Here’s More Proof Disney+ Doesn’t Actually Watch ‘The Simpsons’

Despite the fact that The Simpsons is still one of the most popular shows on the Disney+ streaming platform, the “evil corporation” can’t get their heads straight when it comes to the episode plot lines — probably because Disney is busy trying to think unsexy thoughts.

When Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019, fans of Rupert Murdoch’s most valuable and iconoclastic comedy franchise worried that The Simpsons’ new owners wouldn’t properly appreciate the sanctity of the show and its first 10 seasons. Whereas Fox allowed Matt Groening and the gang to play fast-and-loose in regards to pushing boundaries and insulting their corporate overlords, Simpsons fans worried that The Mouse would keep the series on a much shorter leash compared to its previous master and possibly even censor past jokes that reflected poorly on the megacorporation.

Those specific fears turned out to be (mostly) unfounded, as Disney doesn’t edit out individual jokes from Golden Age Simpsons episodes over content concerns. Hell, they barely even watch the damn show:

In Season Five’s “The Last Temptation of Homer,” Springfield Nuclear Power Plant’s most prominent and portly safety instructor finds himself falling for a compulsory DEI hire named Mindy Simmons, despite his matrimonial commitment to dear Marge. When Marge goes down with a cold and Mr. Burns sends Homer and Mindy off on an intimate work trip together, Homer must make a decision to either give in to temptation or stay true to his soulmate, thankfully choosing the latter option.

Critically, however, Homer’s conflict of conscience and moral triumph in “The Last Temptation of Homer” is internal. Homer’s dilemma in the pivotal hotel room scene isn’t about Marge finding out about the possible affair, it’s about his devotion and faithfulness to the woman he loves. The episode’s conclusion wouldn’t be half as satisfying if Homer’s motivations were self-preservative rather than loving, and making Marge fight to save her marriage from another woman would have been preposterously undignified.

As minor as this error may seem, it’s part of the fandom’s larger sense of distaste for Disney’s performance as custodian of the Simpsons catalog, especially its most celebrated early seasons. For instance, fans cried foul when Disney struck the Season Three episode “Stark Raving Dad” from the streaming library over the guest performance of pop superstar and accused pedophile Michael Jackson — aka Leon Kompowsky — and Disney’s decision to change the default aspect ratio of the entire early series while cropping out important visual gags still has some fans incensed.

All these errors in the Disney+ streaming of The Simpsons seem to be symptoms of the same problem — the people in charge of The Simpsons don’t watch the show, and they don’t know what it needs. It’s enough to tempt longtime fans to break their copyright vows and, uh, “sail the high seas.”