The latest episode of The Simpsons appears to have quietly removed a character from the extended family, and many viewers may not have noticed. Over the years, The Simpsons has made numerous changes, some of which have stuck. While the show often introduces and then removes characters, it now seems one family member has been completely written out of the series.
In Season 37 of The Simpsons, Patty and Selma’s relationship took center stage after 36 seasons, with a new development: they each got their own apartment. However, Selma’s adopted daughter, Ling, was completely absent from the season – she wasn’t seen or even mentioned, leading fans to believe the show has quietly removed her character.
What Happened to Ling Bouvier?
I still remember the first time I really noticed Ling on The Simpsons! It was in Season 16 with the episode “Goo Goo Gai Pan” – it was so heartwarming to see Selma adopt her from China. It’s been fun watching Ling pop up over the years, though the show’s timeline with her age has been… flexible, let’s say! Sometimes she’s a little baby like Maggie, and other times she seems a bit older, like a toddler. I always got a kick out of her appearance in Season 24’s “Changing of the Guardian” where we found out Patty and Selma were pushing her hard with all sorts of lessons. It was a memorable moment!
Although she’s appeared briefly in the background with Selma over the years, that episode marked the last time Patty had a significant role. However, the Season 37 episode “Aunt Misbehavin'” completely left her out of the story. The episode focuses on a fight between Patty and Selma, showing their apartment frequently. Selma even talks about how the conflict is affecting her iguana, Jub Jub, but her daughter isn’t mentioned or seen at all.
What Does This Mean for Ling?
It’s strange that recent episodes of The Simpsons can focus on Patty and Selma without acknowledging Ling, highlighting a pattern of the show completely ignoring her character. For example, a recent episode featured Patty and Selma traveling with Lisa, but Ling wasn’t mentioned once. Even the return of Jub Jub feels significant, as the writers remembered to include Selma’s pet iguana but not her daughter, further emphasizing that Ling has been forgotten.
If The Simpsons has quietly removed the character Ling from the show, it’s a pretty unusual change in the series’ long history. Ling was introduced as a significant addition, but then quickly disappeared, seemingly to allow Selma to have a happy relationship. This change to Selma’s life was ultimately dropped, and perhaps removing Ling was the right decision after all.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Hazbin Hotel season 3 release date speculation and latest news
- Where Winds Meet: Best Weapon Combinations
- Red Dead Redemption Remaster Error Prevents Xbox Players from Free Upgrade
- Where Winds Meet: How To Defeat Shadow Puppeteer (Boss Guide)
- Victoria Beckham Addresses David Beckham Affair Speculation
- Zootopia 2 Reactions Raise Eyebrows as Early Viewers Note “Timely Social Commentary”
- 10 Best Demon Slayer Quotes of All Time, Ranked
- Is There a Smiling Friends Season 3 Episode 9 Release Date or Part 2?
- The Death of Bunny Munro soundtrack: Every song in Nick Cave drama
- Every Wicked: For Good Song, Ranked By Anticipation
2025-12-02 00:43