Homer Loves Flanders (S05, E16-097)

Guy can't play basketball no more without neighbors walkin' through bushes.

Plot Summary
The big football game is nearing between the Shelbyville Sharks and the Springfield Atoms.  Homer attempts to buy tickets, being second in line to do so, but the first guy in line, probably a scalper, buys all of them, leaving Homer out of luck.  A radio station then offers two tickets to the game to the 13th caller.  Homer rushes to work to be that caller, but by the time he reaches a phone Ned Flanders of all people is the lucky recipient of the tickets.  As Homer prays for a way to go the game, Ned offers to take Homer, which Homer ultimately accepts.  Homer has a good time at the game, moreso because Ned is paying for all the concessions, and even moreso when Springfield wins the game at the last second.  To top it off, Ned knows Springfield's quarterback as Ned's bible group helped the player find spiritual peace.  With Ned's urging, the quarterback gives Homer the game ball.  Touched by this gesture, Homer becomes friends with Ned.

Then, of course, Homer over-welcomes his stay, popping up at the Flanders' house whenever possible it seems.  One night, Homer insists on coming with Ned to a homeless shelter, with Moe's being closed.  With Ned's plodding pace of serving food, an impatient Homer takes over and delivers grub faster than ever before, earning him town-wide praise for his efforts.  Later, the Simpson family attempts to confront Homer over how much time he spends with Ned, but instead Homer insists the two families have a picnic at a lake, at which point Bart and Lisa ponder whether the status quo will be restored by the following week.

Homer is really the only one interested in the picnic, but the picnic happens anyway.  All sorts of bad things happen for Ned, the biggest of which occurs at the end when Homer crashes Ned's boat into Ned's car.  That night, Ned has a nightmare where he realizes that he actually - *gasp* - hates Homer Simpson!  Attempts to avoid Homer thereafter include lying to Homer (which his kids find indefensible), and then speeding away before Homer can catch them (which has Ned being pulled over and accused of "being heffed up on goofballs", in front of a church bus no less!).

Ned is reluctant in going to church because of the probably attitudes towards him now, but he goes in away, with Homer, being praised for his charity work again, having saved a seat for Ned.  During a prayer, Homer's nose makes a shrill sound while breathing, which is a snapping point for Ned.  He lashes out at Homer, but the town turns on Ned for his recent supposed misdeeds.  Homer quickly stands up to defend Ned, noting that if everyone was Ned Flanders, there would be no need for heaven as they'd already be there.  The town forgives Ned, and Ned is touched by Homer's gesture.  The two solidify their friendship, baffling Bart and Lisa as their status quo might be done for.  Sure enough though, next week Homer has the family go to his late uncle's house to stay the night, also its haunted, brushing Flanders away in the process.  The kids are relieved that things are back to normal.

Quick Review
This was another fun episode, nothing that really sticks out as an all time classic moment or anything, but there's a lot of laughter to be had with the idea of Homer being friends with the neighbor he displeases so.  The dynamic works out well, especially when its Ned that becomes sick of Homer, and the kids pointing out the status quo every now and then was a nice touch.

Final Score: 8.8