Bart Gets Hit by a Car (S02, E10-023)

Bart gets hit by a car.

Plot Summary
Bart Gets Hit by a Car begins with Bart getting hit by a car.  The driver of the car, Mr. Burns unsurprisingly, eventually gets the boy to the hospital.  After a flirtation with the afterlife (and the proclaimation from the Devil that Bart won't die until the Yankees win a pennant - in a hundred years - whoops) Bart regains consciousness and he (and the family) notices a strange man in the room.

That man, who is voiced by Phil Hartman making his first guest appearance on the show, is the "lawyer" Lionel Hutz.  Although Bart ended up with only a broken toe and a bump on the head, Hutz is willing to exaggerate the truth so that Homer can sue Mr. Burns for tons of money.  The family hesitates at the offer, however the next day Homer is offered $100 from Burns himself, which he turns down.  Its at this point he goes all in with Hutz, who promises Homer a payout of a million dollars.

We also see for the first time the "doctor" Nick Riviera, who gives a completely different diagnosis for poor Bart.  Turns out, Bart is actually very ill!  With that "knowledge", Homer goes ahead and takes Burns to court.  Early on the jury is on Bart's side, what with Burns already vastly hated and all.  Feeling the pressure, Burns invites Homer and Marge to his manor to make a settlement offer: $500,000.  Burns leave the two alone to discuss the offer, but he and Smithers instead spy on the two, there they overhear Homer angrily reject the offer but, more importantly, Marge saying that with the fake doctor and all, they should probably take the offer while they can, which Burns quickly rescinds upon gaining his newfound information.

So the next day Burns pulls the obvious next move: putting Marge on the stand.  Obligated to tell the truth, Marge lets everyone know that Dr. Riviera is probably not a real doctor and the Bart is actually pretty okay.  With that knowledge, Homer is forced to take Mr. Burns' next settlement offer: $0.  Then the episode takes a weird turn as, after losing out on a million dollars because Marge told the truth, never mind the shady means he took in his attempts to get the million, Homer is implied to be wavering on a decision on whether to kill himself.  Marge realizes this, and forces Homer to look at her to determine whether he still truly loves her.  He does, and the marriage is saved, again.

Quick Review
The episode, which had been alright most of the way, did end on that weird note.  Supposedly the ending was pitched by James L. Brooks, trying to add a little emotional distress to an otherwise zany affair.  Frankly, I didn't like it.  Regardless, up to that point there was a lot of good going for the episode, including the introduction of a few great recurring characters.  Still, its going to receive the weakest score of Season 2 and I doubt there'll be another episode that'll score as low for awhile.

Final Score: 7.0