Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 36, episode 8, “Convenience Airways.”
AlthoughThe Simpsonsdidn’t make a big deal of the development, season 36, episode 8, quietly included a huge surprise that could go on to redefine the show’s focus.The Simpsonsseason 37’s renewalhas not yet been announced, but this has not stopped the series from doing all the show can to prove its enduring relevance. As noted byVultureandYouTubecreator SuperEyepatchWolf, critics and fans alike have come to the conclusion that “The Simpsons is good again” ever since season 34 saw the series focus more on character comedy and less on random, zany humor.
All 9 The Simpsons Characters Played By Pamela Hayden, Milhouse’s Voice Actor
Milhouse’s voice actor Pamela Hayden recently announced her retirement from The Simpsons, but Bart’s best friend isn’t her only memorable character.
Whilethe Simpsons themselves never age, this doesn’t mean that the show’s humor has remained the same throughout its 35-year history. On the contrary, a look back on the show’s early years proves thatThe Simpsonshas been through numerous distinct eras. The show’s early seasons were darker and more cynical, while its so-called Golden Age from seasons 3-11 represented its critical peak. Since then,The Simpsonshad been on a gradual critical decline until seasons 34, 35, and 36 marked a major improvement on their predecessors.The Simpsonsseason 36’s changeswere key to this success.
Maggie Spoke For The Second Time Ever In The Simpsons Season 36 Episode 8
Maggie Cried For Her “Mama” While On Board A Busy Plane
Every episode ofThe Simpsonsseason 36 featured some form of playful narrative experimentation. The premiere, “Bart’s Birthday,” was an in-universe “Series finale” that mocked the show’s reliance on its unchanging status quo.Season 36’s two Treehouse of Horror episodeswere anthology episodes with numerous segments, but so was season 36, episode 6, “Women in Shorts.” Of the lineup, season 36, episode 8, “Convenience Airways,” was arguably the most straightforward in terms of its narrative. However, even this episode included a fun framing device and a major revelation that could change the future ofThe Simpsonsgoing forward.
The episode detailed the absurd trials that Homer faced in a coach compartment filled with obnoxious passengers, but this wasn’t the outing’s big surprise.
“Convenience Airways” saw Marge and Homer deliver testimony to Congress after an unspecified incident on a plane. The episode detailed the absurd trials that Homer faced in a coach compartment filled with obnoxious passengers, but this wasn’t the outing’s big surprise. This came whenMaggie spoke for the second time inThe Simpsonsin “Convenience Airways,”legibly yelling “Mama!” as Homer searched for a changing facility on the overbooked plane. For allThe Simpsonsseason 36’s celebrity cameos, this dialogue is the most unexpected and exciting development to come from any of its characters in a while.
Maggie Has A Long History Of (Almost) Speaking In The Simpsons
Maggie’s First Word Was Famously Voiced By Liz Taylor
Moments after calling for her mother in “Convenience Airways,” Maggie also says “Woo-hoo,” Although this one was slightly less legitimate in terms of first words, her cry of “Mama” certainly counts as Maggie’s second canon speaking scene in the series. The first arrived way back in season 4, episode 10, “Lisa’s First Word,” when she said “Daddy” before falling asleep but after Homer left the room. Interestingly, this lone line was voiced by Hollywood royalty Liz Taylor and, until “Convenience Airways," remained Maggie’s sole line of dialogue in the show’s canon. That said, she isn’t short on other attempts.
Maggie authentically communicated with her family in season 34, episode 10, “Game Done Changed,” but it was by silently choosing emojis within a game.
Maggie has tried to speak many, many times throughout the history ofThe Simpsons, but her successful attempts are always either retconned or ameliorated by some storytelling device.The Simpsons’ first Thanksgiving episode sawCarol Kane provide Maggie’s voice, but this was just in Bart’s nightmare. Maggie authentically communicated with her family in season 34, episode 10, “Game Done Changed,” but it was by silently choosing emojis within a game instead of verbally producing words. Most recently, Maggie spoke in season 36’s premiere “Bart’s Birthday,” but only in the show’s self-referential in-universe non-canonical “Series finale.”
Maggie’s Speech Is Almost Always Retconned By The Simpsons
Various Treehouse of Horror Episodes Feature Maggie Talking
Maggie said “Sequel?” inThe Simpsons Movie’s credits, but this was obviously non-canon, even if the events of the movie are viewed as part of the show’s canon. Maggie’s comment occurred during the credits as the family watched the movie they starred in, which couldn’t possibly be part of the show’s universe.The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror storiesfeature many more examples of Maggie speaking, but all of these also take place outside the show’s continuity. Season 6, episode 6, “Treehouse of Horror V,” saw Maggie speak in a deep baritone after planting an ax in Groundskeeper Willie’s back.
Similarly, season 10, episode 4, “Treehouse of Horror IX,” saw Maggie speak in the segment “Starship Poopers.” Season 16, episode 1, “Treehouse of Horror XV,” heard her audibly babble the word “Mama” when reunited with Marge in the segment “In The Belly of the Boss,” and she silenced Lisa in the opening sequence of season 11, episode 4, “Treehouse of Horror X.” Outside of that, season 20, episode 20, “Four Great Women and a Manicure” and season 28, episode 2, “Friends and Family,” feature Maggie speaking only in misremembered flashbacks and imaginary stories that are told by other characters.
The Simpsons Season 36’s Maggie Twist Changes The Show’s Future
Maggie’s Ability To Talk Could Potentially Reshape The Series
Maggie may not begin speaking regularly inThe Simpsonsafter the events of “Convenience Airways.” After all, season 10, episode 21, “Coming to Homerica,” and season 7, episode 3, “Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily,” both saw Maggie speak single lines solely to underline the strangeness of each episode’s events, and these didn’t change her role in the show more broadly. However,The Simpsonsseason 36’s big changesmake the odds of the series changing Maggie’s role much higher. Broadly speaking, the long-running series seems newly committed to breaking with tradition and taking creative risks in its new episodes. This makes Maggie more likely to talk.
Maggie suddenly speaking in “Convenience Airways” may be evidence of a major change in the show’s plans.
Already,The Simpsonsseason 36 killed off Nick the Realtor in episode 2, “The Yellow Lotus,” and included an episode where Lisa was the only member of the titular family onscreen for almost the entire runtime. It is clear that, far from resting on its laurels, the longest-running show on television is trying new things and experimenting in its thirty-fifth year. As a result, Maggie suddenly speaking in “Convenience Airways” may be evidence of a major change in the show’s plans. Maggie may receive more focus and lines in upcoming episodes ofThe Simpsons, judging by season 36 so far.
