The author reflects on a moment from 2003 when The Simpsons no longer felt funny.

• While watching The Simpsons season 15, episode 4, the author, as a teenager, felt rage at a joke involving Tony Blair with a jetpack.
• This moment represented a significant shift in the show's humor and the end of its seemingly untouchable status.

The departure of original creators led to a decline known as the 'zombie' era.

• Key figures like Matt Groening left, leading to a quality drop and the 'zombie Simpsons' term.
• By even generous standards, classic Simpsons ended around season 10, and the show continued for another 25 years.

The author hears rumors that The Simpsons has become good again.

• Whispers and articles suggested an increase in quality in recent seasons.
• The Simpsons original writers and even critics of the zombie era praised the newer episodes.

The author decides to explore whether The Simpsons has truly improved.

• Using IMDb scores, the author charts the decline and looks for signs of improvement in seasons 33 and 34.
• The review process involves watching and scoring each episode, noting various aspects.

Seasons 29 and 30 exhibit a lack of identity and memorable content.

• Episodes feel like The Simpsons impersonating itself, filled with shallow jokes and lacking in meaningful content.
• The show seems to avoid confronting what it has become by overloading plots with absurd scenarios.

A deep dive into the show's struggle to define its identity in the modern era.

• The Simpsons' cultural relevance has diminished, and it struggles with its own legacy.
• The show's world and characters have been exhausted, creating a challenge for writers to define what The Simpsons is today.

Analyzing the effect of excessive jokes in recent episodes.

• Season 29 and 30 episodes contain an overwhelming number of jokes, distracting from narrative and character development.
• This over-saturation of humor leads to forgettable episodes and a lack of meaningful storytelling.

Seasons 33 and 34 showcase a shift toward more thoughtful and experimental content.

• Reduced joke density allows for more character-focused stories and individuality.
• Episodes explore themes like trauma, identity, and the show's own past, presenting fresh perspectives.

Season 34 features some of the most innovative episodes, pushing the boundaries of The Simpsons.

• Unique episodes reimagine The Simpsons in various styles, from anime to meta-narratives.
• The show takes risks by breaking away from its traditional format and exploring new concepts.

Reflecting on the iconic status of Season 6 and the nature of nostalgia.

• Season 6 is an integral part of The Simpsons' golden age, yet it faced its own criticism at the time.
• The perception of classic episodes has shifted over time, illustrating the fluidity of media reception.