The Simpsons Did It Again: 10 Times The Show Predicted COVID-19
1. The Mysterious Virus from Osaka
In the 1993 episode “Marge in Chains,” Springfield was hit by the ‘Osaka Flu,’ a pandemic strikingly similar to COVID-19. The symptoms and the rapid spread of the virus were eerily alike.
2. Contaminated Package from China
In the same episode, a factory worker in Japan sneezes into a package that ends up in the hands of Homer Simpson, spreading the virus throughout Springfield.
3. The Desperate Search for a Cure
As the ‘Osaka Flu’ sweeps through Springfield, desperate citizens tear through the town in search of a cure, much like the early days of COVID-19.
4. The Overrun Hospital
In ‘Marge in Chains,’ the town’s hospital is shown struggling to cope with the sudden influx of patients – a sight all too familiar in 2020.
5. The Toilet Paper Scarcity
The episode also accurately predicted the toilet paper shortage that we saw worldwide, with citizens of Springfield fighting over the scarce commodity.
6. The Home Remedies
‘Marge in Chains’ showed people resorting to bizarre home remedies to combat the virus, mirroring the misinformation and pseudo-scientific cures that circulated during COVID-19.
7. The Ineffectual Government Response
The town’s mayor is shown to be hilariously ineffective in providing a coherent response to the crisis, a criticism many real-world leaders faced.
8. The Social Impact
Throughout the episode, we see the profound social impact of the pandemic as businesses shut down and the town’s economy collapses.
9. The Rushed Vaccine
The town’s citizens are easily swayed by a fast-tracked vaccine, which eventually turns out to be a placebo, paralleling debates over vaccine efficacy and safety.
10. The Long-Term Effects
The episode ends with a hint at the long-term impacts of the virus, a reality we are still grappling with in our post-COVID world.
Author’s Take by William Thomas:
This article demonstrates the uncanny ability of ‘The Simpsons’ to predict real-world events, even if by coincidence. Whether it’s the spread of a virus or the toilet paper shortage, the show’s writers seem to have their fingers on the pulse of society. But remember, it’s all in good fun: the aim is not to promote conspiracy theories but to appreciate the show’s clever and often prescient humour.
🕵️♂️ Fact-Check Corner:
While ‘The Simpsons’ did indeed air an episode featuring a pandemic, it’s important to note that the ‘Osaka Flu’ is not a direct prediction of COVID-19. The similarities are more coincidental than prophetic. The scenes we discussed reflect common societal responses to pandemics. Also, the ‘Osaka Flu’ originated from Japan, not China, unlike the novel coronavirus. Regardless, the parallels drawn in this article serve to highlight the show’s uncanny knack for capturing societal trends.
