The Simpsons‘ canon comprises a number of sorts of episodes deemed particular for his or her construction: those that present previous clips, the “Treehouse of Horror” sequence, the flashback episodes, and the installments that peer into the longer term. Although a number of appear to function on the identical timeline, they have a tendency to contradict one another and can’t be counted as canon. Nonetheless, they are often very charming hypotheticals to contemplate for one in all the most beloved sitcom families in TV history.
However beware: they are not all good. They have a tendency to over-rely on lazy predictions of the longer term, or attempt to shove as many characters into the episode as potential to point out what their futures maintain, nevertheless irrelevant. Such petty particulars usually distract the viewer greater than soak up them, whereas skinny plot strains and pacing points aren’t unusual. It is value mentioning that the overwhelming majority of those episodes have been written after the sequence’ Golden Age, so viewers should not anticipate the cream of the crop. “Bart to the Future” and “Future Drama,” as an illustration, are so weak that they do not belong on a prime ten record of something constructive. With these out of the best way, a few the entries beneath do not completely happen sooner or later. As an alternative, one of the best Simpsons episodes that soar forward in time use the weird setting to their benefit. They perceive the characters are the guts of the story (and humor) it doesn’t matter what yr it’s, showcase the same stage of ingenuity utilized in episodes of the current, and (not less than considerably) efficiently discover emotional narratives that the everyday Simpsons plot can’t attain.
10 “Itchy and Scratchy: The Film”
Season 4, Episode 6 (1992)
The ultimate couple of minutes of this Season 4 episode are so significantly better than a few of the full-length future episodes that it deserves a spot on the record. In “Itchy and Scratchy: The Film,” Bart goes so lengthy with out a correct punishment that Homer lastly places his foot down when the boy goes too far. Whereas everybody else will get to observe the ultra-violent Itchy and Scratchy Film as many occasions as they want, Bart is forbidden from seeing it even as soon as. With out self-discipline, this baby can’t attain his potential.
The transfer clearly pays off, as he finally turns into Chief Justice of the Supreme Court docket. Lastly having proven he is discovered his lesson, Bart goes to see the film along with his father on the finish of the episode. It is a surprisingly touching scene, exhibiting a way more mature Bart amusingly sporting his justice gown to a theater. The ticket-taker continues to be there, Soylent Inexperienced is offered on the concession stand, and Itchy will get an engineering diploma simply so he can run over Scratchy with a practice. This pretty glimpse into the longer term would absolutely encourage the full-length episodes to return.
9 “It is a Blunderful Life”
Season 35, Episode 7 (2023)
For some motive, Disney+ has this episode labeled “It is a Blunderful Evening.” Nonetheless, this Season 35 installment is definitely known as “It is a Blunderful Life,” and it is informed from 60 years sooner or later. Thanksgiving dinner is now ready with a 3-D printer, and Lisa tells the household why they gentle a candle yearly: the story of when Homer was wrongfully blamed for a large energy outage. Although the episode primarily takes place within the current, utilizing the longer term as a framing machine works properly sufficient to benefit a spot on this record.
It might not be one in all The Simpsons‘ best holiday specials, however it is humorous when the present transitions from the current to the longer term to point out that Bart thinks faux-turkey nonetheless tastes horrible. Different good moments embrace Comedian-E book Man tweeting his detrimental opinion of the brand new Matrix film in a really old style approach, Flanders asking to maneuver subsequent door at a ridiculous time, and Mr. Burns having extraordinarily skinny wrists. It goes to point out that this sequence nonetheless has some life in it.
8 “When Nelson Met Lisa”
Season 34, Episode 9 (2022)
Season 34’s “When Nelson Met Lisa” does not even have an introduction to point out the viewers how they’re trying into the longer term, however not less than that units it other than the remaining. Taking the construction of When Harry Met Sally, this episode skips forward to a number of years sooner or later between sections. Lisa is training her valedictorian speech first, and Nelson resides on a clock tower. There is a good second when he and Lisa use his catchphrase, making Professor Frink consider he hears a sure chook.
The story does not all the time work, however Homer’s confusion about his position as narrator is a playful contact. Is he lifeless? Who is aware of. This episode follows a fairly predictable path, however a glimpse at future-Ralph fortunately stating that “The church is consuming me” whereas caught beneath a seat is a pleasant shock. It might have been higher, however not less than it has a cheerful ending for the couple.
7 “Mom and Little one Reunion”
Season 32, Episode 20 (2021)
In “Mom and Little one Reunion,” prolific director Werner Herzog makes use of tarot playing cards to foretell the longer term. This results in a cool transition during which he arranges the playing cards to point out the longer term Simpson home. When Lisa will get into each school she applies to, she rejects all of them—not eager to do what everybody expects of her. This does not actually make sense, based mostly on the way it’s introduced and our information of Lisa normally. Likewise, Marge’s frustration at this does not fairly appear proper for her character both.
Lisa winds up opening an after-school program that, unsurprisingly, turns into an enormous success. She then turns into president of america, which makes it all of the extra puzzling why Marge continues to be indignant. Together with poor pacing, this episode does not have the impression it is capturing for. Nonetheless, it is nonetheless funny when Homer says that “all jobs suck. That is why you receives a commission to do them!” The mom-translator is nice, too, and the ending is healthful sufficient.
6 “Days of Future Future”
Season 25, Episode 18 (2014)
“Please let or not it’s a bear that did this” proves a fairly humorous line from Marge initially of this episode. After Homer dies by falling down the steps, a great montage reveals all of his clones dying over the course of thirty years. As a sequel to the superior “Holidays of Future Handed,” “Days of Future Future” has the identical backstories for the characters. Viewers do not have to observe the predecessor (or any associated storylines) to get pleasure from this one, although.
This entry features a Jurassic World parody, a four-eyed fish, zombies, and Grandpa having a troublesome time in a self-driving automotive. It is also a deal with to observe a zombie chunk Milhouse, and higher nonetheless to observe Lisa hesitate to treatment him. He is extra attention-grabbing now that he has the flexibility to beat up criminals on the road (utilizing a police officer as a weapon). Bart’s story with Jenda is weak and the ending is annoying, nevertheless it’s positively stronger than a few of the others, total.
5 “Ei8ht” from “Treehouse of Horror XXXIV”
Season 35, Episode 5, Section 2 (2023)
Although it’s miles from the best Treehouse of Horror episode as an entire, “Ei8ht” continues to be a fairly good section. It uniquely begins with a clip from an episode that aired thirty seasons prior: “Cape Feare.” Besides the ending could be very totally different, and it is informed from Lisa’s viewpoint. After a traumatic homicide, the present jumps forward by thirty years. Lisa is now a well-respected felony psychologist, explaining that she caught the east-side strangler on the west facet of city.
Lisa known as in to analyze a string of murders so terrible that not even she will be able to get into the serial killer’s head. So she seeks assist from the now-imprisoned Sideshow Bob. A reference to Hannibal Lecter’s penchant for anagrams results in a visit to the amusingly named “Ana Gram’s Spooky Deserted Slaughterhouse.” With a twist that echoes that of one other traditional horror film, this story’s various universe is attention-grabbing sufficient to maintain the viewer’s consideration.
4 “Mr. Lisa’s Opus”
Season 29, Episode 8 (2017)
That is Lisa’s less-focused model of “Barthood,” starting when she’s one yr previous and ending at first of faculty. The narrative construction is disorderly, as Lisa makes use of a university paper to inform the story at first however then narrates from another time within the second half. Nonetheless, it is humorous when Homer thanks Lisa for getting him out of labor when most dad and mom can be mad. It is also nice when Homer’s train bike retains telling him he will die.
Homer delivers one other good chortle when he misspells “twelfth” twice on Lisa’s fourteenth birthday cake. In the meantime, Ralph continues to be in second grade, making for one of many funnier makes use of of future-Ralph (nearly each future episode has one). Some jokes do not land in any respect, some plot factors do not ring true, and Lisa does not get a lot of an arc, however the ending is good—making for a good effort to painting the longer term within the sequence’ (a lot) later years.
3 “Barthood”
Season 27, Episode 9 (2015)
The bold “Barthood” is split into a number of pivotal factors of Bart’s upbringing, from when he was a lot youthful than he’s within the typical episode to early maturity. The viewer is supposed to sympathize with Bart and his troubling habits as a result of Homer is not a great father, and the examples offered are fairly compelling. The person is so lazy that he is unwilling to go after his son as a result of he is strolling “kinda quick,” which is a really unhappy and hilarious second that reminds the viewer of the sequence’ Golden Age.
“Barthood” digs deep into how emotionally uncared for Bart feels by his household. That is absolutely one thing Lisa feels, too, however this episode focuses on how inferior he feels to her as properly. With a great tempo, a delicate guitar-theme, and a peacefully hilarious closing dialog that mirrors the opening scene, this goes down as one in all the best Simpsons parody episodes (of Boyhood, on this case) and among the many strongest episodes of this century.
2 “Lisa’s Marriage ceremony”
Season 6, Episode 19 (1995)
Within the first full Simpsons future episode, a fortune-teller is so good at seeing the current that Lisa trusts her with unveiling the longer term. In it, she sees herself meet a man named Hugh: a person with such comparable pursuits as her that he first will get on Lisa’s nerves for taking issues out that she needed, too. They’re each vegetarians (predicting the next season’s “Lisa the Vegetarian”) they usually each love Jim Carrey, books, and environmentalism.
Season 6’s “Lisa’s Marriage ceremony” foretells telephones with video. In addition they depict an grownup who fails to grasp the way it works, which is one in all the best Simpsons predictions that came true. It is hilarious that Marge attains a courtroom order that stops Homer from attending his daughter’s marriage ceremony, and it is surprising but nice when Marge tells Lisa that “Milhouse does not depend.” There’s a surprisingly touching second between Homer and Lisa close to the top, exhibiting simply how emotionally robustThe Simpsons may be even when it isn’t one in all Lisa’s greatest episodes.
1 “Holidays of Future Handed”
Season 23, Episode 9 (2011)
Initially supposed because the sequence finale in case the present wasn’t picked up for an additional season, “Holidays of Future Handed” reveals numerous attention-grabbing issues happening in future Springfield. To call a couple of: aliens, teleportation units, mind-reading, the flexibility to place a person on the solar, hooking as much as laptops as if on heroin, and b-mail. What makes this episode so good, nevertheless, is its capability to point out the Simpson household’s dysfunction, affection, and complexity in relatable, plausible, and comical methods.
Lastly, all three children are coming residence for Christmas, in addition to the grandkids. Probably the greatest scenes is when Lisa and Bart discuss within the previous treehouse. Maggie takes some time getting again to Springfield, and her futuristic odyssey makes it one in all her finest storylines within the sequence. A number of of the significantly humorous moments embrace Homer’s passion that helped him kick consuming and the point out of Homer’s legislation. With loads of enjoyable particulars, well-written strains, and powerful story arcs, this could have made a satisfying finish to the legendary sitcom.
