“Bit of a Bart and Lisa episode”: Matt Selman says The Simpsons won’t revisit Marge’s death timeline

The Simpsons fans were stunned by the season 36 finale, “Estranger Things,” which appeared to show Marge Simpson’s death in a flash-forward timeline. The executive producer, Matt Selman, has clarified that the episode was not a definitive end for Springfield’s beloved matriarch. Speaking to Screen Rant, Selman put the speculation to rest, stating:

"In that episode, we didn't really address Homer's grief. It's not really a Homer episode. It's a bit of a Bart and Lisa episode, we skipped the grief... [will we ever return to that timeline?] no, I think one dead Marge was enough."

To veteran fans of The Simpsons, Marge's untimely demise in a future timeline was confusing and elicited emotional outrage. The finale delved into Bart and Lisa's estranged adulthoods and reunited them eventually after Marge's death.

Although the graveyard scene—complete with a Sarah McLachlan ballad—was affecting, Selman asserted that the story is not intended to realign the series' continuity.

“There is no canon. The Simpsons doesn’t even have canon!” Selman said in a separate interview, reinforcing the series’ famously fluid storytelling approach.

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Marge’s fate? Not canon, not permanent

The finale is just the latest in a long tradition of speculative Simpsons episodes that play with alternate futures and timelines. In “Estranger Things,” viewers saw Marge already deceased, with Homer, Bart, and Lisa navigating life in her absence. The plot centered on Bart and Lisa growing apart in adulthood, eventually reconciling over their shared grief.

Selman made it clear that this future was intentionally isolated.

“The only place Marge is dead is in one future episode that aired six weeks ago,” he said.

When asked directly if the show might revisit that future timeline, Selman replied,

“No, I think one dead Marge was enough.”

He also acknowledged the limited perspective within the episode:

“We didn’t really address Homer’s grief. It’s not really a Homer episode. It’s a bit of a Bart and Lisa episode, we skipped the grief.”

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The Simpsons and its elastic timeline

Selman’s comments reflect the long-standing ethos behind The Simpsons—that continuity is secondary to storytelling freedom. Over the years, the show has presented numerous alternate futures, including “Lisa’s Wedding,” “Bart to the Future,” and “Days of Future Future.” Each version contradicts the others, and that’s exactly the point.

“Obviously since The Simpsons future episodes are all speculative fantasies, they’re all different every time,” Selman explained.

This approach allows the writers to explore deep emotional themes—like loss, growing up, and reconciliation—without locking characters into permanent outcomes. Marge’s death, while impactful, is just one iteration in the show’s sprawling multiverse of possibilities.

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Why did this episode hit a nerve?

The emotional fallout surrounding Marge’s death isn’t just about plot—it’s about her symbolic role in The Simpsons. As the heart of the family, Marge represents emotional stability, compassion, and endurance. Seeing her gone—even hypothetically—struck a chord with fans across generations.

Selman acknowledged the reaction with some humor:

“I guess this speaks to the fact that people care about Marge. At the end of the day, it’s probably good for business even when these ridiculous, misleading stories go viral!”

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What’s next for The Simpsons?

Despite the buzz, Marge Simpson is here to stay. The Simpsons has already been renewed through season 40, with no signs of slowing down. The focus now shifts to season 37, which will continue the show's mix of satire, family dynamics, and the occasional emotional curveball.

“Estranger Things” may have used Marge’s death as a catalyst, but the heart of the finale was clearly Bart and Lisa’s relationship. As Selman pointed out, it was less about finality and more about emotional exploration:

“It’s a beautiful story that uses Marge’s death as a catalyst, more than anything.”

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In true Simpsons fashion, the emotional weight of a character’s death coexists with the series' complete disregard for fixed timelines. That balance between pathos and parody is part of what has kept the show relevant for over three decades.