…………………………………………………

The Simpsons Season 13 Review

The thirteenth season of The Simpsons is a pretty solid season that features a fine amount of actually stupendous episodes, though many clunkers are present as well.

………………………………………………….

“Don’t you hate carpet stores that

charge extra for the under padding?

I hate them so MUCH!“

…………………………………………………..

Treehouse of Horror XII is a terrific Treehouse of Horror episode, and by now you can get used to having at least these episodes being great. The first segment is wildly entertaining while the second is the standout with a suitably creepy, very well executed SF scenario with Pierce Brosnan in the robot’s role being a delight. The only clunker here is the third segment as it parodies Harry Potter so badly with not enough memorable references used. The Parent Rap, however, is utterly forgettable.

Homer the Moe is a pretty solid Moe episode, but very familiar as we’ve seen Moe making his bar fancier storyline many times before. A Hunka Hunka Burns in Love is a fine Burns romance episode, though it should have been greater given the fun premise. The Blunder Years is a very odd episode where Homer screams so loudly throughout most of its runtime. She of Little Faith is one of those excellent Lisa episodes that sees her question her faith to clever results.

Brawl in the Family starts off strongly, but it ended up being too silly for its own sake. Many episodes here develop into some insane storyline near its end. Sweets and Sour Marge is another protesting Marge episode that lacks originality. Jaws Wired Shut has a very strong premise where Homer becomes silent for a while. The results are sweet and moving.

…………………………………………………..

Half-Decent Proposal is one of the greatest episodes of the season. Not only does it bring back Artie in a phenomenal fashion, but it also serves as a very strong situational comedy in its own right. It’s a moving, funny and superb episode for sure. The Bart Wants What It Wants is one Bart gets a girlfriend episode too many. The Lastest Gun in the West is such a weak, dated western-oriented episode.

The Old Man and the Key is a very disappointing Grampa episode while Tales from the Public Domain is not that great of a trilogy. It’s history-based, but very poorly utilized in its many settings and periods. Blame It on Lisa is a weak travelogue. They usually knock this one out of the park, but here Brazil is very poorly made use of. Weekend at Burnsie’s is tiresome whereas Grump Roast is such a lazy, terrible clip show episode that is the nadir of this entire season.

I Am Furious (Yellow) has to be the greatest episode that this season has in its roster. Bart makes a popular comics series featuring angry Homer. That leads to many hilarious results. It’s a classic premise perfectly executed with Homer being so amusing here. The Sweetest Apu is unfortunately not great. I usually like his episodes, but this one is familiar and mediocre.

…………………………………………………..

Little Girl in the Big Ten sees Lisa get into college, and although not great, it’s solid enough and Lisa is excellent in it. The Frying Game is probably the craziest episode of this bunch, but it actually works surprisingly so. It starts with an annoying screaming insect, that was fun, and it ends with Homer and Marge being suspected as murderers. I also found the twist very cool. Poppa’s Got a Brand New Badge is not that great with Fat Tony getting his weakest turn so far.

Overall, this season of The Simpsons makes mostly very poor use of its supporting characters, which was unfortunate to witness. But Homer is back here as he got some terrific episodes. Most stories are too silly, but some are undeniably entertaining and very memorable.

Worst Episodes: The Lastest Gun in the West, Gump Roast and The Sweetest Apu.

Best Episodes: Treehouse of Horror XII, Jaws Wired Shut, Half-Decent Proposal, I Am Furious (Yellow) and the Frying Game.