What is the plot?

The episode "Treehouse of Horror XXXIV" from The Simpsons Season 35, Episode 5, consists of three distinct segments, each with its own storyline.

In the first segment, the episode opens with Mayor Quimby announcing the permanent closure of Springfield's art museum, which will be replaced by a digital museum showcasing the collection as NFTs. Homer and Bart break into the closed museum and use a digitization machine to create an NFT of Bart. However, Bart is consumed by the machine and transported into the NFT world. Homer initially reacts with shock but then smiles selfishly when he discovers Bart's NFT is valued at $1,500,000. Marge is then encouraged by Kylie Jenner, Rob Kankowski, and Jimmy Fallon, who mysteriously appear, to enter the NFT world to rescue Bart. Inside, Marge encounters various digital characters and learns that by killing other NFTs, her own value increases. She embarks on a violent rampage within the NFT world. Eventually, Marge and Bart safely return home. Meanwhile, Homer sells his own NFT to Montgomery Burns and enters the NFT world himself, but his value steadily declines to nearly zero, causing him to vanish there.

The second segment begins with Lisa seeking help from an elderly Sideshow Bob, who resembles Larry Fine. Bob taunts Lisa about killing Bart but refuses to give her direct answers, instead offering to speak in riddles or anagrams. Lisa leaves frustrated, but at Sherri's funeral, Terri reveals that Sherri was the older twin, which leads Lisa to deduce that all the victims were first-born children. Remembering Bob's hint about anagrams, Lisa and Nelson visit Ana Gram's Spooky Abandoned Slaughterhouse to find the killer. While there, Nelson is killed gruesomely on a meat hook and strung up. Lisa discovers the killer's lair, which is a replica of her childhood bedroom, and finds security footage showing herself killing Nelson. Shocked, Lisa is arrested by Dolph, Kearney, and Jimbo. Later, Sideshow Bob is escorted back to his cell, where he finds Lisa waiting. Lisa reveals she has a split personality, with a psychotic side responsible for the murders and a docile "Professor Lisa" persona. Maggie, now a security guard, helped Lisa get to Bob's cell. Lisa then kills Bob while playing "He Is an Englishman" on his record player and dancing.

The third segment shows Homer eating a contaminated doughnut, which triggers an outbreak that causes the citizens of Springfield to transform into versions of Homer. The infection spreads rapidly, and the town descends into chaos. The Simpsons family must find a way to cure the outbreak before it worsens, in a storyline parodying George A. Romero's "The Crazies." The segment details the progression of the outbreak, the transformations, and the family's efforts to contain and reverse the situation, though specific step-by-step actions in this segment are less detailed in the available sources.

These three segments together form the full "Treehouse of Horror XXXIV" episode, blending horror, parody, and dark humor across their narratives.

What is the ending?

The episode "Treehouse of Horror XXXIV" ends with the third segment "Lout Break," where Homer, after eating a contaminated doughnut, causes an outbreak that turns Springfield residents into lazy, beer-loving versions of himself. The outbreak spreads rapidly, and by the end, Springfield is overrun by these Homer-like creatures, with the main characters succumbing to or affected by the transformation.

Expanded narrative of the ending scene by scene:

In the final segment titled "Lout Break," the story begins with Homer Simpson eating a doughnut contaminated with a mysterious substance. Soon after, he begins to exhibit strange behavior, becoming lazier and more obsessed with beer. This change is not isolated; it quickly spreads to other Springfield residents, who start transforming into Homer-like versions of themselves--sluggish, beer-loving, and lacking motivation.

As the outbreak intensifies, the town descends into chaos. The transformed Springfielders roam the streets, all sharing Homer's characteristic traits and mannerisms. The infection acts like a plague, overwhelming the community and erasing individual personalities.

Key characters are shown in various states of transformation or resistance. Homer himself is fully transformed, embodying the worst aspects of his character amplified. Marge, Bart, Lisa, and other main characters face the threat of losing their identities to this outbreak. The segment portrays the spread of this "Homer-ization" as unstoppable, with no clear cure or solution presented.

The episode closes with Springfield completely overrun by these Homer clones, emphasizing the scale of the outbreak. The fate of the main characters is left ambiguous but implies they are either transformed or doomed to be overwhelmed by the epidemic.

This ending highlights a humorous yet dark take on contagion and conformity, using Homer's character as a metaphor for a mindless, indulgent state that spreads uncontrollably through the town.

In summary, the episode concludes with Springfield succumbing to a Homer-induced outbreak, leaving the town and its inhabitants transformed into lazy, beer-loving versions of Homer, with no resolution to reverse the change. This final scene caps the Halloween special with a blend of comedy and horror typical of the Treehouse of Horror tradition.

Is there a post-credit scene?

In "Treehouse of Horror XXXIV," the fifth episode of Season 35 of The Simpsons, there is no traditional post-credit scene in the sense of additional narrative content after the credits roll. However, the episode does feature an alternative ending that has been shared online, which includes a humorous and chaotic scene set in a church.

In this alternative ending, Reverend Lovejoy is speaking at the church, discussing how there is nothing in the Bible that prohibits a pastor and his wife from taking separate vacations. Suddenly, green sweaty water drops appear on Ned Flanders' face, and he transforms into a version of Homer Simpson. As "Homer," Ned exclaims, "I've been neighborino'd into Home-diddly-omer And why am I in church when football is on?" The scene escalates with Ned as Homer burping out clouds, causing the church to become covered in a green, burp-induced fog. The church eventually explodes in a dramatic and comedic fashion, accompanied by operatic screams and the sound of burping. The scene ends with the Gracie Films music playing in a spooky organ style, followed by the 20th Television Animation logo.

This alternative ending is not part of the standard broadcast but has been shared online as a unique take on the episode's conclusion.

What specific clues does Sideshow Bob give Lisa to help her solve the serial killer case in the 'Ei8ht' segment?

Sideshow Bob refuses to give Lisa direct answers but offers to speak in riddles or drop a clue in an anagram. He recites a limerick about killing Bart, which Lisa interprets as a hint. She realizes the victims were all first-born children and that Bob's 'anagram' comment was a clue leading her to the killer's lair.

How does Lisa's character develop and what is revealed about her in the 'Ei8ht' segment?

Lisa is shown as an adult seeking help from Sideshow Bob to catch a serial killer. It is later revealed that Lisa has a split personality; the professor Lisa is unaware of her darker side, which is responsible for the murders. She ultimately kills Bob while playing 'He Is an Englishman' on his record player.

What happens to Bart in the 'Wild Barts Can't Be Token' segment?

Bart is transformed into the first living non-fungible token (NFT), and Marge must enter the blockchain to rescue him.

What causes the outbreak in the 'Lout Break' segment and what is its effect on Springfield residents?

Homer eats a contaminated doughnut, which triggers an outbreak that transforms Springfield residents into lazy, beer-loving versions of Homer, effectively turning them into Homer clones.

What are some notable guest voices and film spoofs featured in 'Treehouse of Horror XXXIV'?

The episode features guest voices from Kelsey Grammer (Sideshow Bob), Kylie Jenner, and Matthew Friend. The segments spoof films such as 'Snowpiercer,' 'The Silence of the Lambs,' 'Seven,' and 'Outbreak.'

Is this family friendly?

The Simpsons Season 35, Episode 5 "Treehouse of Horror XXXIV" is rated TV-14 in the United States and is not fully family-friendly for young children or sensitive viewers due to its content. It contains severe violence and gore, including graphic and gruesome scenes such as characters being cut in half, hearts ripped out, skin peeled off, and brutal dissection. There are also disturbing crime scene images and a riot caused by Homer. The episode has mild profanity (words like "hell," "damn," and "ass") and mild alcohol and smoking references, mostly involving Homer. The frightening and intense scenes are rated severe, making it potentially upsetting for children or sensitive people. There is no sex or nudity content.

In summary, the main potentially objectionable aspects are:

  • Severe and realistic gore and violence, including graphic murder scenes
  • Disturbing and intense frightening scenes
  • Mild profanity and mild alcohol/smoking references

This episode is best suited for older teens and adults comfortable with horror-themed content and graphic cartoon violence. It is not recommended for young children or viewers sensitive to gore or intense scenes.