Warning: This text accommodates SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 36’s particular “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy.”

Whereas The Simpsons season 36’s Christmas particular “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy” is a completely authentic effort, the double-sized particular includes a slew of intelligent references to the present’s earlier vacation specials. The Simpsons season 37’s renewal might not have been introduced but, however the sequence isn’t resting on its laurels by any metric. Regardless of its longevity, the present has managed to successfully reinvent itself since its important nadir round season 33 with character-focused storylines that prioritize emotional resonance over zany comedy. This has resulted in viewers and critics arguing that The Simpsons is having fun with a renaissance.

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After over 770 episodes, The Simpsons season 36’s massive adjustments show that the present continues to be making artistic leaps. Season 36, episode 6, “Ladies in Shorts,” was an anthology outing that targeted on over a dozen underrated feminine characters from all through Springfield, whereas the subsequent episode was a Treehouse of Horror Presents particular that tailored the works of Ray Bradbury to the world of the sequence. These creative experiments show that The Simpsons season 36’s adjustments are a welcome break from the norm, however the present’s double-sized vacation particular nonetheless referenced many earlier traditional outings.

9 The Ending Of “C’Mon Ye Trustworthy’ Recreates The Simpsons’ First Episode

The Simpsons Revisits The Closing Tableau From Its Pilot

Though The Simpsons season 36’s particular “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy” featured an authentic story, it additionally included many intelligent nods to the present’s lengthy historical past. Among the finest of those homages arrives on the very finish of the particular, as Marge and Homer cuddle beneath the tree whereas Lisa and Bart maintain a watch out for Santa on Christmas Eve. The tableau on the finish of the particular owes an apparent debt to the ending of the present’s pilot, “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fireplace.” Like “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy,” that outing ended with a equally candy picture.

The Simpson household had been gathered across the Christmas tree in each episodes, though Grampa was current within the earlier outing. Lots has modified since the early seasons of The Simpsons, however whereas the present’s tone is perhaps much less cynical and grounded these days, the closing scene of “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy” proves some issues by no means change in Springfield. The Simpsons has been criticized for its stagnant established order earlier than however, seeing the Simpsons collectively on Christmas 35 years after their pilot aired, it’s robust to make the argument that the present’s consistency is a nasty factor.

8 Homer Has Been Santa Earlier than

Homer Performed Santa When He Saved Springfield From Funzo

The premise of “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy” facilities on British mentalist Derren Brown’s makes an attempt, alongside a documentary crew, to instill Christmas spirit within the surly populace of Springfield. This ends in just a few mishaps, akin to Homer changing into satisfied that he’s Santa Claus after Brown inadvertently implants this concept in his thoughts. Though Homer is finally disabused of the notion, it’s price noting that this isn’t the primary time the character has performed Santa in The Simpsons. In season 11, episode 9, “The Grift of the Magi,” Homer dressed as Santa to steal Springfield’s many Funzo Dolls.

This weird fusion of How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Santa’s standard mission was brought on by a duplicitous toy firm releasing Funzo though they knew the toy was designed to destroy different toys as soon as activated. To save lots of The Simpsons’ Barbie parody Malibu Stacy and the remainder of the city’s toys, Homer donned the well-known purple go well with and squeezed down the city’s chimneys, stealing their Funzos whereas Bart and Lisa distracted the householders with carols. One of many present’s strongest festive specials, “The Grift of the Magi” doubled as each a pointy satirical effort and a candy festive journey.

7 Bart Tries To Join With Marge Over The Christmas Spirit

Marge and Bart’s Relationship Framed The Present’s Greatest Christmas Particular

In “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy,” Marge’s relationship with Bart is put to the take a look at when he torments the Flanders household by pretending to be the spirit of Christmas and haunting their dwelling. Marge is initially aggravated, however she is heartened to be taught that Bart solely did this so they might consider in God once more after Ned’s disaster of religion. The Simpsons’ most transferring Christmas episode, season 7, episode 11, “Marge Be Not Proud,” additionally centered on a disagreement between the mom and son duo. Nonetheless, Bart’s earlier infraction was extra critical so far as Marge was involved.

Marge and Bart’s bond was put to the take a look at in “Marge Be Not Proud” when Bart shoplifted a online game that Marge refused to purchase him. Marge felt distanced from Bart in “Marge Be Not Proud” whereas Bart felt deserted by his mom, however the pair patched issues up when he gifted her a framed household picture at Christmas. Though the present relied on Bart’s antics and their subsequent fallout to anchor one other, lesser Christmas episode of The Simpsons in season 9, episode 10, “Miracle on Evergreen Terrace,” it was Marge and Bart’s battle on this outing that made “Marge Be Not Proud” stand out as a traditional.

6 Lisa’s Conversion To Buddishm Is A Simpsons Vacation Custom

Lisa First Questioned Her Religion At Christmas

In “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy,” Ned struggles along with his religion when Homer realizes he isn’t actually Santa, leaving his neighbor unable to consider in any faith-based divine authority determine. Lisa discusses her religion in Buddhism with Ned and reassures him with a metaphorical parable a few sea turtle and an ox’s yoke. That is becoming contemplating the truth that she initially transformed to the religion in season 13, episode 6, ”She Of Little Religion.” Whereas a few of the sadder revelations in The Simpsons season 36 threaten to vary the present’s established order, Lisa’s constant religion stays strong.

5 Gil Will get A Christmas Redemption

Gil Was The Focus Of An Earlier Simpsons Christmas Particular

Gil is arguably the saddest character within the historical past of The Simpsons, and he’s by no means sadder than at Christmas. Primarily based on the terminally tragic determined salesman performed by Jack Lemmon in Glengarry Glen Ross, Gil was the main target of season 18, episode 9, “Kill Gil, Elements 1 and a pair of.” In that festive particular, Gil moved in with the Simpson household and refused to depart when their hospitality ran dry. In “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy,” Gil receives a extra hopeful vacation shock when Brown’s documentary group makes him seem like a hero, enhancing his woeful self-image.

4 “C’Mon Ye Trustworthy” Even References Non-Christmas Episodes

The Simpsons Christmas Particular Options A Nod To One Season 1 Outing

Early on in “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy,” Homer insists to each himself and Marge that he’s a horrible present giver and Brown decides to hypnotize him out of this mindset. Nonetheless, Homer does have some historic proof to again up his declare. He immediately references getting Marge a bowling ball as a present, which was the impetus for her close to affair with Jacques, the bowling teacher, in season 1, episode 9, “Life on the Quick Lane.” This isn’t the one non-Christmas episode to obtain a intelligent nod in “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy” because of a extra divisive later outing.

3 The Simpsons Fixes An Notorious Non-Christmas Plot With One Twist

Homer’s Hypnosis Goes A Lot Higher The Second Time Round

Whereas Brown hypnotizing Homer doesn’t go completely, contemplating he spends days pondering he’s Santa, it additionally might have gone quite a bit worse. In season 13, episode 5, “The Blunder Years,” an encounter with a hypnotist led Homer to uncover a repressed reminiscence of discovering the corpse of Waylon Smithers Sr throughout his teen years. The Bob’s Burgers Film revived this Simpsons story and managed to make it funnier and fewer morbid than the divisive authentic episode, so it’s enjoyable to see “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy” revisit Homer going underneath hypnosis and offering a much less traumatic ending to this plot.

2 Moe’s Darkest Vacation Custom Returns In “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy”

The Simpsons Season 36’s Vacation Particular Proves Moe Has Discovered That means

A number of vacation episodes of The Simpsons embrace bleak jokes about Moe taking his personal life, together with “The Grift of the Magi” and season 17, episode 9, “Simpsons Christmas Tales.” Nonetheless, “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy” presents a extra hopeful spin on this as Moe admits that, though he usually considers ending every thing on the vacations, Homer appearing as Santa has reignited his zeal for all times this Christmas. The Simpsons season 36’s change to this recurring joke is a intelligent one which each references and subverts the recurring gag’s standard execution, stunning longtime viewers with a brand new twist.

1 Homer & Flanders’ Variations Have Fueled Simpsons Christmas Specials Earlier than

Homer and Flanders Had been Contrasted All through Two Christmas Episodes

In season 15, episode 7, “’Tis the Fifteenth Season,” the divergent personalities of Homer and Ned Flanders are central to the vacation particular’s story. The identical is true in “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy,” whereby Homer stands in for Santa whereas Ned is busy dropping religion in God. The pair couldn’t be extra opposed than they’re in each of those vacation specials, however a 3rd Christmas episode of The Simpsons noticed the duo work collectively and make an unexpectedly hilarious pairing. Ned and Homer’s Christmas Simpsons journey is a traditional outing that largely facilities round their youngsters.

In season 12, episode 8, “Skinner’s Sense of Snow,” Bart, Lisa, and the remainder of Springfield Elementary’s college students are trapped in class at Christmas as a result of a blizzard. As the children insurgent, Homer and Ned try to save lots of them within the episode’s B-story. Naturally, the pair of poorly ready fathers virtually get themselves killed within the course of, however they finally work collectively and free their youngsters. Equally, the ending of “O C’Mon All Ye Trustworthy” sees Ned regain his religion whereas a fortunate accident convinces Brown that Homer actually is Santa in The Simpsons season 36’s candy vacation particular ending.

Launch Date

December 17, 1989

Franchise(s)

The Simpsons

Community

FOX

Seasons

36

Writers

Matt Groening , James L. Brooks , Sam Simon

Develop