When I started this feature, I had certain preconceived expectations about the quality of each Simpsons season - when it was promising, when it was best, and when it showed its cracks. I expected the best two seasons to be the fourth and fifth seasons. I had this vague impression that the later golden era seasons were still hilarious, but showing its cracks. Interestingly enough, neither of those expectations held true to me.
It's a little difficult to pick out the best seasons for me among the golden era seasons, but it's shockingly easy for me to leave out Season 4. I was under the impression that the fourth season was the perfect mix of comedy and heart. I think that was overstated as every season I've watched has heart in at least a couple episodes and it's not nearly as funny as other seasons. I only mention that because I present the true season that is the perfect mix of comedy and heart: Season 7.
Season 7 has all of the heart of the fourth season, but it's also just funnier. My opinions comparing the fourth and seventh seasons, fair or not, is perfectly reflected in the two clip shows. The fourth season clip show is good in its own right, compared to other clip shows, but the 138th Episode Spectacular is good compared to regular episodes. The clip show is just brilliant in its execution and the way it is structured.
The clip show is reminiscent of the entire season in another facet: it's endless creativity and experimentation. Despite the show having been on the air for 128 episodes and for being responsible for 25 in this season alone, the show has mostly completely fresh new ideas for each episode. There's the obvious "22 Short Films About Springfield," but I mean even in its more grounded storylines. Something as simple as the family encountering a rich club in "Scenes from the Class Struggle" was still a wholly new idea the show had yet to write about. (You can go ahead and correct me if I'm wrong about that)
The seventh season takes full advantage of its wide arsenal of characters. Again, there's the obvious "22 Short Films" which is basically the writers showing off about how many great characters they have. There's maybe Sideshow Bob's best episode (which is saying something) and Abe Simpson improbably being an action hero (not a complaint). Apu gets a worthy sequel to "Homer and Apu" in an episode that may just be the most politically on one side the show's ever been. Lastly, Troy McClure is seen for the first time "live" because he needs to be shown with a woman because of his weird fish fetish. Going to characters such as Abe and Troy McClure for full episodes - who really work best in short doses - may reek of a desperation to fill out 25 episodes, but somehow all the episodes hold together really well and it never feels padded.
No other character benefits more from this season than Lisa. If it's true that Lisa is a hard character to write an episode about, the multitude of effective and heartwarming Lisa episodes are perhaps their best achievements in the season. Specifically, there's just something about Lisa and Homer's relationship that strikes a cord. "Lisa the Iconclast" and "Bart on the Road" both feature some of the sweetest moments on the show. "Lisa the Vegetarian" finds her at odds with Homer (and all of Springfield) and lastly Lisa finds new friends in "Summer of 4 ft. 2." It was a good season to be Lisa basically.
But the sentimental episodes aren't limited to just Lisa. Most of these episodes surprisingly end on some emotional level. There's the obvious "Mother Simpson" which finally answers the question about Homer's mother. "Marge Be Not Proud," about Bart and Marge, is probably one of the few Simpsons episodes that can make you cry. Even an episode as silly as "Homerpalooza" ends with Homer realizing he shouldn't die just to be cool, which really doesn't sound as affecting as it is when written into words.
There is not a single bad episode in this seventh season in my opinion, so much so that I'm surely forgetting a classic. There's the yearly Treehouse of Horror, the sequel to "Who Shot Mr Burns," and "King Size Homer," where Homer aspires to work on disability by gaining weight. (How had they not done this episode yet is beyond me - I similarly feel the same about "Homer the Smithers")
It probably goes without saying, but the voice work is still elevating the material given to them. Mediocre lines became funny and funny lines become instantly quotable because of the fantastic voice work. Similarly, I don't usually comment on the animation, but this season seems to have some of the most impressive animation yet. This is truly a show that was firing on all cylinders.
Season 7 went for both the crazy like Season 5 and 6, but brought back the heart held in the first four seasons. I don't know if I'd call this season the best season, but it's probably the best representation of The Simpsons in my opinion. It's got heart, laughs, experimentation, and some of the most original ideas the show had ever done.
Grade - A
Playlist
1. "White Lies" - Milo Greene
2. "Electric Man" - Rival Sons
3. "Heroine" - Dwntwn
4. "Don't Wanna Be Your Girl" - Wet
5. "Swimsuits" - The Cool Kids feat. Mayer Hawthorne
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