Ep 9. HOMR

HOMR is the ninth episode of the twelfth season of the animated hit show, The Simpsons. The episode begins with the Simpson family sitting at the dinner table while watching Krusty the Clown's 29th anniversary special on TV. During a segment of the show, Krusty asks the audience if they are smarter than a fifth grader and to everyone's surprise, Homer fails to answer an easy question. This event makes Homer question his intelligence and he decides to take a standardized intelligence test.

After taking the test, Homer is told that he is "no smarter than a 6-year-old" and is diagnosed with a condition called "crayon lodged in the brain". The doctor explains that as a young boy, Homer shoved a crayon up his nose which has been affecting his cognitive skills ever since. The only way to remedy the situation is to have the crayon removed, but the procedure is risky and the family has a tough decision to make.

In the midst of all this, Homer's newfound intelligence begins to take effect. He starts reading books and newspapers, becoming a trivia whiz, and even becomes a philosophical guru in Springfield. Although his intelligence leads to some positive changes in his life, it also creates some tension between him and his old friends, as they can no longer relate to his new intellectualism.

As the family struggles with the decision to have the crayon removed, Homer's behavior becomes increasingly erratic. He begins to alienate Marge and the children, as well as his co-workers at the nuclear power plant. Eventually, Homer's intelligence peaks and he realizes that although he has gained knowledge, he has lost something much more important – the ability to truly connect with his family and friends.

The episode ends with the Simpson family coming to a decision about Homer's surgery and the outcome is left as a cliffhanger for viewers to ponder over until the next episode.

Overall, HOMR is an entertaining and thought-provoking episode that delves into the concept of intelligence and how it can affect our relationships and self-perception. The characters remain true to their witty and endearing personalities and the animation is as vibrant as ever. Fans of The Simpsons will definitely enjoy this episode and its exploration of one of the show's most iconic characters.