Marge Dies Before Homer in The Simpsons Finale

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 36, episode 18, “Estranger Things”

In the eighteenth episode of season 36, The Simpsons appears to follow its usual routine at first. However, as the season finale unfolds, a significant twist emerges that alters the show’s trajectory dramatically. With over 780 episodes under its belt, The Simpsons has become the longest-running scripted primetime American television series ever produced. Given this impressive legacy, it takes something extraordinary for the animated sitcom to catch viewers off guard. For instance, in episode 16 of season 36, Bart and Lisa’s immature pranks led to them accidentally destroying the world in a premonition.

In the outrageous universe of “The Simpsons”, it’s challenging to conceive how season 37 could surpass such extraordinary events. Yet, just as the season 36 premiere “Bart’s Birthday” caught longtime fans off guard, the finale “Estranger Things” started with a major twist that even experienced viewers didn’t anticipate. As someone who has been tracking the series for more than two and a half decades, I must confess that I was genuinely taken aback by the episode’s stunning revelation.

Marge Dies Before Homer In The Simpsons Season 36 Finale

The Simpsons Season 36 Finale Ended With Marge Marrying Ringo Starr In Heaven

It’s true that “The Simpsons” often alters its storyline inconsistencies frequently, which means events that could significantly impact other series hardly affect the characters. However, even with this flexibility, it was startling when, during a leap into the future, it was disclosed in “Stranger Things” that Marge passed away before Homer. The initial part of the episode focused on Bart and Lisa’s shared affection for “Itchy and Scratchy,” and how their attachment to the violent cartoon shaped their bond throughout their childhood.

As a die-hard Simpsons fan, discovering that Itchy and Scratchy were now peddling baby gear due to Marge’s latest purchase for Maggie made me cringe, promptly turning off the show. While Lisa was engrossed in a New Girl parody and Bart found himself drawn into the affectionate spoof of Smiling Friend, our bond seemed to weaken, leaving Marge anxious about our emotional disconnect. With The Simpsons usually dedicating Act 1 of each episode to a side story, I feared this plot might end there.

Following a comical tribute reminiscent of Toy Story 2, the heartfelt concerns of Marge about Lisa and Bart growing apart were swiftly resolved when guest star Sarah McLachlan’s song disclosed an unexpected twist: Marge had passed away before Homer. This tragic event deepened the rift between Bart and Lisa, with Lisa excelling in the WNBA and Bart still residing at home as an adult. A brief glimpse of Marge’s funeral passed by, but no reason for her death was shared; however, McLachlan’s song hinted that it seemed almost impossible for Marge to pass before her husband.

Bart and Lisa Grow Apart In Adulthood

Lisa Becomes Head of the WNBA

In McLachlan’s song, it emphasized the surprise element of the plot twist. Contrarily, the finale of “Estranger Things” suggested that things weren’t as grim for Marge; she wound up with Ringo Starr in Heaven, a jab that echoed season 2, episode 18 “Brush with Greatness.” Similar to the tribute in season 36, episode 17 by Jill Sobule, this witty reference paid homage to a pop icon. On the other hand, the remainder of the episode focused on Bart and Lisa’s ongoing conflicts in the future.

In contrast to Lisa’s thriving career managing the WNBA, which had grown in popularity to be recognized as the NBA, while the male equivalent was now known as MNBA, Bart found himself in a less fortunate situation. Instead of holding down a regular job, he was operating a “nursing home” scam, allowing Homer and his elderly companions to enjoy parties in exchange for their social security benefits. At first, Lisa believed that Bart’s work was a form of social security fraud and elder abuse. However, as time went on, she discovered that Lenny, Carl, Comic Book Guy, and Homer genuinely enjoyed living with Bart, who proved to be an unexpectedly capable and unconventional caretaker.

Senior Services Took Homer After Lisa’s Complaint

Lisa Worried About Bart’s Unofficial Care Home

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: In my childhood home, Bart had a unique knack for connecting with the elderly, which led me to believe he wasn’t squandering his life or jeopardizing our father as I initially feared. Unfortunately, by the time I understood, I had already voiced my concerns to Senior Services, leading them to whisk Homer away on a bus bound for Florida. In season 36 of The Simpsons, they poked fun at their writing more than once, but the finale delivered an emotionally resonant and hilarious chase scene that truly encapsulated the spirit of the show.

Bart and Lisa’s Dangerous The Simpsons Season 36 Finale Team-Up Explained

The Simpsons Season 36’s Finale Saw Bart and Lisa Stage A Daring Rescue

Bart and Lisa temporarily set aside their squabbles to track down and rescue Homer as the bus journeyed towards Florida. However, when the bus refused to stop, Lisa and Bart cleverly employed their fondness for Itchy and Scratchy to save Homer by broadcasting a favorite episode of the show over the bus’s intercom system. By tricking the elderly into believing they all needed to use the restroom urgently, the siblings utilized Bart’s intimate knowledge of Homer’s bathroom routines to break their father out of a rest stop bathroom.

Previously in the show, Bart persuaded Lisa that he genuinely looked after their dad by detailing Homer’s bathroom habits. This joke came into play later when Bart assisted Homer out of the toilet and through a gap in the ceiling tiles, enabling them to secretly take him from the bathroom and put him in Bart’s Camero. The episode then shifted back to Marge in Heaven, where it was disclosed that she had wed Ringo Starr in the afterlife as they traveled back to Springfield.

How The Simpsons Season. 36 Finale Sets Up Season 37

The Simpsons Season 37 Could Do Anything After This Finale’s New Future

Although The Simpsons seldom alters its usual storyline, this inflexibility occasionally benefits the series. You see, numerous earlier episodes of The Simpsons depict a diverse range of contrasting outcomes for the family, and since the show’s narrative continuity is fluid, all these scenarios can be equally valid or “canonical.” For instance, while it’s improbable that Marge will pass away before Homer in most instances, this could only apply to a single episode.

As The Simpsons enters its 37th season, there’s a chance it might astonish viewers by carrying forward this specific narrative thread about the future. However, it’s more probable that the series will revert to its traditional format of episodic adventures, with each week’s self-contained story having minimal connection to the one before or after. This structure allows the show to explore its storylines freely and deliver major surprises, such as the shocking revelation of Marge’s future demise in the finale of The Simpsons season 36, without being bound by these plot points in subsequent episodes.

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2025-05-19 19:50