Seasons 3-8 are generally considered “golden age” simpsons. Theres a lull for a few seasons where it gets very patchy, then it kinda enters a long silver age where episodes are fairly consistently good, with few poor ones and even fewer universally agreed upon greats.
Many fans completely ignore 9+. Others argue where sliver age begins.
The ratings only show the golden age and then slowly declining popularity, because popularity is only ever a loose proxy for quality.
Seasons 3-8 are generally considered “golden age” simpsons. Theres a lull for a few seasons where it gets very patchy, then it kinda enters a long silver age where episodes are fairly consistently good, with few poor ones and even fewer universally agreed upon greats.
Many fans completely ignore 9+. Others argue where sliver age begins.
The ratings only show the golden age and then slowly declining popularity, because popularity is only ever a loose proxy for quality.