Image courtesy of Everett Collection
Published Oct 21, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT
Cathal Gunning has been writing about movies, television, culture, and politics online and in print since 2017. He worked as a Senior Editor in Adbusters Media Foundation from 2018-2019 and wrote for WhatCulture in early 2020. He has been a Senior Features Writer for ScreenRant since 2020.
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After nine years, The Simpsons season 38, episode 3, finally brought back one of the show’s most iconic characters after a divisive exit back in 2017. While South Park likely wouldn't exist if The Simpsons hadn’t paved the way for the R-rated animated comedy, there are a handful of pivotal difference between the two shows. South Park’s absurdly fast turnaround time means the show relies on highly timely, topical satire, while The Simpsons has a much slower production process.
For much the same reason, South Park has been a controversy magnet throughout its run, whereas The Simpsons was always a more family-friendly affair. South Park attracts controversy regularly, whereas The Simpsons tends to avoid topics that could be viewed as inflammatory or divisive. This has occasionally resulted in critics calling the show mealy-mouthed and insubstantial in its satire, but it has also paid off for The Simpsons in terms of longevity.
With over 800 episodes to its name, The Simpsons is the longest-running US scripted prime-time TV series of all time and the longest-running sitcom in American TV history. The show’s decision to avoid controversy where possible has arguably facilitated its unprecedented longevity, but The Simpsons hasn’t always been able to sidestep scandal. For example, the character Apu was quietly retired in 2017 after accusations of racial insensitivity, and didn’t return to the show until season 38, episode 3, “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening.”
The Simpsons Finally Brought Back A Recast Apu In Season 38 Episode 3
Image courtesy of Everett CollectionFor most of its runtime, “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening” is a witty, gruesome spoof of revenge slasher movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer. After various Springfield locals all accidentally kill the same costumed reveler on Halloween night, the seemingly dead killer returns to pick them off one by one. As the show’s supporting characters try to work out the identity of the culprit, the body count rises.
However, the show-shaking twist arrives when the killer confronts the surviving natives of Springfield and reveals that everyone assembled in the Town Hall had a hand in the character’s death a year earlier. After removing their mask, the killer is revealed to be The Simpsons’ Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the Kwik-E-Mart shopkeeper and Indian-American immigrant who was originally voiced by Hank Azaria until 2017.
Apu tells the townspeople that they all unwittingly contributed to his death, and, after he recuperated on a desert island off the shore of Springfield, he returned to find that no one in town even recognized him. Vowing to get his revenge, Apu donned his Halloween costume and began slashing a bloody swathe through the community. The town hall is soon engulfed in flames, seemingly killing all the surviving townspeople and Apu, before he wakes up and the entire episode is revealed to be a dream.
Apu’s Future In The Simpsons Season 38 Remains Unclear
In a daring meta gag, Homer asks Apu about his dream, then reassures him that the town of Springfield would never forget Apu as he feared. This marks Apu’s first comeback to The Simpsons since he briefly appeared in the background of season 29’s premiere “The Serfsons.”
The same year, comedian Hari Kondabolu's documentary The Problem with Apu saw its creator interview stars like Maulik Pancholy, Hasan Minhaj, and Aziz Ansari, all of whom discussed the ways they were bullied in their youth by people referencing the character. Defenders of Apu called the upbeat, universally well-liked Springfield native a positive depiction of Indian-American immigrants.
However, common criticisms of the character note his exaggerated accent (originally performed by Hank Azaria) and catchphrase, ‘Thank you, come again!’ In “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening,” Azaria is recast with The Legend of Vox Machina voice actor Sunil Molhotra taking over the part. However, it is not yet clear whether this marks Apu’s permanent return to the main cast of The Simpsons going forward.
Release Date December 17, 1989
Network FOX
Showrunner Al Jean
Directors Steven Dean Moore, Mark Kirkland, Rob Oliver, Michael Polcino, Mike B. Anderson, Chris Clements, Wes Archer, Timothy Bailey, Lance Kramer, Nancy Kruse, Matthew Faughnan, Chuck Sheetz, Rich Moore, Jeffrey Lynch, Pete Michels, Susie Dietter, Raymond S. Persi, Carlos Baeza, Dominic Polcino, Lauren MacMullan, Michael Marcantel, Neil Affleck, Swinton O. Scott III, Jennifer Moeller
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Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)
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Marge Simpson / Patty Bouvier / Selma Bouvier (voice)
English (US) ·