The Simpsons Season 36 Just Made A Sad Family Revelation About Marge

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 36, episode 8, “Convenience Airways.”

Although the revelation was contained in a quick throwaway line of dialogue, The Simpsons secretly exposed a tragic twist in season 36 and may have set up its next big death in the process. While The Simpsons season 37’s renewal has not yet been announced, the long-running show is currently enjoying something of a critical renaissance. The Simpsons increased its popularity with critics since the show’s critical nadir around season 32, earning largely stellar reviews and prompting YouTube creator Super Eyepatch Wolf to declare The Simpsons “Good again.” This is largely due to its creative risks.

Although The Simpsons never age, the show has gotten better at upsetting its static status quo. Season 36’s premiere was a bizarre in-universe “Series finale” that threatened to upend the entire reality of the series, while season 36, episode 6 was an anthology outing composed of 13 different short stories. The Simpsons season 36’s second Treehouse of Horror episode, “Treehouse of Horror Presents Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes,” was similarly risky thanks to its November airdate and the show’s decision to adapt some lesser-known works by author Ray Bradbury.

The Simpsons Season 36 Implied Marge’s Mother Needs Hospice Care

Marge Mentioned Talking Her Mother Into Hospice In Episode 8

These risks paid off, resulting in two standout episodes that proved The Simpsons season 36 isn’t short on creative juice. Season 36, episode 8, “Convenience Airways,” was a similarly silly success. Told via flashbacks, “Convenience Airways” saw Marge and Homer testify before Congress after an unspecified incident on the titular airline. Eventually, the episode revealed that Homer’s role in the episode’s story wasn’t as villainous as it seemed, but this only came after a series of big twists. One of these revelations was hidden in a throwaway line of dialogue that may soon be paid off in a later episode.

The Simpsons revealed that Marge’s mother is nearing the end of her life during “Convenience Airways,” as Marge warned Homer not to misbehave on their shared flight. Harkening back to The Simpsons’ first Thanksgiving episode, “Convenience Airways” focused on the titular family at their worst. The Simpsons squabbled endlessly as they traversed an airport en route to Marge’s family reunion, and Marge wanted Homer so that he couldn’t risk getting banned from another airline for acting out. She said that, if he did, future holidays would consist of visiting Marge’s mother and trying to sell her on the merits of hospice care.

The Simpsons Rarely References Marge’s Mother Jacqueline

Jackie Bouvier’s Age Isn’t Entirely Clear From The Simpsons

The news that Marge’s mother might be nearing the end of her life is surprising, since The Simpsons plays fast and loose with the age of its characters. Admittedly, this twist would make perfect sense if Marge and Homer were born in the late ‘50s or early ‘60s, as implied by Homer’s driver’s license in season 4, episode 16, “Duffless.” However, The Simpsons has complicated Marge and Homer’s birthdates over the years, so it is harder to now work out what age Marge’s mother Jackie Bouvier is.

In season 33’s premiere “Star of the Backstage,” Marge and Homer attended high school in the year 1999. As recently as season 36, episode 4, “Shoddy Heat,” Homer was portrayed as a 10-year-old child in 1982. While The Simpsons mocked Family Guy in season 36, the show’s own timeline is just as unclear as that later adult animated comedy. It doesn’t help that Marge’s mother is rarely mentioned, although she seemed to be around the same age as Abe Simpson in season 5, episode 21, “Lady Bouvier’s Lover.” This outing was the show’s most in-depth exploration of her character.

The Simpsons Season 36 Set Up A Major Death Twist In Episode 8

Marge’s Mother Could Be The Next Character To Die

In the years since Grampa and Marge’s mother dated, The Simpsons has gotten more comfortable killing off recurring supporting stars. In recent years, the show’s reticence around permanently killing off characters has largely vanished with season 35, episode 14, “Cremains of the Day,” killing off Larry the Barfly before season 36, episode 2, “The Yellow Lotus,” killed off Nick the Realtor. Since Marge’s mother almost never appears, but her death would have a major emotional impact on the family, her demise could be a great twist after “Convenience Airways.”

Although The Simpsons’ scariest Treehouse of Horror stories have high body counts, the show itself rarely killed off characters until recently. As such, Jacqueline Bouvier’s death would be a major surprise in season 36. However, this would allow The Simpsons to further focus on Marge’s internal world, something that made season 35 stand out as one of the show’s strongest efforts in years. Not only that, but the twist was perfectly foreshadowed by The Simpsons season 36, episode 8’s mention of hospice care.

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