The season 36 finale of The Simpsons contained one of its greatest surprises, coming nearly three decades after the show’s debut, marked by comedy, satire, and social commentary. The heart and soul of the most recognisable family from Springfield, Marge Simpson, appears to have passed away in a finale that left audiences shocked and speculating.
The Simpsons
Typical Springfield chaos welcomed the season finale of The Simpsons as Bart’s latest practical prank crossed a line, Lisa dealt with another new moral dilemma, and Homer faced another catastrophe in the nuclear power plant. However, when Marge began to exhibit extreme emotional exhaustion, the mood shifted significantly. Marge suddenly fainted while sitting in the familiar family room as tensions within the family escalated.
Homer yelled for help in terror, holding Marge. A chilling quiet descended on the scene. The screen faded to black as the camera slowly pulled away. Audiences were left in stunned silence as the credits rolled out with no soundtrack.
Darker Themes
The Simpsons’ creative team admitted that they intentionally directed the show towards a darker theme for season 36’s finale. Executive producer Matt Selman explained their vision during a post-episode interview. He proclaimed, “We have never shied away from challenging our audience.” “By removing Marge, who represents stability, we cause the characters and the audience to confront vulnerability, change, and loss anxiety.”
Julie Kavner
Julie Kavner, Marge’s voice since 1989, confessed the finale was heavy. In an exclusive interview, Kavner said, “Marge has always kept the family together, no matter what.” Acting out this scene was emotionally challenging. It’s fascinating to explore the subject, “What happens when that glue disappears?” after all of these years.
Fans were eased into thoughts of losing Kavner by being reminded that she remains thankful for the role that has defined her career. She said, “I feel honoured to have walked in Marge’s shoes for all these years, whether her journey continues or not.”
Industry experts
Several television critics debated the bold narrative choice of the finale. “For a show that has survived on comedy and satire, having to deal with the death of a lead character adds a level of seriousness that we don’t necessarily think of when we think of The Simpsons,” opined entertainment analyst Brian Foster. It shows that the show continues to surprise us even after 36 years.
The Simpsons Legacy
The ethical centre of the show has always been Marge Simpson. Her patience, niceness, and strength tempered the wild behaviour of the rest of the family. The writers are challenging the story into emotional territory that has never been touched before by questioning its underpinnings.
Season 36 is a critical juncture in the evolution of the show, says longtime showrunner Al Jean. “The Simpsons isn’t ending,” Jean declared. However, we want it to remain fresh, important, and even slightly uncomfortable. We owe it to our audience to be risky after 36 years.”
Springfield
The town of Springfield is shaken by Marge Simpsons fall. Fans saw, in quick montage form before the credits had even finished rolling, Lisa sitting alone in her bedroom, clutching her saxophone, Reverend Lovejoy praying over the Simpson family, and Moe closing up his bar early. Despite maintaining its visual style, these poignant subtleties convey to the audience the gravity of the moment.
Future season 37
The Simpsons has already been renewed for a 37th season by Fox, but the network will not provide any hints about the future of the plot. The fans are left to speculate whether Season 37 will delve deeper into the family’s grief, give a definitive answer to Marge’s destiny, or feature one of the show’s infamous reset moments, where everything returns to the starting point.
There has been much speculation that the writers would use the surprise ending to introduce a season-long storyline, an uncommon approach for the normally episodic series. Some expect a more detailed exploration of the emotional growth of each member of the Simpson clan, while others wonder if the surprise ending heralds the arrival of fresh characters.
