There's nothing more exciting than embracing a new season of The Simpsons as we welcome the family back to our couches and screens following the summer hiatus. Season 36 will deliver its classic humor and wit the animated comedy is famous for. Honestly, I can't wait to absorb all the shenanigans Homer and his family will encounter, and here's to hoping we'll see more iconic characters that make Springfield great.
Season 35 strongly emphasized crucial societal issues, such as minimum wage and unions, letting our children venture off independently, and gripping work realities. While these elements were intricately woven in the episodes, there was fun as well. "Treehouse of Horror XXXIV" brought Kelsey Grammer back in his role as Sideshow Bob, one of the top TV villains of all time.
Season 36 premiered on September 29, with "Bart's Birthday," which will push back Fox's latest Animation Domination show, Universal Basic Guys, to 8:30 EST PM.
Additionally, the upcoming season promises more family hysteria and a double treat of "Treehouse of Horror," which is not canonically linked to the lore but the THH franchise. This is a must for the series. Honestly, I wouldn't define The Simpsons without it.
We already know that season 36 will be awesome for The Simpsons legacy, but here a few thing that will make it even better!
More of Homer and Bart bonding
Sure, Bart gets on Homer's nerves on numerous occasions, but he loves his only son, no matter what pranks the 10-year-old pulls. Over the years, we saw plenty of heartwarming moments between the two, including constructing a soapbox racing car and adopting Santa's Litlle Helper on Christmas Eve, and I would love to see season 36 inject more of the father-son material in the episodes.
The endearing plot twist is that whenever Homer feels threatened by anyone severing his relationship with the boy, he goes after them. So, maybe it's not endearing, but it radiates his love for Bart.
More horror in "Treehouse of Horror"
The Simpsons aren't really The Simpsons without their annual Halloween "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, and this year, we'll be getting two! I am a massive fan of the spooky holiday, and having Treehouse of Horror" as part of my celebration is a must. The late James Earl Jones gifted us with the first "TTH" back in 1990, which rightfully placed the franchise for success. The actor, known for his majestic baritone voice, narrated the 1845 Edgar Allan Poe poem "The Raven."
Other notable segments include a spoof of the 1932 Tod Browning pre-code movie Freaks and The Shining by Stephen King. Both were hilariously frightening and as a Spider-Man Venom reference will be embedded in this year's installment, I expect my blood to turn to ice when watching. The same applies to the second Halloween piece, "Treehouse of Horror presents: Simpsons Wicked This Way Comes." The episode was initially intended for season 35, but due to the Writer's StrikeFox pushed back one year.
Explaining Apu's disappearance from a character's point of view
Apu was dissolved from a main character to a background one in 2019, as he depicted racism and South Asian stereotypes. His voice actor, Hank Azaria, stepped down from the role in 2017, and the last episode in which Apu was a main character was 2019's "The Serfsons."
While we know the behind-the-scenes reason why Apu was written off, none of the characters discussed his departure on screen. Now, if done accordingly, Homer could address it, seeing how he was Apu's closest friend. The discussion wouldn't revolve around racism, as that would be offensive, but a more simplistic explanation, such as gaining new employment or moving to another state, only to return to Springfield for special occasions.
More of the Burn and Smithers "chemistry"
It's no secret that Smithers has "feelings" for his boss, Mr. Burns, but the latter will never reciprocate them as he's not a gay man or a member of the LGBTQA community. However, thanks to this long-running gag of the Burns and Smithers relationship, we got some iconic quotes and sequences with it.
It'll be great if season 36 continues with their "chemistry," as it's one of the reasons why The Simpsons can be relatable and funny.
More episodes centered on Santa's Little Helper and Snowball II
The Simpson family's animal members, Santa's Little Helper and Snowball II, deserve more recognition, as they help ease down the heated moments and offer unconditional love and support. We haven't gotten an episode in ages featuring our favorite TV pets, so it's high time that we did. I always believed we should've had a backstory on Snowball II and how she became a Simpson. Her arrival was briefly introduced in the pilot episode, "Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire," and lightly explained in "Lisa's Substitute," but that was it. A more elaborate emphasis would not only be great but would also strengthen Snowball II's character structure and development.
The episode featuring Snowball II would be a flashback, depicting her from kitten to cat and how she's asserted herself in the family. For Santa's Little Helper, he could visit his 25 puppies, which were stolen by Burns in "Two Dozen and One" Greyhounds, tying in both episodes.