throwing cold water on young children's dreams. Ralph, you're not a kangaroo."
- ―Principal Skinner
"Lisa Simpson, This Isn't Your Life" is the fifth episode of Season 22.
Synopsis
Discovering that Marge was once a stellar A+ student whose grades plummeted after being distracted, Lisa fears that she will end up just like her mom unless she pledges to focus solely on academics in an encore episode. When Marge makes a secret deal allowing Lisa to attend her dream school, Lisa learns a lesson in family and altruism. Meanwhile, Bart puts Nelson Muntz in his place and unintentionally claims the title of "School Bully".
Plot
After finding out that Maggie is upset about missing one of the collectable Happy Little Elves, Homer drives the family to a Texxon station. This leads to Homer continually buying gas to try and win the rare Baby Musthave toy. Failing, they end up driving through the district of town where Marge grew up. When visiting her old house, Lisa discovers Marge was a top-grade student. Meanwhile, during a stunt through the poorly-drained school playground, Bart gets the mud all over Nelson. When Nelson goes to punch him, Bart slips and inadvertibly kicks him in the face, leading Bart to become school bully.
Lisa discovers that Marge's grade plummeted after she met Homer and so aims not to get distracted, by clearing everything in her room out, including her saxophone. Marge finds out and finds out Lisa wants to be nothing like her.
At school, Nelson confronts Bart at the tetherball, where it hits it by mistake and knocks himself over, and in the hall, where he walks into a locker and gets trapped inside.
Lisa finds out about Cloisters Academy, and tries to persuade her parents to let her go. After the principal and Marge discuss Lisa's record, she is offered a scholarship there. Bart tries to stop Nelson attacking him by making him feel good about himself. Lisa discovers that she has not been offered a scholarship and that she was only accepted due to Marge offering to do all the schools laundry.
Homer steals a Baby Musthave from the Taxxon store to keep Maggie happy.
Reception
"Lisa Simpson, This Isn't Your Life" was viewed by 8.97 million households receiving a 3.9 Nielsen Rating. The episode received a positive review from Todd VanDerWerf, giving it a B+. The A.V Club called the episode the "best episode of the season so far".
