The Simpsons Thread (Worst. Thread. Ever!)

[Jing]

A picture every day for 39 years

A superb episode.

[benji]

If they had been producing episodes like this one for the last few decades, nobody would be complaining, or comparing it to Family Guy.

[Andrew]

It was definitely one of the more original and creative episodes they've done recently. I wouldn't rank it as my favourite of the current era or up there with any of my all-time favourites from the classic era but as far as the last few seasons are concerned, it's up there.

[Andrew]

E. Pluribus Wiggum was kind of a strange episode. It had its moments and it upheld the tradition of attacking both sides of politics but the abrupt ending without any real resolution hurt the episode in my opinion, a far cry from previous political episodes like Mr Lisa Goes To Washington and Sideshow Bob Roberts. It reminded me of the 400th episode actually, where the story just seemed to get going and suddenly it was over, seemingly halfway through the plot.

[el badman]

but the abrupt ending without any real resolution hurt the episode in my opinion

Same here, I was really surprised to see the episode end on this note, very strange...
It was still pretty enjoyable altogether.

[Sauru]

fully agree, when it ended i was actually surprised, i was waiting to see a "to be continued" or something

[Andrew]

That 90s Show

I'm not one for "Worst. Episode. Ever." or the like, but I just didn't care for the way That 90s Show threw out the history established by far superior episodes. When I watch a new Simpsons episode these days, I often catch myself thinking "This isn't the show I grew up with" and lamenting the way the characters have become quite empty, existing only to tie the jokes together rather than the jokes being seamlessly woven into the plot as in days gone by but I had a different feeling altogether when I was watching this one. I found myself loathing the plot while actually being amused here and there (but not throughout).

That's when it hit me: That 90s Show is a modern day Principal & The Pauper. It had its moments but ultimately you can't truly enjoy the episode unless you buy into the concept and throw out continuity. And nerdy as it might be, I just couldn't do that. Given that most of the characters never age but the show tries to stay current, continuity and a sense of time has become fairly loose since the show's early years (despite some revelations that effectively give the show a timeline) but past events are still acknowledged and events such as Maude Flanders' death or Apu's marriage and kids becoming part of the canon.

Now, for the sake of some nostalgia and jokes about the previous decade (some of which I admittedly enjoyed), so much history has been thrown out the window. Forget Artie Ziff, forget The Be Sharps, forget pretty much everything that happened in the episodes throughout the 90s. On top of everything else, it was another Homer and Marge relationship in trouble episode that once again questioned why there were together and ended it with another superficial resolution, this time Homer developing grunge music.

As I said, the episode had its moments. For reasons I can't even begin to explain, I found Barney belching smoke and filling the bar hilarious and even if some of the 90s jokes being obvious (slow Internet connections, for example), they were enjoyable for the most part. Like Principal & The Pauper, it's a concept that could have worked very well with another show, but not with The Simpsons. It's funny to think that executive producer Al Jean approved of the concept that attempts to make one of his finest works, The Way We Was (along with Mike Reiss and Sam Simon), obselete.

None of the recent seasons have produced any of my all-time favourites but I do think this one is my all-time low. It just threw out too much history without making up for it. Even after 400 episodes, there are surely other things the writers could be doing instead of revising the show's history.

[shadowgrin]

As long as they lay their hands off Stu's history it's going to be fine.

I'm glad Stu never got that picture for his captain's licence, else we won't have Disco Stu and Captain McAllister. Thank Marge Simpson and disco music for that.

Captain Stu doesn't have the same ring to it.
Even a disco dancing captain might not be good at all.

[Andrew]

Love, Springfieldian Style was much better, in part because there can't be poor characterisation in episodes like that. The Lady & The Tramp parody was certainly different in a good way. I have a feeling that Al Jean might have contributed pseudo-Goofy's line about working for Disney. The other two stories were fun too ("Why are you shooting at us? We co-operated fully!" "It's a sex thing" "Say no more!"), I enjoyed the way the Sex Pistols segment conveniently replaced any drug references with the kids eating chocolate rather than going for Family Guy-esque shock humour and having the kids actually doing the drugs implied. Maybe it's just me, but I find the idea Nelson/Sid and Lisa/Nancy freebasing cocoa more amusing than, say, having Bart smoke a joint since there's actually a joke there.

Definitely more enjoyable than the revisionist history that was That 90s Show.

[el badman]

I liked that episode too. I thought it had a different pace compared to the usual stuff, but it was pretty enjoyable overall.

[Andrew]

Last night's episode, The Debarted, would have to be one of my favourites of the current season though I'm probably in the minority there. The Homer/loaner car subplot was alright for the most part but the main plot is the kind of thing I'd like to see more often, mainly because it was reasonably fresh and down to earth, with any silliness being the better kind of Simpsons' silliness. Kind of a "back to basics" approach which I wish they're employ more often. Topher Grace's guest appearance blended in fairly well, though his voice would have been more appropriate for a teenage character.

[Dan's Brain]

Where are you getting these simpsons episodes from Andrew?

[Andrew]

Online. I've no idea where the new eps are up to on Channel Ten as I haven't watched FTA regularly for going on four years.

[benji]

Have you seen The Departed, Andrew?

Like the Christmas episode (forget the title, I'm sure you know it) this one took a movie plot, reworked it into the Simpsons characters, and somehow made it work by engaging one in the plot and wondering what would happen next to solve the outlying mysteries.

[Andrew]

I haven't seen the movie. It still worked though, kind of like the subtle references to Citizen Kane in older episodes as well as the less subtle moments and plots inspired by Citizen Kane such as Mr Burns in "Rosebud".

[Andrew]

Dial N For Nerder

I thought it was another case of the kids' plot being a lot more interesting and well done than the Homer/diet subplot, which took up too much time and barely avoided being the usual Homer/Marge relationship story. Martin's "death" had a fairly predictable twist but it would have been a bit too dark for Bart and Lisa's characters for him to have actually died. The ending itself was fairly good, Martin's tale of survival was rushed and a bit of a letdown but it got the job done.

Nelson's investigation definitely had its moments; "Well, enough burning ants" may not be a classic but it reminded me of some the old "screw the audience" jokes that were a staple of the show in its golden era. Bart's double entendres and Martin's blissful ignorance that he was being insulted worked as well, mainly because of Lisa's interjection before the joke went on for too long. Pretty solid, the last couple of episodes have been what I'd like to see more of moving forward.

[Andrew]

Smoke on the Daughter

It kind of felt like they started with the parody title and built an episode around it. Nothing too awful, nothing too great either. The only part I really laughed at was Quimby asking God for another favour when his mistress revealed she was pregnant. Everything else was just...there.

[el badman]

The only part I really laughed at was Quimby asking God for another favour

Actually, I was wondering if there was en error about this part: the chick calls the mayor Kent as if it was for Kent Brockman, instead of Joe. Was that intentional you think?
I liked it overall though, nothing too amazing but pretty good.

[Joe']

I haven't watched most of the season but i thought Sunday's episode was alright. I loved the gun joke and mayor Quimby's scene.

[Andrew]

Actually, I was wondering if there was en error about this part: the chick calls the mayor Kent as if it was for Kent Brockman, instead of Joe. Was that intentional you think?

I didn't even notice that the first time around. Maybe it was intentional and it was intended to suggest Quimby had given her a false name. If it was unintentional, that'd be a fairly seamless way of covering it up.

[Andrew]

Synopsis for "Papa Don't Leech" (to air April 13th):

Lisa discovers that the town of Springfield hasn't collected millions of dollars worth of taxes. As a result, the town starts collecting from most of the evaders and the only remaining debtor is Lurleen Lumpkin. As the police try to find her, Lurleen stays with the Simpson family. Lurleen is reunited with her father, however, he sells her song to the Dixie Chicks.

In a way, I kind of like the return of characters from the earlier seasons but at the same time the "Hey, remember me?" vibe makes the cameos a little shallow. I don't expect it will come anywhere near "Colonel Homer" but it could be alright.

[Fitzy]

i borrowed the 18th season on dvd off a mate, and i think the newer simpsons episodes arent as good as the old ones. the 24 episode was a classic, though, i loved that. but one thing that brought my piss to a boil was homers whispering, i rekon in every episode there was a joke that involved him whispering something to someone and everyone heard it, i thought they could have done better

[Andrew]

Homer's loud whisper is definitely one of the more annoying running gags in the current era. It's been funny a couple of times but like a lot of themes and jokes in the past few seasons, it's been run into the ground.

[Andrew]

Synopsis for "Papa Don't Leech" (to air April 13th):

Lisa discovers that the town of Springfield hasn't collected millions of dollars worth of taxes. As a result, the town starts collecting from most of the evaders and the only remaining debtor is Lurleen Lumpkin. As the police try to find her, Lurleen stays with the Simpson family. Lurleen is reunited with her father, however, he sells her song to the Dixie Chicks.

In a way, I kind of like the return of characters from the earlier seasons but at the same time the "Hey, remember me?" vibe makes the cameos a little shallow. I don't expect it will come anywhere near "Colonel Homer" but it could be alright.

Pretty much what I expected. The writers seem to think that Homer being a terrible father who wants to leave his family (as opposed to the somewhat boorish but likeable character the classic era established him as being) is amusing. It's not as though Homer's been a character full of admirable traits but I just don't find it funny when they hit us over the head with it. Bart's line about living in a crazy family was good though.

[benji]

Until Lurleen was introduced, that was an awesome episode. Lots of funnies.