 This episode is generally ranked as being one of the best of all time and is on a number of Top 10 lists ; the BBC stated it is " frequently cited as the show 's best @-@ ever episode " . An Entertainment Weekly article from January 2003 looking back at the top 25 episodes of the series chose this episode as the show 's greatest episode , saying " this episode is virtually flawless , the product of a series at the height of its creative powers -- when the satire was savage and relevant " and " the stuff of syndication legend : Burns facing down brilliant labor kingpin Homer Simpson ; Homer Simpson facing down his own brain ( DENTAL PLAN ! / Lisa needs braces ! ) ; Grampa rattling on about wearing onions on his belt . Last Exit is a glorious symphony of the high and the low , of satirical shots at unions . " In his book , Planet Simpson , Chris Turner calls it the best episode of the series , saying " Episode 9F15 of The Simpsons should be taught in schools , in history , economics , social studies , literature and art class . It 's flawless " . He also called it " the funniest half @-@ hour in TV history " , and provided a full analysis of the episode , only criticizing the chalkboard and couch gags . He maintains that he chose the episode as best ever before Entertainment Weekly 's list was published . 
