Ready for a “Treehouse of Horror” marathon?
Episodes are ranked from worst to best according to an unfailingly Frink-esque scientific system.
Check out EW’s ranked list of every “Treehouse of Horror” episode fromThe Simpsons.
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But things go down hard from there.
Yeah, we’re going to keep an eye on you.
The middle segment is a superhero takeoff, with the malfunctioning town X-ray machine granting Lisa and Bart superpowers.
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)Lucy Lawlessturns up because why not?
Set the controls for the heart of the sun.
(Her name’s Kodos the Destroyer, for crying out loud.)
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If there’s a real laugh to be found, I didn’t.
Same goes for much of the parody of the decidedly non-horror movieMr.
& Mrs. Smith(2005), which…exists.
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(Maybe it’s Homer’s decades of bad, often hurtful neglect.
Just a thought.)
(“I don’t know!
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Is there a Rudy?”
“There’s always a Rudy!")
allows Homer to whip up some marginally dumber clones to help out around the house.
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), and some Frink-assisted time travel shenanigans that render the whole hazy gag irrelevant.
Overkill, but don’t mess withThe Simpsonsannual ratings cash cow.
TheMost Dangerous Gameparody sees Burns hunting all the male regulars for sport.
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(Insert joke here if you must.)
Oh, and they managed to squeeze ubiquitous TV quackDr.
Philin there, but at least he gets dissolved in stomach acid.
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(Also, Sir Mix-a-Lot gets a check for refashioning a Homer-centric"Baby Got Back.")
(“Palindrome!”
he cries after seeing a reflected “race car.")
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It’s the little things.
So, so many truly terrible sci-fi sex puns, you guys.
(Whoever wrote “wookie-nookie” needs to explain themselves.)
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puts things mostly back to normal.
before realizing that with great power comes the need to frame Martin for all the trouble they’ve caused.
(Cue Zune joke.)
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Yes, it would be nice.
(Sadly, “naked girl avalanche” isn’t what Ned sees.)
As the professor repeatedly states to get this middling installment over with, “Frink out.”
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“Treehouse of Horror XXXIV” (Season 35)
Nothing ages worse onThe Simpsonsthan pop topicality.
Well, that and hazy premise mishmashes.
On the beloved special-desecrating front, the joke that the Grand Pumpkin is actually a racist jerk serves well.
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“I’d rather die than hate!”
screams Nelson as he’s devoured.
TheMad Men-style opening animation to the middle segment “How to Get Ahead in Dead-Vertising” is a bait-and-switch.
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Here, there are a few decent lines.
“Treehouse of Horror XXVI” (Season 27)
Sideshow Bob finally succeeds in murdering Bart!
The idea of everyone’s favorite nerd going mad with unaccustomed power has promise.
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as he plunges to his doom.)
(Seriously, not ever the ever-sensitive Lisa objects.)
Still, there are a few good lines.
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We’ll be right there remove your knickers and wait in the bath.")
Marge, helpfully: “Murder-suicides.”
(“I’m ducking him.
Everett
His wife has a screenplay.")
(Homer accidentally ordered the demon online, thinking he was getting pizza.)
hints at the added costs involved), but that works in its favor, too.
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(The only joke that stands out is Lenny inexplicably cocking his weaponized shovel before the climactic battle.)
Sure, it backfires, because Lisa’s good intentions can’t compete with the world’s inherent unfairness.
when jumping on Radcliffe’s Dracula dad for a ride.
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(The worried Marge makes Homer/Dum promise to refrain from “glugging, shin-slicing, or eye-groining.")
(Poor Milhouse, once again).
The initial segment is a high-effort imitation ofDr.
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She also acquired it on her deathbed.
That was a very busy deathbed.”
(The episode calls them “munchers” in deference to theDanny Boylefilm’s avoidance of the z-word.)
There’s a neat double-twist, and the lovingly detailed animation keeps all the death-noting lively.
AsThe Simpsonshas proven for three-plus decades now, no IP is ever truly free.
(Take that, killjoys.)
Everett
(“Two bucks?
And it only transports matter?")
(“He was a zombie?”
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Homer deadpans after blowing the head off a brains-seeking Flanders.)
“John Smith 1882?”
“My mistake.”
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(Plus, the tiny Professor Frink babbles out some of the finest groveling gibberish ever heard.)
The segments themselves are rock-solid, noodling playfully with the expected source material.
You go squish now!”
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(“you could’t help but feel a little rejected,” Lisa muses as the house implodes.)
(Hearing Homer cry, “Quaff!
Oh, quaff is one of the true joys of television.)
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An all-around classic, this first outing remains one of the best.
He’s always one step ahead.
The sound wasn’t on but I think I got the gist of it.”
Everett
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