The Good: Some of the series's most memorable lines, Actual character development, DVD bonuses
The Bad: One or two truly lame episodes that even the commentary track cannot improve
The Basics: With hit-or-miss episodes, the bonus features again push this boxed set into the "above average" as The Simpsons enters a rocky period.
As fans of The Simpsons eagerly awaited the release of The Simpsons Movie (reviewed here!), they were teased with footage from it on the first disc of the latest (at the time) DVD set. That's right, The Simpsons - The Complete Ninth Season includes a preview of the movie along with postcards of The Simpsons. Yes, it's come to bribing us fans to get us to shell out for the boxed sets. The studio should have held off on the bribing; the rockiest seasons are still ahead. Presented on four DVDs with two different packaging options (the Lisa head-shaped box is cool), all 25 episodes from the 1997 - 1998 season are in this boxed set.
The ninth season of The Simpsons has some of the most memorable moments and lines of the series. Homer introducing Marge to his gun in "The Cartridge Family" - and Bart and Lisa racing vibrating beds in the seedy motel later in the episode - are instantly recalled by fans who have seen the episode even just once. The judgment against religion at the end of "Lisa The Skeptic" - religion must stay away from science at all times - is hilarious and memorable. And just walk up to any fan of The Simpsons and sing "Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na- Lea-der!- Leader!" to the theme of the 60's Batman series and they'll know exactly what you mean (it's from "The Joy of Sect").
But joining cults and menacing one's wife with handguns aside, there is much in the ninth season of The Simpsons that is rocky. Still desperate to find something to do with Marge, she becomes a real estate agent in "Realty Bites" and even the commentary track on this episode isn't interesting or funny. Instead, it relies on the b-plot, which involves Homer, Snake and Snake's car and contains only one decent line ("Screw the honor system!") and it's not enough. Similarly, the story of Lisa and her saxophone, Bart's football team, and the Christmas episode fare poorly upon rewatching and even the ones with deleted scenes.
That's not to say this season is bad, but it is a lot more hit or miss than many of the prior seasons. And unlike the earlier seasons, these episodes suffer more without being rewatched ten or more times. Instead, I was tired with "Miracle On Evergreen Terrace" by the second time I watched it and I only watched it on the DVD with the commentary track on. Recurring classics like "Treehouse of Horror" (this season's is #8), are falling flat as well.
But then, there's the pleasant surprise of the show making some actual changes. Apu gets married and that change sticks, in stark contrast to the Skinner story at the beginning of the season. This collection of DVDs also has more of a "Springfield" than The Simpsons feel to it. Apu gets an episode (Homer and Marge are peripheral to his story), Principal Skinner is focused on in "The Principal And The Pauper," and "The Last Temptation of Krust" is a Krusty the Clown episode (whereas most of the prior episodes where he was featured, it was a Bart - or Bart and Lisa - episode that used Krusty as an impetus for their actions).
As with the prior seasons, outside Apu's wedding, this season remains largely episodic - events do not compound on themselves, there are no consequences in subsequent episodes for actions in prior ones - and more about what happens to the characters than how they grow and change. Here is how "The Simpsons - The Complete Ninth Season" finds the primary characters:
Homer Simpson - In his continuing quest to avoid work at the nuclear power plant, he becomes a mountain climber, the sanitation commissioner of Springfield, a rat for the IRS, an internet consulting guru (who actually does nothing but attract the attention of Bill Gates), a carnie, and a football coach. He also joins the navy and commandeers a submarine. As well, he journeys to New York City to retrieve his car, becomes a gun owner, moves in to the nursing home with his father, buys a new car at a police auction, joins a cult and rekindles his love life with Marge through having sex in dangerous situations,
Marge Simpson - Becomes a realtor and has a roll in the hay (literally) with Homer. She leaves Homer when he gets his gun, pretends to be married to Apu to help him out, and deprograms the Movementarians,
Maggie Simpson - Completely wallpaper this season,
Principal Skinner - Is exposed as "nogoodnik" Armin Tanzarian and forced out of the elementary school when the real Seymour Skinner shows up. But, we'll never talk about that again,
Moe - Dates a woman - getting an episode that is solidly his - and needs more money, so he uses Homer to get insurance money from stealing his car with hilarious results,
Krusty The Clown - Faces that his humor is outdated and retires, only to begin a standup routine that is compromised when he finds something new to endorse,
Apu - Faces his arranged marriage when he is forced to. He also makes the Kwik-E-Mart into a freakshow when Jasper ends up frozen in his freezer,
Lisa Simpson - Emulates Homer and takes risks in order to see a museum exhibit she has been wanting to see. She gets a new saxophone, unearths the skeletal remains of an angel which prompts a strong debate over religion and science, helps save her classmates when Otto drives the bus off a bridge and into a river, and becomes convinced there is a Simpsons gene that will make her an idiot. She becomes a television anchor to give kids the news, until Bart intervenes,
and Bart Simpson - Steals Lisa's thunder on the kid's news by providing infotainment (the word originated on an earlier episode of The Simpsons and for all of you using the word wrong, it's pejorative!) that improves the ratings, but guts the content. He angers and encourages Homer, tries to resurrect Krusty's career once again, and takes advantage of Ralph Wiggum by stealing Chief Wiggum's master key to the city. He also fights for survival on the island he and the other kids find themselves on, plays football on a local team, and accidentally burns down the family's Christmas tree.
As with prior seasons, "The Simpsons - The Complete Ninth Season" has some decent guest stars for voice-over work. U2, Janeane Garofalo, Steven Wright, and Jay Leno all appear as themselves. As well, Helen Hunt, Rod Steiger, and Steve Martin pop up with guest characters.
This season is strong on the satire, with episodes that make bold statements on the place of religion in society ("Lisa The Skeptic," "The Joy of Sect"), the military ("Simpson Tide") and the government ("The Trouble With Trillions," "Trash of the Titans"). This is one of the last seasons where The Simpsons was successfully saying something new. It ought to be enjoyed. With all of the bonus features, it's quite easy to do that.
For other ninth seasons of comedies, please visit my reviews of:
Cheers - Season 9
Frasier - The Complete Ninth Season
Friends - Season 9
8/10
For other television or movie reviews, be sure to check out my Movie Review Index Page for organized lists!
© 2013, 2007 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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