The end of 'The Simpsons'? This is what the supposedly last episode was like

After 36 seasons and 35 years of witty jokes, eerily accurate predictions, social criticism, and references for us to use until eternity, the iconic yellow family is saying goodbye to the small screen. Or... is it?

On September 29, 2024, Fox aired what could be 'the end' of the longest-running animated series on television. And to add even more drama to the matter, their episode, called 'Bart's Birthday,' had been created entirely by AI.

SPOILER ALERT for those who haven't seen it yet!

There were several abrupt endings for different characters in the episode. Mr. Burns dies, Skinner takes off for Sacramento, and Milhouse moves to Atlanta.

Conan O'Brien, who wrote some of the series' most iconic episodes, hosted this special episode. With his typical dry humor, he recalled how he had already hosted the final episode of three of his own shows (including his late night shows).

Well, here's the twist... (and another spoiler alert)

Bart, our eternal rebel, refuses to grow up and decides to 'reset' the whole thing, returning to his 10-year-old self as if nothing has happened.

Photo: The Simpsons /Facebook

Even though we were sold the idea that this is the beginning of the end, fans know that with a series of this magnitude, there is always more to the story. So, is this really the end? Or just another trick played by good old Bart?

Photo: The Simpsons / Facebook

One thing is certain: after 36 seasons and over 700 episodes, The Simpsons always find a way to keep us talking! So don't put away your Homer hat just yet... the future might hold more surprises.

Photo: The Simpsons / Facebook

It seems that the creators of 'The Simpsons' got their act together in the last few seasons. According to critics, the first ten years of 'The Simpsons' were sacred, but then, the series went into a tailspin with new episodes that made even the most loyal fans sigh.

Journalist Jesse David Fox set out to investigate why seasons 33 and 34 had longtime fans and critics alike talking about a Lazarus-worthy revival.

Photo: The Simpsons / Facebook

Matt Selman took over as showrunner after Al Jean's 20-year reign and began to give 'The Simpsons' a fresher touch. The audience noticed the change and in the United States, the most-watched episodes of the new seasons increased their viewer numbers by 24%. By 2023, 'The Simpsons' was the fourth most-watched show on Disney+. The series once again tugged at our heartstrings with funny, touching moments that reminded us of why we love these characters so much.

Photo: The Simpsons / Facebook

According to Selman (photo), "You have to make sure that each episode has a unique visual idea. You can't just say, 'They're in the kitchen' or 'They're on the couch.' We've done that before." And apparently, he succeeded, as here he is showing off his Golden Globe.

In this particular episode, Homer reflects on his relationship with Marge while he is about to die in a car accident. What a way to give the family an existentialist touch!

Photo: The Simpsons / Facebook

And in season 35, Marge also went through an existential crisis. This happened when she realized that Bart was growing up, something recognizable for most parents.

Photo: The Simpsons / Facebook

In a recent episode, the black neighborhood of Springfield was explored. Critics applauded the evolution of the series, newspaper El Correo reports, because it was a great evolution after the controversial figure of Apu, a bad stereotype of Indians, had been written out of the show. In fact, critics had complained previously that in 30 seasons, 'The Simpsons' had not experienced any evolution to adapt to today's society.

Photo: The Simpsons / Facebook

'The Simpsons' made us laugh and then gave us an emotional slap in the face because the series went from 118 jokes per episode to just 65 in the last seasons. Fewer gags, more story. The episode 'Treehouse of Horror XXXIII' won an Emmy and showed us that, although not equal to its 'golden age', 'The Simpsons' still have surprises up their sleeve.

Photo: The Simpsons / Facebook

The truth is that we're not even sure it's over yet. We'll have to wait to find out if that AI episode will really be the end of the series or if we still have many more seasons left to watch.

Photo: The Simpsons / Facebook