The Simpsons’ Oldest Rivalry Cemented 1 Character As The Show’s True Villain

Summary

• Mr. Burns and Abe’s rivalry is rooted in WWII, expanding Burns’ role as the ultimate antagonist in The Simpsons.
• Burns’ personal disdain for Abe adds layers to his cruelty, influencing his interactions with the Simpsons family.
• Burns embodies the ultimate villain despite not being as directly dangerous as other characters, adding depth to his villainy.

The Simpsons has expanded upon numerous family relationships and rivalries over the last thirty-five seasons, but one of the oldest highlights the show’s most important villain. Part of the appeal of the endlessly silly series is the flexible canon that’s been built and tweaked across the run of the show. While the specifics may change with the times, the core elements that define the show’s primary cast and their relationships across Springfield have remained consistent. This extends to Mr. Burns, who has been an overarching antagonist to the show since The Simpsons season 1.

As Homer’s miserly employer and the owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, Burns has earned such ire from the town that almost the entire populace had cause to attack him in season 6 and season 7’s two-part story, “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” There’s one specific character that Burns has been shown retaining a very specific disdain for though, and it quietly adds to the antagonism he’s embraced against the rest of the family.

Mr. Burns Has Been Fighting Abe Simpson Since World War II

Abe Simpson and Mr. Burns have been rivals for decades in the world of The Simpsons, stretching back to their service in World War II. During the conflict, Abe was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army and the leader of the Flying Hellfish, as seen in season 7’s “Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in ‘The Curse of the Flying Hellfish.'” The entire squad hailed from Springfield, including Private C. Montgomery Burns. Already a wealthy layabout, Burns was a constant thorn in Abe’s side — even accidentally preventing Abe from shooting Hitler and potentially ending the war years early.

Their antagonistic relationship during the war extends beyond their time on the European front, as seen in season 17’s “Simpsons Christmas Stories.” The three-part holiday anthology includes the short “I Saw Grampa Cussing Santa Claus,” which focuses on Abe and Burns getting shot down in an aerial battle. The two survive on a desert island for a time, even briefly burying the hatchet. A chance at escape prompts Burns to quickly turn against Abe, forcing the pair into another fight. Burns and Abe’s hatred for one another has remained a factor across the series, continuing to the present day.

Mr. Burns Still Hates Grampa Simpson

While Abe may have outranked Burns in the military, Burns has become one of Springfield’s most powerful men thanks to his exorbitant wealth. Burns has repeatedly used his resources to target Abe Simpson. Burns is responsible for Abe being forced to give away Homer’s beloved pet dog when he was a child, as revealed in season 24’s “To Cur with Love.” He intercedes in Abe’s romantic advances toward Marge’s mother Jacqueline in season 5’s “Lady Bouvier’s Lover” and admits in season 27’s “Puffless” that he wooed her just so Abe wouldn’t be happy.

Their rivalry reaches a fever pitch in “Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in ‘The Curse of the Flying Hellfish'” when the two men become the last surviving members of their squad. It is revealed that the squad had agreed to a tontine over priceless paintings stolen during the war, with Burns hiring an assassin to slay Abe. The two finally come to blows in the episode, with Grampa saving Bart’s life. However, Burns has remained a thorn in the Simpsons’ side since.

Why Mr. Burns Is The Ultimate Simpsons Antagonist

While criminals like Fat Tony and Sideshow Bob may be more directly dangerous, Mr. Burns has always been the primary antagonist of The Simpsons. His hatred for Abe makes his role as Homer’s cruel boss more interesting. Burns has repeatedly come close to killing Bart, hitting him with a car in season 2’s “Bart Gets Hit by a Car” and leaving him to drown in the Flying Hellfish episode. Burns sexually harasses Marge when she works at the plant in season 4’s “Marge Gets a Job” and corrupts Lisa’s ecological beliefs in season 8’s “The Old Man and the Lisa.”

Burns’ long-standing rivalry with Abe Simpson adds layers to his role as the show’s ultimate villain. It quietly gives him a personal reason to be so involved in the lives of the Simpson family. His hatred for Abe could be why Burns targets Homer with demeaning work. Taking revenge on Abe by targeting his entire family fits well with Burns’ overtly evil personality and cements his antagonistic role in The Simpsons.

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