The following contains spoilers for The Simpsons season 36 episode 6, “Women in Shorts,” now streaming on HuluThe Simpsonsseason 36 gave one of the show’s saddest characters a surprisingly sweet storyline. One of the benefits ofThe Simpsonsdeveloping into such an adaptable show over the past couple of decades has been the way it’s been able to shift style and focus with ease between episodes, all while retaining the same core sweet-natured themes. Even outside the Simpsons themselves, the importance of family, friendship, and joy in an otherwise harsh, bizarre, and cartoonishly dark world have been driving forces behind the whole series, keepingThe Simpsonsemotionally relevant for decades.
This has been one of the ways the show has been able to keep a lighter touch even when focusing on grim plotlines, like Moe’s lingering depression or Lisa’s failed efforts to find acceptance. One ofThe Simpsons' saddest plotlinesunderscores this duality in season 36’s “Women in Shorts.” One of the best little storylines in the vigilante-heavy episode is a surprisingly sweet visit to a typically tragic corner of Springfield, highlighting how important those themes are to the universe of Springfield as a whole.
The Muntz Story From The Simpsons Season 36 Gives One Of The Show’s Saddest Character Stories A Heartwarming New Chapter
The Muntzs Get An Adorable Moment For A Change
Nelson Muntz and his mother’s story fromseason 36’s “Women in Shorts"is a sweet little short about the pair, who have consistently been some ofThe Simpsons' most tragic characters. “Women in Shorts” is an anthology episode, shifting focus across Springfield in rapid succession. This includes a vignette about Nelson and his mother, with the latter telling a bedtime story to her son. Despite the typically prickly relationship Mrs. Muntz has with Nelson, the sequence is actually very sweet.Mrs. Muntz regales her son with a fantastical version of her work night at a local exotic club.
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It’s a cute back and forth between the pair, especially when Nelson inserts himself into the story to help make sure Princess Muntzina is protected and taken out to a nice dinner. The story ends with the pair sharing an embrace after Nelson tells his mother she is his hero. It’s an unironically sweet moment between the pair that comes across as all the more surprising because of their previous interactions. Nelson’s always had some ofThe Simpsons' saddest storylines, soit’s a very emotional development to see him and his mother getting along so well.
Nelson’s Home Life Is One Of The Simpsons' Saddest Subplots
How Nelson Went From A One-Note Bully To One OfThe Simpsons' Best Supporting Characters
Introduced in season 1’s “Bart the General,” Nelson Muntz was originally a one-note bully character and frequent antagonist for Bart. However, as the series progressed, Nelson has steadily been given more depth. Compared to the suburban lifestyle of the Simpsons and their neighbors, Nelson is often shown to live in much more difficult conditions. His father abandoned his family years prior, with several episodes drawing attention to the emotional trauma this put Nelson through.Mrs. Muntz supports herself and her son alone by working as an exotic dancer, which has often been used as a dark source of comedy.
Nelson’s home life has made him one ofThe Simpsons' most tragic characters, making small moments of joy like “Women in Shorts” all the more impactful.
In stark contrast to many her subplot with Nelson in “Women in Shorts,” Mrs. Muntz has been shown to have a much harsher relationship with her son. Episodes like season 16’s “Sleeping With The Enemy” highlighted their tumultuous home life, with Marge openly insulting Mrs. Muntz and opening the house to Nelson when she briefly abandoned her son for an acting job. Despite all the comedic touches the character has been given over the years,Nelson’s home life has made him one ofThe Simpsons' most tragic characters, making small moments of joy like “Women in Shorts” all the more impactful.
Nelson & His Mom’s Story Speaks To The Show’s Central Themes
The Story Of Princess Muntzina Speaks To The Core Themes OfThe Simpsons
At the heart ofThe Simpsonsis a story about a family sticking together, regardless of the bittersweet and bizarre challenges of life. It’s an enduring and universal message that’s helped give the show such longevity. While many plotlines have explored that theme through the titular family themselves, episodes like"Women in Shorts” highlight how important that core element is to the rest of the show’s characters. Nelson and his mother may have comically dour living conditions and turn tales of fights at strip clubs into bedtime fantasies, but their love for one another is clear throughout the short.
While Nelson debuted in season 1, his mother Mrs. Muntz didn’t formally debut inThe Simpsonsuntil season 15’s “‘Tis the Fifteenth Season.”
The Simpsonshas always been about finding love and happiness in strange and bittersweet circumstances, with many of the other segments in “Women in Shorts” touching upon that concept too.The sweetest one belongs to Nelson and his mother, as it gives the sad long-running subplot a sweet chapter for once and highlights a genuinely loving bond between them. The result is one of the nicest plot beats so far inThe Simpsonsseason 36, and reminder of the driving emotional core of the entire show.
The Simpsons
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The Simpsons is an animated series set in the fictional town of Springfield, following the daily lives of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Premiering in 1989, the show is renowned for its satirical commentary on politics, media, and American culture, featuring numerous celebrity guest appearances.
