Despite I've usually given just dry numbers of ranks in such typed threads, this time I decided to give my generic view on last season. And don't worry, after I'll watch all the episode in my native language later this year ASAP I will give "dry numbered" analysis
WARRING The follow estimates I made just out of R&R reviews, my preview base, and "one eye" look on the episodes, so I CAN BE WRONG with some things, and probably later [when the season will come to Ukraine] change my mind completely
We can be sure, this season has continued the "tradition" of "
even-numbered seasons are worse than odd-numbered"
(thus, in advance, we can be exited already for the next season). To be fair, this is a
season of disappoints
.
Al Jean faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaliiiiiiiing
That
guy, ok, man (he's 60, anyway) just tired of trying to impress. Lack rehash stories, delivering them, lows-and-lows in quality almost every time (especially, if look on the 2nd half of season). He perhaps refuse of "
let's show anything with A BIT of fun, at least, to make some remarkable moments in really sh*tfull episodes, without so frequent delivering really good episodes" principle, which he performed well since, I guess, season 28 (when the episodes creation technically became easier, and the crew can more to relax) and replace it with short "
let's show any sh*t , without frequent delivering really good episodes". I guess in season 34 Jean again will cut the last part to "
let's show any sh*t"
Luckily, the latter part is still in, and THERE WERE some good episodes in season 32.
Pre-emption
That annoyed
First TH31 and following eps preempted in October in 1 day, before TH should air; then not really Valentines Day gave us "last hours weather preemption. However, because of that, there were episode against postponed Grammy on Mar 14, which... surprisingly earned spring high in ratings
Continuity/incontinuity
Seemed, in the case of lack of ideas, the best way is to redone/reshow/remention some classic show base and deliver it from the other, crazy-lazy, side. It was ODD trying to hype on past glory
All about Eve Matt Selman
Uhh... Hard to say, what happened (happen
s, to be more correct). He's still bright, fresh in ideas, has some interest, trying to "renovate" the show with new tools, namely approaches to work... but i the same time, he burns out. His point of view is often questionable, he DOESN'T CARE of continuity at all (there are still touches to old episodes in his-showrunning eps, though). Other little note: he even REFUSE of classic The Simpsons OPENING to "wide the time for the story". It didn't work in some cases:gatorshrug: . After
10 years of co-showrunning (yes, that was so long time ago), Selman is going to became a majoritarian. In any case, THAT'LL BE DIFFERENT SHOW
A Fat line between showrunners
I remember, just a year ago, I chaise "right words to explain to random fan, which eps. are Jean-runned, which are Selman-runned". NOW almost obvious "good, well-written detailed eps" are Selman's; "full of gags, branched story, jokes-to-face" are Jean's ones. (that rule worked in 92% this season).
Attention, that Jean-Selman border vstill isn't the same as for Bad-Good border. This season that limit was crossed by times
Revision of secondary characters
That came into both S&J episodes. In particular case, that decision was bad idea (I didn't name it, though
). But for others, that was, damn't, good
Writer and Directors
Many freelance writers and many women-writers. That's usually worked.
However, on the dark side, in generic the writing was worse in quality with more annoying twists, lines, stories. Fact, that 4 episodes (3 from season 32) were nominated for WGA award, BUT none winned :-/
The biggest WINNER WRITER (IMHO, so far) Ryan Koh (
under Matt Selman):gatorshock:. His only "The Dad-Feeling Limited" episode considered to be the best of season, with nice story, Award-worth. Actually, it was real surprise for us.
2nd place Dan Vebber (under Selman), effort in "The Last Barfighter"
3rd place Julia Prescott (under Jean) - freelancer, who could gave really good in a while THOH
The biggest LOSER WRITER (IMHO, so far) Rob LaZebnik (
under Al Jean)
. 2 of his episodes (btw, other writing stuff has 1 episode only in QABF... well, except of Cesar Mazariegos). "Manger Things" and "Burger Kings" were really bad. And both under the same showrunner, guess who?..
2nd place Jeff Martin and Samantha Martin - "Yokel Hero", Homer/Cletus, no more comments
3rd place Al Jean and Joel H. Cohen and John Frink - there are just the writers of "The 7 Beer Itch", but that was enough
In the way of directors, the picture isn't so obvious. Just to say: Steven Dean Moore directed "Treehouse of Horror XXXI" & "Three Dreams Denied" & "Manger '700' Things"; Rob Oliver directed "I, Carumbus" & "Sorry Not Sorry" & "Yokel Hero". Should I continue? Just must note Jennifer Moeller, who, perhaps, had more "freedom in the style", and... that was idea both in Selman and Jean cases.
In generic, the animation is still (for 2 years at least) "cold", sterile, with different interesting plans, amazing and not efforts. Cool, in a word
The biggest WINNER DIRECTOR (IMHO, so far) Chris Clements (
under Matt Selman). His usual *04 and *10 episodes were both good this time, and his effort wasn't so ambiguous as others'
2nd place Matthew Nastuk, perhaps, the best director after Rob Oliver (or instead?..)
3rd place Timothy Bailey and Michael Polcino (couldn't choose) - both did good works in their "even considered the worst" episodes, but without something amazing
The biggest LOSER WRITER (IMHO, so far) Matthew Faughnan (
under Matt Selman).
After The Way of the Dog, "Podcast News" was his blend work (however, he did try)
2nd place Steven Dean Moore - TH - great animation; 3DD - "had something..."; MT - NO:-X
3rd place Rob Oliver - after "I, Carumbus" (ZABF-holdover, under Matt Selman) and still acceptable effort in "Sorry not Sorry", "Yokel Hero" ruined ALL[/SIZE]
Hits-and-
Misses
Hits (in my view):
"I, Carumbus"
"Treehouse of Horror XXXI"
"The Dad-Feelings Limited"
"Uncut Femmes"
"The Last Barfighter"
5 (1J/4S) Last season, there were
6 (with equal J/S balance)
Misses (in my view):
"Now Museum, Now You Don't"
"The 7 Beer Itch"
"Wad Goals" (unclear aim of episode; I did watch it)
"Manger Things"
4 (3J/1S) Last season, there were also
4 (only Jean's effort)
other unmentioned episodes are in middle of quality
So, that was MY fresh eye view, wait for "dry numbers" later in year
P.S. It was hard and fun to write this post
