Abridged Post-Classic Simpsons

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B-Boy

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B-Boy's Abridged Post-Classic Simpsons

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Preface
The golden age of The Simpsons lasted for eight glorious years and comprised nearly 200 episodes, becoming an indelible part of our collective consciousness. Only a relatively small number of scripted television shows last half as long and even fewer can claim to have had such a seismic cultural impact or sustained such stratospheric standards of excellence. Yet nothing lasts forever and all good things must come to an end. Even The Simpsons was no exception to that rule. The eighth season stretched the show to its creative limits and, in doing so, created the first noticeable chinks in what had previously been an impregnable armour. The subsequent decline was swift and inexorable. During season nine, it became increasingly clear that The Simpsons had reached the end of its natural lifespan.

The show should have ended there, closing up shop and walking gracefully into the sunset with its head held high. It would have been almost peerless in its consistency of extraordinary quality, legendary in its calibre of satirical hilarity, and timeless in its representation of late 20th century America. Yet The Simpsons endured. Somehow, astonishingly, it continues uninterrupted to this day. A mind-boggling 24 seasons – 500 episodes and change – have aired since 1997 when the warning signs first appeared, dwarfing the venerated classic era three to one. Seasons 33 and 34 are in the pipeline, further renewals seem almost inevitable, and no end appears to be in sight. Even as its live ratings dwindle and its cultural relevance evaporates, the show perseveres and one wonders whether anything save the fall of civilisation will stop it at this point.

The last two decades of The Simpsons have been widely and summarily dismissed by casual and hardcore fans alike. Almost everyone agrees that the show has fundamentally changed for the worse and is less than a shadow of what it once was. That assessment is true – The Simpsons has unquestionably aged and deteriorated – but does this mean that every episode from the last two decades is instantly and intrinsically bad or that the show has been entirely devoid of value since the turn of the century? I'm not so sure. Would that not be akin to claiming that life becomes meaningless or worthless when we get older and inevitably discover that our bodies are not as strong and our minds are not as sharp as they once were? Okay, I realise that’s a bit fallacious, but I like the principal and think it can be applied to the show.

Like us, The Simpsons may never be able to recapture the glory of its youth. Yet it still has flashes of vitality, creativity, humour, and warmth even now which makes it worthwhile. This is why a small contingent of dedicated viewers continue watching. It’s not because they think the show is as good as ever (well, some do and they’re nuts) or live in hope that another golden age will eventually come around (it won't) – it’s simply that the stories and characters as they are can still make them smile and laugh. I myself still find joy and meaning in some of what the show has to offer. Rejecting the entire body of work that constitutes post-classic Simpsons is a tad unfair. All it needs is some, admittedly significant, modifications by which I mean removing its worst transgressions and reassembling the leftovers.

That really gets to the heart of what I want to achieve here. Disney+ has made The Simpsons more accessible than ever, but having to tolerate the trash to find the occasional gem is hardly motivating. My goal is to condense the post-classic era into a more palatable form by compiling twelve seasons and excising most of what I consider to be the worst episodes. This will be broken down into two seasons run by Mike Scully (analogous to his predecessors), four SD seasons run by Al Jean, and six HD seasons run by Jean and Matt Selman. A seventh isn’t out of the question (after all, the show is still on the air and additional episodes worthy of inclusion may present themselves), but isn’t currently planned. I’m particularly happy with and proud of the final season I’ve compiled – a carefully curated selection of episodes that provide closure to the show.

My posts will contain scores and comments for each episode that elucidate my reasoning for its selection. I welcome comments of your own and I hope this will generate some lively discussion about post-classic Simpsons. I like to think that this will cast the post-classic era of the show in a slightly more positive light and offer an abridged version worthy of at least cursory interest. I don’t pretend to know what I’m talking about half the time, but I love this show and its characters with every fibre of my being. Maybe that’s enough.

Below are some hyperlinks to each post for your convenience. Enjoy!

Season 9
Season 10
Season 11
Season 12
Season 13
Season 14 (Part 1)
 
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B-Boy's Abridged Post-Classic Simpsons

Season 9

My version of season nine isn't too dissimilar from the one we have now. I consider season nine to be semi-classic – a rather strange yet curious interbellum signalling the end of the comparatively brief golden age and the dawn of the interminable post-classic era. Only a few minor adjustments seemed necessary. As such, this will be the least interesting of my revised seasons. Some episodes have been re-positioned and others have been replaced with analogues plucked from later Scully seasons.

Without further ado:

1. The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Jim Reardon

Writer: Ian Maxtone-Graham

IMDB Score: 9.1 / 10

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
Probably my favourite ‘travel’ episode of the series, avoiding pitfalls that have tarnished others like it in the years since. It's surreal to think that this show was nearing the end of its first decade on the air and the twin towers still existed. As such, it feels atypically dated for a classic episode and generates some rather uncomfortable feelings especially during the scenes set at the towers themselves. In any case, as a season eight holdover, it unequivocally qualifies as a classic episode and I see no reason to change it.

2. The Principal and the Pauper

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Steven Dean Moore

Writer: Ken Keeler

IMDB Score: 6.8 / 10

Personal Score: 3/5

Comments:
Another season eight holdover and therefore deserving of a place regardless of its problematic nature. The episode has attracted significant controversy over the years and earned an unfair reputation for heralding the decline of the show, but I can appreciate Ken Keeler’s attempt at deconstructing our basic assumptions of one of its characters even if that did create a dangerous precedent. Like Homer’s Enemy, the thesis may have worked better had The Simpsons ended when it was supposed to.

3. Lisa the Simpson

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Susie Dietter

Writer: Ned Goldreyer

IMDB Score: 8.0 / 10

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
Lisa the Simpson - the third and final season eight holdover - originally aired as the 17th episode of season nine. It was a bizarre choice, effectively separating it from the body of work Oakley and Weinstein produced and conflating it with Scully's. The relevance and potency of the episode's themes are also diminished as a result. Disney+ has corrected this anomaly, repositioning the episode to third spot which is exactly where it should be – where it should always have been.

For all intents and purposes, Lisa the Simpson is the swan song of the classic era. It's a lovely meditation on the fear of getting older and the inevitability of decline, reminding us that all things are finite and to celebrate them in the brief moment of time that they exist. It's the show reflecting on its mortality, anticipating its downfall, refusing to rest on its laurels, and warning against compromise. I believe this to be one of the best episodes O&W produced and it's certainly the last breath of the golden age firing on all cylinders.

4. Treehouse of Horror VIII

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Mark Kirkland

Writer: Mike Scully, David X. Cohen & Ned Goldreyer

Personal Score: 4/5

Comments:
As the best all-round Halloween special of the post-classic era, this one remains intact. The third segment is a bit weak, but the overall package is pretty strong and I felt it was unnecessary to chop and change it.

5. The Cartridge Family

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Pete Michels

Writer: John Swartzwelder

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
One of the best Scully episode. Despite some heavy-handed satire, the comedy is off-the-chain and the ending does enough to redeem a clueless rather than Jerkass Homer (who isn't any worse than he was in, say, Homer Goes to College or Boy-Scoutz ‘n the Hood).

6. Bart the Mother

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Original Season: Season 10

Director: Steven Dean Moore

Writer: David X. Cohen

Personal Score: 4/5

Comments:
My first big change. The original episode here, Bart Star, indulged in many of the egregious excesses we now associate with the Scully era – including, but not limited to, pervasive mean-spiritedness and Jerkass Homer. Bart the Mother fares much better. The characters are more likable and the focus on the mother/son relationship is refreshing (even if it’s a slightly poorer retread of Marge Be Not Proud).

7. The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Steven Dean Moore

Writer: Richard Appel

Personal Score: 4/5

Comments:
A pretty straightforward sitcom story with all the typical clichés therein, but without any of the mockery that previously defined the show. It’s an important episode though, permanently shaking up the status quo. Most of these early Scully episodes are more restrained and easier to stomach which, in turn, makes it easier to gloss over their shortcomings. I really enjoy this one for the most part despite its relative banality and it’s easily the best of the Apu/Manjula stories.

8. Lisa the Skeptic

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Neil Affleck

Writer: David X. Cohen

Personal Score: 4/5

Comments:
I realise this episode isn't too popular in some circles. It’s true that Lisa is irritatingly self-righteous and dismissive. Her open-mindedness and curiosity is conspicuously absent. That said, I think the heart and mind of the episode is in the right place – the execution is just a bit lacking. I enjoy the satire about easily influenced masses and predatory commercialism plus Homer’s get-rich-quick scheme is delightfully understated and the final moment is nice.

9. Realty Bites

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Swinton Scott

Writer: Dan Greaney

Personal Score: 4/5

Comments:
Not bad for a post-classic Marge-centric episode. Phil Hartman always elevates the show and even Homer's wacky antics don't spoil the episode too much for me so I’m happy to include it in the list.

10. Grift of the Magi

Original Season:
Season 11

Director: Matthew Nastuk

Writer: Tom Martin

Personal Score: 3/5

Comments:
This episode is a bit weak, but I’m saving Miracle on Evergreen Terrace for later and I still want a Christmas episode. There aren’t many to choose from in the Scully era and, Miracle on Evergreen Terrace notwithstanding, this is probably the best of them. The corporate satire is serviceable, the Springfield Elementary scenes are pretty good, and the sequence with Homer and the kids stealing the Funzo toys is, well, fun.

11. Lisa’s Sax

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Dominic Polcino

Writer: Al Jean

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
All Singing, All Dancing was a perfunctory clip-show and I much prefer to watch this instead. It’s the weakest of the classic flashback episodes, but I still love the story and it caps off a stellar pentalogy that began with The Way We Was. Homer is in top form, the story effortlessly juggles multiple character threads, and the ending is very affecting.

12. Homer to the Max

Original Season:
Season 10

Director: Pete Michels

Writer: John Swartzwelder

Personal Score: 3/5

Comments:
A thin and directionless story lifted by some great humour in its memorable first half. I really enjoy the Police Cops stuff and even though the third act loses me a bit, there are still plenty of laughs (the Clinton appearance is especially good).

13. The Joy of Sect

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Steven Dean Moore

Writer: Steve O'Donnell

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
This episode, run by David Mirkin, delivers a scathing critique of cults with relentless hilarity and is a 'joy' to watch. I really like how it’s Marge who turns out to be one of the few people who are resistant to the Movementarians. This could easily slot into seasons five or six and is an instant inclusion as far as I'm concerned.

14. Wild Barts Can’t Be Broken

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Original Season: Season 10

Director: Mark Ervin

Writer: Larry Doyle

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
Y’know, I don’t mind Das Bus, but it’s unquestionably outlandish and has no real conclusion. I’m still not sure what, if anything, that episode is about aside from being a collection of lazy references to Lord of the Files. It’s also hampered by yet another Homer get-rich-quick-scheme. Wild Barts Can’t Be Broken, on the other hand, is significantly better with its equally prominent focus on the children of Springfield. The satire is clear and purposeful, the musical number is truly memorable (and one of the last to qualify as such), and the ending is a stroke of comedic brilliance that mocks the absurdity of the curfew.

15. The Last Temptation of Krust

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Mike B. Anderson

Writer: Donick Cary

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
Low-key one of the best episodes of season nine, offering some great satire of stand-up comedy and a definitive summation of who the talentless comedian really is and what he really stands for. The celebrity guest stars are abundant, but their presence feels natural rather than gratuitous and their idiosyncrasies are captured quite well. The Canyonero advertisement at the end is among my favourite skits of the entire series.

16. Dumbbell Indemnity

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Dominic Polcino

Writer: Ron Hauge

Personal Score: 3/5

Comments:
Mostly unremarkable, but it represents a significant turning point for Moe as a character. If The Love-Matic Grampa was a test to see how successful Moe could be as a sympathetic lovelorn outcast rather than just an unsavoury bartender, then this is the full commitment to that direction – one that defines the character in the post-classic era for better or worse. It therefore has its place even if it doesn’t rise above middling due to a stock sitcom story, an unmemorable guest character, and an excess of ‘sidekick Homer’ shenanigans that are all too common in the Scully era.

17. Lisa Gets an ‘A’

Original Season: Season 10

Director: Bob Anderson

Writer: Ian Maxtone-Graham

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
Lisa struggles with an internal dilemma and has to make a decision about what kind of person she is. It sounds like Lisa the Simpson, but it isn’t. Instead, it’s probably my favourite episode from season ten. I’ve always loved this one – the moral quandary is a relatable one, there’s some decent satire of school funding, and the Comptroller Atkins fake-out is effective. The Pinchy B-plot is a bit ridiculous and the ending is mildly unsettling, but it’s just so wholesome and never fails to bring a smile to my face.

18. This Little Wiggy

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Neil Affleck

Writer: Dan Greaney

Personal Score: 4/5

Comments:
Really good up up until one of the most disgraceful endings of the series. I love the pairing of Bart and Ralph, the bullies are put to great use, and Ralph himself is in fine form. That is, until things unravel in the final moments when the show makes the shockingly mean-spirited suggestion that he’s psychotic and violent. It was completely unnecessary, deeply offensive and irrevocably harmful. Still, I really like the episode up until then and it’s probably the best use of Ralph in the post-classic era (aside from a few one-liners here and there). Just turn it off before the leprechaun appears.

19. Simpson Tide

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Milton Gray

Writer: Joshua Sternin & Jeffrey Ventimilia

Personal Score: 4/5

Comments:
The heavy contemporary references and some audacious gags prevent the episode from being a great one, but it’s still worthwhile for some solid moments. This includes the “it’s my first day” gag that bookends the episode and the Grampa interview, both of which are among my favourite gags of the series.

20. The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace

Original Season:
Season 10

Director: Mark Kirkland

Writer: John Swartzwelder

Personal Score: 3/5

Comments:
I debated whether to retain The Trouble with Trillions or substitute it with this, both of which are unremarkable and problematic for different reasons. I ended up choosing this if only because it has a more grounded third act and an actual resolution that doesn’t expect the viewer to do the work. Plus, Homer is relatively tame in this - there are certainly more egregious examples of his Jerkass behaviour throughout the Scully era.

21. Girly Edition

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Mark Kirkland

Writer: Larry Doyle

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
A criminally underrated episode. It mind-boggling that Scully and the team were capable of producing episodes of such quality – not classic-era levels of greatness, but more than good enough for a show a decade old – yet flew off the handle so quickly in less than a year. Girly Edition is a lot of fun, making great use of the sibling rivalry dynamic. The soft news satire is just as relevant today, Crazy Cat Lady’s inaugural appearance is one of her best, and the B-plot is hilarious. In fact, Homer is great here as is usually the case when he's used in small doses.

22. Hungry, Hungry Homer

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Original Season: Season 12

Director: Nancy Kruse

Writer: John Swartzwelder

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
In Trash of the Titans, Homer goes on a populist crusade against public office and callously destroys the town with his ineptitude. In Hungry, Hungry Homer, he goes on a moral crusade against corporate greed and heroically saves the local baseball team from being relocated. I know which one I prefer to watch. There’s something mildly fickle about Homer’s principles (“that’s the kind of guy I am this week”), but his admirable commitment to uncovering the truth and the triumphant ending that vindicates him seal the episode as one of the best that Scully produced over the course of his four-year tenure.

23. King of the Hill

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Steven Dean Moore

Writer: John Swartzwelder

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
John Swartzwelder sure took a nosedive after this. I’m a sucker for episodes in which Homer genuinely strives to be a better husband and/or Dad. The desire to improve himself in this one is believable and well-motivated even if it's reminiscent of Deep Space Homer. It stands well enough on its own though with its focus on the father/son relationship, some fantastic bait-and-switch gags, and an ending of understated sweetness and levity.

24. Lost Our Lisa

Original Season:
Season 9

Director: Pete Michels

Writer: Brian Scully

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
I reckon this gets a bad rap. Homer is reckless, impulsive and seemingly impervious to damage, but he’s not an asshole and the moment he shares with Lisa at the exhibit is quite beautiful. Despite some sitcommy elements, I find it very endearing and watchable.

25. Natural Born Kissers

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Original Season: Season 9

Director: Klay Hall

Writer: Matt Selman

Personal Score: 5/5

Comments:
Matt Selman’s first writing contribution to the show is a winner for me. It’s a great variation of the marital troubles trope without any contrived conflicts. The story rings true, the adventure is hilariously bold, and the set-pieces are suitably epic for a finale. Plus, I won’t lie, I piss myself laughing every time Homer slides up the Church. I’ve got simple tastes.
 
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Oh my, this is an very interesting project you've got there, [MENTION=22979]bboynexus[/MENTION].

First off, I pretty much agree with your overall opening statements, maybe especially that part about not being one of those who just blindly discard the post-classic seasons/modern era of the show as worthless without anything of merit. The show is not as great as it used to but that hasn't meant that everthing that came after the first 8 or 9 seasons should be tossed away into the garbage bin and there are a lot of good to great episodes (including some gems) in there, even going as far as into the current days of the HD era (I will admit that "post-classic" is term I do tend to use describing the post-season 8 seasons despite not discarding them like so many classic era fans do).

Anyhow, as for your version of the ninth season, I'd say it is a good selection overall with a lot of picks that make good sense (ranging from the average to good ones). The only one I really think feels out of place is 'The Great Money Caper', which I don't dislike and does have good things in it, but it is average and I'm not a big fan of it; just feels like one of those episodes that I'd skip if I were to construct my own seasons (like you are doing here) and for a middling episode I would instead have 'Trash of The Titans' (if only because of that pretty solid and on-point political satire, which has aged really quite well) but this is your list and I respect your choices.

I'll follow this thing you have started for sure. Looking forward to see your own season 10.
 
Really interesting stuff here. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone really dislike Das Bus, although I can definitely see someone having a problem with the ending or lack thereof. I love Girly Edition as well; it’s one of the best of season 9. Really, I just love season 9. The Trouble With Trillions is the weakest of the season for me, and The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace is one of my favorites of (the admittedly much weaker) season 10.

I don’t remember if it was you who said it yesterday too, but I saw someone take objection to the ending of This Little Wiggy there as well. I’ve never seen people really dislike that ending; I think there are bigger problems with that episode, such as the beginning of Ralph’s decline into a non sequitur machine.

I’ll follow this too. Looking forward to seeing your next installment.
 
I don’t remember if it was you who said it yesterday too, but I saw someone take objection to the ending of This Little Wiggy there as well. I’ve never seen people really dislike that ending; I think there are bigger problems with that episode, such as the beginning of Ralph’s decline into a non sequitur machine.

That was me, Panther, yes and I agree that there are other issues with the episode, but I just can't stomach that ending.

With regards to Das Bus, I just struggle to see what the point is? What is the episode trying to say? How does it subvert the source material from which it takes (extensive) inspiration?
 
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I'm surprised you gave 'King Of The Hill' as well as 'Lost Our Lisa' top ratings, but positively so. I think they are really good too as well as very memorable and underappreciated. Both of them do well with the plots and have some of the best humor of season 9, including a lot of good wacky gags. One of the best instances of a solid couple of consecutive episodes in the Scully era.

(Eh, might just add 'Natural Born Kissers' to make it three really good consecutive episodes. Season 9 ended pretty strongly now that I think of it).
 
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I tend to grade an episode in isolation (though not always) and how well it works on its own terms. King of the Hill and Lost Our Lisa aren't what I would consider classic episodes, but they're really good at what they do and I can watch them over and over again which is the surest sign of success.
 
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Personally, I would have left season 9 intact even with its problematic episodes and I would have started changing things in season 10, compiling a whole new season with the best of seasons 10, 11 and 12.
 
Wow, this gonna be really, really interesting to follow up. If I remember correctly, your first post on the forum (or at least the first time I read you) was a suggestion to compile the best post-classic season, so it is intriguing how are you immersing in your own challenge.

I firmly think that a post-classic season generally has between 8 and 10 worth-watching episodes (that is, a 4/5 or more in my books). According to that, there is material for about 10 high-quality seasons, which is the goal you established. I also liked the conditions of two Scully seasons, four SD seasons of Al Jean, and four HD seasons. That's the same division I'd do if I'd have had this idea. I'm going to share my opinions of your first season later but, first of all, I want to thank you for starting this promising initiative.

I want to ask, if I can get ahead to the upcoming seasons, are you going to take into account continuity? I mean, for example, Flanders' Ladder (which you described as one of your HD favorites episodes) could not have existed without Alone Again, Natura-diddly (which you've said is the worst of the series). How will you handle that?
 
I think that some seasons have way less than 10 worth watching episodes. They may have 10 watchable episodes, but not 10 episodes that will become iconic or worth revisiting.
Overall I agree with the 10 seasons goal, but I don't think any of them could reach something even similar to the first 8 seasons.
 
I'm not sure I completely understand your goal here, and I disagree with some of the episode choices. I don't know what your cutoff is and that's very subjective but I think 10 seasons might be too difficult to program.
 
With the HD era I could compile 1, maybe 2 if I really, really stretched, but even that I'm not really sure of. Anything more than that would be impossible.

Generally I really like your list so far. A lot of underappreciated gems, including the controversial The Principal And The Pauper. I think Lisa The Simpson is extremely overrated, but I can see why someone values it so much, and it's still not a bad episode or anything.
 
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Personally, I would have left season 9 intact even with its problematic episodes and I would have started changing things in season 10, compiling a whole new season with the best of seasons 10, 11 and 12.

I seriously considered it, but that would have meant keeping Bart Star, All Singing, All Dancing and, ugh, Trash of the Titans...yeah nah. :P

The other thing is that keeping the entirety of season 9 intact would require me to cut just a few too many episodes from seasons 10, 11, 12 and the opening stretch of 13 for my liking.

I want to ask, if I can get ahead to the upcoming seasons, are you going to take into account continuity? I mean, for example, Flanders' Ladder (which you described as one of your HD favorites episodes) could not have existed without Alone Again, Natura-diddly (which you've said is the worst of the series). How will you handle that?

Great question! Unfortunately, yes, I will be accounting for major events that affect continuity. Which means that as much as I absolutely despise Alone Again, Natura-Diddily, it will be included in my version of season ten.

I think that some seasons have way less than 10 worth watching episodes. They may have 10 watchable episodes, but not 10 episodes that will become iconic or worth revisiting.
Overall I agree with the 10 seasons goal, but I don't think any of them could reach something even similar to the first 8 seasons.

No argument here! Like I said, the goal isn't to compile the best of the best (that would be closer to 5 seasons at most rather than 10). I'm not trying to erase too much of history here.

I'm not sure I completely understand your goal here, and I disagree with some of the episode choices. I don't know what your cutoff is and that's very subjective but I think 10 seasons might be too difficult to program.

Not sure I can make it any clearer? Do you have any questions you'd like me to answer?
 
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Well, I decided to accompany [MENTION=22979]bboynexus[/MENTION]'s project pointing out some random comments while I read his opinions. This is an unbeatable opportunity to a big debate and I want to participate and also foment it. Here I go with my feelings of this season 9.

• In this utopia where there is no decline – or there is just a slight one – The Principal and the Pauper would not have been so hated by the fans, so I found its inclusion rather accurate.

• Regarding the segments of Treehouses of Horror, I would not even consider to include "Easy Bake-Coven". Fly vs. Fly, Hell Toupeé, The Terror of Tiny Toon, I Know What You Diddily-Iddly-Did, and Night of the Dolphins would be automatic choices for me, and then analyze which one deserves to be the sixth in discord to complete the specials.

• After seeing Grift of the Magi in season 9, and the spoiler that Miracle on Evergreen Terrace will be part of your season 10, I deduce that Skinner's Sense of Snow won't make the cut and if so, that's odd since it is easily my favorite Christmas story of the Scully years.

11. Lisa’s Sax

It caps off a stellar quadrilogy that began with The Way We Was.
What are the other two episodes? I've always talked about a quadrilogy too, but in my criteria, it's formed by The Way We Was, I Married Marge, Lisa's First Word, and And Maggie Makes Three.

• I can understand your debate between Das Bus and Wild Bart's Can't Be Broken, and also why you selected the second. But I think there must be space for both of them. Besides the problems it may possess, Das Bus is great for me. On a side note, I really hate Kids vs. Adults song.

• I obviously disagree with some selections (this is natural in such a subjective work), but the most I did is The Last Temptation of Krusty. It's one of my least favorites of season 9. Nothing personal against Krusty, but I think I'd leave aside every episode he is the center of except for Once Upon a Time in Springfield.
 
• After seeing Grift of the Magi in season 9, and the spoiler that Miracle on Evergreen Terrace will be part of your season 10, I deduce that Skinner's Sense of Snow won't make the cut and if so, that's odd since it is easily my favorite Christmas story of the Scully years.

Rest assured, Skinner's Sense of Snow makes the cut. ;)

I'm not sure I'd classify it as a Christmas episode as such. The holiday theme is very peripheral.

What are the other two episodes? I've always talked about a quadrilogy too, but in my criteria, it's formed by The Way We Was, I Married Marge, Lisa's First Word, and And Maggie Makes Three.

D'oh! You're absolutely right. I meant to say pentalogy.

I can understand your debate between Das Bus and Wild Bart's Can't Be Broken, and also why you selected the second. But I think there must be space for both of them. Besides the problems it may possess, Das Bus is great for me. On a side note, I really hate Kids vs. Adults song.

I stand by my choice here. Das Bus really is one of those episodes I could take or leave. In the end, I decided to leave it out for reasons I've mentioned in a couple of posts above. Not to mention it feels a bit like a Saturday Morning Cartoon.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Szyslak! It's exactly what I was hoping for.
 
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I personally think that the perfect quadrilogy of the episodes set in the past are The Way We Was, I Married Marge, Lisa's First Word and And Maggie Makes Three.

Those episodes are completely perfect and the ones I take as canon. Lisa's Sax is also a good episode, in fact it's in my book the last truly great episode narrating the past of the series.
However, I don't like it as much as the other four, though I do like the episode and I consider it as the last canon episode when it comes to the past.
 
I personally think that the perfect quadrilogy of the episodes set in the past are The Way We Was, I Married Marge, Lisa's First Word and And Maggie Makes Three.

Those episodes are completely perfect and the ones I take as canon. Lisa's Sax is also a good episode, in fact it's in my book the last truly great episode narrating the past of the series.
However, I don't like it as much as the other four, though I do like the episode and I consider it as the last canon episode when it comes to the past.

Those four episodes sure set a high bar. You're right that Lisa's Sax doesn't quite measure up, but it's still really good. Whereas the others get full marks, Lisa's Sax is probably a 4.5/5 or a 9/10 for me.
 
I'd say Lisa's Sax doesn't fit in the saga, not because of its quality, but because of the fact that it is not a story about the origin of The Simpsons. I mean, The Way We Was is about how Homer meets Marge, while I Married Marge, Lisa's First Word, and And Maggie Makes Three are about how the kids were born. Those are all the essential stories of the past. I'd discuss if The Way We Weren't could be included in this category because it was the actual story of when Homer and Marge dated for the first time but I don't know why I can't do it.

Then you have episodes like Homer's Barbershop Quarter, Lisa's Sax, The Blunder Years, To Cur with Love or Fland Canyon that tells a determined story set in the past but they are not indispensable to understand where The Simpsons come from. Those are like other type of flashbacks under my perspective.

And well, you also have episodes like That 90s Show that looking desperately for a story tries to modify the established for the original quadrilogy, but that's another debate.
 
I'd say Lisa's Sax doesn't fit in the saga, not because of its quality, but because of the fact that it is not a story about the origin of The Simpsons. I mean, The Way We Was is about how Homer meets Marge, while I Married Marge, Lisa's First Word, and And Maggie Makes Three are about how the kids were born. Those are all the essential stories of the past. I'd discuss if The Way We Weren't could be included in this category because it was the actual story of when Homer and Marge dated for the first time but I don't know why I can't do it.

Then you have episodes like Homer's Barbershop Quarter, Lisa's Sax, The Blunder Years, To Cur with Love or Fland Canyon that tells a determined story set in the past but they are not indispensable to understand where The Simpsons come from. Those are like other type of flashbacks under my perspective.

And well, you also have episodes like That 90s Show that looking desperately for a story tries to modify the established for the original quadrilogy, but that's another debate.

I agree with you. And I wouldn't consider The Way we Weren't an essential story. Mainly because we are discussing the perfect quadrilogy of episodes and in terms of quality The Way We Weren't isn't even close to the episodes we're talking about.
Besides, this four episodes all aired during the Classic era whereas The Way We Weren't didn't.
In my book it's not only the perfect quality that makes this quadrilogy essential but also the fact that they aired during the Classic era of the show, when The Simpsons were puré gold and defined popular culture.

There are very good episodes like Barthood in the new seasons but even if it were as good as the quadrilogy (which it isn't) it just aired too late on the show to count as such.
The quadrilogy is perfect not only because of quality but because they aired during the years that defined the Simpsons as a global phenomena and the reason why they still are on air today.
Basically the Classic era is essential to the show itself as an entity whereas the other seasons are not despite how good an episode may be.
That's why the quadrilogy will always remain as the standard canon for past episodes.
 
I think Lisa's Sax is best described as a coda to the classic-era flashback stories.
 
Good idea, and good list. There are lots of quality latter day episodes that most people will never get to see just because they disregard everything after season 9, so I'm intrigued by the idea of a version of the show where the episodes which damaged the show's reputation are gone and we're left with the ones worthy of holding the moniker. Maybe if this was the show we got then the concept of a "classic era" and "post-classic era" would've never originated. I mean, it does say something about the Simpson's sudden and rapid decline in quality when people have a semi-clear cut-off point for the end of its golden years, whereas with other long-running show such as 'Family Guy' and 'South Park' people are a lot more vague and uncertain on when their quality started to dip.

However, you're right that people won't agree with all of your choices. While there are, of course, the episodes universally agreed to be bad (we all know the ones), a large chuck will be subjective choices. I for one, probably wouldn't have changed season 9 at all (with the exception of 'All Singing, All Dancing'). I've always maintained that the show's decline begins with 'When You Dish Upon a Star'. And to reiterate someone else's point, 'The Great Money Caper' is a BAD BAAAAAD episode. It would be one of the first Scully eps on my list to get the chop. If your problem with 'Das Bus' was the ending, then 'The Great Money Caper's ending is that turned up to 11. Its disrespect for the viewer is on the level of 'Saddlesore Galactica'. I'd definitely supplement 'The Great Money Caper' for 'Das Bus' or 'Trash of the Titans'. I think 'Bart Star' and 'Bart Carny' are worth salvaging too. Weakest ep of season 9 was probably 'The Trouble with Trillions', if only for its terrible third act.

I made my own list trying to abridge just the Scully years into two seasons a while back, and this is how I did it: https://www.nohomers.net/showthread...tical-seasons-9-amp-10)&p=3806616#post3806616

It might help to take things like scores on R&R threads, IMDB ratings, and any other online reviews you can find on individual episodes into account, as if you're trying to create a version of the show that would've held up past season 9, then overall public perception of an episode is important. For example, I dislike 'Flander's Ladder' and 'Gone Maggie Gone', but they have positive reception so I'd probably include them in my list. I believe 'Trash of the Titans' is the second highest rated episode of season 9, and has a better IMDB score than a significant amount of episodes from seasons 7 and 8. The reverse is true too. It's extremely subjective, but a lot of people hold 'The Principal and the Pauper' responsible for heralding the end of the show's glory days, so maybe if it were gone people wouldn't have a spot to pinpoint where the show's reputation was destroyed.

Still, I like what you're doing. It will be cool to reach an unofficial consensus on what post-classics episodes are worth watching and why.
 
However, you're right that people won't agree with all of your choices. While there are, of course, the episodes universally agreed to be bad (we all know the ones), a large chuck will be subjective choices. I for one, probably wouldn't have changed season 9 at all (with the exception of 'All Singing, All Dancing'). I've always maintained that the show's decline begins with 'When You Dish Upon a Star'. And to reiterate someone else's point, 'The Great Money Caper' is a BAD BAAAAAD episode. It would be one of the first Scully eps on my list to get the chop. If your problem with 'Das Bus' was the ending, then 'The Great Money Caper's ending is that turned up to 11. Its disrespect for the viewer is on the level of 'Saddlesore Galactica'. I'd definitely supplement 'The Great Money Caper' for 'Das Bus' or 'Trash of the Titans'. I think 'Bart Star' and 'Bart Carny' are worth salvaging too. Weakest ep of season 9 was probably 'The Trouble with Trillions', if only for its terrible third act.

A couple of things:

Das Bus is a vacuous episode - entertaining in the shallowest possible ways, but I don't think it has anything interesting or insightful to say. As I said above, it's a lazy mimicry of Lord of the Flies - I'm not sure I'd even call it parody. It's the kind of thing you would expect to see in the numerous anthology episodes (including many of the Halloween specials) that follow and this very much feels like a precursor to those.

I hate Trash of the Titans. It remains in my bottom 10 episodes of all time. Homer is a narcissistic, psychotic and destructive force (the antithesis of his character) who deliberately attempts to murder the commissioner, callously destroys the entire town without being held accountable for his crimes, and makes no attempt at recompense. The reset button is one of the most ludicrous of the entire series. It's an episode that would have been inconceivable less than a year earlier under Oakley and Weinstein and I'm personally flabbergasted that anyone could like it or consider it anything but the surest sign yet that the decline was in full force by that stage.

To reiterate, I don't think The Great Money Caper is particularly good. However, like Homer vs. Dignity, the vitriol levied against it (particularly the "surf's up" ending) is a bit overblown.

It might help to take things like scores on R&R threads, IMDB ratings, and any other online reviews you can find on individual episodes into account, as if you're trying to create a version of the show that would've held up past season 9, then overall public perception of an episode is important. For example, I dislike 'Flander's Ladder' and 'Gone Maggie Gone', but they have positive reception so I'd probably include them in my list. I believe 'Trash of the Titans' is the second highest rated episode of season 9, and has a better IMDB score than a significant amount of episodes from seasons 7 and 8. The reverse is true too. It's extremely subjective, but a lot of people hold 'The Principal and the Pauper' responsible for heralding the end of the show's glory days, so maybe if it were gone people wouldn't have a spot to pinpoint where the show's reputation was destroyed.

I appreciate that there will be disagreement and that other people may love the episodes that I hate, but with all due respect to those divergent opinions, consensus means very little to me in matters such as these. As I said in my opening post, I'm doing this principally for me and sharing the results to generate some discussion. If people want to pick my choices apart, that's great - I welcome it and I'm certainly open to reconsidering some of them if an argument is convincing enough - but I won't be bending over backwards to accommodate them.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts J.J.Watts!

more like a preview for the jean era

Yes, yes, we all know how you feel about Lisa's Sax, Sam. :P
 
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I hate Trash of the Titans. It remains in my bottom 10 episodes of all time. Homer is a narcissistic, psychotic and destructive force (the antithesis of his character) who deliberately attempts to murder the commissioner, callously destroys the entire town without being held accountable for his crimes, and makes no attempt at recompense. The reset button is one of the most ludicrous of the entire series. It's an episode that would have been inconceivable less than a year earlier under Oakley and Weinstein and I'm personally flabbergasted that anyone could like it or consider it anything but the surest sign yet that the decline was in full force by that stage.

I wasn't aware that you hated it that much (in hindsight I'm surprised you didn't comment on how I'd swap out 'The Great Money Caper' for it). Do you think the political satire of it is garbage as well?

I find it's a flawed episode for sure and the perfect example of an wacky Scully episode with jerkass Homer but the satire and a bunch of nice jokes keeps me from discarding it completely. I think that, while still being an issue, the exaggeration of Homer as a full-on jerkass kinda made sense as part of the satire (he is the antagonist: the aggressive, slandering showman who has no political history and tricks the townsfolk into voting for him in the election with crazy promises). Also, Steve Martin's character is one of the most underrated guest star characters; great "straight man" character with an solid dry down-to-earth humor (his brief concession speech is the icing on the cake).

It's not a strong episode in any way, but that political stuff has aged pretty well (it's essentially 'Homer Does The Trump'), it has some pretty decent humor throughout and a good guest star performance for me to consider it an awful episode. 'The Great Money Caper' has problems as well and they are more or less of the same brand of average to me, though I find more of worth in 'Trash', to be frank.
 
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Satire about political populism and cults of personalities that revolve around unachievable or unsustainable goals which appeal to the lowest common denominator is fine - except Ian Maxtone-Graham delivers it with the subtlety of a sledgehammer and with nowhere near the finesse or subversion of the classic-era satires. To quote myself from another thread, he inflicts tremendous damage in the process - including, but not limited to, the character assassination of Homer - and I think whatever value the satire may have on its own is lost as a result.
 
Compared to the satires of season 1-8 (putting it like that since some do still consider 9 classic era) it obviously falls short and could have been done better (and Homer could ideally have been portrayed as much less crazy and less aggressive and it could still work), but taking the satirical story on its own without comparing it to what greatness came before it, I don't think it's all that bad and is amusing despite being mediocre (and I don't take Homer's unlikeable portrayal here seriously. It's not the only time they have really exaggerated a character for the sake of the satire), but I can perfectly understand those, like you, who do hate it and think Homer's portrayal ruined it.
 
This was a great read, and I'm looking forward to seeing the next posts.

I've always enjoyed season 9, so it's good to see so much of it in the first season. I also tend to think that even big parts of 10 were good as well, but you could definitely tell by 11 that they were running out of gas.
 
I would consider season 9 as semi classic and seasons 1-8 as classic. Everything after that is certainly post classic.
I also distinguish between classic era and Golden era. For example for me season 1 is certainly part of the Classic era but Golden era goes from season 2 to 8.
If I want to be even more picky I would say that the absolute best of the Simpsons aired from season 2 to season 7.
I still consider season 8 as part of the Golden era though, just not as strong as the previous six seasons.
Season 9 is an odd season, it's the first one in which the decline starts being notorious while at the same time it probably has the last truly classic episodes of the show (City of New York vs Homer, The Joy of Sect).
That's why I consider it semi classic and the last season I would recommend watching to someone who only wants to watch the absolute best if only for those remaining classic episodes.
Season 10 though is definetely post classic as is everything that followed.

If we only talk about individual episodes though, I would say probabaly the last episode that is very well liked and well remembered not only on the Simpsons community but by the general public is Trilogy of Error.
There were good episodes after that one though, even some which could be considered better, but I feel the show was losing its relevance and influence on popular culture by that point.
Trilogy of Error is definetely well into post classic Simpsons but still not too far away from the classic era and the show was still popular and somewhat relevant.
For that reason I feel is the last episode universally liked by the general public and not only by Simpsons fans.
 
If we only talk about individual episodes though, I would say probabaly the last episode that is very well liked and well remembered not only on the Simpsons community but by the general public is Trilogy of Error.
There were good episodes after that one though, even some which could be considered better, but I feel the show was losing its relevance and influence on popular culture by that point.
Trilogy of Error is definetely well into post classic Simpsons but still not too far away from the classic era and the show was still popular and somewhat relevant.
For that reason I feel is the last episode universally liked by the general public and not only by Simpsons fans.

What about Barthood? That episode is amazingly popular. Everyone praised it, even people that have not watched the show in decades. It was discussed in forums where you can not talk about new episodes without being insulted, it is the absolute favorite episode of the show for some people, there are a lot of videos and forums talking about this one.
 
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I loved Barthood. I think there are definitely good episodes throughout the later seasons, but they just become infrequent, unfortunately.

I vaguely remember an up-tick in quality after The Simpsons Movie, and then again sometime around the HD era.

I'm rewatching the show anyway and I've just finished season 11, and forgot how much I enjoy Behind the Laughter, and I was humming Simpsons Christmas Boogie all the way to work. The Treehouse of Horrow from that season was one of my favourites as well.
 
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