Homer Simpson, the slightly restricted family man from the animated series “The Simpsons”, is not exactly known for his impulse control. On the contrary: Homer likes to freak out from time to time – and then his son Bart often has to believe in it.
Because if the offspring annoys the father too much again, Homer goes for his throat and chokes him until the son’s tongue hangs out of his mouth, gasping for air. Certainly not a healthy father-son relationship, but it was a kind of running gag in the series for many years. But the educational methods of our time have changed, and with them the “Simpsons”. The makers around Matt Groening are now doing away with the recurring violent scene. They have now explicitly addressed this in a series episode.
In the third episode of season 35, currently airing in the US, Homer’s new neighbor praises his firm handshake. Homer then says to his wife Marge, “You see Marge, choking the boy paid off. I’m just kidding. I don’t do that anymore, times have changed.” The episode is not yet available in Germany.
In the episode “Love Is a Many Strangled Thing” of season 22 (2011), Homer had already dealt with what his violent excesses were doing to his son in therapy. Two years later he relapsed again. The last time Homer went for his son’s throat was in season 31, which aired four years ago. Apparently most fans didn’t even notice that the running gag was missing – until The Simpsons made the change in the series itself. After all, time doesn’t stand still in Springfield either.
Sources: Simon A. on X / “The Independent”
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