The following contains spoilers for The Simpsons season 36 episode 4, "Shoddy Heat," now streaming on Hulu
The Simpsons' season 36 flashback episode includes a reappearance by one of Springfield's most quietly tragic figures. The Simpsons' sliding timeline means that placing characters in specific years can be difficult. However, there's always been a consistent series of character connections that flesh out the world around Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. While the specific time-period elements of these flashbacks shifts with each new episode, the relationships and personal histories have remained largely in-tact across the show's various storylines. This carries over to the show's latest flashback episode, season 36's "Shoddy Heat."
The episode explores a brief whirlwind romance between Abe Simpson and Agnes Skinner decades ago, as well as a conspiracy involving Mr. Burns and Abe's missing partner. The flashbacks are a quick series of flashes to earlier years of Springfield, highlighting the ways the town has remained the same or evolved over the years. A minor character who is long dead by the current events of the series gets to appear in these flashbacks, reinforcing a tragic piece of lore that gives a little bit of unexpected humanity to one of The Simpsons' most consistent villains.
The Simpsons Quietly Brings Back Mister Smithers' Father
How Waylon Smithers Sr. Appears In Season 36
The flashbacks in season 36's "Shoddy Heat" allows The Simpsons to briefly bring back Waylon Smithers Sr., who remains one of the show's most understated tragic figures. "Shoddy Heat" is largely focused on a cold case from decades prior when Abe Simpson was a private investigator hired by Agnes Skinner. The investigation was centered on Mr. Burns, who Agnes was dating at the time. After his partner Billy O'Donnell went missing, Simpson feared Burns had killed him. This sets up Abe to confront Burns and setting the stage for Homer's eventual employment under Burns.
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Given the time-period within the show's ever evolving continuity, Burns is accompanied by his loyal assistant Waylon Smithers Sr. Waylon Smithers Sr. doesn't have much of a role in the episode, primarily appearing as a cameo instead of a full-fledged member of the storyline. However, his presence even as a cameo does connect the different eras of The Simpsons and gives "Shoddy Heat" a direct connection to past storylines delving into the origins of Springfield's many residents.
Waylon Smithers Sr. Fate In The Simpsons, Explained
Mr. Smithers' Father Sacrificed Himself To Save Springfield
Waylon Smithers Sr. was formally introduced in season 13's "The Blunder Years." A flashback in that episode confirmed that he had formerly worked for Mr. Burns much as his son eventually would, although their relationship was seemingly more positive and respectful then the rapport Burns eventually developed with Waylon Jr. In the early days of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, a near meltdown almost destroyed the entire town. Desperate to save his infant son, Waylon Sr. voluntarily rushed into the core and shut it down — albeit at the cost of his own life.
Waylon Sr. has appeared in other flashbacks, but his death has remained a secret sacrifice from much of the town.
Although a saddened Burns recognized the sacrifice his friend had made, he still decided to keep his demise from the authorities and hid Waylon Sr.'s body in a local sewage drain. The body would eventually be discovered by a teenage Homer, which traumatized the young man. The mystery wouldn't be truly uncovered until Homer was in adulthood and had the memory forced back into the forefront of his mind. Since then, Waylon Sr. has appeared in other flashbacks, but his death has remained a secret sacrifice from much of the town.
Shoddy Heat Connects Season 13 & Season 36 In More Than One Way
Season 13 & Season 36 Of The Simpsons Play With The Same Kind Of Story
Waylon Sr.'s presence in "Shoddy Heat" actually highlights the thematic similarities between the season 36 episode and "The Blunder Years." Both episodes are mysteries centering around an unidentified body, prompting the titular family to investigate further. Both mysteries bring attention to Mr. Burns, which makes sense given his role as The Simpsons' most enduring villain. In both cases, Burns takes part in a cover-up even as he is revealed to be less malicious than one would expect.
Waylon Smithers Sr. doesn't speak in "Shoddy Heat." However, he was played by Hank Azaria in "The Blunder Years" and Harry Shearer in season 24's "To Cur, with Love"
In "Shoddy Heat," he doesn't kill O'Donnell and instead bribes him and Abe to keep his secrets. In "The Blunder Years," Burns seems genuinely saddened by his friend's sacrifice, and is implied to have been a major figure in Waylon Smither Jr's life in part as a thank you to his deceased partner. It's an interesting connection that highlights how The Simpsons can return to certain genres, themes and time-periods while still feeling consistent with the way Springfield developed beforehand.
The Simpsons is a long-running animated TV series created by Matt Groening that satirically follows a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield. Homer, a bit of a schmoe who works at a nuclear power plant, is the provider for his family, while his wife, Marge, tries to keep sanity and reason in the house to the best of her ability. Bart is a born troublemaker, and Lisa is his super-intelligent sister who finds herself surrounded by people who can't understand her. Finally, Maggie is the mysterious baby who acts as a deus ex machina when the series calls for it. The show puts the family in several wild situations while constantly tackling socio-political and pop-culture topics set within their world, providing an often sharp critique of the subjects covered in each episode. This series first premiered in 1989 and has been a staple of Fox's programming schedule ever since!
Release Date December 17, 1989
Seasons 35
Network FOX
Franchise(s) The Simpsons
English (US) ·