Warning: Spoilers for The Simpsons season 34, episode 3.The Simpsons season 34 seems to have just made a weird Ned Flanders backstory detail canon, although it is hard to be certain. The Simpsons has many unexplained mysteries, from Marge’s social life to whatever became of Homer’s brother, Herb. However, the show may now have one less enigma, as The Simpsons season 34 could have just explained where Ned’s mustache and fervent Christianity come from.
The Simpsons season 30, episode 3, “My Way or the Highway to Heaven,” revealed that Ned grew his signature mustache after a brush with death turned him to Christianity. In The Simpsons season 34, episode 3, “Lisa the Boy Scout,” this story was seemingly reaffirmed as Ned lost his mustache and, with it, let go of his religion. However, these occurrences both take place in episodes that might not be part of The Simpsons canon. So, this still might not be the definitive origin story it seems.
How Ned Flanders Got His Mustache On The Simpsons
According to the character's backstory on The Simpsons, Ned Flanders gained his mustache during his stint as a trampoline salesman. One day, a fellow salesman informed him about the risks of trampolines which — according to the episode "My Way or the Highway to Heaven" — built up so much static that the 500th bounce would prove deadly to a child. Since a young Homer Simpson was about to reach that fateful milestone, Ned jumped in his way and absorbed the shock, briefly entering Heaven when he died.
There, Ned promised Jesus that he would become a Christian if given the opportunity to live again, resulting in his rebirth and his intense religious convictions throughout the show’s history. He also grew a mustache at the time to hide the scar that his near-death experience left him with. While the Simpsons season 34 episode “Lisa the Boy Scout" seemed to further confirm this backstory, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is canon.
Why Ned’s Simpsons Backstory Might Not Be Real
In the Simpsons season 34 episode “Lisa the Boy Scout,” Ned wakes up one morning without his mustache. The scar from his near-death experience is nowhere to be seen underneath and, when Ned realizes Homer has stolen his mustache and re-purposed it as a goatee, he angrily disavows Christianity and informs his sons that they are now practicing Judaism instead. This implies that Ned’s facial hair and his faith share a connection, as the earlier backstory led viewers to believe.
However, both of these incidents occur during anthology episodes, meaning that they are considered non-canon. Like Bart’s saddest The Simpsons future, these events might not be part of the show’s story since the episodes that they happen in contradict other episodes of the series. Ultimately, it is tough to tell whether Ned’s mustache and Christianity origin story is canon on The Simpsons, although there does seem to be some fated connection between his faith and his facial hair.
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