The Simpsons has had a mix of hilarious highlights with episodes that haven't aged as well and the occasional flat-out dud. Such failures are natural, given that over 700 episodes have been produced in more than 30 seasons. Not every installment can be a hit. Some lack a strong story, some just aren't funny and others never quite come together at all.
One episode from the show's twelfth season that remains a particular sore spot for parts of the fandom. Even compared to the rest of the series, "Homer vs. Dignity" remains one of the show's most controversial episodes. It's not just because it wasn't a success; there's good reason for Simpsons fans to dislike it.
"Homer vs. Dignity" -- directed by Neil Affleck and written by Rob LaZebnik -- was the fifth episode of the show's twelfth season. As usual, the Simpsons found themselves contending with a lack of money. Desperate to avoid bankruptcy, Homer turned to Mr. Burns seeking a raise. But Burns has a different idea -- bored while Smithers is on sabbatical to produce a play, Burns hires Homer as his "prank monkey." In effect, Homer must debase himself or prank others for Burns' amusement, with each successful attempt resulting in a new pile of money for the family.
Homer was initially unbothered by the job, but became increasingly embarrassed by the humiliating tasks assigned to him. The situation reached a fever pitch when the increasingly cartoonish Burns forced him to dress up as a new female panda for the local zoo -- resulting in Homer being electrocuted and left with the male panda in the pen. Learning the truth, Lisa was horrified and convinced her father that his dignity was worth something. Homer refused Burns' final prank idea, and the episode ended with the family more or less back where they started.
"Homer vs. Dignity" has been criticized for multiple reasons over the years. For some, the episode is seen as a glaring example of The Simpsons running out of ideas and recycling concepts; many of the show's beats were done better in earlier episodes. Other fans were particularly frustrated by Homer's encounter with the panda, which is evocative of a kind of shock humor that The Simpsons hadn't initially relied on. This came during a period of transition for the show, as it morphed into a more joke-heavy competitor to darker programs like South Park and Family Guy.
That might be the true reason the episode remains one of the show's least popular installments: it signaled the end of an era for The Simpsons. Later seasons have never been as critically and commercially adored as the show was during its established Golden Age. Other periods for the show have been impressive, and the series is still popular, but "Homer vs. Dignity" was proof that it was moving away from the elements thaf made it great -- making it a notable episode, even if a heavily disliked one.