Ep 2. Lisa's Rival

In The Simpsons season 6 episode 2, titled Lisa's Rival, a new student named Allison Taylor joins Springfield Elementary School and quickly becomes Lisa's academic rival. The episode opens with Homer taking the family to the Springfield Fair where Bart and Lisa enjoy various attractions before bumping into their neighbor Ned Flanders. While Homer and Flanders bond over carnival games and beer, Lisa is introduced to Allison, who is a new student in her class.

Allison is a gifted student who excels at everything she does, including playing the saxophone, much to Lisa's dismay. She also shares a love for animals with Lisa, joining her in a protest against the use of animals in cosmetics. Despite her jealousy towards Allison's achievements, Lisa tries to befriend her, but Allison is wary and competitive towards Lisa.

Meanwhile, Bart becomes obsessed with trying to catch the "little people" he believes live in his backyard and enlists Milhouse to help him. They construct a trap made out of a cardboard box, a stick and a sandwich, which ends up capturing a rabbit instead of the "little people."

As the school year progresses, Allison continues to outshine Lisa in every aspect, including beating her in a diorama competition and getting chosen as the lead in the school play. Lisa becomes increasingly frustrated and tries desperately to find a way to prove that she is better than Allison. She takes up playing the saxophone, hoping to beat Allison in the upcoming music recital. However, Lisa is still unable to best Allison as she plays a flawless rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In."

The final straw comes when Allison wins a prestigious summer program at an Ivy League school, which Lisa had her heart set on attending. Feeling defeated, Lisa begins to question her own worth and talents. She ultimately decides to give up the saxophone and focus on her other interests, which include science, history, and literature.

In the end, Lisa discovers that Allison had also been struggling with the pressure of being the best and had sabotaged her own chances to win the summer program by purposely breaking her own diorama. Allison confesses to Lisa and they reconcile, bonding over their mutual love for knowledge and activism.

Overall, The Simpsons season 6 episode 2, Lisa's Rival, explores the theme of competition and the pressure to succeed, particularly in an academic environment. It also highlights the importance of friendship, acceptance, and recognizing one's own strengths and weaknesses. The episode is a classic example of the show's ability to deliver a meaningful message while also providing comedic moments and pop culture references.