The Simpsonshave expanded their lore several times over the years, including setting up a long-standing feud between the titular family and Mr. Burns. Part of the elastic nature ofThe Simpsons' animated approach to comedy is the ability to shift focus from episode to episode. This allows for inventive and experimental episodes, like an entire anthology of short films dedicated to the women of Springfield or aThe Simpsonsremake of underrated Martin Scorsese filmfrom almost forty years ago.
Many episodes ofThe Simpsonshave jumped to different time periods and settings, with a shifting timeline keeping personalities consistent while altering events and personal histories. Sometimes, this had led to changes toThe Simpsons' lengthy canon that have directly impacted characters like Abe Simpson. Other times, it’s expanded the past experiences of the family as a whole, even going back over a century. This is howThe Simpsonshas been able thread a longstanding feud between Homer’s family andThe Simpsons' most enduring villainthat further cements one of the show’s biggest rivalries.
The Simpsons & Burns Ancestors Were Enemies
“The Color Yellow” Pit Homer & Burns' Relatives Against One Another
WhileThe Simpsons' sliding timeline has shifted the events of the show’s canon around, the longtime feud between the Simpsons family and Mr. Burns has its roots over a century before the events of the show. One of the earliest explorations of the Simpson family lineage came in season 21’s “The Color Yellow,” which revealed that the Simpson family line included members of the Underground Railroad. Mabel Simpson and her daughterEliza worked against the interests of the plantation-owning slaver, Colonel Burns.
This establishes that the Simpsons and the Burns have been positioned against one another since the 19th century…
Because of Hiram Simpson’s decision to betray the family’s friend and escaped slave Virgil, Mabel divorced her husband and later fell in love with Virgil. After the pair fled the country, they raised a family together, including their son Abraham Simpson, secretly the present-day Abe Simpson’s Great-Grandfather. This establishes thatthe Simpsons and the Burns have been positioned against one another since the 19th century, and that the family may not even exist in the present if a Simpson had not rebelled against Burns.
Burns & Abe Serve Together In World War II
How Abe Simpsons & Monty Burns Worked Together
In the 20th century, the Simpsons and Burns family found themselves temporarily aligned during World War II. Despite many episodes referencing Burns' connection to the Nazis, Mr. Burns eventually enlisted in the United States Army, as revealed in Season 7’s “Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in ‘The Curse of the Flying Hellfish.'” Burns was assigned to the titular squad, led by Abe Simpson. Burns and Simpson clashed several times over the course of the war, withBurns even ruining Abes’ chance at killing Hitlerand ending the war early.
However, Burns was able to break some of Simpsons' integrity after the platoon found themselves in possession of several valuable paintings. At the urging of Burns, Simpson and the rest of the platoon agreed to a tontine, hiding the paintings and agreeing to only reveal them when the last surviving member of the group could sell them. Despite his misgivings, Abe Simpson agreed out of a hope the fortune could keep him out of an old person’s home later in life.Abe Simpsons' eventual fate makes this piece of unexpected irony even harsher, and highlights Burns' corrupting influence.
Burns Forces Mona Simpson To Go Into Hiding
Mr. Burns Is Why Homer Grew Up Without A Mother
Both Abe Simpson and C. M. Burns eventually moved back to Springfield, with the latter constructing the Nuclear Power Plant that gave him a monopoly over the town. Simpson, meanwhile, met his wife Mona after shifting over to the Air Force (as revealed during season 26’s “Let’s Go Fly a Coot”) and the pair had a son, Homer. Marital strife was already setting into their relationship, leading Mona to have affairs with other men (as detailed in season 17’s “Homer’s Paternity Coot”). However,it was ultimately Burns who splintered the Simpson family apartonce and for all.
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As depicted in season 7’s “Mother Simpson,” Mona became part of a protest group that targeted Mr. Burns' biological weapons lab at the Springfield University Campus. Mona’s decision to help an injured Burns after the protest led her to be identified by the tycoon, forcing Mona to go on the run to avoid jail time.This is the original reason why Mona finally left Abe and abandoned Homer, setting up a number of traumas that would continue to haunt her son far into his adult life. Episodes like season 19’s “Mona Leaves-a” underscored that aspect of the Simpsons/Burns feud.
How Burns Gains Power Over Abe
Abe And Burns Have Been Against One Another For Decades
Multiple episodes ofThe Simpsonshaveexplored the lingering rivalry that existed betweenAbe Simpson and Monty Burns, especially in the aftermath of Mona’s departure. Although it has never been clear if Abe knew about Monty’s role in Mona’s departure, the pair confronted one another several times over the years. Notably, this conflict has shifted specifics based on a sliding timeline. Season 24’s “To Cur With Love” revealed that Homer’s childhood dog bit Burns, earning his ire.
To save the dog, Abe was forced to give him away to a couple upstate (earning Homer’s ire in the process). On top of that, Burns forced Abe through a series of humiliating jobs.Season 36’s “Shoddy Heat"expanded this plot thread by revealing that Abe briefly worked as a private investigator, eventually leading him to look into the disappearance of his partner. Fearing Abe’s ability to uncover the truth, Burns bribed Abe by promising to give Homer a job that he could never be fired from. By willingly submitting to his old rival, Abe ensured his son’s stable future.
Homer Becomes Burn’s Employee
Homer Has Been Under Burns' Thumb For Years
While Abe Simpson and Monty Burns would eventually have other confrontations, Burns ended up shifting his attention to Homer. Homer earned a job at the Nuclear Power Plant (as revealed in the flashback-heavy season 3 episode “I Married Marge”) and found himself a frequent target of the old man’s ire. Despite Burns seemingly being incapable of remembering Homer’s name for years,he always found a way to quietly torture Homerand make his professional life difficult.
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While Burns kept his promise to Burns and refused to fire Homer permanently for his countless transgressions, Homer has frequently tried to escape the day-to-day grind of working for Burns. Episodes like season 6’s “And Maggie Makes Three,” which revealedthe origins of Maggie Simpson, saw Homer briefly escape the Plant so he could take up his dream job. Similarly, Homer has often been employed temporarily elsewhere across the course ofThe Simpsons. However,Homer always eventually ends up back at the Nuclear Power Plant and under the thumb of Mr. Burns.
The Simpsons Vs. Burns In The Present Day
How The Simpsons Face Off With Burns InThe Simpsons
Homer and Mr. Burns have strangely enough found a minor friendship in recent seasons, with season 28’s “The Great Phatsby” highlighting how the pair get along. Despite this,the Simpsons family often remains at odds with Burns, like with Abe and Burns' efforts to woo Marge’s mother in season 5’s “Lady Bouvier’s Lover.” Marge has been sexually harassed by Burns, almost leading to a lawsuit. Bart was briefly Burns' heir in season 5’s “Burns' Heir,” but Burns has almost killed Bart multiple times, such as in season 2’s “Bart Gets Hit by a Car” or “Raging Abe Simpson”.
Burns' most consistent modern foil is Lisa, whose commitment to bettering the Earth makes her a natural foe to the greedy industrialist. Episodes like season 15’s “Fraudcast News” focused on their conflict. While Lisa’s better side has seen her extend empathy to the old man (as in season 28’s “Monty Burns' Fleeing Circus”), Burns' has used this to his advantage in episodes like season 8’s “The Old Man and the Lisa.” The closest Simpson to bringing Burns down once and for all was Maggie, who infamously almost killed Burns in the season 6/7 two-parter, “Who Shot Mr. Burns?.”
How The Simpsons Feud With Burns Evolves In The Future
The Simpsons Win Over Burns In The Long Run
The Simpson and Burns families will likely have fewer conflicts in the future, as Burns' illegitimate children are rarely shown inThe Simpsons. By contrast, episodes set in the future like season 35’s “It’s a Blunderful Life,” revealed that the Simpsons family will continue to grow and expand with future generations. However, some of the episodes set in the future highlight how the feud between the families steadily declines. Season 16’s “Future-Drama” even revealed that Lisa’s college hopes rely somewhat on a scholarship from Burns. Notably, Burns eventually fades from prominence, potentially passing away off-screen.
“Lisa’s Wedding”
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“Mother and Child Reunion”
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“It’s A Blunderful Life”
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The Simpsons and Burns feud is a surprisingly consistent element ofThe Simpsonslore. However, the connection that eventually grows between the family and the way it seems to end with Burns gone and the Simpsons thriving highlights the central themes of the show. Despite his wealth, Burns is ultimately a villainous old man without a happy ending. By contrast,The Simpsonsalways find joy in one another, for generations before and many more to come.
The Simpsons
Cast
The Simpsons is an animated series set in the fictional town of Springfield, following the daily lives of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Premiering in 1989, the show is renowned for its satirical commentary on politics, media, and American culture, featuring numerous celebrity guest appearances.
