The Simpsons Season 35 revives a tired show trend that’s over

Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Simpsons Season 35, Episode 16.

meanwhile simpsons While Season 35 is an improvement from recent installments, the long-running series kept one unwelcome trend alive in Episode 16. simpsons has been around for a long time, so it’s no surprise that the show’s formula can sometimes feel tired to longtime viewers. After more than 35 years and more than 760 episodes, simpsons Since the end of the Golden Age, things have become somewhat predictable. but, simpsons If season 35 is any indication, this trend could change in season 36. So far, the first episode of season 35 has been unusually original and original for an animated comedy.

Although these activities have hardly replicated the critical acclaim of the Golden Age, simpsons, they are a big step up from seasons 30-32, where they were critically hated. The Simpsons never age, so the main characters themselves seem unchanged since that much-maligned outing. The most meaningful change has been in the show’s approach to its title character, with season 35 focusing less on jokes and random humor and more on the dynamics between the eponymous family members. Stories rooted in family interactions ground the show’s action and give these new episodes high stakes.

The Simpsons Season 35 Episode 16 features two nonsensical songs

These extra songs wasted screen time

Despite these improvements, Season 35, Episode 16, “The Tell-Tale Pants,” proves that the show still relies on an unwelcome late-season tradition. simpsons There are still too many extra music songs, “The Tell-Tale Pants,” which includes an ode to Homer’s torn pants and a bizarre Dr. Seuss parody in which Mo warns Homer about losing Marge. This was especially jarring since the rest of the episode focused on a fairly subdued storyline centered around Marge and Homer’s marriage. As such, these fanciful musical flights felt tonally unpleasant and unnecessary, subverting the established reality of the scene without much purpose.

This is reminiscent of the post-Golden Age simpsons Rather than offering viewers one substantive plot that was emotionally engaging, the season used anthology episodes to tell three short stories. The musical numbers in “The Tell-Tale Pants” were neither particularly funny nor essential to the success of the story, but they were distracting enough to fill air time and hold the viewer’s attention. did. It’s later in the season that they add songs to fill out the thin plot simpsons staples You can see that through the show’s little outings. It’s a shame to see season 35 rely on this when the episode’s central conflict was solid.

The Simpsons Season 35 already struggled with this issue.

Season 35 Episode 11 featured an aimless musical interlude

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Season 35 has wasted screen time with musical numbers that aren’t necessary to the show.larry the barfly simpsons Season 35’s death set up an “Eleanor Rigby” parody, but this turned out to be a truly sad moment and a depressing highlight of a long-awaited episode of an underappreciated character. What could have been cut instead was Lisa’s lament about Homer’s new job in Season 35, Episode 11, “Frinkenstein’s Monster.” This segment wasted valuable screen time that could have been spent fleshing out Amanda Seyfried’s guest character. simpsons Season 35 still has some bad habits that it can’t shake.

simpsons

cast

Tress McNeil, Julie Kavner, Harry Shearer, Pamela Haden, Nancy Cartwright, Hank Azaria, Dan Castellaneta, Yeardley Smith

release date

December 17, 1989

season

35

Communication network

Fox

franchise

simpsons

Writer

Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, Sam Simon

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