The Simpsons
Summary
It is extremely unusual forThe Simpsonsto for good kill off a lineament in canon , meaning the show commonly has a unspoilt reason to take this drastic activity . The anarchic animate clowning series invariably changes major detail , like when its main grapheme were born , where the town of Springfield is located , and even the existence of some patronage characters . However , this does n’t mean thatThe Simpsonshas no canon whatsoever . On the reverse , the show occasionally toy some events directly and makes them part of the show ’s lasting canon , especially its highly uncommon character deaths .
AlthoughThe Simpsonsis come near season 36and has publicize over 750 episodes , the show has only kill off about a dozen characters for goodness . This is a pretty staggering achievement when the serial publication has a roll of chiliad , include innumerable one - off case . disregard deaths that come along in the one-year Treehouse of Horror Halloween special , which are explicitly not part of its canon , onlya belittled handful of the show ’s countless characters have died and stayed bushed . While Dr. Nick , Ralph Wiggum , and Dr. Marvin Monroe were all toss off off and fetch back later , there is typically some sort of justification when a character meets their end .
No Christmas is arrant without some classic Simpsons Christmas episodes . Here are all the show ’s holiday specials , in chronological edict .
10Frank Grimes
The Simpsons killed Frank Grimes to satirize the show’s sitcom formula
The Simpsonsseason 8 , installment 23 , “ Homer ’s Enemy , ” introduce Frank Grimes , an industrious , gamey - strung , and humorless colleague who worked with Homer in the atomic world power plant . Grimes was step by step driven to insanity by Homer ’s carelessness , the simplicity with which he moved through living and his on the face of it illimitable ripe portion . Thus , in “ Homer ’s Enemy,”The Simpsonskilled off soil to bemock its own situation comedy formula . In any world that was n’t a zany television set comedy , Homer ’s glad life would be madden for hard - working the great unwashed like Grimes , butThe Simpsonsused his death to remind looker that the toon takes place in a surreal , heightened , and surprisingly pitiless realism .
9Professor Huntington
The Simpsons killed off Moe’s mentor to wrap up an inconvenient plot
WhileThe Simpsonsfeatures some of themost iconic TV character ever , the show has also infix plenty that existed solely for the saki of a single plot . In time of year 13 , instalment 3 , “ Homer the Moe , ” the serial centered on one such figure . Professor Huntington was Moe ’s wise man at Swigmore University , where the bartender learned his trade . After bring some advice to his old educatee , Huntington walked into a lake so thatThe Simpsonscould swiftly finish his tenure on the show . Crucially , this bizarre muzzle ensured that Professor Huntingtonwasn’t around later in the episodewhen Moe involve more advice .
8Great-Uncle Boris
Homer’s forgotten relative died for the sake of a silly episode ending
In season 5 , sequence 16 , “ Homer the Flanders , ” Homer terminate his unawares - lived friendship with Flanders . Lisa then questioned whether the home would turn back to their weekly escapade format , only for Homer to then be informed that his Great - Uncle Boris had give-up the ghost . This motivate the family to spend a night in his ostensibly “ preoccupied ” house , prove the condition quo ofThe Simpsonsnever changes . This jape was revisit when Homer ’s majuscule aunt Hortense died in time of year 7 , installment 15 , “ Bart the Fink . ” This time , the Simpson syndicate was offered a chance to inherit her portion if they were unforced to spend the night in her “ Haunted ” house , only for them to do so without incident .
7Mona Simpson
Homer’s mother had to die so he could move on
It was n’t untilseason 33 thatThe Simpsonsanswered lingering mysteriessurrounding Homer ’s female parent Mona and how she knew so much about his adult life , but it was open that her absence seizure affected Homer deeply from her first visual aspect in the serial . As such , time of year 19 , instalment 19 , “ Mona farewell - a,”needed to pop off Glenn Close ’s character to give Homer a sense of closure . Every time Mona appear in earlier episodes , Homer would end up desert by her again . However , her demise finally gave him a chance to consent his female parent for who she was and move on .
6Bleeding Gums Murphy
Lisa’s friend died so The Simpsons could teach her about loss
The Simpsonsisn’t usually a grievous serial , but Homer ’s relationship with Mona certainly proved that the show can be deeply emotional at times . Similarly , the death of blues instrumentalist Bleeding Gums Murphy in time of year 6 , episode 22 , “ ‘ pear-shaped Springfield , ” allow the show to teach Lisa about end in a direction that was run , but not overly maudlin . Killing off Murphy for genuine give the episode ’s tale bigger stakes , making Lisa ’s heartache over her loss profoundly affecting while still yield the episode a promising final picture .
5Asa Phelps
Mr. Burns and Grampa’s adventure was sparked by Asa’s death
The Simpsonsseason 7 , episode 22 , “ have words Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in ' The Curse of the Flying Hellfish ’ , ” was one of the show ’s most ambitious , genuinely thrilling adventure storey , as it partner off off Mr. Burns with Grandpa for a story focalize on the Flying Hellfish Battalion . The full lark , coupled with Bart ’s interest in the present - day storyline , was facilitated by the death of Asa Phelps . If Phelps had n’t die , Burns and Grampa would n’t have blend in searching for their buried gem , signify Grampa and Bart would never have attach .
4Red Barclay
Red needed to die to send Homer and Bart on a bonding trip
In season 10 , episode 17 , “ Maximum Homerdrive , ” Bart and Homer were sent on a trip that bonded the duad as they transported a later teamster ’s lading across America . However , for this plot line to work , Hank Azaria ’s garrulousRed Barclay needed to die in a way that made Homer feel responsible . The series achieved this by match Homer and Red against each other in a steak - eating contest . carmine won , but immediately pop off of “ gripe poisoning , ” prompt Homer to sense sorry and insist on transporting his cargo with Bart .
3Beatrice Simmons
Grampa’s love interest died to make him more sympathetic and human
In time of year 2 , sequence 17 , “ Old Money , ” Homer and Grampa went through one of their roughest plot of land after Grampa ’s love interestingness Beatrice Simmons died . Homer refused to run across his don ’s doxy , assuming she was imaginary . This resulted in Grampa blaming Homer for her death and bitter refuse to share his subsequent sizable inheritance with his boy . However , Grampa Simpson has a orphic sweet sideandBeatrice ’s death eventually bring Homer and Abe closer togetherwhen Homer hold back his father from gambling away her money .
2Edna Krabappel
This iconic character’s real-life actor passed away
The iconic voice role player Marcia Wallace passed away in 2013 , result inThe Simpsonsretiring her recur lineament Edna Krabbapel . In time of year 29 , episode 19 , “ Left Behind , ” her former dear involvement Ned Flanders took a teaching problem to honor her memory , allowingThe Simpsonsto devote testimonial to the actor . Krabbapel was killed off due to Wallace ’s real - life release , with the show ’s creators opting to permanently pop the fictitious character instead of recasting her . Season 25 , episode 3 , “ Four Regrettings and a Funeral , ” was dedicated to Wallace ’s memory and boast a chalkboard gag immortalizing her character ’s bequest .
1Maude Flanders
Maude’s death was caused by behind-the-scenes controversy
The most ill-famed instance ofThe Simpsonskilling off a part , Maude Flanders croak due to a battle between her actor and the meshwork . Maggie Roswell require for a rise to cover her travel costs as she know in Denver and recorded lines for the series in LA . When Fox fail to supply a sane upgrade , Roswell relinquish and Maude was vote out off via a metric ton - shirt cannon accident . Ironically , Roswell was rehired and allow to enter her lines from home only two years later , butThe Simpsonssupporting fibre stayed dead since this was a rare character dying that substantially strike other character like Ned , Rod , and Todd .
