The Simpsons Officially Retires Character After 30 Years

Being on the air for decades, characters come and go in The Simpsons, but its latest episode has essentially retired one beloved player. Now on season 37, the animated sitcom continues to prove that it has no plans of slowing down. Granted that some years are more inspired than others, The Simpsons has found a way to pull some interesting twists in the last couple of years.

In The Simpsons season 36 finale, Marge was supposedly killed in a flashforward, which created massive havoc in the show’s massive fan base. The show is usually known for lighthearted storytelling and almost non-existent canon, which makes it easier for new viewers to jump in without being burdened by needing to know its long history. Still, some plot developments hit harder for those who have been following the show for years.

During the latest episode of The Simpsons (via TVLine), the long-running comedy has effectively retired Barry Duffman. The outing, titled “Seperance” — a parody of Apple TV’s critically and commercially successful show, Severance, sees Duffman recruiting Homer to work for “Enthusiasm on Demand,” but the job leaves him drained every day.

Duffman at Moe's Tavern with two women, all clad in Duff Beer merchandise in The Simpsons — Duffman at Moe’s Tavern in The Simpsons

However, the biggest surprise comes when Duffman announces that “The Duff Corporation has, uh, retired that character forever.” While he’s able to de-program himself from the corporation, he remains in his civillian get-up, suggesting that it’s likely the last time that The Simpsons will feature him in his iconic costume.

Duffman actually made his first appearance in a banned episode of The Simpsons — “The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson,” which aired in the fall of 1997. This means that while not a true regular on the animated series, his potential retirement goes down almost 30 years since he first made an appearance in The Simpsons.

Because The Simpsons has a loose hold on its canon, the door is not fully closed in terms of seeing Duffman again in his old get-up. Sooner or later, the character can unexpectedly re-appear revisiting his old endeavor. Regardless of whether it will be temporary, his retirement in season 37 is an intriguing plot twist for the show.

Not being dictated by a rigid continuity is major storytelling weapon of the show, as it allows it to take big swings in order to regularly surprise its audience. While it has some drawbacks, like the lack of stakes, fans of the show are already used to this tradeoff at this point. Considering The Simpsons remains at the forefront of the cultural zeitgeist, it’s safe to say that this has already been deemed worth it.