The Times They Are...

The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular, 1995

...a-becoming quite different. One of the advantages of a long running television series is having the time to fully explore and develop the characters. One of the disadvantages of a popular long running television series is that it always passes its peak. Actually, that's a subjective call on my part and that of vocal fans. Objectively, a long running show changes.

The generally agreed point at which The Simpsons faltered lies between Seasons 9 and 10 (roughly 1998). By that measure the show, now in its twenty-second season, has been poorly-written for over half its existence. The common argument against criticism of the latter seasons is that viewers have become overly-familiar with the early episodes through heavy syndication/repeats. As the "bad" now outnumber the golden age ones, that can no longer be true. They can still put out what are good episodes, but they're thin on the ground. The decline must be borne from a change within the writing staff as it is the tone of the episodes that together define the series. In particular, certain writers may not have been familiar with the tone or the show at all.

As wacky as those kids were, they were no match for 'Captain Wacky', later renamed Homer
-Troy McClure, The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular

This change is personified in Homer Simpson, or "Jerkass Homer" as he has come to be known. To fans of the series this and other changes are self-evident across the seasons. Simply put, Homer would be better/ironically described as 'Captain Wacky' than as the father of the family or even a three-dimensional character. He is the conduit for the zany schemes and job-of-the-week episodes that form the latter day bulk.

Who knows what adventures The Simpsons will have between now and the time the show becomes unprofitable
-Troy McClure, The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular

Admittedly there have always been cartoonish elements present, but it was not a cartoon despite being animated. Homer's fall into Springfield Gorge in Season 2 was "an instant comedy classic" but obviously bore no relation to reality. It's in the plot because Homer sacrifices his own well-being to show Bart the consequences of being a daredevil. The physical comedy furthered the development of the characters' relationship. Today the characters and the plot they clamber through is largely devoid of a pretence of reality. Nature abhors a vacuum and South Park, in an apparent reversal of the above, seems to have filled this void whenever it isn't engaging in shallow and quickly dated parody. South Park has come into its own criticism for creeping toward narrative-heavy 'preachy and up its own ass with messages' episodes.

Now that the fantastical elements have come to the fore it is a cartoon, viewed primarily by children and no-one should wonder why it gets voted the best kid's series. As a long-time fan who can almost quote entire episodes from memory I've gotten a lot of entertainment out of The Simpsons. I simply wanted to finally write down my own deconstruction of the issue, even if others have done so a decade before me. I don't think criticism is unjust as long as it is a critique and not an attack ("worst episode ever").

They've given you thousands of hours of entertainment for free. What could they possibly owe you? If anything, you owe them.
-Bart, The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show

I stopped watching over five years ago. I do not expect a bill.

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