(long) Favorite and not so Good Simpsons Episodes, Seasons 9-14

As we know, there was a post not so long ago that simply said that the Simpsons were on the downhill. Even though that may be true, I believe it is not because the show has seen some low points, but because most Simpsons episodes are better than most shows today with the exception of WB's Gilmore Girls.

What follows is my statement of Seasons 9 through 14 with my picks of best and worst episode of the season with what I think of the season as a whole, and honorable mention if any.

Season 9: A above average season for me. Even though most people complain that this is where The Simpsons went downhill, it provided some good moments as well as shocking ones.

Best Episode: Trash of the Titans I Can't exclaim enough about this episode. It has everything we can ask for in a Simpsons episode from political views (Homer's trash policy) and drastic measures (The stores of america create a new holiday in order to create sales) to an over the top musical number.

Honorable Mention: The Cartridge Family Great episode with good sight gags and so on, but I think this episode is not shown in England because it trashes soccer.

Worst Episode: Treehouse of Horror VIII Easily the worst of the Holloween episodes.

Season 10: A very good season for me. I was not happy with some of the episodes, but again a bad Simpsons is not as bad as a cruddy sitcom.

Best Episode: Wild Barts Can't Be Broken Great Episode for me. True this episode may be over the top for some people, but this episode brought out the best in everyone with a suprise ending that I think we all agree on.

Honorable Mention: The Old Man and The "C" Student The Olympic references put this one over the top for me.

Worst Episode: Sunday, Cruddy Sunday Ok plot, but bad execution. The subplot with Marge and Lisa at home really did not work for me, and Homer and Bart at the Super Bowl felt empty.

Season 11: Good season, but while it had some good episodes, any bad season 11 episode could be judged below any bad season 9 show.

Best Episode: Missionary: Impossible Homer a missionary, apparently it's true after he commits fraud againist PBS. Plot was great especially because Homer made the best of the situation. The riff at Fox, at the end, was also pleasing.

Honorable Mention: Faith Off Great episode. Bart doing the faith thing was great to see, but the entire homecoming thing could have been done much better.

Worst Episode: Last Tap Dance in Springfield What were the writers thinking when they wrote this episode. I much rather have seen Bart and Milhouse at Camp.

Season 12: Average season at best because some of the worst episodes aired this season.

Best Episode: Homer vs Dignity I would call this episode the best because it had Homer at his best and Monty Burns at his worst. The pranks at the heart of this episode, are meant to hurt and I am glad Homer wised up.

Honorable Mention: Trilogy of Error This is one of the best episodes of the season only because it wraps three plots into one. If there is one thing I want the writers to do, make an episode like this one, but not so rushed toward the end.

Worst Episode: New Kids on the Blecch Bad plot, I will bypass this episode when the season 12 DVD comes out.

Season 13: This was a somewhat good season, these 22 episodes show what the Simpsons is all about even though some may pale compared to others.

Best Episode: I Am Furious Yellow Question, who else can buy worthless stock and produce a hit internet show, and comic starring Homer? Answer: Bart Simpson. Really I thought the episode was great, and Stan Lee was good as well.

Honorable Mention: Jaws Wired Shut Now we know that only a freak injury can change a man. A.K.A Homer Simpson.

Worst Episode: Gump Roast This is the worst of the clip shows, but did have an entertaining opening.

Season 14: By most means this season was great. These episodes rival Seasons 7-9 in quality.

Best Episode: Brake My Wife, Please This episode had the most/best moments of the season, from Homer driving with everything but the kitchen sink to him discovering walking.

Honorable Mention: Pray Anything Only the Simpsons can make fun of religion and get away with it. I love it that Homer loves prayer, but I am glad Flanders held him in check.

Worst Episode: I have not see five episodes so I can't vote on which episode is the worst.

Jessy Scholl

"Jessy Scholl" wrote in news:[email]:

Whaaaaa...? This would be my pick for *worst* episode, not just of the 12th season, but maybe all-time. Think panda. I rather liked "New Kids on the Blecch" after repeated viewings. Guess our tastes differ quite a bit.

Jessy Scholl wrote:

Brilliant episode. One of the very best. In my top ten for sure.

Meh. Mediocre (for The Simpsons). Best moment was Homer turning the house lights off. Let's see him turn them back on the same way.

I disagree. One of the best halloween shows. Three strong stories.

Nice song at the end. That's about it.

Stinky. Not good. Hardly a laugh in there. Even Bart's stand-up routine was lame.

Just. Not. Funny.

Meh.

Again, Meh.

Weak, yes, but not really weaker than others previously mentioned.

Again. Just. Not. Funny. A whole episode with Linguo would have been better.

Better than 'Trilogy...' or '...Dignity'. That's not saying much, I know.

God, season 12 & 13 were terrible. At least season one had some laughs.

Lame.

Meh.

Then how can you pick a 'best' episode?

moments

I believe it started to go downhill in season 8, but it wasn't really a major problem until season 9. Characterisation went out the window, particularly Homer & Lisa, and the plots became pointless and lazily written.

for

Ugh. Any satire there is is buried under a pile of garbage so big, it would fill the abandoned mine a million times over. Appalling Homer characterisation - he's a subhumanly mindless and needlessly mean buffoon, who when he's not being humiliated for the sake of fun is yelling at people for no reason. His character is exaggerated and warped for the sake of cheap laughs. Plus, the ending really is shockingly bad writing. I understand what they were trying to do with it, but.....yuck.

I like this episode, one of the last truly great episodes before the show hit the wasteland of the 10-12 period. An intelligent, thought-provoking, balanced satire in the classic Simpsons style. My only gripe is that Homer's characterisation was slightly off (it was "on" by season 9 standards however)

Don't care for this one too much. It's alright, and provides good laughs, but has limited appeal.

Nasty season.   Jerkass Homer to the extreme, formulaic lazily written
plots, Lisa's characterisation slipping further and further away.   2 or 3
episodes here that I like, but the rest is either painfully mediocre or just
garbage.

One of the episodes I like. Decent social commentary, nice characterisations all round.

Horrible. Dreadfully cheap, intelligent-insulting slapstick to the max (Homer being punched by Skinner, Bart vacuuming Abe, Lenny & Moe getting springs stuck in their eyes).

really

Another appalling S10 Jerkass Homer gag-row outing. Everything that could go wrong did.....

season

Good season? Hah! The TOH was alright, and Grift Of The Magi and Last Tap Dance weren't too bad, but everything else absolutely stunk. And I say that without hyperbole. The show hitting rock bottom.

Another pathetic season. A couple of great episodes (Trilogy Of Error, Hungry Hungry Homer) lift it above season 11, however.

the

Best season since 9, at the time. Al Jean does a good job in restoring accurate characterisation (particularly Homer), we get a return to fully-formed satires (Sweets & Sour Marge, Weekend At Burnsies) and episodes which actually display some character depth (Little Girl In The Big Ten, Half Decent Proposal). Still with a large share of flaws, but great job by Al Jean nonetheless.

Best season since 9, and better than 9 in a number of areas, most notably
characterisation.   The characters of Marge, Bart & Lisa are neatly
restored, and the fine work done on Homer in season 13 is continued.  Plenty
of great episodes this season, of all types, including fully-formed
satirical meditations (The Bart Of War, Mr. Spritz Goes To Washington), more
serious character episodes (The Dad Who Knew Too Little, Three Gays Of The
Condo, A Star Is Born Again) and just miscellaneous good episodes (Scuse Me
While I Miss The Sky, Special Edna).  A few stinkers (most of them season 13
holdovers) but overall, highly enjoyable.  Most episodes here would not look
at all out of place in one of the lesser classic seasons (5, 6, 8).   Moe
Baby Blues is better than anything since season 8.  Some m

The character plot is too insipid and lacking in insight, but the humor saves this one (just) from mediocrity.

it

This was one of the two S14 proper episodes that I would consider to be truly bad. Watch Homer The Heretic and this back to back - and see just how bad this in-your-face, banal "satire" is.

<Season 14: By most means this season was great. These episodes rival Seasons 7-9 in quality.>

I'll have to disagree. Most of the episodes were completely random, filled with awkward jokes, and generally just non-linear crap. Season 13 didn't have the best storylines either, but it was at least clever, and filled with some genuinely funny stuff.

If the US audience can laugh at this episode trashing their national love-affair with guns, I guess we in the UK can tolerate criticism of soccer :-)

Heh, this isn't quite true - us soccer fans aren't that sensitive. The reason thay gave for not showing the episode was to do with the gun content, but I think it was most likely a gimmick - so they could sell it on a video as 'banned' and 'not seen on TV'. After all, the episode is pretty mild. I think it's being shown nowadays anyway.

"Simon Treanor" wrote in message news:bbvtvt$t3g$[email]...

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content,

video

Yeah, the BBC have shown it twice....