The Simpsons: 10 Things From Season 1 That Keep Getting Better Over Time
The first season of The Simpsons aired over 30 years ago yet there are still aspects of those first episodes that are better than ever.
It's hard to believe that the first episode of The Simpsons aired more than thirty years ago. Looking back at that first season, it's not surprising that it feels like a very different show compared to what The Simpsons is now. However, it is also clear to see the foundations that were laid to make it the classic series it became.
From the characters to the humor to the wacky style of the show, the first season set the tone for the many years to come. And even more, there are things about those first episodes that have only improved with time.
10 The Blue-Collar Family
While The Simpsons was certainly not the first show to portray a blue-collar family, it was interesting to see an animated series take such an approach. There are many episodes that focus on the family's tight budget and financial hardships.
These aspects of the family remained in the rest of the series, but as the show sought to tell more wild stories, those financial woes became less grounded. Seeing the show deal with these relatable struggles in a funny way showed a side of The Simpsons that is no longer seen as much.
9 The Simple Approach
Rewatching the first season of the show, fans may be surprised to see how small in scale The Simpsons was in those early days. While it was never a show that took itself seriously or felt particularly grounded, it did have a simpler approach than what it has grown into today.
It is not a fault of the show that it wanted to grow beyond the family stories in later seasons as that sometimes resulted in some of the best episodes. However, it is refreshing to revisit these episodes that focused on the main characters and were not filled with celebrity cameos and flashy stories.
8 Challenging Storylines
The first season might not be seen as the funniest out of the entire run, but it is still hilarious even looking back all these years later. That is why it is surprising the kind of more challenging storylines the first season took on while maintaining its sense of humor.
"Moaning Lisa" is a perfect example of how the show was willing to tackle mature subject matter as Lisa deals with depression while still being funny. It is rare to see this kind of story told on the show now.
7 The Versatility
The fact that The Simpsons has broken so many records for its historical run is impressive, but the first season showed why this series could really go on forever. And a big part of that was how versatile the show could be with the stories it told.
Just as they could have an episode about a child battling depression, they would also have an outlandish one where Bart and Homer go missing in the woods. It was clear the show could take this family anywhere and the audience would follow.
6 Homer And Marge's Marriage
Once again, The Simpsons didn't invent the idea of a show that depicted an imperfect sitcom marriage, but fans might be surprised just how quickly the show leaned into Homer and Marge's relationship struggles.
One episode in the first season deals with Homer getting kicked out of the house while another finds Marge contemplating an affair. It made the show so much more interesting to show a marriage with such problems while also showing the love they have for each other.
5 Moments Of Love
The Simpsons faced a lot of criticism in its earlier days for its depiction of this family who insults and even strangles each other. These elements of the show pale in comparison to some of the things on television now, but the first season also showed a lot more love than fans might have thought.
There are some very sweet moments shared by the family in various episodes, from Marge giving advice to Lisa on dealing with her sadness to the family showing their love for Homer when he loses his job. This is something the show moved away from later on and it's interesting to see the family act like this.
4 The Side Characters
The number of characters who populate Springfield is laughable at this point with many of them becoming very central to the show. However, it is fun to see these first episodes of The Simpsons and gradually be introduced to the side characters who were still in the peripheries of the story.
The likes of Moe, Mr. Burns, and Ned Flanders don't take focus away from the family in the first season, but they add to the colorful nature of the world. It is a nice tease at how effective the show is at making memorable supporting players.
3 Christmas With The Simpsons
Fans might not remember that the very first episode of The Simpsons was actually a Christmas episode. "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" was able to introduce the family, the humor of the show, and deliver some holiday fun all in one episode.
Though the show delivered many great Christmas episodes, this one is particularly fun to revisit each year as a reminder of the show's charming roots in this funny and touching yuletide story.
2 Bart's Penchant For Trouble
Bart Simpson became a television icon early in the show's run for his rebellious ways. While it would be fair to assume Bart's mischievous antics in the show's first season feel rather tame by today's standards, the first season actually does a fine job of presenting him as an entertaining young terror.
There is the iconic episode in which Bart steals the head off of the statue of Jedediah Springfield. "Bart the General" finds him leading an army of kids against a bully. And "Bart the Genius" finds him mistaken for a prodigy after cheating on a test. It's not hard to see how these episodes helped him become so popular as a character.
1 The Ultimate Dysfunctional Family
The first season might be more loving and less edgy than other seasons of the show, but it is a lot of fun to see how little the show was concerned with making the Simpsons out to be a picture-perfect family.
This is seen throughout the first season, but most notably in the episode "There's No Disgrace Like Home." The episode has Homer seeing how dysfunctional his family is compared to others and leads to them doing a family therapy session with electroshock. By the end of the episode, the show seems to be telling audiences this is who the family is and they're not going to get any better.