Flanderization is a fascinating term that was first coined by TV Tropes, an online publication that detailed an abundance of different tropes in television. It was used in reference to The Simpsons' Ned Flanders and how his character altered throughout the series.
Since then, the term has been used to describe a variety of different characters in different forms of media. If not for Ned Flanders, the term "Flanderization" would not exist today, but why was Flanders chosen to shape the term? Many other characters in The Simpsons have undergone Flanderization, with many experiencing the process more than once.
10 Barney
The first season of The Simpsons attempted to present Barney Gumble as one of Homer's close friends. The two would spend most evenings joking around in Moe's Tavern, but sadly, Barney's love of stiff drinks grew to become his most defining feature.
Barney evolved to embrace his love of alcohol and was led down a shockingly dark path because of it. He attempted to distance himself from alcohol's grasp on countless occasions but, as a victim of habit, he always returned to his old ways. His primary role in The Simpsons is to showcase the negative effects associated with alcohol consumption. Though designing him to convey these ideals was noble, doing so diminished his more endearing characteristics.
9 Superintendent Chalmers
Superintendent Chalmers once held a baffling level of authority in Springfield Elementary, but all of this power was taken away in favor of injecting the once feared leader with an unsuited level of humor. Seymour Skinner initially cowered in the man's presence, but their time together resulted in the formation of an unconvincing bond.
Chalmers now appears to operate solely from within Springfield Elementary, with Skinner acting as his lackey. The respect he once commanded has all but vanished, rendering him a shell of his former self.
8 Moe
Moe Szyslak's initial appearance in The Simpsons painted him as a dishonorable bartender who embarked on an array of illegal activities to make ends meet. His role as a bartender saw him milking his customers for everything they were worth, but he was never explicitly portrayed to be a bad person.
As The Simpsons progressed, Moe's actions became exceedingly questionable and resulted in the overall downfall of his character. The sad state of his existence resulted in him attempting to end his life on multiple occasions. These attempts became a running joke in the show and are currently one of his main character traits.
7 Otto
Otto Mann was once a carefree bus driver and lover of all things heavy metal. His role in The Simpsons tasked him with safely transporting children from all over Springfield to Springfield Elementary, but this purpose was slowly altered over time.
More and more jokes were made about Otto's habits as the series evolved until the writers felt it was time to acknowledge them outright. He became a stereotypical stoner who allowed drug use to dominate his personality. His Flanderization was subtle at the beginning but is now indisputable.
6 Edna
Edna Krabappel began her role in The Simpsons as Bart's teacher. She seemed to deem teaching as a mundane profession and thus held little respect for it, but her true passion in life was later revealed and completely reshaped her as a character in the process.
Edna became a lonely woman who yearned for a romantic connection. The more she sought love, however, the more she was presented as promiscuous, leading most of Springfield to regard her as so. Her inoffensive pursuits garnered her a poor reputation, one that remained with her until her character's end.
5 Milhouse
Milhouse van Houten began his journey in The Simpsons as Bart's best friend. He was a naive young boy who was often dragged along by Bart into some uncomfortable situations, but he never allowed his skepticism to deter him from adventure.
Milhouse eventually embraced a new role that depicted him as an erratic and untethered young boy. He began playing with children's toys and throwing tantrums whenever inconvenienced. His most memorable personality shift saw him developing feelings for Lisa Simpson and, though his passion was not reciprocated, he never gave up his pursuit of love.
4 Ralph
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Ralph Wiggum was once nothing more than an ordinary student who attended Springfield Elementary. He was presented as a background character but has since evolved to become something of a main character.
His first transformation saw him filling the shoes of a shy and somewhat introverted child, but later depictions aim to portray him solely as an idiot who spouts nonsense when asked the simplest of questions. Ralph was once an intelligent and driven young man, but these traits have been discarded in favor of attaining a few cheap laughs.
3 Lisa
Lisa Simpson was introduced in The Simpsons Shorts as Bart's right-hand woman. Bart was always a troublemaker, but Lisa often assisted in his questionable antics and sometimes even instigated them.
The first official season of The Simpsons however chose to completely alter Lisa's personality to portray her as one of the smartest and best-behaved members of the family. Her intellect was prioritized above all else, resulting in many of her more engaging personality traits being left on the cutting room floor.
2 Homer
The first depiction of Homer Simpson in The Simpsons Shorts portrayed him as a strict parent with little patience for his children's misbehavior. He firmly held onto this persona for the majority of Season 1, but later underwent a severe change.
His appearance in Season 2 marked the beginning of his Flanderization. He discarded most of his more recognizable traits and devolved into a lazy and somewhat foolhardy character who used comic relief as his primary selling point. He has undergone several changes throughout the series, but abandoning his once level-headed approach to life is the most notable.
1 Apu
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon was originally an ordinary shopkeeper who held little love for his profession. He would attempt to pawn off his low-quality wares to anyone gullible enough to believe they were worth the asking price, but this personality trait was slowly abandoned as the series progressed.
Apu went on to become a devout patriot and began basing his personality on his love for America. Though this shift in ideals served to give him a slightly more interesting backstory, he eventually regressed into the work-obsessed character he was initially regarded as. His obsession with managing the Kwik-E-Mart became his entire personality, reducing the impact felt by all his other character traits.