The Simpsons has achieved an amazing leap in its story during more than three years of animation chaos: the official confirmation of the de@th of the family mother, Marge Simpson.
“The Stranger Things” was the last episode of season 36. Fans who have been watching for a long time were shocked when the show offered them their first canonical look at Marge’s last moments in a flash forward.
A Flash Forward That Made a Big Difference
The episode starts with an amusing flashback to the past: Marge tells Homer to take care of Bart and Lisa and not let them watch TV or eat Twinkies, but he doesn’t listen.
What happens is that kids get into the Itchy & Scratchy Show, get very into it (as we all know), and then get bored when their interests change as they grow up.
But the real punch to the gut is 35 years away.
Lisa, who is now a successful WNBA commissioner Lisa, is a successful WNBA commissioner, while Bart runs an unofficial retirement home. They are both adults living distinct lives. But the tragic news at the start of this timeline is what catches people’s attention: Lisa calls their “late mother,” which means that Marge died before she turned 70.
Marge’s Sad Goodbye
Marge is not in this episode at all, but famous characters like Homer, Principal Skinner, and Milhouse are still in Springfield.
Lisa finds a very emotional note from Marge that says, “to be opened after I pass (on),” which is the most moving part of the story.
The letter has video messages in which Marge can softly ask her kids to stay close even when she isn’t there. It’s a touching recollection of how worried she was that they might grow apart.
In the last moments, Lisa and Bart work together to save Homer from a shady Florida retirement plan. They also bond over an Itchy & Scratchy rerun. Marge observes from above and eventually goes to paradise with Ringo Starr by her side. It’s a touching moment that makes you feel sad and brings back memories.
A Brave Step in the History of The Simpsons
The Simpsons have been known to use de@th-like jokes and dramatic turns, but proven permanent de@ths, especially of main characters, are rare.
Fans who have been around for a long time may remember Maude Flanders and Bleeding Gums Murphy, who both died. Edna Krabappel and Mona Simpson. An honor to the same cousin brought Fat Tony back to life.
But these seasons got darker as they went on. The season 35 episode “Cremains of the Day” was the first time that Larry the Barfly, who had been a regular at Moe’s Tavern since 1989, suddenly died. The trend of permanent goodbyes has made the show more emotional and less predictable.
What critics and fans thought
People were angry and shocked online right away after Marge died.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY K!LLED MARGE SIMPSON?” asked one shocked admirer on X (previously Twitter). Another fan just said, “Yo, they k!lled Marge off the Simpsons!” WHAT?!
Another person who used X said, “Wait, I haven’t seen the Simpsons in 3466786 years. Marge is dead.” “??!?!
As one of the five main characters developed by the program, Marge’s departure, even in a futuristic setting, struck an emotional chord.
Some critics say that this eagerness to try new things could help The Simpsons become important in culture again.
One writer for ScreenRant said, “One could say that this new attitude toward experimentation is what made critics like The Simpsons more.” It looks like even Springfield isn’t safe from change after 800 episodes.
A Legacy That Lasts Marge’s de@th may not happen right away. The flash-forward doesn’t give a definite date or explanation, but because it is now part of the canon, it changes how people might watch the upcoming episodes.
It also adds to the tale and lore of the show and gives emotional depth to a world full of slapstick humor and caricatures with yellow skin. Yes, the characters we love will one day be gone from our lives.
The Simpsons originated as a short series on the Tracey Ullman Show in 1987. It then became a full-time show and has since been a window into American life.
It has transformed popular culture, made renowned characters, and was both loved and hated. As it approaches its 37th year, it’s not hesitant to look at the anguish of losing, even when it’s not the most popular character.