The Simpsons Season 36 Christmas Special Resolves One Of The Series’ Biggest Flaws After 24 Years

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 36’s special “O C’Mon All Ye Faithful.”

Despite its long-standing reputation for maintaining character continuity, The Simpsons season 36 has managed to address a significant oversight from its past with the Flanders storyline featured in its Christmas special. Character deaths are infrequent on the show, typically reserved for those situations where external circumstances dictate such actions. However, this season has introduced an unexpected increase in character fatalities, hinting at a potential shift in the show’s conventional storytelling, albeit with only a few minor characters affected in the initial episodes.

Across its extensive 770-episode history, The Simpsons has permanently removed just over a dozen characters from the narrative. Yet this tactic can complicate the show’s enduring framework where characters don’t age. A notable and controversial exception was the tragic demise of Maude Flanders in season 11’s “Alone Again, Natura-Diddily,” following a mishap involving a t-shirt cannon, which was intended as a secondary reaction to actress Maggie Roswell’s contractual disputes with the network.

Addressing Maude’s Death in The Simpsons Season 36

Ned’s Crisis of Faith Following His Losses

Interestingly, Roswell returned to the role a year later, contributing her voice to various segments, including Treehouse of Horror episodes and alternative timeline narratives. Yet, Maude’s original death has never been overturned in the canon. This consistency is somewhat surprising, notably because the narrative justification for Maude Flanders’ demise has always been notably lacking. Initially, it seemed that Ned Flanders’ widowed status could introduce deeper complexity into his character; however, this potential was largely unexplored until the recent special.

In the latest Christmas storyline, Ned expresses his prolonged grief by writing love notes to Maude over a decade after her passing. This gesture underscores the profound emotional depth the character has been given, contrasting sharply with previous portrayals.

As part of the plot, Homer falls prey to hypnosis by British mentalist Derren Brown, leading him to believe he is Santa Claus. While eventually recovering from this illusion, Ned’s faith is shaken to its core by the notion that a fabricated figure could be so easily dismissed. This existential crisis culminates in a poignant moment where he confesses to Marge that he continues to text Edna Krabbapel’s former number, showcasing the ongoing attachment to his late wives and the layers of his grief.

The Logical Issues with Maude Flanders’ Death

The Impact of Maggie Roswell’s Departure

Maude’s fatal incident was perceived as a bizarre and abrupt narrative choice that ultimately served to eliminate her character rather than facilitating meaningful growth for Ned. Now, with the Christmas special, The Simpsons has retroactively salvaged the emotional weight of this storyline by genuinely exploring Ned’s inner struggles. The previous comedic portrayal of Maude’s death by t-shirt cannon, paired with Ned’s series of ill-fated romantic encounters, failed to take his grief seriously and instead presented it through a comedic lens.

Ned’s romantic arc has been the source of many jokes, but has rarely been treated with the seriousness it deserves. In season 22, episode 22, titled “The Ned-Liest Catch,” viewers witnessed Ned’s relationship with Edna Krabappel blossom after he heroically saved her. Audience engagement was further heightened with a real-life poll determining their fate as a couple, ultimately resulting in marriage. However, after the passing of Marcia Wallace, who voiced Edna, her character was also tragically removed from the series, leaving Ned’s romantic life to be a recurring, albeit lightly touched upon, source of humor.

Addressing Ned’s Major Issues in “O C’mon All Ye Faithful”

Ned Flanders and the “Flanderization” Phenomenon

Through these major changes in season 36, The Simpsons has belatedly grappled with the profound effects that Maude and Edna’s deaths have had on Ned. Much of the delay in addressing these themes can be attributed to a narrative trope known as “Flanderization,” which has transformed Ned into a caricature of unyielding religiosity. This shift has rendered it increasingly challenging to depict the character’s genuine emotions. By presenting Ned primarily as a cliché, viewers have found it difficult to empathize with his trajectory.

In this season, however, Ned’s burgeoning struggles lend him new dimensions, creating a resonance previously absent from the narrative. For instance, when Lisa attempts to share her Buddhist insights with Ned, it adds a layer of sweetness to their interactions. Similarly, Marge’s empathetic support during Ned’s reflections on his relationships with his deceased wives lends an unexpected emotional weight. Seeing him interact with Edna’s old phone number provides a poignant detail that would resonate more closely in a dramatic context than a comedic one.

Moreover, Ned’s eventual reconciliation with his faith—amidst the chaos of his personal life—is a touchingly nuanced portrayal often missing from his character’s earlier representations. The unexpected connections and humor emerge as the episode reveals Derren Brown’s comedic intervention, reflecting the complexities of belief in a world filled with absurdities. The realization that Ned’s salvation resembles the moral lessons Lisa once shared serves as a delightful, life-affirming twist, embedding a sense of purpose in his hardships.

Finally, after a long absence of meaningful exploration, The Simpsons has successfully infused profound significance in Ned Flanders’ ongoing narrative, illustrating that genuine character depth can evolve, even in an animated sitcom.

Catch new episodes of The Simpsons airing Sundays at 8 PM on Fox.

Sources:
SimpsonsWorld,
TVTropes

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