Although the series has been on the air for over thirty years, season 35 of The Simpsons proves that it can still maintain its fresh formula.
If any series had an excuse to rely on a reliable formula, we can’t think of a better one than The Simpsons. The original work of Matt Groening, one of the greatest animated shows of all time, has aired over 750 episodes in the last thirty-four years, making it the longest-running television show in the history of the United States.
That’s why it’s not surprising that in recent seasons The Simpsons have been accused of relying on reliable tropes and familiar arguments. However, their creators strive to prove otherwise. By the way, we want a remake of this game.
Season 35, a breath of fresh air to an already worn-out formula
The 35th season of The Simpsons continues this good streak with a renewed sense of originality and innovation. This extends to the format of the series, which no longer adheres to the model of a family comedy.
In seasons 34 and 35, The Simpsons have played with the show’s format in numerous ways. Some episodes are dreams or fantasies, others are mockumentaries, and others are a metaparody of the same narrative flaws that, according to critics, The Simpsons are based on.
Are The Simpsons changing forever?
There are fewer and fewer stories about family, as shown in episode 2 of season 35, “A Mid-Childhood Night’s Dream”. That episode was possibly Marge Simpson’s best story in decades, and its surreal and reality-distorting narrative style was a big part of its success.
On the other hand, episode 12 of season 34, “My Life As A Vlog”, was also a mockumentary, but also a screenlife episode. The story was narrated entirely through computer screen captures, while an (almost) invisible protagonist jumped from tab to tab while investigating the downfall of the Simpson family’s fleeting viral fame.
On the other hand, episode 3 of season 34, “Lisa, the Boy Scout”, took this blatantly metahistorical approach even further with an episode about cancelled subplots of The Simpsons. This episode was one of the highlights of season 34, largely because it related to the cultural legacy of The Simpsons, parodying the fan base of the series and its unique place in television history, while also functioning as a standout episode in its own right.
In this way, The Simpsons have abandoned an outdated formula to innovate and try new ways of storytelling. And season 35, now available on Disney+, is proof of that. Give it a chance.
