“The Simpsons” continues its tradition of cultural satire by taking on the NFT craze in its 34th “Treehouse of Horror” episode, much to the delight and amusement of fans. Titled “Wild Barts Can’t Be Broken,” the segment pokes fun at the digital collectible frenzy by turning Bart Simpson into a non-fungible token, courtesy of an accident by Homer.
In the story, Homer discovers Bart’s NFT is valued at a staggering $1.5 million, portraying a cheeky Bart in his characteristic mischievousness. Marge is understandably horrified when she finds out Bart has been digitized and vows to save him from the blockchain. She embarks on a daring adventure through the crypto-verse, guided by the so-called enlightened minds that protect it. In a surprising twist, Kylie Jenner aids Marge, transforming her into an NFT to navigate the blockchain and retrieve Bart.
Marge’s journey is successful, and she manages to bring Bart back to his non-tokenized form. However, Homer, ever the opportunist, decides to turn himself into an NFT, only to realize that the NFT hype has already passed in Springfield, leaving him behind the trend.
The Simpsons has long been known for its prophetic takes and timely commentary on societal trends, with previous episodes touching on various aspects of cryptocurrency. Notably, one episode depicted the Bitcoin price ticker symbol as infinity at a time when the actual cryptocurrency was reaching record high values. Furthermore, the show featured Jim Parsons in a past episode, providing a layman’s explanation of cryptocurrency. The inclusion of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency elements in the show’s episodes prior to Parsons’ feature underscores “The Simpsons” ongoing engagement with the evolving landscape of digital currency and internet culture.
This latest episode demonstrates the show’s continued commitment to weaving contemporary issues into its narrative, with NFTs being the latest phenomenon to be scrutinized through the show’s characteristic lens of humor and satire.
