"Beloved wife, mother, master of pork rib marinade."

The season 36 finale, featuring 'Estranger Things,' echoed the epitaph for Marge Simpson and caused confusion among Simpsons fans worldwide. The iconic American animation and family sitcom *The Simpsons*, which has been running for more than 35 years, chose to depict Marge's "death."

But did Marge really die? To dismiss this as a simple plot twist or topical event is to overlook the complex and fluid structure of the work that is *The Simpsons*. The series has never presented a "fixed truth" about a "determined future."

- Repetitive 'future flashback episodes,' there is no real future.

Similar to this episode, *The Simpsons* has frequently utilized the setting of 'seeing the future' in many episodes. Notable examples include season 6's 'Lisa’s Wedding' (1995), season 11's 'Bart to the Future' (2000), season 23's 'Holidays of Future Passed' (2011), and season 27's 'The Marge-ian Chronicles' (2016).

Surprisingly, the futures depicted in all these episodes conflict with each other. For example, in 'The Marge-ian Chronicles,' Lisa and Marge are shown settling on a Martian colony, clearly indicating that Marge is alive. In contrast, this season 36 finale suggests that Marge has already died and depicts her in heaven with the late Ringo Starr.

This implies that the 'future' presented within the series is not a single official setting, but one of various 'possibilities.' This aligns with the analysis that *The Simpsons* utilizes the future as a tool to satire the 'present' within its unique worldview.

- Speaking of death, yet not speaking… 'The evolution of episode format.'

This episode showcased a notable evolution in both its plot and direction style. After the Disney+ era, *The Simpsons* has been experimenting with episode structures that emphasize emotional density over narrative consolidation. While Marge's death scene was depicted tragically, the subsequently appearing cheerful heaven scene and the show’s characteristic irony provide viewers with a dual emotional experience, leading them to question, 'Is this real?'

In particular, the insertion of a parody song "When She Loved Me" from Toy Story 2, sung by Sarah McLachlan, was utilized as a device to evoke nostalgia and heighten emotions. This demonstrates that *The Simpsons* still possesses the strength to simultaneously encompass emotional narratives and social satire in animation.

- Marge's death raises questions about the 'sustainability' of the Simpsons.

This episode does not merely conclude with a discussion about the fate of the character Marge. There are interpretations within the fandom that suggest, 'Is a long-running series, surpassing 35 years, testing its own end?'

In 2024, Disney officially declared that *The Simpsons* would continue through season 40, stating that it is 'ongoing.' However, the internal production team frequently displays an atmosphere of summarizing the series' legacy and sentiments with each episode. After the finale, social media and international fan communities have been flooded with memorial posts honoring Marge, while expressing concerns like, 'Is this the real beginning of a farewell?'

- Conclusion: Marge has died, yet she has not died.

Marge Simpson died in this episode. Yet at the same time, she exists in heaven. Furthermore, in other episodes, she is still on Mars. This is precisely the way *The Simpsons* operates. The only thing that remains unchanged is that *The Simpsons* has always served as a mirror reflecting the absurd world of the present, and within that mirror, Marge's blue hair continues to sway.

[Photo] *The Simpsons* still.

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