Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 36, episode 1
AlthoughThe Simpsonsseason 36, episode 1 set itself up as the show’s final outing, the episode’s events called this claim into question.The Simpsonsseason 36arrives at an interesting time for the series. In its early years,The Simpsonsbecame a huge hit with audiences and critics alike. Soon after, the so-called Golden Age ofThe Simpsonsmade the series one of the most influential and acclaimed shows of all time. This period, lasting from around seasons 3 to 11, sawThe Simpsonsgain worldwide popularity and its best reviews ever.
However, the popularity ofThe Simpsonswaned after the Golden Age ended. By season 32, the show was at its zenith. However, seasons 34 and 35 featured fewer gags and more character-centric storytelling, resulting in a critical comeback for the show. WhileThe Simpsonsseason 36 faces some struggles, the show’s return was more eagerly anticipated than usual thanks to the unexpected success of seasons 34 and 35. As such, it came as a massive, show-shaking shock whenThe Simpsonsseason 36, episode 1, “Bart’s Birthday,” revealed it was secretly the long-running show’s much-anticipated series finale.
No, The Simpsons Season 36 Episode 1 Isn’t Really Its Series Finale
The Simpsons Season 36 Episode 1’s Opening Sequence Was A Wild Self Parody
In the opening scenes of “Bart’s Birthday,” late-night host and formerSimpsonswriter Conan O’Brien hosted an in-universe celebrity gala to celebrate the end ofThe Simpsons. Despite this framing device,The Simpsonsseason 36, episode 1 was not really its series finale. Instead, this entire gambit was a wild meta-joke about the show’s longevity. O’Brien introduced what he claimed was the show’s series finale, “Bart’s Birthday.” In the episode, Bart was disturbed by various major events reshaping his life and the world of Springfield. In-universe, this plot was generated by the AI technology “Hack GPT.”
Throughout “Bart’s Birthday,” an increasingly weird string of events made it clear that this was the show’s final farewell. Principal Skinner left Springfield Elementary and Police Chief Wiggum left the force, while Comic Book Guy closed the door of The Android’s Dungeon and Moe sold his tavern. Mr. Burns died for good and Milhouse moved out of Springfield, implying that Bart’s world would be utterly, irrevocably changed hereon out. However,The Simpsonsseason 36’s storytelling tricksensured that this wasn’t the case. The episode’s final scenes not only reversed these changes but proved the show can continue forever.
Would The Simpsons Season 36, Episode 1 Actually Work As A Series Finale?
The Simpsons Season 36 Episode 1 Was An Ironically Solid Series Finale
Ironically,The Simpsonsseason 36, episode 1 would actually have been a good series finalefor the show. The episode ended with Bart mocking Homer, prompting him to strangle his son, and thus resetting the fictional universe of the show. Instead of finally turning 11, Bart remained 10 years old, all the plot twists were undone, and O’Brien breathed a sigh of relief as he informed a gaggle of annoyed celebrities thatThe Simpsonswould continue for an untold number of years. This gag was goofy, surreal, unsentimental, self-referential, and exactly how a prospectiveSimpsonsseries finale should ideally feel.
A perfect ending forThe Simpsonswould maintain the status quo while mocking this cop out, just like “Bart’s Birthday.”
As critic Matt Zoller-Seitz once noted inTV: The Book, the writing ofThe Simpsonsduring the show’s Golden Age was“Ambitious, intimate, classical, experimental, hip, corny, and altogether free.”The Simpsonsaging normally in season 26was a fake out, but under the lie, there was a welcome truth. The reality is that Springfield’s favorite family will never change, since their consistency meansThe Simpsonscan continue to comment on, parody, mock, celebrate, and deconstruct American society and culture. Thus, a perfect ending forThe Simpsonswould maintain the status quo while mocking this cop out, just like “Bart’s Birthday.”
Will Season 36 Be The Simpsons’ Final Season?
The Simpsons Season 36 Is Unlikely To Be The Show’s Last Outing
AlthoughThe Simpsonsseason 37is not technically guaranteed to happen,it is unlikely thatThe Simpsonsseason 36 will be the show’s final season.The Simpsonsdoes have a smaller viewership than it did at its peak, and its ratings have been waning. However, the show’s reach remain respectable, and its merchandising empire is still considerable.The Simpsonsis one of the most recognizable intellectual properties that Disney owns. It is hard to imagine the entertainment giant pulling the plug on such a longstanding institution, particularly when it still has some cultural cache.
The Simpsonswas renewed for seasons 35 and 36 in January 2023, but season 37’s status is currently unknown.
The latter half of season 35 struggled to earn more than 1 million viewers per episode, but season 35’s biggest hit had a viewership of over 5 million. Similarly,The Simpsonsseason 36’s Treehouse of Horror Halloween episodescan expect a sizable audience, judging by recent years, as the show’s annual spooky specials tend to earn a much larger viewership. As such, althoughThe Simpsonsseason 36, episode 1 might have been a fun finale for the series, the show’s ending isn’t written in stone just yet.
