Filmday Fridays: Treehouse of Horror XV-XXI, The Simpsons Spooktacular

Time for our next set of Treehouse of Horror segments! These segments had both higher highs and lower lows than the segments I discussed last week. Some of this could be because they are newer and many of the episodes in seasons 9-15 were Treehouse of Horror episodes that I have seen more and liked a bit less, but I think these slightly newer seasons also had some rich material to work with and had started to find a balance for a good horror parody. The downside is that I am much less fond of the bad segments in this list. The bad segments from this set shared a similar issue of featuring a significant amount of violence without really engaging with the story it is endeavoring to parody. I am excited to talk about some of these segments, so let's get started! 

Top 7 Best Segments

7.  "Don't Have a Cow, Mankind" ("Treehouse of Horror XX")

The previous Zombie segment from Treehouse of Horror III didn't make it into my best or worst list. While I thought it was serviceable, it also didn't do as much as it could have with the Zombie concept. This segment builds on apocalyptic movies and Zombie films like 28 Days Later that give it so much more to work with! I like the joke that the Zombie-ism comes from eating at tainted Krusty Burger because it builds on the joke that these burgers are usually filled with questionable meat. I also think the segment does a good job putting characters into positions that are consistent with both the genre and their larger characterization. It makes sense that Ralph would become a muncher early on and that he would try biting himself. It also makes sense that Apu would survive since he is well-armed and also a vegetarian. I don't like the joke about communion that they have in this segment, but otherwise, this is a fun segment.

6. "War and Pieces" ("Treehouse of Horror XXI")

While this segment is not a direct parody of Jumanji, it plays with a similar concept and does it in a fun and exciting way. I love the fact that the game is clearly evil, but Bart and Millhouse casually start playing it. It is also funny that there is an exciting demon figure and a thimble. I also think the segment offers a fun, short glimpse of all the different games that people play together, including how confusing Yahtzee can be your first time playing. The short scenes of Clue, Mouse Hunt, Shoots & Ladders, and so many others offers enough time to get a good joke in and not so long that you get tired of the game. I think Millhouse suddenly giving up came out of nowhere and seemed like it was just there to create drama and possibly parody Titanic, but my sister made a good point that this sudden desire to quit games is one other element of group gameplay. Sometimes you play games with people who aren't good sports or just want to stop playing when it gets too hard. Overall, this was a fun concept that was very well-executed.

5. "The Ned Zone" ("Treehouse of Horror XV")

This segment had a great concept and it was so fun to see Flanders as the focal character. Like many other shows and movies about precognition, I like the fact that Flanders doesn't have a complete picture of how things are going to happen, just a brief glimpse of what the future will look like for each person he touches. It is funny that he accidentally causes Melman to be eaten by alligators and I also find it funny that Flanders is hit on the head with a bowling ball that Homer keeps throwing up on the roof. I also like that Flanders tries to avoid killing Homer by moving away, only to for him to wind up killing Homer and Homer accidentally blowing up the town. It fits with the fascinating idea that we meet our fate in the steps that we take to avoid it. 

4. "Four Beheadings and a Funeral" ("Treehouse of Horror XV")

What I love about this segment is that it brings together the Jack the Ripper murders and Sherlock Holmes. It is so funny when the prostitute at the beginning of the segment asks for a snug, only to exclaim "That's not a snug!" when he stabs her. I like that they slot the Simpsons and other characters into so many interesting roles in this segment. Lisa is a great Sherlock Holmes and I think it is funny that Bart is easily impressed by doorknobs (It's odd that they aren't consistent with this portrayal throughout the segment though). They have a fun mystery here and I like that they have Homer as the red herring. I think the segment drags a little when they go to Comic Book Guy's shop, but it still has some good jokes later in the segment. I think it is funny when they encounter a stabbed Selma and Bart assumes that she has been dead for days only for her to reanimate and tell him that it's only been 17 minutes. Overall, it is a fun segment and anything with a Victorian aesthetic is a winner in my book!

3. "Heck House" ("Treehouse of Horror XVIII")

As Treehouse of Horror went on and began to include violent segments or sci-fi concepts, there were several segments that lacked that spooky Halloween aesthetic. If you want a segment that feels just like Halloween, this is the segment for you! I like the way that their trick-or-treating turns into pure trickery and that even Lisa's efforts to be nice by feeding Lenny's goldfish are still considered tricks. The Heck house is also a fun look at Christian traditions like Fall Family Festivals and similar church Halloween activities. While I think it is a bit of a problem that Flanders prays that he can scare the kids into loving God, but I love the gruesome imagery they use to depict the Seven Deadly Sins. This episode is the reason that I remember them! I also think they have a creative visualization of Hell that both differs from other visions of Hell in this show and offers some good scares. 

2. "Dial 'M' for Murder or Press '#' to Return to Main Menu" ("Treehouse of Horror XX")

This segment is amazing and is right up there with "The Raven" or "The Shinning." I love the way that this segment works with both the storytelling and the imagery of Hitchcock. It also has so much great tension and suspense! Even if you haven't seen Strangers on a Train, the concept of Bart and Lisa trading crimes against Miss Hoover and Edna is such an exciting concept. It's a concept that crime shows have used occasionally as well because it is interesting and makes for a good puzzle. It is funny to see how Bart defines pranks differently from what Lisa expects, seeing Ding-dong ditch as "throwing that ding-dong in a ditch" or TP as "torture and pulverize." There is also so much suspense in the moment when Lisa is holding up the paper slicer so that it doesn't slice her like a bagel. The suspense, tension, and twists in this segment make it so much fun to watch!

1. "Master and Cadaver" ("Treehouse of Horror XXI")

While the Hitchcock segment is amazing, I think this segment is just a little more suspenseful and masterful in its execution. I have never seen the thriller that they are basing this segment on, but this segment really makes me want to watch it! I love that you can never really tell whether the castaway is telling the truth or is a suspicious murderer. It was a great decision for them to create a new character instead of casting one of the existing Springfield characters as Roger. If they had cast Skinner or Apu as Roger, you would be inclined to trust him while casting Snake or Sideshow Bob would make you suspicious. The new character creates a blank slate that helps you to be in just as much suspense as Homer and Marge are. They have some signs that look suspicious while also offering some great explanations later. When they actually encounter the Albatross Ship and find out what happened, it is so great at tying things together. Even Homer's homicidal killing makes sense because he is trying to cover up their initial attempted murder. It also helps that this segment has a creepy ghostship vibe and some great nautical trends as well!

Top 7 Worst Segments 

7. "B.I. Bartificial Intelligence" ("Treehouse of Horror XVI")

This segment has a lot of strengths at the beginning. I think the way they put Bart into a coma makes sense, and the segment has good pacing as it shows the family adopt David and living with just him for a while, then it shows Bart come back and the two boys fighting to win Marge's love. I also like the funny twist it has when it sounds like Homer is abandoning the robot but he is actually ditching Bart in the woods. My issue with this segment is that it begins to drag once Homer abandons Bart and it never really picks back up again. They don't really give you enough time to like the robots that Bart meets. They use new characters for this, but I think it would be more interesting and they would have a better shorthand to care about the characters if they had used Springfield residents instead. Bart's return and his upgrades really aren't scary, funny, or particularly interesting, and I wish that the episode had kept up with the energy it had started with at first.

6. "You Gotta Know When to Golem" ("Treehouse of Horror XVII")

There are parts of this segment that I find a bit uncomfortable. On the positive side, this was my first exposure to the golem. I took a Jewish American literature class in graduate school a few years ago and I was able to read a couple of stories that played with the golem as a figure. Golems have some features in common with Frankenstein's monster in their form and origins. They also have an interesting story as figures that start as defenders of the Jewish people but eventually get carried away (At least in the stories that I read). In this segment, the flashback describing the origins of the golem is really good and consistent with the other stories that I have read. I also think their depiction of the golem after they give him the ability to speak is pretty fun and he has a nice dynamic with the family. My issue with this segment is once again with the ending. The female golem that they make is stereotypical and obnoxious in her depiction. While it could be that I am not fond of Fran Drescher's voice acting, I think it could have worked if they had made her nicer and a bit less callous. She is only in the last minute or two of the segment, but it always puts a bad taste in my mouth. Also, the golem's violence works for most of the episode, but eventually just becomes violence for the sake of violence. There was so much potential with this concept and the golem as a mythological figure, but they really waste this potential.

5. "Mr. & Mrs. Simpson" ("Treehouse of Horror XVIII")

I liked Mr. & Mrs. Smith as a movie. It had a fun concept and it was interesting to see the husband and wife's surprise as they both discover that they are spies and discover that they are supposed to assassinate each other at the exact same time. My issue with this segment is that it barely does anything with the source material other than wearing the skin of the concept. Homer and Marge are never told that they have to kill each other. Marge just foils Homer's assassination attempt on the political leader and they both decimate their home as they try to kill one another. I remember that there was a similar scene in the movie as well, but there was more to the story than that. This episode just uses the premise as an empty excuse for violence.

4. "E.T., Go Home" ("Treehouse of Horror XVIII")

While the last segment on this bad list wasted a concept that I enjoyed, this one is working with a concept that I don't like nearly as much. Steven Spielberg has been at the helm of some great films, but I watched E.T. and I found it a bit boring if I'm being honest. The Simpson version of this concept, with Kodos being an obviously evil alien that tries to pretend he is good, is pretty interesting. The problem is that I don't like what they do with Bart in this segment. In order for Bart to go along with Kodos, they make him extremely naïve and shocked every time Kodos kills someone. I think it would have worked better if they chosen a different character like Lisa, Millhouse, or Marge for this role because it is way too out-of-character for Bart. Also, the scene at the end when they plan to vivisect Kodos before Homer smothers him is a scene that I find extremely uncomfortable. 

3. "Untitled Robot Parody" ("Treehouse of Horror XIX")

This segment is yet another example of the show wasting a solid concept. It barely does anything with either the Transformers movies that had been coming out at the time or the old Transformers TV show. It has transforming creatures in it, but doesn't use any of the plot. I find it amusing when Homer says "The toaster has never lied to me before," but other than this, the segment is short on both jokes and story. It is almost an excuse for violence, but even the violence isn't particularly interesting. 

2. "Married to the Blob" ("Treehouse of Horror XVII")

I think that this segment tried to experiment with some gross-out humor that was popular at the time, but I don't see the humor in being disgusted by gross things. Homer spends far too much time in this segment trying to swallow a sentient glob of fluorescent green goo. The color and consistency of the goo looks a lot like snot and it is disturbing to look at. The episode doesn't get much better after that. Homer eating Bart or the pets isn't funny and I don't like the ending with Homer eating the homeless either. The worst part of the segment is Dr. Phil's appearance near the end because it is both unfunny and manages to be condescending at the same time. The one bright spot is that the 50-ft Lenny who everyone ignores because they are all paying attention to Homer instead.

1. "Survival of the Fattest" ("Treehouse of Horror XVI")

This segment is extremely irritating to watch. The premise is pretty much an excuse for violence and gore with very little in the way of a story. It is also mean-spirited at points. Why does Burns kill Apu and the rabbit he reincarnates himself into? There is also a part when Homer flings several of his friends into the air and Burns shoots each of them as they fly past him. The ongoing brutality makes the segment uninteresting because it never really delves into why Mr. Burns wants to hunt human beings. At least The Island of Dr. Hibbert offers some reflection on why he likes to experiment with putting human brains in animal bodies. My larger issue with this segment is their attempt to turn it into a sporting event with those sports announcers. They offer commentary throughout the episode and their comments heighten the mean-spirited nature of the kills while merging it with sports which I do not really enjoy at all. The announcers offer obnoxious commentary and it is disturbing when they watch Homer and Marge together at the end of the segment as well. 

Filmday Fridays: Treehouse of Horror VIII-XIV, The Simpsons Spooktacular

Now we are on to the next batch of Treehouse of Horror segments! These segments all fall after the end of what others consider the Golden Age of The Simpsons. While I don't think the Simpsons got suddenly worse after Season 8, I do see some weaker Treehouse of Horror segments in this batch of episodes as well as some really solid ones. These episodes fall into an interesting place because it was much easier to find my picks for the worst segments, but there are also memorable segments that I like. My working theory for seasons after Season 8 is that the division between a great episode and a terrible one became much more obvious. Many of my worst picks here fall lower than my worst segments for last week, while the best segments don't quite reach to the heights of segments like "The Raven" or "The Shinning," but are still pretty good. Let's start ranking! 

Top 7 Best Segments

7. "Scary Tales Can Come True" ("Treehouse of Horror XI")

This segment has some fun jokes about the Grimm's fairytales. I also really like the fact that Bart is basting himself in the Witch's house or that he thinks that she seems nice when she is cackling. There is also the part when it seems like the Witch is making up a fake boyfriend named George Cauldron only for the characters to actually meet him at the end of the segment. It is also funny to see Bart try the first two bowls of porridge in the Three Bear's house and assume that the solution is to mix the two of them together. I think the concept of Lisa using the fairytale book to help them navigate these stories is a cool concept, but I wish they had included a few more examples. 

6. "Stop the World, I Want to Goof Off" ("Treehouse of Horror XIV")

The main concept in this episode of time being frozen is an interesting idea that I will admit is much better and more emotionally executed in the Futurama finale. That said, I think this segment has some fun with the idea as well. I like the fact that it takes them so many years to fix the stopwatch. I also enjoy all the pranks that they play on Homer. I think these pranks are the funniest part and a unique element that differs from other uses of frozen time. The one thing that bothers me is that their worldbuilding could use some work in this segment. If the stopwatch had a few extra buttons, then the part at the very end of the episode makes sense, but since they only have one button, it doesn't make sense that it would freeze time in some cases and tamper with the nature of reality in other moments.

5. "G-G-Ghost D-D-Dad" ("Treehouse of Horror XI")

This segment has such a fun opening few minutes! I love seeing Homer come so close to death in so many ways. It is also hilarious that Lenny compliments him on the snake that is biting his arm. After he survives so many potential deaths, it is funny that broccoli is ultimately what gets him. It is funny that even Doctor Hibbert considers broccoli a deadly killer. I also like seeing Homer try and struggle to find a good deed and even compete with the boy scouts to rescue a woman that he accidentally kills. The fact that St. Peter isn't looking when Homer finds a good deed is also pretty funny. 

4. "House of Whacks" ("Treehouse of Horror XII")

I love the concept for this one! It is fun to see the small, but comprehensive changes to the Simpson home after they integrate the futuristic technology. There are segments like "Wiz Kids" that are not as creative in their recreation of setting or their changes to existing locations to make them fit with the theme of the episode. Pierce Brosnan's voice is so charming and it makes sense to me that he would be attracted to Marge. I also think it is absurd, but also funny that Homer says that if he died, Marge would be available to both men or machines. It is cool to see that Homer survives and also funny that he is missing the back of his head and starts to attack the water softener. Overall, I think I am drawn to the concept and creepiness more than the jokes, but the concept is enough to keep me invested in the story the whole time! 

3. "I Know What You Diddily-Iddily-Did" ("Treehouse of Horror X")

This segment is such a fun tribute to slasher movies! I think it is fun to see the Simpson family coming back from another adventure where their entire mission was to get back their sugar crisp cereal. The segment gets a tad weak when Homer tries to fake Flanders' death in a way that Maude can see and will not arouse suspicion, but the energy picks right back up when the family is smiling at the funeral to avoid making people suspicious. There is also a fun scene when the Simpson family wonders who saw them and see a variety of Springfield citizens acting suspiciously as well as Homer pointing in a funny way. I love the ending when Homer tells each family member to hide out in a location that has or would make the perfect setting for a slasher, like an abandoned camp, a spooky roller disco, or a lake where the sexy teenagers were killed one hundred years ago that night. The only thing that I think is a little weak about the segment is that it was a bit of a cheat for Ned to be alive because he became a werewolf right before he got hit by the car. It would have been funnier if he had been immortal all along or if they brought back the fact that he was the devil from "Treehouse of Horror IV." I think this segment has some great laughs and also some great suspense. 

2. "Fly vs. Fly" ("Treehouse of Horror VIII") 

This segment almost seems like two different segments, but both of them are a ton of fun! I like all the ways that Homer uses the teleportation machine including putting it next to the fridge, accidentally punching Lisa in the face when he punches into the void, or trying to go to the bathroom through the portal so that he wouldn't have to go upstairs when he clearly had to go upstairs to put the teleportation machine there as well. I think the part that actually gets into Bart mixing with a fly is also really fun. I like that Bart enjoys the two-headed cat and dog mix but responds in disgust to the two-butted copy that comes out next and says that that one will belong to Lisa. The parts with tiny fly Bart are funny, but not quite as engaging as the parts with the actual fly that has Bart's body. It is hilarious that the family cannot tell that the fly isn't actually Bart even though it eats sugar and doesn't speak anymore. I love seeing Homer try to reach around Bart's shoulder and grab some of his shoulder and the fly with Bart's body growls at him. The ending isn't particularly memorable, but I have so much fun the rest of the time that it isn't an issue for me.

1. "Reaper Madness" ("Treehouse of Horror XIV")

Some of these other segments moved around a bit in my ranking, but this one was always solidly at the top of this batch. The concept for this segment may not officially be based on any particular story, but the idea of Homer killing and then becoming Death reminds me of Piers Anthony's book On a Pale Horse. I have a lot of great memories of listening to that book and so I am sure that my positive associations are impacted by that connection to some extent, but I also believe that it is a really interesting concept. The Benny Hill chase at the beginning is funny and I think the segment offers a nice balance of a world without Death, Homer becoming death and doing his job well, and Homer abusing his position. I wonder if the reason why Homer has to reap Marge at the end is because he has abused his position. There are some fun ideas, a great concept, and so many great laughs here! 

Top 7 Worst Segments

7. "The Island of Dr. Hibbert" ("Treehouse of Horror XIII")

This segment has some interesting ideas and I do like to see the final animal forms of the characters, but some of their animal forms seem a bit random rather than the best choice for each of the characters. I like seeing Frink as the turkey, and I think there are some interesting existential questions that the segment teases about whether a human or an animal form is better. The issue is they do not really delve into these existential implications and instead, the segment just says that it gives characters a chance to be hedonistic. My other issue with this segment is that the jokes don't land and there are some parts that are just uncomfortable. It isn't funny that Homer can't tell his wife has been turned into a cat. I also find it very cringy when Flanders is turned into a cow and Homer needs to milk him. It makes no sense that Flanders would be a female cow and the visuals are disturbing rather than funny.

6. "Easy-Bake Coven" ("Treehouse of Horror VIII")

I think it is interesting to see a segment where Marge is a witch, but this segment falls flat for me. She starts off seeming like a normal villager before she is accused and we learn that she is a witch. It would have been funnier if she had obviously been a witch and it took a while for the townspeople to accuse her. They also do not establish that the witches actually enjoy eating children beyond the rumor that Maude describes. It is a fun imagining of how Halloween first started, but it is not funny and also a bit disjointed.

5. "Night of the Dolphin" ("Treehouse of Horror XI")

I love the scene that is a direct homage to The Birds with the dolphins standing everywhere staring at the townspeople. I also enjoy the part at the beginning when Lisa frees the dolphin and it parallels Free Willy. But I think the concept of dolphins having lived on the land in the past is a bit nonsensical and lacks the worldbuilding to make it believable. There is also this joke where Moe keeps tuning out and then asking what is going on and I find that it bit repetitive and irritating. The visual of the Simpsons living in the sea at the end is neat, but not enough to salvage very weak execution.

4. "The Fright to Creep and Scare Harms" ("Treehouse of Horror XIII")

This segment has parts that I enjoy. I like the fact that Kaiser Wilhelm tries to pass himself off as a cowboy and I also enjoy the distinction the cowboy ghosts place between "piano" and "pianey." What I dislike is that the segment is really trying to say something about guns, but unlike episodes like "The Cartridge Family," it is not clear what the segment is actually trying to say. Lisa's case for banning guns would seem to advocate gun control, but the ghosts rising up due to the city being unarmed would suggest that gun control is not effective. Also, the Homer that returns from the distant future to describe the harm caused by guns would veer back toward gun control once again. It is hard to figure out what this episode is trying to say and they also are not good at satirizing the different sides.

3. "Desperately Xeeking Xena" ("Treehouse of Horror X")

This segment was a superhero parody that came too early and I think it is tragic that the combination of this segment and another one parodying Spiderman makes it less likely that the show will parody the MCU. The humor for this segment depends on a familiarity with Xena, who I barely know and have no interest in knowing. It also pulls a lot of humor from the cheesy format of the old Batman show and movies, but I don't think that humor really works here either. I also think that it is fun to see superpowers that either really fit the character's personality, like Dash's superspeed, or powers that directly contrast with the characters and cause them to grow, like the Hulk who is so different from Bruce Banner. The issue with the superpowers that they use here is that stretchiness works perfectly for Bart's personality, while Lisa's superstrength does not fit her personal traits at all and they do not develop the way this strength conflicts with her personality either.

2. "Life's a Glitch, Then You Die" ("Treehouse of Horror X")

I think there are some ways that this segment offers a fun time capsule for the anxiety surrounding Y2K at the time. But while the destruction of technology is interesting, I think King of the Hill has a much better Y2K episode that covers much of the same material in a more meaningful way. The first part of the segment has some exciting ideas and good jokes about the extent of technology and the destruction it would pose if it went crazy, but I think the ending is a bit mean-spirited. It is sad that Lisa easily picks her mother over her father when it comes to the survival rocket. It also seems like such a waste to put all the bad celebrities on a rocket headed toward the sun. Couldn't they have used that rocket to save more people? The joke that all of the celebrities on the other rocket are irritating falls flat for me because I have not seen any movies featuring these actors. 

1. "Starship Poopers" ("Treehouse of Horror IX") 

This segment also has some parts that I enjoy at the beginning, but it really goes downhill fast! I like seeing Maggie lose her baby legs and develop traits similar to Kang. I also like the juxtaposition between Marge's narration of how Kang impregnated her and what actually took place. She says she was given no warning and that they used powerful mind persuasion techniques, but both of these are exaggerated. My issue, and the problem that makes this segment almost unwatchable, is when the family tries to resolve their situation on the Jerry Springer show. It is not funny to see Kang on the talk show or to see him disintegrate Springer and his audience. I think there are also jokes specific to talk shows and I never have seen those shows and I also never would want to. Homer's anger makes sense, but they don't do much to develop how or if his feelings have changed after hearing Marge recount what happened. I also don't think it is even slightly funny when they start swearing at each other and the show bleeps out every single word. I don't like strong language, but I also think that much bleeping is just irritating and not particularly funny.  

Filmday Fridays: Treehouse of Horror I-VII, The Simpsons Spooktacular

Welcome to October! Now that we are decidedly into the fun, fall, spooky season of Halloween, I wanted to do something special. You may have noticed that the Simpsons Treehouse of Horror segments have not been present on any of my lists so far. The reason for this is that I wanted to do something special with them during October and review the best and worst Treehouse of Horror Segments! I think the tricky thing about reviewing these episodes is that they are all titled with roman numerals that make it difficult to tell which episodes are which. These episodes are also divided into segments and some of these segments are much stronger than others. The best segments bring together a combination of humor, horror or creepiness, and a creative theme. The worst are perhaps forgettable or don't do as much as they could with the topic. I have decided for each week to review a week's worth of episodes, watching one Treehouse of Horror on each day, and then write a ranking for the episodes from that week. While this could be somewhat uneven if there are several strong seasons in a row in one string of seven Treehouse of Horror episodes and several weak episodes in a row for another week, I think the best segments should rise to the top regardless of which batch of episodes I watch them with. Also, at the end of October/beginning of November, I will do a ranking of the top 10 best and worst Treehouse of Horror segments from the entire show at this point. I am glad that the show has these yearly non-canon episodes because it gives a lot of space for experimentation and trying out new ideas. Experimentation can be a mixed bag because it brings the brilliant and the bad or bizarre, but I think it leads to a fascinating experience either way. I am so excited to do this ranking and to think about all those fun and creepy Treehouse of Horror segments! To start with the first 7 Treehouse of Horror specials, I will say that it includes some of my favorite segments in the entire show! The good segments are hilarious and creepy, and even the bad segments have good elements or are just a bit bland. Let's start ranking!

Top 7 Best Segments

7. "The Devil and Homer Simpson" ("Treehouse of Horror IV")

This segment is both funny and it works with a creative idea! It is fun to see Flanders as the Devil and see a clever interpretation of hell. It is cool to see Homer punished with eating doughnuts when he is in hell, only to find that he actually really enjoys it. I love Homer's obvious lie as he says he didn't eat the doughnut when it is obvious that he did. The trial is also a lot of fun. I am generally not a fan of courtroom episodes of the crime shows that I watch, but this segment makes the case a lot of fun. The jury that Devil Flanders puts together is also quite a funny and colorful group and I like that they argue that Marge legally owns Homer's soul. 

6. Clown Without Pity ("Treehouse of Horror III")

The main reason I added this segment to the list was that it had so many funny jokes in it. I love Homer's discussion with the store owner when he keeps saying "That's good" and "That's bad." I like the part when the doll tries to harpoon Homer and he runs screaming through the house or the fact that Grandpa calls the doll evil but only because he calls all of Bart's birthday gifts evil or the fact that the Krusty doll has an evil switch that he was set to at some point. The end is a bit anticlimactic and I think that it would have worked better to just end it when they set the doll back to good, but it is such a fun segment to watch and makes me laugh so much that I like revisiting it.

5. "Terror at 5½ Feet" ("Treehouse of Horror IV")

This segment is a masterclass in suspense and also includes some great elements of humor as well. I like the colorful stories that Groundskeeper Willie and Skinner give for why they are on the bus. I also think the segment is good at capturing both Bart's growing anxiety and the ways he tries to alert others on the bus. There is also the random humor of Homer grabbing free stuff from the marina because it was "just sitting in some guy's boat." The gremlin is doing more destruction than the one in the original Twilight Zone episode why raises the stakes on Bart's fear. I also think Flanders' reaction to the monster when he says it is cute as it tries to claw his eyes out is also quite amusing.

4. "Time and Punishment" ("Treehouse of Horror V")

I love the creativity that they have in this segment. It is funny to see Homer accidentally invent a time machine when he is just trying to fix a toaster. It is also so randomly funny that Homer's advice on the consequence of time travel came from his father on his wedding day. I would have liked to see how Homer's actions in the past directly impacted the timeline, something like in The Butterfly Effect, but I understand that the segment did not have the time to do this. Instead, what they do is show a variety of creative alternate worlds that are all so much fun. I love the world being run by Flanders and the way that his Re-Neducation center has everyone dress like him and Maude. It is also so funny that it is only when Homer smashes everything that he gets the absolute perfect world where he is rich and it rains doughnuts. This is such a fun time travel adventure!

3. "Nightmare Cafeteria" ("Treehouse of Horror V")

This one definitely has a morbid humor since so many of its jokes revolve around cannibalism, but I am pretty accustomed to laughing about cannibalism after reading Melville's books. I think Jimbo's description of Lunchlady Doris spilling meat tenderizer on him is funny, as is the fact that there is an entire book about The Joy of Cooking Millhouse. I think they have some great creative imagery with the caged children and the free-range children and the larger system that they have in place to eat the children. My absolute favorite part, and the reason why this segment is so high on my list is that there is a part where Bart and Lisa ask Marge for help with the cannibalism issue and Marge tells them that they are old enough now to handle the issue and she will not fight their battles for them. It is so absurd that it makes me laugh every time! 

2. "The Raven" ("Treehouse of Horror I")

I absolutely love this segment! It is so closely tied with my first choice and while I think that one is a better parody and really funny, this one has had a bigger impact on me personally and has some chilling moments in it as well. This poem is read perfectly by James Earl Jones and it was the discovery that the rhyming, melodic words of this segment were based on a real poem by Edgar Allan Poe that inspired me to try and memorize this poem and also to love literature as much as I do. It does a great job setting a spooky mood, particularly in the final moments of the segment. But while it shares the confined creepiness of Poe's poem, it also introduces a bunch of humor as well. The funny thing about this is that Poe would not have been a fan because he thought that each poem should have a unified impact. The humor works so well in the segment though! I love Bart's complaint about the empty hallway or his desire to say something other than just "Nevermore." Homer is not the way that I would have envisioned the speaker for this poem, but that is a small issue with a segment that is so beautiful and so funny! 

1. "The Shinning" ("Treehouse of Horror V")

This segment is such a perfect parody! I think Homer fits scarily well into the role of Jack Torrance and they manage to squish so many jokes into this setting. I like that Burns responds casually to the blood in the hallway as he comments that it usually gets off at the second floor. The funniest moments come when Marge comes to confront Homer at his typewriter. I like that it says "Feelin' Fine" on the typewriter and has "No TV and No Beer Make Homer Go Crazy" written all over the walls. It is hilarious when Marge says "Go crazy?" and Homer responds with "Don't mind if I do!" I also laugh at the moment when Homer makes a scary and ugly face that scares himself when he looks in the mirror. This segment is even funnier once you have seen The Shining and it manages to fit so many great jokes into such a brief amount of time. Whenever I think of an amazing Treehouse of Horror segment, I think of this one! 

Top 7 Worst Segments

7. "If I Only Had a Brain" ("Treehouse of Horror II")

I think this segment would have been so much stronger if it had had not focused on Homer. It had to because this was supposed to be Homer's nightmare, but I think most of these elements are the funny interactions between Burns and Smithers. I love the part when Smithers hears rustling in the bag and becomes anxious then Burns smacks the bag and says "Bad corpse! You're scaring Smithers!" I also like all the work they do to put the brain inside the robot as well as the fact that the robot takes names even though he wouldn't even be tired. Whenever it switches back to Homer's perspective, it gets much less interesting and lacks all the great laughs that you get from other parts of the segment.

6. "Homer" ("Treehouse of Horror VI")

This segment is a huge accomplishment for animation, and I think the 3d graphics still look quite impressive when you consider other 3d animated projects from the era. There are a few jokes here that are funny such as Lovejoy telling Homer to go into the light and Homer being zapped by the light bulbs. I also think it is so randomly funny that Marge brings in Flanders to help because he has a ladder when this doesn't help at all with the zone that Homer walked into. Ultimately, the problem with this episode is that it is so focused on experimenting with the animation that it forgot to do anything else interesting with the story. 

5. "The Bart Zone" ("Treehouse of Horror II")

In this segment, we see a bit of wish fulfillment for Bart as he has the power to make people bend to his every wish. The problem is that we see so much of Bart's imagination in the early seasons that there isn't really anything unique about Bart's power here. I like the part when he is driving the school bus at terrifying speeds and Otto gleefully says that they are going to die. I think this segment loses steam once Bart turns Homer into a Jack-in-the-box. Homer bonding with Bart is a bit anticlimactic and I think it is sad that being close with his father is something that Bart finds terrifying.

4. "Hungry are the Damned" ("Treehouse of Horror I")

This segment is the first introduction to Kang and Kodos. It isn't terrible, but it has a bit of a problem with the twist it tries to do at the end. The twist is that the aliens are actually nice and don't want to eat the Simpsons, but it seems a bit inconsistent with the suspicious way that they are acting earlier in the segment. The aliens praise the family when they eat and even weigh them and cheer when they are heavier. This behavior doesn't match their expressed desire to give the family food and take them to a paradise. It ends with a bit of a Twilight Zone moral that the family, and especially Lisa, missed this opportunity due to their distrust. I get that this is subversive, but I think it is a bit critical of Lisa for investigating suspicious things. I still suspect that the aliens were actually trying to eat them. 

3. "Bart Simpson's Dracula" ("Treehouse of Horror IV")

There are some elements of this segment that I really like! I enjoy the police assuming that the obvious signs of a vampire are actually a mummy. I also think there are some fun things that happen once they get to Burns' castle. The fact that it is in Pennsylvania instead of Transylvania makes me laugh every time. There is also the funny moment when Marge worries that Bart's vampirism will lead to him smoking. I enjoy the "Super Fun Happy Slide" that Bart takes even when it dooms him and Homer is also tempted to use it as well. My issue with the segment is the twist that Marge is the head vampire. They don't have any indications that this will be the solution, probably so that it will be more surprising, and because of that, it comes out of nowhere. Why wouldn't Marge turn Lisa into a vampire if everyone else in the family was a vampire? The episode also ends abruptly with the family singing Christmas carols which is a bit of a weak ending. 

2. "King Homer" ("Treehouse of Horror III")

This segment is a good spoof of King Kong and I do like some of the early portions of it, but I think that the segment loses steam once they leave the island. On the island, they have the great joke about both Ape Island and Candy Apple Island containing apes. There is also the funny part when Burns accidentally gasses himself with a gas bomb intended for Homer. I think once they get to New York, Homer's freak-out is not all that entertaining and it doesn't really develop how he falls in love with Marge. I also understand the humor that can come with underreacting to situations, but I don't like how easily they laugh off Homer eating Marge's father. 

1. "Attack of the 50-Foot Eyesores" ("Treehouse of Horror VI")

I find elements of this segment a bit irritating. Homer's frustration with false advertising makes sense, but him stealing the metal doughnut is a bit strange because he can't even eat it. I also don't like that he gives the doughnut back like Marge suggests and it doesn't even change anything. There is a creative idea that advertising cannot work if people don't pay attention to it, but the way these ad mascots die immediately is a bit inconsistent with their origin when no one was looking at them. The song about not looking is catchy, but not one that I really enjoy. This segment also isn't that funny to me. The only part that really made me laugh was Bart being the devil and angel on the shoulders of the devil mascot to get him to destroy the school.

Filmday Fridays: Season 5, The Simpsons Season-by-Season

On to season 5! The boxset has a picture of the family at the circus, so I often associate this season with boldness and zaniness, and bombasticness. There is a fun unreality to the show at this point in its run. I think one of the things that makes this season unique was that it was extremely metatextual in its storytelling. There are so many meta moments where the characters will speak directly to the camera. Very meta, actually. Lots of discussions when things don't follow the narrative. Bart and Lisa will point out that Homer and Flanders will stop being friends at the end of the week because that is how it usually works, Lisa will comment on the fact that she doesn't have a catchphrase, or Homer will point out that the episode is resolving itself faster than usual or that the family has time to hug Apu one more time because the episode isn't over yet. This show loved to remind you of the fact that you are watching a show. This was pretty different from the grounded nature of the earlier seasons but led to lots of jokes on how the show went against your expectations. This season has some absolutely hilarious episodes and many of these episodes share a consistent random humor that makes even the lesser episodes a good laugh. On to the ranking! 

Top 7 Best

7. "Homer's Barbershop Quartet"

I am always a fan of the flashback episodes and this one includes so many funny jokes, especially if you know about the Beatles. It builds on Homer's love of music and his dreams of being a musician. If you track the episodes throughout the show, you can see a pattern of Homer expressing his passion and creativity through music, this is why "That 90s Show" fits well with what is already established about Homer even if it changes the timeline a bit. He also makes his music with such a fun group of other singers. The more you know about the rise and fall of the Beatles, the more jokes you can get out of this episode! I love later in the episode when Barney starts dating his own Yoko. One of my favorite jokes in the show is when Barney asks for a beer and then his girlfriend asks for "a single plum floating in perfume served in a man's hat" and Moe readily provides both of these without question or hesitation. It is also funny to see Marge fail at trying to make a fake Homer for the kids while he is out of town. This is a sweet episode with some great jokes! 

6. "Bart's Inner Child"

This one is a bit inconsistent, but it is also very funny. The first act with the trampoline has very little to do with the rest of the episode, but it is hilarious to see Homer get the trampoline, see all the children who get hurt, and then see Homer's efforts to get rid of it. The episode takes a bit of a weird pivot after that because it suddenly focuses on Marge's stress and the way that a self-help video can allow her to relax a bit. I think that this would have worked better if we saw more glimpses of how the trampoline was a source of stress and anxiety to Marge. After the psychological videos convince Homer and Marge, they go to a larger convention that changes the entire town. This part of the episode is a bit slow, but I do like how Homer and Marge start using this psychological nonsense in their conversations. The last portion of the episode switches to Bart as he becomes more and more depressed because the whole town is copying him and he cannot rebel anymore. I think this leads to some hilarious moments and a good discussion of how Bart is beginning to have an existential crisis. This episode also makes a great point about how we cannot just do fun things that we like all the time, each of us has responsibilities that may not be immediately entertaining but allow the world to keep on turning.

5. "Bart Gets Famous"

I love a lot of the jokes in this episode! It has some good thoughts on stardom and how short fads can be. It also shows how unfair these fads and memes can be. Bart wants to do something different, but everyone wants him to keep saying his beloved line. But when they tire of Bart's funny line, they forget about him and Bart is back where he started. It also fits with the metacommentary that the show likes so much in this season since Bart's fame is a commentary on the Bartmania that people had during the first season or two of the show. I love the opening scenes with the box factory. It is so funny that Bart cannot imagine a better field trip. I also like that it pairs Bart and Edna's boredom with Skinner and Martin's enthusiasm for the very boring box factory. There is also Homer's absurd assumption that the factory turned Bart into a box. This episode also has a good progression as it moves from the field trip to Bart's internship, to his fame, and finally his departure from TV. It makes you wonder how some celebrities can be on the air for decades while others are just a brief fad. There are probably some ways to tell which form of fame you have, but I think it raises some good questions about how we treat memes, celebrities, and shows that are no longer in the limelight.  

4. "Deep Space Homer"

This one is probably one of the first examples of the show going with a concept that is not particularly realistic since it is so difficult for even the best scientists to go to space. I think that this episode makes the scenario a bit more realistic with the joke that NASA is in desperate need of higher ratings so that it can get better funding. The main reason why I rank this episode so high is that it has great jokes, especially during the part where Homer and Barney are training for the shuttle. I also think the inanimate carbon rod is a hilarious reoccurring joke. They bring it in at the beginning as it beats Homer out for the award and at the end of the episode when they credit the rod with saving the day on the shuttle. I also love seeing Kent Brockman freak out over the ants and immediately welcome them as his new leader. I think that this episode could have used more interactions between Homer and his family to give it a little more heart, but it has enough jokes to bring it over the edge and make it a fun ride!

3. "Homer and Apu"

Apu is one of the most well-developed and funny characters on The Simpsons! He is a great foil to Homer and most of their episodes together are both solid and fun! I know that the character has fallen into controversy because of Hank Azaria's voice acting, but the character has so much more to him than a one-note joke, and I hope that they find a way to bring him back soon. This episode is a good example of the humor that Apu brings to the show. I think the success of these interactions is one of the reasons why they have another Homer and Apu episode in just two seasons. It is so funny when they go to India to visit The World's First Convenience Show and then ruins Apu's opportunity to ask for his job back. It is also fun to see him cook spicy food for the Simpson family and take Marge to a Costco-ish store and show her the tricks to getting out of there quickly. Apu has such natural chemistry with the whole family and both the song and their hug at the end are so sweet. There is also a funny subplot with James Woods running the Kwik-E-Mart while Apu is fired. I also find it amazing how they are able to ensure that both Apu and Homer are likable characters even if he makes irresponsible choices by deliberately selling Homer bad food. This episode has so much adventure, but it feels grounded by a sincere friendship between Homer and Apu.

2. "The Last Temptation of Homer"

This is a hilarious episode that plays with the temptation of infidelity while also making it clear that Homer will never cheat on Marge. It is funny to see how fate is set against him as he tries to avoid Mindy but is forced to go to a conference with her and is given a free dinner. I also like how the subplot and Marge's illness make Homer's household look very unappealing during a moment when he is tempted, but also resisting this temptation. I like that he has one of those It's a Wonderful Life Moments when he sees what it would have looked like if he married Mindy instead of Marge and everything is better for both him and Marge. I think this makes for a funny twist on the concept but still shows Homer's sincere love for Marge. I think it also helps that Mindy is such a sweet character. She is attracted to Homer but is not actively trying to seduce him. She also accepts his decision without complaint. She is an interesting character because they essentially make her a female version of Homer, but they also succeed in making her feminine as well. This episode has so many funny lines that make it hilarious to watch. This episode is a great showcase for Homer's enduring love for Marge, no matter how much the world may try to get in the way.

1. "Cape Feare"

I absolutely love this episode! It is one of the funniest episodes of the entire show. I love the jokes when Bart thinks that people are trying to kill him. Marge saying "I'm going to get you….some ice cream at the store!" or Flanders telling Bart, "say your prayers, Simpson!....Because the schools can't force you like they should!" These moments are really funny. I also laugh every time when Homer runs into Bart's room with a knife asking him if he wants a brownie before bed or showing him his new chainsaw and hockey mask.

I also love the randomness of the family deciding to randomly drive through a cactus patch. These kinds of jokes are the perfect example of the show's absurd, random humor that I love so much.  It is also so much fun to see the Simpsons move to a houseboat with a new opening theme. I think this is also a good use of suspense in an episode. Sideshow Bob is intelligent and legitimately threatening and you watch him stalk and threaten Bart and his family. I also love the fact that Bart is able to outwit Sideshow Bob in such a clever way. Sideshow Bob is beatable, but not dumb in this episode, which makes him the perfect villain for Bart. This one is suspenseful and hilarious!

Top 7 Worst 

7. "The Boy Who Knew Too Much"

This episode has some solid humor towards the beginning of the episode. I love that Bart has to ride to school in a prison bus and then sit in one of those uncomfortable posture-fixing chairs. It really makes you connect with him and his desire to run away from school. There are also great scenes of Skinner trying to track Bart down like the Terminator. I just don't find the episode as compelling once Bart witnesses the crime. Bart's ethical crisis is a solid one and it is nice that they show how this ethical decision is still important, even if Quimby's nephew is not a nice or likable person. His guilt over not telling the truth is very relatable and I think it is also true that even the most random things you read and watch on TV can offer commentary on your current circumstances. I also think it is cool that we don't actually see what Bart saw until the end. It increases your desire for him to tell the truth and adds to the suspense. The problems I have with this episode are that Homer's jury duty is not particularly interesting and both Quimby and the waiter are unknown and generally unlikable characters. The waiter seems a bit stuck up and the fact that he accuses Quimby when he knows that Quimby didn't hurt him makes him very unlikable. At the same time, Quimby was irritating throughout the episode, so I am not particularly invested in his innocence. I think if Homer had done more interesting things on jury duty and there was more humor in the second half of the episode, I would like this one more.

6. "$pringfield"

This one is flashy and very Vegas-like! Because it has so much that it tries to do in this episode, there are a lot of jokes that work and a lot of parts that I like, but the episode as a whole has never had much of an impact on me. I also like that it is still willing to depict Lisa as a child who needs her mom. Her fear of the boogieman, and the way that Homer makes it much worse, is hilarious. I also love the fact that Homer helps to make Lisa's costume and it is so terrible that she wins an award for being one of the few kids who didn't get help from her parents. I think that Homer spends far too long thinking that Marge hates the casino when she doesn't,  and this makes it harder to connect with Marge's plight and Homer's efforts to fix it. Additionally, Burns' insanity is hilarious, but it comes out of nowhere. Overall, I think this episode includes a very accurate depiction of how addiction works: How it might start with a moment of curiosity but then turn into something that takes too much of your attention and, from there, takes over your whole life. I just wish we had more interiority from Marge at this point. We know from earlier episodes that she has a habit of keeping everything inside until she explodes. Her silent, but compulsive gambling doesn't fit with that as well as some other vice, like a fight club or demolition derby might, but they could have made it more compelling with a bit more explanation.

5. "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy"

I think that this episode raises some interesting issues but doesn't explore them enough. Lisa finds that her doll is spouting some sexist phrases that make women seem vapid and obsessed with men, but while her whole focus is on fixing this issue, the episode does not really go into depth about why this sexism exists. Why are women willing to put up with the way that men treat them in this episode? Why is it that Lisa is the only person who seems to care about this issue? How do these dolls become sexist? Is it because men are running the company and assume that this is what women are like? Where does this sexism come from in general? These are some big questions that I am wondering about. It is possible that there are no easy answers to these questions and this is why the episode steers clear of them. But I think it makes it seem like the episode is saying a lot of things without providing a deeper look at the cause. Beyond the unsatisfying answers in this episode, I also think that Malibu Stacy is not a particularly likable character. She has this dry, bland personality, a drinking problem, and disastrous love life, but we know very little about why she acts this way. It has some sweet moments and I like that it shows how good toys can make a huge difference in girls' lives, even when society tries to push a vapid alternative instead.

4. "Rosebud"

This episode is sweet on paper. It is nice to learn a bit more about Mr. Burns' past and also so adorable to see how much Homer is willing to sacrifice for Maggie. I think it provides a legitimate reason for why Burns and Maggie want the bear. I also like that Maggie eventually decides to give Bobo back to Mr. Burns. It is good that they left the decision up to her rather than Homer. The problem is that the dynamic becomes more of a Homer and Burns episode instead of a Homer and Maggie episode. There are so few of these that it is disappointing not to see this one look at their relationship a little more. It isn't as effective seeing Homer sacrifice to strengthen the relationship with his daughter when we barely even see them interact in the episode at all. I also am not a fan of Burns' birthday party. Burns is cold and a bit of a jerk, so you aren't supposed to like him. But at the same time, Homer goes too far with his jokes and that band is so mean that their actions seem mean-spirited rather than justified in this case. I generally tend to forget this one, which is a shame because there was potential for sweet moments in this episode.

3. "Homer the Vigilante"

I think that this episode addresses a topic that they cover better in Season 13. Homer trying to bring justice by joining law enforcement is a cool idea, but this episode shows more of the injustice and violence that Homer can bring through his own irresponsibility. It is fairly interesting to see the corruption of his vigilante group, but the story seems unfocused in this episode. Most of this episode focuses on Homer's group, but there is also a bit of a mystery here about who stole all the stuff, unfortunately, the solution is fairly obvious since the episode only introduces one new character and this is the character who winds up being the thief. He is charming and points out the stereotypes we held about the elderly, but the story goes completely off the rails and becomes a spoof of It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. Another thing that makes this episode feel a bit scattered is the fact that it doesn't focus on one theme. Is the theme about corruption in vigilante groups? Or is it about how we make assumptions about what the elderly are capable of? The episode veers between both of these themes and cannot decide what the main takeaway is for the episode. This makes the episode fall flat for me since it is scattered throughout the episode and ends a bit abruptly. If this episode had more of an ending and a clear theme, it would have been much more solid as a whole.

2. "Lady Bouvier's Lover"

This episode has never been a favorite of mine and I think this is largely because this is the first time we really meet Marge's mom for an extended amount of time. We don't really know Marge's mom, so it is hard to care about her romantic exploits in this episode. Even though the romance that she has is sweet and it is adorable to see Grandpa so happy with his new love life, I mainly care about the romance because I care about Grandpa, not because I care about Jacqueline Bouvier. Like last season, Burns comes out of nowhere and it does not establish what he likes about Jacqueline other than her looks. It seems like the show is not particularly good at showing what Burns sees in the Bouvier women beyond their attractive looks. We know so little about her, but it is not clear why she likes Abe, why she is drawn to Burns, and why she ultimately decides she doesn't want to be with either of these men. I think if the episode offered more interiority for Jacqueline, it would have worked, but instead, we get an Abe-centric story that locks him out once Jacqueline starts dating Burns. It is a very shallow story about two men who are attracted to Jacqueline based on her looks try to win her over.

1. "Homer Goes to College"

I find this episode extremely annoying. It punishes Homer's nerdy friends just because they are nice to him. Why should they be expelled for something that Homer did? The Simpson family is also not very welcoming of these Nerds compared to all of the other guests that they are much more willing to welcome into their homes. The episode had a lot of potential to make fun of college lectures, but they only use it for a handful of unfunny jokes. I also wish there was more humor about college that didn't fixate on Greek life. Even Monster's University was fixated on this concept and I find it irritating that this is the primary depiction of what college looks like. This is probably a result of my own biases because sororities were not part of my own college experience. I like the joke that the Dean is so nice and chill while Homer has let the college movies he watches make him think that the Dean is a controlling jerk. While you could argue that this episode shows how much our films can impact and even warp our view of the world, this isn't enough to fix the fact that Homer is an irritating jerk throughout the episode who deliberately hurts everyone around him. This is the first of many episodes where Homer becomes an extremely irritating jerk to the people around him.