17 Strange Plot Holes And Inconsistencies In The Simpsons

How can there be a Maggie's picture on the wall while Marge is still pregnant with her?

Damjan

• Published in Cartoons / Anime
• May 18, 2022

We all love Simpsons, right? It is hard not to.

The Simpsons, one of America's most famous and longest-running sitcoms, has been on the air for more than three decades. It has amassed a worldwide following of millions of fans who can't get enough of the writers' hilarious take on American society and politics.

The show, which follows a family in an ordinary American community, has had a significant impact on pop culture and has even foretold current events. One of the reasons the Simpsons has so many fans is because of how well-thought-out the show is.

The writers haven't missed a single opportunity to show off their wit, even when the audience isn't paying attention. However, if you're paying attention, you've definitely spotted some inconsistencies in the show.

We have to admit, it is hard to be consistent all through 30 years. It is a lifetime. people who were born when the show started are parents by now.

So, some slip-ups are bound to happen. And people notice them.

If you didn't, scroll down to see a collection of all plot holes and weird inconsistencies from the show's episodes that may have been easily overlooked. So, let's dive in:

1. Even before it was discovered, Blinky appeared on Homer's shirt.

"The episode 'Fland Canyon' was a flashback episode set before Homer and Marge had Maggie. That means Blinky would not have yet been discovered.

So it seems inaccurate that Homer would have on a Springfield sweater on with Blinky on it."

—katvondive

2. In one episode, Homer is seen pulling his hair out after learning that Marge is pregnant with Lisa, yet in another, he appears pleased with the news.

"In 'Maggie Makes Three' Homer is shown in the house screaming and ripping his hair out when he learns Marge is pregnant for all three kids. But in Lisa's 'First Word', they just moved into the house when Lisa was born.

They lived with Bart in an apartment and Homer seemed pleased when told about Lisa."

—jennies4783ed5b8

3. Ned and Homer first met as teenagers and then again as adults.

"When Homer and Marge are teens they know Ned Flanders, and when they move next door to them they had never met before."

—a4b6d9f613

4. Ralph's voice is changing.

"In the episode where Homer buys Lisa a pony and all the other kids are watching her Ralph says something like 'Yes, but what man can tame her?' but it’s the voice of Nelson. Annoys me every time!"

—dougiep

5. Ned's strange neck.

"I don't remember which episode this was, but the earlier episodes had some goofy animation mistakes. This one was the best. Ned's neck isn't in his shirt, he has no nose, and the space in his finger circle is empty."

—blackzephyr

6. Allergies

"Bart is allergic to shrimp, yet on several episodes, you see him eating shrimp. If they can be consistent with Lisa’s vegetarianism, this shouldn’t be too hard to include."

—bessg3

7. The changing house

"Honestly, it's the layout of the house I keep having an issue with. The TV keeps changing rooms and the kitchen keeps connecting to different rooms! Also, in that episode where Homer chokes Bart through the back wall of his bedroom - but that wall is the end of the house and Bart's bedroom is the OTHER side.

And let's not even get started with the basement - its size and features change depending on the plot."

— Caragh Pryce,

8. The vanishing rumpus room.

"There are a couple of episodes where the mysterious rumpus room is shown, but it always changes locations!"

— Cassie Smyth

9. The timeline of the power plant is changing.

"I love The Simpsons but my god in flashback episodes there are so many inconsistencies! The power plant was seen in the background when Homer was a kid, another time Carl said he got the job the day the plant opened."

—nicoles418eec3ed

10. Homer and Marge's marriage doesn't line up with Bart's age.

"Homer and Marge met in high school and I’m pretty sure they got pregnant/married not long after? But, in the “present” Bart is 10 and Homer is 36 (I think). Shouldn’t Homer and Marge be in their late 20s?"

—alicer47d52d55b

11. Milhouse's first kiss

"I can’t remember the exact episode now, but Milhouse got a crush on a girl, which made Bart jealous and he tried to sabotage the relationship. At one point, Milhouse cries out, 'My first kiss!'

But it wasn’t. He actually had his first kiss in another episode a lot earlier in the series."

— Amy Susan Fisher

12. Smithers' ethnicity changed...

"When the show started Smithers was black, but the character changed a few episodes in."

Cassie Smyth

13. Hans Moleman's ethnicity changed...

"I believe Hans Moleman’s ethnicity was different for a couple of episodes."

— Leeat Hotz

14. Santa Little Helper's timeline changes.

"They got Santa's little helper when Bart was 10, and then shown in a flashback when he was 2."

—nicoles418eec3ed

15. Abe Simpson fought wars in different places.

"In one episode, I think it was Christmas episode, they had Abe Simpson, during WW2 in South Pacific flying airplanes and then getting stuck on island with Mr. Burns. Then recently, they showed Abe in over in Europe."

—christinam4ee470e81

16. Inconsistencies about Flanders' age

"If Flanders was 60 years old in 1999 (see 'Viva Ned Flanders') it’s pretty unlikely that his parents would have been beatniks (See 'Hurricane Neddy' and others)."

—kath6

17. A picture of Maggie on the wall, but Marge is pregnant with her.

"The only one I can think of is the flashback of when Marge was pregnant with Maggie but there’s a photo of her on the wall."

—emmar45d26b031

Well, those are really some significant inconsistencies, especially when it comes to the timelines. But considering how weird Springfield and its residents are, it is completely understandable that time flows differently there.

That quirkiness is the reason we love the show so much. We hope it will continue airing for at least 30 years more.

Damjan