There are multiple episodes of The Simpsons that have featured a brief glimpse of the future as a throwaway gag, but some have been firmly planted in a potential future timeline for the Simpsons family. While episodes like Season 6's "Lisa's Wedding" introduced a hypothetical future for the family -- and elements of Season 11's "Bart to the Future" would reappear -- a more firm vision of Springfield's future was introduced in Season 16's "Future-Drama."
This setting has become a frequent setting for other modern episodes, each delving into how things might play out for Springfield down the line. Ahead of the show's latest exploration of this potential future in Season 34's "When Nelson Met Lisa," find out more about the apparent future the Simpsons family is approaching.
The Fate Of The Simpsons
Episodes delving into the future of the titular family suggest that despite future trials and tribulations, the Simpsons remain a family through and through. "Future-Drama" and Season 29's "Mr. Lisa's Opus" suggest that Homer and Marge almost finally broke up during their children's teen years, only for Homer's decision to finally give up alcohol for good to help reaffirm his marriage. The furthest trips to the future suggest Homer and Marge will spend the rest of their lives together -- with even Homer's eventual death resulting in a series of new cloned bodies courtesy of Professor Frink. Abe Simpson is hinted to eventually pass away -- although other episodes in this future suggest he's eventually revived and kept alive in suspended animation.
Bart, Lisa, and Maggie are all fated for different paths in life, each one quietly perfect in turn. Season 27's "Barthood" delved into Bart's teenage years. Although he'd remain firmly in Lisa's shadow in his teen years, Bart seems poised to eventually find his own success in art and legal marijuana -- even being hinted to eventually become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Season 4's "The Itchy & Scratchy Movie" and Season 29's "Flanders' Ladder." On a personal level, "Future-Drama" and Season 23's "Holidays of Futures Passed" cemented Amy Poehler's Jenda as his primary love interest. The two would be briefly married and have two sons -- Skippy and Jiff -- before separating, leaving Bart a single father.
Lisa's ambitions have long been teased to result in college, only for Season 32's "Mother and Child Reunion" to reveal Lisa's plans end up taking her down a different path in life, in the process setting off an extended period of tension between her and Marge. Lisa eventually follows a career path into politics, similar to "Bart to the Future's" suggestion that she would eventually become President. Although she is hinted to have retained feelings for Nelson and is implied to eventually come out as bisexual, the episodes suggest Lisa eventually ends up with Milhouse -- with the pair's teenage daughter, Zia, appearing in "Holidays of Future Passed." Meanwhile, Maggie's musical talents flourish as she gets older (even if she still never talks on screen), and she eventually becomes a globally recognized rock star -- returning to Springfield in "Holidays of Future Passed" to give birth to her own daughter, ensuring the Simpson family continues on.
What Happens To The Rest Of Springfield
While the future episodes have been primarily focused on the central Simpsons family, the future-focused episodes have also quietly teased out the possible final fates of numerous other characters. Nelson's friendship with Bart and feelings for Lisa continue well into adulthood, with Season 25's "Days of Future Future" showing Nelson hanging out with the former and Season 34's "When Nelson Met Lisa" focusing on his relationship with the latter. Ralph eventually takes his father's place in the Springfield Police Department, with numerous clones keeping Ralph around even after he dies of various events. "Holidays of Future Passed" also suggests that Martin Prince eventually comes out as transgender, and after transitioning goes by the name Marcia Princess.
Ned Flanders remains a firm friend to the Simpsons for decades to come, and in one gag from "Flanders' Ladder" is suggested to end up a widower many more times over. Moe remains at his Tavern, still serving drinks into his later years. Seymour Skinner remains at Springfield Elementary even after it becomes an apartment building -- becoming Bart's landlord. Apu's stake in the Kwik-E-Mart is implied to result in massive financial success for his family, and his eight children each have their own massive families. By contrast, Mr. Burns, Mr. Smithers, and Krusty the Clown continue down their chosen career paths, to increasingly diminishing returns. Thanks to the fluid nature of The Simpsons, each and all of these could be tweaked or changed in future episodes -- but it all does serve a purpose of pointing at what direction Springfield is heading in.