The Way of the Dog

"The Way of the Dog" is the 22nd and final episode of the thirty-first season of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons, and the 684th episode overall. It debuted on Fox on May 17, 2020. The episode was directed by Matthew Faughnan and written by Carolyn Omine. In this episode, Santa's Little Helper bites matriarch Marge, causing the family to reflect on the difficult life that the dog led prior to being adopted by the family and they end up reuniting him with his mother to avoid having to euthanize him. The episode is dedicated in memory of Little Richard, who previously appeared in the episode "Special Edna" and had died on May 9, 2020. It also includes footage from the series premiere "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". The episode has received positive reception from critics. Plot Santa's Little Helper is agitated by the sights, sounds, and smells of the Simpsons' Christmas celebration: he refuses to be affectionate, tears apart the couch, and stares idly at a smudge on the cabinet. Lisa suggests attending a seminar from dog psychologist Elaine Wolff. Wolff mostly berates dog owners and her talk is not helpful, but when Lisa tries to ask her to help the Simpsons to empathize with Santa's Little Helper, she explains that they are underestimating how his sense of smell is strongly tied to memory, and it brings back memories of when he was an abused racing dog. When Marge reaches for a Santa Claus hat that the dog has been keeping next to him, he nips at her on the hand.