Warning: This text incorporates SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 36, episode 13, “The Final Man Increasing”
Though The Simpsons has hinted at Ralph Wiggum’s secret parentage earlier than, season 36, episode 13 all however confirmed one darkish fan idea. It isn’t stunning that The Simpsons has spawned plenty of fan theories. The animated household sitcom is formally the longest-running scripted primetime American TV present in historical past and, with over 780 episodes to its title, The Simpsons now boasts a forged of hundreds. As such, it is sensible that there are fan theories about The Simpsons supporting characters like Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, and Milhouse Van Houten.
Nonetheless, the present’s longevity additionally complicates its canon. Whereas The Simpsons has arrange gags years earlier than they have been paid off, the present is not at all times so in line with its canon. Usually, The Simpsons contradicts main components of the present’s fictional universe, even altering particulars as fundamental as Homer’s birthdate from episode to episode. Showrunner Matt Selman argued in a publish on X (previously Twitter) that this was because of the “Elastic canon” of The Simpsons, which permits the cartoon to vary its continuity from one episode to the subsequent.
The Simpsons Season 36 Episode 13 Implies Eddie Is Ralph Wiggum’s Father
The Police Officer Seems Round Suspiciously When Wiggum Notes Their Resemblance
Whereas the elastic canon of The Simpsons can arrange some nice gags, this strategy additionally lets the present affirm discomfiting fan theories with out absolutely committing to them. In season 36, episode 13, “The Final Man Increasing,” Chief Wiggum begins utilizing a weight-loss drug that parodies Ozempic and shortly begins boasting to his colleagues Lou and Eddie about his newfound joie de vivre. Wiggum says that his intercourse life has been reignited by the drug, and tells his co-workers that he and his spouse Sarah might even have one other little one consequently.
As Wiggum is talking, he notes that his son Ralph seems similar to Lou, certainly one of two subordinates who virtually at all times works alongside him. Lou seems panicked however says nothing, with “The Final Man Increasing” chopping to a closeup of his suspicious, wide-eyed face. The speculation that Lou is secretly Ralph’s father has been round for a very long time, primarily as a result of the pair look pretty related. Whereas The Simpsons season 36 answered one other thriller one episode earlier, “The Final Man Increasing” appeared to show this speculation true.
The declare that Ralph and Eddie look alike doesn’t maintain all that a lot water, despite the fact that an earlier episode did jokingly affirm that the police officer was his organic father.
Nonetheless, whereas Eddie’s look appears fairly damning, this doesn’t imply that he essentially is Ralph’s father. For one factor, Wiggum has been recognized to deal with his subordinates and civilians terribly, abusing his energy with out a lot motive. As such, Eddie could also be nervous about Wiggum rising suspicious of Ralph’s parentage and the implications of the chief’s theorizing, even when it isn’t true. For one more, the declare that Ralph and Eddie look alike doesn’t maintain all that a lot water, despite the fact that an earlier episode did jokingly affirm that the police officer was his organic father.
The Simpsons Confirmed Ralph’s Unlikely Parentage Earlier than (However In A Non-Canon Episode)
Season 34’s “Lisa the Boy Scout” Proved Eddie Was Ralph’s Father
In season 34, episode 3, “Lisa the Boy Scout,” The Simpsons confirmed that Eddie was Ralph’s father. Wiggum angrily confronted his spouse about this, however you will need to observe that not one of the scenes from this episode have been a part of the present’s canon. Very similar to The Simpsons supporting star Milhouse leaving Springfield for Atlanta in season 36, episode 1, “Bart’s Birthday,” this outing was swiftly retconned when the present revealed that it was all a parody of melodramatic, poorly plotted TV exhibits.
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As a non-canon episode, a lot of “Lisa the Boy Scout” was dedicated to wild fan theories. The episode supplied an evidence for the way the present seemingly predicts the longer term, in addition to revealing that Sensible Man Raphael’s many occupations had a surreal, Lovecraftian clarification. Thus, The Simpsons’ affirmation of Ralph’s parentage was non-canonical and the query of who his precise father is stays open. That is arguably higher for the collection.
What Eddie Doubtlessly Being Ralph’s Actual Father Means in The Simpsons
Season 36 Episode 13’s Revelation Solely Goes Pores and skin Deep
When it comes to character, Ralph is clearly Chief Wiggum’s son. As such, it wouldn’t make sense for the present to disclose that Eddie is Ralph’s actual father in The Simpsons. Ralph’s dimness could possibly be a results of Chief Wiggum’s parenting somewhat than inheriting his father’s character genetically. Nonetheless, since Sara Wiggum has by no means performed a serious position within the collection thus far, it might be unusual to immediately reveal that she has been concealing the identification of Ralph’s father for years.
Ralph is a fan favourite exactly as a result of his senseless naiveté is a sweeter model of his father’s worrying ignorance.
In an period when The Simpsons season 36 doesn’t even characteristic Bart in a lot of its episodes, the selection to give attention to Ralph’s parentage could be a weird and pointless one. Ralph is a fan favourite exactly as a result of his senseless naiveté is a sweeter model of his father’s worrying ignorance, and The Simpsons would complicate each Chief Wiggum and Ralph by revealing their relationship was extra advanced than it appeared.
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