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The Simpsons Season 6 Review

The sixth season of The Simpsons is nowhere near as good as its predecessor, but it’s still one of the better seasons of this show.

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“Oh, no! We left Grandpa back at the gas station!“

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Bart of Darkness offers a solid, though forgettable ‘Rear Window’ parody with some excellent scenes, but overall it’s not particularly fun nor funny. Lisa’s Rival is of course not the funniest episode, but I did like that Lisa finally got her equal, and exploring her jealousy was quite interesting. Another Simpsons Clip Show is even worse than the one before. It’s simply a waste of time.

Itchy & Scratchy Land is a fine lampooning of theme parks, but ultimately it’s one of the most forgettable episodes of this season. Sideshow Bob Roberts has a new role for Bob, a political one, and I did not care for it as I prefer his usual chasing Bart storyline. Treehouse of Horror V is an absolute classic. ‘The Shining’ parody is pitch-perfect and ripe with great references, the time machine storyline is a whole lot of imaginative fun, and the third segment, though weaker, has that great, dark Milhouse moment that made me laugh.

Meryl Streep did a great job playing Jessica in Bart’s Girlfriend, a story that gives him finally someone even more delinquent than he is, and the results are quite fun. Lisa on Ice is just such a beautiful sibling-centered episode where the two share some great moments, the ending is super sweet and Homer’s competitive side was hilarious throughout.

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Homer Badman is an essential Simpsons episode in its structure as it starts from one story and it ends with an entirely different one. Though crazy, the transition was definitely smooth. I loved the candy beginning, but the sexual harassment storyline was also stupendously handled, and as timely as ever interestingly enough.

Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy is a wonderful father-son storyline. Finally we get a great story with Homer and Grampa who is usually sidelined by his family, but here we get to the core of their tumultuous relationship, and that culminated with that truly beautiful finale. Fear of Flying is a very tiresome Marge is afraid of airplanes episode that is psychologically and plotwise thin.

Homer the Badman is a solid religious cult parody episode that is overly detailed for me to fall in love with it, but I did appreciate some of its more goofier moments and its overall silly tone. And Maggie Makes Three is another strong flashback episode, this time focusing on Maggie and how Homer grew to love her in the end. Bart’s Comet starts off with Principal Skinner, but then turns into a complete disaster movie trope, and I liked all of it. A fun episode for sure.

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Homie the Clown sees Homer take Krusty the Clown’s role and the ensuing crime storyline is familiar, but very well executed. Bart vs. Australia is such a silly episode that makes fun of Australians gloriously. Homer vs. Patty and Selma pits them together and gives the two leverage. The result is a great emphasis on these two devious sisters, and a classic situational comedy at its core.

A Star Is Burns is such a mediocre episode which serves as a poor advertisement for another show, and simply me being an amateur film critic and not liking such an episode at all speaks volumes for how bad it truly is. Lisa’s Wedding is an undeniable classic that is very moving and sweet. It explores just how different Lisa is from the rest of the family, yet she is still a Simpson, and that sentiment was wonderful.

Two Dozen and One Greyhounds is another absolute classic that lampoons ‘101 Dalmatians’ gloriously. The entire episode is consistently entertaining, and Mr. Burns as Cruella de Vil is perfect casting. His rendition of Be Our Guest from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is brilliant. And the fact that the show portrays dogs so realistically needs to be appreciated much more.

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The PTA Disbands! could have been funnier and more memorable overall, though Edna and Skinner are excellent here. Round Springfield is utterly forgettable. The Springfield Connection sees Marge becoming a cop in a very amusing installment, but Lemon of Troy is my childhood favorite as such a wonderful, endearing story so well told, and Bart has rarely been better used than he was here. Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One) concluded the season on their first ever cliffhanger, and it was terrific and very intriguing.

Overall, this season has its clunkers unfortunately, but most are excellent with the best episodes being undeniable classics. I appreciate this season for being so diverse in the stories told and characters used.

Worst Episodes: Another Simpsons Clip Show, Fear of Flying and A Star Is Burns.

Best Episodes: Treehouse of Horror V, Lisa on Ice, Grampa vs. Sexual Inadequacy, Lisa’s Wedding, Two Dozen and One Greyhounds and Lemon of Troy.