The Simpsons Season 35 Unveils a Surprising Twist for Mr Burns

Summary

The Simpsons' "elastic canon" allows for retcons, but it can result in inconsistent characterization, especially for well-established supporting characters.

Mr. Burns is depicted as a diligent and cooperative team member in the season 35 premiere, deviating from his usual persona as a distant and indifferent millionaire villain. This decision by the show to alter Mr. Burns' character in this particular episode mishandles one of its strongest antagonists and overlooks the satirical critique on corporate avarice.

Mr. Burns, originally intended to represent corporate malfeasance, takes on a helpful team player role in The Simpsons season 35, diverging from his villainous image. The creators of the show proudly refer to its "Elastic canon," allowing for flexibility in storytelling by retconning details such as character birthdates or deaths at any given time. To illustrate, this approach justified the contradiction where Homer and Marge attended high school in the '70s, but later episodes implied they were still in high school in the late '90s. However, this method is not foolproof.

The constant changes in The Simpsons' canon can lead to inconsistent characterization, which usually isn't problematic in the show's more experimental episodes like the annual Treehouse of Horror Halloween specials. However, when the series relies on established supporting characters in subplots, it can be jarring to witness drastic personality shifts overnight. It becomes difficult for viewers to connect with these characters when their actions contradict their established traits, diminishing the impact of the jokes.

The Simpsons Season 35 Episode 1 Made Mr. Burns A Worker

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The premiere of The Simpsons season 35 perfectly illustrates this issue. In this episode, Homer becomes disenchanted with his meaningless job as a crossing guard. As a result, he transforms his work into a parody of an action movie in true Simpsons fashion. Homer goes to extreme lengths, arming the crossing guards and greatly inflating their budget, which aligns with his impulsive and reckless personality. However, for this storyline to progress, the first episode of The Simpsons season 35, titled "Homer's Crossing," portrays Mr. Burns as a hardworking team player. This completely misunderstands the essence of the show's greatest villain character.

In the initial scenes of "Homer's Crossing," Mr. Burns rolls up his sleeves and assists Homer's colleagues in managing a potential crisis. This starkly contrasts with his usual portrayal as an indifferent and unsympathetic millionaire who views his employees as insignificant and hoards his wealth. During the Golden Age seasons of The Simpsons, Mr. Burns took pleasure in physically and psychologically tormenting his workers, often without any justification. He exploited them for their labor while paying them meager wages, and he even stooped so low as to steal candy from a baby and block out the sun.

The Simpsons Has Forgotten Mr. Burns’ Role

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While it would be a risky move for The Simpsons season 35 to revisit classic plots like season 6's two-part finale "Who Shot Mr. Burns?", an even riskier decision for the show would be to completely rewrite one of its most iconic villains. Mr. Burns serves as a comically exaggerated representation of corporate greed, allowing The Simpsons to satirize the crimes of the upper class without directly spoofing real-life figures. However, in this particular episode, Burns is reduced to being Homer's co-worker, even timidly avoiding eye contact when questioned about getting paid for doing nothing for years. In an otherwise strong season premiere, this particular moment mishandles the presence of The Simpsons' most beloved villain.