The Simpsons Season 35 Is Teasing An Emotional Character Death (& It’s The Right Choice)

Summary

• “Cremains of the Day” teases a major character’s death like those in past seasons, emphasizing emotional resonance.
• Killing off Barney could provide an emotional gut punch to Homer and the audience due to his longstanding presence.
• The death could bring emotional depth to the show and allow for reflection on the evolution of characters since the early days.

An upcoming episode of The Simpsons is teasing a death that rocks Homer and his friends, and there’s one character in particular it should be. While The Simpsons has used its cartoony nature and flexible canon to have characters bounce back from all sorts of devastating injuries, there are some mortal consequences for characters within the show. The few major character deaths that have occurred in the show have often been mined for strong emotional effect, underscoring the important humanity that keeps the characters in Springfield grounded.

“Cremains of the Day,” the fifteenth episode of The Simpsons’ 35th season, has been set up to follow those episodes’ trajectory by killing off one of Homer’s friends. Promotional images for the episode have revealed that in the aftermath, Homer will go on a cross-country trip to spread his friend’s ashes. He’ll do so with frequent The Simpsons side-characters Lenny, Carl, and Moe, proving they won’t be the death in question. While the show could use a minor figure for that role, “Cremains of the Day” would be more emotionally impactful if the death hit close to home for Homer and audiences alike by killing off a character who debuted in the show’s first episode.

The Simpsons Season 35 Is Teasing A Character Death In Episode 15

One Of Homer’s Friends Will Be The Next The Simpsons Character To Be Killed Off

The upcoming season 35 episode of The Simpsons, “Cremains of the Day,” will feature the death of a Springfield citizen, and it could be the perfect way to write Barney Gumble off the show. The episode’s official synopsis has teased that someone close to Homer will pass away. In the aftermath, Homer (along with Moe, Lenny, and Carl) will venture on a trip to spread their ashes. The concept is a somber one that has a great deal of potential for emotional storytelling, even while retaining The Simpsons‘ typical sense of snarky levity.

While many characters in the show have bounced back from seemingly fatal events, The Simpsons has permanently killed off some characters. These events may be rare, but they’ve often been used to generate genuine drama in the animated comedy. Characters like Bleeding Gums Murphy, Maude Flanders, Mona Simpson, and Edna Krabappel all died in-universe, with episodes even decades later still confronting the pain felt by their surviving loved ones. Barney would make sense in-universe as the next major death for the show to confront and could close the book on one of The Simpsons‘s saddest characters.

Barney’s Death Makes Sense Given How His Role Has Changed Over 35 Years

How Barney Went From Important Supporting Character To Tragic Afterthought

Barney was introduced in the first episode of The Simpsons, season 1’s “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire.” Quickly established as Homer’s best friend and a regular at Moe’s Tavern, Barney was a frequent target of gags that poked fun at his pathetic life, slovenly ways, and wasted potential. Several episodes of the show’s lauded Golden Age focused somewhat on Barney, such as season 4’s “Mr. Plow” and season 5’s “Deep Space Homer.” As time went on, Barney became less featured. Season 11’s “Days of Wine and D’oh’ses” focuses on Barney attempting to become sober.

These struggles were ultimately for naught, as an off-screen relapse prompted a return to the Barney of the early seasons. By then though, Barney’s role as Homer’s closest friend had been supplanted by Moe, Lenny and Carl. While some episodes feature gags about him or include minor appearances for Barney, The Simpsons hasn’t featured Barney as a major character in many modern episodes. Killing off Barney wouldn’t be a huge hit to the show’s current structure, but it could be a massive emotional blow to Homer — and one the show should be willing to take.

Why The Simpsons’ Killing Off Barney Is The Right Move

Barney’s Death Would Be An Ideal Way To Close The Book On The Character

The Simpsons has avoided the quietly tragic Barney in recent seasons, meaning his death wouldn’t hurt the current structure of The Simpsons‘s supporting cast. This could allow Barney to have an in-universe farewell that pays tribute to his impact on the series while closing the book on a problematic character. Having Homer lose one of his best friends would allow The Simpsons to confront how things have changed since the early days of the series in an emotionally resonant way that highlights the importance of Homer’s other friendships in the show.

The death could still turn out to be another one of Moe’s minor regulars like Sam or Larry, but that would feel less of an emotional blow given their minimal role and lack of personality in the show. While the episode could focus on the character’s demise, “Cremains of the Day” would become more effective if it were focused on a more established character like Barney, making Homer’s grief feel more grounded and genuine. The upcoming death of a supporting character in The Simpsons might be the perfect time to write off one of the show’s oldest supporting characters.