Everyone needs a best friend, especially on TV, to keep the flow between the characters going. Clarke Griffin had a best friend in Bellamy Blake on The 100; Lucy Ricardo had hers in Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy, and of course, who can forget the iconic quad of Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche, and Rose of The Golden Girls? Without their chemistry, the shows would lack magic and sustenance. For the writers, this is a nightmare. The fans quickly lose interest in the show overall without chemistry.
And then there's Bart Simpson and his trusty, if submissive, best friend, Milhouse Van Houten. The boys have been part of The Simpsons universe for 35 years (and counting) and have encountered many adventures since. Like all best friends, Bart and Milhouse had their quarrels, but they always reconciled, proving that the two are unbreakable in their bond.
Milhouse was always there for Bart, even if it meant being an accomplice to his pranks and taking the blame for them. In the same light, Bart sometimes offers his back and empathy to Milhouse, as he has something that always jinxes him or puts him in a sad situation. He always has a bright side, even if it's not immediate, because no kid on earth should be that miserable and unhappy.
The little bespeckled guy has a heart of gold, and he is after Lisa, who turned him down multiple times. There were also times when the two went beyond their friendship and tried marriage, despite the fact that it was awkward and strained in the future.
Pamela Hayden, the voice behind our favorite blue-haired, with the Coke bottle glasses 10-year-old, is retiring after being part of The Simpsons since its beginning. She announced her departure earlier this week, leaving many fans shocked but grateful for her dedication. Her last episode will be the November 24th episode, "Treehouse of Horror Presents: Simpsons Wicked Way This Comes."
"One thing that I love about Milhouse is he's always getting knocked down, but he keeps getting up," Hayden said in her goodbye video for The Simpsons. At this time, no one is lined up to take over as Milhouse's voice, but Fox stated that there will be open calls in the near future.
In honor of Milhouse and Hayden, we chose the best Milhouse-centric episodes for you to enjoy!
The best Milhouse Van Houten episodes from The Simpsons
Milhouse isn't a doomed kid; he's just prone to bad luck. While we all feel horrible for him, his mishaps added some memorable storylines and quotes. Now, here are some of the best Milhouse episodes for your satisfaction.
- "Bart's Friend Falls In Love"
- "Bart Sells His Soul"
- "The Burns Cage"
- "Lemon Of Troy"
- "Little Orphan Millie"
- "A Milhouse Divided"
- "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
- "New Kids On The Blecch"
- "Radioactive Man"
- "Summer of 4'2"
When in a bind, Milhouse's presence is comforting to Bart and to us, as he's hilarious to watch, and maybe, he represents that things will improve when we're down.
You can stream all of these Milhouse installments and more on Disney+!