The Simpsons: 10 Major Plot-Holes Everyone Ignores

Nelson’s dad is a really strange one, as he’s clearly a core part of Nelson’s story and Simpsons mythology overall. Yet they still go back on forth on his design, his personality and his backstory. In later seasons, it’s Nelson’s mother who’s come to the forefront, but with most of the fans rooted in Golden Era loyalties, Nelson’s dad remains a big plot hole.

The most commonly accepted story is that his dad went out to get cigarettes and then just abandoned him; a reference to Stephen King, whose father did the same thing. However, this is later retconned - somewhat believably - that he instead suffers anaphylactic shock from his peanut allergy, and is captured by a freak show.

It’s weird, but it also sort of works.

The problem is, Nelson later cries that his father has run off again, which seems unlikely, considering he didn’t the first time. He’s also featured randomly for little gags when he’s supposed to have run off/at the freak show.

He’s also shown - before he leaves - to be a tough, criminal biker, but upon his return is a sweet, fatherly man whom the Muntz’s rely on to stay strong. He’s just anything he needs to be, which really makes him nothing.