Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for “O C'Mon All Ye Faithful” from Season 36 of The Simpsons
Although Pamela Hayden's role as Milhouse came to an end early on, The Simpsons In season 36, the show's double holiday special offered its version of the character a perfect send-off. Pamela Hayden The Simpsons Characters appear throughout the series' 36 seasons, but one of them is bigger than the others in the series' history. Hayden has played Bart's best friend Milhouse since the beginning of the series. Her work made the character one of the series' most memorable supporting stars, but The Simpsons Season 37 will not feature any appearances from Milhouse due to Hayden's retirement in November 2024.
It's still unclear how Hayden's decision to retire will affect Milhouse, Jimbo Jones and the rest of the characters she played. The Simpsons. These functions can be revamped, but they can also be removed. The Simpsons Season 36's many big changes mean it's difficult to predict where the show will go next, but Hayden has already secured a unique place in Springfield history thanks to her unparalleled work bringing Milhouse to life. Luckily, the voice actor had the opportunity to give Milhouse a proper send-off in season 36, “O C'mon All Ye Faithful.”
Pamela Hayden makes another appearance on The Simpsons
The Simpsons Season 36's 'C'Mon All Ye Faithful' Features a Classic Milhouse Moment
All over The Simpsons season 36 holiday special, 'C'Mon All Ye Faithful,' British mentalist Derren Brown attempts to instill some Christmas spirit in the inhabitants of Springfield through hypnosis, suggestion, and straight-up trickery. This indirectly leads Milhouse's father, Kirk Van Houten, to begin spreading conspiracy theories about Santa Claus, promoting The Simpsons the transformation of the Van Houten parents in season 36 into recurring minor villains. However, Milhouse himself does not appear until near the end of “C'Mon All Ye Faithful,” when he helps Bart pull an elaborate prank on the Flanders family for a surprisingly moving good cause.
Milhouse emerges from the Flanders family television set dressed as The Ring franchise's infamous villain, Samara Morgan.
After Lisa tells Bart to spread Christmas cheer however he can, he chooses to convince the Flanders that their house is haunted by the spirit of Christmas. As Ned is going through a crisis of faith at the time, this is an uncharacteristically sweet gesture from the series' young antihero. However, their efforts fail when Marge soon discovers their plan. Milhouse then emerges from the family television dressed as The ring the franchise's infamous villain, Samara Morgan, leading Bart to admit that his prank was a little scary. As Marge hugs Bart for spreading the Christmas spirit, Milhouse leaves quietly.
Pamela Hayden gets off with a solid Milhouse gag
Hayden's Milhouse Last Scene Is a Fitting Goodbye
Milhouse's last line makes him go back inside the empty TV box and mutter “This better not count as screen time,” and it’s a perfectly fitting send-off to Hayden’s vision of the character. The Simpsons Season 36's Christmas special is full of beautiful callbacks to previous episodes, but this scene perfectly offsets Milhouse's role in The Simpsons portraying it in its natural habitat. Participating in Bart's pranks but ending up left behind at Flanders' house while everyone else goes to get eggnog, Hayden's Milhouse remains a comically unhappy figure throughout his role in The Simpsons.