The Simpsons season 36 ending explained: Marge and Homer get their bittersweet futures

The Simpsons have certainly gone through their fair share of satire, slapstick, and social commentary over the decades. However, the mark of the show’s range is its ability to be still stunningly surprising and profoundly resonant, which is apparent in episodes like "Estranger Things" in season 36.

Once again, the iconic family takes a break from their monotonic reprieve and explores the future of the Simpsons with a refreshing touch, specifically honing in on the fates of Marge and Homer.

Unlike many of the show’s earlier “future episodes,” this one is driven not solely by humorous banter but rather explores solitude, reconciliation, and the slow burn of aging within a mildly disunited family set-up. This is not merely a look into slanted timelines; rather, it is a somber reflection that cuts so deep, reminding everyone that The Simpsons is all too real even after 36 seasons.

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Marge's unexpected departure and afterlife twist

One of the most surprising elements of the finale is that Marge dies before Homer, as opposed to many past future episodes. Although her death is not shown on screen, its effect is very clear in how the family has fractured.

What comes next is a prompt musical montage, which is headlined by Sarah McLachlan and carries the emotional weight of Pixar’s "When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2. It is a moving tribute to a character who has emotionally balanced the family decade after decade.

This is The Simpsons, though, and even death comes with a quirky twist. In the afterlife, Marge is happily married to Ringo Starr, the Beatles drummer she once idolized as a teenager. This is a callback to Season 2’s “Brush with Greatness.” It’s a moment of levity mixed with nostalgia and fan service, combining the focus on death while keeping the series irreverent and humorous.

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Bart and Lisa's diverging paths

In 35 years, we see the Simpson children living their lives with new goals. For Lisa, being the Commissioner of the NBA, which has transitioned into a women's league, is quite on-brand for the overly ambitious middle child.

Bart, however, never left the house and now runs an unlicensed geriatric care facility in their childhood home, where he keeps Homer and his aged buddies and exploits their Social Security payments.

At least logically, Lisa is the most horrified, but this feels like Bart's classic scheme. In the end, Bart does have a heart, and the care he provides for Homer is warm. Albeit illegal, the retirement home he’s built is full of laughter, affection, and companionship. It becomes one of the reconciliation moments for the siblings, where they accept their life choices, but finally, through Homer, find a reason to unite.

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A rescue mission and reflections on family

Conflict arises again when Lisa files a complaint out of her sincere concern, only to have her father relocated to a corporate-run senior facility in Florida, where he is kept in a cold, dystopian senior home.

Homer is shown to be utterly miserable. In a “Family-Simpson” inspired turn of events, Lisa teams up with Bart for a rescue mission, illustrating the uniquely out-of-the-box thinking the family is known for.

In a twist of genius, the duo create a plan using a reboot of Itchy & Scratchy, which Homer has always loved, as bait to lure him out and back home. It works perfectly as a metaphor: the family may grow older and start drifting apart, but they can always rely on each other as anchors.

The finale closes with Bart, Lisa, and Homer enjoying a soothing family time watching Itchy & Scratchy, further emphasising my point on how the family, even in the time set in the future, can find comfort in well-established family rituals, cherished childhood memories, and each other.

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Conclusion: A dark yet heartfelt look at the future of the Simpsons

“Estranger Things” is perhaps one of the most emotionally resonant Simpsons episodes in recent years. Although deeply sentimental, the finale explores the multi-faceted ache of growing up, growing apart, and growing older.

It attempts to avoid easy sentimentality and go for emotionally resonant storytelling. Marge’s death, Bart’s arrested development, Lisa’s ambition, and Homer’s quiet decline speak to differing shades of familial experience.

What sets this finale apart is its use of future storytelling, not just as a source of laughter, but as a lens for introspection. It tackles how families splinter apart only to find themselves coming back together, and how, in the end, even the most broken families still possess a love that time and death cannot fully erase.

After 36 seasons, The Simpsons proves once again that they can deliver a familiar yet fresh story that is, at the same time, hilarious and profound. It reminds us that, underneath the yellow skin and chaotic cartoons, the heart of the show still beats strong.