The Simpsons
Summary
admonition : This clause contains SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 35 , episode 9 .
WhileThe Simpsonsseason 35 has been branded a homecoming to material body by critics , sequence 9 leaven that the show still has a tenacious way to go in avoiding the pitfalls of recent season . The Simpsonsis one of the longest - running shows in television history and , as a result , the animated house situation comedy has been through a fistful of distinct eras . While instantly democratic with the viewing world , the first two seasons of the serial are now seen as a crude but bright sign of thing to come . Seasons 3 through 11 are involve as the Golden Age ofThe Simpsonssince the show ’s piece of writing became more ambitious and complex .
AlthoughThe Simpsonswas renewed through season 36 in 2023 , the series has n’t enjoy far-flung critical plaudit for some metre . Seasons 12 through 33 are often derisively referred to as “ Zombie Simpsons ” online , owe to their flunk attempts to retroflex the refreshing , imaginative style of the show ’s salutary sequence . While these season admit some definitive outings , there is no denying that the quality of the series as a whole took a downward play during this era . Recently , The Simpsonsseason 34 was praise as a return to signifier for the serial publication , but time of year 35 , sequence 9 , “ Murder She Boat , ” proves the show still struggles with the same major event .
No Christmas is over without some classical Simpsons Christmas installment . Here are all the show ’s vacation specials , in chronological order .
5The Simpsons Season 35 Episode 9 Prioritized Celebrity Cameos
Taika Waititi’s presence derailed a potentially good Simpsons episode
From its first season , The Simpsonscould always leverage the show ’s popularity to get at A - lean guest champion . However , former episodes of the serial ensured that these celebrities played original , piquant characters , with stars like Dustin Hoffman , Michael Jackson , and Danny DeVito appearing in singular , memorable function . AsThe Simpsonscontinued , the show start letting celebrities encounter themselves and this change result in low - cause cameos that come to little more than gratify . The Simpsonsseason 35 ’s Taika Waititi cameosaw “ Murder She Boat ” autumn into this trap , as the show prioritized adding a big name to the field day ’s casting list instead of focusing on the instalment ’s game .
Taika Waititi got more screen prison term than most of the Simpson family membersin “ Murder She Boat , ” but the director play a unsubtle self - parody instead of an original theatrical role . His role mostly rely on the bangle of his presence , much like Elon Musk and Lady Gaga ’s appearance in earlier installment ofThe Simpsons . This is a significant issue for the series since the show ’s popularity meansThe Simpsonscould regorge a new A - list histrion in every episode , but this alone does nothing to ameliorate the penning of the show . On the contrary , these unnecessary cameo limit the story focus and reference growing of the show ’s main character .
4Minor Characters Dominated The Simpsons Season 35 Episode 9
The Simpsons devoted too much screen time to unimportant characters
The Simpsonshas been around for 35 geezerhood and 750 episodes , so it is no surprise that the show ’s mould includes some of themost iconic television set charactersof all prison term . However , the serial has also cumulate a plethora of modest characters over the years , and not all of them need an equal share in the limelight . Often , less episode ofThe Simpsonslavish too much focal point and attention on the show ’s minor characters , result in the eponymous family unit getting sideline . This occurred in “ Murder She Boat , ” which featured a plot that focused on Comic Book Guy but somehow also involve Ned Flanders , Dr. Hibbert , and Milhouse .
Even Sideshow Mel and Rainier Wolfcastle got enough blind clip to become tedious , but not enough to give them compelling plots of their own . These characters are odd in all doses and , conversely , can become interesting in their own rightfulness when an entire sequence is devoted to their development . However , the regretful episode ofThe Simpsonsoveruse one - note side characters without adding anything new to their personality . Viewers did n’t check anything about Wolfcastle or Sideshow Mel in “ Murder She Boat , ” stand for both eccentric got swathes of screen time each despite their respective purpose bring small to the sequence ’s plot .
3Season 35 Episode 9 Treated The Simpsons Cynically
The Simpsons forgot the show’s heart comes from its central family
When Comic Book Guy ’s prize toy intermit in “ Murder She Boat , ” Lisa failed to believe that Bart was barren despite his objection . This was written off as a throwaway jape when it could have been a poignant plot point sincethe episode was n’t invest in fleshing out its characters . In stark demarcation , the superb season 35 , episode 7 , “ It ’s A Blunderful Life , ” focused its emotional plot line on Marge give out to believe Homer when he was also criminate of something he did n’t do . What made that earlier episode employment was the conclusion to take Marge ’s intimate turmoil seriously , whereas Lisa ’s arc with Bart was effectively ignored .
2The Simpsons Season 35 Episode 9 Was Gimmick-Heavy
The outing was filled with too much attention-grabbing filler
While some of thedarkest episodes ofThe Simpsonshave focused on Bart ’s malcontent streak getting him into serious hassle , these outings usually have a relatively square story with clear stakes . This go on them moving and engaging even when proceedings sometimes get surprisingly grim . In contrast,“Murder She Boat ” was overstuffed and failed to feel any emotional resonance as a result . There was the mystery surrounding Comic Book Guy ’s miniature , an over - indulgent musical phone number parodyingThe Love Boat , and a celebrity cameo . The installment had too much pop off on and too niggling focus on the claim character , as was typical in the infamously weak seasons 29 - 33 .
1The Simpsons Season 35 Episode 9’s Story Was Predictable
The answer to the episode’s mystery was easily guessed
Despite how chaotically overstuff the sequence was , it was easy to opine where the mystery parody plot was perish . The Simpsonsseason 35 made Bart too sympatheticfor viewers to believe that he would have put down the toy , and Waititi ’s ego - aggrandizement made it obvious that he was being arrange up as a villain . Every twist was telegraphed , whether it was Lisa running into the fame guest star after losing track of the baddie in a chase scene or Bart cite his ire at Comic Book Guy shortly before the toy dog was snap off .
The episode ’s mystery being predictable is n’t a major job in and of itself , but this is indicatory of the larger government issue with “ Murder She Boat . ”The junket stress to do too many things at once , from parodying murder mysteries to focusing on Waititi ’s presence to address Bart and Lisa ’s combative relationship , to spoofing nerd refinement . The deal of unnecessary supporting character reference only intensified the issues . This was peculiarly inauspicious because earlier season 35 outings prove thatThe Simpsonscan still follow , allow the show steers clear-cut of the booby trap that caused problems in earlier entries .
