15 Worst Episodes Of The Simpsons (And What They Represent)
7. Homer Vs Dignity
What It Represents:The decline is here to stay.
While The Principal And The Pauper was the first chink in the show’s armour in Season 9, Kill The Alligator And Run in Season 11 was proof positive (if any was still needed) that the show was on a decline.
Not a slump, a lull, or a blip, but a one way descent from which it would never recover.
Arguably moreso than Homer Vs Dignity, it’s also a great example of what a jerkass Jerkass Homer is. After going to Florida to help relax away his insomnia, Homer recovers and ends up partying with all of the spring breakers.
It neglects his family, you could maybe argue, but so far, so not particularly jerkass.
However, once spring break ends he forces them to stay with him indefinitely (who cares about work or school, right?) and keep his party buzz going. This ends with him killing the titular alligator, although they don’t get a chance to run as the whole family is then arrested.
It transpires later that the alligator wasn’t dead and the family are released, on the condition that they never return to Florida. After the panhandle saw this side of the Simpsons, who can blame them?