The Simpsons He will officially turn 35 this year, The newest episode of the animated series revealed how a secret deal was made to keep Homer Simpson working at the Nuclear Power Plant even after all these years of nonsense. The Simpsons Season 36 of the long-running animated sitcom began with the promise that the end would not be near. This experimental nature continues with the series’ final episode, which reveals a never-before-seen part of Abe Simpson’s past. In the movie, which highlights his life in the 1980s, there is actually a big reveal that concerns Homer and his future.

The Simpsons has previously revealed a past connection between Abe Simpson and C. Montgomery Burns in classic episodes like Furious Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in “The Curse of the Flying Hellfish,” but the newest episode reveals another instance where their paths crossed decades later. To buy off Abe and help him keep a secret, Mr. Burns offers Homer a deal that he will always provide him with a job at the Nuclear Power Plant, vowing to never fire him no matter what. Which means this long-running joke finally has an in-universe explanation.

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The Simpsons Explain Why Homer Still Has a Job

Homer being a terrible employee has been one of the longest running jokes. The Simpsons‘all date(almost as old as Homer strangling his son), but fans have always accepted that he is still working at the Power Plant as a result of returning to the status quo. He was fired multiple times, resigned to pursue other careers, and spent weeks at a time without working at the power plant. But despite all this, Homer never lost his job as a Security Inspector for more than a single episode. But aside from a few examples and jokes, this isn’t usually brought up as a real, in-universe thing.

This changed with the Season 36 episode“Shoddy Heat.” This episode reveals that Homer’s father Abe actually worked as a detective in the 1980s with a partner named Billy O’Donnell (voiced by guest star Topher Grace). When O’Donnell disappears after investigating Mr. Burns, Abe goes to find out what happened to his partner. After meeting Mr. Burns (with a young Homer in tow), Burns implies that O’Donnell has taken a one-way trip out of town and even gone to “paradise.” Abe rightly guesses that Burns is hiding something, and Burns offers Abe a deal.

If Abe forgets about his partner and stops looking for him, Burns will give Homer a job when Homer grows up. He promises never to fire him no matter how often or badly he screws up, and Abe agrees when he realizes young Homer will likely need help. Mr. Burns then explains that Homer will never be fired, even though Homer has messed up “742 times.” Abe was worried about how Homer would feel if he learned of such a revelation, but Homer actually feels empowered. He feels better than ever now that he knows he will never lose his job. He even thanks his father for keeping this secret for so long).

Is this a Simpsons retread?

The Simpsons No unfamiliar with reconnecting or readjusting the timeline Considering how long it has been running and how many episodes have aired but this is not one of them. Homer never lost his job permanently, so he could have been fired in passing, but at the end of the day he was always fine. Now there is only acceptance of the status quo in the universe. Mr. Burns once said to Homer: “Remember, you’re here forever.” This turned out to be one of the truest things Homer’s boss ever said.

It even adds a secret layer to their relationship, showing that while Mr. Burns has completely forgotten Homer’s name, he has never once forgotten the deal he made with Abe. This was all for the sake of Abe’s partner, Billy O’Donnell, who turned out to be completely fine. Mr. Burns kept trying to cut deals to keep Abe from meddling further, but he never killed O’Donnell. He paid her back and that led to all this.