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| "Hi, Lisa! Hi Super Nintendo Chalmers!" |
After church, the Simpson family goes out for brunch: by going to a supermarket and eating samples. There, Homer is trying to 'sample' some ice cream, 'using' Lisa to get the ones further in the freezer. The experience leaves Lisa with a cold. Before leaving, Homer tries to 'sample' some lobsters, but his toothpick can't pierce their shells. Unable to afford one at $8 a pound, Homer craftily comes up with the idea of buying a tiny lobster and then feeding it to become a large, meaty one.
Lisa's cold persists to Monday, and despite Lisa's best attempts to go to school, Marge forces her to stay home for the day. Trying to get Lisa to take it easy by not learning, Marge has Lisa play one of Bart's video games: Dash Dingo. Lisa soon becomes addicted to the game. Later in the day, Ralph comes by with homework for Lisa: to read the book The Wind in the Willows. However, Lisa ignores the book to play the game some more, even faking her now-gone sickness to play it for several more days. Finally Marge figures out Lisa's scheme and takes her back to school.
Turns out, its the same day she has to take a test on the book Ralph gave her. Having not read the book to play the game, Lisa is able to get Ms. Hoover to let her have a drink of water in the hall before coming back to take the test. Needing a miracle, Lisa sees Bart coming back, who's willing to help. Taking her to the boy's bathroom, Bart takes Lisa to a stall where Nelson has a seemingly complete collection of "study aides" for sale. Realizing that this is cheating, Lisa also fears that getting a 0 on the test could ruin her future. With that on her mind, Lisa decides to get the relevant paper to cheat on the test. Cheat she does, as the next day she gets a very high grade for the test: an A+++. Afterwards, though, Lisa feels remorse for going through with it.
The score gains the notice of Principal Skinner, who calls Lisa in to discuss it. It seems Lisa's grade has pushed the school's GPA up to the state's minimum standard, enabling the school to receive a basic assistance grant. Lisa can't take it anymore, and reveals to Skinner that she cheated on the test. When Lisa also reveals that Skinner is the only other adult that knows, Skinner breathes a sigh of relief as the trouble can still be swept under the rug. Angered, Lisa has Superintendent Chalmers come in somehow, but he agrees with Skinner. Chalmers takes Lisa around school, showing how dilapidated and technologically behind the school has been without the grant money, and pleads with her to keep it a secret for the sake of the school. Lisa reluctantly agrees.
The school has a ceremony for the grant, and the state comptroller is to issue the money. Lisa, though, realizes the truth is more important, and reveals her cheating to the crowd, who are disgusted. The comptroller comes to Lisa's defense, though, stating her courage impressed him so much that the school will still get the fund anyway. Lisa leaves the ceremony happy with how it turns out. As she leaves, Bart closes the door behind her, as it turns out that ceremony was staged, Skinner knowing Lisa's conscience would show up at the end, with Otto playing the role of the comptroller. With the real comptroller just now walking in, he presents the real grant money to the school, with everyone seemingly in the scheme to keep Lisa from ruining it. Lisa is proud to of gotten the F on her test even if it isn't official (not that she knows).
As for the lobster subplot, Homer becomes attached to the lobster, whom he nicknames "Pinchy", as he grows, unable to part with the lobster when the time comes to cook it. Keeping it as a pet instead, Homer makes a fatal error when, after Pinchy gets dirty playing in mud, he gives the lobster a hot bath. Apparently the bath was too hot, and Pinchy is cooked right then and there. Homer mourns the loss of his friend by eating Pinchy himself, noting that Pinchy is, in fact, delicious.
Quick Review
After the last two episodes, Lisa Gets an A is a refreshing step towards quality. The main plot really picks up once Skinner and Chalmers try to keep Lisa's cheating a secret, and the scheme with the comptroller was really well done (Skinner asking everyone to applaud "the real comptroller" was funny as well). Homer's subplot with Pinchy was silly but still very well done as was the way it ended. An excellent episode, its Season 10's best episode thus far.
Final Score: 9.2
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