5
Homer Simpson Has The Best Outlook On Risk
Season 9 of The Simpsons is on the later end of the consensus on "classic" seasons, but if you're looking for episodes to rewatch, it nicely bridges the gap between the older, more grounded episodes and the frantic, fantastical approach the show eventually transitioned to. And it's not without its sprinkled-in touching moments. In the episode "Lost Our Lisa," Lisa coaxes permission from Homer to take the bus into the city by herself to check out a museum exhibit. She ends up getting lost and stuck in an incredibly dangerous situation, and Homer has to risk his life in an extremely slapsticky fashion to come rescue her.
While they're driving off, Lisa laments, "I'll never take another stupid risk like that again." This prompts Homer to pull the car over and offer his backwardly meaningful philosophy: "Don't ever say that! Stupid risks are what make life worth living."
Strong words from a guy whose views on risk twice sent him plummeting down a gorge.
Sure, over the years, Homer's been a wealth of not-exactly-inspiring aphorisms. ("You tried your best, and you failed. The lesson here is: Never try.") But his affinity for stupid risks not only provides insight into how he remains perfectly content despite a life of near-constant setbacks and frustration, but it's also not a bad reminder to not get so bogged down in bad results that you never try anything. In Lisa's case, everything went as haywire as possible, and she'll still end up getting an incredible story out of it. Using one drawback as an excuse to forego risk for an entire lifetime is no way to live.
Homer goes on to ask "Is your heart going a mile a minute? That's what my heart's doing all the time! Bet your left arm's tingling too!" So take the rest of his advice with a grain of salt.
4
Arrested Development Has The Best Take On Your (Worst) Family
Any time you ever feel like you're watching too many comedies without laughing and start to question your own jadedness, there's no better instant palate cleanser than the first season of Arrested Development, which to this day boasts the most mathematically impossible jokes-per-second ratio ever committed to DVD.
Most sitcoms make sure to circle back to touching, emotional moments to keep you on the characters' sides and redeem even the wackiest characters from being total monsters. Arrested Development is not one of those shows. The Bluths are relentlessly, unapologetically selfish and cowardly, and never have any moments of self-reflection or sudden gushing Ebenezer Scrooge epiphanies. But in the Season 1 finale, "Let 'Em Eat Cake," when Michael has reached his last nerve with his hapless relatives and excitedly tells his son to pack his bags so they can move ANYWHERE else, George Michael replies, "Well, Dad ... I like it here ... It's because of the family. I like the family. I mean, if we leave, who's gonna take care of these people?"