Although Avatar 2 proved that the show's satirical edge has been blunted beyond repair by Disney's acquisition of the series. To the show's credit, The Simpsons season 33 tried to break up the monotony of the series' recent outings. The animated sitcom failed to win over critics completely, but episodes like season 33's surprisingly sharp finale proved that The Simpsons still had some creative gas in the tank.
Even the season 33 Treehouse of Horror's decision to split the annual Halloween special into five segments instead of three was, at the very least, a chance for The Simpsons to try something new. However, the show's attempts to regain some of its comic invention were hindered by its family-friendly humor and stiff, forced cross-promotion. In particular, Disney's influence on The Simpsons was painfully obvious at a few points throughout season 33.
One gag about Marvel dominating DC made The Simpsons feel like a sycophantic stooge for the show's parent company, while a later cringe-worthy Avatar 2 joke proved that Disney had no problem using the series to its products. In The Simpsons season 33, episode 20, one scene consisted of Homer telling Marge that he was still holding out hope for a sequel to James Cameron's massive hit The Simpsons season 33's Bridgerton spoof aired too late to capitalize on the height of the once-huge show's hype, this joke arrived just on time to remind viewers about the Avatar franchise and help the blockbuster sequel.
The Simpsons scene was cross-promotion badly disguised as character comedy. The idea that Homer was eager to see a sequel to the most successful movie ever made wasn't quirky enough to detract from the sense that a series that was once able to mock Disney and all of its franchises is now indebted to the brand for good. The Simpsons selling Avatar 2 via a forced conversation wherein Homer marvels at the wonders of the franchise was a low point for season 33, as well as the most blatant case of Disney using the series to sell another product so far.
While both The Simpsons and South Park struggle to remain relevant as the shows grow older, The Simpsons certainly isn't helped by its willingness to for a global entertainment giant. Disney doesn't need to use The Simpsons as a platform to its wares, and the incredibly expensive Avatar 2 hardly needs to take up screen time on a family sitcom to remind viewers that the movie exists. However, nothing is stopping Disney from using The Simpsons to new movies, meaning future episodes can feature any number of bizarre, uncomfortable scenes wherein characters wax lyrical about the joys of Marvel movies or subscribing to Disney+. This defangs any attempts that The Simpsons makes to satirize corporate overreach, monopolization, or greed and leaves the show's remaining moments of political commentary feeling insultingly glib.