Many of the characters within the world of The Simpsons are portrayed as casually cruel or even deadly. Even the sweetest of them has potentially killed someone. But in-universe, the town had an unlikely pick for the worst member of the titular family. Not only was it a shock, but their hatred was completely unfounded.
While the entirety of Springfield once agreed that Marge Simpson was terrible, the matriarch of The Simpsons is arguably the best person in her household. Beyond that, fans can make a case for her being the best person in a morally bankrupt town. How did everyone get it so wrong about Marge?
Season 23, Episode 14, "At Long Last Leave" -- the 500th episode of The Simpsons -- focused on the town of Springfield finally deciding to try and kick the Simpsons out once and for all. Discovering the meeting by accident, the family called out the townsfolk. This led to Mayor Quimby pointing out that Homer and Bart's antics had cost a fortune over the years, while Lisa's various ecological and ethical missions had frustrated citizens. Even Maggie was criticized because she's a very creepy baby in the eyes of the rest of the town (which made sense given her skill with firearms, as seen in the crafty Simpsons Movie). Marge attempted to dissuade everyone, so Quimby admitted Marge forces the town to see her family as people and forgive them -- nominally making her the worst of them all.
The argument stems from the perception that Marge is an enabler of the highest order, frequently turning a blind eye to her family's faults. Despite Bart being at the center of multiple police investigations over the years, Marge has never fully committed to punishing him long-term. Despite being married to Homer and arguably one of the only people who can force him to stop whatever zany scheme he's cooked up next, Marge often gives up quickly and allows her husband to hurt the people of Springfield. In theory, the town has a point: Marge could be arguably doing more to curtail their antics. But multiple episodes have highlighted the flaws with that logic -- and the great impact Marge does have on her family.
Throughout the course of The Simpsons, Marge's influence that has kept the family from their worst impulses. Without questions of Marge's approval hanging over him in episodes like Season 7, Episode 11, "Marge Be Not Proud" and Season 26, Episode 18, "Peeping Mom," Bart would become the wholly destructive force most of the town believes him to be. Marge's empathy and sometimes hard-won ability to change her views has rubbed off on Lisa, keeping the brilliant young girl grounded.
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Marge has also proven to be a unifying force for Springfield in episodes like Season 18, Episode 5, "G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)," rallying the rest of the citizens into rebelling against the army platoon who has taken over the town. She's rarely hostile to anyone who isn't Helen Lovejoy, and she formally took charge of the town in Season 29, Episode 6, "The Old Blue Mayor She Ain't What She Used to Be" -- becoming mayor and seemingly making historic changes. Without Marge, Springfield might have fallen apart.
In fact, Homer's love for Marge and his devotion to her well-being and happiness is the only thing that brought Homer back to Springfield in The Simpsons Movie -- giving him the opportunity to save everyone else's lives. Even in "At Long Last Leave," the citizens are shown regretting their exile of the Simpsons, resulting in the town relocating to join the family. Marge's simple humanity has kept her more absurd loved ones from going too far and has even restrained the town around her. She isn't just the best member of the Simpson family; she's the best person in all of Springfield.
The Simpsons Season 34 premieres Sept. 25 at 8:00 p.m. on Fox.