The Simpsons recap: Lisa Simpsons, This Isn’t Your Life

After the Simpsons visit Marge’s old house, Lisa is shocked to discover that Marge was once a star student.

After Maggie wants a toy to complete her collection, Homer takes the rest of the Simpsons out to get the toy she needs. Despite going through a ridiculous amount of effort, they aren’t able to get it. After calling it a day, they drive home and wind up going past Marge’s old house. They meet the  new owner who allows the Simpsons to take a walk through for old time’s sake.

While Marge walks down memory lane, she finds a box of her old stuff in the attic. While going through it, Lisa sees that Marge was once a star student who got grades just like her. But Lisa is puzzled at why her mother didn’t go on to achieve more considering her potential.

Later at school, Bart causes a prank that winds up giving Nelson a bloody nose. While the rest of the school rejoices at Nelson’s humiliation, Lisa seeks out Principal Skinner to find out why Marge became a homemaker. When Principal Skinner offers that kids tent to turn out like their parents, Lisa digs deeper. She discovers that while Marge was in High School, something happened that effected her grades. It isn’t long before she realizes that Homer is what caused Marge’s grades to change. She talks to Homer and resolves that nothing and no one will distract her from achieving her goals.

Bart finds out that the rest of the school now views him as the new bully and recoils at it. After Lisa throws away anything that may distract her, Homer inadvertently reveals to Marge that Lisa doesn’t want to turn out like her. As a result, Marge begins to act colder towards Lisa. While realizing that Springfield Elementary may not be the best school to help her focus, Lisa notices a prestigious academy and begs Homer and Marge to let her attend. They tell her that they wish they could send her, but they don’t have the money. Marge then has some choice words with the Principal alone and Lisa winds up getting a full scholarship.

Lisa is overjoyed to be at the new academy and Bart keeps looking over his shoulder for Nelson, who is fixated on getting back at Bart. Nelson corners Bart, but he uses Marge’s advice to say something nice to him and it works.

Later that night, Lisa wakes up to see Marge doing a massive amount of laundry for the academy. Lisa realizes that the only reason she is able to attend the school is because Marge agreed to do their laundry. Touched at this, Lisa announces that she doesn’t want to attend the school anymore. Bart then returns home after spending a night out with Nelson and Homer reveals he finally got the toy Maggie wanted by stealing it.