Simpsons by the Season: 6

"Let's have less Homer Simpson and more money for public schools."

Season six still feels like early Simpsons. It's understandable, seeing as it's in the first quarter of the series, but it's still six seasons into the show. Take a look at the American version of The Office; six seasons into its nine season run, they're already adding new and frequently unnecessary characters, some of their main plotline wells have run dry, and the show is quite clearly running out of steam. It marks the swift and decisive decline in the series which pushed out another three seasons which were for the most part were one nightmare after another. So when you say "early Simpsons" bear in mind that it's by no means early - it's a show that's been around longer than most would last at this point, and still not only going strong but in its prime. 

There are, however, signs that ideas may not be coming as fast and loose as they had in the past. A few of the plotlines don't really make sense, and they're closer to outlandish one-off episodes that, while funny, are maybe reaching in the realism department. I spoke in the last blog posting about a few episodes that stretch that line but at least bring it back to reality in some sense - Bart getting an elephant through demanding a ridiculous prize from a radio show, and Homer becoming an astronaut but at least due to the fact that they wanted to show that just about anyone can go into space. In this season you'll find one of my favourite episodes, and perhaps a candidate for the all-time top ten, having precisely this problem. 

In "Homer the Great" we're introduced to the Stonecutters, a secret society of Springfield (of which pretty well every major character is a part). The more you think about it the less realistic it is, and they didn't try too hard in reaching for how it could actually be tied to reality. It's a hilarious episode, and worthy of the praise it receives, but it's a sign that for new ideas they have to start reaching now and then. It's been six seasons and now over a hundred episodes, and maybe it's time for some not to make total sense. There are a few minor grievances in some episodes as well, in "The Springfield Connection" and "Lisa on Ice". Marge as a cop, suddenly doing a bunch of physical feats and pulling guns on people just doesn't look right, and Bart and Lisa playing hockey for the first and last time strikes me as a little odd as well. Mind you, this is a minor crime as long as it sticks to the most important rule of comedy shows: it stays funny. "Homer the Great" at the very least knocks it out of the park, even if "The Springfield Connection" and "Lisa on Ice" are left wanting in comparison.

It's also showing the length of the series in once again going to the flashback and flash-forward wells. Having the backstories of Marge and Homer meeting, Homer's barbershop quartet, the birth of Lisa, and young Bart, they finish off the trio with "And Maggie Makes Three". They also throw in a future episode in which Lisa meets a smart Brit and gets engaged - an episode that shows its age by having the "futuristic technology" that's essentially just Skype.  What's important with these time-bending episodes is they stay consistent with the Simpsons canon - not all do, as we'll see in later seasons.

Overall, it's a great season. It's six in, and still just as strong as ever, and that's no easy feat. The only issue here is that there's the occasional crack that's starting to poke through every now and then, but they're still few and far between.

Best Quotes:

"My hobby is secretly videotaping couples in cars. I didn't come forward because in this country it makes you look like a pervert. But every Scottish person does it!"

-Groundskeeper Willy on filming Homer's innocence when accused of sexually harassing the babysitter

"Gambling is the finest thing a person can do - IF he's good at it."

-One of Krusty's accountants, giving him financial advice

"Your guilty conscience may force you to vote Democratic, but deep down inside you secretly long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king."

-Perhaps Sideshow Bob's finest quote, once he has been ousted for rigging the election 

"It took the children fourty minutes to locate Canada on the map."

Best Episode:

I know I was half complaining about it earlier, but it still goes to "Homer the Great." It's an incredibly funny episode, and at the core that's what the viewer wants to see. A nod also goes to "Sideshow Bob Roberts", an episode made much funnier when old enough to understand it (which was just a few years ago, really). A second nod goes to "Homer Badman", in the case against Homer accidently sexually harassing the babysitter. The episode is full of great stuff, specifically the "Rock Bottom" segment. (Note: I have since changed my mind upon writing the Top Ten blog, and "Homer Badman" takes the throne.)