"The Simpsons" Lisa's Sax (TV Episode 1997) Poster

(TV Series)

(1997)

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9/10
One of the Best Flashback Episodes,
lesleyharris3017 February 2015
Lisa's Sax is a fantastic Simpsons episode with a very well written storyline and a ton of very funny scenes.It is certainly one of my favourite flashback episodes,learning about how Lisa got her saxophone was a story that felt necessary to know,seeing that it is the item we associate her with the most.The episode is very funny and the humour is fairly different,mainly because it is written by Al Jean,he has written some of my favourite episodes,I really love his style of writing,it is quite sarcastic at times and self aware,and it is seen very clearly in this episode.Lisa's Sax is a very fun and enjoyable Simpsons episode.

Homer tells Lisa the story of how she discovered she loved playing the saxophone.
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9/10
Baby, It's Not Cold Outside
Hitchcoc11 August 2022
Through Bart's cruelty, Lisa's saxophone gets run over and destroyed. This leads to flashback episodes where the family was trying to send Bart off on the right foot. But he was doomed, plus no one was paying attention to his gifted sister. Eventually, it required Homer to skip gettin an air conditioner, not once but twice. This is a touching episode even thought it paints a terrible future for Bart.
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8/10
... believe me, you'll be seeing plenty of them
snoozejonc13 February 2023
Homer tells the story of Bart and Lisa's early school days.

This is a strong episode with good character moments.

The plot has some nice character arcs and backstory relating to Bart and Lisa, with their key personality traits in focus. His class-clown persona and Lisa's gifts are explained in some quite plausible moments. I particularly like the scene in the private school which is quite poignant when you consider how much potential is wasted on children whose parents cannot afford a private education or do not recognise their potential.

For me the humour is great in moments but the laughs do not come as consistently as in some of the strongest episodes. I do not think the writing is any weaker, but humour as always is in the eye of the beholder.
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10/10
One of the greats
zvelf1 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This is definitely one of the most underrated Simpsons episodes as it is one of the best. From the hilarious "Those Were the Days" parody to the Bart/Milhouse file mix-up to Homer and the peas to the Flanders' air conditioner theft, it's just great. We are also poignantly given the origin of Bart's misbehavior and Lisa's sax. And then there's this classic exchange:

Homer Simpson: Bart son, do you want to play catch? Bart Simpson: No. Homer Simpson: Oh, when a boy doesn't wanna play catch with his old man, something is seriously wrong. Grampa Simpson: I'll play catch with you, son. Homer Simpson: Get the hell out!
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9/10
All in the family
safenoe19 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The pop culture references were sharp and galore in Lisa's Sax, which is what I consider to be part of the Golden Era of The Simpsons, being the first ten years (although some may disagree).

Lisa's Sax is an origins episode that explains how LIsa got her first sax, and also to the core of Bart, and we learn where he proclaims Eat My Shorts for the first time.

Twin Peaks, Mr. T, All in the family, Prince, it was all there and was so hilarious for those who grew up in the 80s or was a child of the 70s for sure. Even Munch's the Screaming Man makes a cameo appearance.

Lisa's sax becomes flat thanks to the antics of Bart, and he makes an insightful comment about The Simpsons really being about Bart, which certainly it was in the first five years or so.

Despite Bart's antics, there is heart in this episode. The episode ending with Lisa playing Baker Street was superb.
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