The Simpsons S35's Biggest Problem: A Deeper Dive

The Struggle with Outdated References

The Simpsons has been through something of a critical resurgence in the last two years. Season 34 was singled out for praise, with some online commentators claiming that the show’s lengthy nadir was finally at an end and The Simpsons was now back to its old strengths. While few viewers could argue that seasons 34 and 35 hold a candle to the show's Golden Age from seasons 3—11, there is no denying that there has been an obvious uptick in quality beginning as early as season 33.

Homer weighs a fish surrounded by Duffman, Chalmers, Lenny, Carl, and other anglers in The Simpsons season 35 episode 10

Whether The Simpsons season 36 can keep this improvement alive remains to be seen, but a few problems are working against the long-running series. For one thing, The Simpsons has access to an endless stream of A-list guest stars. While this would be a boon for many shows, The Simpsons has been known to over-rely on flashy celebrity cameos at the expense of the show’s main characters. This connects to another issue that plagues the series. While many TV comedies would kill to have as many beloved minor characters as The Simpsons, focusing on minor Springfield citizens instead of the central family sometimes leaves the show feeling directionless. However, neither of these issues is as deleterious as the biggest problem facing The Simpsons in season 35.

Mr Burns kisses his wife as Homer looks into the camera in The Simpsons season 35 episode 4

The Impact of Real-Life News References

The animated comedy riffs on a news story in every second episode. However, these references often include outdated news stories, such as the NFT bubble, the Theranos scandal, and border control controversies. These references, although attempted to be integrated into the plot, have led to episodes feeling unmistakably dated and have distracted from the main storyline. This struggle with referencing timely news stories is exacerbated by the show's long production process, causing potentially promising concepts to feel outdated and cringe-worthy.

The Simpsons Season 35's NFT trailer gag featuring Homer and an ape

In contrast to The Simpsons, South Park's fast-paced production schedule has allowed the show to mock contemporary topics effectively. The Simpsons' tendency to rely on old news stories has resulted in poorly aged satire, as seen with the NFT-focused segment and the show's history of referencing stale memes and old jokes.

Dean Belichick smiles smugly in front of a USC sign in The Simpsons season 35 episode 10

Character-Centric Storylines and Guest Stars

The best storylines of season 35 are character-centric episodes that don’t rely on recent news events for relevance. When the series spends less time trying to keep up with Twitter moments and more time highlighting the Simpson family's relationships, it can still feel like a funny, moving family sitcom despite its age.

Lisa smiles while sitting in a busy theater and holding a playbill in The Simpsons season 35 episode 8

Despite the struggle with outdated references, The Simpsons' obsession with trawling through the news for episode plots has given the show a chance to create new characters who provide its frequent guest stars with meatier cameo roles. However, this approach is not without its drawbacks, as seen with Taika Waititi's cameo as himself, which was much less successful compared to guest stars playing original characters.

Homer snags his own upper lip on a fishing line while fishing in The Simpsons season 35 episode 10