The family that doesn't know the meaning of the word "cancelled" - The Simpsons!

[Reply #560 on:]

In my opinion the show was still peaked by season 8. For me, the quality first drops in season 9, then again very noticeably in season 11, and then another sharp drop in season 13 and then 14. By season 16, the show in no way resembles its former self.

To answer the question, as a kid I didn't really start to seriously question the quality drop (and decide to stop watching the show religiously) until around season 16, mainly because at that point I still hadn't seen all of the earlier seasons in order, only through reruns not knowing what season each episode was from. When I got the DVD sets I was able to really put my thoughts together about it.

[Reply #561 on:]

Season 13 for me. As a tyke I was completely incapable of telling a good episode from a bad one. Same with Futurama. I think I felt like I had an obligation to love every episode.

[Reply #562 on:]

I think I've said it before, but I first noticed it by season 18. Keep in mind that we were seasons behind the US over here.
In fact, that was when they first started to air "new seasons". Before that, the latest episodes just kinda got lost in the mix of daily airings.

[Reply #563 on:]

Watched the most recent episode. It was like almost every other episode in last 15 years. It had some nice moments, but also some moments when you just want to wreck your TV. This one was more "good" than "bad", but pretty much just typical stuff. Gets a 5/10.

Also, why would they recruit a guy just for being fair in a kids soccer game as a World Cup ref? It makes no sense, but it's a fictional cartoon, so yeah... However I enjoyed some of the soccer stuff.

[Reply #564 on:]

How would you guys feel if "The Simpsons Bible Stories" were the finale of the show?  I ask entirely because of the ending, of course.

[Reply #565 on:]

Simpsons Bible Stories was a pretty mediocre episode, and arguably started the whole "non-ToH triptych episode" tradition, which is awful. I think the entire fan community pretty much agrees its an entirely non-canon episode, so I'd take that shitty ending with a grain of salt.

[Reply #566 on:]

The ending was good, but not even close to worthy enough to end the shows legacy on (Plus, ending on a non canon episode would be really weak for the show) . Rather would have the show end on The City of New York Vs. Homer Simpson or Lisa's Sax.

[Reply #567 on:]

I think it'd be kind of poetic to have the show end with the death of Santa Little's Helper, given that they got him in the very first episode.

[Reply #568 on:]

What if the mysterious Simpsons Character that's supposed to die was Santas Little Helper? 

[Reply #569 on:]

I'm pretty sure that Dan Castellaneta has never won an Emmy for voicing Santa's Little Helper.

[Reply #570 on:]

"Chewy?"

[Reply #571 on:]

I really enjoyed the most recent episode.

It wasn't nothing great, but I actually enjoyed it. Obvious best of the season for me. I didn't care so much for the Lisa-Lucas plot. I actually thought that would have been the thing to make this episode possibly have a slight pulse. But the Bart-Snake subplot actually gave this episode life, as well as some really funny gags that came throughout the ep as well.

I liked it. 7/10, maybe a 7.5/10.

[Reply #572 on:]

I did think it was hugely better than the show has been in a long while.

I wouldn't say it was good, but I'd give it a 5.5/10, which is pretty damned good by modern The Simpsons standards.

[Reply #573 on:]

Meh. Lucas was just another 1 note guest star and showed pretty much no chemistry with Lisa, with Lisa sort of just following him along rather than actually showing a feeling for him. Then the plot turns into another marriage crisis between Homer and Marge, which is somehow resolved with Marge wearing a dress. I guess having Homer mad at Marge is nice for a change, but Marge not wanting Lisa to marry someone like Homer could've been done a lot better.

The Snake plot was okay, if just to see Snake used more. Really wished they had Bart save Snake multiple times or something, felt a bit odd to have Snake steal so much stuff for Bart just for helping him 1 time.

Eh, not great, but didn't do anything terribly bad, and there were some funny jokes in it (I-KILL-YA, Homer and the guys drunk on the playground).

Ech, 6.5/10.

Edit: And now, the plot for "What To Expect When Bart's Expecting". Just read it.

"THE SIMPSONS" - (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) CC-AD-HDTV 720p-Dolby Digital 5.1

BART MAKES HIS TEACHER PREGNANT ON AN ALL-NEW "THE SIMPSONS" SUNDAY, APRIL 27, ON FOX

 Bart can't stand art class. So he makes a voodoo doll of his art teacher. But when his spell makes her pregnant instead, he becomes a savior to Springfield couples trying to conceive. Then, he's kidnapped to help conceive a thoroughbred race horse in the all-new "What to Expect When Bart's Expecting" episode of THE SIMPSONS airing Sunday, April 27 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (SI-2514) (TV-PG D, L, V)

Um...

[Reply #574 on:]

No...

I think it'd be kind of poetic to have the show end with the death of Santa Little's Helper, given that they got him in the very first episode.

I like that idea, but it might not work so well since it wouldn't be as sad for the whole family as it would for Bart.

[Reply #575 on:]

They've never been 100% consistent in terms of who in the family cares about Santa's Little Helper. I think they could pull it off.

Anyway, this week's episode was alright. On paper, the two storylines were actually pretty decent (ground-not-yet-treaded for this show is always good; same way I felt about The War of Art a few weeks ago) but the execution left something to be desired. This one actually made me laugh several times though, which is rare for modern-day Simpsons. Wiggum in particular had quite a few good lines.

[Reply #576 on:]

Both recent episodes were all over the place and nothing more than other episodes this season. I liked some football references and beginning of the Luca$ was nice.

You can't but wonder how stupid some of these plots are.

[Reply #577 on:]

It wouldn't be a problem if the episodes were actually funny. Quite a few golden era episodes (season 5 in particular) have some absolutely ridiculous storylines, but they're executed in a way that's clever and entertaining enough that I don't really mind. I think I'm far more inclined to poke holes in the show when it's not keeping me laughing consistently.

[Reply #578 on:]

The latest episode was, actually pretty okay as well. Was alot like last weeks episode in terms of jokes. Some actually had me laughing. Meanwhile the story was mediocre, and I was especially pissed on as to why they shat all over the continuity of an episode that only aired 2 fucking years ago!!! I mean it's typical for Modern Simpsons to do this, I know that. But still. That's just sad when you crap all over the continuity of an episode that also aired recently.

Anyways, not too bad, not too good. 6/10 maybe?

[Reply #579 on:]

The first act went on forever

[Reply #580 on:]

This one was alright.  I'd say it's about the same level of quality as Future-Drama, but maybe a little bit worse.  I kinda liked old Duffman, but I wasn't a big fan of "Nothing Stu".  Seeing the head from Blood Feud again was kinda nice.  Homer eating Marge was a little amusing for some reason, I can't quite say why though.

It gets a 7/10 from me.

Also, did anyone notice they reused the joke from Future-Drama with C.H.U.M.?

[Reply #581 on:]

Not bad. I'm not a fan of Homer dying basically at the age he has been throughout the show, but there were many jokes, most of them good. If the plot was a little less crazy, this would be great. One of the best ones this season anyway, something around 7/10

[Reply #582 on:]

That was the best episode since "Holidays of Future Passed".

It still wasn't amazing and in spite of lots of downright idiocy, it actually had a lot of good jokes for a change and most of the bizarre nonsense is more forgivable in a sci-fi context.

I'd give it a 6/10.

[Reply #583 on:]

The Simpsons were good in the olden days.  Not in this time.  Like the Old School Simpsons better than the new ones.  Still watch them once in a blue moon.   Felt the same about South Park.

[Reply #584 on:]

So...assuming everything before the montage taking place at present time on the show, since there's no indication whether the episode starts sometime in the future or is non canon, technically the Homer that's been on the show for the last 25 years is dead. The fuck.

Anyway, just a messy, unpleasant episode. Bart's plot was just boring, with him getting over Jenda, only to get back together for a scene, then break up and argue again. Lisa's plot went nowhere, somehow finding zombie Milhouse attractive or something. Also she's a necrophiliac, that's nice.

And as for Homer's plot, it just got confusing, with Homer for some reason being unable to produce more clones, Marge leaving virtual Homer after a few minutes, Bart accidently deleting flashdrive Homer, only for him to be back in the next scene in a robot body (that looks like the ones from IDAR) that for some reason only shows his head, then Marge committing suicide to live with virtual Homer forever suddenly...and is then eaten by Homer (not sure whether to laugh or shudder at that), it was just all over the place and not really that funny to begin with.

Oh, and then around the end, it turns out most of the episode was a dream and the half assed morals we learned didn't matter, with Milhouse stuck as a zombie, Homer being a creepy C-3P0 robot...that's proper for some reason, and Bart is the same loser as the start, basically reversing most of the happy ending Holidays set up in the first place for a depressing end for everyone.

Overall, besides a few good laughs (3d Homer trying to strangle Bart, Santa's Little Hybrid, the T-Rex crying after juggling), it just felt like a really insane episode with awful premises, confusing points, and just led to nothing. Like what some people at No Homers are saying, it felt like I was watching a poor Futurama episode, with Simpsons characters as the cast.

Overall: a 5.5/10

[Reply #585 on:]

It was as good and as silly as Holidays of Future Passed. Not bad, it had good jokes, and I especially liked that it had interesting and fairly good plot.

While it was interesting representation of Homer's stupidity and unhealthy habits, Homer dying and coming back as exact copy really bothered me.

[Reply #586 on:]

It wasn't nearly as good as "Holidays of Future Passed". That episode was a fitting look at where the characters end up and actually managed to be poignant. It was a genuinely good episode of the show, which made it the first genuinely good episode of the show in almost 10 years.

This one was just a mess. It was still much better than most Simpsons episodes, these days, but it was a mess that was absolutely riddled to the teeth with flaws.

[Reply #587 on:]

Information on Brick Like Me.

SUNDAY, MAY 4

 [EDITOR'S NOTE: Audio descriptions (AD) for tonight's episodes of BOB'S BURGERS, AMERICAN DAD, THE SIMPSONS, FAMILY GUY and COSMOS: A SPACETIME ODYSSEY are available on the SAP Audio Channel.]

 **550TH EPISODE**--"THE SIMPSONS" - (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) CC-AD-HDTV 720p-Dolby Digital 5.1

 THE SIMPSONS TURN INTO LEGOS ON THE MILESTONE 550TH EPISODE OF "THE SIMPSONS" SUNDAY, MAY 4, ON FOX

 Milestone 550th Episode!

 Homer wakes up in a world where his family and everyone in Springfield are made of Legos. Can he "put together" how he got there, and figure out how to get home before he's stuck in a world of bricks forever? Find out in the all-new "Brick Like Me" milestone 550th episode of THE SIMPSONS airing Sunday, May 4 (8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (SI-2421) (TV-PG D, L, V)



Good God does that screenshot look unfitting.

[Reply #588 on:]

Marge looks fatter than Homer!

Ugh, I thought Homer would be made of lego too... I don't think the visuals will work, otherwise.

As for the most recent episode... Well, congratulations, Simpsons writers! You've managed to retroactively ruin one of the best episodes of the last few years by giving it a god-awful sequel. Way to go.

[Reply #589 on:]

He will, initially.



But as the plot develops, he'll realise that things aren't right and, presumably, stop being Lego.

[Reply #590 on:]

As for the most recent episode... Well, congratulations, Simpsons writers! You've managed to retroactively ruin one of the best episodes of the last few years by giving it a god-awful sequel. Way to go.

There'll probably be another one after this one, too. It hasn't been run into the ground nearly enough.

[Reply #591 on:]

Yeah, "Days of Future Future" doesn't even hold a candle to "Holidays of Future Passed". Bur that's already been addressed.

Most recent episode, was another meh one as well. I liked the beginning act again, (Guess it's some kinda thing with this season, most episodes consisted of good-really good first acts) but things went down the toilet after Fat Tony showed up. I guess a 5/10 fits this episode perfectly.

[Reply #592 on:]

It was just forgettably not good. 7-pack commercial was funny, though.

I haven't really been waiting much from the lego-episode, but the trailer looks interesting.

[Reply #593 on:]

I just watched the new one. It's a 22 min advertisement of the Lego Movie but with The Simpsons in it. Lame. I will probably not watch The Simpsons again till the Futurama episode. Which will also probably just as lame.

[Reply #594 on:]

I just watched the new one. It's a 22 min advertisement of the Lego Movie but with The Simpsons in it.

The episode was conceived before the writing staff had any idea about The Lego Movie. Some references to the film were added in much later, but they're designed as winks to the audience rather than cross-promotion. The Lego Movie wasn't even produced by Fox. Get your facts straight.

[Reply #595 on:]

I thought that this one was pretty good.  My fairly low expectations were met and I liked it about the same as I did the last episode that I watched, Days of Future Future.

Another 7/10.

[Reply #596 on:]

Yeah, I'm going to echo the above opinion. It was the best episode they've made in a long while, but it's not like they've set the bar very high. I'd say it was roughly on par with "Days of Future Future", but marginally better. At this point, it's not like The Simpsons can do any more damage to themselves with things like selling out, so when they do a vaguely interesting (albeit gimmicky) episode like this with a handful of jokes that actually make me laugh, it's quite nice.

I give it 6/10.

[Reply #597 on:]

Other than it was a lego-episode with many references to Lego Movie it was good and surprisingly funny. I would like to it's best from this season (or for a while), but I don't know, being a lego-episode bothered me slightly too much.

[Reply #598 on:]

What are all these references to The Lego Movie you're all talking about? I only caught one reference (and quite a few similarities) - that being Lisa saying that it sounded like the plot of... and, you know, the figures from the movie being wheeled out, behind them.

Then there were bits like Comic Book Guy having an angry face like Bad Cop, but I very much doubt that was meant as a reference given that they began work on this two years ago and only saw The Lego Movie quite recently. And, you know, if it was intentional, then they basically just ripped off a joke as opposed to referencing the film.

[Reply #599 on:]

Not only there's built lego city in real life and parental issues, but also the day saved by someone, who didn't build by the instructions. It's just too similiar plot. There was also the pirate ship in both (and Millhouse ), but that's not really a reference. So, not actually many references, but basic idea of plot was too much alike.