MovieChat Forums > The Simpsons (1989) Discussion > Season 1 and 2: dull and too serious?

Season 1 and 2: dull and too serious?

posted 7 years ago by EightiesKid
19 replies | jump to latest

Pretty much when Homer had his Walter Matthau voice feels like when they were finding their feet. Don't get me wrong I love that "Do the Bartman" era too, but Season 1 and to a lesser extent 2 had a few gems and decent episodes mixed in with some that just didn't seem that funny or entertaining compared to after that.

They also kinda appeared to be attempting to be more of a serious family sitcom too. A few eps were just flat out depressing and sad (like One Two Blowfish Blue Fish where Homer thinks he's dying, or Bart Gets Hit by a Car).

Seems like the legit Simpsons really began in Season 3, and Homer got more goofy. I'm not sure if Groening just let it loose realizing they could get away with more by then (and knowing it was a hit), or if they just perfected the writing and the characters. MANY shows seem that way - primitive in Season 1, almost but not quite there by Season 2, and 3 is where they hit their pinnacle.

[–] AutoexecBatman 7 years ago

How old are you? Were you watching these episodes during their first run in 1989-1991? Because they were not only NOT boring, but they were the most revolutionary thing I had ever seen. Right away, The Simpsons seemed like a radical change, the pilot episode, Simpsons Roasting on An Open Fire, began with Bart singing 'jingle bells, Batman smells', that kind of stuff just wasn't seen on network TV at the time. And then, I Bart the General Homer told Bart to 'hit em right in the family jewels', and we gasped 'I can't believe they said that!'. At the time, every episode seemed exciting, because you had no idea what might happen, but you were quite sure that it was going to be something that had never been done before.

The fact that The Simpsons style of humor has been commonplace today is only a sign of jus how important and influential this show has become.

Boring? Anything but.

[–] EightiesKid 7 years ago

Actually looking back over the episode guide, I'd put Season 2 more in with the rest of the show. It's mostly just season 1 that feels a bit underdeveloped (which is understandable, as the characters were brand new).

Hope I wasn't being too critical, I actually like a lot of those episodes, and I remember the Early 90s aesthetic really well as a kid, which is part of their charm too. To answer BatMan's question, 1994 is the first year I watched it on a regular basis (and have several of the early episodes on tape when UPN did reruns in the mid 90s) but I can vaguely remember it in 90-93 too.

[–] daredevil1-1 7 years ago

I like seasons 1 & 2, I have a soft spot in my heart for early era Simpsons. Better than what came much later at least, where "serious" was not a problem you would ever again have with this show!

[–] TheOldGuyFromHalloween3 7 years ago

season 2 was the best one. ur dull

[–] HalHopandPop 7 years ago

Let me be the first to agree with you, and I'm not criticizing the early shows either. But the characters and tone did change a bit after the first season or two, and like you said that often happens with TV shows.

A few examples:

Homer contemplates, and nearly attempts, suicide in Homer's Odyssey and then goes on a safety rampage. How many times since S3 has he nearly caused a meltdown due to slacking on the job?
Marge is the drunk and Homer is concerned about the family's reputation in No Disgrace like Homer.
Bart's anti-war speech at the end of Bart the General.

Milo, I've told you again and again - please, don't walk on the chickens!

[–] AutoexecBatman 7 years ago

Bart's anti-war speech at the end of Bart the General.

You don't recognize satire when you see it? in this case, they were mocking the heavy-handed scenes where an actor addresses the audience and talks about the 'moral' of that 'very special episode' that just finished, which is something that used to be common in the 1980's.

[–] HalHopandPop 7 years ago

I didn't watch a lot of other 80s TV or recall moments like that, so no, not in this case.

Milo, I've told you again and again - please, don't walk on the chickens!

[–] SALTER-pt 7 years ago

In season 1 the show was really trying to find its voice.

By season 2 is had begun to do so, but tentatively, and the humour was largely secondary to characters and story.

By 3 it had begun to become what it would eventually be from 4-9 (namely the greatest satire on modern American life ever created).

salter pt can we invite. I will kill you - Rick240

[–] ZakkWyldeMyLittlePony 7 years ago

I liked how much more serious the first few seasons were.

RIP
Lemmy
1945-2015

[–] Electrical1 7 years ago

Season 2 belongs with the classic era of seasons 3-9, not sure why people dismiss it. Underrated season.

[–] 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] user2334 7 years ago

What about the episode when its believed they have found bigfoot. But its Homer covered in mud.
At the end they said its inconclusive. You had to laugh at that.