Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Simpsons season 36, episode 13, “The Last Man Expanding”
AlthoughThe Simpsonshas hinted at Ralph Wiggum’s secret parentage before, season 36, episode 13 all but confirmed one dark fan theory. It is not surprising thatThe Simpsonshas spawned a lot of fan theories. The animated family sitcom is officially the longest-running scripted primetime American TV show in history and, with over 780 episodes to its name,The Simpsonsnow boasts a cast of thousands. As such, it makes sense that there are fan theories aboutThe Simpsonssupporting characters like Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, and Milhouse Van Houten.
However, the show’s longevity also complicates its canon. WhileThe Simpsonshas set up gags years beforethey were paid off, the show isn’t always so consistent with its canon. Often,The Simpsonscontradicts major elements of the show’s fictional universe, even changing details as basic as Homer’s birthdate from episode to episode. Showrunner Matt Selman argued in a post onX(formerlyTwitter) that this was due to the “Elastic canon” ofThe Simpsons, which allows the cartoon to change its continuity from one episode to the next.
The Simpsons Season 36 Episode 13 Implies Eddie Is Ralph Wiggum’s Father
The Police Officer Looks Around Suspiciously When Wiggum Notes Their Resemblance
While the elastic canon ofThe Simpsonscan set up some great gags, this approach also lets the show confirm discomfiting fan theories without fully committing to them. In season 36, episode 13, “The Last Man Expanding,” Chief Wiggum begins using a weight-loss drug that parodies Ozempic and soon starts boasting to his colleagues Lou and Eddie about his newfound joie de vivre. Wiggum says that his sex life has been reignited by the drug, and tells his co-workers that he and his wife Sarah may even have another child as a result.
As Wiggum is speaking, he notes that his son Ralph looks very similar to Lou, one of two subordinates who almost always works alongside him. Lou looks panicked but says nothing, with “The Last Man Expanding” cutting to a closeup of his suspicious, wide-eyed face.The theory that Lou is secretly Ralph’s father has been around for a long time, primarily because the pair look fairly similar.WhileThe Simpsonsseason 36 answered another mysteryone episode earlier, “The Last Man Expanding” seemed to prove this hypothesis true.
The claim that Ralph and Eddie look alike doesn’t hold all that much water, even though an earlier episode did jokingly confirm that the police officer was his biological father.
However, while Eddie’s glance seems pretty damning, this doesn’t mean that he necessarily is Ralph’s father. For one thing, Wiggum has been known to treat his subordinates and civilians terribly, abusing his power without much motive. As such, Eddie may be worried about Wiggum growing suspicious of Ralph’s parentage and the consequences of the chief’s theorizing, even if it isn’t true. For another, the claim that Ralph and Eddie look alike doesn’t hold all that much water, even though an earlier episode did jokingly confirm that the police officer was his biological father.
The Simpsons Confirmed Ralph’s Unlikely Parentage Before (But In A Non-Canon Episode)
Season 34’s “Lisa the Boy Scout” Proved Eddie Was Ralph’s Father
In season 34, episode 3, “Lisa the Boy Scout,”The Simpsonsconfirmed that Eddie was Ralph’s father. Wiggum angrily confronted his wife about this, but it is important to note that none of the scenes from this episode were part of the show’s canon. Much likeThe Simpsonssupporting star Milhouseleaving Springfield for Atlanta in season 36, episode 1, “Bart’s Birthday,” this outing was swiftly retconned when the show revealed that it was all a parody of melodramatic, poorly plotted TV shows.
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As a non-canon episode, much of “Lisa the Boy Scout” was devoted to wild fan theories. The episode offered an explanation for how the show seemingly predicts the future, as well as revealing that Wise Guy Raphael’s many occupations had a surreal, Lovecraftian explanation. Thus,The Simpsons’ confirmation of Ralph’s parentage was non-canonicaland the question of who his actual father is remains open. This is arguably better for the series.
What Eddie Potentially Being Ralph’s Real Father Means in The Simpsons
Season 36 Episode 13’s Revelation Only Goes Skin Deep
In terms of personality, Ralph is clearly Chief Wiggum’s son. As such, it wouldn’t make sense for the show to reveal that Eddie is Ralph’s real father inThe Simpsons. Ralph’s dimness could be a result of Chief Wiggum’s parenting rather than inheriting his father’s personality genetically. However, since Sara Wiggum has never played a major role in the series to date, it would be strange to suddenly reveal that she has been concealing the identity of Ralph’s father for years.
Ralph is a fan favorite precisely because his mindless naiveté is a sweeter version of his father’s worrying ignorance.
In an era whenThe Simpsonsseason 36 doesn’t even feature Bartin many of its episodes, the choice to focus on Ralph’s parentage would be a bizarre and pointless one. Ralph is a fan favorite precisely because his mindless naiveté is a sweeter version of his father’s worrying ignorance, andThe Simpsonswould complicate both Chief Wiggum and Ralph by revealing their relationship was more complex than it seemed.
