The show still isn't on the level of what it was at it's peak, but I like that improvements were made over last season.
I am extremely satisfied that my exact criticisms of the previous year were addressed. In the last few seasons, the show had really been repeating itself. Too many repetitive "personal" stories focusing on the members of the Simpsons clan. This season actually tries newThe show still isn't on the level of what it was at it's peak, but I like that improvements were made over last season.
I am extremely satisfied that my exact criticisms of the previous year were addressed. In the last few seasons, the show had really been repeating itself. Too many repetitive "personal" stories focusing on the members of the Simpsons clan. This season actually tries new stuff. No predictable stories of Marge and Homer temporarily breaking up or Moe entering a soon-to-be-failed relationship. This season has several episodes exploring interesting, new topics and focus is given more to supporting characters.
Highlights include The Miseducation of Lisa Simpson, which is good satire, and Bobby it's cold outside, one of the strongest Sideshow Bob episodes in a while. The best part is Thanksgiving of Horror. It was an odd stroke of genius to apply the horror anthology format to another holiday. The episode was in fact one of their best hrorror episodes in years, outshining the traditional Halloween one this season.
As I said, this is still not peak Simpsons. On average, the jokes are just decent.
There are also a few misfires in this. Three episodes, address Christianity. This includes the show's third two-parter ever. They just don't work, NOT because of the choice of subject matter but rather because the writers really don't have anything to say.
I also really don't like how the season handled Principal Skinner and Ned Flanders. The characters have really drifted from where they started. Especially Ned, the character who started as a super nice guy has become religiously judgemental.
Overall, the show is fresher than it has been in a while, but it's still just okay; a decent watch but not critical viewing.… Expand