The Simpsons (1989- ) returns to its prime
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios / Wikimedia Commons
Season 36 of The Simpsons (1989– ) delivered high-quality episodes, leaving long-time fans optimistic about what the upcoming season will bring.
In a past edition of The Lamron, I discussed the possibility of season 36 being the final season of new and exciting stories from the titular Simpsons family, coinciding with a somewhat meta— self-referential —season premiere in which Bart Simpson turns 11 after 36 years of being 10 years old. With talk brewing online about what this progression of time means for the long-running American sitcom, this season had a lot of eyes on it— and it used that attention to punctuate that The Simpsons (1989– ) is not going anywhere anytime soon!
While it may come as no surprise to some readers, this was a highly polarizing topic for many months as speculation spurred about the state of this franchise going forward into an era dominated by its Disney+ exclusive content/shorts. Alongside this, many feel that this show has been rung out for all of its worth, and as time goes on, we continue to eat away at the skeletal husks of Matt Groening’s masterpiece.
Yet, the writers of The Simpsons (1989– ) continue to prove that they are not here simply for a paycheck, but to pass along genuinely good and thoughtful ideas to an audience that usually expects the same typical ‘slop’— stories they have told before in a different, yet predictable format.
Both seasons 35 and 36 of the show have brought with them some of the most honest and contemporarily focused episodes of the franchise that I have yet to see. Episodes like “Homer’s Crossing,” “Night of the Living Wage,” and “Desperately Seeking Lisa” have all been very poignant issues focused on the extremes of contemporary norms like state-granted aid fueling violence, ghost kitchens, unlivable wages, degrees with no job availability, and the hyperbolic lengths “starving artists” go to make a living.
Not just that, but there are some genuinely heartfelt episodes in here, like “Bart’s Birthday” and “Iron Marge,” that reinforce the original familial-focused drive of this sitcom, while offering an absurdist spin to— of course —maximize engagement (which shockingly works effectively here). It is in these episodes that you remember that this family is not just the foundation for the world of Springfield to come to life, but a representation of the everyday family and their struggles disguised through a thin yellow exterior.
These are all episodes worthy of their own articles, but to keep it at a minimum, these episodes will have you both engaged and actually laughing at a few jokes— a rarity for me, especially when watching sitcoms. Plus, their 25-minute run time makes this the perfect binge-able show when college life is getting you down and things feel bleak; I assure you, this rapid-paced show will be a great distraction!
And if this wasn’t proof enough of the show’s revival, according to The Simpsons Wiki, season 37 of The Simpsons (1989– ) was announced on Apr. 2, 2025, to be released in the fall (September) of 2025. Not just this, but also seasons 38-40, which are slated to be released in the fall of every year through the fall of 2028, with even more season renewals expected based on the reception of these seasons.
Now is the perfect time to catch up on everything The Simpsons (1989– ) has to offer, and you can stream all seasons exclusively on Disney+— it also now provides a 24/7 The Simpsons (1989– ) catalog, allowing you to watch every episode without stopping in release order! For those of us who use cable, you can find weekly reruns on the Fox Broadcasting Network.