Six Episodes (Whatever Floats Your Boat)

[on:]

So I'm toying with the idea of making my own Futurama "starter DVD" to push the show on to my friends.

Unlike the Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection, I'm not too worried about representing each season. I just want to have good, solid episodes that are also fairly accessible.

I figure that I can probably fit about six episodes on there (using DVD Shrink), plus maybe a couple of extras like the featurette from season 1, disc 3.

Of course, I already have some episodes in mind (too many, in fact), but I'm wondering what others around here would pick, and why.

Any thoughts?

[Reply #1 on:]

I'd put The Farnsworth Parabox, just because I love seeing alternate universes, and Roswell That Ends Well because it's one of my favorite episodes.

[Reply #2 on:]

I definitely think that Roswell That Ends Well should be on there. I was thinking something like this, maybe:

1. Space Pilot 3000 (As good an introduction as any.  )

2. Brannigan Begin Again (Or Amazon Women In The Mood. I can't decide. But I definitely need a Zapp episode on here.)

3. The Honking (A really good episode, though somewhat odd. Gives me Calculon, too.)

4. Time Keeps On Slipping (Somewhere later in the running order, perhaps, since a non-main character plays such a large role.)

5. Roswell That Ends Well (The one choice on Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection that I just can't argue with.)

6. Godfellas (My favorite episode. I don't want it too close to The Honking, though, since they're both so Bender-centric.)

Plus the featurette and the episode commentaries. Are there any other worthwhile extras? I can't think of any.

[Reply #3 on:]

I would go for (Not specifically in this particular order...):

1. Space Pilot 3000 (You need it to explain the whole concept of Fry being in the Future)

2. Time Keeps on Slippin' (Great episode which introduces the great element of the science fiction fun present all over the episodes of Futurama    )

3. Roswell That Ends Well (Great episode which introduces another science fictiony element of time loops and explains Fry's character more)

4. Leela's Homeworld (Explains Leela's history)

5. The Sting (Brilliant Episode which shows Fry and Leela's relationship well)

6. Godfella's (Shows Fry and Benders friendship well)

Sounds like a good idea Electerik hope my list helps you out   

[Reply #4 on:]

no dude go with what you thought, those are good episodes, but dave is a pretty smart guy when it comes to this so I don't know, yours is good and so is daves, Brannigan Begin Again is a good episode,  because zap is a retard and hes funny

[Reply #5 on:]

I wouldn't include leela's home-world because with-out eps like the cyber-house rules you wouldn't really know about leela's belief of her orogins before.

I would include the cyber-house rule cuz it's quite funny and a good character story for leela.

I would probally try and add the day the earth stood stupid too because that would show the story of fry

[Reply #6 on:]

I agree with PazuzuJr.  you should include "the day earth stood stupid," "Jurassic Bark," or the first episode so they can al least know what's happening.

[Reply #7 on:]

   

Originally posted by Trombonist:
or the first episode so they can at least know what's happening.

Yes.That's what they call Space Pilot 3000.

Anyway I would include Space Pilot 3000 ,I Roommate, The Lesser Of Two Evils, The Day The Earth Stood Stupid, Godfellas, Roswell That Ends Well and Three Hundred Big Boys.

Space Pilot because it's the first episode.

I Roommate coz it has this effect...I,for example,became a fan after watching that ep.Plus,it's funny.

The Lesser of Two Evils 'cause it's funny too.

The Day The Earth Stood Stupid...I dont really know why,but I always think of it as one of the most 'important' eps.

Godfellas and 300 Big Boys cuzz they're utterly hilarious.


Edit
Edited because of my super typo making powers[/small]

[Reply #8 on:]

Give him 50/50, like a mix of funny episode, (I know they are pretty much all funny), and some more elaborated episodes concerning the caracters and the developpement of them, so he can see what makes the greatness of Futurama.

Space Pilot 3000
War is the H-Word
Godfellas

And

Luck of the Fryish
The Sting
The Why of Fry

Other episodes recommendable :

The Problem with Popplers
A Head in the Polls
Parasites Lost
Roswell That Ends Well
Anthology of Interest

Edit : Holy crap, I forgot to mention JUrassic Bark. The greatest episode and I forget it ? Wow. Just make sure he watch Jurassic Bark.

[Reply #9 on:]

In my opinion, the following episodes are MUSTS for getting people into Futurama:

Space Pilot 3000 - Duh.
Hell Is Other Robots - How has nobody recommended this yet?! In my opinion, one of the very best episodes. And the song is the best. Period.
War Is The H-Word - Has one of the highest counts of hilarious and classic lines/jokes of any one episode.
The Day The Earth Stood Stupid - Part of show's greatest, most epic storyline that is continued in The Why of Fry.
Time Keeps On Slipping - Just hilarious.
Roswell That Ends Well - Does this need explaining?
Leela's Homeworld - Leela's ultimate backstory.
Jurassic Bark - The most emotionally amazing episode of the series.
The Why Of Fry - As stated in the reason for The Day The Earth Stood Stupid
The Sting - A crucial episode in Fry and Leela's relationship.
-and-
The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings - So they know what happened in the last episode before the new stuff comes out later this year and next year.

I'm almost certain that if you burn a VCD instead of a DVD, you can fit all of these on.
Or if you must have a DVD with a menu and chapters and the such, using more than one disc, in my opinion, would be worth having all of the above episodes.

Other episodes worth putting on:
How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back
Parasites Lost
The Luck Of The Fryrish
Where No Fan Has Gone Before

I wouldn't put the featurette on...I don't think it's that great an introduction to the show.
And the commentaries? ONE STEP AT A TIME, Electerik. 

[Reply #10 on:]

My choice

Space pilot 3000 - A very likeable episode, and probably essential viewing for anyone wanting to give the show a chance. Might be interesting if they notice the  shadow in the cryogenics lab too

Love's labours lost in space - The episode that introduces Zapp and Kif, and also Nibbler, in a hilarious and seductive way. It also conveniently doesn't have any reference to what he was doing was in episode one.

Times keeps on slippin' - I was going to suggest Xmas story instead here, but Fry's negative feelings in later episodes are greatly influenced by this one

Roswell that ends well - The episode that revealed the secret that Fry didn't want anyone (including himself to know) Around all of that, an outstanding episode.

Jurassic Bark - A cleverly funny episode, with a sad yet powerful ending

The devil's hands are idle playthings - A great storyline with musical elements and another powerful ending   

[Reply #11 on:]

Lot's of good suggestions. I'm really considering The Sting.

I'm not too fond of Jurassic Bark, actually (it almost made my wife stop watching the show with me  ).

The "Zapp Episode" remains my biggest debate: Love's Labors Lost In Space and War Is The H-Word are both strong episodes, as well. I think Brannigan Begin Again may well be the funniest, but plot-wise it's a little weak. I'm a bit surprised by the lack of love for Amazon Women In The Mood, though.

Not much support for The Honking, either, I notice.

Three Hundred Big Boys is really cool, too. Dang, this is hard. You guys are supposed to be making this easier! 
 

[Reply #12 on:]

Three Hundred Big Boys is a good one I agree as it shows every characters personality lol I'm glad I don't have your job mate 

I know the Honking is good but it isn't one of my favourites personally a bit too clinging to the haunted house parody like Fry and the Slurm Factory clings to the Willy Wonka parady for me. I would go with the impacting episodes like say the list I mentioned above  (Maybe excluding Time Keeps On Slippin' for something like Three Hundred Big Boys or The Why of Fry...  )

[Reply #13 on:]

I never really liked the hinking that much. I think it's definatly in the bottom 5 of my futurama eps. I think 300BB would be good or farnsworth parabox cause it shows off all the charaters and their personalities

[Reply #14 on:]

Yeah, I didn't like The Honking that much either the first time I saw it, for much the same reasons that Dave laid out. But it's really grown on me, having re-watched it a couple of times now.

So, now I'm thinking....

1. Space Pilot 3000
2. War Is The H-word
3. Godfellas
4. Roswell That Ends Well
5. Three Hundred Big Boys
6. The Sting

I'm still not sure, though.

[Reply #15 on:]

Favo(u)rite Episode. It hasn't been bumped since 2005 (I remember back when it was bumped all the way from 2001 by DrBenderNye, I believe), but it has various lists and opinions on favourite episodes. Seems like that'd be a good thread to put this discussion in.

[Reply #16 on:]

 

Originally posted by Electerik:

1. Space Pilot 3000
2. War Is The H-word
3. Godfellas
4. Roswell That Ends Well
5. Three Hundred Big Boys
6. The Sting

I'm still not sure, though.

I would drop the The Sting and bring in Time Keeps on Slippin' mainly because it highlights the science fiction rather than the fry and leela thing - depends on your friends there.

Other than that I feel that what you have is fully representitive of most aspects of futurama. Not sure about Godfellas as an episode but can't think of anything else which brings out Bender.

[Reply #17 on:]

i would replace the sting with love and rocket. I think that ep is more funny and shippy too. The rest of the eps are good choices
Space Pilot 3000 (starts it off)
War is the H word (zapp!)
Godfellas (v.funny)
Roswell that ends well (funny - slightly disturbing)
330BB (a good character story)

[Reply #18 on:]

How can you say that anything is more "shippy" than The Sting? If you're going to replace The Sting it has to be to get rid of the shippyness and add in some comedy/science fiction. Like I said in my post before it depends on who you're selling Futurama too. Otherwise I agree with what you said about the other episodes.

[Reply #19 on:]

I didn't say love and rocket is more shippy than the sting. I said it is more funny. And the ep is shippy too. Didn't mean to confuse   

I think that deep down every-one loves a shippy ep though   

[Reply #20 on:]

In no particular order:

Godfellas - the God Space Entity is one of the best characters!
The Day The Earth Stood Stupid - I've not seen all of it, but I know the basic storyline and it's really interesting.
The Sting - I love that episode, it's just a really special episode and makes me feel good.
Three Hundred Big Boys - so damn hilarious I don't know where to start!
I, Roommate - shows how good friends Bender is with Fry.
Jurassic Bark - a really touching episode, I love the end of this ep.

[Reply #21 on:]

     Still no love for Hell Is Other Robots?!?! Darn!

     Alright, if you really must have only 6 episodes, plain and simply, the following would be perfect (or at least as perfect as you can get with just six eps) in my opinion:

1) Space Pilot 3000
2) War Is The H-Word
3) Time Keeps On Slipping
4) Roswell That Ends Well
5) Jurassic Bark
6) The Why Of Fry

     If you want to get them into the show, the above episodes are perfect...I wouldn't change even one of them.
     If the person watching has a good sense of humor, then those will sucker-punch 'em.
     Jurassic Park is so emotional, it's the only emotional one you'll need on there to let them know just how emotional the show can be. And ya, it's incredibly sad (well...depending on the person), but that's what's genius about it. Sad isn't bad, and that episode is one of the saddest things I've ever seen.
     The Why Of Fry can be shown without The Day The Earth Stood Stupid...you just have to make sure Roswell That Ends Well is. Which isn't a problem, since Roswell That Ends Well is also hilarious.
     I agree with the things that have been said about Time Keeps On Slipping and the sci-fi aspect completely. And it's hilarious.
     I changed my mind about The Sting. If you're only showing them 6 episodes to start out with, you do NOT want The Sting to be one of them. It's a great episode, but when isolated from the series as a whole, it's weird, and even slightly embarrassing...kind of like the opera singing in The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings.
     Three Hundred Big Boys and Godfellas are funny, but not the funniest, and not great starters for people who've never seen the show before.
     But once they're into the show, you can hit them over the head with as many episodes that you love as you want! Muahaha!   

[Reply #22 on:]

I wouldn't add JB - it makes me sad 
especially if you love dogs (like me) 
I would stick with the lighter, happy ones

[Reply #23 on:]

1. Space Pilot 3000
2. The Series has Landed
3. A Flight to Remember
4. Amazon Women in the Mood
5. Luck of the Fryrish
6. Where No Fan has Gone Before/Roswell that Ends Well (WNFhGB if Trekkies, RtEW if not)

[Reply #24 on:]

1. Space Pilot 3000  - Essential for understanding the basic premise.
2. When Aliens Attack - some fantastic lines, and Fry saves the day!
3. A Head in the Polls - One of the best Bendercentric episodes, if not the best.
4. Luck Of the Fryrish - The classic one that made so many of us cry, but still will leave some room for the emotional impact of Jurassic Bark, which made everyone cry.
5. Bend Her - Another great Bendercentric episode, with all of the regular cast on form, and some fun with Hermes, too.
6. The Sting - You can't not show them this one. With the others, you're baiting the hook. With this one, you're reeling them in. Prove to perople that cartoons can be funny and have emotional depth.

If I were to show a second "teaser disc", it would have four episodes on it:

1. The Deep South - This is one where all the regulart cast are on great form plus there's a whole host of great non-character jokes.
2. Love's Labours Lost in Space - The Zapper. We all need the Zapper.
3. Time Keeps On Slippin' - Proves that "hard sci-fi" need not be incomprehensible or boring, because this is both simple and hilarious.
4. Anthology of Interest 2 - Because short attention spans can be coerced more easily by the self-contained shorts than full-length episodes.

And at this point, you force them all to go out and buy the four boxsets.

[Reply #25 on:]

 

Originally posted by Electerik:
Yeah, I didn't like The Honking that much either the first time I saw it, for much the same reasons that Dave laid out. But it's really grown on me, having re-watched it a couple of times now.

So, now I'm thinking....

1. Space Pilot 3000
2. War Is The H-word
3. Godfellas
4. Roswell That Ends Well
5. Three Hundred Big Boys
6. The Sting

I'm still not sure, though.

Meh. IMO Three Hundred Big Boys is the one that should be replaced by something else. Luck of the Fryrish would be the better choice IMO. You would have 4 incredibly funny episodes combined with those two funny/emotionnal episode.

[Reply #26 on:]

1. Spacepilot 3000 - Definitely needed. It's been stated.
2. The Series Has Landed - It follows naturally and is still an intro
3. I, Roommate - In my opinion this episode solidifies the entire series
Then in no specific order:
4. Fry & the Slurm Factory
5. Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles
6. Roswell That Ends Well - arguably the best episode. Emmy winning and all. Actually now that I think about it this would be a good concluding episode

[Reply #27 on:]

1. Space Pilot 3000 - for the reasons above

2. Love's Labours Lost in Space - it's the intro of Nibbler, plus reveals the tragic flaw of the main heroine (Leela)

3. Parasites Lost - we understand how genuine Fry's feelings are for Leela, with much comedic interplay on the side

4. Roswell That Ends Well - who wouldn't want to see an emmy award winning episode? Plus establishes (un-purposefully) the delta brain wave we learn that Fry lacks in later episodes.

4. The Why of Fry - The elements laid down in the pilot come to the foreground as we explore into depth the characters of Fry and Nibbler.

6. The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings - we finally see some true emotions between the characters, no matter how unrefined they are

It was hard condensing 72 episodes into a list of only 6, especially when taking into consideration that the person who will be viewing these will have no background in the show at all. As a result, many of the episodes I recommend may not be my top 6 favorite episodes ever, however I think those episodes provide the best continuity with each other if you had never seen the show before.

[Reply #28 on:]

^ Yeah, which is kind of what I'm going for, rather than just a straight "best of."

Thanks to everyone for their ideas. Interestingly enough, there are at least two episodes that seem to be on just about everyone's list: Space Pilot 3000 and Roswell That Ends Well. So that's a start.   

[Reply #29 on:]

01) Space Pilot 3000 (because it's a pilot ep...)

02) I, Roommate (because it has perfect trademark Futurama humour whilst setting up Fry and Bender's friendship)

03) A Clone Of My Own (great humour, great character development with Professor Farnsworth, and the introduction of Cubert. Also it has one of the best examples of CGI in Futurama)

04) Parasites Lost (explores Fry and Leela's relationship whilst also including plenty of great lines from all of the other main characters)

05) Roswell That Ends Well (It's just awesome, the pacing is fantastic, it's also different)

06) love & Rocket (very nicely done ep showcasing the kind of storyline only Futurama can...)

[Reply #30 on:]

What about the last episode?

[Reply #31 on:]

There has been no last episode yet, shame on you! And don't think saying that there is is only a minor offense, oh no. The only reason I'm not giving you severe telling off is because I have crush on your avatar.

[Reply #32 on:]

Awwww, that's cute.

Where have YOU been, Xanfor?

[Reply #33 on:]

Probably what I'd put on:

1. Space Pilot (for obvious reasons..)

2. Parasites lost (reeally funny AND shippy)

3. Amazon women in the Mood (lots of Zapp)

4. Roswell that ends well (you can't NOT have this one)

5. Godfellas (a bender/fry friendship story is important)

6. The deep south (just really funny imo)

[Reply #34 on:]

I agree with fry&lemon up till 6.

I think i'd pick either love&Roket or an ep where s non-main character stars.

[Reply #35 on:]

 

Originally posted by Xanfor:
There has been no last episode yet, shame on you!

1) I mean episode 72

2) I showed my grandma a Futurama music video and now she loves it (at last a member of my family likes my favourite TV programme!  )

[Reply #36 on:]

SP3k/The Series has Landed Yep, I'm bundling them as one big pilot episode. Essential introductions to the characters.

A Head in the Polls Good story, great jokes, Nixon what more do you need? Arrrrrooooo

Roswell That Ends Well Best damn episode evar! Though I agree with Nix' idea to substitute for WNFHGB if I know the victim is a Trekkie.

Luck of the Fryrish Explanation shouldn't be necessary.

X-Mas Story Good use of the entire cast, perfect blend of emotion and comedy.

Loves Labour's Lost in Space Zapp and Kif, nuff said.

Honorable mentions:
Amazon Women in the Mood
Parasites Lost
War is the H-Word
A Flight to Remember
AOI
The Sting
Godfellas

[Reply #37 on:]

My choices:

*Space Pilot 3000*: That's a given. You need an intro to the series or else tehy wont know whats going on in the other episodes.
*Hell is Other Robots*: One of the best eps. and the song is by far the best. Revolves mainly around Bender
*War is the H Word*: It's funny, it has the most jokes and the best newspaper headlines: War over: Balls Throughly Licked.
*Roswell that Ends Well*: Explains why Fry is adn idiot.
*The Sting*: Fry and Leela's realtionship.
*Devils Hands are Idle Playthings*: They need to know how the first part of the series ended.
*Godfellas*: Fry and Benders friendship.
*When Aliens Attack*: Intro to the Omicronians. They are the main invading aliens in the series.
*Luck of the Fryish*: It tells them what Fry's life was like before he was frozen and it give you an introduction to his family ad why he's like he is.
*Love's Labors Lost in Space*: Zapp Brannigan. Tell them how Nibbler got there.
*X-mas Story*: Robot Santa. More Fry Leela REaltionship stuff.

[Reply #38 on:]

My choices:

Space Pilot 3000: That's a given. You need an intro to the series or else tehy wont know whats going on in the other episodes.
Hell is Other Robots: One of the best eps. and the song is by far the best. Revolves mainly around Bender
War is the H Word: It's funny, it has the most jokes and the best newspaper headlines: War over: Balls Throughly Licked. Hot Diggety Daffodil!
Roswell that Ends Well: Explains why Fry is an idiot.
The Sting: Fry and Leela's realtionship.
Devils Hands are Idle Playthings: They need to know how the first part of the series ended.
Godfellas: Fry and Benders friendship.
When Aliens Attack: Intro to the Omicronians. They are the main invading aliens in the series.
Luck of the Fryish: It tells them what Fry's life was like before he was frozen and it give you an introduction to his family ad why he's like he is.
Love's Labors Lost in Space: Zapp Brannigan. Tell them how Nibbler got there.
X-mas Story: Robot Santa. More Fry Leela Realtionship stuff.

Crap posted twice in a row and it was the exact same thing. I have no idea of why I keep doing this.

Sorry about hhow many these are the episodes that i think are really good ones.

[Reply #39 on:]

uh, Bendersfan1221, that's 11. 

Is Electerik every going to tell us the 6 he chose?