17 Strange Plot Holes And Inconsistencies In The Simpsons
How can there be a picture of Maggie on the wall while Marge is still pregnant with her?
We all love The Simpsons, right? It's hard not to.
The Simpsons, one of America's most famous and longest-running sitcoms, has been on the air for more than three decades. It has amassed a worldwide following of millions of fans who can't get enough of the writers' hilarious take on American society and politics.
The show, which follows a family in an ordinary American community, has had a significant impact on pop culture and has even foretold current events. One of the reasons The Simpsons has so many fans is because of how well thought-out the show is.
The writers haven't missed a single opportunity to showcase their wit, even when the audience isn't paying attention. However, if you're paying attention, you've definitely spotted some inconsistencies in the show.
We have to admit, it is hard to maintain consistency over 30 years. It's a lifetime. People who were born when the show started are parents by now.
So, some slip-ups are bound to happen. And people notice them.
If you haven't, scroll down to see a collection of all the plot holes and strange inconsistencies from the show's episodes that may have been easily overlooked. So, let's dive in:
1. Even before it was discovered, Blinky appeared on Homer's shirt.
"The episode 'Fland Canyon' was a flashback episode set before Homer and Marge had Maggie. That means Blinky would not have yet been discovered.So it seems inaccurate that Homer would be wearing a Springfield sweater with Blinky on it."— Dr. Dan Gilbert, happiness researcher
Fox2. In one episode, Homer is seen pulling his hair out after learning that Marge is pregnant with Lisa, yet in another, he appears pleased with the news.
"In 'Maggie Makes Three,' Homer is shown in the house screaming and ripping his hair out when he learns Marge is pregnant with all three kids. But in Lisa's 'First Word,' they had just moved into the house when Lisa was born. They lived with Bart in an apartment, and Homer seemed pleased when he was told about Lisa,"— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist, explains that inconsistencies in storytelling can often reflect deeper emotional truths that resonate with audiences.
Fox3. Ned and Homer first met as teenagers and then again as adults.
"When Homer and Marge were teens, they knew Ned Flanders, but when they moved next door to him, they had never met before," explains Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and relationship expert. "This reflects the complexities of human relationships and how our past connections can sometimes be overlooked in new environments."
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4. Ralph's voice is changing.
"In the episode where Homer buys Lisa a pony and all the other kids are watching her, Ralph says something like 'Yes, but what man can tame her?' but it’s the voice of Nelson. It annoys me every time!"— Dr. Gary Chapman, marriage counselor
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5. Ned's strange neck.
"While I can't pinpoint the exact episode, it's clear that the earlier seasons of The Simpsons had their share of quirky animation errors. One of the most memorable is when Ned Flanders appears without a nose and his neck is oddly positioned outside his shirt."— Dr. Angela Duckworth, psychologist
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6. Allergies
"Bart is allergic to shrimp, yet in several episodes, you see him eating shrimp. Consistency in character traits, such as allergies, is crucial for maintaining audience engagement and credibility in storytelling," says Dr. Angela Duckworth, a renowned psychologist and author of "Grit." "When shows overlook such details, it can detract from the overall narrative."
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7. The changing house
"Honestly, it's the layout of the house that I keep having an issue with. The TV keeps changing rooms, and the kitchen keeps connecting to different rooms! Also, in that episode where Homer chokes Bart through the back wall of his bedroom - but that wall is the end of the house, and Bart's bedroom is on the OTHER side. And let's not even get started with the basement - its size and features change depending on the plot."— Caragh Pryce,
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8. The vanishing rumpus room.
"There are a couple of episodes where the mysterious rumpus room is shown, but it always changes locations!"— Cassie Smyth
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9. The timeline of the power plant is changing.
"I love The Simpsons but my god, in flashback episodes there are so many inconsistencies! The power plant was seen in the background when Homer was a kid; another time, Carl said he got the job the day the plant opened."—nicoles418eec3ed
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10. Homer and Marge's marriage doesn't line up with Bart's age.
"Homer and Marge met in high school, and I’m pretty sure they got pregnant/married not long after. But in the 'present,' Bart is 10 and Homer is 36 (I think). Shouldn’t Homer and Marge be in their late 20s?"— Dr. Laura Berman, sex therapist, who notes, "In many narratives, age discrepancies can create confusion, especially in family dynamics, which often reflect societal norms."
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11. Milhouse's first kiss
"I can’t remember the exact episode now, but Milhouse had a crush on a girl, which made Bart jealous, and he tried to sabotage the relationship. At one point, Milhouse cries out, 'My first kiss!' But it wasn’t. He actually had his first kiss in another episode a lot earlier in the series."— Amy Susan Fisher
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12. Smithers' ethnicity changed...
"When the show started, Smithers was black, but the character changed a few episodes in."— Cassie Smyth
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13. Hans Moleman's ethnicity changed...
"I believe Hans Moleman’s ethnicity was different for a couple of episodes."— Leeat Hotz
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14. Santa's Little Helper's timeline changes.
"They got Santa's Little Helper when Bart was 10, and then he was shown in a flashback when Bart was 2."—nicoles418eec3ed
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15. Abe Simpson fought wars in different places.
"In one episode, I think it was a Christmas episode, they had Abe Simpson, during WWII, in the South Pacific flying airplanes and then getting stuck on an island with Mr. Burns. Then recently, they showed Abe in Europe," noted Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, who emphasizes the importance of narrative consistency in storytelling. "Inconsistencies can disrupt the viewer's emotional connection to the characters," she explains on her website.
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16. Inconsistencies about Flanders' age
"If Flanders was 60 years old in 1999, it raises questions about the timeline of his upbringing, particularly the idea that his parents could have been beatniks. This inconsistency highlights how character backstories can sometimes clash with established timelines in storytelling."— Dr. Dan Gilbert, happiness researcher
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17. A picture of Maggie on the wall, but Marge is pregnant with her.
"The only one I can think of is the flashback of when Marge was pregnant with Maggie, but there’s a photo of her on the wall."— Dr. Alexandra Solomon, relationship therapist
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Well, those are indeed some significant inconsistencies, especially when it comes to the timelines. But considering how strange Springfield and its residents are, it is completely understandable that time flows differently there.
That quirkiness is the reason we love the show so much. We hope it will continue airing for at least 30 more years.
