30 Years Ago Today, The Simpsons Gave Fans Its Saddest Ending of All Time (With a Heartbreaking Goodbye)

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Thirty years ago today, The Simpsons aired an episode with what many fans still consider the saddest ending in the show’s history. The episode’s goodbye was particularly impactful and remains memorable decades later. Throughout its many seasons, The Simpsons has explored a wide range of emotions and featured several heartbreaking moments and farewells. However, this particular goodbye continues to resonate with viewers more than any other.

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the beloved Simpsons episode, “Mother Simpson,” which first aired on November 19, 1995. Considered a highlight from the show’s best years, the episode introduced Mona, Homer’s mother, voiced by Glenn Close. Homer had been led to believe his mother was deceased by his father, making their emotional reunion and subsequent goodbye one of the most heartbreaking moments in the series.

Homer Says Goodbye to His Mother in The Simpsons Saddest Ending

In Season 7 of The Simpsons, the episode “Mother Simpson” finally revealed Homer’s mother, Mona. The show had kept her a secret for years, and Homer only learned she was alive while investigating his past after pretending to die. He quickly reconnects with her, and they mend their relationship. The episode explains that Mona became a passionate activist after being inspired by Joe Namath’s sideburns, leading her to bomb a facility owned by Mr. Burns. She was the only one caught and had been on the run ever since.

Although Homer and his family enjoyed a brief reunion with Mother Simpson, their time together was quickly interrupted when Mr. Burns found her and tried to have her arrested again. This forced her to flee, and Homer had to say a final goodbye. It was especially painful for Homer to realize his mother was alive, but still unable to be a part of his life, which was worse than believing she was gone.

Mona says goodbye, and Homer realizes he has a loving mother somewhere. However, he’s truly heartbroken by the loss. The episode concludes with a powerful image of Homer sitting on his car, gazing at the night sky, overwhelmed with grief. The ending is particularly poignant because the credits roll over this scene, allowing viewers to fully experience the emotional impact of the moment—an image that has become iconic in the show’s history.

This Goodbye Ended Up Being Worse Than Mona’s Death

Following her first appearance in The Simpsons, Mona continued to appear in later seasons. Each return was a temporary farewell for Homer, until she was ultimately written off the show in Season 19’s “Mona Leaves-a.” The episode brought her back to Springfield one last time, but sadly, she passed away before Homer could share some final words with her.

Although she’s appeared in The Simpsons a few times since then—through flashbacks and even dream sequences where she helps Homer find peace—none of those moments have had the same impact as her first appearance. The show truly excelled with that initial goodbye, and they haven’t quite been able to recreate that level of emotional power since. That image of Homer sitting on his car remains one of the most memorable scenes from the show’s nearly 40 seasons.

Later appearances of Mona took a different direction, as Homer began to understand that her visits always disrupted his life. This made him hesitant to welcome her back, changing how he reacted to her. Nothing compares to how authentic that first guest appearance felt, or the genuinely mixed emotions her departure created. Even after thirty years, that ending still resonates with viewers.

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2025-11-20 00:13