On rewatch of this video, I just realized I forgot to comment that this was the first season where Film Roman took over the animation. I honestly didn't have much to say about the visual style of Season 4 other than “it's fine, nothing bad, nothing super amazing” so I skipped over the visuals. But from a production standpoint, the shift to Film Roman is worth mentioning as a milestone for this season.
I liked the Rough Draft made episodes during this season though, they felt like a slight return to the looser more springy animation of the first season, really complimented the loonier stories of this season (that heart attack frame speaks for itself).
@Elijah Neil I also like: I'm Lionel Hutz attorney at law, I'll be suing the director Lewellyn Sinclair on behalf of those originally cut from the play, I'm also playing Mitch.
@Elijah Neil what about: davd i'm really tempted, i love you too man ...no, money down!..... mrs. simpson behave..... i was just going through your garbage and I couldn't help overhearing that you need a baby sitter?.... and this isn't the ymca?....those will always be my faves...just hilarious
Marge: Homer! There's a man here who thinks he can help you! Homer: Batman? Marge: No, he's a scientist. Homer: Batman's a scientist. Marge: It's not Batman!!!
i think season 4 is the best cause its highs are really high slightly higher than any season like I think 15 episodes from this season are perfect or super close to being perfect like 98 or 99 out of 100 but season 6 to be fair imo has a consistency case overall acting animation art interactions jokes its near flawless throughout and has a few more eps 25 to 22 but it also has 4 of the 6 weakest episodes imo aka fear of flying the 2nd clip show homer vs patty and selma plus grampa vs sexual inadequacy compared to just the first clip show which has more original footage and better clips so its just better than the love clip show and the front which just has a meh 3rd act but good first 2 acts basically 2 halfs of episodes are meh from season 4 which season 6 has like 3 meh episodes altogether ..like season 4 to me has 20 amazing episodes and season 6 has like 20 as well but 2-3 really bad ones and season 4 has like 1/2 of a bad one only cause of the clips of the clip show...its just so close...I like s4 more...
@@razkable I think S6 through 8 are 2nd tier. S2 through 5 are God tier. The best ep of S6 is Itchy & Scratchy Land IMO but it's just slightly not quite S5 worthy. Basically S4 and 5 are first equal overall, then 3, 2, 6, 7, 8. Remember S6 also had that awful episode where Bleeding Gums died, which also had the worst musical choice ever in the series at the end (not counting the Lady Gaga ep - like literally - it doesn't count). I don't think anything from S4 or 5 (even the clip show) are anywhere near that bad.
do they have Simpson VHS. asking because I have that kind of TV layin around and its fun to watch old cassettes like “Sanford and Son” and “All in the Family”
Season 4 was undoubtebly the breaking point where the writers got tired of establishing things, and just went to town with what they’d developed by that point. It’s got way bigger jokes than the first 3 seasons, but it hasn’t gotten farcical yet, they still like telling stories. But when rewatching this run, I could tell around the halfway point, Post-Monorail, that it was turning into chaos. Some stories became overly gag-heavy, so if you prefer the more laid-back tone of Seasons 1-3, I can’t blame you for thinking the decline started here. But it remains one of my favourite seasons, and a makeshift checkpoint for the show. They’ve passed the flag ending “normal” stories, but there’s still a long way to. A long, long way.
Definitely agreed. Season 4 is like X-Men 2, Spider-Man 2, etc...everything has already been established, so now it's time to have fun with plots and jokes, but before it delved into "guest star appears in every episode" territory in Season 5. Seaons 3-8 are the Golden Age, but Season 4 is the most perfect season.
Why are you people talking about these seasons like they are 15-31? If you really think The Simpsons started to decline in its Golden Era, or at least as early as Season 4, which many consider amazing, I dont really think you are much of a fan 🤷♀️
@@Kylora2112 I think you shouldn't exclude 1 and 2 from golden age they are awesome, 2 is one of my favorites and I think 1 despite not being perfect still has it's moments
For all the inspiring things she will say when she becomes president, I don’t think Lisa will ever say anything more inspiring then “I am the Lizard Queen!”
The Flinstones opening parody from Marge vs the Monorail cracks me up every time. The way they quickly slip in Homer's car window smashing then move to the song and its punchline is great.
Perhaps the biggest contributing factor to the tone of the season, especially the second half starting with Marge Vs. The Monorail, was the fact that the old guard were on their way out. These writers and S3/4 showrunners, Al Jean & Mike Reiss, figured they were on to bigger and better things, and they weren't expecting The Simpsons itself to last for much longer. As a result of this senioritis, they had a bit less restraint when it came to ideas. Whatever got a laugh, even if it "broke the show," they went with it and moved on to the next scene. This would also explain why there's a bit more time-filler (albeit quality filler) in the second half of the season, most notably with The Front. They definitely doled out that 20-second circus couch gag frequently this season. Despite all of that, I absolutely have a fondness for Season 4. Any season with episodes like Mr. Plow, Whacking Day and the prior mentioned Marge Vs. The Monorail is worthy of acclaim. Looking toward Season 5 w/ the end of production Season 4, Cape Feare really was a perfect sendoff for the original Simpsons team.
I remember that was the last time the old team worked with. It really has a transitional feel, keeping Season 4's humour which is its biggest strength, but introducing the wackiness that was inherent in Season 5 (which I think made it an overall weaker season, although it was still very good).
@@strawberrysoulforever8336 I know that a goal for S5 showrunner Dave Mirkin was to avoid an episode as out-there as Brother From The Same Planet (the "bigger brother" episode). Oakley/Weinstein had a similar goal for Season 7, and in both cases it only took a few episodes for them to go right back to the wackier tone.
Best season of the show. I mean almost half the episodes this season are all time classics. Not to mention some of the most quotable lines in history. "Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?" "It's a pornography store. I was buying pornography." "He was a zombie!?"
This season has so many great and iconic episodes: Brother from the same planet Treehouse of horror 3 Krusty gets cancelled Marge vs the monorail Last exit to Springfield A streetcar named Marge Duffless Selmas choice Mr plow Itchy and scratchy the movie Kamp Krusty My favourite season by far.
A bit off topic but I just realized that except for Lyle Lanley, fake Miachel Jackson, and Mr. Bergstrom, Season 8's got basically all of the best one-off characters - Hank Scorpio, Frank Grimes, Roy and Poochie, Rex Banner, the Johnny Cash Coyote, Bart's evil twin, Sheri Bobbins, John the gay guy, and Larry Burns.
I was waiting for this one to come out, and it was cool to hear you talk about Season 4. It's one of my favorite seasons of the show along with Seasons 7, 3, and 6. I never really thought about how Season 4 isn't really a feels filled season, but there are some episodes that inject those touching moments into them. For me personally Season 4 is definitely one of the more fun and entertaining seasons of the series. More often than not every episode will be entertaining all the way through with nothing boring at all. I think it's the way the jokes are presented along with the great character interactions that make it to where there are hardly any boring moments this season. It's thanks to episodes like Last Exit to Springfield and Marge vs the Monorail that helps me to remember this season so fondly. Overall, great retrospective, and I cannot wait to see what episodes you pick for your top 10 of Season 4.
7, 3 and 6... Seven, three and six? SEVEN, THREE AND SIX. Why did you start high, go low and then finish middle man!? What are you on. What nonsense do you think this is, the American dating system? SEVEN, THREE AND SIX! Do it ascending or do it descending, don't do this!...unless you were doing it ascending or descending in order of preference. In which case, I apologize.
@@AnimatedChris1987 I think season 4 is the best written season(mostly due to the drugs they were all on and all the talented people still working on it with the talented ones that just came in to help bridge the gap as some left around that season's end so you had more talent working on it then ever before or since) and season 6 is right behind it then season 3 then 5 then 7 and the only reason I have seasons 5 and 7 not in the top three is because of some less than perfect episodes from those seasons standing out more to me than the less than perfect episodes of seasons 6 and 3 ....personally I just find some weaker jokes in those seasons and season 4 to me is perfect......I think whats so scary about seasons 4-6 in particular is how iconic not just the moments jokes scenes are but how damn near every episode is like on auto pilot with how good they are you just go from classic to classic and its like a machine with like maybe one dud per season which is more like meh not even that bad just not personally my favorite excluding the two clip shows of course...like the front, secrets of a successful marriage and homer vs patty and selma are not that memorable(even though that episode has the funny bart B plot of being a ballet dancer) but every other episode of these 3 seasons are amazing even the wrap arounds for the two clip shows is great...and season 4 doesn't even have a sideshow bob episode which is shocking...literally the only flaw it has....season 5 at least doesn't have a clip show and season 6 has the most episodes and the top consistency of art animation writing jokes interactions of any season it just doesn't quite have the peaks of season 4 imo...I could debate season 4 vs 6 all day but season 4 just is the peak of t.v. sitcom cynical anti establishment parody counter culture timeless comedy writing imo..
I think season 4 is so good you could literally not have a personal overall series top 7-8 favorite of mine itchy and scratchy the movie in your top 10 for the season and I would understand as long as the episodes you chose instead were treehouse of horror III, homer's triple bypass, krusty gets cancelled, I love lisa, lisa's first word, a streetcar named marge, kamp krusty, mr. plow, marge vs the monorail and of course last exit to springfield….those 11 episodes define season 4 to me...heck imo duffless a really funny episode is not even top 11 worthy...…..thats how good this season is...its 12th...and its classic...
Season 4 is special to me. During the summer of 1996, my brother and I would watch all the old Simpsons episodes my parents had recorded on VHS, but the first 6 episodes of S4 stuck out the most, with Treehouse of Horror III in particular, where my brother and I tried creating a transcript, though we stopped at Dial Z for Zombie.
dont worry I have seasons 1-11 and 13-16 on dvd...4 is the best...easily...it has like 1-2 mediocre episodes...no bad episodes at all...its flawless at least as perfect a season for a t.v. comedy can be....honestly the only episode you can cut out is the clipshow and even thats pretty funny....my least favorite episode is the front from this season not very funny but its a nice commentary and its still okay a nice watch just nothing as great as every other episode its just forgettable throw away but on its own I like it still..it just was in the wrong season
2:57 the Ren and Stimpy climp weirded me out when I was younger. It seems very random and indulgent. Now that I'm older, it also seems vitriolic. I'm amazed Nickelodeon let them do it.
For those not in the know, Ren and Stimpy creator John K really hated The Simpsons around this time because it wasn't Cartoony enough or some crap. The Simpson's writers clapped back at him with the "clip not finished " Mocking John K's inability to produce anything on time.
I just bought the physical dvd sets for Seasons 4 thru 12 (I already owned the first 3 seasons) It cost me around $100 (about $10 per season on average) but alot of these box sets can get pretty expensive if you don't watch for the right deal. I have seen some of them listed between $40 and $100. Plus im not so sure any of these early seasons will ever be transferred to Bluray or anything since they weren't originally drawn in 16 by 9. And then the fact that they stopped releasing the physical seasons after around 20 made me realize it was time to buy them so that I could be sure I can enjoy them for years to come. The Simpsons (earlier years) is one of the few shows that I can watch over and over and not get bored so I am really happy I went for it!
They could probably fit the entire first 4 seasons on a bluray at standard definition. Really though it ought to be pretty simple to upscale the resolution, although personally I'd prefer to keep the 4:3 aspect ratio, typical pan & zoom techniques have already been used to make some of the older episodes widescreen for TV. Perhaps new audiences would prefer the widescreen but I'd only be ok with that if it was optional.
This is an INCREDIBLY basic take, but season 4 is easily one of my big favorites, probably only beaten out by season 6. I think it's a mixture of the consistently great jokes, the relaxed and less emotional story selection, and the overall cartooniness. I've never been someone who's gotten up in arms about the Simpsons doing sillier stuff (Homie the Clown is one of my favorite episodes), so this season is such a winner for me.
Hearing that just made me think of Homer's first AA meeting in Duffless, since Otto was there. Homer's reaction to the thought of no beer ever again...
Honestly, my favorite season. And I LOVE A Streetcar Named Marge. Even too young to know the play, I loved it. I can't heard "Stella!" Without thinking "Can't you heard me Yella? You're putting me through Hella..." John Lovitz, buff Flanders, enraged Marge... It's all so great. Plus, the b plot about Maggie breaking out of Ayn Rand school for tots is so entertaining and fun to watch.
I gotta say I'm impressed with your work. You balance making it about the simpsons first and foremost but your voice, pacing and choices on what to focus on and how are both interesting and easy to follow. Looking forward to more.
Hey Jims. Just telling you that I love your videos. This has easily become one of my favourite youtube channels, if not my top favourite. Keep doing what you do! Can't wait for the season 5 retrospective!
I absolutely love the segues that are "random". It had never really been done before and were so brilliantly done they still seemed organic. Very strong case for best season ever. It's pretty much flawless television.
I absolutely love season 4! Lionel Hutz and Troy Mclure really are great standout characters for this season. Thank you for giving proper credit to Phil Hartman. He did an amazing job with every role. Brother from the same planet will always be a great classic for me! There’s a real fun upbeat attitude to this season and it always puts me in a good mood!
I started watching your channel I will send some sleep last night and I got to say I’ve never thought about any of this towards The Simpsons show This definitely helps make a lot of the episodes and seemed much more funnier as I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen a lot of them all the way through since I was a little kid thanks again and keep up the good work
I had to pause the video a couple of times, just because I was laughing too much just watching the images you used and me remembering the jokes. This sure was a joke-filled (or even a joke-driven) season. I love your videos!
Season 4 for me is when the show has reached its stride. Lots of great episodes. And Grandpa going through the war as a Caberet singer is my favorite grandpa story ever.
What i really loved about the early seasons like Season 4 is that EVERY time you had a movie reference, you could tell the writers and creators of the show were huuuge filmbuffs and quoting absolute classics in such a loving way that only true fans could :) And paying lots of respect with these little tributes. The exact opposite of today where it feels like the writers are required to add as many references to modern pop culture TV shows and movies as possible, without even thinking about IF it actually fits the Simpsons.. tonally, story wise or character wise.. It is just there and... just happens... and it doesn't even feel like it belongs there. Just to stay somehow relevant..
Season 9? No way. That was the first Scully season and the dip in quality was very notable. The Kidney Trouble episode in particular was a new low at the time.
"Sure, if you can get us out of here." "No problemo. Hey, Moe, look over there!" "What, what am I looking at? What? Is that it? I'm gonna stop looking soon." "Hey, Moe, whatcha doing?" "Staring at the wall." "Can I do that too?" "Ok, but it'll cost ya." "My wallet's in the car!" "He is so stupid. And now, back to the wall."
i think season 5 and 6 maybe easier to rewatch slightly more cause of the consistency thing overall aka acting interactions art animation jokes episodes throughout cause the last few eps of season 4 before krusty gets canceled are a little rough on the last disc to get through on rewatch (aka the clip show the front marge in chains and whacking day) so you can tell they were on their way out an on fumes after so many classics but season 4 the first time you watch it stick out the most its just too funny.....it has the best first time viewing value..even the clip show is amazing...the only weak part of this season is the reused clips part of the clip show and maybe the third act of the front episode cause its a little weak and slow but thats a nitpick...
There's so many more seasons to go through. So excited for the future of this series. I'm loving what I got so far. I watch these for more than just a retrospective.
I always thought that the episode where homer quits drinking was a perfect ending, and I'd liked to see that change stick around, maybe giving him Barney's later take on sobriety (with it's highs and lows). I always felt dissapointedd on how that HUGE character development went down the drain too quick just because they needed to return to status quo for the next episode. For me, S4 is one of the most memorable, mostly because they repeated it ad nauseum in my country (we used to have weekend long marathons every week on a local network). It's not as candid as S1 or 2, but it's the jokes and the memes that make em one of the best for me.
Do a little mini-episode about Charlie, the power plant worker who shows up in a few episodes, mentioned that he was on disability and then never seen again.
Idk if you were making a joke about why Ren and Stimpy show up in the Simpsons, but I’m pretty sure it’s because the creator of the show hated the Simpsons (on the grounds of its a script driven show which he hates. He ragged on Animaniacs anonymously in some magazine the same way) and so Simpsons shot back at his horrible time management since Ren and Stimpy suffered from huge delays from the creator’s perfectionist tendencies and was notorious for being a nightmare to work with!
Great to see so much love for a true classic Simpsons time period! I also love "A Streetcar named Marge" I definitely root for that to be in the top ten!
Man, I love your channel. Maggie striking back against "objectivism" was indeed awesome, heh, and I like that you put it that way. That kind of stuff is part of the reason I love the show
Season 4 is one of my all time favorites, as I always thought of The Simpsons as a comedy show first and foremost and found this one to be the funniest back when I began watching the show
Well Mr. Burns had done it, The power plant had won it, With Roger Clemens clucking all the while, Mike Scioscia's tragic illness made us smile, While Wade Boggs lay unconscious on the barroom tile... We're talkin' softball... From Maine to San Diego. Talkin' softball... Mattingly and Canseco. Ken Griffey's grotesquely swollen jaw. Steve Sax and his run-in with the law. We're talkin' Homer... Ozzie and the Straw. We're talkin' softball... From Maine to San Diego. Talkin' softball... Mattingly and Canseco. Ken Griffey's grotesquely swollen jaw. Steve Sax and his run-in with the law. We're talkin' Homer... Ozzie and the Straw.
I had to stop at 4:58 just to cackle. That is marvelous! I'm laughing so hard! Boy, the Simpsons was genius comedy back in its golden age. I need to watch Season 4. It is full of all these references.
The Aerosmith cameo was awesome. “Have The Rolling Stones killed.” Is one of my favorite bits in the series. Smithers tries to correct Burns, but Monty is adamant. So funny!
The kid episodes works best when the kids have the mentality of an teenager with the spirit of a child, that's why these work in Season 4, you don't get a adult posing as a kid or a kid facing kid problems that only a 5 year old understands which is the way kid shows would usually write shows involving kids while alienating everyone else, you want to keep the nostalgia of a childhood while still facing a changing adult world problems which is why they work best as teens, everyone can relate to outgrowing something or someone taking away that thing you once rely upon or even just rebellion just for the hell of it
I'm really loving these retrospectives. I can't wait until you get past Season 10, because I think that's around where I checked out. I'd rather not actually watch the later seasons, but I really want to watch your reviews of them! Everyone knows that the early seasons are untouchable Fort Knox gold, but there comes a point after 10 seasons, where your videos about the episodes are better than the episodes themselves. Lisa Goes Gaga is a perfect example.
I think Season 11 was the point I really thought the quality had went down the tubes, though looking back I'm surprised how long I held on despite it. I think I only really gave up on the show around Season 16.
@@ToonReel001 i think season 12 and 13 are still good but after that it goes downhill really fast. I dont know exactly when I stopped caring but I think I've still seen most episodes up to like 20 or so
@@JaredConnell I think 12 and 13 are underrated, which makes me think maybe 11 was worse than the others. It seems a lot of people stopped watching the show then. Back in the days when people watched TV we had our PVR set up to record every episode of the simpsons that aired, so I've seen most of the episodes up to season 20 way more times than I needed to. Honestly, there are good episodes throughout the later seasons its just a bit of a gamble to find them
Season 4 and 5 are really my favorite ones of the classic simpsons. I never watched "Last exit on brooklyn" but i still loved that episode that spoofed it. That episode has SUCH a radically awesome style. Just like the entire season. You had a bit of the offbeat season 1 style mixed with the little smoother later seasons animation quality and you STILL had awesome plot developments and beautiful moody lighting. This is something i always loved the most about the Simpsons as a kid and which i never really saw elsewhere. NO other show looked and felt like the Simpsons. It was a bit like the "Twin Peaks" of Cartoons. VERY lovable characters and often unexpected turns and twists and all wrapped in a beautiful package that sets such an amazing mood.
Honest to God, can't hear "Lisa needs braces" without hearing "Dental plan" in the back of my head.
For me it's the opposite. I hear someone mention a Dental Plan and that's when I start hearing "Lisa needs braces!"
@@PantsMasterPlays dental plan!
@@JaredConnell Lisa Needs Braces!
@@nicholasgawler-collins5754 DENTAL PLAN!
@@Morgan932 Lisa Needs Braces!
"Smithers, I'm beginning to think that Homer Simpson is not the brilliant tactician that I thought he was."
I love last exit to Spingegfild
That moment is possibly the funniest Simpsons moment ever. I laugh out loud every time.
best episode
*spins in circles on the floor making happy noises*
Simpson eh? I'll remember that name.
"His father? The drunken gambler?" "That's right, and who might you be?"
xxcrysad3000xx I love how Homer doesn’t even deny it. It just says “that’s right” like he’s proud of it. 😁
@Boco Corwin did you mean undiluted? Otherwise I don't understand what you mean
*PUNCH*
On rewatch of this video, I just realized I forgot to comment that this was the first season where Film Roman took over the animation. I honestly didn't have much to say about the visual style of Season 4 other than “it's fine, nothing bad, nothing super amazing” so I skipped over the visuals. But from a production standpoint, the shift to Film Roman is worth mentioning as a milestone for this season.
TheRealJims do you have steam
I liked the Rough Draft made episodes during this season though, they felt like a slight return to the looser more springy animation of the first season, really complimented the loonier stories of this season (that heart attack frame speaks for itself).
Why don't you like Apu in Marge In Chains?
Jim, Season 4 isn't Season 3 on drugs.
It's more like Season 3 drank too many Krusty shakes, got on lipo and then on roids.
Yea
Can you imagine a world without lawyers?
Shudder
My Hentai Girl u beat me. lol
@Elijah Neil I also like: I'm Lionel Hutz attorney at law, I'll be suing the director Lewellyn Sinclair on behalf of those originally cut from the play, I'm also playing Mitch.
@Elijah Neil what about: davd i'm really tempted, i love you too man ...no, money down!..... mrs. simpson behave..... i was just going through your garbage and I couldn't help overhearing that you need a baby sitter?.... and this isn't the ymca?....those will always be my faves...just hilarious
Everyone dances in circles holding hands.
Marge: Homer! There's a man here who thinks he can help you!
Homer: Batman?
Marge: No, he's a scientist.
Homer: Batman's a scientist.
Marge: It's not Batman!!!
"Dental plan."
"Lisa needs braces."
Dental plan.
Lisa needs braces
Lisa needs braces
Is there a chance the track could bend?
@@221b Not on your life my hindu friend
That image of Lisa's teeth without braces gave me PTSD as a kid.
"There isn't really a reason why we need classical gas in here."
There's always a reason for Classical Gas. I love that gag.
This is the season that made Lionel hutz my second favorite character. He’s just the perfect secondary character.
Yeah him, Moe and Wiggum are my favourite non Simpsons family members
"I am Evil Homer, I am Evil Homer!"
💯
Season 4 was the first dvd box set i ever got as a child, it's my favorite season of them all.
i think season 4 is the best cause its highs are really high slightly higher than any season like I think 15 episodes from this season are perfect or super close to being perfect like 98 or 99 out of 100 but season 6 to be fair imo has a consistency case overall acting animation art interactions jokes its near flawless throughout and has a few more eps 25 to 22 but it also has 4 of the 6 weakest episodes imo aka fear of flying the 2nd clip show homer vs patty and selma plus grampa vs sexual inadequacy compared to just the first clip show which has more original footage and better clips so its just better than the love clip show and the front which just has a meh 3rd act but good first 2 acts basically 2 halfs of episodes are meh from season 4 which season 6 has like 3 meh episodes altogether ..like season 4 to me has 20 amazing episodes and season 6 has like 20 as well but 2-3 really bad ones and season 4 has like 1/2 of a bad one only cause of the clips of the clip show...its just so close...I like s4 more...
@@razkable I think S6 through 8 are 2nd tier. S2 through 5 are God tier. The best ep of S6 is Itchy & Scratchy Land IMO but it's just slightly not quite S5 worthy. Basically S4 and 5 are first equal overall, then 3, 2, 6, 7, 8. Remember S6 also had that awful episode where Bleeding Gums died, which also had the worst musical choice ever in the series at the end (not counting the Lady Gaga ep - like literally - it doesn't count). I don't think anything from S4 or 5 (even the clip show) are anywhere near that bad.
do they have Simpson VHS. asking because I have that kind of TV layin around and its fun to watch old cassettes like “Sanford and Son” and “All in the Family”
_I call the big one bitey_
That's apparently Groening's all time favorite joke, no shit.
Didnt Conan o Brien write that one?
A LA GRANDE LE PUSE CUCA
Season 4 was undoubtebly the breaking point where the writers got tired of establishing things, and just went to town with what they’d developed by that point. It’s got way bigger jokes than the first 3 seasons, but it hasn’t gotten farcical yet, they still like telling stories. But when rewatching this run, I could tell around the halfway point, Post-Monorail, that it was turning into chaos. Some stories became overly gag-heavy, so if you prefer the more laid-back tone of Seasons 1-3, I can’t blame you for thinking the decline started here. But it remains one of my favourite seasons, and a makeshift checkpoint for the show. They’ve passed the flag ending “normal” stories, but there’s still a long way to. A long, long way.
i think season 5 is when it went off the rails..season 4 is mostly still subdued 2-4 is the golden age..easily...
Definitely agreed. Season 4 is like X-Men 2, Spider-Man 2, etc...everything has already been established, so now it's time to have fun with plots and jokes, but before it delved into "guest star appears in every episode" territory in Season 5. Seaons 3-8 are the Golden Age, but Season 4 is the most perfect season.
Why are you people talking about these seasons like they are 15-31? If you really think The Simpsons started to decline in its Golden Era, or at least as early as Season 4, which many consider amazing, I dont really think you are much of a fan 🤷♀️
@@Kylora2112 I think you shouldn't exclude 1 and 2 from golden age they are awesome, 2 is one of my favorites and I think 1 despite not being perfect still has it's moments
@@julianathejaded7051 That's not what he means. Season 6 is his favourite season. Watch his ranking of the first ten seasons if you don't believe me.
TheRealJims is truly the Lizard Queen.
jub jub
The Queen of the Harpies!
I'm the f%#king lizard king
For all the inspiring things she will say when she becomes president, I don’t think Lisa will ever say anything more inspiring then “I am the Lizard Queen!”
The Flinstones opening parody from Marge vs the Monorail cracks me up every time. The way they quickly slip in Homer's car window smashing then move to the song and its punchline is great.
Perhaps the biggest contributing factor to the tone of the season, especially the second half starting with Marge Vs. The Monorail, was the fact that the old guard were on their way out. These writers and S3/4 showrunners, Al Jean & Mike Reiss, figured they were on to bigger and better things, and they weren't expecting The Simpsons itself to last for much longer. As a result of this senioritis, they had a bit less restraint when it came to ideas. Whatever got a laugh, even if it "broke the show," they went with it and moved on to the next scene. This would also explain why there's a bit more time-filler (albeit quality filler) in the second half of the season, most notably with The Front. They definitely doled out that 20-second circus couch gag frequently this season.
Despite all of that, I absolutely have a fondness for Season 4. Any season with episodes like Mr. Plow, Whacking Day and the prior mentioned Marge Vs. The Monorail is worthy of acclaim. Looking toward Season 5 w/ the end of production Season 4, Cape Feare really was a perfect sendoff for the original Simpsons team.
I remember that was the last time the old team worked with. It really has a transitional feel, keeping Season 4's humour which is its biggest strength, but introducing the wackiness that was inherent in Season 5 (which I think made it an overall weaker season, although it was still very good).
@@strawberrysoulforever8336 I know that a goal for S5 showrunner Dave Mirkin was to avoid an episode as out-there as Brother From The Same Planet (the "bigger brother" episode). Oakley/Weinstein had a similar goal for Season 7, and in both cases it only took a few episodes for them to go right back to the wackier tone.
Last Exit to Springfield is so f**king good, thanks for reminding me about that episode
It's like they decided to take a season's worth of classic moments and put them in one episode.
I love the beatles randomly during lisa's trip saying: help us..help us......lol its such a little touch but its hilarious
Asmosis Jones Look, it’s Lisa in the sky. No diamonds though. Uh oh, watch out for that campy drawing of Queen Victoria!
@@zachflakerton Ha, I think it's "canopy" but it could be "campy"!
@@mankytoes It's 'crappy'.
Homer: "I hope you never say a word".
daddy....
"Call 1-800-DOCTORB. The "B" is for bargain!"
What’s the second “B” for?
For your information Bart never said he would would go all the way with ralph...
He just said you don’t wanna how far he’d be prepared to go
wanna how
Best season of the show. I mean almost half the episodes this season are all time classics. Not to mention some of the most quotable lines in history.
"Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?"
"It's a pornography store. I was buying pornography."
"He was a zombie!?"
11:05 is the best screenshot you've ever taken.
you can turn that into a meme
@@L1am21 yes
He was more animal than man
This season has so many great and iconic episodes:
Brother from the same planet
Treehouse of horror 3
Krusty gets cancelled
Marge vs the monorail
Last exit to Springfield
A streetcar named Marge
Duffless
Selmas choice
Mr plow
Itchy and scratchy the movie
Kamp Krusty
My favourite season by far.
i love lisa lisa's first word whacking day homer the heretic
@@razkable Seconded!
A bit off topic but I just realized that except for Lyle Lanley, fake Miachel Jackson, and Mr. Bergstrom, Season 8's got basically all of the best one-off characters - Hank Scorpio, Frank Grimes, Roy and Poochie, Rex Banner, the Johnny Cash Coyote, Bart's evil twin, Sheri Bobbins, John the gay guy, and Larry Burns.
And that alien that brings us love....... oh wait
And Sideshow Bob's brother, of course
I was waiting for this one to come out, and it was cool to hear you talk about Season 4. It's one of my favorite seasons of the show along with Seasons 7, 3, and 6. I never really thought about how Season 4 isn't really a feels filled season, but there are some episodes that inject those touching moments into them. For me personally Season 4 is definitely one of the more fun and entertaining seasons of the series. More often than not every episode will be entertaining all the way through with nothing boring at all. I think it's the way the jokes are presented along with the great character interactions that make it to where there are hardly any boring moments this season. It's thanks to episodes like Last Exit to Springfield and Marge vs the Monorail that helps me to remember this season so fondly. Overall, great retrospective, and I cannot wait to see what episodes you pick for your top 10 of Season 4.
7, 3 and 6... Seven, three and six? SEVEN, THREE AND SIX. Why did you start high, go low and then finish middle man!? What are you on. What nonsense do you think this is, the American dating system? SEVEN, THREE AND SIX! Do it ascending or do it descending, don't do this!...unless you were doing it ascending or descending in order of preference. In which case, I apologize.
@@Jotari Yes, I was listing the seasons by the order of personal favorites, not from higher to lower number.
@@AnimatedChris1987 I think season 4 is the best written season(mostly due to the drugs they were all on and all the talented people still working on it with the talented ones that just came in to help bridge the gap as some left around that season's end so you had more talent working on it then ever before or since) and season 6 is right behind it then season 3 then 5 then 7 and the only reason I have seasons 5 and 7 not in the top three is because of some less than perfect episodes from those seasons standing out more to me than the less than perfect episodes of seasons 6 and 3 ....personally I just find some weaker jokes in those seasons and season 4 to me is perfect......I think whats so scary about seasons 4-6 in particular is how iconic not just the moments jokes scenes are but how damn near every episode is like on auto pilot with how good they are you just go from classic to classic and its like a machine with like maybe one dud per season which is more like meh not even that bad just not personally my favorite excluding the two clip shows of course...like the front, secrets of a successful marriage and homer vs patty and selma are not that memorable(even though that episode has the funny bart B plot of being a ballet dancer) but every other episode of these 3 seasons are amazing even the wrap arounds for the two clip shows is great...and season 4 doesn't even have a sideshow bob episode which is shocking...literally the only flaw it has....season 5 at least doesn't have a clip show and season 6 has the most episodes and the top consistency of art animation writing jokes interactions of any season it just doesn't quite have the peaks of season 4 imo...I could debate season 4 vs 6 all day but season 4 just is the peak of t.v. sitcom cynical anti establishment parody counter culture timeless comedy writing imo..
I think season 4 is so good you could literally not have a personal overall series top 7-8 favorite of mine itchy and scratchy the movie in your top 10 for the season and I would understand as long as the episodes you chose instead were treehouse of horror III, homer's triple bypass, krusty gets cancelled, I love lisa, lisa's first word, a streetcar named marge, kamp krusty, mr. plow, marge vs the monorail and of course last exit to springfield….those 11 episodes define season 4 to me...heck imo duffless a really funny episode is not even top 11 worthy...…..thats how good this season is...its 12th...and its classic...
6:59 "He's a little confused but he got the spirit"
Season 4 is special to me. During the summer of 1996, my brother and I would watch all the old Simpsons episodes my parents had recorded on VHS, but the first 6 episodes of S4 stuck out the most, with Treehouse of Horror III in particular, where my brother and I tried creating a transcript, though we stopped at Dial Z for Zombie.
I just remember getting season 4 on DVD from my dad one Christmas, so season 4 being my first box set will always favour it a little.
dont worry I have seasons 1-11 and 13-16 on dvd...4 is the best...easily...it has like 1-2 mediocre episodes...no bad episodes at all...its flawless at least as perfect a season for a t.v. comedy can be....honestly the only episode you can cut out is the clipshow and even thats pretty funny....my least favorite episode is the front from this season not very funny but its a nice commentary and its still okay a nice watch just nothing as great as every other episode its just forgettable throw away but on its own I like it still..it just was in the wrong season
as Count Dooku would say, *"I've been looking forward to this"*
Amazing as always, keep up the great work Jims :)
I hereby award you this medal in recognition of excellence in the field of Simpsology 🎖
These are good on first watch but great for falling asleep to as well. Very calming voice and chill music with comfortable, familiar subject matter.
2:57 the Ren and Stimpy climp weirded me out when I was younger. It seems very random and indulgent. Now that I'm older, it also seems vitriolic. I'm amazed Nickelodeon let them do it.
For those not in the know, Ren and Stimpy creator John K really hated The Simpsons around this time because it wasn't Cartoony enough or some crap. The Simpson's writers clapped back at him with the "clip not finished " Mocking John K's inability to produce anything on time.
I just bought the physical dvd sets for Seasons 4 thru 12 (I already owned the first 3 seasons) It cost me around $100 (about $10 per season on average) but alot of these box sets can get pretty expensive if you don't watch for the right deal. I have seen some of them listed between $40 and $100. Plus im not so sure any of these early seasons will ever be transferred to Bluray or anything since they weren't originally drawn in 16 by 9. And then the fact that they stopped releasing the physical seasons after around 20 made me realize it was time to buy them so that I could be sure I can enjoy them for years to come. The Simpsons (earlier years) is one of the few shows that I can watch over and over and not get bored so I am really happy I went for it!
I think Season 17 or 18 was last. Probably 17, because it was focused on the voice actor who won an Emmy for that season.
I bought the DVD Seasons in this order: 5,6,4,7,3,8,2,9,1,10 and I have 16 on Blu-Ray.
They could probably fit the entire first 4 seasons on a bluray at standard definition. Really though it ought to be pretty simple to upscale the resolution, although personally I'd prefer to keep the 4:3 aspect ratio, typical pan & zoom techniques have already been used to make some of the older episodes widescreen for TV. Perhaps new audiences would prefer the widescreen but I'd only be ok with that if it was optional.
This is an INCREDIBLY basic take, but season 4 is easily one of my big favorites, probably only beaten out by season 6. I think it's a mixture of the consistently great jokes, the relaxed and less emotional story selection, and the overall cartooniness. I've never been someone who's gotten up in arms about the Simpsons doing sillier stuff (Homie the Clown is one of my favorite episodes), so this season is such a winner for me.
Oh hi Opal
I dont think the season with the best episode can be worse than the 2nd best season...I have it the top season but 6 and 3 are really good too
I absolutely love these season retrospectives. Keep 'em coming!
I've been looking forward to this for a long time can't wait for seooon 5
Just in time to keep me entertained while i'm sick ^^ I love your videos, Jims! Amazing as always 💞
You don't talk about otto when saying season 4 was on drugs
Farout maaaaan
Hearing that just made me think of Homer's first AA meeting in Duffless, since Otto was there. Homer's reaction to the thought of no beer ever again...
My name is Otto and I like to get blotto!
It’s always a good day when Jims posts
Honestly, my favorite season. And I LOVE A Streetcar Named Marge. Even too young to know the play, I loved it. I can't heard "Stella!" Without thinking "Can't you heard me Yella? You're putting me through Hella..." John Lovitz, buff Flanders, enraged Marge... It's all so great. Plus, the b plot about Maggie breaking out of Ayn Rand school for tots is so entertaining and fun to watch.
Good thing you're not in my family. My youngest niece is called Stella.
I gotta say I'm impressed with your work. You balance making it about the simpsons first and foremost but your voice, pacing and choices on what to focus on and how are both interesting and easy to follow. Looking forward to more.
I love the production of your videos. The music doesn’t necessarily “go with” Simpsons videos, and you use it perfectly.
Hey Jims. Just telling you that I love your videos. This has easily become one of my favourite youtube channels, if not my top favourite. Keep doing what you do! Can't wait for the season 5 retrospective!
"Making room for more Willy" can describe this season in multiple ways
I absolutely love the segues that are "random". It had never really been done before and were so brilliantly done they still seemed organic. Very strong case for best season ever. It's pretty much flawless television.
I absolutely love season 4! Lionel Hutz and Troy Mclure really are great standout characters for this season. Thank you for giving proper credit to Phil Hartman. He did an amazing job with every role. Brother from the same planet will always be a great classic for me! There’s a real fun upbeat attitude to this season and it always puts me in a good mood!
I started watching your channel I will send some sleep last night and I got to say I’ve never thought about any of this towards The Simpsons show This definitely helps make a lot of the episodes and seemed much more funnier as I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen a lot of them all the way through since I was a little kid thanks again and keep up the good work
Season 3-5 was the peak of Simpsons in my opinion. Great vid!
I had to pause the video a couple of times, just because I was laughing too much just watching the images you used and me remembering the jokes. This sure was a joke-filled (or even a joke-driven) season.
I love your videos!
God I love the Simpsons season 4. 5 is great too.
Omg your pfp 🤣🤣🤣
Season 4 for me is when the show has reached its stride. Lots of great episodes. And Grandpa going through the war as a Caberet singer is my favorite grandpa story ever.
“This is the homer who can’t complete a kids maze” and “this is the homer who can’t stop obsessively eating that sandwich” made me laugh out loud.
What i really loved about the early seasons like Season 4 is that EVERY time you had a movie reference, you could tell the writers and creators of the show were huuuge filmbuffs and quoting absolute classics in such a loving way that only true fans could :) And paying lots of respect with these little tributes. The exact opposite of today where it feels like the writers are required to add as many references to modern pop culture TV shows and movies as possible, without even thinking about IF it actually fits the Simpsons.. tonally, story wise or character wise.. It is just there and... just happens... and it doesn't even feel like it belongs there. Just to stay somehow relevant..
what's that room Homer is sitting in at 1:08?? It doesn't look like any of the rooms I remember from the house
The Simpsons season's 3-9 might honestly be the greatest achievement in recorded human history.
You: name one thing man kind has done any better.
Lisa: the Renaissance
You: this is better.
dy120481
Pretty much
Season 9? No way. That was the first Scully season and the dip in quality was very notable. The Kidney Trouble episode in particular was a new low at the time.
_Principal & The Pauper_ happens in S9, so by default I gotta shutdown this idea.
@@audiosurfarchive That was the start of the second half of the season. The first half still has some quality episodes.
"Hey Red Hot Chili Peppers you want to play at the Krusty Comeback Special?"
"Sure, if you can get us out of here."
"No problemo. Hey, Moe, look over there!"
"What, what am I looking at? What? Is that it? I'm gonna stop looking soon."
"Hey, Moe, whatcha doing?"
"Staring at the wall."
"Can I do that too?"
"Ok, but it'll cost ya."
"My wallet's in the car!"
"He is so stupid. And now, back to the wall."
pretty sure at this point season 4 is like my all time favorite.... and I don't think that will ever change.
i think season 5 and 6 maybe easier to rewatch slightly more cause of the consistency thing overall aka acting interactions art animation jokes episodes throughout cause the last few eps of season 4 before krusty gets canceled are a little rough on the last disc to get through on rewatch (aka the clip show the front marge in chains and whacking day) so you can tell they were on their way out an on fumes after so many classics but season 4 the first time you watch it stick out the most its just too funny.....it has the best first time viewing value..even the clip show is amazing...the only weak part of this season is the reused clips part of the clip show and maybe the third act of the front episode cause its a little weak and slow but thats a nitpick...
There's so many more seasons to go through. So excited for the future of this series. I'm loving what I got so far. I watch these for more than just a retrospective.
Use carbon-fiber stucco lath!
Now parge the lath!
I've been watching all your older videos. It's nice to actually catch a new video when you upload it.
1:59 the shade thrown at Cartoon Wars haha!
Just noticed they continued funny hat day that marge suggested with the taking our donuts scene
been waiting for so long for this video.
I really love season 4
I always thought that the episode where homer quits drinking was a perfect ending, and I'd liked to see that change stick around, maybe giving him Barney's later take on sobriety (with it's highs and lows). I always felt dissapointedd on how that HUGE character development went down the drain too quick just because they needed to return to status quo for the next episode.
For me, S4 is one of the most memorable, mostly because they repeated it ad nauseum in my country (we used to have weekend long marathons every week on a local network). It's not as candid as S1 or 2, but it's the jokes and the memes that make em one of the best for me.
I enjoyed this video, and I am really tempted to start rewatching old seasons for funsies :) Thank you!
😄😄😄 “That Outta Hold The lil S.O.B’s” LLLLLoLLLLL
Love your videos so much. Please dont ever stop making content. Youre so good at it!
Commenting for the algorithm. Great video. I really can't wait for the Season 6 video.
Season 4 is so good it's downright frightening.
@Anthony Ramsey How would you rate Jefferton's comment?
@Jefferton Alive I don't think your comment is dumb
This RUclips comment section is frightening
Do a little mini-episode about Charlie, the power plant worker who shows up in a few episodes, mentioned that he was on disability and then never seen again.
Idk if you were making a joke about why Ren and Stimpy show up in the Simpsons, but I’m pretty sure it’s because the creator of the show hated the Simpsons (on the grounds of its a script driven show which he hates. He ragged on Animaniacs anonymously in some magazine the same way) and so Simpsons shot back at his horrible time management since Ren and Stimpy suffered from huge delays from the creator’s perfectionist tendencies and was notorious for being a nightmare to work with!
Also, how do you go about writing a script for one of these things? I admire your style
This season also introdunce one of my favorite background charterers "Mr. Jack Marley"! Anybody remember him in season 4?
0:42 I never noticed an adult Sherri and Terri were in that dream sequence until now.
The second best Treehouse of horror in all of Simpsons ! The best being the season 5 one !
13:00 "why would you want that crummy old Danish when you can have this delicious door stop?"
you are misquoting
i love this series! can’t wait for the next one :)
never not stanning that objectively good classical gas gag in a front runner for best episode of the series. how dare you. i will die on this hill.
These are so enjoyable to watch. Thank you
14:53 Okay, that is a brilliant choice to represent Lust with. I can't help but laugh at that happy face (and the delivery of that line).
Homer wears short shorts, Jim XD
Who wears short shorts
I WEAR SHORT SHORTS!!!
he's not even wearing shorts in that scene
so unrealistic
jerkass homer of the highest caliber
It's a good day when there's a new Simpsons upload by Jims.
Season 4 is one of my all time favorite seasons ♥️
Great to see so much love for a true classic Simpsons time period! I also love "A Streetcar named Marge" I definitely root for that to be in the top ten!
Man, I love your channel. Maggie striking back against "objectivism" was indeed awesome, heh, and I like that you put it that way. That kind of stuff is part of the reason I love the show
!!!!! yessssss!!!!!!
i LOVE your vids. i dig your voice, and you always have *correct* thoughts on this amazing show. 🙏🏾🙌🏾 keep it up. cant wait.
Season 4 is one of my all time favorites, as I always thought of The Simpsons as a comedy show first and foremost and found this one to be the funniest back when I began watching the show
Homer at the bat >>>> everything
but Last Exit to Springfield though...
Well Mr. Burns had done it,
The power plant had won it,
With Roger Clemens clucking all the while,
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness made us smile,
While Wade Boggs lay unconscious on the barroom tile...
We're talkin' softball...
From Maine to San Diego.
Talkin' softball...
Mattingly and Canseco.
Ken Griffey's grotesquely swollen jaw.
Steve Sax and his run-in with the law.
We're talkin' Homer... Ozzie and the Straw.
We're talkin' softball...
From Maine to San Diego.
Talkin' softball...
Mattingly and Canseco.
Ken Griffey's grotesquely swollen jaw.
Steve Sax and his run-in with the law.
We're talkin' Homer... Ozzie and the Straw.
This season was their first masterpiece. Where as the first season was good, 2nd legendary, 3rd unique, 4th was really what defined them.
I had to stop at 4:58 just to cackle. That is marvelous! I'm laughing so hard! Boy, the Simpsons was genius comedy back in its golden age. I need to watch Season 4. It is full of all these references.
Quick question, how do you feel about the whole drama surrounding the Critic crossover episode?
The Aerosmith cameo was awesome. “Have The Rolling Stones killed.” Is one of my favorite bits in the series. Smithers tries to correct Burns, but Monty is adamant. So funny!
It was the Ramones.
@@FoxUnitNell you’re right.
That was also season 5…
The kid episodes works best when the kids have the mentality of an teenager with the spirit of a child, that's why these work in Season 4, you don't get a adult posing as a kid or a kid facing kid problems that only a 5 year old understands which is the way kid shows would usually write shows involving kids while alienating everyone else, you want to keep the nostalgia of a childhood while still facing a changing adult world problems which is why they work best as teens, everyone can relate to outgrowing something or someone taking away that thing you once rely upon or even just rebellion just for the hell of it
I'm really loving these retrospectives. I can't wait until you get past Season 10, because I think that's around where I checked out. I'd rather not actually watch the later seasons, but I really want to watch your reviews of them! Everyone knows that the early seasons are untouchable Fort Knox gold, but there comes a point after 10 seasons, where your videos about the episodes are better than the episodes themselves. Lisa Goes Gaga is a perfect example.
I think Season 11 was the point I really thought the quality had went down the tubes, though looking back I'm surprised how long I held on despite it. I think I only really gave up on the show around Season 16.
@@ToonReel001 i think season 12 and 13 are still good but after that it goes downhill really fast. I dont know exactly when I stopped caring but I think I've still seen most episodes up to like 20 or so
@@JaredConnell I think 12 and 13 are underrated, which makes me think maybe 11 was worse than the others. It seems a lot of people stopped watching the show then.
Back in the days when people watched TV we had our PVR set up to record every episode of the simpsons that aired, so I've seen most of the episodes up to season 20 way more times than I needed to. Honestly, there are good episodes throughout the later seasons its just a bit of a gamble to find them
I’m loving this retrospective series ❤️
Was looking forward to this. Great video
The classical gas joke gets me every time, leave it alone
Season 4 and 5 are really my favorite ones of the classic simpsons. I never watched "Last exit on brooklyn" but i still loved that episode that spoofed it. That episode has SUCH a radically awesome style. Just like the entire season. You had a bit of the offbeat season 1 style mixed with the little smoother later seasons animation quality and you STILL had awesome plot developments and beautiful moody lighting. This is something i always loved the most about the Simpsons as a kid and which i never really saw elsewhere. NO other show looked and felt like the Simpsons. It was a bit like the "Twin Peaks" of Cartoons. VERY lovable characters and often unexpected turns and twists and all wrapped in a beautiful package that sets such an amazing mood.
TheRealJims: "169th straight Simpson's video mentioning Marge vs. The Monorail and no ones the wiser."
I fucking love this channel. It's made me love the Simpsons.