Ever since the show premiered in 1989, The Simpsons have introduced audiences to an unparalleled rolodex of unique stories and colorful characters. Amongst this wide variety of roles, there have naturally been a lot of couples. Some of them have more consistency than others, coming back season after season as steadfast duos. Others, however, might unite in no more than a single episode, only to end by the time the yellow credits roll.
Regardless of whether the couples last or not, though, many characters have exhibited sweet, romantic gestures over the show's unmatched 31 years on the air. Here is a list of some of the finest ones demonstrated in that incredible run.
Homer Chooses Marge Over Beer
The parents in the series' title family, Homer and Marge are undoubtedly the most explored couple on The Simpsons. Marge's good-natured maternal energy and Homer's endearing oafishness complement each other beautifully. Even when one might drive the other up the wall, their love always perseveres.
Homer shows this affection most sweetly at the end of the season 4 episode, "Duffless," when he chooses to go on a bike ride with Marge rather than break his alcohol-free dry spell at Moe's. This may seem like a simple gesture, but considering Homer's tenderness for beer, the fact that he endures further sobriety to spend the evening with his wife epitomizes his affection for her.
Bea Leaves Her Money To Abe's Happiness
In the season 2 episode, "Old Money," Grampa (Abraham) Simpson falls in love with an old woman at his retirement home named Beatrice, only for her to pass away shortly thereafter. Unbeknownst to Grampa, Beatrice was a wealthy woman and left him over $100,000 in her will.
That gesture alone is benevolent, however, it becomes deeply heartwarming when Beatrice's ghost visits Grampa, tends to his broken heart, and advises him to spend the money on the people and things that make him truly happy. In the end, he puts the money back into the retirement home so all the old folks can regain some dignity.
Lisa Gives Ralph A Genuine Valentine
A girl-genius and a dim-witted boy, Lisa Simpson and Ralph Wiggum might resemble Marge and Homer in a way. However, they were never really meant to last. The pair only sparked for an episode in season 2 because Lisa felt bad that Ralph received no cards on Valentine's Day. When Lisa gives him a card out of pity, Ralph becomes clingy, only for Lisa to eventually blow up in his face.
By the end of the episode, though, the two 2nd graders make amends, and Lisa gifts Ralph a sincere Valentine. It may not demonstrate romantic affection per se, but it is a loving gesture of friendship all the same.
Homer Cements Marge's Face In Cherry Blossoms
With all of their screen time, Marge and Homer have obviously made more than one memorable romantic gesture over the years. While Homer choosing beer over Marge might be the sweetest thing he's ever done for her, his most grandiose exhibition came in season 21.
At the end of an episode where Homer wins the lottery, he takes Marge up in a hot air balloon and shows her what he spent the last of his winnings on: a cherry blossom grove plowed into the shape of Marge's face and the words "Love Of My Life." Homer explains that every spring, the blossoms will bloom with the image of their unceasing love.
Marge Chooses Homer
The romantic gestures go both ways when it comes to Homer and Marge. In fact, the two probably would've never ended up together if Marge had not decided to ditch her original prom date and save a lonely, heartbroken Homer from the rain back in high school. The couple's origin story is explained in the season 2 flashback episode, "The Way We Was."
It shows that the two met at Springfield High, and Homer was smitten with Marge at first sight. However, after Marge opts to go to prom with the more suave Artie Ziff, Homer becomes distraught and goes stag. Luckily, by the end of the night, Marge realizes that she made a mistake and picks up Homer from the side of the road, thus beginning a life-long relationship.
Bart Saves Greta Wolfcastle
Bart may not be as much of a sweetheart as some of his other family members. Nevertheless, he does go through a handful of crushes and fleeting relationships throughout the series. In season 13, he sparks a brief romance with Greta Wolfcastle (daughter of movie star Rainer Wolfcastle) after saving her from a group of bullies.
Bart heroically pegs the bullies with his slingshot from afar, liberating Greta from their thievish teasings. Although Bart does this somewhat platonically, it is one of the sweeter things we've seen him do for a girl in the series, and it leads to them dating for a short period. Sadly, they eventually break up and Greta dates Milhouse before moving to Canada for her dad's next film.
Smithers Saves Mr. Burns' Life (And Mr. Burns Accepts Smithers Feelings)
Love takes many forms in Springfield, and Waylon Smithers' affection for his boss, Mr. Burns is certainly one of the more peculiar showcases of tenderness on The Simpsons. It is not until season 27 when Smithers saves Mr. Burns from a skydiving accident that he comes closest to revealing his true feelings. Unfortunately, Burns interrupts Smithers with criticism in the moment. This leads Smithers to finally engage in his own relationship with a man named Julio.
However, Mr. Burns soon begs for Smithers' to come back, and entices him with an endearing progress report. It really doesn't seem like much for everything Smithers has done for him, but Burns is such a cold individual that any sign of emotion means a lot.
Apu's Marathon Of Gestures For Manjula
In the episode "I'm With Cupid," Apu's Indian-raised wife Manjula learns that Apu has been working far more than the average American, severely limiting the time he spends with her. To make up for his absence, Abu decides to spend the entire week leading up to Valentines Day with a marathon of over-the-top romantic gestures. He puts a poem for her in the paper, sends her a serenading bird, and covers himself in chocolate for her. All of this makes the other wives in Springfield jealous, leading the other husbands to sabotage his plans to write "I Love You Manjula" in the sky.
Luckily, Elton John is coincidentally at the airport at the same time, so Apu solicits the singer to do a private performance for him and Manjula. He finally takes a day off of work for this as well.
The Simpsons' Letter To Edna Krabappel
When Bart starts writing fake love letters to his teacher, Edna Krabappel in the season 3 episode, "Bart The Lover," it starts out as a mere prank, but he soon feels bad about leading her on. Instead of coming clean to Miss Krabappel, Bart gets help from his family to write one last letter that will tie up the loose ends and let her down easily.
Taking on the continued persona of Edna's secret admirer, Homer, Bart, Marge, and Lisa collaborate to write a borderline Shakespearean farewell note. Indeed, it is all a farce, but the letter saves Edna from a broken heart and provides her with some much-needed emotional closure.
Mr. Burns and Gloria Save Each Other From A Fire
Mr. Burns has had a few romantic endeavors over the years. One of the old man's more fruitful relationships comes in season 13, when he starts dating a far younger woman named Gloria. In the episode's third act, Gloria is kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend, Snake Jailbird, and ends up tied to a chair in a burning building. Defying his frail physique, Mr. Burns charges into the house to save his love. When they come out, however, it is Gloria carrying Mr. Burns.
Effectively, they save each other in dual acts of romantic heroism. The two were actually meant to get engaged, but Gloria sadly ends the episode by falling back in love with Snake and leaving Mr. Burns for good.