A Wikipedia tem uma boa seção sobre isso
Basicamente, faz as mesmas suposições que nos comentários
- Simpsons se tornando uma paródia superficial de si mesma
- Mudar de episódios dirigidos por enredos para
Critics' reviews of early Simpsons episodes praised the show for its wit, realism, and intelligence.
In the late 1990s, around the airing of season ten, the tone and emphasis of the show began to change. Some critics started calling the show "tired". By 2000, some long-term fans had become disillusioned with the show and pointed to its shift from character-driven plots to what they perceived as an overemphasis on zany antics.The BBC noted "the common consensus is that The Simpsons' golden era ended after season nine", while Todd Leopold of CNN, in an article looking at its perceived decline, stated "for many fans [...] the glory days are long past."
Jim Schembri of the The Sydney Morning Herald called the show "a cultural touchstone for at least two—possibly three—generations of couch potatoes", but claimed that the show has declined in quality. He attributed this decline in quality to an abandonment of character-driven storylines in favour of and overuse of celebrity cameo appearances and references to popular culture. Schembri wrote: "The central tragedy of The Simpsons is that it has gone from commanding attention to merely being attention seeking. It began by proving that cartoon characters don't have to be caricatures; they can be invested with real emotions. Now the show has in essence fermented into a limp parody of itself. Memorable story arcs have been sacrificed for the sake of celebrity walk-ons and punchline-hungry dialogue."
Outra crítica objetiva para a queda poderia ser as dez melhores avaliações como
Por exemplo:
- # 1: "O Show Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie" (S08E14)
- # 4: "Última saída para Springfield" (S04E17)
- # 7: "Marge vs. o Monotrilho" (S04E12)