The Computer Wore Menace Shoes (S12, E06-254)

Ah, internet of the late 90s/early 2000s.  I sort of miss it, still.

Plot Summary
Homer doesn't get an e-mail saying the plant is closed for fumigation because he doesn't have a computer to receive an e-mail.  Not wanting to be made a fool again, Homer goes to a computer store and gets made a fool of by buying an overpriced model that'll be worthless in due time.  Although initially unsure of how to use a computer, with Lisa's help Homer is able to browse the internet.  Not only that, he's able to make his own webpage, though its full of nothing but crazy gifs and annoying noises.  On Lisa's advisement over being sued, Homer takes his name off the page, calling his website "Mr. X's Web Page".

Given the website has nothing of value, Homer doesn't even get a single hit.  Lisa informs him that he needs to add some kind of content to his page to get attention.  Working off that, Homer adds a rumor Bart heard from Nelson (or Jimbo) that Mayor Quimby had been using money meant for pothole patching to construct a secret swimming pool.  Homer posts this on his website, and soon enough the rumor is actually proven to be true, as Quimby's pool is found.  Realizing what he's done, Homer decides to continue his work as "Mr. X", snooping around town picking up secrets whenever he can with his identity secret.  He does such great work, he even wins a Pulitzer prize, though to actually win the prize and its cash reward, Homer outs himself as Mr. X.

Now that his secret is out, everybody around town makes sure they don't reveal anything with Homer around.  With no more secrets to reveal, Homer's web site is floundering.  Desperate, Homer begins to come up with phony headlines, like Spanish and Italian being the same language, or flu shots actually being used for mind control.  His website once again picks up, and Homer is raking it in, whatever 'it' is, but finds himself kidnapped in an elaborate ploy.

Homer comes to on what is known as "The Island", which houses various people who know too much and people get gassed or drugged every five minutes or so.  Homer eventually is met by someone who runs the island who tells Homer that he's been contained because he 'knows' of the flu shot mind control secret, which is apparently real.  What's more, he's been replaced at home by a guy who looks like him (although he certainly doesn't act like him).  With another prisoner's help, Homer is able to flee the island and run home.  He attempts to post what he's witnessed on the website, but the island controls it, and Homer's double attempts to kill him.  Homer is able to kick his double in the crotch, and his family comes home in time to see their real husband and father.  However, the man from the island isn't licked yet, and is able to gas the entire family, forcing them all to live their lives on the island.

Quick Review
For the first half or so the episode, everything was going fine.  Homer getting a computer, Homer outing secrets as Mr. X, all that was solid and the jokes throughout these scenes were doing well, too.  It seemed like this episode was going to be one of the season's bright spots.

Then the kidnapping happened, and the rest of the episode, which parodies heavily from 1967's The Prisoner, just gets a bit too absurd for my liking, though admittedly I did like German double Homer in the few times he appears.  The whole bit with the constant drugging or gassing fell flat, too.  It was a weak end to what would've been an otherwise excellent episode.

Final Score: 7.3