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Spectator
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
The Simpsons may be genius – but it's also evil
Marge Simpson is dead. But does anyone care? I've written loads of pieces over the years about the genius of The Simpsons – how extraordinarily prescient it is (most famously when, in 2000, it predicted a Trump presidency), how delightful the subplots are, how it works on so many levels – but I'm now beginning to suspect that all along it was a honeytrap designed to seduce you and your children into screen zombiedom. Obviously I don't want to push the 'TV is bad for you' argument too hard because I might be out of a job. But when I look at mothers in train carriages trying to distract their toddlers with iPhones or I see the way my bright and brilliant granddaughter gets sucked into the soulless void (and sly agenda-pushing) of garish, hyper-high-definition TV cartoons, I do worry what's happening to their brains and I don't think it's good. The Simpsons is, of course, perfectly well aware of this. The theme of the final episode of the 36th(!) season is the effects on Bart and his sister of exposure to the ultra-violent Itchy & Scratchy Show. There's a typically neat joke where Marge pops out to do some shopping and says to Homer '…and don't just prop them in front of the TV, eat Twinkies and take a nap'. Homer – you can tell this is a flashback because he still has some hair and is leafing through Partially Bald Monthly – only hears the part that begins after the word 'don't'. Shortly afterwards, the kids burst in saying, 'Homer, we're bored. We need something to do.' Homer puts on a new show about a sadistic mouse doing things so impossibly grotesque and disgusting to a cartoon cat that it would surely never have been permitted an airing on TV watched by children. But because we are watching it within the context of a family-friendly cartoon called The Simpsons, and because it's 'satire', somehow it becomes OK. Then we flash forward to the future. Bart and Lisa are no longer talking to one another. The Itchy & Scratchy Show has fallen out of favour – and with it, the only reason they had to engage in sibling bonding. Bart is now alone in his bedroom watching Screaming Friends, in which animated chainsaws dance round the room trying to saw their friends in half ('Obviously the jokes are great but what I love is the storytelling') while empowered feminist Lisa is chuckling knowingly at a show from the 'golden age of television – 2015' called Quirk Girl. As The Simpsons is fond of telling us, 'it's funny because it's true'. But notice the subliminal messaging: 'Whatever your objections to TV, it's maybe the one thing left capable of bringing us all together. And you know you couldn't live without it because, just imagine how horrible it would be not to be able to congratulate yourself, spotting all those clever 'meta' references we squeeze into every episode.' I'm not saying The Simpsons isn't genius. But I do think it might possibly be evil genius. Oh, and Marge isn't really dead by the way. It was just another fantasy sequence, presumably bigged up by publicists with a view to keeping interest in the show alive. After two episodes of Smoke I'm as yet undecided as to whether I'm going to last another seven. A lot of money and effort has clearly gone into the production – sinuous title song from Radiohead's Thom Yorke, artsy camera angles, decent cast – but there's something about the tone that troubles me. It borrows the structure of your typical serial-killer drama, with two dogged sleuths played by Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett. Only, the baddies they must try to capture before they strike again aren't super-ingenious murderers with a thematic killing pattern but arsonists. Sure arsonists are bad, setting fire to places and potentially claiming lives, but as villains they don't quite set the pulse racing. One of them – an overworked, socially awkward black guy who toils in a fast food chain – seems more pitiable than hateful, which makes it harder to root for his capture. To compensate, the drama – adapted by Dennis Lehane from a podcast called Firebug – seems to be working overhard to beg us, 'No wait! This is different! Just stick around and see where we're going with this!' I was tempted to give up after a fairly uninviting first episode in which nice, dependable Dave (Egerton) is trying to get his book published about being a fire investigator, and he's teamed up with traumatised, but capable US marine-turned-police officer Michelle (Smollett). But then came the shock twist at the end of episode two, which cast a whole new light on everything. Still not sure I care enough about any of them to last to the end, though. Also, do the flesh-melting-off-seared-limbs sequences really have to be so Itchy-&-Scratchy graphic?
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
The Simpsons fans devastated over Marge's death
The finale sparked outrage with some fans of the long running show revealing Marge's death ruined their day. Fans of The Simpsons say they have been traumatised by Marge Simpson's death scene in an episode of the hit show, exclaiming, "Oh my God, they killed Marge". The season 36 finale sparked outrage with some fans of the long running show revealing Marge's death completely ruined their day. The episode showed the matriarch being outlived by Homer and Bart and Lisa mourning her passing. Reactions included: 'OMG THEY KILLED MARGE it's a sad day for us Simpsons lovers', and 'They done killed off Marge?? This world so unhinged'. In season 36 finale Estranger Things, the show flashes forward 35 years into the future to reveal that the Simpsons' matriarch died before her husband Homer. The episode also deals with Lisa and Bart's feelings around the loss, while showing Marge looking down on them from heaven. In the episode written by Tim Long and directed by Matthew Nastuk, Bart and Lisa are seen drifting apart as they stop watching 'Itchy & Scratchy' together. They agree to maintain their relationship, but drift apart after Marge dies. Years later, Lisa is commissioner of the NBA and Bart is running an unlicensed retirement home where Homer lives. Bart and Lisa are still estranged when she comes home to make a speech at Springfield Elementary — but after she discovers a video Marge made urging them to look after each other, they reestablish their bond. Marge, meanwhile, is watching this happen from heaven — while carrying on an affair with Ringo Starr. While many have pointed out the death happens in the future, and so not in the current Simpsons timeline, the impact was felt by fans on X (formerly Twitter). 'You just ruined my day' one poster said, before adding: 'I guess I'll only watch the first 35 Seasons so Marge Simpson can live forever." One fan questioned: 'Why couldn't it be Patty or Selma?', while another compared it to another animated comedy. 'Taking a page out of Family Guy where they killed Brian' the user wrote. Despite the death of Marge, producers have reassured fans of the show that she will be around for a long time to come. Executive producer Matt Selman said: 'Obviously since the The Simpsons' future episodes are all speculative fantasies, they're all different every time. Marge will probably never be dead ever again. The only place Marge is dead is in one future episode that aired six weeks ago.' The animated sitcom created by Matt Groening first aired as a short on the Tracy Ullman Show in 1987 before being developed into a half-hour series of episodes two years later. In all there have been 790 episodes of the show which satirises American family values.
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
‘The Simpsons' fans react after main character ‘killed off' in shocking finale twist
This image released by Fox shows animated characters, from left, Bart, Homer, Maggie, Marge and Lisa from "The Simpsons." Photo by Fox via AP / THE CANADIAN PRESS Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Over the years, The Simpsons has featured the deaths of a handful of Springfield residents, including Maude Flanders and Larry Dalrymple. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account But the main characters, particularly the titular family, have been safe — until now. Fans have taken to social media in the month following the show's Season 36 finale, where matriarch Marge is seen in heaven. That said, the shocking death of Marge in 'Estranger Things' isn't all that shocking given that her death takes place in a future timeline. Adult versions of Bart, Lisa and Maggie are seen along with their father, who somehow looks exactly the same, at her funeral, and others. 'Beloved wife, mother, pork-chop seasoner,' reads her tombstone. In the episode, Marge's worst fear comes true when Bart and Lisa grow apart and their lives end up going in different directions. Future Lisa is the commissioner of the NBA while Future Bart runs an unlicensed retirement home that their father Homer Simpson lives in without Marge. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. At one point, Lisa refers to her 'late mother' and later reads a letter Marge had written 'to be opened after I pass,' during which a young-looking Marge calls it 'very unlikely' that she'd die before Homer. The family end up finding their way back to one another as Marge is seen looking down at them from above. 'I'm so happy my kids are close again,' Marge says, before new husband (!) Ringo Starr shows up and tells her, 'Love, we'll be late for the Heaven buffet. There's a shrimp tower.' Many fans were shocked. Read More This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'They f—ing killed off Marge Simpson. That's insanity,' one person wrote on X. 'Might as well kill off Randy Marsh from South Park and Stewie from Family Guy while you're at it.' Another commented: 'Community justice for MARGE that they killing in season 36 finale in a flash forward scene. She has been one of my fav characters of Simpsons all these years.' However, others commented that they were more surprised people still watch the show that debuted on Dec. 17, 1989. 'Me just realizing she's dead despite not watching The Simpsons seriously in years,' one person mused. That said, The Simpsons has been renewed for four more seasons, so viewers can see where the show picks up when Season 37 premieres this fall. Toronto Raptors CFL Canada Celebrity Celebrity
Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Marge Simpson passes away in the epilogue of The Simpsons season 36 finale
AllBollywoodCelebscoopHollywoodOriginalsBinge The Simpsons recently showed Marge Simpson's funeral. | Credit: X The Simpsons sent shockwaves through the fandom by portraying the death of Marge Simpson, the family matriarch, in the season 36 finale. The episode, titled Estranger Things, was notable for being an episode portraying the future lives of the Simpsons family, which have mostly been stuck in the same age for most of the series run. Written by Tim Long and directed by Matthew Nustuk, the episode explores themes of growing up and drifting apart, with a particular focus on the in-universe The Itchy and Scratchy Show. More than a month after its original airing on May 18, fans are still mourning Marge Simpson and reflecting on the episode's mature themes. The Simpsons season 36 finale shows Marge's death in a flash forward A Mother's Heartbreak by Sarah MacLachlan 🎶 Itchy & Scratchy Records "Estranger Things" S36E22#TheSimpsonsGoats #TheSimpsons #SimpsonsForever — ᥴꪖꪑᦓꪮꪀ (@Cambone88) May 19, 2025 The final episode of season 36 starts out in the present day, where Bart and Lisa begin to question their love for The Itchy and Scratchy Show after seeing it being marketed towards literal babies with branded infant onesies. Insecure about their perceived childishness, the two move on to other interests, and begin to spend more time on their tablets, apart from each other. This causes much consternation for Marge, who pleads for her children to remain close and not drift apart. Unfortunately, that does end up happening once the episode has a time-skip and shows Marge's death. Estranger Things has an extended epilogue showing Bart and Lisa as adults Estranger Things fan-made poster#thesimpsons #simpsons #thesimpsonsfan #simpsonsfan #thesimpsonsfanart #simpsonsfanart #thesimpsonsdrawing #simpsonsdrawing #fanart #drawing #fanartdrawing #fanmade #poster #fanmadeposter #season36 — Frank Pio Vallelonga ( (@Pio045) May 13, 2025 Estranger Things breaks the conventional Simpsons formula by showing Marge Simpson's funeral in a flash-forward and staying in that time period for the rest of the episode. After Marge's death, Bart and Lisa go their separate ways, leaving Homer as a lonely widower. As an adult, Lisa becomes a manager for the WNBA, which is a rebranded NBA that just focuses on women's sports. She's been paying for her father's retirement expenses, but when she finally goes to visit him, she's denied entry. She then visits her childhood home and discovers that Homer and Bart have been colluding in running an illegal retirement facility at the place. Alongside Homer, the facility also houses Lenny, Carl and Comic Book Guy. The situation escalates because of Lisa's belief that Bart is being dangerously irresponsible, which results in her filing a complaint to the Senior Protective Services. This results in Homer getting detained and slated for transfer to Florida. THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY: The Simpsons: 'Estranger Things'. I've never much cared for Itchy & Scratchy, but this episode was a poignant commentary on putting aside childhood things and the bond between Bart and Lisa and Homer. Nicely done. 5-18-25. — Tony Isabella aka Jenny Blake. Trans. she/her (@thetonyisabella) May 19, 2025 Lisa regrets her decision and flees to her childhood home's attic, where she discovers a video message from her late mother where she expresses her hope that Bart and Lisa will continue to rely on each other. As a result, the two siblings reconcile, and successfully help Homer escape the bus taking him to Florida. The three then go back home to watch a reboot of The Itchy and Scratchy Show, while Marge watches everything that's happened from heaven. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. First Published: Jun 26, 2025, 14:05 IST Pulak Kumar is an entertainment and current events writer who got his start with bylines in Sportskeeda and Koi Moi. He's immensely passionate about understanding and analyzing the latest happenings in Hollywood, anime, gaming and pop culture. Read More 26/6/2025 14:33:47
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Did 'The Simpsons' kill off Marge Simpson?
Doh! "The Simpsons" killed off mom Marge Simpson. Well, kind of. On the legendary sitcom's epic Season 36 finale episode, titled "Estranger Things" (episode 18), the storyline centered around a sibling rift between Bart and Lisa. "Your father and I won't be around forever. When you get older, you'll need to lean on each other. Whatever you do, don't drift apart, you share a journey with your siblings that no one else will ever understand," Marge said in a foreshadowing scene. "You must never, ever, ever take that for granted." Then, naturally, the pair drifted apart. Years later, Lisa found success in business as a professional basketball league commissioner while "Bart remained Bart." In the future, after Marge dies before husband Homer, the siblings actually do become estranged before reuniting. In the episode, after the siblings reunited, Marge appears during a scene where she is in heaven and reunites with her first love, Ringo Starr, suggesting that the family matriarch died. Then, the episode ends. Writers on "The Simpsons" love to find new ways to keep the show fresh. In September, the hit animated series aired its "final episode," but in actuality, it was a meta-way to start the Season 36 premiere. Is 'The Simpsons' ending? Why the show aired its 'series finale' Sunday Titled "Bart's Birthday" and presented as a "Fox special presentation," the episode kicked off with animated celebrities shown rolling into the "Dolby-Mucinex Theater" for the occasion, hosted by Conan O'Brien. "It's such an honor to be with you all for the series finale of 'The Simpsons,'" O'Brien says to the onlooking crowd, flanked with animated versions of stars who have appeared on the series, including Seth Rogen and Mr. T. "I knew I was the right man for the job because I've hosted the last episode of three of my own shows, and counting." Contributing: Taijuan Moorman; Charles Curtis, For The Win
