Split Personality

[Homer4President]

[COLOR=Black]Has anyone else noticed the change in the main characters on The Simpsons? Particularly Homer, he's gotten louder dumber he's just as funny but a little less relatable. I think it's because of the 17 year run they've had, it's resulted in more edgy characters. But what do you think??

[garret]

I can't read that, it hurts my eyes.

[Homer4President]

I can't read that, it hurts my eyes.
Whatever you say grandpa
"what button oh what are you talking about?"

[Nebuchanezzar]

Indeed, he's less relatable because they've run out of relatable storylines.

[Nameless]

Particularly Homer, he's gotten louder and dumber

I think you may be 6 seasons too late.

[Kiyosuki]

Indeed, he's less relatable because they've run out of relatable storylines.

Mmmm...I don't agree completely. I still think they could easilly do a lot more with Homer while keeping him in character and relatable (basically non-jerkass/whiney Homer). I think his slight little degrade...like a lot of characters...is just a product of lazy writing. Writing using character stereotypes as opposed to the characters themselves.

Granted I can't bring myself to hate Homer, and he still does bring a lot of fun to the show for me. But I do think they overused his extreme traits a bit too much. Like...at the end of Moe Baby Blues, the hugging the ham part was just too inhuman and lazy on the writers part. It was one of the downsides to an otherwise favorite episode of mine.

I think generally thats the Simpsons thing right now. I truly don't believe they've run out of ways to use the show, they just haven't delved as deeply in writing as they could and have been a bit lazy in writing. I still think theres a ton of potential in the show if they'd go past gimmickry, but its a bit late in the game now.

[zippy]

For those who don't want to ever criticise the Simpsons: They're ahead of their time. We'll all understand these characters in hindsight, and in the eerie glow of the past, upon faded images, we'll realise what the writers meant.

For those who think the news ones are rusty: Ricky Gervais is writing for them. He's hit and miss at best. Just look at ''politics'' in comparison to ''animals''.

For those who are fatalistic: Lets face it. The Simpsons are OVER. Let's all go back to whatever it is we're supposed to be doing. There's nothing to see here.

Think I've got most of the different opininons covered.

[Nebuchanezzar]

Oh. Thankgod you've settled that for me, you're a king among men kipperthecat. Whatever would I do otherwise.

Mmmm...I don't agree completely.

But you still agree to some extent don't you? I mean, you'd be hard pressed to find a story these days that has the relatability that earlier stories like Lisa the Vegetarian or Two cars in every garage, three eyes on every fish. And even when you do, they seem to be about another character rather then a main character., Moe Baby Blues was a nice believable and perhaps relateable story for some (what with Moe not having a family), yet the only part that focused on Homer & Marge was the dissapearance of their child. I'm not saying it's not a fantastic episode, it is, but the connection between Homer and the audience just isn't there any more.

[Kiyosuki]

For those who are fatalistic: Lets face it. The Simpsons are OVER. Let's all go back to whatever it is we're supposed to be doing. There's nothing to see here.

Think I've got most of the different opininons covered.

Does this mean we're not allowed to talk about it?

I don't think its over until its over.

But you still agree to some extent don't you? I mean, you'd be hard pressed to find a story these days that has the relatability that earlier stories like Lisa the Vegetarian or Two cars in every garage, three eyes on every fish. And even when you do, they seem to be about another character rather then a main character., Moe Baby Blues was a nice believable and perhaps relateable story for some (what with Moe not having a family), yet the only part that focused on Homer & Marge was the dissapearance of their child. I'm not saying it's not a fantastic episode, it is, but the connection between Homer and the audience just isn't there any more.

I agreed in the sense that I feel Homer's become a bit less relatable, but I didn't agree with the part where he's gone as far as he can and thats the reason why. I try to look at things in as balanced a way as I can, and I think its important to try and look at things without letting nostalgic sense get in there. Many of the traits Homer has today came from earlier episodes, its why they're so used now. There's also the fact we've been with him for so long...that its tough to not expect certain things of Homer. It stops becoming relatable when you know about something too much.

That said...its undeniable that he's not being written nearly as cleverly as he could be. He is indeed a lot more of an endearing character back then than he is now, but I don't think he's gone down quite to the level many say he has gone down to. The potential is still there, you see it ever now and then even.

I think putting it simply, all Homer really needs is a subtle touch to how he reacts to things and he'd be good as new. A lot of his actions feel very forced, thats really the core of his newer self. I think it has been improving steadilly...and whether it gives us some great last moments for the show or not remains to be seen but I don't think the character (and show in general) is finished.

[TheFlandersMan]

That said...its undeniable that he's not being written nearly as cleverly as he could be. He is indeed a lot more of an endearing character back then than he is now, but I don't think he's gone down quite to the level many say he has gone down to. The potential is still there, you see it ever now and then even.

Of course the potential is there. The potential has always been there to return to a great show again. But it's not happening. We see it every now and then, yes, but otherwise he's unrelatable and stupid.

[Kiyosuki]

Maybe so...but I prefer to judge all the new episodes on their own merit, or else its just not as fun anymore because your never satisifed.

[Homer4President]

Does this mean we're not allowed to talk about it?

I don't think its over until its over.



I agreed in the sense that I feel Homer's become a bit less relatable, but I didn't agree with the part where he's gone as far as he can and thats the reason why. I try to look at things in as balanced a way as I can, and I think its important to try and look at things without letting nostalgic sense get in there. Many of the traits Homer has today came from earlier episodes, its why they're so used now. There's also the fact we've been with him for so long...that its tough to not expect certain things of Homer. It stops becoming relatable when you know about something too much.

That said...its undeniable that he's not being written nearly as cleverly as he could be. He is indeed a lot more of an endearing character back then than he is now, but I don't think he's gone down quite to the level many say he has gone down to. The potential is still there, you see it ever now and then even.

I think putting it simply, all Homer really needs is a subtle touch to how he reacts to things and he'd be good as new. A lot of his actions feel very forced, thats really the core of his newer self. I think it has been improving steadilly...and whether it gives us some great last moments for the show or not remains to be seen but I don't think the character (and show in general) is finished.
Yeh I totally agree when you look at earlier episodes you see he's softer and more sincere I think the writers have let the character slip but with a bit of elbow grease he'll be just as good once again!

[zippy]

Does this mean we're not allowed to talk about it?

I don't think its over until its over.






Uhhhh...... :uhh:

Of course the potential is there. The potential has always been there to return to a great show again. But it's not happening. We see it every now and then, yes, but otherwise he's unrelatable and stupid.

Sounds like every American I know.

(kidding)

[Kiyosuki]

Uhhhh...... :uhh:

I wasn't too sure how to answer it since it sounded like either an insult or sarcasm, I took my best guess.

[gangman]

since they have been going on for 17 seasons and are one of the longest running comedy shows i think that they would have to change some characters for better or for worse, but in my opinion homer is a bit less funny than in the earlier episodes :nerd:

[Joel Duffman]

I think the problem is that the show has lost its timeless quality. The writing has become topical and the situations that are represented are too trendy. This was a natural progression that was facilitated by the transition of the writing staff and producers. Think about this: The people that are writing and directing the show have grown up watching it! It is hard to keep up the standard that was set by the greats like Mike Scully & Conan O'Brian.

Homer has become more self-aware over the years, all the groundwork about his character has been laid in place over within the first 7 or 8 seasons. Now the writers are just fiddling around and putting Homer in increasingly ridiculous situations. The end result of that is a less warm & fuzzy Homer and one who seems different somehow.

That's just my opinion.