Top 10 Diddliest Ned Flanders Moments On The Simpsons
#10: Letting Homer Borrow His Tools
“You Only Move Twice” “The Simpsons” has its fair share of great running gags, but none so hilariously awkward as Ned letting Homer borrow his things. Homer of course takes full advantage, and we often see “Property of Ned Flanders” on one of his “borrowings.” Ned, however, is just too nice a guy to ask Homer for his things back. When the Simpsons do move for a job, however, Ned does finally ask, in his timid way, whether Homer would still need his stuff. “Yes,” Homer answers shamelessly. Good enough for poor Ned, and hilariously poignant for us.
#9: Better Enemies than Friends
Top 10 DARKEST Simpsons Moments
“Homer Loves Flanders” Sometimes Ned’s niceness and decency end up backfiring. After inviting Homer to a football game, Homer’s gratitude leads to him actually making friends with Ned. Good karma, right? Unfortunately, Homer’s friendship turns out to be worse than his enmity. Soon Homer’s over-the-top gratitude begins to grate on Ned’s nerves. It all comes to a hilarious head when the two families go on a camping trip together, to predictably disastrous results. Fortunately, Homer’s friendliness doesn’t last and the next week shows him mad at Flanders again. Even the friendliest of us can only tolerate so much friendship.
#8: Serenading Maude
“I Love Lisa” Ned’s picture-perfect life may be teeth-rottingly treacly at times. But one thing that makes him genuinely lovable is his love and devotion for his wife, Maude. Sometimes that devotion leads to truly great comedy. One Valentine’s Day Ned serenades Maude with Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” In typical Ned Flanders’ fashion, though, the song’s raunchy lyrics are changed into squeaky-clean Christian-friendly wholesomeness. To top it off, Ned is dressed as a Valentine's heart. Once again Ned’s family is the perfect neighbors to the imperfect Simpsons. Sing on, Ned, and make all the songs PG.
#7: Helping Homer with Marriage Problems
“Diatribe of a Mad Housewife” Ned’s wholesome image of a devoted, kind family man has its dangers. When Marge writes a romance novel with Ned as the chiseled hero and Homer as the boorish husband, it’s only a matter of time before even an oblivious Homer wises up. Poor Ned must flee an angry Homer, fearing the latter would emulate his book counterpart. Instead, Homer pleads with Ned for advice on how to make his marriage better. True to form, Ned helps Homer understand Marge’s feelings of neglect. Truly a fitting hero, both on the page and on the screen.
#6: Giving Homer a Black Eye
“Black Eyed, Please” Homer’s faults are truly endless in their variety. He is dumb, incompetent, boorish, violent, and cruel. Unfortunately, as his pious foil, Ned has been the target of Homer’s enmity, taking his abuse with almost cheerful oblivion. So it is beyond satisfying to see Ned stand up for himself against Homer when the latter gets high with Ned’s beatnik parents. Upon seeing his parents in such a state, Ned finally snaps and punches Homer, giving him a black eye. Well done, Ned, and about diddly time. Even so, a guilty Ned offers one of his eyes for Homer to deck, proving that Ned is truly too good for this Simpsons world.
#5: A Drunken Wedding
Top 10 Most Unexpected Simpsons Gags
“Viva Ned Flanders” Ned may be decent and righteous, but even these can get old after a while. In this episode, we learn that Ned is sixty years old. He has just been living cleanly, keeping in good shape, and of course, not doing anything rash. Fearing he hasn’t lived life to the fullest, Ned turns to Homer to show him the lighter side of life. What follows is a whirlwind trip to Las Vegas, with Homer and Ned getting so drunk they marry two cocktail waitresses. In the end, they have to flee and make excuses for their real wives. It’s great to see Ned loosen up and give into temptation once in a while, and it makes for great character comedy as well.
#4: Mourning Maude
“Alone Again, Natura-Diddily” Permanent deaths in “The Simpsons” are rare and only occur when real-life deaths force the showrunners to write a character out. That’s what happens with Ned’s beloved wife, Maude, when she dies via a cannonball T-shirt actually meant for Homer. Ned’s grief in mourning Maude is heartbreaking and he even questions his faith in a God that allowed the unthinkable to occur. Ned does eventually date other women, thanks in part to a guilt-ridden Homer’s help in making him a video. And how is his faith restored? He attends a Christian rock band. Rock on, Ned.
#3: Sniffer Zincing
“Boy-Scoutz ‘n the Hood” All of us, when faced with death, can get a little screwy. After Bart accidentally joins the Junior Campers, he and Homer end up sharing a raft with Ned and his son Rod. And of course, in Ned fashion, he offers to zinc Homer’s sniffer. But it isn’t long before Homer does a Homer, eats their provisions, and paddles in the wrong direction. The group finds itself lost at sea and with no food, and Ned goes into a panic at their imminent demise, causing Homer to slap him several times. Sniffer-zincing definitely has its downsides, as Ned quickly learns.
#2: The Snug Skiing Suit
Top 10 Most Violent Simpsons Moments
“Little Big Mom” Ned’s unexpectedly erotic appeal rears its head—or rather shakes its body—once again. In this episode, Homer finds unused skis and decides to take the family on a holiday. What follows is Ned showing up in a skin-tight suit, blithely showing his considerable aspects. Ned makes such an impression on Homer that while he is careening down the slopes he can only think of Ned feeling like he’s wearing nothing at all. Stupid, sexy Flanders, indeed. Ned’s fit form and oblivious cheeriness once again is the stuff of Internet meme legend.
#1: Ned Loses His Temper
Top 20 Simpsons Moments That Will Make You Cry
“Hurricane Neddy” It turns out that Ned’s preternatural kindness, good humor, and patience have their limits. When his house is destroyed in a freak hurricane, Springfield’s residents come together to help rebuild it. Unfortunately, in typical Springfield fashion, they do such a poor job that the new house is unlivable. Ned finally loses his temper in a glorious, unhinged rant that lets everyone know exactly their problem. Seeing Ned tear into the foibles, delusions, and stupidity of his fellow Springfielders is epic indeed. And of course, he saves his most devastating zinger for his tormentor—Homer himself. Ned’s suppressing his anger was definitely unhealthy, but it was far from unjustified, especially considering his treatment by Homer and others.