Few shows compare with the iconic animated sitcom The Simpsons. The critically and commercially acclaimed series is one of the longest-running shows of all time. The series became a pop culture phenomenon upon its debut. Throughout the years, fans and critics have praised the series. Of course, the show is not without flaws and controversy.

RELATED: The Simpsons: 10 Changes The Show Made After The Pilot

The series faced criticism over the years for several issues. Regardless, fans have stuck by the show at its lowest points. The series is guilty of storylines that make no sense, re-write history, and offensive content. However, fans that still stick with the series will never go away.

Re-Writing Homer & Marge's Love Story

The Simpsons Re-Writing Homer & Marge's Love Story

Homer and Marge Simpson have an incredible love story. In the season 2 episode, "The Way We Was," flashbacks reveal that Homer and Marge met and fell in love in high school in the late 70s. In later seasons, they expand on their life and starting a family in the early 80s. However, the series changed the entire story. In the season 19 episode, "That 90's Show," the writers changed their story and timeline. Marge and Homer breakup during college and get back together in the 90s. Therefore, the children are born in the 90s instead. Later, the show went back and changed Homer and Marge's love story to the original timeline.

Money Problems

The Simpson family lives in a lovely home in a good neighborhood. Homer and Marge have two cars and three kids. However, they're always struggling financially. Of course, they also seem to always have money as well. Homer has a decent job, although he often skips work. Marge has a few careers in the series but always ends up staying at home. Homer's the only breadwinner, and he's terrible at most of his jobs. If money is ever an issue, it's usually just in a single episode. The family goes on several vacations and adventures, which explains why Homer needs to keep working.

Leaning On Stereotypes

Critics and fans often praise the series for its writing and tackling specific sensitive topics. However, critics accuse the series of leaning on stereotypes at certain times. The family went on many vacations over the years but angered a lot of fans. Indeed, several countries were upset with the stereotypical portrayal including, Australia, Brazil, and Canada. Critics also accused the series of having stereotypical characters living in the town of Springfield.

Principal Skinner's An Imposter

As noted, the series is one of the longest-running shows of all time. Many of the characters have gone through several transformations. In the early seasons, the series established Principal Skinner's life with his mother and backstory. Suddenly, the writers decided to change the story they built. In the season 9 episode, "The Principal and the Pauper," Skinner admits he's an imposter, and his real name is Armin Tamzarian. The episode is one of the most controversial in the series history. A good portion of fans felt insulted at the change of history. The golden age was over, and the show began to decline.

Bart Rarely Faces Consequences

In 1989, The Simpsons hit the airwaves to rave reviews. In the early seasons, Bart was the first breakout star. Indeed, Bartamania ran wild, and his face was everywhere. However, Bart faced a great deal of criticism. He's rebellious, doesn't listen, and talks back to authority figures.

RELATED: The Simpsons: Bart's 10 Best Crank Calls To Moe's Tavern, Ranked

Certain groups felt Bart was a terrible influence on young kids. Bart often crosses the line but rarely faces any consequences for his actions. In the first few seasons, Bart was always getting into trouble but never punished. Indeed, parents criticized the series and claimed Bart was a bad influence.

Homer's Should Be Fired

Homer Simpson worked as a clown, sold grease, and went to space. However, he always ends up back at the Springfield Nuclear Powerplant. Homer worked at the powerplant since the first episode. Of course, he often doesn't go to work for days. As noted, Homer also takes on new careers, such as starting a barbershop quartet. Oddly, he never loses his job despite being a terrible worker, lazy, and not showing up for work. He's the safety inspector, but he's probably the least qualified person for the job.

Kids Never Grow Up

It's rare for an animated show to change the age of the main characters. It's easier for The Simpsons to keep Bart, Lisa, and Maggie the same age. Of course, most shows only last a few seasons. The Simpsons have been on the air for 32 seasons and counting.

RELATED: The Simpsons: Maggie's 10 Funniest Episodes, Ranked

Therefore, Bart's been in the same grade four class since the beginning of the series. Fans accept the fact that the characters never age. It's part of the reason the series is one of the longest-running of all time. There are a few episodes that show the characters grown up in the future.

Storylines Don't Matter

The series is famous for re-writing the show's fictional history. However, the show also features moments that mean nothing. For instance, none of the storylines in the Treehouse of Horror episodes have a lasting impact on the series. Significant events, revelations, and deaths are not to be taken seriously in those episodes. The same for any episode that shows the character's future. Indeed, several episodes about the future contradict each other. It can sometimes be frustrating for the viewer to become invested in a storyline that means nothing in the end.

Apu And Lisa's Response

Apu in The Simpsons

Apu is one of the most popular and controversial Simpsons' characters. He has been in the show since the beginning and stars in some of the most memorable episodes. However, many fans and critics view him as a stereotype and racist caricature.

RELATED: The Worst Episodes Of The Simpsons, Ranked

The 2017 documentary, The Problem with Apu, explored the very issues with Apu. The episode, "No Good Read Goes Unpunished," attempted to respond to the criticism. Of course, Lisa's response didn't help the situation as critics felt the series was being too dismissive.

The End Of The Golden Age

As noted, The Simpsons will go down in history as one of the greatest shows. For the first nine seasons, fans and critics gave the series universal praise. There wasn't a person in the world that didn't love the show. However, the show receives a great deal of criticism for the decline in quality. Many fans feel the series is not as good as it once was. Indeed, critics often claim the show started going downhill following season 9. It remains a popular show but lost its appeal and edge. Of course, most shows would likely get canceled, but The Simpsons remains on the air. Regardless, loyal fans still love the show and its first few seasons.

NEXT: The Simpsons: 5 Best Recurring Characters (& 5 Who Were Way Too Annoying)