The Simpsons, the long-running animated staple known for predicting future events and tackling topical humor, delivered a major shock to viewers in its Season 36 finale, revealing the eventual fate of beloved family matriarch, Marge Simpson.
However, fans don’t need to panic about Marge disappearing from Springfield just yet. The surprising development occurred not in the show’s present timeline, but within a flash-forward sequence depicting events 35 years in the future.
A Glimpse into the Future: ‘Estranger Things’
The episode, titled “Estranger Things,” ventured decades ahead to explore the adult lives and sometimes strained relationship between siblings Bart and Lisa. In this future, Lisa has achieved significant success as the Commissioner of the NBA, while Bart runs an unlicensed retirement home.
Amidst this futuristic setting, the fate of Marge is revealed. Lisa refers to her “late mother,” confirming Marge’s passing sometime before reaching her early 70s, notably while many other familiar Springfield residents like Homer, Mr. Skinner, and Milhouse are still alive. A brief, poignant scene shows a widowed Homer grieving at Marge’s grave during her funeral, surrounded by family.
Marge’s Lasting Message
Despite her absence in the future timeline, Marge’s influence remains central to the episode’s plot. It’s revealed that Marge left behind a heartfelt video or letter, intended “to be opened after I pass (on)” in the “very unlikely” scenario that she died before Homer.
This message underscores Marge’s deepest concerns: she implores Bart and Lisa to always depend on each other and maintain their close sibling bond throughout their lives. This posthumous plea serves as a powerful catalyst, inspiring the adult Bart and Lisa to finally reconcile after years of drifting apart.
A Heavenly Surprise
The episode culminates with Bart and Lisa, reunited by their mother’s message, working together to rescue their elderly father, Homer, from being moved to a care program in Florida by “senior services.” They successfully break Homer out, and the reunited trio settles down to watch a reboot of the fictional ‘Itchy & Scratchy Show’.
Adding a surreal and humorous twist, Marge is shown looking down from Heaven, expressing her joy that her children are close again. She is then surprisingly joined by Ringo Starr, who invites her to a “Heaven Buffett” featuring a “shrimp tower.” Marge comments on the ability to “marry different people in Heaven” before sharing a kiss with the former Beatle. Curiously, Marge appears youthful in this heavenly depiction, contrasting with the implication that she died relatively early in her life.
Fan Reactions Explode Online
The reveal of Marge’s death, even in a flash-forward, sent shockwaves through the fanbase, sparking widespread discussion and strong reactions on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). Viewers expressed disbelief, surprise, and even outrage.
Comments ranged from simple shock (“Marge Simpson is dead?! wow”) and confusion (“Why are marge and ringo dead?”) to outright disbelief (“I haven’t even watched The Simpsons in 10+ years but they really killed MARGE?!”) and even criticism (“Marge Simpson is dead? Utter woke nonsense!”). The emotional response highlighted how deeply Marge Simpson, voiced by Julie Kavner since 1989, is embedded in pop culture after 35 years.
What This Means for The Simpsons’ Future
It’s important to remember that this episode depicted a potential future timeline. The Simpsons has been renewed by FOX for four more seasons, ensuring its status as the longest-running animated show on television will continue well past Season 36. This means Marge Simpson will absolutely return in the show’s standard, non-flash-forward episodes in Season 37 and beyond.
While the show has previously handled the fates of other characters, reducing roles like Apu or writing out recurring figures like Fat Tony and Edna Krabappel, definitively showing the future death of a core character like Marge marks a significant, albeit future-set, moment in the show’s history. The exact circumstances of how Marge passes away in this future timeline remain unclear from the episode, leaving some viewers to speculate or hope for more details in potential future flash-forward stories.
