The Simpsons Season 35: Avoid These 10 Critical Mistakes!
The Simpsons Season 35: A fresh approach to the iconic series, avoiding common pitfalls and delivering an entertaining blend of humor, nostalgia, and new adventures A must-watch for fans and newcomers alike
The upcoming season 35 of The Simpsons is expected to be successful, but it may still encounter familiar obstacles that have hindered its greatness. Season 35 is scheduled to premiere on October 1, 2023, and the popular animated sitcom has already been renewed for a 36th season. Although the show has been on the air for over 33 years, season 34 was a comeback for The Simpsons, with particularly strong writing.
However, season 35 of The Simpsons will once again face its long-standing issues. The slow production process prevents the series from achieving timely and topical satire like South Park can. Additionally, the show's tendency to rely on impressive guest stars can sometimes result in unnecessary stunt casting. If the show's writers can learn from their recent mistakes, season 35 has the potential to continue the improved success of season 34. It is important to note that creating sequels to classic episodes may not be a wise decision, while experimenting with new ideas can lead to significant achievements.
10 The Simpsons Season 35 Needs Fewer Celebrity Cameos
Since its earliest seasons, The Simpsons has been able to attract some truly impressive voice talent, such as Michael Jackson, Danny DeVito, and Dustin Hoffman. In the following decades, the show has become a TV institution, celebrating major milestones with cameos from Steve Martin and Tony Hawk. However, moving forward, season 35 of The Simpsons should avoid relying on major cameos. These appearances can sometimes be distracting, and the show doesn't necessarily need them.
9 The Simpsons Season 35 Doesn't Need Classic Scene Callbacks
In recent seasons of The Simpsons, there has been an odd trend where the show recreates specific shots from its Golden Age episodes without any apparent reason. This peculiar choice serves as a distracting reminder of the show's past glory days, but it fails to contribute anything substantial to the new episodes. Instead, it diverts the attention of viewers away from otherwise well-executed outings like The Simpsons season 34, episode 8, "Step Brother From the Same Planet," and season 34, episode 12, "My Life as a Vlog." Therefore, it is advisable for season 35 to avoid indulging in this practice.
8 The Simpsons Season 35 Should Do Fewer Sequel Episodes
Speaking of the show’s best era, it is a risky move for The Simpsons season 35 to revisit classic episodes. Although the trailer for season 35 promises an episode that pays homage to the beloved season 5 episode “Cape Feare,” there is a chance that this new episode may not live up to the brilliance of its iconic predecessor. While previous sequel episodes like season 28, episode 16, “Kamp Krustier,” and season 34, episode 9, “When Nelson Met Lisa,” were decent in their own right, neither of them could compare to the original episodes.
7 The Simpsons Season 35 Shouldn’t Play It Safe
To avoid complacency after the success of season 34's experimental episode "Lisa the Boy Scout," The Simpsons season 35 should strive to continue pushing boundaries. While it is not expected for one of the longest-running TV shows to constantly surprise viewers, it would be a letdown if The Simpsons simply coasted through its 34th year on the air. Thankfully, the peculiar and ambitious meta-humor of season 34's more playful installments injected a sense of freshness and vitality into the show.
6 The Simpsons Season 35 Can’t Forget Holiday Specials
While The Simpsons isn't always a cozy Fall TV show, the series does prioritize celebrating Halloween with its annual Treehouse of Horror anthology specials. However, although The Simpsons season 34 featured two Halloween episodes, it completely overlooked Christmas. As a family sitcom, The Simpsons has the ability to explore the humor and emotions of the holiday season. Episodes like season 7, episode 11, “Marge Be Not Proud,” and season 11, episode 9, “Grift of the Magi,” demonstrate that The Simpsons should always make time for an annual Christmas special.
5 The Simpsons Season 35 Shouldn’t Get Too Emotional
However, The Simpsons must avoid excessive sentimentality. In one of the weaker episodes of season 34, the show tried too hard to strike an emotional chord by exploring the relationship between Duffman and his estranged daughter. While The Simpsons can occasionally indulge in heartfelt moments, it should not overdo it, especially when compared to its edgier counterparts like Family Guy and South Park. Such cloyingly sweet moments should be kept to a minimum.
4 The Simpsons Season 35 Should Avoid Topical Satire
Although The Simpsons rarely relies on major plot twists to captivate viewers, the series does incorporate current events to stay culturally relevant. However, due to the show's notorious lengthy production process, much of its timely satire often falls short. The success of The Simpsons' COVID-19 episode in season 34 can be attributed to its clever avoidance of directly referencing the pandemic itself. As the series enters season 35, it should strive to maintain a similar level of subtlety and indirectness with its topical humor.
3 The Simpsons Season 35 Can’t Forget Its New Heroes
In The Simpsons, numerous new supporting characters are introduced, only to be neglected afterwards. Hence, it is imperative for The Simpsons season 35 to prioritize the return of characters such as Bart's teacher, Rayshelle Peyton. Rayshelle Peyton is a valuable addition to the show, but unfortunately, she has not been utilized to her full potential recently. As Ms. Krabappel's replacement after the passing of her voice actor Marcia Wallace, Bart's new teacher brought a refreshing change. However, in the upcoming season, it is crucial for the show to make better use of her character.
2 The Simpsons Season 35 Doesn’t Need Two-Parters
1 The Simpsons Season 35 Needs Fewer New Characters
The Simpsons has made many attempts to create two-part specials since "Who Shot Mr. Burns," but only a few of these extended episodes have truly justified their longer durations. Some are completely confusing, featuring a bizarre hip-hop music parody of The Great Gatsby that is inexplicable. On the other hand, some are just ordinary episodes that have needlessly been expanded to fill more time. Either way, these outings rarely contribute anything significant to a particular season.
In order for The Simpsons season 35 to prioritize the new heroes it has already introduced, it is crucial for the show's cast list to have a reduced number of new characters. By refraining from introducing new supporting stars and instead focusing on fleshing out the additions from recent seasons, The Simpsons season 35 can sidestep a major issue, particularly after the multitude of celebrity guest stars in season 34. This approach would allow for a more engaging portrayal of Springfield's extensive background characters and grant the show additional time to focus on the members of its eponymous family, with fewer guest stars stealing the spotlight.
