Forget Marge's Death: 8 'The Simpsons' Darkest Episodes That Pushed the Limits
Ned's dark and traumatic past, Homer's emotional breakdown and other episodes that will definitely not make you laugh.
The Season 36 finale of The Simpsons caused panic among fans due to the apparent death of Marge. However, the producers have already reassured viewers that the character is still alive and will remain in the series.
Although The Simpsons is a sitcom that satirizes everything in the world, the creators occasionally venture down a dark path with episodes that are scary, emotional, and reveal the tragic pasts of the characters.
1. "Homer's Odyssey" – Season 1 Episode 3
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
Although Homer usually appears to be a good-natured and funny man, in "Homer's Odyssey," we see that he is deeply unhappy. After being fired from the nuclear power plant, he falls into despair, convinced that he is a failure. In a moment of desperation, he ties a rock to himself and nearly jumps off a bridge.
Although he stops before jumping, the episode remains one of the darkest in the series for its depiction of depression and suicidal thoughts.
2. "Some Enchanted Evening" – Season 1 Episode 13
IMDb Score: 7.7/10
The first season of The Simpsons featured one of the most sinister villains ever: Miss Botz in "Some Enchanted Evening." Posing as an ordinary babysitter, she reveals herself to be a cruel criminal.
When Bart and Lisa discover her true identity, she ties them up, gags them, and cuts their phone cords. The episode's tension, unusual for a comedy, makes it one of the darkest.
3. "Homer Defined" – Season 3 Episode 5
IMDb Score: 8.3/10
This episode raises the issue of the professionalism of employees working at dangerous facilities. In this case, the viewers seemed to be more afraid than the characters.
Homer works at a nuclear power plant as a safety inspector. In reality, however, he does nothing but eat donuts. One of these meals spoils the control panel, causing an emergency situation that threatens to blow up the reactor.
While the whole town runs in panic and the news reports on the risk of a nuclear explosion, the station employees don't know what to do. Homer tries to understand the instructions and takes the situation into his own hands.
4. "Treehouse of Horror V" – Season 6 Episode 6
IMDb Score: 9.2/10
In this episode, the Simpsons find themselves trapped in Mr. Burns' house over the winter – their job is to maintain order. To ensure everything goes well, Springfield's richest man removes the TV's cable and the beer supply.
This ultimately leads to Homer's madness. Fortunately, Bart has the ability to read minds, which allows him to turn to Groundskeeper Willie at the right moment.
It's a dark and brilliant parody of Stanley Kubrick's cult classic, The Shining, that perfectly mixes references to the original with new elements.
5. "Treehouse of Horror VI" – Season 7 Episode 6
IMDb Score: 8.7/10
A parody of Wes Craven's cult classic, A Nightmare on Elm Street, was released during the show's seventh season. In the episode, Willie appears to children in their dreams and tries to kill them.
Unlike Freddy Krueger, Willie was not a monster in life. He was burned alive due to Homer's fault and now seeks revenge because no one helped him – everyone just watched the unfortunate man suffer.
Although the plot is similar to Craven's, the story develops differently. Most importantly, it has a fundamentally different finale, which is quite unexpected, even for The Simpsons.
6. "Treehouse of Horror VII" – Season 8 Episode 1
IMDb Score: 8.5/10
The episode centers on Bart's Siamese twin brother, Hugo, who was separated at birth. Unlike Bart, who leads a prosperous life, Hugo is kept in the attic and fed whatever is thrown at him.
The real nightmare begins when Hugo escapes to freedom. He is convinced that reuniting with Bart will make them both happy. Having learned to stitch living creatures together on pigeons and rats, he claims that there should be no problems.
The most interesting aspect of the episode is the final twist, which literally turns the family history upside down.
7. "Hurricane Neddy" – Season 8 Episode 8
IMDb Score: 8.7/10
Ned Flanders is usually a good-natured neighbor, but "Hurricane Neddy" reveals his repressed trauma. After a hurricane destroys his home, he snaps when his friends try to help him.
His outburst lands him in a mental hospital, where we learn that Dr. Foster, his childhood psychiatrist, beat him to suppress his anger.
This shocking revelation illustrates the consequences of suppressing emotions, making it one of the darkest episodes. Ned's breakdown and its cause demonstrate that even the kindest Springfield resident has deep wounds.
8. "The Girl Who Slept Too Little" – Season 17 Episode 2
IMDb Score: 6.8/10
Concerned about the construction of the stamp museum in front of their house, the Simpsons begin to protest.
Then, the stamp museum was moved to the cemetery site, and the cemetery was moved to the stamp museum's place. The most terrible thing is that Lisa's bedroom windows look directly onto the cemetery.
Although Lisa believes in science, she begins to have nightmares. After seeing a creepy gravedigger at night, she becomes completely scared. Instead of sitting in fear, however, Lisa decides to face the frightening reality.
