Although the depictions of the future seen in season 37 can do pretty much anything thanks to the show’s lax approach to continuity. Unrestrained by fidelity to earlier episodes of the series, The Simpsons can change its canon at will in each new episode. According to executive producer Matt Selman’s X post, The Simpsons has an “Elastic canon” which means the series can alter the backstories of characters.

Since The Simpsons is the longest-running scripted primetime American TV show in history, it is no surprise that the show can’t keep up with its own canon. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Unlike a more serious series with inconsistent continuity, The Simpsons doesn’t need to worry too much about how emotionally invested viewers get in its characters. The Simpsons season 36’s finale proved this with a plot that killed off Marge but did so in service of a sweet, zany future-set storyline.

The Simpsons Season 36 Finale Reveals Lisa Doesn’t End Up With Milhouse or Nelson

Season 34’s “When Lisa Met Nelson” Ended With The Childhood Sweethearts Reunited

In The Simpsons season 36 finale’s surprisingly moving tribute to Toy Story 2, season 36, episode 18, “Estranger Things,” revealed that Marge died before Homer and Bart and Lisa grew apart as they got older. The future of the Simpson children constantly changes depending on the episode, but “Estranger Things” surprised viewers by revealing that Lisa didn’t end up romantically linked to Nelson or Milhouse. In season 34, episode 9, “When Nelson Met Lisa,” Lisa dated Hubert Wong but ended up happy with Nelson.

In season 11, episode 17, “Bart to the Future,” Lisa is married to Milhouse, while in season 23, episode 9, “Holidays of Future ed,” the pair have a teenage daughter together.

Lisa’s relationship with Nelson dates all the way back to season 8, episode 7, “Lisa's Date with Density,” while Milhouse has held a candle for her for almost as long. In season 11, episode 17, “Bart to the Future,” Lisa is married to Milhouse, and she is the President of the United States while, in season 23, episode 9, “Holidays of Future ed,” the pair have a teenage daughter together. Thus, “Estranger Things” proving that Lisa’s romantic future is no longer tied to the town of Springfield could be a big deal for season 37.

The Simpsons Season 37 Can Bring Back Lisa’s Best Romantic Future

Season 29’s “Mr. Lisa’s Opus” Saw Lisa Date Her Roommate Valerie

As The Simpsons season 36’s darkest episode ending proves, the show changes its canon without explanation constantly. However, the episode's confirmation that Lisa isn’t guaranteed to end up with Milhouse or Nelson has unique potential thanks to her fate in season 29, episode 8, “Mr. Lisa’s Opus.” An atypically melodramatic outing, “Mr. Lisa’s Opus” parodies Richard Linklater’s Boyhood by bouncing between scenes that take place throughout Lisa’s eventual future.

While most of the episode concerns itself with the Simpson family’s struggles and Lisa’s rivalry with Bart, its ending focuses on Lisa’s uncertainty about her future after she is accepted into Harvard. Lisa’s new roommate makes her feel inferior, and she fears that she isn’t smart, talented, or gifted enough for the famous institution of higher learning, but Bart and Maggie encourage her to attend anyway. Lisa meets her other roommate, Valerie, and the pair immediately share a spark, resulting in an unexpected romantic connection.

The Simpsons has never given Lisa a female love interest in the present day, even though, between Milhouse, Nelson, and The Simpsons Movie’s Colin, she has had plenty of male love interests.

“Mr. Lisa’s Opus” was the first time The Simpsons seriously touched on Lisa’s LGBTQ+ future, something the show hasn't really mentioned in present-day storylines. Most likely due to her age, The Simpsons has never given Lisa a female love interest in the present day, even though, between Milhouse, Nelson, and The Simpsons Movie’s Colin, she has had plenty of male love interests. Thus, The Simpsons season 36’s finale bodes well for Lisa’s future, detaching her fate from the town of Springfield and reintroducing the possibility of her ending up with a new character.

Kat Dennings’ The Simpsons Character Teased An Exciting Possibility

The Simpsons Touched On Lisa’s LGBTQ+ Future

Valerie proved that Lisa could end up happy with a woman in the future, but that wasn’t all that made the short-lived character appealing. Like Lisa, Kat Dennings’ character Valerie was an anxious overachiever who feared she would never be good enough. The duo were perfectly matched in of both their interests and their neuroses, and their relationship seemed like a promising one. The possibility that Lisa could be happy with someone who wasn’t tied to her past in Springfield reminds viewers that she has often wanted to leave the town behind in the future.

In the classic outings season 9, episode 9, “Lisa the Skeptic,” and season 7, episode 16, “Lisa the Iconoclast,” Lisa proved that she didn’t want to stay in Springfield longer than she had to. Valerie represents a future for Lisa that isn’t based in her hometown, and it is a bright one that “Mr. Lisa’s Opus” barely had time to explore before the episode ended. For all The Simpsons season 36 finale’s TV parodies and assorted pop culture gags, it was this promise that made “Estranger Things” bode well for season 37.

The Simpsons Season 37 Should Bring Back Lisa’s Best Fate

Valerie and Lisa’s Relationship Was Never Explored In Any Real Depth

Unfortunately, “Mr. Lisa’s Opus” only introduced Dennings’ Valerie in the episode’s closing moments. As such, viewers never got to know the character in any meaningful depth. Despite this, it was immediately obvious that the duo had chemistry, and the brief montage illustrating their life together was alternately sweet, intriguing, and funny. Since the storyline had a lot of potential and a criminally underused Dennings, Valerie should return in season 37 of the long-running series. Luckily, this would hardly be the first time the show has brought back an obscure side character.

One season 36 episode featured an appearance by the very tall man who turned Nelson’s bullying on him back in season 7, so it is fair to say the show isn’t averse to bringing back even absurdly obscure side characters. The Simpsons has mocked its own lengthy history for years now, joking about its byzantine canon and never-ending cast list, so bringing back a character who had a lot of potential to open up Lisa’s future for a full episode is hardly a huge ask. As such, The Simpsons season 37 needs to bring back Kat Dennings’ Valerie for the show’s next look at Lisa’s future.

Source: Matt Selman (via X)

Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for our weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.

SIGN UP NOW!