Top 10 Worst Episodes On Good Cartoons
For this list, we're looking at the most puzzling, uncomfortable, or downright awful episodes of otherwise highly-rated series. Thankfully, these are exceptions rather than the norm. Just as a disclaimer, spoilers will be unavoidable for the respective episodes.
#10: “Life of Brian” “Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)
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Death might not always mean much in cartoons, but what is the point if it barely lasts a couple of weeks? "Family Guy" loves to shock audiences and "Life of Brian" did just that by running over the family's dog with a car. While the mourning scenes are handled well, the episode struggles to balance genuine emotion with Seth MacFarlane's irreverent humor - and replacing Brian in the same episode felt too quick and insensitive. Then, a couple of weeks later, Stewie ends up saving Brian, making this whole ordeal rather pointless.
#9: “Arnold Betrays Iggy” “Hey Arnold!” (1996-2004)
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Certain cartoons love mean-spirited humor and to regularly humiliate their protagonists. However, "Hey Arnold!" was never that show. "Arnold Betrays Iggy" is an abomination of an episode that contradicts the cartoon's usual uplifting tone and positive morals. After promising to keep secret the fact that Iggy wears bunny pajamas, Arnold is forced to apologize after Sid and Stinky guess the truth. Despite doing absolutely nothing wrong, the relatable hero must walk through a crowded street in bunny pajamas as an apology to the unsympathetic Iggy. Was the point of this episode to show that children can be monsters? If yes, then mission accomplished.
#8: “Lisa Goes Gaga” “The Simpsons” (1989-)
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With more than 500 episodes, there are bound to be a couple of clunkers. "The Simpsons'" later seasons rarely came close to matching the cartoon's golden era, but "Lisa Goes Gaga" barely feels like the same show. Un-ironically presenting the celebrity as a saint who brings happiness to the world, this entry feels more like a commercial for Lady Gaga rather than satire. Incorporating a couple of the pop star's songs and iconic fashion statements, "Lisa Goes Gaga" could have worked if "The Simpsons" delved deeper into Lady Gaga's otherworldly persona.
#7: “Mr. Garrison's Fancy New Vagina” “South Park” (1997-)
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Even at the cartoon's worst, Trey Parker and Matt Stone always throw out an interesting curveball. While far from an exception, "Mr. Garrison's Fancy New Vagina" has aged poorly and can be rather unpleasant to sit through. Feeling like a woman trapped in a man's body, Mr. Garrison has a sex change and inspires the kids to get cosmetic surgery. Including snippets of an actual sex change and a plot point revolving around Mr. Garrison's testicles being stuck to Kyle's knees, "Mr. Garrison's Fancy New Vagina" seems to have two modes: terrifying and just plain annoying.
#6: “Blue Cat Blues” “Tom & Jerry” (1940-67)
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Hey, remember that time Tom and Jerry committed suicide? Yeah, the 50s were fun. Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, "Blue Cat Blues" marks a stark departure from the franchise's typical comedic storylines. Narrated by the normally silent mouse Jerry, "Blue Cat Blues" sees a desperate Tom try and fail to win the love of a gold-digging cat, leading to “alcoholism” and depression. After Jerry's girlfriend also proves to be driven by money, the short ends with the iconic duo sitting on train tracks while waiting for the sweet relief of death. Unsurprisingly, "Blue Cat Blues" has rarely ever been shown on television.
#5: “American Fung” “American Dad!” (2005-)
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Seth MacFarlane's mind has birthed some truly strange episodes, but "American Fung" takes the cake. Opting to sell "American Dad" to a Chinese billionaire named Fung Wah, the sporadically funny B-plot satirizes executive meddling by having the characters enthusiastically agree to the new owner's whims to avoid cancellation. Unfortunately, the main story concerns Stan locking Francine in a psychiatric institute to hide the fact that he forgot their anniversary. With a scene dedicated to cruelly mocking the other patients and a double lobotomy serving as the big punchline, "American Fung" took "American Dad" to new lows.
#4: “Seahorse Seashell Party” “Family Guy” (1999-)
Oh, Meg, you were simply born to be the absolute worst! Literally serving as the family's punching bag for years, "Seahorse Seashell Party" should have been Meg's moment to turn the tables. Stuck inside due to a hurricane, the bullied girl finally cuts loose with three scathing monologues directed at her father, mother, and older brother. While Lois seems to genuinely feel guilty, Peter escapes without any significant repercussions, and the ending justifies the constant abuse thrown at Meg as the glue that holds the family together. Irreverence is fine and dandy, but the jokes still have to be funny.
#3: “Ren Seeks Help” “Ren & Stimpy 'Adult Party Cartoon'” (2003)
Total creative freedom sounds fantastic, but certain artists benefit from limitations. Frankly, nearly every episode of "Ren & Stimpy 'Adult Party Cartoon'" could feature on this list, but "Ren Seeks Help" is an abomination. Serving as a backstory for Ren, this episode presents the title character as a pure psychopath who enjoys torturing animals and credits the Chihuahua's deranged behavior to spanking. "The Ren & Stimpy Show" toed the line between dark comedy and disgusting sight gags, but "Ren Seeks Help" is an exercise in pointless sadism.
#2: “It's a Wishful Life” “The Fairly OddParents” (2001-)
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If only someone could wish this episode out of existence. Parodying "It's a Wonderful Life" is already a low-hanging fruit, but a lack of originality is the least of this episode's worries. James Stewart's classic sees an angel showing a suicidal man that the world would be worse without him. "It's a Wishful Life" goes in the exact opposite direction and states that everyone's lives would be better without Timmy. Putting aside the terrible moral implied by "It's a Wishful Life," this episode consists of nothing but mean-spirited jabs at the undeserving protagonist.
#1: “One Coarse Meal” “SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999-)
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This Nickelodeon cartoon's worst output tends to revolve around a character torturing someone else while an oblivious third party fails to see the forest for the trees. While "A Pal for Gary" is hard to watch, "One Coarse Meal" turned animated torture into an art form. Learning that Plankton is afraid of whales, Mr. Krabs terrorizes his business rival to the point of suicide, which is only stopped due to SpongeBob revealing the truth. The worst part is that Plankton is presented as the antagonist, so we are meant to cheer as Mr. Krabs uses psychological warfare to ruin someone's life.
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