WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Episode 4 of The Simpsons Season 36!
The Simpsons has been entertaining us for a long time, now running in its 36th season. Amazing, right? Many fans were kids when the first episodes aired, and now they’re parents, possibly relating even more to Homer, the loveable slacker. It’s not hard to empathize with Homer’s work-related struggles, but with his poor work ethic, how has he managed not to get fired from Springfield’s nuclear power plant despite repeated, serious mistakes? The recent episode “Shoddy Heat” answers that question. The key: nepotism.
In the episode, Homer and his family visit Grandpa Abe at the retirement home to escape the extreme heat, appreciating the air conditioning. While there, Abe reveals that he was once a private investigator, whose partner disappeared on a job while Abe was babysitting young Homer at home. Abe’s lack of heroism is evident, as he never followed up on his partner’s disappearance. But Lisa urges him to investigate the case he ignored so long ago. Or did he?
As Lisa digs deeper, she uncovers that Grandpa Abe did attempt to track down his missing partner. Abe had been hired by a woman to spy on her boyfriend, Mr. Burns, suspecting he might be cheating on her. After his partner vanished, Abe sought out Burns, following the woman’s suggestion. It turns out that Abe made a deal with Mr. Burns to keep silent about his partner’s disappearance in exchange for a job for his son, Homer, with a lifetime guarantee of employment—regardless of Homer’s behavior. However, Mr. Burns’ poor memory and questionable ethics might mean he’s simply forgotten about Homer entirely, explaining why Homer hasn’t been fired despite nearly causing multiple disasters at the plant.
The twist? Abe’s partner isn’t dead after all. He escaped to an exotic location, while the woman, their client, had actually been manipulating Abe to turn him against Burns, hoping he would kill him. Just like in a classic film noir, the plot takes a dark and unexpected turn!
