Ep 12. Moe Goes From Rags To Riches

Moe Goes From Rags To Riches is the twelfth episode of the twenty-third season of the long-running animated sitcom, The Simpsons. This episode revolves around the lives of its beloved characters, with special focus on Moe Szyslak, the curmudgeonly bartender of Moe's Tavern.

The episode opens with Moe being ridiculed by his customers, who mistake him for a homeless person due to his unkempt appearance and shabby clothing. Feeling embarrassed, Moe decides to go on a walk to clear his head. While walking around Springfield, Moe stumbles upon a hidden gem- an old recipe for an alcoholic beverage that his family invented in the past. Excited by the idea of tasting the drink again, Moe decides to revive the recipe and sell the drink at Moe's Tavern.

However, Moe faces a big obstacle when he tries to secure a hefty loan from a bank to cover his business expenses. Due to his negative credit history and lack of collateral, Moe's loan application is denied. Determined to make his dream a reality and become wealthy, Moe seeks out a humble family of migrant strawberry pickers who live in his tavern's basement, hoping to secure their financial support.

At first, the family is hesitant to support Moe's plan, but eventually agrees after tasting the drink he has created. Using the funds he received from the migrant workers, Moe reopens his bar and starts serving the new drink, which becomes a huge success, transforming him from a struggling bartender into a successful entrepreneur. With his newfound wealth, Moe becomes a bit of a socialite, buying fancy cars and clothes and scaring off all his old bar regulars, including Homer and his friends.

As time goes on, however, Moe realizes that money can't buy happiness, and he begins to suffer from extreme loneliness and depression. He realizes that he has lost touch with his true self and his bar patrons, and decides to return to his old ways, closing down his fancy bar and offering his apology to the people he has hurt. In a touching ending, Moe learns that true happiness and reward come from his relationships and experiences with others, rather than just monetary gain.

Overall, Moe Goes From Rags to Riches is an entertaining and thought-provoking episode that offers a powerful exploration of the dangers of pursuing wealth and success at the expense of one's authentic self and relationships. Through Moe's journey, the show offers an important commentary on the human experience and what really matters in life.