Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Simpsons Season 36, Episode 8, “Convenience Airways.”
Although The Simpsons didn't make much of the development, Season 36, Episode 8 quietly included a big surprise that could redefine the show's focus. The Simpsons The 37th season renewal has yet to be announced, but that hasn't stopped the series from doing everything it can to prove its lasting relevance. As noted by Vulture and YouTube SuperEyepatchWolf creator, critics and fans have come to the conclusion that “The Simpsons are good again” since season 34, the series has focused more on character comedy and less on random, wacky humor.
While The Simpsons never gets old, that doesn't mean the show's humor has stayed the same throughout its 35-year history. On the contrary, a retrospective of the program's early years proves that The Simpsons passed through numerous different eras. The show's early seasons were darker and more cynical, while the so-called Golden Age of seasons 3 through 11 represented its critical peak. Since then, The Simpsons was in a gradual critical decline until seasons 34, 35, and 36 marked a vast improvement over their predecessors. The Simpsons the changes in season 36 were fundamental to this success.
Maggie spoke for the second time in The Simpsons Season 36, Episode 8
Maggie cried for her “Mommy” while on board a busy plane
Each episode of The Simpsons season 36 featured some form of playful narrative experimentation. The debut, “Bart's Birthday”, was an “in-universe”Series finale” This made a mockery of the show’s confidence in its immutable status quo. Season 36's two Treehouse of Horror episodes were multi-segment anthology episodes, but so was Season 36 Episode 6, “Women in Shorts.” Of the lineup, season 36 episode 8, “Convenience Airways,” was arguably the most straightforward in terms of narrative. However, even this episode included a fun framing device and a big reveal that could change the future of The Simpsons going forward.
The episode detailed the absurd ordeals Homer faced in a bus compartment full of obnoxious passengers, but that wasn't the big surprise of the outing.
“Convenience Airways” saw Marge and Homer testify to Congress following an unspecified incident on a plane. The episode detailed the absurd ordeals Homer faced in a bus compartment full of obnoxious passengers, but that wasn't the big surprise of the outing. This happened when Maggie spoke for the second time in The Simpsons in “Air Convenience”, shouting legibly “Mommy!” While Homer was looking for a locker room on the overbooked plane. For everyone The Simpsons celebrity cameos from season 36, this dialogue is the most unexpected and exciting development for any of its characters in a while.
Maggie has a long history of (almost) speaking on The Simpsons
Maggie's first word was voiced by Liz Taylor
Moments after calling her mother at “Convenience Airways”, Maggie also says “Wow,” Although this was a little less legitimate in terms of first words, his cry of “Mommy” It certainly counts as Maggie’s second canonical scene in the series. The first came in Season 4, Episode 10, “Lisa’s First Word,” when she said “Daddy” before falling asleep, but after Homer left the room. Interestingly, this lone line was voiced by Hollywood royalty Liz Taylor, and, until “Convenience Airways,” it remained Maggie's only line of dialogue in the show's canon.
Maggie communicated authentically with her family in Season 34, Episode 10, “Game Done Changed,” but it was silently choosing emojis within a game.
Maggie has tried to speak many, many times throughout the history of The Simpsonsbut their successful attempts are always reshaped or improved by some storytelling device. The SimpsonsIn the first Thanksgiving episode, Carol Kane voiced Maggie, but that was only in Bart's nightmare. Maggie authentically communicated with her family in Season 34, Episode 10, “Game Done Changed,” but it was silently choosing emojis within a game rather than verbally producing words. Most recently, Maggie spoke at the season 36 premiere, “Bart's Birthday,” but only in the self-referential series in the non-canon universe “Series finale.”
Maggie's speech is almost always retold by The Simpsons
Several Treehouse of Horror episodes feature Maggie speaking
Maggie said “Sequel?” in The Simpsons Moviecredits, but this was obviously not canoneven though the events of the film are seen as part of the series' canon. Maggie's comment occurred during the credits, while the family watched the film in which they starred, which could not be part of the series' universe. The SimpsonsThe Treehouse of Horror stories feature many more examples of Maggie's speech, but they all also take place outside of the show's continuity. Season 6, episode 6, “Treehouse of Horror V,” saw Maggie speak in a deep baritone after planting an ax in Groundskeeper Willie's back.
Likewise, in Season 10 Episode 4, “Treehouse of Horror IX,” we saw Maggie speak in the “Starship Poopers” segment. Season 16, Episode 1, “Treehouse of Horror XV”, heard her mouth the word “Mommy” when reunited with Marge in the “In The Belly of the Boss” segment, and she silenced Lisa in the opening sequence of Season 11, Episode 4, “Treehouse of Horror X.” Outside of that, season 20 episode 20, “Four Great Women and a Manicurist” and season 28 episode 2, “Friends and Family,” feature Maggie speaking only in forgotten flashbacks and imaginary stories told by other characters.
Maggie Twist, from The Simpsons' 36th season, changes the show's future
Maggie's ability to talk could potentially reshape the series
Maggie may not start talking regularly in The Simpsons after the events of “Convenience Airways”. After all, Season 10 Episode 21, “Coming to Homerica,” and Season 7 Episode 3, “Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily,” both saw Maggie speak unique lines just to underline the strangeness of each episode's events, and these did not change his role in the program more broadly. However, The Simpsons Season 36's big changes greatly increase the chances of the series changing Maggie's role. Overall, the long-running series seems newly committed to breaking with tradition and taking creative risks in its new episodes. This makes Maggie more likely to talk.
Maggie suddenly speaking out on “Convenience Airways” could be evidence of a major change in the show's plans.
Already, The Simpsons season 36 killed off Nick the real estate agent in episode 2, “The Yellow Lotus,” and included an episode in which Lisa was the only member of the titular family on screen for almost the entire runtime. It's clear that, far from resting on its laurels, television's longest-running show is trying new things and experimenting in its thirty-fifth year. As a result, Maggie suddenly speaking out on “Convenience Airways” could be evidence of a major change in the show's plans. Maggie may receive more focus and lines in the next episodes of The Simpsonsjudging by season 36 so far.
Sources: SuperEyepatchWolf (via YouTube)