The Simpsons’ continuity can be complicated, but typically when a character passes away in a canon episode, they stay dead for the duration of the show. Ralph Wiggum, however, survived his death and appeared unharmed in the episode that followed. The initial episodes of The Simpsons, which were created by Matt Groening, were animated shorts that debuted in 1987 on The Tracey Ullman Show. It was transformed into a half-hour prime time show after three seasons and had its formal debut on Fox in 1989.
The Simpsons follows the daily exploits of the titular family as well as other prominent Springfield residents who are both friends and foes of the Simpsons. Ralph Wiggum, a classmate of Lisa’s and the son of Chief Wiggum, is one of them. Ralph’s odd, stupid, uncomfortable actions and absurd phrases have helped him establish himself as one of the most well-liked and cherished recurrent characters in the entire series. His primary function on The Simpsons has been as comic relief, although he has also had important parts in a few episodes, the most memorable of which was when he fell in love with Lisa. Ralph Wiggum is one of those characters that, given his popularity, will undoubtedly be on the programme for a very long time. The writers did, however, murder him at one time, but they immediately brought him back.
At the conclusion of the Futurama crossover episode “Simpsorama” from season 26, Ralph’s demise was hinted at. During the end credits, Ralph’s grave was displayed, reading “2006-2017”. Even though it wasn’t a canon plot, the episode’s 2014 airing gave rise to rumors—later denied—that Ralph would soon be leaving The Simpsons. Ralph Wiggum was killed off in the season 30 episode “E My Sports,” which aired in 2019, after he drank too much water from a gutter spout outside the Simpsons’ home. However, he miraculously recovered and appeared in the episode that followed, “Bart vs. Itchy & Scratchy,” unscathed.
Even though The Simpsons follows a certain continuity with its dead characters, the writers haven’t given a reason for Ralph to suddenly die and come back, so it can be explained by the silliness of cartoons. That is, unless they die in a non-canon episode like the Treehouse of Horror specials or those looking into the future, in which case their deaths don’t count. Maybe it was all part of the running joke that, throughout the series, Ralph came dangerously near to passing away before it ultimately happened in a canon episode. Ralph’s greatest accomplishment is perhaps his ability to avoid exploding after drinking too much water.
Ralph has passed away a few times in non-canon episodes, most notably in the episode “Holidays of Future Passed.” His clones later perished by being run over by a truck, crushed by it, or caught on flames as a result of the collision after he first shot himself in the head by accident. Ralph Wiggum, who has the ability to be brought back due to his fame, is made even more bizarre and amusing in the end by everything that happens.
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