History BrokenBase / TheSimpsons

* In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E14TheItchyAndScratchyAndPoochieShow The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show]]", a focus group asks kids if they'd prefer Itchy and Scratchy to have more down-to-earth plotlines like people have every day or wacky, far out adventures with robots and magic powers. The kids answer enthusiastically to both options. The writers commented that at the time they felt stuck between these two avenues of the fanbase, with half the fans wanting the show to stay grounded in reality, others wanting it to get crazier and crazier.

* In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS20E17TheGoodTheSadAndTheDrugly The Good The Sad And The Drugly]]" was Milhouse right to remain bitter and get revenge on Bart, ultimately causing Jenny to break up with him? The fans can't seem to agree. While some believe given all the abuse he took in this episode (and beforehand) from Bart and others, [[TheDogBitesBack he deserved some vengeance,]] others feel that he overstepped his boundaries, grabbed the JerkassBall and ruined one of Bart's only moments of true happiness.

* Which season is the last classic-era season? Seasons 8, 9, or 10?
** Season 8 is felt to be better than Seasons 9-24 but worse than Seasons 1-7, whether it's SeasonalRot or flawed but still fun is debatable. Seasons 9 and 10 are either considered flawed but better than later seasons, or the moment the show went downhill. The only thing fans seem to agree on is that Season 9 is probably where the series should have ended.
** Some point to Seasons 9 and /or 10, due to Mike Scully taking over as showrunner and some episodes that didn't go over well with fans, most notably the infamous "The Principal and the Pauper". Others, however, consider these seasons to be part of the show's Golden Age

* The old joke goes 'how do you find out the age of a Simpsons fan? Easy. Ask them when the show stopped being funny' the gag coming from the idea that Simpsons fans tend to say that the show's stopped being funny pretty much the instant they graduate high school.
* Who was the better showrunner? For the classic era: Is it Al Jean & Mike Reiss, David Mirkin, or Bill Oakley & Josh Weinstein? For the post-classic era: Is it Al Jean or Mike Scully? For Jean's episodes as showrunner, which were better: Seasons 13-16 when he tried to emulate Seasons 1-8, or Seasons 17-present when the show has turned into a watered-down ''Family Guy'' and ''South Park''?

** Did Bart ''really'' deserve to be punished? ''Were'' Marge and Homer a bit too harsh on him? The viewers who see the latter finds Bart's punishment [[DisproportionateRetribution too far, even for someone like Bart.]] Especially considering it's on Thanksgiving and Lou and Eddie were shocked to hear about it, [[WasTooHardOnHim regretful or not.]] For the viewers who see the former [[JerkassHasAPoint defends Marge and Homer]] by stating that Bart '''purposely''' threw Lisa's centerpiece into the fire (and even if it ''was'' an accident, Bart's smartass remark suggested that he didn't feel bad about it). Considering how much of a pain Bart can be, along with the fact the parents not only have to deal with their relatives and the preparation of the feast itself in Marge's case. One's patience can go so far, especially if one has a child like Bart. [[TakeAThirdOption However, there is a third group of fans who see that all of them were just as selfish.]]
** While the episode itself and the rest of the Simpsons family are firmly on Lisa's side, who was to blame for the incident in the first place? Lisa's centrepiece was taking up too much space and was light enough for her to easily pick it back up again, while Bart was carrying a hot and heavy turkey that should have taken priority in that moment. Additionally, was Lisa jealous that Bart (and the turkey) immediately upstaged the centrepiece she had spent so much time on and acted a little irrationally in the heat of the moment? Or are neither to blame; Homer or Marge should have been the ones to carry the turkey and to gently ask Lisa if she could move her centrepiece.

* "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E13SimpsoncalifragilisticexpialaAnnoyedGruntCious Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious]]": Was it a fun, [[DarkParody more cynical take]] on ''Mary Poppins'', or was it a ShallowParody that relied too heavily on pop culture references?

* "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E23HomersEnemy Homer's Enemy]]" (the episode with Frank Grimes): Brilliant deconstruction of the show's absurdity, or painfully and humorlessly dark? Was the relentless torture of one-time character Frank Grimes funny and meaningful (demonstrating how an ordinary person could not survive in the chaotic Simpsons universe) or incredibly mean-spirited? The only thing fans agree on is that the episode is only accessible to long-time viewers.

* "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS9E3LisasSax Lisa's Sax]]": Some call it a cute, heartwarming episode with an awesome ending to boot, while other can't get past Bart's sad subplot (If somebody hates this episode, chances are that will be the reason) and despise the character pampering Lisa is given in it.

* "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS9E17LisaTheSimpson Lisa The Simpson]]": Lisa being ''genetically predisposed'' to be the one member of her family that isn't a loser. Some consider this CreatorsPet and DoubleStandard of the tallest order, and [[https://tv.avclub.com/lisa-fears-she-s-slipping-on-a-simpsons-in-fact-slipp-1798185654 critics loathed this final reveal hard as a result]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_the_Simpson while the pathos leading to it was highly appreciated.]]

* Is "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS25E20BrickLikeMe Brick Like Me]]" the writers' love letter to the LEGO franchise or is it a forced 25-minute advertisement to the recently-launched LEGO Simpsons range? The fact that LEGO is referred directly and not as [[ProductDisplacement a parody brand]] borders on the later part, and the CGI animation used heavily throughout the episode arguably does not help.

* In 2020, it was announced that the show's non-white characters (including Dr. Hibbert, Bumblebee Man, Dr. Nick, Carl, Lou, and Cookie Kwan) would no longer be voiced by white actors. Fans are split about whether this was a good way to address the show's ValuesDissonance or if the GrandfatherClause should have stayed in effect.

** Related to that, many consider that the scene of the episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS29E15NoGoodReadGoesUnpunished]]" in which Lisa and Marge discuss how something can become offensive with time would probably have worked better had they not addressed it in such a direct fashion. Others contend that otherwise, the audience would not have listened.

* Ever since the release of footage from the original workprint of "Some Enchanted Evening", there have been arguments on whether or not the series should have been animated more like the workprint version.
* In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS20E17TheGoodTheSadAndTheDrugly The Good The Sad And The Drugly]] was Milhouse right to remain bitter and get revenge on Bart, ultimately causing Jenny to break up with him? The fans can't seem to agree. While some believe given all the abuse he took in this episode (and beforehand) from Bart and others, [[TheDogBitesBack he deserved some vengeance,]] others feel that he overstepped his boundaries, grabbed the JerkassBall and ruined one of Bart's only moments of true happiness.

* While "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS2E7BartVsThanksgiving Bart vs. Thanksgiving]]" is beloved episode, there's some mixed opinions about the overall conflict:

* "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E2ATaleOfTwoSpringfields]]" is generally considered to be one of the best season 12 episodes, especially from fans of Music/TheWho. However a small group of fans ''despise'' the episode because of the scene when Homer attempts to blow up the city hall (and the ridiculousness of the episode in general). By the number of "Worst Simpsons Episodes" lists it's been on, you'd think it was much worse-received.

* "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS22E17LoveIsAManyStrangledThing Love Is A Many Strangled Thing]]": Some consider it one of the worst episodes of the series [[note]] Next to "My Sister, My Sitter", "Miracle on Evergreen Terrace", "The Boys of Bummer". [[/note]] due to Bart's JerkassBall towards Homer, especially when he leaves him to get ''hanged''. Others, however, find the episode funny regardless and think the concept of Homer not having to strangle Bart is rather innovative. Homer's treatment from the hands of Bart is particularly contested. To some, this makes him a JerkassWoobie; to others, he's an AssholeVictim who deserves every second of it.

* "[[SoapboxSadie Lisa the Vegetarian]]": Was Lisa right to express her sudden loathing of meat consumption and then learn to tolerate it, or was it an unnecessary development that detrimentally Flanderized her character?

* "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E13SimpsoncalifragilisticexpialaAnnoyedGruntCious Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious]]": Was it a fun, [[DarkParody more cynical take]] on ''Mary Poppins'', or was it a ShallowParody that relied too heavily on pop culture references?
* "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E5HomerVsDignity Homer vs. Dignity]]": Was the major humiliation Homer experiences in this episode (including the scene where he is raped by a panda) funny and well-deserved, or is it so painful to watch that it destroyed any remaining purity the show retained after its quality dropped? One half says it's one of the worst episodes because the second half is shamelessly contrived and out of place and the other half found it hilarious. Other episodes involving bizarre plots, such as "Saddlesore Galactica", "Kill The Alligator and Run" and "Simpson Safari" have received similar criticisms.
* Over "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E13SaddlesoreGalactica Saddlesore Galactica]]". Many fans hate this episode and call it one of the worst ever, but a fair number enjoy it because it spoofs the {{Flanderization}} and [[DenserAndWackier absurd plots]] that started to crop up in Season 9. The other "meta" episodes, like "Behind the Laughter", are also divisive--some fans think self-referential humor is just obnoxious and dull (and thus a FranchiseOriginalSin), while others like that the show has a sense of humor about itself, but none of them are as controversial as "Galactica".
* What was the last "classic episode"? While most would agree that the quality of the series declined in Season 9, with 10 being the last classic season, there are still episodes beyond them deemed "classic" and thus essential viewing. Contenders include: Season 11's "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E22BehindTheLaughter Behind the Laughter]]" and Season 12's "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E18TrilogyOfError Trilogy of Error]]". Whether any episode from these post-classic and HD era can reach up to the heights the classics achieved is another debate.

* "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS3E1StarkRavingDad Stark Raving Dad]]" becoming a MissingEpisode as of 2019. While allegations of child molestation, one resulting in a court trial that ended in a not guilty verdict, had been leveled by multiple parties against Music/MichaelJackson from 1993 onward, the 2019 documentary ''Leaving Neverland'' (focusing on two of the alleged victims' detailed stories of abuse and manipulation) was the tipping point for the ''Simpsons'' producers, who now feel that Jackson's motives for appearing on the show were not what they believed them to be. Especially after the show's streaming move to Creator/DisneyPlus, which was how many people first found out that the episode was no longer available anywhere aside from the Season 3 DVD set, there is a debate between fans who feel that the producers have a right to choose to drop the episode, and those who feel Jackson's presence was/is no worse than that of other controversial guest stars (i.e. Creator/MelGibson, Music/TedNugent, etc.) and/or do not believe the documentary in the first place and feel a classic episode is being unnecessarily locked up.
* Was the "Viva Ned Flanders" episode good or bad? Some people think the plot of Homer and Ned going to Vegas was funny, but others think it was too nonsensical the revelation that Ned is sixty.

* Is "Brick Like Me" the writers' love letter to the LEGO franchise or is it a forced 25-minute advertisement to the recently-launched LEGO Simpsons range? The fact that LEGO is referred directly and not as [[ProductDisplacement a parody brand]] borders on the later part, and the CGI animation used heavily throughout the episode arguably does not help.
* "The Principal and the Pauper" is a big one. Many, if not most, viewers (and some of the production people) hate it for the revelation that Skinner was an impostor, but a few people defend the episode and like it for its comedy, claiming the haters are irrational and just don't like change. There are even base-breaking moments ''within'' the episode: some people feel that the jokes about Skinner saying out-of-character things (e.g. the famous line "Up yours, children!") are the only redeeming quality of the episode, whereas other people think they're just lazy writing. And the ending, where the "real Skinner" is rounded out of town and the citizens pretend he never existed-- is that a good parody of StatusQuoIsGod, or is it overly mean-spirited and/or the writers belatedly realising that they made a bad choice? Another thing fans argue about with this episode is whether or not it's canon: Lisa calls Skinner, "Principal Tamzarian" in "I (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot", but another episode has Skinner in utero, and when Matt Groening complained about the episode, he claimed that it can be dismissed as non-canon.
* "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily" has few people who find it ''great'' but there is a conflict between those who hate it and those who think it's just okay. A common point of conflict is whether the BlackComedy jokes were truly funny, or if they were just tasteless. Another thing that breaks the base is whether killing off Maude was a good choice, an okay choice, or a really bad choice.

** Seasons 11-onward are generally agreed to be worse than Seasons 1 through 10, but beyond that, there's little consensus on how they compare to each other.

* "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E23HomersEnemy Homer's Enemy]]" (the episode with Frank Grimes): Brilliant deconstruction of the show's absurdity, or painfully and humorlessly dark? The only thing fans agree on is that the episode is only accessible to long-time viewers.

* "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily" has few people who find it ''great'' but there is a conflict between those who hate it and those who think it's just okay. A common point of conflict is whether the BlackComedy jokes were truly funny, or if they were just tasteless.

* Latin American viewers are divided in regards about the dubbed version, which changed almost completely in the sixteenth season. Some consider the voices, while nowhere as good as the originals, aren't ''that'' important, while others [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks consider this ruined the series beyond repair]].
* In the same vein, should the show keep making new episodes? Many fans who don't like the new seasons still don't want to see it go off the air, and some of the people who do like them would rather see FOX or Matt Groening MercyKill the series before it stops being good. Also, there are some people [[JustHereForGodzilla who just stay for]] the ''Treehouse of Horror'' episodes and/or the occasional obscure cultural references.
* "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E23HomersEnemy Homer's Enemy]]" (the episode with Frank Grimes): Brilliant deconstruction of the show's absurdity, or painfully and humorlessly dark? The only thing fans agree on is that the episode is only accessible to long-time viewers.

* In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E14TheItchyAndScratchyAndPoochieShow The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show]]", a focus group asks kids if they'd prefer Itchy and Scratchy to have more down-to-earth plotlines like people have every day or wacky, far out adventures with robots and magic powers. The kids answer enthusiastically to both options. The writers commented that at the time they felt stuck between these two avenues of the fanbase, with half the fans wanting the show to stay grounded in reality, others wanting it to get crazier and crazier.

* With the departure and subsequent replacement of long time series composer Alf Clausen with Music/HansZimmer and his company Bleeding Fingers Music in Season 29. Fans are split as to whether the music is as good as the previous seasons, or if it's marginally worse in comparison.
* The switch over to computer animation. While some believe that the show looks more polished, others find the original, hand-drawn animation style to be much more charming.

* The much longer couch gags that have become increasingly prevalent since the show moved to being produced in HD, sometimes eating up well over a minute of the episode. Some fans consider them to be pure {{padding}}, but others regard them (especially the ones produced by guest animators) as actually more entertaining and creative than most of the actual episodes themselves.

* In 2020, it was announced that the show's non-white characters (including Dr. Hibbert, Bumblebee Man, Dr. Nick, Carl, Lou, and Cookie Kwan) would no longer be voiced by white actors. Fans are split about whether this was a good way to address the show's ValuesDissonance or if the GrandfatherClause should have stayed in effect.
** Similarly, the show retiring Apu for good in 2023 is quite contested amongst fans. Some approve of it, seeing him as a ''very'' [[OvershadowedByControversy controversial]] EthnicScrappy who has done enough damage to people of South Asian descent, while others wish that he had just been recasted by a South Asian actor, seeing him as far [[BreakoutCharacter too iconic of a character]] to just throw away. And then there are those who just want Creator/HankAzaria back, [[CantUnhearIt being unable to hear anyone else but him]] as the voice of Apu. Obviously, these debates can get rather heated.