Top 6 Darkest Modern Simpsons Episodes 

Barts disregard of the "murder" seems to be him avoiding facing his own guilt.

I personally feel that Maude's death was only character development for Ned rather than a story about her tragic death

_"You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try."_ *~ Matt Groening*

The episode where Homer's mother died in season 19. Maybe it's more sad than dark, but I remember watching it as a kid and having to turn the episode off when Homer found his mother's body.

I do not blame Homer for Maude's death, he just bent down at the wrong moment, but I blame the people firing T-shirts, they could have easily hit anybody, they could have hit a child, I think Ned Flanders should sue them because they technically killed his wife.

I actually really like Nelson, he’s a bully but he has likable qualities and shows he can care some time. “Dial N for Nerder” proves this point

The only reason you don't like the name "Equalia" is because deep in your subconscious It reminds you of "Brinquedo".

I genuinely hate that Moe episode so much. Letting Moe finally get to be happy, only to rip it away so unceremoniously and with such cruelty...just sat so wrong with me. It's not like they haven't changed the status quo throughout the history of the show, they actually do it quite often, like Ned and Edna falling in love, The Simpsons getting a dog, Apu getting married and having children, ect. There's no reason they can't make Moe even the tiniest bit less miserable, honestly. Also, the subplot really got to me as well. I genuinely couldn't even watch it, it made me feel physically ill.

Homer framing Marge for DUI was one of the worst things Homer ever did in The Simpsons.

Seriously, just let Moe meet someone. Changing the status quo is the only thing that can save the series.

‘The 31st season will be upon us!’ Yes, how spooky!

"Mona Leaves-a" is, in my opinion, the darkest most depressing episode of the show. For those who haven't seen it: Homer's mother returns AGAIN, and Homer becomes really spiteful to his mother for constantly coming and running again, and rejects her presence. He is REALLY nasty to his mother and says some really cutting remarks to her. That night, he feels bad for what he said, and goes downstairs to make amends.... only to find out his mother died in the night. We are 7 minutes into the episode. I couldn't watch the rest. For the fact I had to stop watching after the first act of the episode because it was too dark and upsetting, this episode takes the cake. UPDATE: Several people have told me to watch the rest of the episode, so after all these years I finally did. I cried through most of the rest of it, simply because that gut-punch at the one-third mark is so massive. I do not cry easily, either. When a close friend of mine died earlier this year of an illness, not even that made me cry (although it was really upsetting and I came close at times, especially when I had dreams that he didn't really die and we reunited). I've seen the rest now, and I can still say it is one of the most depressing things I've seen on television I never want to watch this episode again.

The great thing about “Flanders Ladder” is that there’s continuity with other episodes When Bart dies you can see him in a Supreme Court judge outfit In earlier future episodes you can see Bart talking about how he’s working on demolition to clear out all his anger until he goes to law school, in a later episode, you can see him with Abraham asking for an Elderly Citizen Ticket and a Supreme Court ticket for them.

It disgusts me how the modern episodes just completely ruin any character whenever the feel like it and how Moe can't just be happy. He's not the best person but he's not the worst either.

I'm a simple woman. I see Phantomstrider, I click

“Lisa the Drama Queen” is also notable for being the final episode of The Simpsons to be produced in 4x3, as the show switched over to widescreen high definition with the following episode, “Take My Life, Please”. What an insane note to end the “classic” era of The Simpsons on.

I would enjoy a top 10 modern simpsons episodes😀

That scene where it shows the death of all of the characters looks like a direct nod to the ending of the series "Six Feet Under". The series ended the same way and used the white background with black letters format. Great show, and the best ending of a show I've ever seen.

I think that that is just how Bart thinks everyone will die. Because there's no way he can predict the future.

I’ll defend boys in bummer as it is an accurate representation of backlash an athlete can get from making a critical mistake in a game and costing the team the game and how he can be bumbarded with hate from everywhere he would go in his hometown to the point of damaging his mental health, I can see how you may not like the episode cause it’s not a very funny episode but I disagree with you saying it’s bad writing

PhantomStrider I noticed these Darkest Episodes lists really let you shine since you know a lot to counter anything misleading in these dark episodes.

The fantasy world is a little personal to me and scary 😥😥😔🙁🙁

Nelson would never let people forget the death of his Team Discovery Channel cohort. He is Martin's burly protector

Pretty sure that last one was supposed to parody the HBO series, Six Feet Under. Which is an incredible show that portrays death!

The one with Juliet was the last episode before they went hd

The sad episodes of Modern Simpsons are actually a reason why I usually leave the show on when it’s on Channel 4.

Yo does anyone remember that episode when homer has flashbacks of when he found a dead body in a lake when he is with Carl and Lenny when he was younger and it has worms coming out the nose. That scared me so much when i was younger

a scorpion's tale feels like a creepypasta episode whenever that eye popping scenes happen. It's odd to see in a non treehouse of horror episode.

The worst thing I've seen Bart do is try to break up homer and Marge to get out of doing homework

I always thought "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge" was fairly dark as well. In that one, Marge becomes convinced that Otto's girlfriend is trying to take over her life and plotting to kill her. Everyone else believes it's all in Marge's head, so you can guess where the plot goes.

The end of Flanders Ladder is sad and I love it but it's also kind of a parody of the series finale of Six Feet Under.

the problem with the Simpsons and dealing with serious mental health issues they make fun of it rather than give people who have mental health issues a reason to be positive.

I almost cried when Maggie turned into a cluster of stars and it said "never died" in the ending scene of Flander's Ladder

My explanation for why Nelson helps in Dial N for Nerder is because, he cares for Martin’s well being and shows his friendship through bullying (that makes no sense but we’ll roll with it.) and Martin doesn’t realize it.

RIP Russi Taylor.

"Maggie never dies" MAGGIE'S OUR NEW GOD EVERYONE!!!!

I actually really like the Martin fake murder episode. It's quite darkly comic and does something quite unique with Bart and Lisa.

I believe in the theory that almost every episode of the simpsons is a different universe set on the same timeline so basically we se the same day in different universes even when they mention stuff from older episodes or even ones set in the future.

It does give Family Guy a run for its money when it comes to dark episodes. I remember seeing the one when Moe got a new suit the day it premiered

Aliens will have the chance to watch new episodes of The Simpsons in the next 100 years.

From these episodes you get more of the impression that Lisa is the actual. Psychopath

I didn't care for the ending of "Lisa the Drama Queen", especially as there is a REASON why Juliet acts like that: her dad. She needed a friend to keep her GROUNDED. But honestly, "Diggs" did this type of story much better, even if it didn't have a happy ending.

my only thought was, wow flander got marry alot

Was wondering of you were ever going to do this. Lol "I do this and worse to two stir fried chickens a night." Roflmao

I always enjoy you doing these lists and I wonder a suggestion you can do the lightest/Happiest Moments in Cartoons it would be nice to see what are your thoughts on Best and Happiest moments have a nice day, Josh!^-^

7:12 it’s because the voice actor of hers quit she tried to get back on the show but it was too late

The strange thing about the Simpsons is the way they can include so many non-stop references and iconic scenes, every cliche and parody you could think of, and some of the content is *so familiar* but you can't figure out *why* it is familiar

Nelson being the detective was truly a wonderful moment ..one of the few in Zombie Simpsons.

Something that makes Co Dependents Day even worse is Homer didn’t only frame Marge for drunk driving … he also gaslit her into thinking that she actually did drunk drive and she didn’t remember

Dial N For Nerder honestly reminds me of the nasty patty episode from spongebob but less dark and still had some funny jokes Like if u agree

My only question is how is The Simpsons still making enough money to bother being renewed each year? I have literally never seen a single piece of merchandise for the show in any offline store since at least 2008. I remember seeing Bart on a Hot Topic shirt or two but now I don’t even see references to the show places like there. Is it the fact it holds a record for how long this style has been around because I honestly want to know what’s going on here.

Funeral for a fiend is kind of dark. It’s also my favourite simpsons episodes ever!

Modern Simpsons does have it's moments where it's social commentary does show through.

While I don't quite remember Lisa the Drama Queen, I do recall the theme of one becoming lost in their fantasies being done in another story; Don Quixote. I agree that one shouldn't let themselves become too wound up in their fantasy worlds. But with the real world being in such a poor state, social disarray/distrust being at an all-time high and things becoming increasingly darker as of late (in a moral sense.) The sad truth is, more and more people will be turning towards escapism to find THEIR version of happiness; unless things start changing. As for me, I LOVE fantasy and have even created my own world called Overon in my books. But I practice escapism the way Tolkien or C.S. Lewis once did, long ago. I don't go wandering off into a ramshackle building thinking it's a palace. I go into my room, put on some Blackmore's Night or Dubliners music and imagine myself within Overon. As ironic as it sounds, this practice helps inspire me to create my stories

The name "Equalia" makes sense. It's a riff on Equestria.

Boys of Bummer was a truly dark episode. Poor Bart. He may be a little evil punk but Bart didn't deserve that.

The montage of deaths scene was basically an homage to the end of the finale to Six Feet Under.

God lord the empathesis Strider puts on the letter S.

Lisa was downright evil in the Ladder episode

I don't know why but for some reason, seeing Strider juggling at the end of every video makes me smile. Like it doesn't really have anything to do with the reviews, but him incorporating something he does that makes him happy in his video just seems nice to me :)

Let's talk about a ghost of itself, so halloweeny

Lisa is mean to terrify Bart in his coma, that is just wicked, it shows that she does not care about him.

I still stand by my decision, Simpson’s darkest and worst episode is Barts Suicide

Just saying, I think the darkest episode of the Simpsons is actually Homer's Enemy from Season 9 when Homer drives someone so insane that he kills himself and turns his funeral into a joke.

I associate the name "Equalia" with the word equality. That might be intentional...

I really identify with Juliet from Lisa the drama queen; feeling outcast by her father and family traditions and escaping into fantasy as a means to cope.

After watching this; I went and checked out Flanders' Ladder; and I have never cried so much to a Simpsons episode since the death of Homer's Mother. Edit: and also Maude's death.

I heard Lisa is even worse in the recent seasons, and she wonders why she's friendless. But yeah, there was a ton of dark moments in the Simpsons

It feels like Lisa seems to have a lot more dark intentions than Bart because she tried to make Bart suffer with nightmares just because he posted some dumb picture of her, and she also tried to keep the “murder” of Martin hidden so she wouldn’t go to jail.

Also, "paths of glory" is a nod to "Enders game"

Did you know that the end of the episode Flanders ladder was a parody on the closing scene of six feet under?

Lovely top! Though I wanna say, Strider... I love when you whisper. You convey both the peace and depth of the subject you're talking about when you do that ^^

I love your Simpsons related videos, Strider. I was wondering if you’d ever consider doing a top ten Most Heartfelt Simpson’s moments. I can think of at least two that deserve to be on that list. Keep up the awesome work you do on this channel.

Maggie as the galaxy was very heartfelt

"Besides Bleeding Gums Murphy, the show never really killed anybody." Man even in this VIDEO Grimes has it dirty.

Seeing the "Alone Again Natura-diddily" segment saddened me. It reminds me of all the characters that were killed off.

Everybody gangsta until dead bart shows up.

To be fair Bart did encourage lisa to "prank whenever and however" she could Right after embarrasing her to the whole internet And lisa's still only eight years old

Excellent list! Although it's not a modern episode, I've always felt that "Homer's Enemy" was one of the darkest episodes they've ever done as many of us could relate to being Frank Grimes in a way

How about a Top 10 Darkest Moments from DreamWorks Animated Movies?

Jesus that eyeball scene was like a jump scare to me, and yet like a jumpscare; I saw it coming too.

You know, when I was a tiny bit younger, I saw the episode with moe leaning toward s*icide but I missed the beginning of it so I though he was just sad. I think you can imagine my surprise when I saw the end of the episode. Yikes.

The death of every character as shown in the last episode mentioned still touches me today. But where I always have to smile is when I see Bart being a judge. Taking up on that old joke from the first or second season where Homer wouldn't allow Bart to see the Itchy and Scratchy movie and at the end of the episode where they flashforward to Bart being a judge and watching the movie with his father. I really like that they referenced it. Not only for the reference sake but also because it shows: as much as they love to make fun of Bart being not very keen on education they show that he eventually turns out well though. And that's what I love about this scene so much.

I was not prepared to hear about an actual, extremely disturbing murder case from the 1950s in the second entry in a list of dark Simpsons episodes tonight, I can tell you that much.

5:43 Me: LOVE IS NOT REAL my friends: maybe not but it's better than hate

20:50 ah, you too? (Slight warning) I struggle to come to terms with mortality in general as well. Makes sense, I'm 20. But I came face to face with the possibility of my death at around age 12, when I considered taking my life due to being bullied in middle school and having to deal with the consequences of my dad unknowingly marrying a very abusive and manipulative woman. I absolutely did not go through with it, and to to this day I think about that (and one other moment from last year when I almost tried again) a lot. But my death isn't really something that haunts me as much as the thought that someday soon, I could loose my mother. She's in her 50s and not getting any younger. She's my support, what keeps me going, because she is the most patient woman I've met. How she can put up with me I'll never know, but when she's gone, who am I going to have left? She's the closest thing to perfect I have.

Flanders Ladder is one of the best modern Simpsons episodes. It portrays imaginative scenes in a realistic way and the story is cohesive and well done.

Great video Strider!

I love when every once and a while the Simpsons writers take advantage of the fact that FOX will never let them die to experiment.

I recently watched “Lisa the Drama-Queen and I didn’t find it dark so why do you consider this episode *DARK*

I love a good analytical video thank you so much as always from Scotland with love x

Just so you know, the ending where it shows all their deaths is a parody of the ending to Six Feet Under.

*_I actually think the Joker movie is coming out this year. What do you think? I heard that movie is phenomenal (yet controversial)._*

20:15 I think this part is intended as a riff on the series finale of Six Feet Under. They use the same font and everything.

Love these vids

With moe we have litterly never actually had more having a good time for more than 15 mins

I agree with you strider, the last scene is enough to make a tear shed

I think calling Bart is a psycho is far too much, and by calling him that it forgets that Bart is the most tragic of the Simpsons family and most of his issues come from his miserable life. He’s regularly abused by his father, his mother enables said abuse and the few times she pays him any mind are to express that she’s disappointed in him, he was barred from spending time with his baby sister because his father thinks so little of him he doesn’t want her “corrupted” by him, and he has a younger sister who exceeds him at everything and rubs his nose in it. And on top of that he’s bullied in school and the one teacher who actually supported him no matter how much he screwed up is dead. It says a lot about Bart that he becomes a near perfect angel every time the series outs Ned in the fatherly position for him. Bart has so little in his life, and nearly everybody he knows treats him like garbage. It’s no wonder he’s a textbook problem child.

I'm a simple man I see phantomstrider I click

Just in time for Spooktober! 🎃👻