The Best Episodes Directed By Matthew Faughnan

When Marge's heart is broken by a bad birthday present, Bart and Lisa must dig into their mom's past to show that they really know her. Homer becomes a neighborhood fear-monger.

Marge feels an overwhelming dread of the empty nest.

After Homer humiliates himself in a town meeting, he looks for acceptance in an internet group hunting for a missing tortoise but finds something much more sinister.

Springfield is threatened by a mysterious killer monster emerging from the sewers, Krusty welcomes a demonic guest to his Halloween special, and the action moves a thousand years into the future in a post-apocalyptic, plastic version of the city.

Homer is stunned by his feelings of rage and resentment when Grampa becomes a doting stepfather to his girlfriend's quirky young son. Lisa and Bart throw the ultimate slumber party.

Grampa Simpson is accused of a crime; Kent Brockman questions his career.

When Homer helps a woman give birth in an elevator, he forms an emotional attachment to the baby; cheerleaders for the local professional football team recruit Lisa.

In a Halloween-theme episode Bart reads Aramaic symbols from the bottom of his desk and he and Lisa are transported to an alternate world filled with demons. Also, Moe organizes a "Clockwork Orange"-ish gang in which member Dum (Homer) falls for a young lady (Marge) who wants him to quit. In a homage to "The Others," the Simpsons reconnect with their earlier incarnations from the Tracey Ullman era.

Things for Ned and Homer go from bad to gosh-darn worse in the stunning conclusion of this 'Simpflix' prestige crime thriller.

Lisa makes a new pal at school named Harper, whose internet billionaire father becomes buddies with a different Simpson: Homer. Soon, though, Lisa becomes worried that Harper is a little too entitled.

The 32nd annual Simpsons Halloween special includes a spoof of "Parasite" and a segment where Bambi gets his revenge.

Santa's Little Helper nips at Marge, causing the family to reflect on the difficult life that the dog led prior to being adopted by the family. They end up reuniting him with his mother to avoid having to euthanize him.

Homer and Marge remember the ups and downs of their marriage through a series of flashbacks, including the time they each began flirting with guests at a glamorous party - a situation that led to a food fight and an unexpected swim in the pool.

Grampa gives each family member a portion of his savings; Lisa worries that Nelson's instant success with a new business venture might lure him away from continuing his education.

A boulder traps Homer's arm when he takes a drive through a canyon; a spider bite paralyzes Homer; Flanders becomes a vigilante by night; Bart and Milhouse travel to a distant planet to obtain an extract.

Marge goes to prison for letting Bart play in a park unsupervised.

Marge and Lisa turn Lisa’s sad experience into a successful graphic novel-turned-Broadway show, but they struggle with creative differences and ego.

The Simpsons' pooch, Santa's Little Helper, becomes a police dog.

A "cool family" from Portland moves in next door to the Simpsons. Homer is desperate to befriend them, while Marge is skeptical, thinking that being cool is not all it's cracked up to be.

Homer gets roped into coaching the kids' lacrosse team with Milhouse's dad, Kirk, who is in desperate need of a friend. When Kirk gets too clingy, Homer vents about how much of a loser he is. Kirk overhears his rant and disappears, right when the team needs him most: the championship game.

Homer finds his calling as a TV recapper, but his harsh grading causes a brawl with Krusty. After almost killing Homer, Krusty hides out at a real circus, and finds happiness there.

Homer wins an oyster-eating contest against the mythical Cthulhu, Springfield is overrun by plant body-snatchers, Lisa finally snaps and Mr. Burns opens a retirement home with some Jurassic upgrades.

Marge starts a business selling healing crystals to the naive mothers of Springfield when Homer’s work cuts children’s health-care benefits, leading Marge to use the crystals as a cheaper solution for Bart’s ADD.

Homer must supervise interns, among whom is a go-getter who asks Homer to be his mentor.