Marge and Homer have a legacy as one of animation's longest relationships, though their marriage is far from perfect. Despite doing some pretty horrendous things, Homer always manages to get the girl, even after a trial separation in Season 27. However, a few episodes of The Simpsons have teased a possible romantic connection between Marge and Homer's archenemy, Ned Flanders.
Marge and Flanders have more reserved personalities than Homer. In many ways, she considers Flanders the perfect neighbor and often sides with him over her husband. While Marge and Flanders typically behave like courteous neighbors, they became close in Season 4, Episode 2, "A Streetcar Named Marge." After being cast as the leads in A Streetcar Named Desire, they spend a substantial amount of time running lines together, which enrages Homer. Flanders is also tasked with doing suggestive things like "roughly throwing" Marge onto a bed
While Marge may not act on her feelings, Season 15, Episode 10, "Diatribe of a Mad Housewife," suggests she's at least fantasized about Flanders. After a bookstore visit inspires Marge to write a novel, she images herself as the main character, Homer as the villain and Flanders as her love interest. The book becomes popular, and some people around Springfield suspect it's a way to express her real feelings for Flanders. While Homer -- once again -- gets his girl, it's unusual Marge wrote Flanders as her romantic interest in the first place. Not to mention after reading the book, even Homer suspects there could be some truth to the rumors.
However, the most damning evidence comes in the Season 21 episode "The Devil Wears Nada." Marge's libido is running high after receiving attention from Springfield's men after posing for a "sexy" calendar and showing a little more skin than she intended. After becoming Carl's executive assistant at the Power Plant, Homer is too tired and overworked to satisfy her. When Homer goes to Paris on a business trip, Marge invites the Flanders family to dinner.
Lisa and Bart bail on Marge, and Flanders also shows up to dinner alone. It's not long before the innocent dinner turns romantic. As they slowly lean in for a kiss, Marge internally thinks, "Gosh, what a hunk," and Flanders comically blames his desire on a wine cooler he drank last month. The moment is interrupted by the kitchen timer but picks up again in the dining room, where the two share strawberries and whip cream. Just as they are about to kiss for a second time, Marge catches a glimpse of her wedding photo reflected in Flanders' glasses and comes to a conclusion, despite the temptation, it would be wrong.
Any unusual sexual tension between Marge and Flanders always occurs when Marge is feeling extra neglected by Homer. This suggests she is looking for emotional fulfillment from somebody she sees as kind and compassionate. Homer often takes her for granted and usually brushes off the idea Marge would ever be unfaithful. Even in "The Devil Wears Nada," Homer sees Marge and Flanders hugging after deciding not to act on their desires. After questioning the possibility of his wife and "worst friend" having an affair, he quickly follows it up with "Nah."
While Marge and Flanders are never physically romantic, they've both experienced temptation and may -- depending on the timeline -- have some hidden feelings for each other. However, after almost kissing twice, "The Devil Wears Nada" is the closest they've ever come to acting on it. Despite all this, it's clear, Homer will always be Marge's true love.
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