Last Exit to Springfield (S04, E17-076)

Homer enjoying his total victory.

Plot Summary
This episode tackles the hard, serious issue of contract negotiation.  Mr. Burns, who remembers his time as a child when there were no unions and workers who tried to steal atoms were shoved into coke ovens as punishment, refuses to accept the latest offer from the plant's union (the union head having "mysteriously disappeared" after trying to clean up the union).  Deciding to take things back into his own hands, Burns decides to eliminate the dental plan.

Coincidentally enough, its learned that Lisa requires braces, else her teeth seemingly mutate and grow large enough to pierce her head.  Homer doesn't mind paying, as he recalls the plant earning a dental plan in previous negotiations (receiving a 'battle scar' when a flap of a catering truck fell on him).  At the next union meeting, Carl notes that Mr. Burns has offered them a new contract: basically the same deal as before, but now they get a free keg of beer for union meetings.  In exchange, they lose their dental plan.  Everyone is just happy to get some free beer but, after some "extensive thinking", Homer realizes that if he loses the dental plan, he'll have to pay for Lisa's braces.  Quickly, he sways the union, helping them realize just how helpful the dental plan has been, and tears up the proposal.  Mr. Burns, again forgetting who Homer was before this point, believes Homer to be a challenging adversary in upcoming negotiations.

As Lisa gets fill-in braces with no plan (huge metal jaws that make her look rather awful), Homer and Burns begin negotiating.  In the first attempt, Homer mistakes Burns' initial kindness as Burns coming on to him, and quickly leaves.  The second attempt, where Homer is guided to Burns' home by hired goons, Homer is unable to listen to Burns because he needs to use the bathroom.  Upon Homer's return ("Did you find the bathroom okay?"  "Uh... yeah!"), Burns sends Homer away again.  Tired of these meetings, Homer (somewhat unintentionally) gets the union to go on strike.

While Burns and Smithers run the plant happily by themselves, it doesn't seem to be affecting the union any.  Deciding to try and deal a deciding blow, Burns decides to cut off all power to the town.  Though the looting and rioting in town is immediate, the union remains strong and the move does not affect them at all.  Witnessing this, Burns decides to negotiate with Homer again.  Burns this time is willing to give the union the dental plan, but under the condition that Homer resigns.  Homer more than happily accepts, and Lisa finally gets a good set of braces.

Quick Review
Last Exit to Springfield is yet another example of Season 4's glory.  So many classic bits are in this episode, from "Dental Plan!", "Lisa needs braces!", to Grampa's union busters who can really only tell long-winding stories these days, to that guy who says that opposing "me" in the union meetings, to the montage of Burns and Smithers running the plant, to each and every negotiation between Homer and Burns, this episode is packed with great moments and superb comedy.  Its one of the best episodes of the series, and it really showcases a lot of characters at their best.

Final Score: 10