Sunday evenings, which were already busy with The Deuce, Rick and Morty, Outlander, Fear the Walking Dead, Star Trek: Discovery, and Vice Principals, got a lot more packed yesterday with the return of Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Last Man on Earth, and Bob’s Burgers. That’s a lot of programming to contend with, so to stand out among the competition, The Simpsons, now in its 29th (!) season, dedicated its season premiere to the biggest show on television.
“The Serfsons,” which takes place in the kingdom of Springfieldia, is full of clever references to Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Dungeons & Dragons, and other fantastical pop culture mainstays, but there are more allusions to Game of Thrones than anything else. It’s the closest we’ll get to Westeros until 2019, when the hit HBO series is expected to return. Here all the nods.
King Quimby, the First of His Name
Tommen Baratheon was a “First of His Name” (as in, Tommen of the House Baratheon, the First of His Name). It’s also the name of a season four episode.
Three-Eyed Raven
The Simpsons enjoy some delicious Bran, er, three-eyed raven soup.
White Walkers
Marge’s rarely-seen mother is turning into a White Walker.
Decapitated Neds
The heads of both Neds, Stark and Flanders, ended up on pikes.
Milk of the Poppy
In the background, you’ll notice a bottle of Milk of the Poppy, a powerful painkiller (it’s what King Robert Baratheon takes before dying).
Incestous Twin Brother
After Marge throws Homer out of their hovel, she yells, “I should have listened to that witch, and married my twin brother, Markery.” That’s definitely one Game of Thrones reference, and possibly two. The witch could refer to Maggy the Frog, who told Cersei Lannister that she’ll “never wed the prince, you’ll wed the king,” but the twin brother is obviously a nod to Jaime. In fact, Markery is voiced by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who plays the Kingslayer.
George R.R. Martin
So that’s why The Winds of Winter isn’t finished: GRRM, seen here holding a “The End Is Not Nigh” sign, has been getting his 10,000 steps in.
Iron Throne
“If I don’t get the money for that amulet,” Homer bemoans, “I’ll be sleeping on the Iron Couch.” Hey, better that than the Iron Racing Car.
Messanger Raven
Bart pranks Moe through messages carried by a raven.
What Do We Say?
Mr. Burns’ sigil reads, “We say excellent,” a potential reference to Syrio Forel telling Arya Stark, “What do we say to the God of Death?”
Victarion’s Secret
Victarion Greyjoy is Balon’s younger brother and captain of the Iron Fleet.
White Walkers and dragon
It’s fire vs. ice in the climatic battle. Ice wins.
