Summary

• The Simpsons
  season 36 needs to learn from its recent successes and failures to maintain its critical hot streak.
• Recent seasons have shown improvement by focusing on Marge and developing stronger storylines for her character.
• The show should continue to double down on popular tricks and incorporate more Marge-focused episodes for a successful season 36.

While The Simpsons season 36 could keep the show’s critical hot streak going, this will require the series to learn a lesson from season 35’s weakest outing. The Simpsons has been on the air for over 35 years, so it is no surprise that the show’s critical fortune has varied during this time. At its peak, The Simpsons was regarded as one of the best shows in the history of television as a medium. The so-called “Golden Age” of The Simpsons began around seasons 2 and 3 and continued until seasons 8, 9, or 10, depending on the critic.

While The Simpsons season 36 can’t hope to recapture the critical success of these innovative early seasons, the show has enjoyed something of a revival in recent years. The Simpsons seasons 34 and 35 were both considered a big improvement on their predecessors after these outings, seasons 30-33, were written off as the show’s critical nadir. The Simpsons season 36’s competitors may struggle to beat the series as the show is doubling down on many of the tricks that made seasons 34 and 35 so popular. Season 34 featured two Halloween specials, so season 36 will include three.

The Simpsons Season 35 Episode 17 Proved Homer’s Family Stories Need Marge

“The Tipping Point” Focused Too Much On Homer’s Antics

Admittedly, season 36’s third Halloween special will be a Disney+ short, but this approach still proves that The Simpsons is learning from its recent successes. However, The Simpsons season 36 must learn from the show’s failures, too, if this critical hot streak is to continue. Season 35, episode 17, “The Tipping Point,” was the weakest episode of the outing and the episode brought back many of the issues that plagued the series for years. There was a lengthy sequence parodying an outdated meme, an ostensibly topical plot that bore no relationship to observable reality, and a lack of stakes.

What makes this episode a chore is its failure to portray the impact of Homer’s actions on Marge.

These issues coalesced to make “The Tipping Point” dull. The episode begins with Homer inadvertently tipping a waitress $10,000, prompting the townspeople to celebrate his generosity. Homer then develops an addiction to tipping absurdly high amounts, which is a silly premise to begin with. However, what makes this episode a chore is its failure to portray the impact of Homer’s actions on Marge. The Simpson family’s finances don’t need to be believable, but it is hard to care about characters whose actions have no consequences. Marge’s concerns about the family’s looming bankruptcy are ignored in favor of Homer’s perspective.

The Simpsons Season 35 Finally Highlighted Marge’s Role

Various Episodes Centered On The Most Underrated Simpson

As far back as The Simpsons’ first episode, the show has always walked a tricky line when it comes to Homer’s immaturity. Homer is an impulsive, childish character, but his heart is in the right place. After so many years, storylines about Homer and the eponymous family that ignore Marge’s internal world become tiresome. Viewers can only hear Homer worry that he doesn’t deserve Marge’s love after his latest silly scheme backfires so many times before wondering how she feels about him. This is where season 35’s strongest episodes shone, as they put a spotlight on an underdeveloped character.

Homer only takes up Marge’s attention when he inserts himself into the narrative.

Episode 13, “Clan of the Cave Mom,” episode 14, “Night of the Living Wage,” and episode 2, “A Mid-Childhood Night’s Dream” were all stronger for centering Marge’s perspective. What made these episode so striking was the realization that Marge’s world doesn’t revolve around Homer. The heroine of The Simpsons spent most of her season 35 outings concerned about her children growing up too fast, Bart’s reputation, her own career, worker’s rights, and other important issues. Homer only takes up Marge’s attention when he inserts himself into the narrative. For example, he took a job opposing Marge’s union in “Night of the Living Wage.”

The Simpsons Season 35’s Sweetest Moment Avoided This Issue

Homer’s Appreciation Of Marge Shone In Season 35 Episode 17

This twist was genuinely surprising as it proved that Homer’s rash immaturity can cause real problems for Marge. For all of The Simpsons’ retcons, perhaps season 35’s riskiest choice was depicting Homer as a genuinely thoughtless, self-centered husband. He was more focused on getting cheap fast food than improving his wife’s working conditions and, for a moment, “Night of the Living Wage” portrayed Homer as a genuinely odious figure. Similarly, episode 16, “The Tell-Tale Pants” showed Homer’s dark side again, and this subplot once again centered on Marge. As a result, this outing was stronger than “The Tipping Point.”

“The Tipping Point” only focused on how Homer’s outrageous tipping made him feel.

In “The Tell-Tale Pants,” Marge allows herself a small financial treat after years of Homer’s thoughtless self-indulgence. Homer is initially outraged, a response that once again makes the show’s protagonist daringly unlikable. However, as Homer considers confronting Marge, he is suddenly faced with all the thankless domestic labor she does as a wife and mother every day, and he reconciles with her instead. This plot works far better than “The Tipping Point” since the episode proved that Homer’s actions have a material impact on Marge, whereas “The Tipping Point” only focused on how Homer’s outrageous tipping made him feel.

The Simpsons Season 36 Needs More Marge Storylines

Homer’s Plots Work Best As Standalone Stories

The Simpsons season 36 would benefit from more storylines that focus on Marge, and the episodes that do center on Homer should focus on him alone rather than the family. In episode 1, “Homer’s Crossing” or episode 15, “Cremains of the Day,” Homer’s antics impact him more than the family and his plots are more engaging as a result. In contrast, “The Tipping Point” focuses on the family’s finances, but only views the story through Homer’s myopic, self-centered viewpoint. Homer’s self-involved worldview is a big part of what makes him such a funny character, and his thoughtlessness leads to some hilarious stories.

0.72 million viewers watched “The Tipping Point” when
The Simpsons
episode first aired in May 2024.

However, “The Tipping Point” takes this approach too far with a plot that sees Homer squander thousands of dollars on a tipping habit without examining how this impacts his wife. The stakes of Homer’s unhealthy hobby never feel as dire as they should, since The Simpsons episode doesn’t explore their impact on Marge in any real depth. As a result, the episode proves Homer needs solo adventures and Marge needs more screen time, something season 35’s best episodes reinforced. With any luck, The Simpsons season 36’s upcoming episodes will learn these lessons from season 35’s weakest outing.