AlthoughThe Simpsonshas been around a long time, the series showrunner proved the show can remain fresh thanks to its renewed focus on Marge in a recent interview. With over 790 episodes to its name and a theatrical movie spinoff,The Simpsonsis the longest-running scripted primetime American TV show in history.
As such, it is hardly shocking that the show is considered tired by some commentators online. In fact, the critical reception ofThe Simpsonshas varied so much over the decades that the phenomenon has an entireWikipediapage dedicated to it. That being said,The Simpsonsseason 37arrives at a high point for the series.
While few commentators would claimThe Simpsonshas reached the heights of its Golden Age again, the show is enjoying a critical renaissance. As oneVulturearticle noted,The Simpsons is “Good again” thanks to a renewed focus on character-centric writing since season 33 began. A ScreenRant interview with The Simpsons showrunner Matt Selman offered one shining example:
“I feel like one character we have really been writing well for these days is Marge. I love Marge. I love Julie Kavner… I feel like we’ve done really good strong stuff for Marge lately. I think in the old days, people used to not want to write for Marge because she wasn’t as funny as Homer and wasn’t as silly, it wasn’t as balls out crazy where you could do anything. Like, she wasn’t the comedy engine, that’s Homer. But she’s a great Emotion Engine, and even more so than Homer. If Marge cares about something, I think the audience cares about something, that same thing. I’m really happy with some of the Marge stuff we’ve done in recent seasons.”
The Simpsons Seasons 35 and 36 Have Centered Marge’s Stories
Earlier Outings of the Series Earned Criticism for Sidelining Marge
Selman is correct to note thatMarge has enjoyed a renewed focus in recent episodes ofThe Simpsons, even ifThe Simpsonsseason 36 finale did technically kill heroff in one of the show’s potential future timelines. Marge has always been central to the series since its inception, but she often played the role of straight man to Homer’s funny guy.
Marge always had a complex internal life explored in standout episodes like season 2, episode 18, “Brush with Greatness,” season 6, episode 11, “Fear of Flying,” or season 8, episode 11, “The Twisted World of Marge Simpson.”
As Homer became the most iconic bad sitcom father since Archie Bunker, Marge fulfilled the role of the long-suffering housewife and well-meaning mother. However, she always had a complex internal life explored in standout episodes like season 2, episode 18, “Brush with Greatness,” season 6, episode 11, “Fear of Flying,” or season 8, episode 11, “The Twisted World of Marge Simpson.”
Our Take on The Simpsons Season 37’s Renewed Focus on Marge
Some of the Best Episodes of The Simpsons Center Marge
In recent years,The Simpsonshas renewed its focus on Marge and enjoyed critical acclaim as a result. Even outside ofThe Simpsonsseason 36 finale’s Marge death, season 35, episode 2, “A Mid-Childhood Night’s Dream” centered on Marge’s fears about her children outgrowing her and leaving home.
Episode 13, “Clan of the Cave Mom,” offered new insight into her imagination. Meanwhile, the very next episode, “Night of the Living Wage,” saw Marge become a union leader after taking a job as a ghost kitchen cook.
The Simpsonsis available to stream on Hulu.
These outings all focused on different aspects of her ever-changing character, proving that there is more to Marge than meets the eye. As such, it is no surprise thatThe Simpsonsshowrunner is happy with the show’s recent Marge-centric outings.
