The SImpsonshave had many classic episodes that fans know and love by heart. However, a show likeThe Simpsonsdoesn’t last as long as it does without rubbing some people the wrong way over the years. Sometimes, a story, a joke, or even a simple line can turn people against the episode.
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A joke could be seen as too mean-spirited, or viewers think the characters' actions have gone too far. Occasionally, even fans don’t like it when continuity is messed with or when a joke goes too far, with some accusing certain episodes of starting a dark period for the show. There are also a few times when an episode sparked problems when it came to overseas viewers. In some severe cases, an episode ended up entirely banned in some places due to its content. At times, even the show itself has acknowledged when a previous episode sparked controversy.
15"The Strong Arms of the Ma"
Season 14, Episode 9
“The Strong Arms of the Ma” sees Marge take up lifting weights after a traumatizing mugging. At first, the new lifestyle really helps Marge, even allowing her to get revenge on her mugger. As the story goes on, however, things take a dark turn. After reuniting with her old friend Ruth Powers, Marge is inspired to take up bodybuilding, in addition to steroids. Unfortunately, the transformation causes Marge to become an overly aggressive bully.
Marge Goes From Victim to Bully
The episode received some praise for the initial story of Marge’s mugging trauma, as many viewers thought it was handled realistically. However, the episode became controversial due to a scene where Marge forcibly has her way with Homer. When Homer initially turns her down, Marge outright tells him she wasn’t asking permission. Homer is also shown to be in physical pain from the experience. While Marge’s actions aren’t portrayed in a positive light, the story was criticized for glossing over her actions toward the end.
14"Life on the Fast Lane"
Season 1, Episode 9
“Life on the Fast Lane” opens with Homer selfishly buying a bowling ball, intended for himself, as Marge’s birthday present. Marge decides to take up bowling to spite Homer, causing her to encounter the suave bowling instructor Jacques. After meeting together for brunch, Jacques invites Marge to his apartment, causing her to fantasize about having an affair with him. In the end, Marge chooses her marriage over any rendezvous and surprises a heartbroken Homer at the plant.
Marge Has a Wandering Eye
The idea that Marge would consider an affair hasn’t set well with fans. It also didn’t help that the following episode, “Homer’s Night Out,” features Marge getting angry at Homer for being photographed with an exotic dancer, causing her to be seen as a hypocrite. Notably, the writers seemed to have picked up on how far the episode went. When Marge recounts the story in “Another Simpsons Clip Show,” Homer is visibly hurt and heartbroken to fully learn how Marge came so close to cheating.
13"Lisa Goes Gaga"
Season 23, Episode 22
“Lisa Goes Gaga” sees Lisa get cruelly voted Springfield Elementary’s least popular student. She begins to save face when a mysterious figure called “Truth Teller” defends her online. Unfortunately, this backfires when it turns out that “Truth Teller” is Lisa herself. Fortunately, pop singer Lady Gaga is psychically drawn to help her.
The Gaga Express Is Coming ‘Round the Corner
WhileThe Simpsonshave had celebrity guest stars on the show before, many criticized the episode for focusing too much on Gaga, with critics claiming the story didn’t have much of a plot. It was also criticized for trying to pander to younger generations. While Lisa starts off sympathetic, she becomes bratty as the story goes on. Notably, Lisa publicly insults Milhouseduring her song with Gagaat the end, “Lisa Simpson Superstar,” despite her whole story arc revolving around the fallout from public humiliation.
12"The Principal and the Pauper"
Season 9, Episode 2
“The Principal and the Pauper” reveals that Principal Skinner isn’t really who he says he is. During an anniversary celebration for the educator, a man appears, claiming to be the real Seymour Skinner. The character who had been on the show for years was an orphan named Armin Tamzarian who stole his identity, believing he died in the Vietnam War. However, many of the residents of Springfield end up missing the familiar impostor.
Even Later Episodes Ret-conned the Plot
Many felt that revealing such a big twist around a well-established character really pushed viewers’ suspension of disbelief. The ending, which saw the whole town, including his own mother, ship off the real Seymour Skinner to be too mean-spirited. Over the years, later episodes have gone out of their way to assure viewers that the episode isn’t canon, with Skinner regularly being shown living with Agnes when he was younger. That said, this didn’t stop Lisa addressing Skinner as Armin Tamzarian in “I, (Annoyed Grunt)-Bot.”
11"The Sweetest Apu"
Season 13, Episode 19
“The Sweetest Apu” starts off with Homer buying a keg for a Civil War reenactment from Apu. When Homer returns the keg, he accidentally comes across Apu embracing his Squishee delivery woman Annette, cheating on his wife Manjula. In time, Manjula herself catches Apu cheating on a surveillance tape and throws him out of the house. The Simpsons come together to help the couple get back together, eventually convincing Manjula to write a set of tasks for Apu to complete for her, including a production ofMy Fair Ladywith the octuplets.
Thanks to the plot of Apu actually having an affair, fans often point to this episode as the start of the series going in a dark and mean-spirited direction. Interestingly, things could have been darker. The writers originally intended to reveal that Annette moved onto having an affair with Chief Wiggum, before realizing another broken family would make the story too sad.
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10"Homer vs. Dignity"
Season 12, Episode 5
“Homer vs. Dignity” sees the family in more dire financial worries than usual, causing Homer to ask Mr. Burns for a raise. As Smithers is away performing ina Malibu Stacy musical, Burns needs some entertainment, so he hires Homer as his own personal clown. Unfortunately, this means Homer is asked to do more and more humiliating tasks.
The Infamous Panda Scene
Over the years, many found the episode too vulgar. One of the most infamous scenes in the episode involves Homer being made to dress up like a panda at a zoo, causing him to be assaulted by another panda. Homer eventually stands up for himself when Mr. Burns wants him to dress up like Santa Claus and throw fish guts on orphans. Unfortunately, Burns just does it himself. Apparently, in earlier drafts, the disgusting substance was pig’s blood, Homer went along with the prank, and started a new holiday tradition.
9"Beware My Cheating Bart"
Season 23, Episode 18
“Beware My Cheating Bart” sees Bart get forced to serve as a chaperone for Shauna while she and her boyfriend Jimbo Jones watch different movies. After Bart helps Shauna after she is caught shoplifting, she flashes her breasts to him, leaving him both infatuated and traumatized. The two decide to start a secret relationship, earning Bart Jimbo’s wrath. Lisa convinces Shauna to end both relationships, but this doesn’t get Bart off the hook with Jimbo.
The Sands of Time…
Viewers found the scene with Shauna flashing Bart to be disturbing. In addition, while Shauna’s age is somewhat ambiguous, some thought Shauna and Bart’s age difference made it inappropriate for them to be dating, especially since Shauna is occasionally shown having a job. Jimbo still punishing Bart in the end, despite Shauna leaving him, was also criticized for being too mean-spirited. Notably, the episode also ends on a surreal note, revealing that Springfield itself exists as a grain of sand in a cat’s litter box.
8"The Boys of Bummer"
Season 18, Episode 18
“The Boys of Bummer” sees Bart become the town hero after catching the winning ball while playing for the local little league team. This win sends the team to a championship game against Shelbyville. Unfortunately, Bart fumbles the ball, costing Springfield the win, making him the town pariah, with even the local radio station hosting a Bart-bashing block. Lisa tries to cheer him up by bringing him to meet a veteran player who also dealt with a humiliating experience, which backfires when he proves just as unsympathetic to Bart.
Things Get Dark for Bart
The endless bullying drives Bart to attempt suicide, in the hopes of convincing the town he hates himself as much as they do. It takes Marge standing up for him and staging a fake rematch to help her son. In the end, Bart is still scarred by the event, that he nearly breaks down as an old man when Milhouse reveals the rematch was fake. Ultimately, the story is considered one of the show’s most sadistic.
7"The Crepes of Wrath"
Season 1, Episode 11
“The Crepes of Wrath” sees Bart get shipped off to France as a exchange student after his latest prank targets Principal Skinner’s mother. At the same time, the Simpsons take in an Albanian boy named Adil who secretly plots to steal information fromthe nuclear power plant. Unfortunately for Bart, he is sent to a pair of unscrupulous winemakers who abuse him, starve him, make him their slave, and have him drink wine with anti-freeze.
A Child in an Unfamiliar Land
Bart’s abuse at the hands of his guardians can be hard to watch. Adding to the horror, Bart not speaking the local language keeps him isolated in a foreign country, as seen when Bart, now ragged and disheveled, initially tries to get help from a police officer. Fortunately, Bart realizes he has absorbed enough French to expose his abusers. Of course, in true Simpsons fashion, the officer is more concerned about them putting anti-freeze in the wine. That said, Bart ends the trip on a high note, being praised as the national hero.
6"My Sister, My Sitter"
Season 8, Episode 17
“My Sister, My Sitter” sees Lisa start her own babysitting service. She soon becomes the town’s go-to babysitter, to the point where Homer and Marge hire her to babysit Maggie and Bart, her older brother, while they enjoy a night out on the town. Bart is naturally livid over the arrangement and repeatedly schemes to make the task as burdensome as possible, hoping to get his little sister in trouble. Unfortunately, when Bart gets seriously injured, Lisa worries she will get blamed and drags her siblings around the town to get help.
Lisa Loses Her Reputation, but Not Her Job
Lisa assumes the worst, complete with a nightmarish dream sequence where Bart’s injuries are blamed on her. Sitcom logic would normally prove her wrong, but her prediction turned out to be accurate. In fact, the whole town sees her with her injured siblings, with everyone thinking she was trying to murder her siblings.
Lisa’s humiliation is generally regarded as one of the show’s crueler moments. However, what keeps the story from being too sadistic is that the parents of Springfield care more about losing their personal lives than a dangerous babysitter, saving Lisa from losing any business.
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