1.1 Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
So many things are jarring to now, especially Homer’s voice. The tone of the show is more like animated Roseanne or Married with Children. In these early episodes it’s more sitcom than animated.
1.2 Bart the Genius
The structure is more straightforward and linear instead of the very specific and idiosyncratic rhythm we’ve come to expect. This one does establish the dynamic in the family: Lisa’s smart, Bart’s rebellious, etc. Often, the early dynamic of the Homer / Bart relationships has not aged well and seems too abusive now.
1.3 Homer’s Odyssey
One of my least favorite episodes of the season, but it is something to see how from the beginning the idea of Homer always failing his way to success was in the show’s DNA. But there’s a balancing at to creating a likable buffoon who catches all the breaks. In this episode they didn’t get there.
1.4 There’s No Disgrace Like Home
Marvin Monroe was a major part of the first season and then disappeared. The therapy stuff flails a little because we don’t know who these characters are yet, we don’t understand the dynamic. It’s also striking how little attention they pay to Lisa and Maggie in the first batch of episodes.
1.5 Bart the General
This is the first aired episodes that feels like the show I love. Herman is a great character and involving Abe here helps a lot.
1.6 Moaning Lisa
The first Lisa centric episode nails most of what we need to know about her journey. She loves her family, but feels limited and stifled by them. She can’t relate to them and wonders if that makes her the odd one or them. She yearns for more than what life has given her and is drawn towards misfits and those on the outer edges.
1.7 The Call of the Simpsons
A half baked idea: the family somehow gets an RV and goes camping. I did like the Flanders stuff here, although it’s weird to see him flaunting his wealth. Albert Brooks as the RV salesman is good, but he has much more important stuff to do later.
1.8 The Tell-Tale Head
A fantastic world building episode which introduces Jedidiah Springfield. Jimbo, Kearney, Dolph. It’s great that Bart exists in this in between world. He’s by all appearances a bad kid, but he never falls in completely with the wrong crowd. Bart (like his dad) always takes things a step too far. Unlike his dad, he usually faces repercussions.
1.9 Life on the Fast Lane
This is a classic episode. The Marge / Homer relationship is perfectly set up here. The long suffering wife, the loving husband who doesn’t know how to express himself. Homer tries Marge’s patience, but she knows no one will ever love her (or need her) more. They’re not always happy, but they’re happier together than they would be apart.
1.10 Homer’s Night Out
Back to back Homer/ Marge episodes was a mistake. This one suffers compared to the previous one. Homer’s bachelor party antics are creepy and feel like more of a transgression than Marge’s bowling lessons. Princess Kashmir is a character best forgotten.
1.11 The Crepes of Wrath
Fantastic premise, but it takes a little too long to get there, and I was underwhelmed by the spy posing as a foreign exchange student.
1.12 Krusty Gets Busted
By anyone’s definition, this is a classic episode. Sideshow Bob is a superstar character and his subsequent obsession with Bart is one of the best running gags of the entire series. This episode gives us Krusty fully formed. We see his struggles with illiteracy and the potential for celebrity parody. A first season highlight.
1.13 Some Enchanted Evening
Penny Marshall’s Mrs. Botz is a cool character and deserved more than a one-off. The children working together to defeat the Babysitter Bandit was nice, but the episode just feels slightly off.
My ranking for season 1:
- Krusty Gets Busted (1.12)
- Moaning Lisa (1.6)
- The Tell-Tale Head (1.8)
- Life on the Fast Lane (1.9)
- Some Enchanted Evening (1.13)
- Bart the General (1.5)
- Homer’s Night Out (1.10)
- The Crepes of Wrath (1.11)
- Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (1.1)
- There’s No Disgrace Like Home (1.4)
- Bart the Genius (1.2)
- The Call of the Simpsons (1.7)
- Homer’s Odyssey (1.3)