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Despite what her detractors may claim, Lisa wasn’t always smug or self-righteous. Unlike Sherlock or Sheldon Cooper, Lisa’s intelligence wasn't used as a cudgel to beat other characters in the show’s better stories. If anything, Lisa was often alienated as a result of her intellect. This is best epitomized in season 9, episode 8, “Lisa the Skeptic,” when she refuses to believe in an “Angel skeleton” unearthed beneath the Springfield Mall. While the outing involves some heady debates about faith and science, this remains a kid-friendly episode of The Simpsons as Lisa’s perspective is centered throughout the story.
“Lisa The Skeptic” is surprisingly unapologetic in its depictions of Lisa's small-minded small town rejecting her with vitriol. “Lisa the Skeptic” sees Lisa take on much of Springfield and even her own mother Marge by denying the existence of angels. She claims the apparent discovery of an angel skeleton is merely a hoax or an error and faces social isolation as a result, leading her to desperately search for proof of her hypothesis. Much like season 8, episode 16, “Lisa the Iconoclast,” “Lisa the Skeptic” is surprisingly unapologetic in its depictions of Lisa's small-minded small town rejecting her with vitriol despite her age. Crucially, though, Lisa doesn't simply turn out to be right in the episode’s surprising ending.
When the skeleton goes missing, the townspeople form a mob and arrest Lisa for destroying it. The skeleton reappears with a warning of “The End” and the townspeople gather around as sundown approaches. Lisa mocks them for thinking something would happen, but it is soon silenced by the angel’s booming voice announcing “The End… Of high prices!” The entire affair is revealed to be a publicity stunt for a rival mall and the clueless denizens of Springfield flock to this new outlet for lower prices. Rather than The Simpsons sidelining Lisa, the show then adds a pivotal final twist.
According to the episode’s writer, David X. Cohen, the characters originally found out Marge was wrong, Lisa was right, and that was it. Lisa points out that she was right, but Marge notes that she was as scared as everyone else when the angel appeared to talk. Lis sheepishly thanks her mother for comforting her and proves that, despite her intelligence, she is still an ordinary child underneath everything. According to the episode’s writer, David X. Cohen, the characters originally found out Marge was wrong, Lisa was right, and that was it. Lisa's genuine terror when the angel seemingly spoke highlighted her vulnerability and humanity instead of underlining that she was simply smarter than everyone else. This made her character even more sympathetic.
Over the decades since its release, “Lisa the Skeptic” has gone on to become a mainstay in classrooms and philosophical texts thanks to its thoughtful takes on science, faith, and the space between them. Philosopher Danial O’Brien talked about the episode in terms of skepticism and faith, while William Irwin, Mark T. Conard, and Aeon J. Skoble brought up the episode in relation to the religious faith of Ned Flanders and Homer’s heresy. Like season 4, episode 4, “Lisa the Beauty Queen," the outing became a classic not because Lisa was right all along, but because this didn’t make her perfect.
Lisa’s ability to stand up to an entire town could come across as preachy, idealized, and unrelatable, but her admission that she doesn’t know everything humanizes her. Various educational institutions have used “Lisa the Skeptic” in religious education classes, and it is hard to picture many schools doing so if it weren’t for the revised ending. In “Lisa the Beauty Queen,” Lisa’s admirable confidence in uprooting corruption is contrasted with her relatable lack of self-esteem. In “Lisa the Skeptic,” Lisa’s ability to stand up to an entire town could come across as preachy, idealized, and unrelatable, but her admission that she doesn’t know everything humanizes her and makes her a more lovable character. The episode wouldn’t be a classroom staple if its heroine wasn’t believably flawed.
While “Lisa the Skeptic” does have a heartwarming moment shared between Marge and Lisa, the episode ending more broadly can be seen as a classic case of The Simpsons doubling down on its cynicism. Not only was the angel skeleton just a marketing gimmick for a new mall, but the locals don't even care about the deception other than Lisa. To make matters worse, renowned scientist Stephen Jay Gould admits with a shrug that he just never bothered to do the all-important test that would have determined the skeleton’s veracity. This underlines a central element of the show’s ending appeal.
The Simpsons can be brutally cynical. Despite Lisa being criticized as the show's most overly conscious character, she isn’t safe from this. In season 7, episode 9, "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming," she excitedly announced that she wanted to meet the first female stealth bomber pilot since “She destroyed 70 mosques, and her name is Lisa, too!” Even the most ostensibly moral character isn’t immune to the show's bone-deep cynicism, and this makes Lisa feel more like her family than detractors are often willing to admit. During the Golden Age, Lisa fit within the world of The Simpsons, despite how imperfect this made her.