Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 36, episode 1
WhileThe Simpsonsseason 36, episode 1 wasn’t really the long-running show’s series finale, the outing wasn’t the first episode that could work perfectly as a potential ending for the series.The Simpsonshas been on the air for a long, long time. Over 35 years and 36 seasons, the series has aired 769 episodes. Despite this unprecedented, record-setting longevity, the series shows no signs of slowing down. Admittedly,The Simpsonsseason 37renewal has not yet been confirmed, but the series still garners respectable ratings and has even enjoyed some unexpected critical success in recent years.
The Simpsons Series Finale’s Returning Controversial Character Explained
One character was singled out as the cause of The Simpsons' downfall and, shockingly, The Simpsons season 36 episode 1 brought them back for a cameo.
While critical consensus agrees that the Golden Age ofThe Simpsonsended before season 12, the show’s recent outings have earned a surprising amount of praise from critics and fans alike.YouTubecreator SuperEyepatchWolf andVulture’s Jesses David Fox suggested thatThe Simpsonswas getting good again before season 36, so it was a shock when season 36’s premiere announced itself as the surprise series finale.The Simpsonsseason 36 episode 1 wasn’t reallythe show’s finale, but it was the latest in a string of episodes that could have serviceably functioned as the show’s last hurrah.
7“Bart’s Birthday” (Season 36, Episode 1)
The Simpsons Season 36 Premiere Was A Hilarious Meta-Finale
In an audacious meta-gag, season 36, episode 1, “Bart’s Birthday,” began with Conan O’Brien hosting a star-studded gala where a crowd of celebrities gathered to celebrate the end ofThe Simpsons. O’Brien then introduced“Hack GPT,” the artificial intelligence technology that scripted the in-universe series finale.The events of “Bart’s Birthday” saw Bart growing increasingly worried as the town of Springfield changed around him, eventually culminating inBart finally turning 11after years trapped at the same age. Bart was creeped out by all of this change and ended up reversing the episode’s events and reinstating the status quo.
Since its inception,The Simpsonshas deconstructed the conventions of the traditional family sitcom.
Ironically, although “Bart’s Birthday” is a season premiere and a parody of hokey series finales, the episode would have functioned well as a series finale. Since its inception,The Simpsonshas deconstructed the conventions of the traditional family sitcom. Any Golden Moments, tidy endings, or sentimental schmalzy scenes are summarily taken apart by the series, so it would make sense for the series finale ofThe Simpsonsto be an extended mockery of AI that also explores the existential horror of sitcom universes. Thus, “Bart’s Birthday” is an ideal series finale forThe Simpsonsprecisely because it has no convenient ending.
6“Last Exit To Springfield” (Season 4, Episode 17)
This Golden Age Outing Is Arguably The Greatest Simpsons Episode
Although it arrived far too early in the show’s history to be seriously considered,“Last Exit To Springfield” is such a great episode ofThe Simpsonsthat it would naturally be a perfect finale. This outing arrived before “Lemon of Troy,” “Treehouse of Horror V,” “22 Short Films About Springfield,” and many of the episodesVarietyandEntertainmentWeeklylisted as the show’s best. As such, it is hard to imagine a version of the series that wrapped up so early in its multi-decade run. However, it is worth noting that, in thematic terms, “Last Exit To Springfield” truly fits.
As well as being one of the show’s funniest episodes, “Last Exit To Springfield” is a rare episode where Homer uses his status as an average American everyman to rally his small hometown against the evil billionaire Mr. Burns and emerges triumphant. Its story of a working man’s battle against big business, a family man’s fight for his children’s future, and a small community coming together united by a common cause is atypically inspirational for such a cynical series. Thus, “Last Exit To Springfield” would have been a perfect high note forThe Simpsonsto end on if the show wrapped up early.
5“Behind the Laughter” (Season 11, Episode 22)
Season 11’s Finale Is Another Smart Self Parody
For all ofseason 36 episode 1’s show-shaking twists, this wasn’t the first time thatThe Simpsonsoffered a self-parodic look into the show’s in-universe “Production.” There was season 8, episode 24, “The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase," which offered viewers a glimpse of three fictional spinoffs cashing in on the success of the original series. Earlier still was season 7, episode 10, “The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular,” which mocked the show’s creator Matt Groening, and saw Troy McClure offer viewers a peek into the show’s development. However, neither of these went as far as “Behind the Laughter.”
The Simpsonsseason 11 finale was a brazen self-parody that portrayed the Simpsons as in-universe celebrity superstarswho were corrupted by their fame and success. From Lisa bemoaning the anti-aging injections she needed to remain the same age to Homer justifying his scandalous arrest for solicitation, “Behind the Laughter” was simultaneously a hysterical parody of the celebrity tell-all and a brilliant takedown of the show’s transformation into a global cultural phenomenon. An inspired, surprisingly barbed instance of the show laughing at its own legacy, “Behind the Laughter” also boasts the all-time great sight gag of President Jimmy Carter breakdancing.
4“The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" (Season 1, Episode 1)
The Simpsons Could Come Full Circle For Its Finale
Since the early years of the series,there has been a persistent fan theory thatThe Simpsonstakes place in a stable time loop. This does admittedly explain why the characters never age and why the show’s reality appears to reset at the end of every episode, but the idea is intriguing for other reasons. Following this logic, the theory claims that the show will finally end back where it began, in its pilot. Season 1, episode 1, “The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” is very different from a modern episode ofThe Simpsons, but this theory still holds weight.
“The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire” boasts many hallmarks that can still be seen in the series, from its holiday setting to Homer’s struggles at work. WhileThe Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror episodesare exempt from any attempt to discern the show’s timeline since they are non-canon, it is tough to work out when the show’s story begins and ends, thanks to what showrunner Matt Selman dubbed its “Elastic canon.” As such, perhaps the simplest and most elegant way to wrap up the show’s plot would be for the first episode to also be the show’s last.
3“Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind” (Season 19, Episode 9)
Season 19’s Poignant Christmas Episode Is Another Fitting Ending
In an interview withEntertainmentWeekly, formerSimpsonsshowrunner Al Jean said that “Behind the Laughter” would potentially work as a series finale. However, he also highlighted another, later outing. Season 19, episode 9,“Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind,” is a wintry episode that sees Homer awake from a drunken night out and attempt to recover a memory he has tried to repress.The Simpsons’ storytelling tricksinitially lead viewers to think Homer might have done something terrible in this unusually serious, surprisingly moving episode, which is also a rare outing where Maggie doesn’t appear.
The episode deservedly won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 2008, and it could have served as a series finale.
Although things work out alright in the end, “Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind” is one of the show’s most poignant attempts to take Homer’s drinking seriously. In the process, the series highlights both the tragedy and humanity of the character, making the show’s de facto protagonist feel more real than he has before or since. The episode deservedly won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 2008, and it could have served as a series finale if the creators ofThe Simpsonswanted to take things on a more self-serious, dramatic route for its final outing.
2“A Totally Fun Thing Bart Will Never Do Again” (Season 23, Episode 19)
Bart’s Flash-forward Made This Underrated Outing A Good End Point
Much like “Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind,” season 23, episode 19, “A Totally Fun Thing Bart Will Never Do Again,” isn’t the zaniest episode ofThe Simpsons. However,this episode’s story is a tragicomic odyssey that reminds viewers why Bart was the show’s original hero. When Bart convinces his family to go on an expensive cruise, he is horrified to find himself bored witless within a few days. He finally finds some fun when he embarks on an elaborate prank that convinces the holidaymakers that the ship is in the grip of a deadly virus, but this deception is eventually uncovered.
The family is dumped in Antarctica and, in a touching montage, Bart ends up enjoying his holiday after all as they make the most of the frozen wasteland. Ending with an elderly Bart looking back on fond memories of his life, “A Totally Fun Thing Bart Will Never Do Again” proves that, althoughThe Simpsonsseason 36 aging Bartwas a fakeout, the character has a long, bright future ahead of him. Surprisingly emotionally engaging, this epic adventure feels bigger than its runtime and more ambitious even than many of the show’s best episodes.
1“Holidays of Future Passed" (Season 23, Episode 9)
This Simpsons Christmas Special Doubles As An Ideal Series Finale
Of all the episodes listed here, only season 23, episode 9,“Holidays of Future Passed,” was written as a potential series finale forThe Simpsons. The 2012 episode is a holiday special that begins its story in the show’s usual setting only to then jump ahead 30 years into the future. Lisa is married to Milhouse and struggles with her teen daughter, Bart is divorced and having a hard time earning the respect of his sons, and Maggie is a world-famous singer (whose iconic voice viewers, naturally, never get to hear).
The Simpsonswas renewed for seasons 35 and 36 in January 2023, but season 37’s status is currently unknown.
What makes “Holidays of Future Passed” such a perfect series finale forThe Simpsonsis its funny, frank, but unexpectedly sweet insight into the family’s future. Whether it is Bart forgiving Homer’s flaws as a father, Homer doing the same for Grampa, or Bart and Lisa bonding over their terrible parents and flawed parenting, this is one of the most human insights into the cartoon family.The Simpsonsoften operates in an absurd parody of reality and this episode has its fair share of far-fetched moments, but the characters feel real, and really lovable, in this ideal ending to the show’s story.
