Meet The Simpsons fans who think the later seasons are superior to the earlier seasons

VICE

"It’s one of those truths – one of those truths that’s accepted right the way around the universe – that The Simpsons had a 'Golden Age' that ended around 1999 with Season 10," says Amelia Tait. "Since then, the show has measurably declined in quality, with its IMDb ratings dropping dramatically year on year. Some fans have nicknamed the last two decades of the show 'Zombie Simpsons' – an undead menace that continues on, arms outstretched, sullying the body of its host. Which is to say: it would be pretty unpossible for anyone to prefer the newer seasons of The Simpsons, right? Right? I mean, there’s a whole episode in Season 23 where Lady Gaga has psychic powers and she tries to stop Lisa feeling depressed and then they sing a duet about being a superstar. In one 2012 episode that I once caught on the telly – or did it catch me? – Moe’s dirty bar rag narrates its personal history for 22 minutes and 39 seconds. You don’t win friends with salad. You just don’t prefer the newer seasons of The Simpsons. Except, of course, some people do. And in the interests of both science and embiggening the harmony we feel with our fellow man, we asked these people: why?" Tait spoke to a 28-year-old male bartender, who told her: “I generally prefer the newer episodes because the writing always reflects the current times. I think the writers have done very well in terms of making sure that the content ages with its audience.” Another Simpsons fan, a 32-year-old female medical student, isn't a fan of how the older episodes look. "Honestly, the animation is creepy to me. It’s not aesthetically pleasing and that turns me off," she says. "The humor (on the newer episodes) just feels fresher to me and a little less... crass is maybe the word I am looking for? I think I find the various pop culture references funnier, and I like the guest appearances from the later episodes.”

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