The Simpsons are reverting to a trick increasingly adopted by TV shows nowadays: killing major characters off. Game of Thrones have a roundabout cull every so often to keep the masses enthralled (don’t kill me because I don’t like Game of Thrones – I think it’s silly and prefer The Wire) and Family Guy took down Bryan recently, only to resurrect him and gain a ratings boost in the process.

The Simpsons

The Simpsons’ "Yellow Wedding" not only confirms Game of Thrones’ entrance into the official zeitgeist (a thing isn’t a thing until Homer’s involved) but it also means the show will incur a death; a major death. It will be "an even bigger deal" than the Red or Purple Weddings that have appeared in HBO’s fantasy melodrama. Seriously, I’m allowed not to like it. 

But who’ll die? Let’s cut out the actual Simpsons shall we? We’d suggest even Abe is safe. But how about Bart’s perennial nemesis Sideshow Bob? He could meet his maker. Perhaps, considering the show’s tongue-in-cheek take on American culture, and the fact that Homer eats and drinks what he likes seemingly without consequence, Barney might be the guy to bite the dust. We could suggest some more, but they’d only come equipped with a lazy cliché for death. 

More: The Simpsons pays tribute to/mocks Mad Men

"People who reported on it then reported we were killing an 'iconic' character," Al Jean told TV Line. "I'd like to say it’s a great character, but I never used the word 'iconic'." The news of impending transience for one of our beloved yellow buddies comes as the show endures its worst ratings in history, leading to rumors that the death is being shoehorned in as a marketing tool. 

This theory takes on extra credence when you consider Jean’s words. "It's a terrific character and it [happens in] our premiere this coming year," Jean continued. "But just because a character is dying, that doesn’t mean he [or she] won’t pop up in future episode." Sounds like a certain dog named Bryan, doesn’t it?