There's long been a debate on whether or not The Simpsons should end. Some audiences would note that the show has been on the air since 1989 and that's long enough. However, the series has become a cultural institution that's stayed relevant over 34 seasons and counting. That longevity is only possible because of the show's ability to retcon its main characters' backstories -- something it's done multiple times over the decades.
Although the writers play it loose by keeping the family's ages roughly the same and utilizing a floating timeline to go back and forth when it's necessary to the story they're trying to tell, there are some defining episodes throughout the show's history that have modernized its humor for contemporary audiences. By making its world culturally accessible with each retcon, The Simpsons has met each generation of its viewership halfway, so it doesn't need to stop anytime soon.
Where The Simpsons' Timeline Started - And How It Changed
The Simpsons' original timeline can be traced back to Season 2's "The Way We Was," which helped frame the show's dysfunctional all-American family humor compared to wholesome television programs like The Cosby Show. It showed how a young Marge and Homer met in high school in 1974 and eventually fell in love. Other episodes like Season 2's "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge" and Season 4s "Homer's Triple Bypass" saw the characters deal with issues that American families were concerned with at the time, like cartoon violence and household medical emergencies. This breakaway from the normal expectations of what a sitcom should be arguably influenced the creation of the show's Golden Age.
As the series moved toward the use of social commentary and quirky humor in later seasons, audiences started to try and pinpoint where The Simpsons "jumped the shark." As a result, The Simpsons' timeline began to shift with Season 15's "The Way We Weren't," which brought the series back to its roots but with an updated history to remain relevant to those watching in the early 2000s. When Homer was questioned about his first kiss, he stated, "It was years ago when I was 10, back in the '60s or '50s, or maybe it was the early '70s." This commenced the switch to a revised chronology that fully materialized in Season 19's flashback episode "That '90s Show." This installment refreshed the show for the late digital age, giving the writers access to more current subject matter.
Season 20's "Dangerous Curves" aired in 2008 and placed Homer's and Marge's budding romance in the late '80s with the mention of events being "20 years earlier." Consequently, the episode's "five years earlier" employment would put the party they attended in the early '00s. Bart's use of what looks like a Nintendo Game Boy Advance during a car ride gave a context clue to the timeframe. "MyPods and Broomsticks" brought back the social commentary by critiquing iPods and streamable music, which also complemented the series' transition to a different viewing ratio and HD formatting. These updates may frustrate some fans who prefer a more strict continuity, but they've been important to keeping The Simpsons alive.
Why The Simpsons' Retcons Are Positives, Not Negatives
The Simpsons jumped into the modern era with Season 29's "Three Scenes Plus a Tag from a Marriage," and Season 33's "The Star of the Backstage." Both episodes allowed the series to cater to its older fans and court younger audiences. In "Three Scenes," the writers poked fun at the Marvel Cinematic Universe's post-credit scenes while referencing Huey Lewis. Moreover, the retconning in "The Star of the Backstage" took a lighthearted stab at Y2K while incorporating influences from the show's now-Disney affiliation. All this has episodes like Season 34's "My Life As a Vlog," in which The Simpsons commented on the oversaturated streaming content market and social influencers.
Although The Simpsons has come a long way, its ability to redefine itself through retcons revisions like Carl Carlson's expanded backstory and retcons has helped maintain its success. Updating characters' histories -- particularly those of the titular family -- has meant that the series has never felt dated or penciled into a storytelling corner. Furthermore, it allows the writers to incorporate new topics, technology and references so newer audiences can enjoy the series just as much as those who have watched since 1989. Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa have successfully become a modern family, without sacrificing any of their classic humor. As long as the series continues to move them forward, it can continue to tell funny and heartwarming stories in a TV world that can always use them.
The Simpsons airs Sundays at 8:00 p.m. on Fox.