The Simpsons stands as one of the most recognizable series ever. The animated comedy focuses on the lives of The Simpson family, introducing audiences to relatable parents like Homer and Marge, as well as their unforgettably entertaining children.
What makes The Simpsons truly exceptional is its ability to regularly parody aspects of American life while introducing new characters to the Western cartoon canon. An efficient combination of being influenced and subsequently influencing, these 15 seasons best demarcate the best of the series from the rest.
15 Season 33
If The Simpsons already experienced a second wind during the early 2010s, the 33rd season could arguably be considered the beginning of its third wind. Premiering in 2021,the season saw new changes to the dynamics between longtime fan favorites and proved to audiences that the whimsical family and their townsfolk had more exciting stories to share.
The Start of Something New(er)
While fans and critics alike could not resign to the idea that the show was the same, they were still able to find the beloved qualities that bolstered the show’s worldwide adoration. In episodes such as “Bart’s In Jail” and “A Serious Flanders”, topics such as charity, thievery, and online scamming are evaluated under The Simpsons’ comical yet informative tone. Setting the foundation for the show’s current resurgence, Season 33 gets the ball rolling on the recent celebration of the storylines and character development.
14 Season 13
Despite being far removed from the fan-approved “Golden Age” of the series, Season 13 contained plenty of enjoyable episodes for most of 2002. Some episodes such as “She Of Little Faith” were praised for its insight into concepts such as religion, while others like “Treehouse Of Horror” see celebrated traditions continue to shape the identity of The Simpsons.
A Worthy Season in Its Own Right
Season 13 was perceived as an improvement compared to the prior two, with its run being regarded as better constructed. Guest appearances by Richard Gere and Julia Louis-Dreyfus were highlighted by critics as some of the season’s best creative decisions. In spite of troubling depictions of countries like Brazil, Season 13 has largely held up as a perfectly fine season for fans of The Simpsons.
13 Season 2
Deemed by many to be the most underrated season of the series, Season 2 premiered in 1990 to a strong, positive reception. While the prior season introduced the Simpson family into the homes of millions across the world, the second season expands the horizons and explores the greater community, inviting even more hilarious characters into the fictional universe.
An Appreciated Evolution
Following the now-iconic family into their second season, many reveled in the decision to showcase more of the town rather than simply focusing on the Simpson household. In doing so, the series revealed an extra layer of craftiness and insight that might have been overlooked in the first season. Episodes like “The Way We Was” and “Itchy & Scratchy & Marge” proved that The Simpsons could meaningfully engage in discussions about topics like censorship and provide additional backstory for the characters audiences have come to love.
12 Season 10
Widely perceived as the cut-off season for the show’s seemingly flawless run, Season 10 introduced some of the series’ most notable examples of bizarre antics, with some landing and others being highlighted as a sign of the show’s decline in quality. Despite the early signs of criticism, Season 10 included episodes such as “They Saved Lisa’s Brain”, which fans and critics alike both consider to be the most reminiscent of the show’s episodes in its heyday.
A Notable, Quirky Transition
Season 10 saw many aspects of prior seasons being transformed from special and creative decisions to permanent, running gags that either enhanced an episode or weakened the structure of the story at hand. Guests like Stephen Hawkings and episodes like “Marge Simpson in: “Screaming Yellow Honkers” managed to spark up interesting conversations about local politics, the pursuit of power and road rage, respectively.
11 Season 15
After the notable decline in reception, Season 15 stands as one of the few seasons outside the golden age to have impressed audiences. Opening with a traditional “Treehouse Of Horror” episode, the season would see characters like Homer evaluate their personalities, for better or for worse. The end result is a season that may pale in comparison to the series’ heights but retains many of the qualities that fans found enjoyable.
A Close Contender for a Comeback Season
Approaching situations both controversial and mundane with a similar fluency to that of the prior seasons, Season 15 was considered by many to be an overall improvement from the prior four seasons. Highlights include episodes such as “Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays” poke fun at the culture wars that have seemingly surrounded everyday Americans, despite efforts to make these clashes seem extraordinary. Audiences also got a look at Homer and Marge’s early days in the episode “The Way We Weren’t”, heralded by many as one of the funniest episodes of the series at the time of its premiere.
10 Season 34
The most recent season of The Simpsons premiered in the fall of 2022 and saw the series receive a new wind of appreciation and interest. The 34th season is largely perceived as having a creative bloom, expanding on the established universe by continuing to incorporate modern phenomena into the scripts and making the most of the experiments with other established universes.
A Necessary Revival
While most of the season received a renewed level of celebration from fans and critics, the consensus around the quality of “Habeas Tortoise” seems to be unanimously positive. Tapping into discussions about online radicalization, the series maintains a balance of comedy and criticism that reminds viewers of its earlier seasons. While perception may suggest the thirty-fourth season is a return to form, it also serves as a foundation for a new, possible exciting era of The Simpsons.
9 Season 1
A show with as extensive of a run as The Simpsons rests on the back of its first season. Premiering in 1989, the series was both popular and controversial, a recipe for instant success. However, the season also contained seeds that would sprout into the most defining characteristics of The Simpsons, soon setting the expectations for a quality cartoon sitcom.
A Sizzling Debut
An amazing decision for any story is to introduce distinguishable, multi-layered characters. While The Simpsons has no problem offering laugh-inducing comedy and fun family moments, the series also benefits from introducing starkly different, yet entertaining characters. Controversy aside, characters like Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright) have become recognizable for his mischievous ways, but the show shies away from flanderizing him. All in all, the first season is a great introduction to the family that would soon take over the world.
8 Season 5
The Simpsons’ fifth season was notably the first season to premiere with a new executive producer, alongside new writers. However, the transition did not halt the show’s success nor did it disrupt the narrative’s progression. The premiere episode “Homer’s Barbershop Quartet” earned exceptionally favorable reviews for its homage to the Beatles and general amusing dialogue, setting the stage for the remainder of the season.
An Impactful Transition
In the midst of the behind-the-scenes transition, Season 5 saw The Simpsons standing as one of the few shows to have survived despite such a shake-up. Quality aside, Season 5 sees some of the series’ alumni use the experience from the show to embark on their own careers, the most notable example being late night host and comedia Conan O’Brien.
7 Season 7
One of the eight seasons considered as the show’s peak, Season 7 opens with the investigation into who shows Mr. Burns (Harry Shearer) in the episode “Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part Two)”. Afterward, the remainder of the season saw the Simpson family deal with more realistic storylines at the request of showrunners Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein. Despite the close-to-home nature of the plots, the series never forfeits its funny dialogue or gags, a trait that has operated as the show’s best function for quite some time.
A Balance Between Great Humor and Even Greater Stories
Season 7 marked a remarkable run of consistently entertaining episodes that ranged from Bart’s connection, or lack thereof, with his own soul, and Lisa’s venture into vegetarianism. Combining an amusing tone with thoughtful discussions about free expression and self exploration, the seventh season has cemented itself as a highlight of the series as a whole.
6 Season 3
The third season of The Simpsons saw the show come into its own. With the series gaining prominence in everyday conversations, the series would even reach the lips of then-president George HW Bush, causing a hilarious rebuttal in the episode “Stark Raving Dad”.
A Well-Deserved, Mainstream Breakthrough
With its newfound fame, The Simpsons unlocked one of its major feats. If the prior seasons helped the show gain momentum and respect among the average consumer and critic, then season three exposed the world to a trait that makes The Simpsons truly exceptional. The character’s ability to hold conversation with pop culture, while existing as a defining figure of pop culture might be the reason for its seemingly eternal syndication. However, that very talent is the reason behind the quality of Season 3’s storylines and its canonization into the greater world of entertainment.
5 Season 22
The twenty-second season of The Simpsons saw the family-comedy airing alongside a new set of adult animated series such as Bob’s Burgers. Despite this, the series continued to entertain audiences through their tried and true methods. Remaining in conversation with the zeitgeist, this season produced episodes like “Elementary School Musical” and “The Fight Before Christmas” saw the family share miraculous experiences with emblematic icons of the 2010s like the cast of Glee and Katy Perry.
An Efficient Transition Towards New Possibilities
Season 22 premiered during the beginning of a new decade, and one that saw new technology and debates rise to the surface. By retaining the essence of The Simpsons; a witty and amusing exploration of American suburban life, the show managed to transition into the 2010s fairly well, offering a familiar lightness to the entertainment ecosystem.
4 Season 9
The ninth season continues to be held in high regard, with some calling it the definitive conclusion of the show’s prime. However, it wouldn’t take long for many to criticize the decline in quality, with critics noting the swift transition from self-assured, clever writing to more zany and disruptive plots.
One Last Hurrah, Kind Of
Episodes such as “The Principal And The Pauper” drew much controversy due to its handling of a beloved character and what that entailed for the series as a whole. In spite of such a ruse, the episode “Lisa, The Skeptic” was celebrated as one of the best the series had to offer at the time. Continuing to inspire conversations both constructive and otherwise, Season 9 offered fans one more collection of stories to enjoy before a perceived decline.
3 Season 6
Season 6 continued to provide audiences with multi-layered and hilarious scenes. Opening with the episode “Bart of Darkness”, the sixth season would offer parodies of classics that fans had come to appreciate. However, their unique approach to mapping out the episode and pushing the characters into new territory is what ultimately makes the season a fan favorite.
A Series Coming Into Its Own
Much like similar seasons of its caliber, the aforementioned premiere undoubtedly set the tone for the rest of the season. Alluding to Hitchcock’s Rear WIndow, “Bart Of Darkness” is one of the many episodes to excellently bridge a gap between comedy connoisseurs and fans of mystery classics. Moving forward, the sixth season as a whole received rave reviews for similarly offering satirical and comical stories that began to define what exactly distinguishes a Simpsonian comedy from the rest.
2 Season 4
The fourth season is widely considered to be among the best, and for great reasons too. Premiering in 1992, with the episode “Kamp Krusty”, Season Four would be heralded for its overall quality. From the running gags that the season contained to the pacing of each episode, many consider the season to be nothing short of wonderful from its premiere to its conclusion.
A Fan Favorite For Good Reasons
Season 4 exceptionally toes the line between pure, laugh-inducing situations and the shadow-like tragedy lurking beneath the surface. Between its depictions of beauty and pageantry, and the ever looming crises of faith that the characters endeavor, the fourth season felt like a rare opportunity where talking about contentious topics during a holiday dinner felt insightful, wholesome, and most importantly, fun.
1 Season 8
While there may be some contention about what is truly the season of The Simpsons, Season 8 feels like an amalgamation of all that makes the series identifiable and enjoyable. Resting on the back of the prior seven seasons’ development, the eighth season truly benefits from the continued growth behind the scenes, and it shows.
A Hilarious Yet Healing Set of Stories
The eighth season sees The Simpsons approach common yet controversial topics alongside new, serious points of interest with a unique eagerness. The self-assurance that comes from eight years of writing, taking creative risks, and remaining aware of trends in pop culture and politics bleeds into episodes like “Neddy” and “Divided”. Acknowledging issues such as repression and intrafamilial conflicts respectively, the eighth season is the best example of The Simpsons providing laughter as a necessary medicine for its audience.
