The Simpsons: 10 Best Recent Episodes You Probably Missed

Don't sleep on these bonafide modern classic Simpsons episodes.

The Simpsons Brick Like Me
Fox

Even the most ardent fan of The Simpsons will admit that the show peaked around season six, and by season 10 it had begun a noticeable decline in quality.

The legendary animated sitcom has certainly never been unwatchable - despite what some sour fans might tell you - but it's also fair to admit that The Simpsons has largely been a shadow of its former self for more than 20 years.

With an increasing reliance on gimmicks in order to remain relevant as edgier animated shows like Family Guy have arrived on the scene, and an unfortunate tendency to render its central characters as exaggerated caricatures, modern Simpsons is insanely hit-and-miss, to say the least.

But real fans know a great episode when they see it, and every so often The Simpsons will deliver an absolute corker totally out of nowhere.

From the last decade of Simpsons episodes, these are the 10 that truly felt like they captured the heart and soul of the earlier seasons, melding compelling storytelling with nuanced character work, strong emotion, and yes, absolute hilarity.

These episodes are generally strong enough that they can sit comfortably(ish) among the series in its heyday...

10. Woo-Hoo Dunnit? (Season 30, Episode 22)

The Simpsons Brick Like Me
Fox

It was just a matter of time before The Simpsons took aim at the overabundance of true crime documentaries flooding streaming platforms these days, and season 30's "Woo-Hoo Dunnit?" did it with style and smarts.

After Lisa's college fund disappears, Dateline: Springfield tries to get to the bottom of the mystery, and the episode clearly relishes making light of the modern true crime doc's stale formula - the overwrought, hyper-glossy style and desire to twist a simple story into a convoluted dramatic pretzel.

It's always fun to see the show deviate from the week-to-week comedic template, and while not a classic on the level of the show's best experimental episodes, for modern Simpsons it's practically miraculous.

Particular commendations go to Liev Schreiber for his fun performance as the Dateline narrator, and writer Brian Kelley for scripting a genuinely enticing mystery with an unexpected solution.

In this post: 
The Simpsons
 
Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.