I'm not a big on the idea of shows that aren't like soaps running for on and on and on, and of course with "The Simpsons" many would have the same view about why it keeps running and running? Mentioning "The Simpsons" in general then opens the door to the takes that surround the show. Personally, I enjoy seasons 1-8, a lot more, but also still watched past season 8, in reruns and premieres, but at some point, around season 28 or sometime around then, I did kind of just stop watching every Sunday. I'd check in once in a while, especially the Halloween ones, but mostly checked out of the show.
When the multi day marathons on FXX happened, I'd probably be engaged with it for a while, but then around season 14 my engagement drops a little, but there are episodes I like and would be engaged to seeing. Same with TV reruns or streaming reruns. The thing I think that happens in some conversations about the show is the time you first see the show if you liked it, is the time your attachment to it is closest. When the show shifts in later seasons, and sometimes is rough and bumpy, it does feel a little strange and it's like an old friend has lost something about him and makes you feel kind of bad.
I think the thing that has to be kind of understood is that the Simpsons is still running, it's not going ever feel like season 4 again, it's impossible. If you want to watch season 4 it's easy to access, so the show continues and tries to find ways to adapt and live in our time. The show was essentially the 90's (including some eighties, just like how the 80's slightly carried into the 90's.) When the times changed the show had to find ways to adapt to the current times, since the show is always about the current times. That puts it at odds being what we know the show and characters. I think the best way is to think that the show was so good at connecting us to the characters and concept, that it's hard to see it be not exactly the same.
So then, I liked the idea of seeing someone watch "The Simpsons" in current times both a mixture of watching the classic episodes, and then going on a journey to see later episodes, and also get excited to see the new episodes. With all "The Simpsons" discussions seemingly being the same, "Modern Simpsons (I bristle at that term for some reason it makes me cringe, maybe because it was used so much in criticism that it hurts) is bad, unfunny, killed my family (I'm sure someone has said that)" I'm happy that someone (and probably others) have found joy in watching new episodes, whilst enjoying the older episodes. With Season 33, the most current during this writing, I did check out more than just the Halloween episode, they had a two-parter (non-canon two-parter) that was pretty interesting and good and took a look a few other episodes when I could, as an old Simpsons fan (old meaning along time fan) who dipped interest in catching newer episodes to see if what I can think about it.
This post is a personal opinion (as it should be) my views might not be a full match to others and that's fine. If you are the person who only thinks seasons 3-9 the best, that's fine, I'm probably not going to convince you to watch season post season 9 episodes I found fun, and you aren't probably going to convince me that everything after that season is a dumpster fire, but I think we would find common ground that there are some clunkers of episodes and that there is some gold in the early seasons.( We might fight to death on seasons 1-2 being also good, because they are) This means this post isn't going to be essay 42,203 on why Simpsons bad now, which be refreshing at least.... since there are apparently 42,203 of the things. (I might be making up a number)
I asked for an episode suggestion, and that was a "Serious Flanders" which I did catch when it aired, and enjoyed, I might write about that one but (in hindsight this might be a play on words later) big but, I was also given "Pixelated And Afraid", which the episode I'm going to use as a sample, but (big but again) THAT doesn't mean I'm using it to say the whole season is good or whole is bad, it's unfair to the season and episode and you (I will be unfair to grammar, the way I used "and" here) and it's not helpful to go and say this episode is why ___ the whole show needs to live/die or something. With that... it's time. (Finally, it took you forever to make this intro, what the heck? get to the episode!)
He really did take forever to get to the episode / Copyright Disney (this is an odd time line)
This is an episode about Marge and Homer's relationship. I think the one thing that I remember that kind of jarred me out of the show in regular watching was the click bait type thing they were doing a season premiere where Homer and Marge and talking about divorce, it was all over the place, it felt more like the show was trying to get news coverage for promotion and it felt a little off to me. There are lot of episodes in the show about Homer and Marge and their marriage a lot of times following the nearly same idea. I do like how this one has a different start where it seems that Homer and Marge have a comfort with each other; Lisa acting like a child (which is good) thinks her parents marriage is in danger because they are kissing and lovin' all over the place. It's realistic because media shows love in marriages was mostly either passive aggressive angst or lovely-dubby, but the idea of two people being together and loving each other and being just comfy is not something that's instantly thought of, especially to a kid. That's well done.
Lisa goes to Bart and wants him to help, which in-character, he doesn't think anything about it. I like that we can see they have a nice fine tuned relationship in this episode, while the kids can't. It also builds on how much investment we have in knowing the characters. Thanks to Lisa's persuasion, Bart decides to help the problem. Lisa suggests that they go to a place to a romantic getaway.
Homer and Marge kind of feel pressured to go and think the other wants to go, but we eventually see that they aren't interested in going there. They decide to turn around, but the plot says "no you can't" so it has the car skid off the road, because of the ice, because winter. (Plot: I'm a devious one, ain't I?)
There's no phone service , for convivence, and they stranded in the forest, so Homer and Marge make a fire and get naked to take off their wet clothes. (I'm not a doctor, so I'm not sure which is safer so... have a plan incase, you get stranded or something) That's also why the episode is called "Pixelated and afraid" (I'm afraid, can I go home?) It's like it's being inspired that Discovery Channel show "Naked and Afraid" where people decide to be naked on TV for money I guess? I did laugh at them covering up the top part of Homer too.
Ironic, didn't use a screenshot of them naked/ Copyright Disney
The plot decides that they need to be naked for the rest of the episode so it burns their clothes. (Plot: Like messing with Homer and Marge) the two of them go to find maybe a hopeful place for rescue. Episode bribes me by using one of my favorite Sérgio Mendes songs , alright. They find a spot to make their own little safe camp and even make warm clothes.
Comfy and fashionable/ Copyright Disney
They figure that no one is going to look for then. They are hungry though and having a hard time finding food. (I hope this isn't a cannibalism episode, mmm baked Simpsons) They find a fish and have something to eat. the episode also has a lurking danger (I hope it's a nice danger.) The danger was not a nice danger. (ooh)
They threatened by a wolverine, Homer decides to go out of their shelter and distract the creature to make sure Marge gets to be safe, which is sweet that he would so such a thing. She's able to take it out and they seem to be in a romantic mood.
Homer sees a park ranger and misses him, this episode is really good at making the conflict be the setting and not have it be between the two characters where we just get to see Homer and Marge bond.
They were never seen again/ Copyright Disney
This was a fine outing, so again, I went in without an expectation to see what it would be like, and this episode was pleasant. I noticed it wasn't trying to go for jokes, it had some , sure, but it wasn't leaning into that as much as telling a story and that might be an interesting direction the show has gone. Again, I liked how the episode's conflict was straight on the situation, so instead of it being a stranded episode where characters turn against each other then have to come together in the end, the episode just shows us the main idea of Marge and Homer being strong in each other and their love. It has some sweet moments, and kind of a relaxing episode. As I said, this is not me looking at the episode to say how the season is or not, it's more to see something from the season and judge it's own accord. So with that, it was a good episode, that's my opinion.
This post isn't to make people go and change their opinion or something, but maybe take the look to see if you might something in newer Simpsons episodes, you might like something, and with anything it's always better to find your own thoughts and like what you want to like and dislike what you want to dislike, but at least be open and give a chance. I might come back here and do "Serious Flanders" we'll see, but until then, tune in next time , when we tell you to put some clothes back on.
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