The Simpsons: Disturbing Milhouse moment had extremely dark inspiration, showrunner reveals

The truth behind the character’s horrified ‘Toys R Us’ expression has been revealed

A memorable scene from The Simpsons was actually inspired by something extremely devastating.

The moment, which involves Milhouse, occurs in season 15’s eighth episode, titled “Marge vs Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays”.

It sees the supporting character pull a horrified expression after a mob of childless adults – including Moe – vandalise Springfield’s Toys R Us sign by turning the “R” the right way around (the Toys R Us logo famously has the “R” reversed).

While Milhouse’s expression has been leaving viewers unsettled ever since it was first shown in 2004, showrunner Al Jean has finally confirmed to Metro why exactly this is.

It turns out it was taken from propaganda film Divide and Conquer, released in 1943, which focuses on the Nazi conquest of Western Europe three years before.

The exact expression animators used for Milhouse was the same one pulled by a member of the French army based in Marseilles, which had just been occupied by the Nazis, after their defeat.

Fans of the long-running series recently realised that Homer’s actual age was revealed in a fleeting moment featured in a classic episode.

The Simpsons has also been highlighted for its accurate depiction of a global pandemic in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.