Summary
I knowThe Simpsonslikes to keep its canon loose, but the show retconning the same story detail three different times still seems like overkill. AsThe Simpsonsseason 36’s release dateapproaches, longtime viewers of the series know one thing for certain, and that is that nothing about the show’s history is set in stone. Sincethe Simpsons never age, the series has changed the birthdates of its main characters repeatedly over the years. Homer even broke the fourth wall in season 34 by noting he was born in either the ‘60s or the ’80s.
As the series has continued, the future of its main characters has become particularly contradictory.Nine future-set episodes ofThe Simpsonsoutline the family’s fates as well as a handful of outings that offer momentary glimpses into their futures as part of other storylines. However, almost all the show’s depictions of the family’s future override each other, with their stories changing depending on the episode. Homer and Marge repeatedly split up but are always reunited, Homer has died numerous times only to be revived by sci-fi plot devices, and Lisa marries either Milhouse or Nelson.
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Lisa’s College Plans Changed Four Times In The Simpsons
Lisa Has Attended Yale, Harvard, An English College, And No College At All
It is the last of these contradictions that I find galling even within the context of the show’s ever-changing canon. I understand thatThe Simpsonsis a zany cartoon and, as a result, the show reserves the right to constantly rewrite its own history. However,Lisa’s choice of college has changed four times throughoutThe Simpsonsand this makes it increasingly difficult to get invested in the character’s future. Depending on the future episode, Lisa’s plans for post-high school education constantly change from an English university to a scholarship to Yale, to a stint at Harvard, to avoiding college altogether.
The Simpsons is doing one of its main characters a disservice by keeping her story so unclear.
I can see how these contradictory adventures offer viewers various visions of Lisa’s future, like a choose-your-own-adventure story. However, I still think the series is doing one of its main characters a disservice by keeping her story so unclear. Many ofLisa’s best episodes ofThe Simpsonsdirectly address the difficulties she faces growing up in a town that doesn’t understand her. Whether she is doubting the existence of angels or refuting the sanitized history of Springfield, Lisa is someone who yearns to outgrow her hometown. As such, I’d like to know if her future is bright.
Lisa’s College Plans Are Surprisingly Central To Her Future
Changing Lisa’s College Also Alters Her Love Life
I’m not just interested inThe Simpsonsclarifying Lisa’s plans after high school for the sake of her career.Lisa’s choice of college has massive implications for her love life and personal happiness, judging by the show’s future-set episodes. In season 16, episode 15, “Future-Drama,” Bart ensured that Lisa didn’t end up in an unfulfilling relationship with Milhouse by giving her his scholarship to Yale. In season 6, episode 19, “Lisa’s Wedding,” Lisa only met her future fiancée Hugh because she began attending university in England.
If Lisa never moves to England or attends Harvard, Hugh and her college girlfriend Valerie will respectively vanish out of existence. I understand thatThe Simpsonsretcons charactersall the time, but Kat Dennings’ love interest from season 29, episode 8, “Mr. Lisa’s Opus,” was already deprived of screen time in her first appearance. I would have loved to see Lisa’s relationship with this character given more dramatic heft, but that can only happen if the show confirms that she attended Harvard. Only three years later, season 32, episode 20, “Mother and Child Reunion,” effectively ensured that Valerie couldn’t return.
The Simpsons Should Make Lisa’s Future Clear
Lisa’s Changing College Plans Make Her Eventual Fate Weirder
When “Mother and Child Reunion” revealed that Lisa never went to any college, much to her mother’s chagrin, this once again redefined her future. She still went on to become the President despite her lack of a college education, and the next future-set episode of the series should clarify how she achieved this. Lisa would be the first US President since Truman to pull this off, butThe Simpsonscould easily retcon this storyline and reveal that she did go to college after all. Regardless, I’d like to know which of her various romantic relationships actually happened.
I wish the show would simply explain Lisa’s future in more concrete terms.
Even in theGolden Age ofThe Simpsons, the show had a healthy attitude of prioritizing comedy over canon. However, as the series has offered viewers more and more glimpses of the family’s future, some level of clarity has become increasingly necessary. I wish the show would simply explain Lisa’s future in more concrete terms, since this would allowThe Simpsonsto prove that, regardless of where she goes to college, the heroine ends up living her dream.
