The Simpsons: 10 Best Episodes From Season 30 Onwards

10. The Way Of The Dog

Season 31, Episode 22

The final episode of season 31 focuses on the Simpsons’ long-time furry companion Santa’s Little Helper. During the preparation for Christmas, SLH is perturbed by a Santa hat. His behaviour becomes increasingly destructive as he demolishes another long-time Simpsons’ companion, the couch. When he bites Marge, the family call in Dog Therapist Dr. Elaine Wolff (Cate Blanchett).

The episode deals with SLH’s traumatic parting from his mother. Through flashbacks, including a look at the first-ever full-length Simpsons’ episode Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, viewers learn of SLH’s journey from his mother to the racetrack to finding a home with the Simpsons. SLH’s love for his family is evident. There are some emotional scenes between Bart and SLH which hark back to classics such as season eight’s The Canine Mutiny.

The episode is a feel-good story, and while it is a flashback episode it doesn’t mess with the show’s canon, a touchy subject for hardcore fans. The episode also marks Bart’s shorts being literally eaten by a vacuum cleaner. He concludes that “now that it’s happened it’s not so funny”.