I just watched most of the newest season over the weekend and honestly it’s pretty good. They went in a more down to earth direction instead of trying to recreate the old magic and it’s definitely an improvement.
The biggest drawback to the newer seasons for me is their voices in some cases have aged terribly.
It's funny I'm seeing this post now because my son just had the episode where Marge fears flying. I was thinking to myself how the episode started with a prank that got Homer kicked out of Moe's. The sequence of events that follows leads to Marge getting counseling for her fear of flying. Just brilliant and ruthlessly efficient storytelling!
My favourite was “A Tale of Two Springfield’s.” the honey badger making them call pest control only to realize there is now two area codes. “Go away! We got bigger problems now.”
I also think it adds to a B or a C story in as well. Like Lisa’s substitute and the main story about Mr Bergstrom and the B story about Bart running for class president.
I’m often amazed how much they can establish in the first 5 minutes or so. It often feels like you’re 10 minutes in and then what do you know.
I do like all the twists!
It is great writing when it’s done well like in the golden era. The problem was in the 20 years afterwards the plot of far too many episodes was like watching a Rube Goldberg machine crack an egg. At a certain point you’re just like “Ok this is cool and all but I just wanted an omlet.”
I remember a negative review of one episode somewhere in the late-teens seasons, complaining about how the entire first act was this sort of thing with a dozen possible plot lines, and every time you thought you knew what the episode was about, it changed again.
I agree! I’m always surprised by how many people can remember which episode it is from the first few moments. I can do this with the Office but not the Simpsons, likely because of what you’re saying. I love the random beginnings that lead into the true story.
That was the formula, won so often! I loved it.
It seems like Family Guy is starting to be the main purveyor of this formula, whereas The Simpsons has taken on more of the role that South Park used to play.
And Family Guy it's having midlife Simpsons crisis.
The 4th of July episode where they go to flanders Beach house..
A plot. Lisa trying to make friends by faking who she is
B plot. Homer and his fireworks. ( which is better then the A plot)
I fall in your camp.
Really? Maybe consider suing.
Care to join me in a belt of scotch?
But it's 9 am!
Nature hike/bird sanctuary…NASCAR race…Dead Maude
Foilage. It's pronounced foilage
That's what I said. Foilage.
It doesn’t take a nucular scientist to pronounce foilage
I’m down. Always thought this was great thing about the show.
I haven't watched new episodes for decades, I wonder if they still do it
LoL. One way to find out, friend.
I've been thinking about taking the plunge of watching some new episodes...
I just watched most of the newest season over the weekend and honestly it’s pretty good. They went in a more down to earth direction instead of trying to recreate the old magic and it’s definitely an improvement. The biggest drawback to the newer seasons for me is their voices in some cases have aged terribly.
They do.
It's funny I'm seeing this post now because my son just had the episode where Marge fears flying. I was thinking to myself how the episode started with a prank that got Homer kicked out of Moe's. The sequence of events that follows leads to Marge getting counseling for her fear of flying. Just brilliant and ruthlessly efficient storytelling!
If this gets out, Crazy Clown Airlines will be a laughingstock.
Lowenstein, lowenstein.
Found the Python fan
I wouldn’t call that an unpopular opinion, to me that’s just great writing
My favourite was “A Tale of Two Springfield’s.” the honey badger making them call pest control only to realize there is now two area codes. “Go away! We got bigger problems now.”
Badger my ass, it’s probably Milhouse
Same! They get their revenge in the end though...
I love this too! Makes for organic and funny plot development
(Floating down a river in Africa:) “You think they settled that bag boy strike yet?”
I also think it adds to a B or a C story in as well. Like Lisa’s substitute and the main story about Mr Bergstrom and the B story about Bart running for class president.
Marge and Lisa painting eggs? Did that work for you?
Yes! I just think they’re neat!
As long as Jodie delivers the feet, yes.
Boogerstrom*
Wormstrom\*
Bonestorm*
Absolutely agree. The cider mill is really the only part of the Larry Burns episode that I'll watch.
It’s weird how that episode loses pace, isn’t it? Especially considering Rodney Dangerfield is in it.
You wanna buy a googly-eyed rock?
Cops out and in broad day light. There's only one word to describe this act... idiocy
give him some respect
I’m often amazed how much they can establish in the first 5 minutes or so. It often feels like you’re 10 minutes in and then what do you know. I do like all the twists!
It is great writing when it’s done well like in the golden era. The problem was in the 20 years afterwards the plot of far too many episodes was like watching a Rube Goldberg machine crack an egg. At a certain point you’re just like “Ok this is cool and all but I just wanted an omlet.”
I remember a negative review of one episode somewhere in the late-teens seasons, complaining about how the entire first act was this sort of thing with a dozen possible plot lines, and every time you thought you knew what the episode was about, it changed again.
insert badger here
I agree! I’m always surprised by how many people can remember which episode it is from the first few moments. I can do this with the Office but not the Simpsons, likely because of what you’re saying. I love the random beginnings that lead into the true story.
I know this isn’t exactly what you’re talking about in this post, but if you look closely, you’ll see a lemon behind that lemon-shaped rock.
That was the formula, won so often! I loved it. It seems like Family Guy is starting to be the main purveyor of this formula, whereas The Simpsons has taken on more of the role that South Park used to play. And Family Guy it's having midlife Simpsons crisis.
This is what made the show so good, and this why it stopped being funny after the 8th season.
They still do that.
Same
I always liked that too
That's when there was high quality writing
It’s still like that
I liked it.
I think it’s sometimes overdone, but when done well I love this particular trope.
The 4th of July episode where they go to flanders Beach house.. A plot. Lisa trying to make friends by faking who she is B plot. Homer and his fireworks. ( which is better then the A plot)
I was just watching season 7 JUST because of this! I loved how the opening scenes had NOTHING to do with the rest of the plot!
I didn't and still don't like it. I felt it was the beginning of the end when they started doing this.
It's a hallmark of early Simpsons episodes. Sort of a bait and switch.
Define classic episodes (S1 -5 for me. Maybe till 8)