Movies News Talk
For almost three decades, viewers have been delighted by the long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons. Still, the 36th season of the show promises to throw things off in a way that might permanently alter the series. With Bart's birthday mostly in mind, the premiere episode suggests a much-awaited development: the aging of its legendary characters.
Often playing fast and free with its timelines, The Simpsons is well-known for its elastic continuity. But given its long run, irregularities have become more obvious. Homer even confesses not knowing his birth year. Among the many retcons the show features are Marge and Homer's high school years being changed from the 1970s to the late 1990s. Bart Simpson has stayed constant—a 10-year-old lad—despite these changes.
Still, the synopsis of the season 36 premiere points to a different direction. Bart reportedly had "The most shocking birthday party of his entire life," an event that "Might just change everyone in Springfield forever." This suggests that Bart might at last turn 11, so altering the known chronology of the show.
One defining quality of The Simpsons has been Bart's consistent age. It has let the show examine childhood themes while maintaining relatability for the characters. Other long-running animated shows including South Park, Family Guy, American Dad, and Bob's Burgers have reflected this strategy, all of which have maintained their main characters at rather consistent ages. If the Simpsons' characters aged like actual people, their retcons would be far more difficult to defend. But depending so much on this formula has caused some continuity problems for the show.
Though it would seem odd, seeing the Simpsons family age offers fascinating narrative possibilities. Because of their constantly frozen ages, the show has never been able to adequately address the ramifications of Marge and Homer getting older, Bart and Lisa going through puberty, or Maggie's development.
Aging the characters could provide fresh directions for inquiry. Imagine Lisa in college, Maggie learning to speak, or the family juggling aging's challenges. The show's constant retcons have made the chronology complex; aging the characters could at last confirm it.
Although the synopsis of the premiere suggests a significant change, viewers should not raise too high expectations. Bart's birthday surprise might have nothing bearing on his age. The Simpsons has always used the varied ages of its characters to propel its narratives. While Bart and Lisa's exploits remain rooted in childhood, adults Homer and Marge concentrate on themes of work, politics, and social movements.
Should the characters age realistically, the tone and narratives of the show would change greatly. Though this would be fascinating, The Simpsons is not likely to undergo such a radical transformation. Fans will have to wait and see if the season 36 premiere really marks a fresh era for the show or if it's only another turn in its elastic continuity for now.