Fans of The Simpsons have been moved to tears as they speculate about how the long-running show may end.
The show debuted in December 1989 and has remained a mainstay of our screens for the past 35 years, with endless adventures featuring Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and newborn Maggie.
The gang has also accidentally prophesied major events, such as Donald Trump’s presidency, the Titanic submarine disaster, World Cup outcomes, and even Apple’s latest Vision Pro reality headset launch.
Although there is no hint of the Simpsons ending, fans on Reddit couldn’t help but offer their own speculations about how the last episode may go.
Many others were eager to submit their ideas, which ranged from Homer waking up and realising everything was a dream to the entire family being imprisoned for failing to assist a mugging victim.
However, one proposal in particular moved viewers, who labelled it the ‘ideal’ way for the programme to eventually finish.
A user known as Upstairs_Ad_5574 penned: ‘Have the entire episode be the intro. Homer is at work, with a radioactive rod that he ends up accidentally taking with him.
‘Marge takes Maggie out to the grocery store. Bart and Lisa’s school day ends with her rushing out of music class, as Bart leaves detention with “im never doing this again…” on the board.
‘At the end of the day, they all rush to the couch. Homer turns on the TV and it turns into end credits with a Thank You. Then we hear Homer.. “Awww we missed the whole thing!” [sic].’
Others enjoyed it and expressed their hope that the true finale will be similar.
‘That was brilliant,’ a Reddit user simply praised.
‘I thought I’d think of something good to post. You’ve taken the wind out of my sails, very well done. I hope this is how they finally finally wrap it up,’ one agreed.
An impressed fan was moved to tears, replying: ‘Were you trying to make me cry? Update: I’m still crying. This is my ending, no matter what they do. I am emotional af today! [sic].’
As another added: ‘This is kind of perfect. Someone make this happen.’
Someone get Matt Groening on the phone immediately.
The Simpsons has been on television for more than three decades, and there has been a lot of change in Springfield. However, viewers were recently upset at the possibility that TV executives were retiring one of the show’s most iconic jokes, prompting series co-creator James L Brooks to intervene.
Homer regularly strangles Bart when he is furious with him, saying, ‘Why you little!’ through clinched teeth.
The joke was inserted into the first episode and has been a recurring theme ever since.
As you can guess, everyone was in a frenzy after the father-of-three pledged never to impose the punishment on his kid again on a recent episode, claiming that ‘things have changed’.
When a new friend complimented his firm handshake, he informed Marge that’strangling the lad paid off’ before turning to the newcomer and saying, ‘Just kidding, I don’t do that anymore – things have changed.’
This prompted supporters to believe the joke had been formally discontinued, which elicited a strong reaction from those watching from home.
Attempting to clarify, James subsequently told People that the gag was not going away, saying that “nothing is getting tamed.” Nothing.
‘He’ll continue to be strangled — [if] you want to use that awful term for it. Bart will continue be loved by his father in a specific way.’
Well, there you have it…