Fans of The Simpsons in disbelief as major character 'dies' in Season 36 finale

Irish Daily Mirror

a day ago

While long-time fans may have imagined it in some distant future, The Simpsons has now officially confirmed Marge Simpson's death - for the first time - in canon.
Over its 36-season run, the iconic animated series has teased countless near-death experiences for its central characters. While supporting characters have been killed off in the past, the latest season finale takes a bold step by addressing the loss of one of the core five: Marge.
In the episode titled Estranger Things, the storyline follows Bart and Lisa's relationship through the years, with Marge expressing concern about how close they'll remain as adults, reports The Mirror.
The episode then jumps 35 years into the future, revealing a grown-up Lisa living a successful life, while Bart runs an unlicensed retirement home.
In a conversation between the siblings, they refer to their "late mother", confirming that Marge dies sometime before reaching her early 70s - notably earlier than many other Springfield residents who are shown to still be alive.
Homer is seen alive but elderly, relocated to a care programme in Florida. Familiar characters like Mr. Skinner and Milhouse also make appearances in the flash-forward - but Marge is noticeably absent. Lisa eventually finds a heartfelt letter from Marge, written to be opened after her death. In it, Marge urges Bart and Lisa to stay close, especially if Homer, against the odds, outlives her.
Moved by the message, the siblings reunite and embark on a mission to break Homer out of his Florida facility. The episode ends with a touching moment as Marge is seen watching from a cloud before ascending to heaven - accompanied by none other than Ringo Starr of The Beatles.
Though this sequence is presented as a flash-forward, and Marge will undoubtedly return in the present-day timeline when season 37 begins later this year, it marks a significant moment for the series. For the first time, The Simpsons has committed to a concrete version of Marge's future death.
Naturally, fans were shocked.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY KILLED MARGE SIMPSON," one user on X (formerly Twitter) exclaimed.
"Yo, they killed Marge off The Simpsons!?!?!?! WHAT?!?!," another added.
Exactly how or when Marge dies remains unclear, but this moment cements her death within the show's future canon.
This isn't the first time the series has experimented with death in unconventional ways. Earlier in season 35, the show jokingly depicted Bart dying from boredom during one of Lisa's long-winded stories - a moment clearly intended as a gag rather than a serious plot point.
Since its debut in the 1990s, The Simpsons has experienced fluctuating viewership and mixed reception. In the early years, some parents even banned their children from watching it.
Creator Matt Groening recently told Variety that the controversy may have actually helped the show's early success.
"One of the best things that ever happened was that some people forbade the show," he said.
"It became this exotic, forbidden thing. Bart Simpson 'Underachiever' T-shirts were once controversial and banned in schools. When we made a Lisa Simpson 'Overachiever' shirt, we got in trouble for that too - it said, 'Damn I'm Good'."