An Introduction

I’ll keep this introduction brief. I am a Simpson’s fanatic, and have been since I was a tiny child. I’m very familiar with all of the classic seasons, but to really gain a comprehensive perspective on the entire series (which is amazingly still going, having just completed its 22^nd season), I feel it is my duty to watch every episode in order. And to make this less of a time waster for myself, as I’ve seen the first 10 seasons a billion times each, I will do write-ups on every episode.

         
         I look forward to the day when I can raise a child on this show. I myself have grown up with The Simpsons all throughout my life. I was born only a few months before the premier of the first episode, having lived as long as the show itself, so I have a special bond with the series. I remember watching a tape of season 2 episodes recorded off of TV over and over as a 5-year-old. Technically it’s a show written for adults, but I don’t find it to be inappropriate for children. The colorful and cute animation, hilarious voices, and gut-busting slapstick humor makes for a show that delights all kids, and any political or sexual humor will innocently go right over their heads. Sure, there’s mild swearing, and the show is upfront about sex and violence, but certainly nothing damaging to a child. The later seasons, when the show got raunchier, are probably less appropriate, but the classic seasons are a great teaching tool. As a child grows older and becomes more educated, the show gains more and more dimensions, and one’s appreciation only increases from the delight of getting more and more of its brilliant jokes. And it makes kids more socially conscious. I’m 22 and I’m still learning and laughing, and the show’s classic episodes only continue to improve with age.

         
          I, like many, haven’t liked any of the episodes of the past 8 or 9 seasons or so, but I plan to give them a fair shot. The general consensus is that the show got crappy after season 10, but having watched 11-13 completely, I know that isn’t true. In fact, I like those seasons a lot. So I plan to give every late season episode a chance. Watching a new episode out of context is always jarring, but watching them in order may give me perspective on the second half of the series, of which I’m barely familiar with, and as such a fan I owe it to myself to watch everything from top to bottom.

          And so I start my journey through Simpson’s history. Let the tomfoolery begin!