Now I haven't read any reviews of this monumental DVD set at any of the DVD websites, but I'm sure that they are worthy of my most scathing criticisms [cough cough cough], excuse me! Reviews are probably claiming that the First season is not on par with the Simpsons as we know them today, twelve years later. Now i may not have the qualifications that these critics have, such as "degrees" or "educated beyond the 9th grade" or even "mastery of the english alphabet" but I can tell you with a high level of certainty that the first season is NOT sub-par and is definately not trash. Sure, Barney's hair is the same color as his skin most of the time, Smithers is black some of the time and Flanders isn't the left-handed religious nut we've grown to love, but all the elements that make Springfield the town we're happy we don't live in are there: the mob mentality, the statue of Jebediah Springfield, the doughnuts.

Matt Groening is the first to admit that they didn't know what the hell they were doing during theyre first season but that doesnt imply they were doing anything wrong. Yes, episodes tend to be slower paced and racier elements dont seem so racy anymore. what the hell is racy anyway? But the gags are still as hilarious as they were over a decade ago, and the stories are all top-notch.

The first season is home to many classic episodes of The Simpsons, not in the sense that they are old and old people like to reminisce about them and wonder "why can't they make 'em like they used to" or "where's my social security check?", but in the sense that they are all so darn memorable. Episodes like Life in the Fast Lane where Marge is seduced by a frenchman at a bowling alley (an improvment over Homer?!), or Homer's Night Out where Homer is chastised by Mr. Burns for shaming the nuclear power plant by being photographed with a belly dancer, "Simpson! This is a family nuclear power plant!"

Though not bereft of special features, there are no special features that really stand out in this 3 disc set (audio commentary on each of the episodes is a great touch though!) but the packaging is coolo and you've never heard Danny Elfman's opening theme sound better than it does in crystal clear 5.1 digital audio.