Top 10 Best Seasons of The Simpsons

If you've been a fan since Homer first hit the screen in 1989, you know just how much this show has evolved over the years. From its satirical take on American family life to its parade of unforgettable characters, The Simpsons set the standard for animated TV with its quirky humor, cultural references, and sometimes surprising heart. With more than 30 seasons, though, it can be tough to decide which years truly stood out.

Each season brought its own flair - unique episodes, hilarious gags, and memorable guest stars. And while every fan has a favorite, some years really put the show on the map, making them practically required viewing.

So, which seasons do you think deserve the top spot? Is it the early days when Bartmania was sweeping the nation, or later seasons that took bigger creative swings?
The Top Ten
Season 5 The Simpsons Season 5 aired in 1993-94 and introduced episodes like "Cape Feare" and "Homer's Barbershop Quartet." This season also included notable guest stars such as George Harrison and Ernest Borgnine.

I have to admit that Season 5 is a fantastic season. The episodes in that season are brilliant! Treehouse of Horror IV, Cape Feare, Homer Goes to College, and Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy are examples of brilliant episodes that are memorable and so worth watching!

Absolutely the best time for The Simpsons. After this season, the show's downfall began, very slowly but surely. Today the show is mediocre at best.

Best season of any television show, period! The animation can be a bit off at times in this season, but the writing is flawless. Cape Feare - need I say more?

Season 6 Season 6, which aired in 1994-95, included iconic episodes like "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)" and "Bart's Girlfriend." This season also expanded on character dynamics and humor, leading to high ratings and strong critical reception.

This is my favorite season of the show. The darker and more serious tone in the episodes yet still retaining the original and comedic charm is clever.

This season included my favorite episode of the show, "Homer Badman." There were also some other fantastic episodes like "Bart's Girlfriend," "Treehouse of Horror V," "Homer the Great," "And Maggie Makes Three," "Round Springfield," and "Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part One)."

This season stands out really well. Such a classic season!

Some of the most hilarious episodes ever. For example, Homer Badman, Lisa's Wedding, Bart of Darkness, and Treehouse of Horror V. In my opinion, the best Treehouse of Horror ever. By far my favorite season. Don't hate. It is my own personal opinion.

Season 4 Season 4 of The Simpsons aired in 1992-93, featuring episodes like "Marge vs. the Monorail" and "Last Exit to Springfield." The season further solidified the show's popularity, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program.

Like Season 5, this season is marvelous. Within its development, the jokes were getting better, the animation was getting better, the tone is more entertaining and funnier, and the storylines are getting more fascinating.

"Homer the Heretic" is my third favorite episode, but there are also fantastic episodes such as "Mr. Plow," "Last Exit to Springfield," "New Kid on the Block," "Marge vs. the Monorail," "Homer's Triple Bypass," and "Duffless." What I can tell is that Season 4 is when it started to get more brilliant ideas and jokes that are memorable, clever, and hilarious. Really well-settled, enjoyable season.

Season 8 The Simpsons' eighth season aired in 1996-97 and included episodes such as "You Only Move Twice" and "The Springfield Files." The season is known for its balance of humor and experimental storylines, featuring guest stars like Leonard Nimoy and John Waters.

This season starts to decline in quality, as its tone and writing become wackier. However, it was still a good season. It kept the original charm from the previous seasons.

"Homer's Enemy" is considered one of the best Simpsons episodes of all time despite its darker tone (especially at the end), but there are some other episodes that stand out, such as "The Mysterious Voyage of Homer" (my second favorite episode), "The Springfield Files," "Brother from Another Series," "Grade School Confidential," and "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson." Overall, still a good season.

Season 7 Season 7 of The Simpsons aired from 1995 to 1996, with memorable episodes like "King-Size Homer" and the resolution of "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" The season continued the show's trend of creative plotlines and character-driven stories.

Season 7 has some of the most interesting episodes of the show. It still has the original charm from the previous seasons. Some emotional episodes, such as "Mother Simpson" and "Marge Be Not Proud," are involved, but there are other brilliant and solid episodes that stand out, such as "Bart Sells His Soul," "Lisa the Vegetarian," "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming," "Homer the Smithers," "A Fish Called Selma," and "Summer of 4 Ft. 2."

Overall, a fantastic season!

Does anyone remember when Homer was chasing Uder around with a wet towel and smacking him with it? HILARIOUS!

Season 3 The third season, airing in 1991-92, introduced classic episodes such as "Homer at the Bat" and "Flaming Moe's." It helped establish the series as a cultural touchstone, marked by higher viewership and critical acclaim.

Season 3 is a really nice season that is worth watching. The brilliance was getting better, although within its development, it still has some of the charm from Season 2. The animation improved a lot from the second season, as it is more colorful and clean in terms of quality.

Some episodes are great, but others are decent. Episode standouts include "I Married Marge," "Flaming Moe's," "Colonel Homer," "Bart the Murderer," and "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington."

Season 3 is the greatest season of the show, in my opinion. It had great plots and stories, fantastic running gags, and very few bad episodes.

Here are some of my favorites from that season: "Stark Raving Dad" (I just love the Michael Jackson voice cameo, and I don't understand why the people who work on the modern episodes removed it due to the Leaving Neverland documentary), "Saturdays of Thunder" (I find this episode heartwarming, and the montage where Bart and Homer build the soapbox racer really exemplifies it), "The Otto Show" (Spinal Tap, one hilariously satirical rock band, makes an appearance), and "Flaming Moe" (Aerosmith!).

This season is filled with epic moments and highlights. It truly rocks!

Season 9 The Simpsons' ninth season aired in 1997-98, including episodes like "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson" and "Lisa the Skeptic." This season is known for its shift in showrunners and marked a mix of critical acclaim and fan debate.

Season 9 was when it started to decline even further. It is basically a mix between classic charm and more serious, wacky, and jerky gags, along with some "Jerkass Homer." This is a very mixed season to me.

The worst one of the ninth season is "Trash of the Titans" because the plot and concept were too jerky and wacky, and the ending was atrocious. Although, I do have to admit that I enjoyed the U2 scene. A few other worse ones include "Miracle on Evergreen Terrace," "All Singing, All Dancing," and "The Principal and the Pauper," one of the most controversial episodes of the show.

As for the rest of the episodes, they are either mixed or positive. Some of the best episodes include "Lisa the Skeptic," "Lisa the Simpson," "Lisa's Sax," "Natural Born Kissers," "Realty Bites," and "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson." Overall, it is a strange season.

Season 2 The Simpsons Season 2, airing in 1990-91, featured episodes like "Bart Gets an F" and "Lisa's Substitute." This season saw a rise in both popularity and critical praise, setting the tone for future character development.

Seasons 2-8 are excellent, with seasons 2-4 being the most consistently brilliant, but 5-8 have some very strong standout episodes and, as I already stated, are excellent. Season 2 is the best, though. Bart the Daredevil is the greatest episode ever.

There just isn't a bad episode - so many episodes I'd forgotten: Itchy & Scratchy & Marge, Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish. Basically, the whole season is outstanding. It has the charm of the first season but is a million times funnier and better written!

Season 10 Season 10 aired in 1998-99 and included episodes like "Mayored to the Mob" and "Lisa Gets an 'A'." The season continued to blend satire with family-focused storylines and featured guest appearances from Mark Hamill and Elton John.

This season is so funny! My favorite episode is Viva Ned Flanders (desperate to enjoy his life, Ned Flanders goes to Vegas with Homer, gets drunk, and marries some bar girls).

I love this season! My favorite episode is called "Bart the Mother." The plot is Bart killing a bird by accident, so he takes the eggs and raises them.

Amazing episodes from this season in the top ten.

Best episodes: Viva Ned Flanders, Lisa Gets an A, Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo, Treehouse of Horror IX.

Season 1 Season 1 of The Simpsons premiered in 1989-90 with episodes like "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" and "The Call of the Simpsons." As the debut season, it established the show's core characters and humor style.

Season 1 is underrated. It has a charm that is unlike other seasons, and the animation is colorful and rough. Although earlier-written episodes can be inconsistent with later-written episodes, the episodes are still enjoyable to watch.

There's a feeling that you will have when watching this season. This season is easy to remember due to its animation and the least number of episodes. Episodes that stand out include "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," "Moaning Lisa," "Life on the Fast Lane," and "Krusty Gets Busted." Overall, a very underrated season.

The Newcomers

? Season 33 Season 33 aired in 2021-22 and included episodes like "The Star of the Backstage" and "Portrait of a Lackey on Fire." This season continued to explore contemporary issues and included guest stars like Kristen Bell and Brian Cox.
? Season 32 Season 32 of The Simpsons aired in 2020-21, with episodes such as "I, Carumbus" and "Diary Queen." This season addressed timely themes and included guest appearances by David Harbour and Olivia Colman.
The Contenders
Season 12 The Simpsons' twelfth season aired in 2000-01, featuring episodes such as "Trilogy of Error" and "Worst Episode Ever." This season maintained a mix of satire and parody with various pop culture references.

Season 12 was great. Perhaps, even greater than Season 11, the worst season of the Silver Age (11-18).

The first season that I bought! Ah, good memories.

A resurgence of the Silver Age (11-18).

Season 15 Season 15, airing in 2003-04, included episodes like "The Regina Monologues" and "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore." The season was marked by a blend of humor and cultural references, along with notable guest stars.

Season 15 was the best.

The first three seasons were crap. They were too emotional, and the voices and animation were crap.

Seasons 4 to 9 were okay, kind of funny.

Seasons 10 to 13 were very good with good storylines.

But seasons 14 and onward were the best, especially season 15. They were funny, the animation is great, they're not too emotional (cringy), the jokes are fresh, and they have some well-known celebrity guest appearances. Some really cool things happened during these seasons (especially season 15), and I just love The Simpsons so much. I hope it never ends (which unfortunately, it will have to someday). But still, I love it.

Season 22 The Simpsons Season 22 aired in 2010-11, including episodes such as "Angry Dad: The Movie" and "The Fool Monty." This season saw guest appearances from Martha Stewart and Daniel Radcliffe, among others.

Okay, I prefer the old Simpsons seasons like from 4-10, but this season is great. The Fool Monty was hilarious, there was a great Treehouse of Horror, and an amazing Christmas special. It is a very impressive season!

It has its good episodes, but some of the rest can be pretty mediocre. "Love is a Many Strangled Thing," in particular, is one of the show's all-time worst episodes.

Season 23 Season 23 of The Simpsons aired in 2011-12 and included episodes like "The Book Job" and "Holidays of Future Passed." This season saw the show reaching its 500th episode, celebrating with a special milestone event.

I know it's not finished, but it's brilliant! Bart shows his academic side in "Bart Stops to Smell the Roosevelts." There was a great Avatar parody in the Treehouse of Horror. We visit the future in "Holidays of Future Passed," and Bart and Lisa learn about parenting.

How could any of you forget Homer and Bart's tween book "The Troll Twins of Underbridge Academy"? This is clearly the best season!

Season 23 is excellent. It includes the episodes "The Book Job" and "How I Wet Your Mother," which are unique, standout episodes. Both episodes are hilarious, and especially "How I Wet Your Mother" includes a level of sophistication that makes the episodes almost artworks.

Season 14 The fourteenth season of The Simpsons aired in 2002-03 and included episodes such as "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" and "Bart vs. Lisa vs. the Third Grade." This season continued the series' satirical tone and featured guest stars like Mick Jagger and Tony Hawk.

Better than 13. Though, 15 was an improvement over 14.

The beginning of the Digital Age (Seasons 14-18).

An impressive season. Well done.

Season 17 Season 17 aired in 2005-06, featuring episodes like "The Girl Who Slept Too Little" and "The Italian Bob." This season maintained the series' humorous edge and included guest appearances by Lily Tomlin and Richard Dean Anderson.

The last good season, though there are still some great episodes after this season, such as "Brick Like Me," "Barthood," "Flander's Ladder," and so forth.

It may not be in the Golden Age (1-10), yet in the Silver Age (11-18), but it's still a decent season after all.

This deserves more credit! It's a great season! Of the Silver Age (11-18), but still great.

Season 18 The eighteenth season, which aired in 2006-07, included episodes like "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer" and "24 Minutes." This season also marked the end of the era before the release of The Simpsons Movie.

In this season, we see the death of Homer's Vegas wife, who, unless I'm mistaken, hadn't been seen since Season 13. Homer joins the army, Marge becomes a "handywoman," Bart learns he kicks butt at drumming, Marge becomes addicted to an online MMORPG, and Moe and Lisa write poems.

"24 Minutes" was an excellent episode, too. Pretty good season.

The last pre-movie season. It may not have been in the Golden Age, but this season still executed fine moments. "24 Minutes" was truly amazing and is definitely one of the greatest episodes of The Simpsons.

Season 11 The eleventh season aired in 1999-2000 with notable episodes like "Beyond Blunderdome" and "Behind the Laughter." The season continued exploring adventurous plots and satire, featuring guest stars like Mel Gibson and Ron Howard.

The Simpsons knew sadness in this season with the departure of Maude Flanders. But that didn't stop the DVD box from being adorned with Krusty the Clown. Bart sees his future in "Bart to the Future," and Homer becomes a missionary in "Missionary: Impossible."

This was also the season that survived Y2K, ending in May 2000.

I love the episode where they kill Maude Flanders. Dark comedy at its finest.

Season 20 The twentieth season aired in 2008-09 and included episodes like "Sex, Pies, and Idiot Scrapes" and "Wedding for Disaster." This season was notable for transitioning to high-definition production, marking a new era in the series' visual presentation.

The 20th season of The Simpsons started out interesting (what with the erotic cakes and stuff) but soon got amazing. The Simpsons started broadcasting in High Definition, with a new opening scene and everything.

Some really good laughs came from Lisa being on "happy pills," Bart, Ralph, Skinner, and the bullies all being shipped off to Capital City during an important test at school (deviously done by Superintendent Chalmers), and Moe dating a little person. This is the DVD season they'll be releasing next, skipping ahead of seasons 13-19 (for now), and offering it on Blu-Ray Disc because of the HD format.

Season 21 Season 21 aired in 2009-10, with episodes such as "Treehouse of Horror XX" and "The Bob Next Door." This season saw The Simpsons reach its 450th episode and included notable guest stars like Anne Hathaway and Seth Rogen.

Although it's not done yet, Season 21 is looking to be a really good one. Not only does it look amazing, but they haven't really done any "bad" shows yet.

It was great when Lisa kicked Bart's butt at the end of "The Great Wife Hope," and the Treehouse of Horror's first part was actually kind of creepy. (I didn't like how they made fun of Christianity in the zombie one, though.) I loved Bart's "brother" and the South Park-esque scene. That was probably the best episode so far ("O Brother, Where Bart Thou?"). Can't wait for the rest!

Season 21 didn't have a lot of good episodes, but it DID have Boy Meets Curl. I honestly love that episode.

Season 13 The thirteenth season of The Simpsons aired in 2001-02, featuring episodes like "She of Little Faith" and "Sweets and Sour Marge." This season was marked by a blend of social commentary and parodies, along with guest appearances by Pierce Brosnan and R.E.M.

Ah, Season 13... full of some of my favorite episodes and a couple of stupid ones. I loved how Homer and Bart were chained together in the second episode. While watching "Brawl in the Family," where the Simpsons fight over Monopoly (don't we all?), I was convinced it was one of my favorites until Homer's Vegas wife came and ruined it. I also didn't really like how Apu was cheating on Manjula.

More of a "sweet and sour" season.

I don't care what people say about 90s episodes. The Simpsons is still brilliant. Season 13 is on Channel 4 at the moment, and it's showing episodes that are great.

Season 24 Season 24, airing in 2012-13, included episodes like "Moonshine River" and "The Day the Earth Stood Cool." The season celebrated The Simpsons reaching new milestones and featured guest stars such as Benedict Cumberbatch and Fred Armisen.
Season 16 Season 16 aired in 2004-05 and included episodes such as "All's Fair in Oven War" and "Don't Fear the Roofer." This season continued with social satire and featured guest stars like Ray Romano and Kim Cattrall.

I love "There's Something About Marrying"! It has one of my all-time favorite bits, where Homer and Lovejoy are on Smartline. I die with laughter.

It was mostly pretty good, but "On a Clear Day, I Can't See My Sister" is the first episode I outright hated.

Season 25 The twenty-fifth season, which aired in 2013-14, featured episodes like "Steal This Episode" and "Brick Like Me." This season celebrated the 550th episode milestone and included notable guest stars like Aaron Sorkin and Peter Dinklage.

Am I the only one who likes the new Simpsons series? Along with Windows Vista, 8, and the Wii U?

Season 19 The nineteenth season aired in 2007-08, including episodes like "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs" and "Mona Leaves-a." This season marked the first to air after The Simpsons Movie release and included guest stars like Stephen Colbert and Glenn Close.

Even though Season 19 was a disgrace, it had some fine moments and episodes.

This season was a slight improvement over Season 18.

Season 19 is a slight improvement over Season 18.

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