Let’s be honest. If you look at the stats, Homer Simpson and wife Marge shouldn't still be together. Not by a long shot. He’s a guy who’s forgotten her birthday more times than he’s had hot meals—and the man eats a lot of meals. He’s blown their life savings on everything from a monorail to a literal elephant. He spends his nights at a dive bar with a bartender who’s barely holding it together.
Yet, here we are in 2026, and they’re still the gold standard for TV couples. Why?
It’s not because they’re perfect. It’s because they’re resilient. People love to pick apart their marriage, calling it toxic or dated. But if you actually watch the show—like, really watch it—you see a partnership that has survived more "deal-breakers" than any real-life couple could dream of.
The First Meeting Most Fans Forget
Most people think Homer and Marge met in high school detention. You know the story: 1974, Homer gets caught smoking in the bathroom, Marge is there for burning her bra in a feminist protest. It’s a classic "opposites attract" setup. But the writers actually threw a curveball in the episode "The Way We Weren't."
They actually met way earlier.
When they were ten, they crossed paths at summer camp. Homer was at a camp for underprivileged kids, and Marge was at a fancy one across the lake. They shared their first kiss through a kitchen wall. Because Homer was wearing an eyepatch (switchblade accident, obviously) and Marge’s hair was flat and brown from a curling iron mishap, they didn't recognize each other as teenagers.
They even had a heart-shaped rock they broke in two.
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Decades later, they found the matching halves. It’s a bit sappy, sure. But it establishes this idea that they weren't just a high school fling. They were, in the show's logic, destined.
Did Homer Simpson and Wife Ever Actually Get Divorced?
This is the big one. If you search for "Homer Simpson and wife divorce," you'll find a million clickbait headlines. Most of them are from 2015 when executive producer Al Jean teased a "legal separation."
Fans went into a total meltdown.
The episode was "Every Man's Dream." Homer gets diagnosed with narcolepsy, starts dating a pharmacist voiced by Lena Dunham, and the marriage seems dead. But it was a hallucination. A dream within a dream.
However, they have technically been divorced. In the season 8 episode "A Milhouse Divided," Homer realizes he’s been a terrible husband after watching Milhouse’s parents split. He files for divorce in secret. Not to leave Marge, but because he thinks she deserves a better wedding than their original "Shotgun Wedding" at a cheesy chapel. He remarries her at the end of the episode to "do it right."
Then there’s the technicality. In season 20, they find out Reverend Lovejoy wasn't actually certified when he performed that second ceremony. So, for a good chunk of the series, they weren't legally married at all. They fixed it (again) with a third wedding.
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Basically, they’ve been married three times to each other.
The Near-Misses and Affairs
It hasn't always been "Happily Ever After." Both have come dangerously close to cheating.
- Homer and Mindy: In "The Last Temptation of Homer," a gorgeous coworker (voiced by Michelle Pfeiffer) who loves donuts and TV as much as he does almost ruins everything.
- Marge and Jacques: In "Life on the Fast Lane," Marge nearly has an affair with a suave French bowling instructor.
- Lurleen Lumpkin: The country singer Homer managed. She was head over heels for him.
Homer’s reason for staying? In the episode "Secrets of a Successful Marriage," he admits he’s completely dependent on her. He says he can't survive without her "total, unconditional support." It’s kinda pathetic, but also weirdly sweet.
The "Homer-normativity" Debate
Critically, there’s been a lot of talk about "Homer-normativity." This is a term some therapists and critics use to describe the trope of the "incompetent but lovable dad" paired with the "suffering but saintly mom."
Is it a bad model?
Maybe. Critics like those at Psychology Today have argued that Marge is "winning" a battle for moral superiority while Homer just exists. But the show's longevity suggests we see something real in them. They represent the "intellectual stalemate" of many long-term relationships.
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Marge isn't a victim; she’s the engine. She’s had her own flings with independence—running a pretzel franchise, joining the police force, being a mayor. But she always comes back. Not because she has to, but because she chooses the chaos she knows.
Why Their Marriage Works (Actually)
If you’re looking for a takeaway from the saga of Homer Simpson and wife, it’s not about being a perfect spouse. It’s about the "Small Reminders."
- The "Do It For Her" Sign: In one of the most famous scenes in TV history, we find out Homer took back his soul-crushing job at the power plant to support Maggie. He covered his workstation with photos of his family.
- Radical Forgiveness: Marge has a "low bar," sure. But she also sees the intent. In the episode where Homer hires the Japanese Mafia to help Marge’s pretzel business (it's a long story), she tells him: "I don't hate you for failing, I love you for trying."
- Shared History: They are the only people who truly know each other's baggage. From the 1990s grunge era (which was a weird retcon, but still) to the present day.
Actionable Insights for the "Simpsons" Fan
If you're trying to win a trivia night or just understand the lore, remember these specific facts:
- Check the Timeline: The show retcons their history constantly. Don't get hung up on whether they were teens in the 70s or 90s. The emotional beats stay the same.
- Look for the Soulmate Episode: "El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer" is the definitive look at their bond. Even during a chili-induced hallucination, Homer’s "soulmate" is always Marge.
- Watch the Anniversary Episodes: They usually reveal a new layer of how they manage to keep the spark alive, often involving their "exhibitionist streak" (see: "Natural Born Kissers").
Stop looking for a perfect TV couple. They don't exist. Instead, look at Homer and Marge as a case study in stubborn, messy, hilarious endurance. They aren't together because they never fight; they're together because they never stop making up.
To truly understand their dynamic, go back and watch "The Way We Was" and "I Married Marge" back-to-back—it’s the best road map for how they became the most famous couple in Springfield.