Something about Season 9...

[The Governor]

I can not understand why this episode is hated in Simpson circles.

Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire is more realatable and replicates "gasp!" human behavior and it's more of an endearing episode. Episodes like "Miracle" are more just for a laughs and are truly forgettable.

[Dandu386]

Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire is more realatable and replicates "gasp!" human behavior and it's more of an endearing episode. Episodes like "Miracle" are more just for a laughs and are truly forgettable.

I am not saying that Miracle on Evergreen Terrace was superior to Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, I just personally like it better. I agree with your statement that Roasting has a much stronger story.

[Dandu386]

you guys act like trash of the titans was the first episode where homer was ever mean. and there have been times in my life when i wanted to tamper with steve martin's breaks too.

I agree Homer was a bit of a jerk in this one but felt that it was humorous. Homer's attitude towards Ned in When Flanders Failed is probably the nastiest I have seen Homer behave. In fact, I did not find Homer in When Flanders Failed amusing at all, and a tad unsettling.

[The Governor]

I agree Homer was a bit of a jerk in this one but felt that it was humorous. Homer's attitude towards Ned in When Flanders Failed is probably the nastiest I have seen Homer behave. In fact, I did not find Homer in When Flanders Failed amusing at all, and a tad unsettling.

But at the end he did realize he took his petty ways a bit TOO far and helped Ned get back, albeit in a 'bad' sitcommy way.

When Flanders Failed is one of my least favorite preScully episodes.

[qwertyuio]

Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire is more realatable and replicates "gasp!" human behavior and it's more of an endearing episode. Episodes like "Miracle" are more just for a laughs and are truly forgettable.

Even if I agree with this comment, I can hardly understand the reason why these episodes are compared, because leaving aside their Christmas setting they are radically different. Yes, Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire is more endearing, warmer, more relatable; but Miracle On Evergreen Terrace doesn't intend to be like that, that episode is darker and more cynical. They are completely different in their approach and therefore the comparison is not at all fair. Maybe There's No Disgrace Like Home would be a more fitting choice to compare with Miracle.

[Dandu386]

But at the end he did realize he took his petty ways a bit TOO far and helped Ned get back, albeit in a 'bad' sitcommy way.

When Flanders Failed is one of my least favorite preScully episodes.

I agree with that wholeheartedly, Rango.

[qwertyuio]

You guys realize that you are calling It's A Wonderful Life "a bad sitcom", don't you? I am not going to get angry and overreact about it, but I'm sure most people would .

[zartok-35]

Episodes like "Miracle" are more just for a laughs and are truly forgettable.

I've never been able to forget Bart "melting" the Christmas tree, and I always relate to his christmas morning anxieties. It's better than you're letting on.

[qwertyuio]

I've never been able to forget Bart "melting" the Christmas tree, and I always relate to his christmas morning anxieties. It's better than you're letting on.

Oh, and this. The feeling of Bart is very relatable, and his previous dream is definitely one of the most haunting sequences that I have seen in the classic era (considering season 9 as a part of it for the sake of this comment); this episode does have emotional heights, even its cynical and sort of uncomfortable ending can be seen as that.

[irvine_11]

Season 9 was a great season. It had some of the best episodes of the series. Unfortunately, this season is also where the show started to take a turn for the worse. The holdovers from 7 and 8 (including TPATP in my opinion) are just as good as anything we have seen before, but the 5Fs are a mixture of good and bad. However, I would put it miles ahead of what it succeeds.

Good episodes include:

The Cartridge Family
Treehouse of Horror VIII
Lisa the Skeptic
Miracle on Evergreen Terrace
The Joy of Sect
This Little Wiggy
Girly Edition
Lost our Lisa
Natural Born Kissers

Weaker episodes:

Bart Star
The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons
Realty Bites
All Singing, All Dancing
Bart Carny
Das Bus
The Last Temptation of Krust
Dumbbell Indemnity
The Trouble With Trillions
Trash of the Titans
King of the Hill

[Financial Panther]

I love King of the Hill. I think it's vastly underrated.