How The Simpsons FAILED Ned Flanders
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- čas přidán 16. 11. 2022
- In this video I go into the rise and fall of everybody's neighborino, Ned Flanders. I discuss how and when Ned Flanders was flanderised in The Simpsons as well as the start of Jerk Ass Homer. I also look into how flanderization affected Kevin and Creed from The Office, Ron Swanson from Parks & Recreation, and Joey Tribbiani from Friends.
I also talk about his life in Springfield, Rod and Todd, Maude Flanders, her death, and his marriage to Edna Krabappel and how he changed because of it. Also hinting at the fact that his flanderization may be coming to an end. There may also be some logical reasoning behind why he behaved like he did.
Written by: Murray Ferguson
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I really dislike how Ned's change of profession to be Bart's new 4th grade teacher never went anywhere
Agreed! Wasted potential. Lots of possible storylines you could do with Ned as a teacher
@@TheSimpsonsTheory You’re Awesome Lydia.
I am more annoyed that he stopped being Bart's teacher off screen then he was replaced. With the new teacher. At least explain it in the same episode. It would be hilarious if he said the exact same thing he said when he was principal and got fired.
I thought he had a new teacher, a black woman?
@@phantom115cw He did this happen before that in the episode Better Off Ned. The Leftorium went out of business and he became Bart's teacher.
The killing of Maude fundamentally changed the character forever - because he was originally the man who had the life Homer wished for. You could even argue there was a Frank Grimes/Homer envy but between Homer and Ned. Flanders had it all and despite Homer's own laziness and ineptitude, he felt he was the one who deserved it rather than his neighbourino (it wasn't just Ned - Bart had a similar annoyance towards Rod, Todd).
However, the show doesn't do deep/heavy life altering stuff to it's main characters often and here's a helpful reminder as to why. Without realising it, the writers completely fucked the Homer/Flanders comedic relationship forever. I'm aware they did it as a way to write Maggie Roswell out of the show - but they either didn't realise or didn't care (something that's often pointed at Scully's reign - see the decision to have Homer 'not be able to read') about the consequences. Homer could no longer look at Ned with envy - as Ned was now a widower. He was looking after two children without a Mom. Homer could be a dick to Flanders before and although it often wasn't justified, it was at least softened because Flanders did indeed have a better life than Homer. But now he doesn't because the love of his life and mother of his children was dead (I'm just ignoring Homer's involvement in this - otherwise it gets too horrific).
So the entire dynamic changes and the show must somehow continue another 23 seasons and counting having lost a major foundation between the relationship of two of it's biggest characters. Hence the lazy leaning (to the extreme) on his faith as a substitute for a part of his character Ned no longer has.
I disagree with this partially. Flanders was Flanderized to be super Christian before Maude died. I agree this made Flanders a more tragic character. Homer still steals his stuff and treats him like garbage.
@@icecreamhero2375 This is true - but previously the show at least had the annoying neighbour of Flanders to fall back on and ground them. Now they had nothing. But yeah, it could just be a coincidence and they would have headed this way even if Maude was still alive.
I feel like the initial "Flanders has a better life than Homer" thing wasn't going to last anyway - early seasons focused a lot on the Simpsons' financial struggles, for instance, but they became far more middle-class and comfortable over time, taking the edge off one of the bigger complaints Homer had about Flanders (who wasn't particularly wealthier than Homer, but managed his money better and could afford some splurges in a way Homer couldn't). And making Maude a judgmental gossip put the lie to the idea that Ned had a "better wife" or "better marriage" than Homer (even if Maude's butt was higher than Marge's?) And yeah, the religious extremism was picking up before Maude died.
That said, I do agree that Maude's death changed the characters and dynamics in ways the writers didn't really anticipate at the time. By taking away Ned's marriage, they had to lean harder on other aspects of his life and personality. And since the religious angle was already being built up, they leaned harder into that. And yeah, it made the rivalry between Homer and Ned far more equal - instead of "Flanders is better without trying", it turned into "they're both insufferable in equal and opposite ways." It does make sense for Flanders as a character to sink into religious zealotry as a sort of coping mechanism after his wife's death, but he also became something of a right-wing strawman for the writers to bash on.
@@jaybeetee5272 They did it in Fairly Odd Parents and the Turners don't seem to be poor.
I completely agree - I'd also add that Maude's underlying tendency to be judgmental, snooty, and exclusionary to others (often Marge) added something to the mix. It was a nice complement to Ned's "ahh shucks" personality towards EVERYONE.......even Homer - who hated him and his family, and was constantly screwing him over.
To be fair living next to homer for years would change anyone's personality 😂
You're not wrong haha
To be fair
It's all just one year ahahah
Is there even a in-canon amount of time passed with this whole series when considering all the big status quo changes?
Ned: Homer, you are the worst human being I have ever met!
Homer: Hey, I got off pretty easy.
Lol😂
Honestly I think Ned Flanders was written the best in The Simpsons Movie. Ned was a perfect mix of religious satire while he still had a charm to him. He held tolerance to Homer Simpson and had a very important role in the movie. He acts as the father that Bart wishes Homer can be. When a mob is after Homer, Ned Flanders is the one to keep them safe. Ned Flanders acts as a mentor to Bart. He never tells Bart how to feel. He just states his opinion and gives Bart the space to express his feelings. He guides him. Ned is the reason Bart ends up forgiving Homer. This could've been written badly but instead it feels like Bart came to this conclusion naturally rather than a forced way. I think after The Simpsons Movie Ned's character somehow got worse.
This is true but I also feel that by the time the movie came out, Flanderisation was already well underway, with the movie's depiction of Flanders being a throwback to his roots.
@@alexpotts6520 that is true
Yes! Movie Flanders was great.
@@alexpotts6520 yeah, due to all the classic writers who came back for the movie who had been absent in recent seasons
@@kaitlyn__L that explains so much
My English and Theology teacher at boarding school was the man that the Simpsons creators based Ned Flanders on. His name was Alden Flanders and when I tell you that he acted exactly like early season Flanders, they were carbon copies. Alden Flanders would come into class playing the banjo and said phrases very similar to hi-diddly-ho neighborino. Easily the nicest person I have ever come across in my life.
That does indeed sound like a really nice person. Did he dress in a similar way as well?
@@Shannon4710 hahahah yep, though in his 60s he sported a beard but had the same sweater and glasses combo.
@@justinalvino6616 That is really funny. I wonder if he has ever noticed the similarities himself?
@@justinalvino6616 Was he also a Christian?
That's so cute 🥺😭
I think a video like this should be done for Lisa. Her flanderization made her a bit unlikable for me to watch. With repetitive storylines about her social insecurity, and her more cynical outlook on people, after losing the more optimistic helpful and informed role she had, as well as the appropriate child-like traits she had in earlier seasons.
Yes! I remember in one episode, Marge wanted Bart, Homer, and Lisa to go to a museum that was closing. Bart and Homer's reaction was expected. They didn't want to go. But Lisa didn't want to go either? I'm prior seasons, she would have been so happy for this. She has forever changed.
Lisa's thing is she's an 8 year old that rides the line between being for the world and realistically seeing how it truly is. She'll never be that girl who feared her dad going to hell for stealing cable. She's been through a lot of tragedy, disappointed by every person she's ever looked up to, she's been corrupted herself. But since she's still 8 the world's not set for her, she's still a kid
@@delaneywilliams7261 She's not your stereotypical good little girl she can go with the crowd and not want to go to a museum. Besides not all museums are equally exciting
Lisa was one of the first Simpsons character to suffer from flanderization as hers started in Season 7 when the show was still in its prime (Lisa the Vegetarian where she literally scorned Homer & Bart for eating meat and ruined his BBQ party) but she’s especially become unlikeable to me in later seasons. Look at episodes like On a Clear Day I can’t See my Sister, Jazzy and the Pussycats & Flander’s Ladder where her personality is literally sadistic toward her own brother.
@@jonahgoldstein9905 Lisa the Vegetarian was an evolving episode for Lisa! One of her signature episodes. Besides from pov Lisa's always ruining the fun.
And yeah Lisa would do bad things to Bart, but 99% of their interactions is Lisa dealing with whatever mean thing Bart's done to her
Ned was such a funny character, he did kind of get worse with time.
But he had to develop though, he couldn't just remain the friendly neighbour character forever. They just went too far with him
I think "kind of" is a way to put it nicely, VERY nicely
You're right about almost everything in video, but not about Ralph Wiggum. He was always the extremely weird kid, including earlier in that episode you referenced. His sudden burst of talent and competence playing George Washington was the exception.
Yeah that was a twist in the episode after how weird he’d been the rest of the runtime
Ned Flanders decline started when Maude was killed off. he is a prime example why tv shows should not kill of characters as revenge.
IMO, Flanderization can be best characterized by: _A superficially stereotypical character that is actually well-developed and deep on scrutiny, meant to play the viewers as fools for believing the stereotype in the first place; _*_which said character's traits eventually become degraded by the successive generations of more inexperienced and less talented writers who fail to understand the previously mentioned concept,_** going on to assume the viewers are fools in the first place so the character simply becomes what they believe the viewers see them as:* A one-dimensional stereotype.
In short, _The Simpsons_ simpsonized themselves. Or how Bethesda misinterpreted the _Fallout's_ excellent retro-futurism vision with "the 50's but with more robots and radiation".
Basically the show's characters acting like crude surface level parodies of themselves over time.
Many characters exhibit Flanderization, but sometimes they revert back to bring the character happy moments and story once more
I like that the writers of Family Guy with Quagmire and The Simpsons with Ned did nearly the same thing but to opposite ends if the spectrum. Quagmire towards pure deviancy and Ned towards moral purity. The gradual shift back of both characters towards a median had been much appreciated on my part.
Thanks for all the amazing content Lydia!!!
I actually think the opposite happened with Quagmire. He started off as a sex crazed psuedo-rapist and he gradually became more complex.
Good point
I never thought I would hear someone compare Ned Flanders to Quagmire and make some pretty damn good points while doing so!
This video got me thinking about Homer's faith, and I realized I can't think of any other character like him. There are believers, atheists, and agnostics, and then there's Homer. First, Homer has the rare distinction of being a character who has actually met God, in person. But that didn't really phase him. Most people would become instantly devout after meeting the Creator, but Homer talks to God as if he's just another guy at the bar. I think there's a lot to examine there.
He also called God his favorite fictional character.
I wouldn't say anybody I don't think some people will be completed the most likely scenarios most people would be trying to question everything in atheist will try to find scientific logic in it and then give up trying
Most people would become instantly devout after meeting the Creator ? No. Not people I know. We believe that even if God exists, he is sexist, racist, homophobic, murderous monster. So there is no way I will ever worship him.
@@thermslusitania1151 Most people would NOT become instantly devout after meeting the Creator. Not people I know. We believe that even if God exists, he is sexist, racist, homophobic, murderous monster. So there is no way I will ever worship him.
@@IamAlmostRealWitch I said "Creator" specifically because the Bible isn't the be-all-and-end-all of faith and religion. Take it from a real Witch - the "Higher Power" means wildly different thing to different people.
After all, even if there is a "God," that doesn't mean the Bible got it right.
I personally like that Flanders is now becoming a more realistic person since his time with Mrs K and isn’t that much of a Member of the God Squad as much as he used to yes he still has the odd uh uh not in my church but it’s hasn’t been as common
I love all your videos
I honestly kind of like the fact that the Bible thumper isn’t completely out of him yet. Yes his behavior is changing for the better but I think it makes it more interesting/realistic that the change is a gradual one. When you’re mentally that mentally immoderate/dependent, it takes years of work to undo the damage of that way of thinking.
True but Ned is slowly becoming a normal person especially the non canon episode of a serious flanders where we see more of normal man he is in situations
Poor Ned- twice widowed with two young children. That's brutal, even for a cartoon character.
Ned Flanders is definitely a character who suffered with his iconic but one note love of Christianity which is definitely at its worst during the 2000s to mid 2000s it’s definitely toned down now compared to those seasons but it’s not surprising why this changed happened as well as the fact that it’s named after him
Because people hate religion now and assume everyone associated with it is an extremist, racist homophobic man?
I would have love to have seen a flashback episode with Ned working in the pharmaceutical company which he did before creating the Leftorium store.
Walter Flanders
@@Catmoment67892 There should be a Treehouse of Horror of Flanders being Walt and Bart being Jesse.
I don’t think Ned becoming super religious to the point of extremism is a bad thing. After Maude died it would make sense he would turn super into religion.
This could have been a an interesting idea. Lots of people have turned to religion since someone they loved died, and while Ned was always Christian it could be like those born again Christians.
Also since his wife was the more “judgmental” Christian he might have tried to intimidate or invoke her beliefs or behaviors. Maybe believing he wasn’t a good enough Christian and that’s why she died.
Since Maude died it would make sense for him to look for a community to help him raise his two boys, and this could show how predatory some churches can be for those dealing with grief.
This could also be a way to challenge his beliefs without using Ned as a way to making fun of certain types of Christians.
Remember the episode where homer meet a gay man and was worried Bart was going to turn gay? I think that should have been a Flanders episode.
He could learn to still like religion but also learn a different perspective, instead of being the shows religious punching bag.
Homer’s Phobia being a Flanders episode would make so much more sense
That's why I liked his relationship with Edna. Edna brought him out of that mindset a bit, and got Ned to try new things. I feel like Edna was a better wife to Ned than Maude RIP Marcia Wallace.
I remember watching the episode where Ned banished Todd from the Flanders house when he questioned his faith. I think that was his Flanderisation at his worst when he puts his faith before his children.
Perhaps Ned could take a lesson from a great quote from an actor who played Ned's favourite fictional character (sorry, I had to make that joke). "People want me to do everything for them, but what they don't realise is that they have the power!"
Yeah that's the worst thing a parent can ever do
Remember when no bible stories for swearing was considered radical, for Ned? Those were simpler times.
I agree that Ned was at his worst in that episode! Not only did he kick Todd out for questioning his faith but he also told him that he was going to Hell for it!
@@GarkKahn Definitely not.
You always have to put faith/morality before your children. If you don't, you don't really have faith/morality and you certainly don't care about the long term well-being of your children.
Always felt bad for ned.he is such a good person and always willing to help. but he always bad things happen to him. His wife's,his career. But hes always been a happy guy
Yes that was extremely funny when Homer's house was burning down and he threw Homer's body out of the burning house but it flopped back inside. So Ned had to do that backwards flip on that couch back into the fire to rescue Homer again.
You could say Ned went through a very Dark Mid-Life Crisis in which he was lost and trying to find meaning in it all while having to contend with Jerkass Homer and wacky Springfield.
The Ned Flandification of a character. I remember listening to an audio commentary on a Simpsons DVD and they said that there was a group of people in the UK who dressed up like Ned Flanders. And one of the audio commentators was like it must be so they can pick up women.
Maybe unrelated,but in the later/latest seasons,have anyone noticed that Homer have become more of a caring and responsible dad to his kids? Shocking,I know,but I think he even stopped strangling Bart.
In most of the future-themed episodes He's learned from his mistakes with Bart and turned into a better grandparent towards Bart's kids similarly to what Abe did with him and his kids. Being a crappy dad but better granddad might be in the Simpsons genepool
Homer and Bart are the best characters in the show now. Ironically, Bart the Trouble Maker is a nicer person than his sister, and Homer is (whilst not as funny as before) still Homer - unlike Marge who just seems to be on permanent jerkass mode!
The stragliest ned and homer being slightly more lovable oth instead of hateful also bart genuinely seems to stay how he was along with Maggie since like season 1 for some reason apart from minor changes bart and Maggie both seen to be pure evil ecect Maggie is super talkative yet nobody listens to her well bart genuinely takes the socio path test and gets 3 answer wrong making him a pcycopath or at least one with alot of voices telling him to homer has said since season 1 bart is crazy and same with Maggie what other 3 year old blast fat Tony and his men her and bart are generally by definition pcycopaths and lisa really the only normal one in the family
ironically the kid whose kills homless people and calls them pigeons and is a genuine proved pcycopath literally able to kill and stuff with no second thought also satomaschist is a big thing with bart and yet along with Maggie who shoots people genuinely dosint fit in like bart makes friends with people through trouble making nicer than the so fabled smart girl who idolizes and dreams of killing/making him alone and depressed well so really lisa a sociopath but more pcycopath cause deep down she still cares for bart and Maggie and bart genuinely still cares for her he's pure evil yet still cares for his family for a reason if lisa Maggie or his mom didn't exist there would be alot of dead people mostly because bart literally needs anti pcyce pills and stuff like in the recent seasons not even just the trailer seasons it's been one of bart lisa and Maggie's charismatic is there all insane
Well I'm glad to know that flanderization really did come from this character. Yeah honestly I haven't watched a new season of The Simpsons in like I don't know 4 years. But this was really interesting to see anyway especially the stuff I didn't know about. There's actually a lot of episodes I've missed from the 2000s and the early 2010s as well actually
I have a theory that after Maude died, she partially possessed Ned, trying to help beyond the grave, which passed some of her personality onto him. Basically, trying to still be the mother by corrupting her husband and making him more like her, causing the Flanderization. After causing such havoc on the living, that may have been how she ended up with the devil, but that's a bit harsh.
On the other hand, Ned might have adopted his dead wife's persona to handle the sudden loss and increase of responsibility, maybe because he viewed her as the more capable parent.
Either can work in fiction, though I think the second is the more psychologically realistic possiblity.
Liquid Ocelot Ned. Nice.
Quick. Let's write a letter to explore this idea.
Point taken, and I agree. I can't understand how Ned ended up wedding Edna Krabappel (RIP) in the series. Kudos to Edna to stand up for herself toward him, being a loving step mum to his children and Edna's positive attitude to specific topics. Plus, she helped him to be productive, understanding, and less judgement (only specific topic and scenario) nowadays, which I'm OK with.
For me It was the Mr Sparkle episode, That really made Ned Obsessivly needy for Chruches acceptance.
Also while Ralph was flanderized he was still poached by the Chicago tribune, and showed his artistic flair by mastering Tapa tapa tapa
And when Marge said at that one Town Meeting, "To me, Ralph Wiggum IS Sir Lancelot!", Ralph showed he could sing!
@@louisduarte8763 Right, I knew there was another moment Ralph shows off his talents but could not recall off the top of my head.
Some of my favorite episodes across the series are when Homer and Ned team up to accomplish something. When Flanders Failed is one of my all time favorite episodes. Jerk Ass Homer and Flanderized Flanders made these sorts of team-ups impossible in modern Simpsons. Serious Flanders seems to be a step back in the right direction
Ned has characterizion got back on track after two key events that come to my mind. The Simpsons Movie were he brought back to his roots as a likable character were help Bart after being embarrassed by Homer's antics, Also his marriage Edna softened character out as well and has led to him becoming more open minded.
There is one more thing that is not acknowledged in the video. From what I read on the Wiki after the ending of the episode that parodied the Scopee Monkey Trail, Lisa's speech made Ned a bit more respectable to other people's religions and beliefs. While I don't know if counts though after watching this video.
I really like Ned as the annoying neighbour/probably one of Homer‘s best friends, when they have an episode together they do really well and I love the friendship. I do not like Ned as a religious tyrant Who forces his views on to other people. This is a trait I can’t stand in real life so seeing it on Ned is equally as annoying. Todd, “Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?” is one of my least favourite episodes in the entire series because of this. It’s probably the greatest example of What Ned has become. The way he treats his son is pretty disgusting, especially when Todd is only like six years old and grieving The loss of a parent. Annoying but well meaning that was so much better, his storyline with Bart in the Simpsons movie was really my favourite of Ned.
Also that episode came way too late. aIt should have came out in season 15 at the latest.
He also shelters his sons to the point that even Bart pointed out that they will be taken advantage of in the real world! At least Edna tried to make her step-sons more well rounded before she died.
In my opinion I thought killing off maude was a big mistake because I felt that the moment she died felt out of place because it felt "too real" if that makes any sense and always felt that if her actress was unable to reprise her role because she had to move then maybe make maude a background character because they did it before and her actress still voices her and did return later. Because of this Flanders unfortunately did become a completely different character and not in a good way.
Ned changed a lot since season 11! And that’s a bad thing. He also kicked out his youngest son Todd out as well!
Seems like flanderization coincides with the George W Bush administration. I guess the writers wanted to use the character to address their frustration with the rise of evangelical politics in the US during that era and in doing so made him less goofy and more judgmental. He doesn't seem like the same Flanders who didn't have a problem with Homer borrowing all his tools or almost bashing him over the head with a lead pipe.
I think it's worth noting that Ned's Flanderization into a fundamentalist/evangelical coincided with the Presidency of George W. Bush, an era where Christian zealotry was prominent in politics and the media. I don't blame the writers for wanting to mock those sorts of people but using an established character clearly rubbed people the wrong way, even if it can be explained away in-universe.
Looking back it feels dated.
Yeah but at the same time those people are still out there but are even worse, Flanders is definitely not a good vehicle for that level of it.
@@92JazzQueen I don't think it's that dated at all. It's not like people like Ned jumped off the Republican train.
Although I do admit it is weird that Ned Flanders went from a mainline Protestant to more of a Southern Baptist type.
I honestly hate the way Homer treates him like Ned is such a good hearted person
He is jealous because he's more successful you have people like that in the real world but he doesn't hate him completely he has tried to correct his mistakes multiple times and he had a good moment so I think is a Tom and Jerry kind of thing
At least it makes the rare episodes where they get along nice to watch
One of the worst flanderization examples is OTTO, who had some depth but right now he is only a stoner.
I'm planning on making a video on Otto very soon. He's barely in the show anymore which is a shame
Yeah that was funny when they burned down the science museum in the robot came out on fire saying. "Why why was I programmed to feel pain".
Flanders is the reason flanderization as a term was created
just found ur channel, never was allowed to watch the simpsons as a kid but from youtube clips ive kinda fallen in love with it lol despite having never seen a single episode, thx for ur channel :)
It’s sad how they used Flanders and his family to make fun of religion. Why did Fox and Disney do that??
Ned Flanders is the Brian of the Simpsons, one of the most friendly and normal characters in the show went insane and became one of the biggest jerks in the show
I have an idea for a simpsons Flanders episode that could further challenge flanders character and put him in new directions if done right. So how bout an episode where Rod (I say Rod because I think that’d be more interesting) meets this boy who he becomes close friends with, and then later finds outs that this boy is attracted to other boys. Rod shares this to Ned and Ned in his expectedly for his character forbids Rod from hanging out with that boy, but Rod tells Ned that he really gets along with this boy, and likes being his friend. Rod and Ned can have conflict thru this all, and it can be a way potentially to challenge flandernized Ned. Again, only if done right tho
Love this channel as much as I love the simpsons!
I think what they did with him they should have done with Maude and/or Rev Lovejoy instead. Ned is deeply religious, but it didn't make him judgemental. That's more in character for Lovejoy and Maude.
Soy una fan de Perú, adoro tus videos. Tu canal y el canal de Max Power son mis canales favoritos se Los Simpson.
I love your page keep up the good work ❤❤❤
I'm pretty sure in Ralph's case it was less Flanderization and more they hadn't settled on what they wanted the character to be.
Great video Lydia! Interesting and fun! Hope you have been doing well lately. happy Thanksgiving, gobble gobble🦃
😇Ahoy Springfield Ian’s😇
I actively only watch seasons one through 12 or 13. After that the Simpsons just start getting so weird.
to me that makes it even funnier.
@@donnieconyers2829 are hilarious and Marge cursed out Helen at the supermarket. I was screaming.😂😂😂
@@blackpanda7298 i love the simpsons no matter what the season i mean humor is subjective like what i think is funny might not be something someone else might think is funny.
13:14 Ok this part won me over. That is actually a good observation that takes into account how the character developed over time.
I know I’m late, but another great video Lydia!
thanks lydia good vid as always 👍
Ned Flanders change a lot
Thanks for talking about that, always thought it
do you remember this British cartoon Lydia called Stressed Eric his neighbour Ray Perfect reminds me very much of Flanders.
Ned Flanders went straight 1984.
Just came across your channel. Can't wait to see more, also your Simpson drawing is very sexy!
Flanders was a great man, a devote man with his family and faith, but in this current time where religion, but mostly christianity is consider evil, the producers thought that the best course for Flanders was too make into a fanatic, because it was the best way to mock christianity, is not about developing a character but mock those that political correctness consider patetic
honestly, i think ned's flanderization should be seen as a character arc; a man, struck by grief after losing his wife seeks comfort in religion, but ends up losing his way in the process only to meet someone new that helped him slowly get out of it and become a better person. i have a person in my life who went through the same thing and the portrayal of ned during this era is very accurate to when this kind of thing happen to someone
Man we should write a letter asking for this to be officially confirmed.
We all love your videos bye happy Thanksgiving 😊💙✌️
0:20-0:23 complaining because his kids are well behaved, and his wife was hotter. Homer had a good reason to be jealous
How about a Reverend Lovejoy or a Mayor Quimby timeline?🤗📺⛪🕵
I also noticed that Sweet Home Humdimdoodily was somewhat of a beginning for his Flanderization. It’s like how in SpongeBob, “Patrick’s a Prick” episodes started with Season 2’s “I’m With Stupid”, even though both are considered golden age eps.
Great video today Lydia, can we expect to see videos on Wednesday/Thursday every couple of weeks or is this just a temporary thing? Keep up the great work you guys. Have a great rest of your week.
Just experimenting with upload days. Not sure what day to upload the next Family Guy video. Maybe keep to wednesdays :)
@@TheSimpsonsTheory Well your content is so excellent, we'll always support you whatever your upload schedule is
I hated when Flanders was taken in to that drug smuggling business and no mention was made of his past as a pharmacist specialiced in pharmacology.
they used him to whine about christianity in the early 00s because that was a big trend for the type of people who write for the simpsons
Ned seemed pretty chill in Lisa's Wedding with his sons being gay
I’d say a part of it is just changing culture. The Simpsons started out in 1989 when christianity was seen as humble and virtuous, so Ned was just a super nice neighbor who got his morals from his faith. But as the decades rolled by and millennials aged into adults, they simply got tired of the nation-wide Bible thumping and all the ugliness that came with it, from Mel Gibsons snuff film, to rampant homophobia, to the endless parade of molested children, to almost-comical-if-it-wasn’t-so-sad denial of scientific facts, and most recently complete submission to the republican party. So being a satirical show, the Simpsons parodied all of the above though our favorite neighborino.
@4:30, the thing is, Rod was misinformed by Bart on what "gay" meant.
Of course, he's also been shown to give Bart money in the episode "Bart to The Future", but only he hasn't "outed Rod & Todd", so it's suggested that Flanders is only giving him money under the premise of "hush money".
He's also not very tolerant of Judaism, as he freaks out over a fantasy version of Rod & Todd announcing they were converting to Judaism.
Same with Buddhism and Wicca: he mistakes Lisa's proclamation that she's a Buddhist by saying "my Satan-sense is tingling" in a soliloquy and he spies Lisa using an informational website on Wicca as a gateway to worshipping the Devil.
He also portrayed the Devil in the Treehouse of Horror segment "The Devil & Homer Simpson".
"I'd sell my soul for a Formula One racing car."
"That can be easily arranged."
"Nah. Changed my mind"
He also ran a "Heck House" in another Treehouse of Horror segment (which was really a "Hell House" which showed the error of a group of pranksters' ways through the Seven Deadly Sins).
He blames his attitude of "being hard on Todd" as being inherited from HIS father, but his father is later shown to be lax on discipline, despite being referred to as a field commander in a flashback by Grampa Simpson.
Even parts of his extended family are shown to be unlike him and reluctant, such as his stoic British counterpart, Lord Thistlewick Flanders. "Charmed. A-googily-doogily."
Hey Simpsons Theory could you please make a ranking about all Sideshow Bob episodes that would be very nice
I love all your videos
Great video Lydia, Ned Flanders changed a lot.
It's a shame. Classic Flanders was one of my favourite characters but once the flanderisation happened he was ruined. Still a big fan though because of the classic Flanders
I feel like the tenor of Ned's character was shifting even before Maude's death - the initial "Flanders are the perfect family" schtick could only last so long, and the show had already begun to introduce flaws into the family - religious zealotry, Maude being judgmental and gossipy, the kids being sheltered and weird around other kids, Ned having anger issues, etc. At the same time, Show started lightening up on things like the Simpsons' financial issues, taking some edge off the rivalry from that angle too. So instead of an animosity driven be envy, I think Show was already transitioning to a more straightforward antagonism between two very idiosyncratic people/families who just didn't mesh well but also couldn't avoid each other.
But I do think Maude's death tosses poor Ned down a bit of a rabbit hole. I'm not sure if that was deliberate by the writers, or if they just wanted to create a right-wing strawman to make fun of, but the implication was that as the only adult in the house, Ned no longer had any checks or balances against the more extreme parts of his nature (what, was Rev. Lovejoy ever going to keep him in line?), and sank further into extremism. I'd agree that sending his kid away was probably his personal nadir.
I was never really able to get on board with Nedna - it just never felt believable to me - but I have to admit she was a turning point in his life. On her end - Ned has a lot of the same wholesome innocent charm Skinner has, but with more maturity and fewer mother issues. But his religiosity was never going to work with the worldly, arguably jaded Edna. So he had to shift away from that to make the relationship work. I'm not sure if it was really a believable change in the way it happened, but it was a good change that brought him back down to Earth.
I thought it was strange about the Ned and Edna relationship because of him being so religious and Edna was a bit more worldly. But in the long run she was a good influence on him and his sons.
4:56 Homer didn't kill Maude, the girls that fired the t-shirts are the ones that killed Maude
I was like OMG finally I been dying to talk about it
I don't like how they killed his wife Maude Flanders, They turned him into a sad widow.
Ned Flanders inspired the Band - Okilly Dokilly - They were an American heavy metal band from Phoenix, Arizona
Great video! lots of food for thought.
I always loved Flanders as the Devil in one of the first few treehouse of horrors. And the episode that’s the broken leg/telescope/murder “Rear Window”
I'd argue Ned has always mirrored American Christianity. I remember people who were just like Ned in the early seasons. They're not as common as they use to be.
My youth group leader at church in the early 90s was spot on. "Let's roast sugar free marshmallows while singing Christian parodies to popular songs from 20 years ago." The type of Christian who didn't like to talk about homosexuality, because you'd have to talk about sexuality.
Overtime as U.S. Christians became less prudish and more hostile. Their backhanded insults became openly aggressive. Ned only mirrored these social changes.
Atleast that's my take living in a religiously conservative region of the U.S.
Great essay! Really goes to show you that the show just became more and more cynical over time and lost a lot of its heart. The Simpsons was always a satire on American culture and society as a whole, but even with all the ugly it exposed, a very big heart beat beneath.
You sound so bored while reading the script haha, I honestly love that
Its kinda funny...people seem to hate Flanders as much as Homer! Sure Flanderization became a term, but it futher shows a sense of why Homer hates him so much!
Ned Flanders is who the term ‘Flanderisation’ is named after
She explains this within the first two minutes
@@duncangaming4165 I didn’t actually watch the video when I wrote this
Totally agree with this take
I stopped watching the Simpsons 2 years ago because of how much the show lost its identity
His worst was the time he called Lisa's Buddhist beliefs as satan worship.
Somehow that came off meaner then it was supposed to.
0:58 can we talk about ned's color change pants
I would like you to try and explore Marge Simpson’s dark side and I know what you are saying about Ned is meant to be a joke but sometimes Simpson jokes feel either frustrating or depressing or both because to me it feels too relatable to the modern world and I would wish to speak about even if I have to be a guest star on the show as a Canadian podcaster who wants to write for an episode about the truth of the Simpson family and everyone around them.
The point of ned flanders was that he was the opposite of homer, he had a happy healthy family life and was so squeaky clean. It also was humorous that the town by and large liked flanders. Homers hate for him was unique to homer and most people didnt understand it.
I think Flanders has become a onenote character but I think his relationship with Homer is much deeper than the woman has with Barney Is on any other at mos
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We're also seeing a satirical show reacting to 30 years of societal change. In 1990, being a godfearing christian was a canonical part of being a good american citizen, the 'hugging and learning' sitcom dad to contrast Homer. But into the W. Bush era and beyond, christian extremism became more overt so the show became more heavy handed in its satire, along with general society becoming more secular and cynical thanks to the internet. The fact that the characters even go to church at all is incredibly odd for a modern sitcom. So the godfearing character can no longer be the 'normal' one.
Flanders never had his trade mark mustache in his debut! Or is this a Mandela Effect?!🥸🧐🤔🤷
I always thought that Ned’s religious devotion was a direct reaction to his wife’s death, since I’ve seen that happen in real life. It still really pisses me off, but to me there’s a reasonable explanation for it
Ned is one of my favorite Simpsons characters like top 6! And I really don’t appreciate how they suddenly made his whole thing about Maude being dead,I don’t even think Maude’s death was needed! He has just really gone down hill ever since the Maude’s death episode.
When I got the notification I immediately clicked on it
Nobody cares
I really Love This Channel Lydia
Thank you so much Michael
@@TheSimpsonsTheory Thanks Lydia Happy Thursday To you.
@@TheSimpsonsTheory When Are you Doing Patty And Selma Timeline Lydia.
@@TheSimpsonsTheory Your videos are Great
I'd guess Ned fits the term Flanderization