The Simpsons: 10 Fates Worse Than Death
Homer, Bart and Lisa have all seen some terrifying fates await them in The Simpsons.
The Simpsons has never been afraid to pepper dark humour through its stories, even if that sometimes leaves the show's characters in some dire straits.
It seems that for every happily ever after, there is a washed-up country singer or a future of pure doom facing some of our favourite faces, whether they be part of Marge and Homer's clan or one of the many supporting characters who live in Springfield.
While it would be easy to simply go through every Treehouse of Horror episode and make a list from them, this list splits the series evenly between Halloween and all year round episodes, because there really is only so much bloody entrails one can see pulled from America's favourite family.
Whether these are real-world heroes or fictional friends and foes, The Simpsons has offered viewers some fairly grim endings along the way and with no sign of a cancellation on the horizon, it looks like many, many characters are due to receive endless horror in the seasons to come.
10. Lurleen Lumpkin Can't Get Over Homer
First appearing in Colonel Homer, Lurleen Lumpkin was an aspiring country singer. She had a beautiful voice and fit the image of wholesome country female artist. After hearing her sing, Homer immediately sought to launch her career which, to an extent, he managed successfully. However, Lurleen quickly became attracted to him, which makes him decide to sell her contract.
She would reappear during the opening of Springfield's first (and only) Monorail, at which point she tells Kent Brockman that she had been to the Betty Ford centre and had spent the previous night in a ditch. She marries a string of husbands who all resemble Homer, who she clearly hasn't managed to move on from.
Mayor Quimby then causes her further headaches when he begins rounding up everyone who owes back taxes, leading her to appear in front of Judge Snyder. The judge is unsympathetic to her plight, as all of her money is going to her exes, so again The Simpsons attempt to help her. Homer even manages to reunite her with her deadbeat Dad, who then betrays her again.
Every time that she has come into contact with Homer and The Simpsons, her life has taken a turn for the worse. Stuck forever in limbo, with Homer as the template for love and success, poor Lurleen does not have a bright future ahead of her.