Note: This was written before the start of Season 28. Any new information regarding either character that occurs in an episode from Season 28 onward is not covered here.Characters: Patty Bouvier and, full name, Selma Bouvier-Terwilliger-Hutz-McClure-Stu-Simpson-D'Amico, both voiced by Julie Kavner
First Episode: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (S01, E01-001)
Occupation: the two both work at the DMV
General Demeanor
The two are, generally, very unpleasant to be around. They both smoke, they both prattle on and on about their various yet boring vacations and are very unfun people. Though they generally support their younger sister Marge, the two both despise her husband Homer (and he, them) and both are quick to come to Marge's aid whenever it seems like one has left the other, or if the two had a fight, or so on. The two also are maniacal fans of MacGyver, a moderately successful show of the late 80s and early 90s about a secret agent fond of turning ordinary objects into weapons or other problem-solving devices. As the show came to an end and the years passed, this plot point isn't brought up so much (save for one episode which addressed it), but with a reboot planned this year, perhaps this plot point will be revisited?
As the seasons moved on, Patty and Selma started to gain individual traits, Selma in particular. While Patty remained relatively the same, Selma's character was given a major lift. Several episodes focus on Selma's desire to not live - or die - alone (despite living with her twin sister, mind you). Selma's constant need for companionship has caused her to marry multiple times, with Robert "Sideshow Bob" Terwilliger, Lionel Hutz (no episode focused on this), Troy McClure, Disco Stu (no episode focused on this), Grampa Simpson and
The only major thing that's happened with Patty is the one episode where she reveals she's gay. After this there are a couple of gags that remind you as such, but regardless Patty does not, has not and will likely never get the same amount of attention that Selma has gotten.
Key Character Moments
The Rise of the Simpsons
Neither twin was given much of a focus in the first season, but Season 2's Principal Charming changes that. It establishes Selma's need for companionship beyond her twin sister by having her attempt to hook up with Principal Skinner. However, he falls for Patty instead. Now, keep in mind that Patty's gay reveal doesn't happen until much, much later, but Patty doesn't show any major romantic feelings for Skinner and ultimately dumps him for Selma's sake.
The Golden Age of the Simpsons
I Married Marge, a Season 3 flashback episode, further differentiates the two. When a failed Homer leaves Marge until he can be financially stable, the twins actually find him working at a burger joint. While Patty is fine letting things be, Selma is more sympathetic to Marge's plight and lets her know where Homer is. Homer Alone, also in Season 3, doesn't establish much about the sisters other than reinforce that its not fun to live with them for any amount of time.
Selma's first marriage occurred with "Sideshow" Bob Terwilliger in Black Widower. However, when its found out that Bob married - and tried to kill - Selma for her money, she annulled the marriage (at least I assume she did).
Selma's need for companionship also extends to children, as Season 4's Selma's Choice illustrates. Her desire to have kids intensifies but after spending an afternoon with Bart and Lisa, she reconsiders and ends up being fine inheriting her late aunt's lizard, Jub-Jub.
Homer vs. Patty and Selma, a Season 6 episode, illustrates the disdain between both parties, though when Homer bails the sisters out of deep trouble at the end - though Homer admits he only did so for Marge's sake, the animosity between the sides lessen just slightly.
Selma marries again, in Season 7's A Fish Called Selma. Here she marries fallen star Troy McClure, though McClure admits he only got into a relationship with her to revive his career. She breaks off the marriage when Troy attempts to bring a child into their sham marriage. To note, its noted in a Zombie Simpson episode that she married Lionel Hutz sometime before this episode and Disco Stu sometime after this episode but both of these are only meant to be jokes over the fact that Selma has now been in multiple failed marriages.
The Fall of the Simpsons
The sisters get barely any focus during the four Scully years. They get a bit of showtime in Season 11's Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad Marge, but that's about it.
Zombie Simpsons
Season 16's There's Something About Marrying establishes that Patty is gay. With that and the episode's attempt to tackle the gay marriage issue back in 2004/2005, it garnered quite a bit of attention, if not any laughs.
Just two episodes later, in Goo Goo Gai Pan, Selma adopts a Chinese baby on the fly with the help of Homer and Marge. The baby, Ling, would appear in some later episodes but much older than she appears in this episode.
Season 17's Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangolore, an odd, stupid episode on its own, does bring a resolution to the old 'Patty & Selma love MacGyver' plot by having them kidnap MacGyver himself (Richard Dean Anderson). Anderson escapes but gets a thrill out of it so he allows himself to be caught by them again so that he can continue escaping. Eventually the two force him out permanently by showing him one of their boring slideshows, causing him to leave for good. I'm fairly sure MacGyver hasn't been brought up at all since this episode.
In Season 18's Rome-old and Juli-eh, Selma and Grampa hook up and eventually marry, much to the disgust of both Patty and Homer. The relationship doesn't work out, of course.
Zombie Simpsons HD
In Season 20's Wedding for Disaster, Homer and Marge come to learn they're still divorced for one reason or another and so Homer attempts to stage a grand second wedding celebration. However, as its learned later in the episode, Patty and Selma kidnap Homer in hopes that Marge will be so devastated she leaves Homer for good, and torture him for fun I guess. However, Homer - who isn't aware of who kidnapped him - shows his dedication to Marge, and how he wishes he could see her, their kids, and even his sisters in law again. That compassion gets to the twins who decide to let him go just as Bart and Lisa figure out it was them behind the scheme. The twins get coerced into paying for a last-minute celebration for Homer and Marge.
A minor footnote, but in Season 22's The Blue and the Gray, its learned that its cigarette ash and smoke discolor their hair to its grayish tone - naturally, Patty is a redhead while Selma is blonde.
Selma's most recent failed marriage, to Fat Tony, occurs in Season 22's The Real Housewives of Fat Tony. The marriage fails when Selma learns that she is the mistress in one of Tony's other marriages.
Most recently, in Season 27's Puffless, Patty and Selma both attempt to quit smoking when they learn their father died of lung cancer. The attempt ultimately fails when they can't stand the smell of their apartment without cigarette smoke to cloak it.
Must Watch Episodes Feature Patty & Selma Bouvier
Principal Charming
Homer Alone
Black Widower
Selma's Choice
Homer vs Patty and Selma
A Fish Called Selma
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