Is Marge Simpson Really Dead? Shocking Season 36 Finale

In the season 36 finale of The Simpsons, which aired on May 18 in the US, one of the most iconic characters of the series, Marge Simpson, is shown as deceased. But it's not a real exit: the sequence takes place in an imagined future, 35 years after current events. The news, which only recently went viral, has sparked a wave of nostalgia and discussion, reviving attention on a series that many have long considered to be in decline, but still capable of hitting the mark. The episode, titled Stranger Things, explores a future in which Bart and Lisa have drifted apart, Homer still lives in the family home, and Lisa returns to Springfield as a successful adult. During the episode, it is revealed that Marge died before Homer, as recounted in a wistful ballad sung by Sarah McLachlan over a scene at the cemetery. The gravestone reads: "Beloved wife, mother and seasoner of pork chops."

The causes of death are not made explicit, but the sequence is charged with emotion with the discovery, by Bart and Lisa, of a posthumous message left by Marge. In the video, the mother invites her children to stay together, despite the difficulties. The scene ends with an ironic touch: Marge, who in life dreamed of finding Homer in heaven, seems instead to have found company in Ringo Starr, her teenage love. Despite the symbolic farewell, the series is far from over. Fox has in fact renewed The Simpsons until the 40th season, scheduled for 2029. Julie Kavner, the historic voice of Marge, has not announced any abandonment, and the character will be present in future seasons set in the narrative present of the series.

This isn't the first time The Simpsons has faced the death of recurring characters. One of the first famous farewells dates back to 30 years ago, with the passing of Bleeding Gums Murphy, Lisa's musical mentor. More traumatic was the episode of the eleventh season in which Maude Flanders, Ned's wife, died after being hit by a T-shirt cannon, after the exit of actress Maggie Roswell. And even more touching was the farewell to Edna Krabappel, Bart's teacher, who was honored with a writing on the blackboard after the passing of interpreter Marcia Wallace in 2013.

In other cases, characters have been written out of existence. After actor Phil Hartman was killed in 1998, the series decided not to replace its most famous voices, such as Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz. Conversely, the recent departure of Pamela Hayden, the voice of Milhouse, led to the arrival of singer Kelly Macleod, who debuted in the episode in which Marge appears dead in the future. More than 790 episodes after its 1989 debut, The Simpsons remains a steady presence on television. Although media attention and ratings are no longer what they were in the 1990s, the recent furore over Marge's (future) death confirms how much the emotional connection to the characters remains alive among viewers.

Matt Groening, creator of the series, recently declared that the fandom is still “as intense as ever”, speaking at the Annecy Festival, where The Simpsons was awarded as “Animation Icon”. It was also an opportunity to remember how the characters are born from real figures: Groening explained that his real mother was called Marge, his father Homer, his siblings Lisa and Maggie, and his grandfather Abe. In reality, the real Marge actually outlived her husband, dying in 2013, while Homer Groening passed away in 1996. While waiting for season 37, scheduled for the fall, Marge will still be present at 742 Evergreen Terrace, ready to scold Homer and keep her historic, dysfunctional family together.