The Simpsons
Summary
AlthoughThe Simpsonshas retconned plenty of plots and character item over the old age , season 35 boast an telling meta moment that was a series first . The Simpsonsis one of the most self - aware show on television . Decades before the likes of30 RockandCommunitymocked their own sitcom trappings , The Simpsonswas both an improbably popular kin sitcom and a pitiless deconstructionism of the familiar genre . Homer proudly pointed out that he learned no lesson from an episode ’s adventure and the Simpson family ’s status quo was always dysfunctional instead of orderly since the series began in 1989 .
However , whileThe Simpsonsseason 36might change this , the show has n’t always been aggressive in its use of meta - humor . The Simpsonsbreaks the fourth bulwark a lot , but the show does n’t mock its own history , cultural bequest , and critical reputation in every single instalment . Although the serial takes plenty of shots at itself , it is still noted whenThe Simpsonsfinds a novel new way to mock its many earlier outings . To this final stage , time of year 35 , episode 5 , “ Treehouse of Horror XXXIV ” featured an impressive series first that took the show ’s self - referential humor to new , and surprisingly creepy , heights .
The Simpsons Changed An Earlier Episode’s Storyline In Season 35
Treehouse of Horror XXXIV altered old footage from The Simpsons
Like all of the show ’s annual Treehouse of Horror Halloween specials , “ Treehouse of Horror XXXIV ” was non - canon . However , the segment “ Ei8ht ” was the first timeThe Simpsonsaltered clips from an honest-to-goodness instalment to retcon its upshot , with the show turning a classic Golden Age clowning scene into a ghastly slaughter . In the fan - favourite jaunt season 5 , episode 2 , " Cape Feare , " Bart turn tail Sideshow Bob while the yoke were trapped on a houseboat by pull a fast one on him into reciting an integral musical as they float to rubber . In “ Ei8ht,”The Simpsonstook footage from this episode and altered it so Bob foiled Bart ’s program .
InThe Simpsons ’ drear revision of “ Cape Feare ” , Bob successfully kill Bart in front of a horrified , helpless Lisa . While this would have always been a dark antic , it is not the first clock time that a Treehouse of Horror episode show Bob killing Bart . What made the scene so uniquely disturbing was the alternative to reuse the original episode ’s life . Incorporating Bob killing Bart into “ Cape Feare ” made " Ei8ht " truly unsettlingas this segment change over suddenly from a classic episode ofThe Simpsonsto a gruesome panorama of Bart dying offscreen . This death was seamlessly added to the original episode ’s clip .
Why The Simpsons Doesn’t (Usually) Retcon Old Episodes Onscreen
The Simpsons rarely needs to revisit existing scenes
This was specially effective becauseThe Simpsonshasn’t used this gambit before , think the scene felt more like an edgy devotee edit or a creepypasta than a real outing of the serial publication . The reason thatThe Simpsonshasn’t revised footage from existing episode before is likely the samereasonThe Simpsonsfamily does n’t maturate . The show has an flexible canon that allow for the creators to constantly muddle details , mean the writer rarely need to explicate any retcons in - depth . When type do cite honest-to-god episodes , a shortsighted clip of the episode suffices , like when Ned ’s forgotten Vegas wife returned .
what is more , the creators ofThe Simpsonsmay forefend falsify footage from classic outings in new episode since these clip remind viewers of Golden Age episodes . The show ’s optic style has changed a pot since the ‘ 90s , so the switch between “ Cape Feare ” and “ Treehouse of Horror XXXVI ” was immediately noticeable in the segment . This made sense in “ Ei8ht ” since it was intended to be a bloodcurdling flashback , but might be jarring and eldritch in a normal episode . SinceThe Simpsonsseason 35 borrow from other episodesalready , it would fuddle and unneeded for the series to remix existing scenes from earlier outings .
The Simpsons Season 35’s Weird Retcon Was A Success
This trippy sequence was surprisingly creepy and ingenious
The Simpsonsflashing back to the events of a classic episode and rewrite them was risky , and “ Cape Feare ” was one of the most ambitious installment the show could have revisited . The season 5 field day is a classic that is beloved by fans , so“Ei8ht ” retool the story of “ Cape Feare ” could have been received awfully . However , using the original episode ’s invigoration and adding such a dour crook was authentically creepy-crawly in a way that took vantage of fan nostalgia for the show ’s Golden Age .
Viewers who saw the original episode as children are now likely to be adults , and seeing Bart lose to Sideshow Bob was a filthy , mean - peppy surprisal that used the comfort aesthetic of Golden Age episode ofTheSimpsonsagainst the witness . WhileThe Simpsonsseason 35 is not perfect , the show deserves quotation for actively engaging with its own meta - signification in moments like this . The Simpsonsproved that it can utilise its own history to surprise , impress , and even cringe out viewing audience with this unexpectedly cagey episode , and showed that the long - running serial still has some life exit in it in the process .
Cast
