Any good Simpsons episodes after Season 9?

[Spot's Meow]

I don't think the show has become "bad" since season 9, it is just very inconsistent. Even within a specific episode you will have segments that are hilarious followed by ones that don't make you laugh at all. So, it's hard to recommend specific episodes or even remember where the good moments were, because they are sprinkled throughout.

[the G-man]

I religiously DVR'd every episode until this current season. My system was to watch it a given episode for as long as it held my interest or made me laugh. As time went on, I found that I was shutting off most episodes about ten minutes in. This season, I cancelled the season pass and haven't looked back.

Really, the Simpsons has been, at best, an average sitcom (meaning not very good) since 'Season 11.' Yeah, there might have been a decent episode here or there but you could say the same thing about 90% of the shitcoms that have polluted the airwaves.

The only episodes over the past few years that have been slightly above average in my estimation are some of the Halloween specials, and that's only because they aren't constrained by maintain a status quo.

Ultimately, as good as the first nine seasons were, given the ratio of bad seasons to good at this point, I don't think you can actually call 'the Simpsons' a good show, only a long running one. Trying to define the entire run by the early years is akin to saying that 'Lost in Space' wasn't camp merely because the first few episodes were darker in tone than all the ones that came after.

[TheGodBen]

the G-man wrote:

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Ultimately, as good as the first nine seasons were, given the ratio of bad seasons to good at this point, I don't think you can actually call 'the Simpsons' a good show, only a long running one. Trying to define the entire run by the early years is akin to saying that 'Lost in Space' wasn't camp merely because the first few episodes were darker in tone than all the ones that came after.

The problem is that you're underselling just how good the first nine seasons were. The Simpsons wasn't just a good comedy back then, it was the definitive comedy series of the 1990s, and most people would list those first nine years on their own as one of the best television series of all time. There's a reason why the latter fifteen seasons were made, and it has everything to do with those first nine. Viewing the show as the average of all it parts means that you're missing that hugely important caveat.

[Mr_Homn]

TheGodBen wrote:

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The problem is that you're underselling just how good the first nine seasons were. The Simpsons wasn't just a good comedy back then, it was the definitive comedy series of the 1990s, and most people would list those first nine years on their own as one of the best television series of all time. There's a reason why the latter fifteen seasons were made, and it has everything to do with those first nine. Viewing the show as the average of all it parts means that you're missing that hugely important caveat.

I agree, those first 8 or 9 seasons were greatness.

To answer the OP's question: I have not seen a funny episode in a long time. The last funny episode I remember was "Trilogy of Error" from season 12.

[the G-man]

TheGodBen wrote:

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The problem is that you're underselling just how good the first nine seasons were. The Simpsons wasn't just a good comedy back then, it was the definitive comedy series of the 1990s, and most people would list those first nine years on their own as one of the best television series of all time. There's a reason why the latter fifteen seasons were made, and it has everything to do with those first nine. Viewing the show as the average of all it parts means that you're missing that hugely important caveat.

I understand your argument. At his point, however, those brilliant nine seasons are way less than one half of the shows run. It's like trying to argue 'Rocky 1' makes the entire film series Oscar-worthy.

[TheGodBen]

I largely agree, and it is disappointing to know that there are now more bad seasons of The Simpsons than good ones. A child born today has a greater chance of someday stumbling across a crappy episode and having a negative opinion of the whole show, and that's sad. But that doesn't mean it's not worth showing those children the first nine seasons.

There are caveats for both sides. Those that say the show is an average sitcom overall should still point out that the first nine seasons are amazing, and those that say it's one of the best shows ever made need to point out that the show went on way, way past its prime.

[the G-man]

In a way, I almost support the theory if one blog, that there were/are two separate shows: 'the Simpsons,' which ran for nine seasons, and 'Zombie Simpsons,' an inferior reboot that remains on the air.