10 Times The Simpsons Jumped The Shark
7. Homer And The Panda
Homer Simpson has suffered no end of humiliation over the years of the show. He’s fallen down a gorge, been pummeled by boxers and groundskeepers, and come agonisingly close to fortunes only to have them snatched away on several occasions. Being sexually assaulted by a panda bear, though, is where many fans draw the line.
Season 12 episode “Homer Vs Dignity” is frequently regarded by fans as the all time worst in the show’s run. And while this isn’t entirely accurate (it’s better than almost any episode from, say, season 18 onwards), it’s not hard to see why the panda scene is so heavily derided by fans of the show.
It’s gross out humour of a nature the show isn’t really known for, and beyond that it’s a downright cruel thing to do to your protagonist. Homer becomes less of a pleasant presence as the show goes on, yes, but this crosses a line.
It’s also just plain not very funny, the low point of an episode built entirely round the ongoing humiliation of Homer J Simpson. You can sort of see what they were going for, but this was a big misfire.