More than 35 years after it first aired, The Simpsons' Season 2 episode "The Way We Was" is still regarded as the definitive account of how Homer and Marge got together, and remains one of the show's most romantic instalments. The show has now passed its 800th episode, and while later seasons often used flashbacks as a lazy plot device, this early episode is credited with giving the couple genuine emotional depth, explaining why their relationship endures despite decades of bickering and reinvention.

In the episode, Homer tells Bart and Lisa the story of his first date with Marge after the television cuts out, with the children's sarcastic commentary keeping the sentimental tale grounded. The article notes The Simpsons began as a parody of idealised 1980s family sitcoms such as Leave It to Beaver, but retained real heart beneath the satire. It draws a line to the 2026 Disney+ exclusive episode "Extreme Makeover: Homer Edition," in which Marge imagines alternative versions of her husband, showing the show is still exploring the same central question more than three decades on.