What Happened to Selma’s Missing Daughter Ling in The Simpsons?

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With The Simpsons gearing up for a new season this Fall, there remains an unanswered question about Selma Bouvier’s adopted daughter and her absence from recent seasons. Over its extended run, The Simpsons has generated numerous characters who were initially seen in early episodes but have since been absent. As the show’s timeline continues to evolve and the usual setup changes, a number of significant developments have been left unexplored for various reasons over the years.

However, some notable modifications within “The Simpsons” have hinted at larger storylines for certain characters, but these changes often revert to their original plots. For instance, Marge’s sister Selma adopted a baby from China named Ling and became a mother after expressing her desire to do so for years. Yet, following the adoption of Ling and a few subsequent appearances throughout later seasons, Selma’s daughter seems to have vanished in the most recent season of the animated show. So, one might wonder, what happened?

Who Is Ling Bouvier?

In the sixteenth season episode titled “Goo Goo Gai Pan,” The Simpsons character Selma experiences menopause and reflects on her life, leading to a renewed desire for having a child. This longing has been a recurring theme in previous episodes, where Selma often pursued family through unconventional means such as adopting her pet iguana Jub-Jub. Here, this theme is revisited when Selma decides to adopt instead. Unfortunately, the adoption doesn’t succeed in Springfield, and she turns to China for a baby girl named Ling Bouvier whom she eventually adopts as her daughter following some Chinese adventures.

Initially making her debut as a newborn, Ling stands out among the extended Simpsons family members by exhibiting signs of aging. After being absent for some time, she reappears looking like a toddler due to Selma encouraging her violin lessons and aiming to nurture her talent. Later in Season 24’s “Changing of the Guardian,” Ling is portrayed as older still, gaining the ability to speak and seeking Marge’s assistance, since both Patty and Selma are urging her to master various art forms.

What Happened to Ling?

After appearing alongside Selma in some crowd scenes, Ling was noticeably absent from Season 36’s Patty and Selma episode, which heavily featured Lisa. This could be due to two plausible explanations. First, the portrayal of Selma as an abusive parent may have significantly altered her character, making her less connected to the Selma who yearned for motherhood, thereby reducing Ling’s relevance in the storyline. Second, it is possible that Ling simply holds a minor role in the series and isn’t considered significant enough to be frequently mentioned.

Maggie, a regular figure in numerous episodes of The Simpsons, often serves as a backdrop for humorous visual gags but seldom takes center stage in solo episodes. This is because she belongs to the main cast. Characters like Ling, who are part of the secondary cast and not yet at an age capable of driving their own stories, tend to receive less attention. It’s intriguing with Maggie due to the significant impact her introduction had initially, but unfortunately, this didn’t lead to substantial long-term changes in the series.

This isn’t an isolated incident with Ling; similar things have happened to others too. However, since she belongs to our extended family, it stands out more. With The Simpsons now guaranteed to run until Season 40, there’s a possibility that Ling might make an appearance in a future episode, or at least be seen on screen again.

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2025-06-07 19:10