There are many memorable married couples throughout television history whom fans have loved, but few are as iconic as Homer and Marge on The Simpsons. While the long-running animated comedy is filled with famous characters, these two are very much the heart of the whole series.
Marge and Homer's marriage is eccentric, to say the least. They have their share of ups and downs which keeps viewers entertained, yet their love for each other is undeniable. But after all these years and over 30 seasons, there are still some things about their relationship that fans might be surprised to learn.
They Met Earlier Than Originally Thought
One of the classic episodes of the series is "The Way We Was" which takes a look at the first time Marge and Homer met. While in high school, they find themselves in the same French class where it is love at first sight for Homer. He eventually asks Marge to the prom.
However, in the Season 15 episode "The Way We Weren't" reveals that they actually met much earlier without realizing it. The flashback episode shows that Marge and Homer met at camp as kids and shared their first kiss with each other, seemingly showing they were meant to be together.
Their Skewed Timeline
When a show is as long-running as The Simpsons, there are bound to be some continuity errors over time. However, one episode threw off the timeline of Homer and Marge's relationship quite drastically, causing a lot of confusion and backlash from fans.
The episode "That '90s Show" looked at the early days of their romance during the 1990s when Homer found brief fame in a grunge band. However, "The Way We Were" clearly depicts their romance as starting in the 1970s and the episode only aired in 1991, making this new '90s timeline impossible. Future episodes retconned the '90s storyline.
They Practice Different Religions
There are many things Homer and Marge have disagreed on in the past, but their differences have never really become an issue for their relationship. One of the biggest areas of contention was with their different views on religion.
Marge was often the one pushing the family to go to church as she is a fairly devote Protestant. While Homer always seemed ambivalent to religion as a whole, he eventually converted to Catholicism, much to the annoyance of Marge.
Their Parents Dated
While not one of the core members of the family, Abe Simpson is a hilarious addition to the clan. He is Homer's crotchety out-of-touch father whom the family largely ignores. But one of Abe's romantic relationships managed to catch Homer and Marge's attention.
After meeting at a family get together, Abe begins dating Marge's mother. This causes a lot of awkwardness for their children. Luckily, after a brief love triangle involving Mr. Burns, Marge's mother decides she'd rather be alone.
Marge Owns Homer's Soul
Many fans have pointed out that Marge puts up with way too much from Homer. He is often selfish and brings unnecessary chaos into their lives. But Homer is also completely devoted to Marge in more ways than one.
In one of the classic Treehouse of Horror episodes, Homer sells his soul to the devil for a donut. But before Devil Flanders can collect, Marge reveals that one their wedding night, Homer signed over his soul to Marge as it was the most he could offer her.
Having Kids
As entertaining as Homer and Marge's relationship is, the series is made whole by the entire family which, of course, includes their three children Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. It's hard to imagine this family any other way, but it turns out, none of this was really planned by Homer and Marge.
When reliving their previous pregnancies in a flashback episode, it's clear that they all came as a shock to the couple. It also shows that these pregnancy reveals are responsible for Homer's baldness as he rips out his hair in panic upon hearing the news each time.
They Both Come Close To Having Affairs
After everything they have been through over the course of the series, it seems like there is nothing that can tear Marge and Homer apart. But that doesn't mean there have not been close calls in the past.
On several occasions, both Homer and Marge have come shockingly close to having affairs outside of the marriage. Homer nearly fell for the young country singer Lurleen Lumpkin he mentors, as well as a new co-worker named Mindy. Marge was almost seduced by a French bowler named Jacques.
They Were Divorced
The show has sometimes teased fans with the threat of Homer and Marge finally calling it quits. Mostly these feel like cheap gimmicks to lure fans back to the show. But at least on one occasion, these two actually did go through with getting a divorce, albeit a short-lived one.
In the episode "A Milhouse Divided", Milhouse's parents' separation causing Homer to fear for his own marriage. He eventually decides Marge deserves a fresh start and files for divorce. However, it is revealed that this is just so they can get remarried and start again.
They Have Multiple Futures
Some of the most entertaining episodes of the series are the ones that take a look into the future. Many of these episodes are more focused on what the future holds for the Simpson children, but viewers have gotten various looks at Marge and Homer's futures as well.
While some of these episodes show the couple living their normal lives, others have a darker outlook. A couple of episodes predicts Marge having left Homer and there is even one that predicts Homer will have died.
They Inspired A Real-Life Romance
The voices of Marge and Homer have become some of the most recognizable in animation TV history. To American audiences, these iconic voices are provided by Julie Kavner and Dan Castellaneta, respectively. However, there are other actors all over the world who provide these voices in other languages.
In a charming twist of fate, the actors who voice Marge and Homer in the French version of the show, Veronique Augereau, and Philippe Peythieu, began a romantic relationship because of the show and even got married in 2001.