8. The Death Of Maude Flanders - Alone Again, Natura-Diddily (2000)
The untimely (and very unnecessary) death of Maude Flanders marked something of a turning point for The Simpsons, ushering in a new era for the show in which bad decisions were made for the sake of controversy, which - in turn - was intended to increase ratings. Alone Again, Natura-Diddily first aired in 2000, and is famous for featuring the super shocking and notably tactless death of Simpsons' neighbour Maude Flanders, wife of Ned. Mike Scully, who was show-runner at the time the episode aired, has outright admitted that the decision to kill Maude came as an attempt to increase ratings, one of the first signs that the show would soon begin to compromise its integrity. The problem, however, stems from the cynical and heartless way that Maude departs Springfield: as the butt of a joke. Not to mention the fact that Ned began dating in the very same episode. Sigh.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
