Worst. Episode. Ever!

[Reply #240 on:]

Every episode is great, enough said.

[Reply #241 on:]

Ah, but some are greater than others.

[Reply #242 on:]

I'd say that every episode has great moments, but not that every episode is great. I'm sure there are people who actually do think every episode is great, but I feel most who say that are making blanket statements. The statement "Futurama is great" is not tied and does not rely on every episode of Futurama being great. It's okay to not think every episode is great. I almost believe that anyone who does say every episode of Futurama is great is doing it out of some illogical fear that if they think that every episode of Futurama isn't great some sort of divine punishment will occur where Futurama gets canceled (again). I do believe that most who say that are doing it as some version of sugarcoating, i.e. thinking that they are somehow doing the show a disservice if they don't think or at least state that every episode is great, when in actuality the sugarcoating itself is the disservice.

Saying "every episode of Futurama is great (great meaning better than good, fine, passable, ect.)" is the true disservice to the show. By lumping in all the episodes as great, you are lumping in true great's (like X-Mas Story and Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles) with passable also-rans (like I Second That Emotion and Bendless Love). It's the equivalent of giving the all the players (episodes) Participation Trophies instead of singling out the best players (episodes) for MVP's and giving a nice but stern talking to the lesser players (i.e. criticizing the not-so-great episodes) so they (the writers) may improve their game (the Futurama writers have said that they do visit sites to see what fans think. Also, it'd be moronic for guys who work on a show that was brought back because of a dedicated fanbase to not at least pay some attention to what that fanbase is saying).

I would be willing to argue that Futurama as a whole isn't that great a series and missed a lot of opportunities and made some major enough mistakes to keep it from being a truly great series. I say that on a Futurama message board and as a guy who still considers it his favorite show (which is probably the main reason why I'm so critical of it). Actually, I am planning on writing a long, long post (wow, FOA is writing an absurdly long post. Hell must have stayed exactly the current temperature it is now) tackling one of the reasons within this month (I wonder if anybody but Tedward and Gorky is actually going to read it?).

Anyway, my point (which anyone else could have made in one, maybe two sentences, but I had to stretch out to my usual "I'm not reading that" length) is that no person should say every episode of Futurama is great unless they actually believe that. There is no need to stroke the show's ego (because the show is a living thing with a mind which would have an ego that could be stroked) and doing so likely does more harm than good (writers may get cocky, potential new fans might not see what the big deal is if they stumble into a not-so-good episode). Love the great episodes, enjoy the good ones, watch the not-so-good ones at your discretion, and be comforted that the show is still great overall (despite what I'd be willing to argue), even if every episode isn't.

[Reply #243 on:]

futurama is a great show, ergo, every episode is good (it's interesting to speculate about which is the least good though (just as it's interesting to speculate about which is the least good beatles song (it's revolution 9)))))))))))/;(

[Reply #244 on:]

I would be willing to argue that Futurama as a whole isn't that great a series and missed a lot of opportunities and made some major enough mistakes to keep it from being a truly great series. I say that on a Futurama message board and as a guy who still considers it his favorite show (which is probably the main reason why I'm so critical of it).

I understand completely; for reasons that I might not be able to fully explain, it's been designated as my favorite show too, and whether or not this is selfish of me, I then feel more strongly about being critical of it, as if by me calling it my favorite show it must then constantly be proving itself worthy of a title so significant (to me, anyway). I can try to just let it all go and appreciate it for what it is, but there will always be that desire for it to meet my sometimes high expectations.

Actually, I am planning on writing a long, long post (wow, FOA is writing an absurdly long post. Hell must have stayed exactly the current temperature it is now) tackling one of the reasons within this month (I wonder if anybody but Tedward and Gorky is actually going to read it?).

Oh, I'm sure someone else will have something to say about it. As for me, I look forward to it!

futurama is a great show, ergo, every episode is good (it's interesting to speculate about which is the least good though (just as it's interesting to speculate about which is the least good beatles song (it's revolution 9)))))))))))/;(

I'm not so sure about your logic there, but I suppose it just depends on your definition of "good."

I agree with you about "Revolution 9," though.

[Reply #245 on:]

i'm just saying they're all funny and good but some are funnier and gooder than others. i think everyone in this thread made the same point, they just said it in a less confusing way

[Reply #246 on:]

Oh, well, no argument there.

[Reply #247 on:]

futurama is a great show, ergo, every episode is good

That statement is nearly the antithesis of my post and wrong. Again, being a great show does not equal all the episodes being great. Being a great show means having a lot of great episodes (not that there aren't exceptions). If a show has a not-great episode, it still is a great show if it mostly has great episodes.

P.S. I know you later said that you simply meant that you think all the episodes are good, but I just couldn't let that sentence go. It is logically incorrect and full of holes, so I had to go against it.

[Reply #248 on:]

I think Futurama is a great show in that even the less-than-great episodes have really great moments in them... Or at least that's how I see it.

[Reply #249 on:]

Yeah Fist, no.

[Reply #250 on:]

I think Futurama is a great show in that even the less-than-great episodes have really great moments in them... Or at least that's how I see it.

I could not have said it better, I think this topic should be, what is your favorite lesser great episodes?

[Reply #251 on:]

Don't we need the mediocre episodes, though, so that we have a greater appreciation for the stupendous episodes? Because, relatively speaking, if I watched "A Pharaoh to Remember" and then popped in "The Sting", I would probably find the latter even more brilliant than I usually do...

Seriously, though, I would argue that even the less-than-stellar episodes (and even the truly bad ones (*cough*"Where the Buggalo Roam"*cough*) add something to the show instead of detract from it; namely, they show us what Futurama is capable of and what it is not. I guess what I'm saying, in a sort of convoluted way, is that the writers obviously had a learning curve, and those bad or not-so-good episodes are what we can consider experiments gone wrong. Ultimately, the bad episodes interspersed with the good and the great and the brilliant ones give Futurama a unique flavor, and shows even the most die-hard of fans that the show is by no means perfect.

But I do agree with Jezzem that I can find something I truly laugh at (or at the very least find amusing) in every episode, regardless of what I think of it overall. And that is still no small feat, considering the fact that there are many shows where I cannot stand to watch whole episodes because I think they're god-awful. Even truly bad episodes of Futurama are interesting to me in a scientific sort of way (if you can call it that); I watch them and like to think about why, exactly, they fail to provoke any emotion in me besides, well, disappointment.

[Reply #252 on:]

i think ppl are confusing the word good with the word great http://andy-harwood.blogspot.com/2010/01/good-great.html

[Reply #253 on:]

I wonder what it's like to not have to watch every episodes of a show in order and to be able to skip episodes... I bet it's nice...

[Reply #254 on:]

This is going to take a while.

I think Futurama is a great show in that even the less-than-great episodes have really great moments in them... Or at least that's how I see it.

Gee, where have I seen that before?

I'd say that every episode has great moments, but not that every episode is great.

Don't we need the mediocre episodes, though, so that we have a greater appreciation for the stupendous episodes?

Nope. I think anyone is capable of appreciating something good without necessarily having to experience the bad side of it to compare. I don't need to try Fish Ice Cream to know that Chocolate Chip Ice Cream is delicious. Plus, Futurama doesn't need mediocre episodes of its own for us to appreciate its great's. There are plenty of mediocre TV shows that we can compare it to to see how much better Futurama is and plenty of great TV shows that we can compare it to to see how much it holds up.

there are many shows where I cannot stand to watch whole episodes because I think they're god-awful. Even truly bad episodes of Futurama are interesting to me in a scientific sort of way (if you can call it that); I watch them and like to think about why, exactly, they fail to provoke any emotion in me besides, well, disappointment.

Those mediocre episodes are interesting to me for the same reason (this thread proves it). Still, I'd rather not have mediocre episodes to analyze. I'd rather every episode or nearly every episode of Futurama be great than have to sit through a few too many average ones. This might be blasphemy, but Futurama's hit count isn't as high as most fans like to think. There are plenty of great shows that have higher hit counts (Seinfeld, 30 Rock, Arrested Development). The reason why I still rank Futurama as my favorite over those shows is because Futurama offers a world (the future is just as messed up as today) and characters (sci-fi fan who is living his fantasy, boozed up robot as opposed to helpful ones like Robby or Data, sexy tough alien (or not so alien) lady who is more human than most sci-fi chicks) that are more unique than what those shows offer. Still, I'm willing to admit that all those shows are far less flawed than Futurama is, which is the main source of its less-than-stellar episodes (I could write a big post on what flaws Futurama has that keep it from being actually better rather than just emotionally better (I probably will, though I'm worried it'd be to similar to that 10 and 1/2 things post that was on Madhouse a couple of months back)).

[Reply #255 on:]

Well Elvis Costello said it like this. Of all the songs he's recorded some should have been left off the albums completely, but he is proud of every song he has written.
He considers the songs as being his children and will never stop preforming them.
Futurama is the same way.A lot of effort goes into writing and creating each episode. I would guess Matt is a very discerning creative force and he would not put out any episodes he was not 100% happy with.

[Reply #256 on:]

if you put a bunch of insanely clever comedy writers (with phds in molecular biology and such) in a room for 8 hours a day, what they decide to release as a 20 minute episode is bound to at least be good

[Reply #257 on:]

@Fistful: I essentially agree with you when it comes to the hit-to-miss ratio of Futurama--and for what it's worth, I would be interested in hearing your take on the failings of the show as a whole. Might provoke some neat (relatively speaking) conversation...or at least a thorough read-through and response from me.

[Reply #258 on:]

Phew! I expected to get crucified for doing anything other than claiming Futurama is perfection. I'm glad you guys seem to understand where I'm coming from and that, at the end of the day, I only critique the show because it's so very special to me. I only say these things because I want to be completely honest in the hope that somehow the potential I see in the show is fully realized (it has come so close to achieving true greatness and I believe that with a little more work it can achieve it).

LobsterMooch, the writers should be proud of themselves. They created a series that has a massive base of dedicated fans, who are so dedicated they've brought it back twice. You don't get that without being something special.

Monsieur Fuzzywuvems, what you're describing sounds very familiar.

Gorky, I will write that post sometime soon. I look forward to discussing it with you. It's always interesting, insightful, and fun when we butt heads.

[Reply #259 on:]

Don't we need the mediocre episodes, though, so that we have a greater appreciation for the stupendous episodes? Because, relatively speaking, if I watched "A Pharaoh to Remember" and then popped in "The Sting", I would probably find the latter even more brilliant than I usually do...

Exactly....without those so/so eps like A Tale of Two Santas and the eps that make you wanna stab your eyes with a dull spoon like That's Lobstertainment you wouldn't get awsome eps like Fry and the Slurm Factory and Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles.  Just like with any other media sect the writers have quotas.  So you have to expect a certain level of crappy eps thrown in there with the good ones as to make a complete season.  And when you get the above average superfantastic one it's like Christmas

[Reply #260 on:]

So so? A Tale of Two Santas is one of the the funniest episodes in my opinion. The song, the Professor's shotgun and of course one of my personal favorites.

Zoidberg: "And I'm his friend Jesus!"

[Reply #261 on:]

Mayor Poopenmeyer:  "Get him, Jesus!"

Zoidberg:  "I help those who help themselves!"

[Reply #262 on:]

almost all of them are shit, so i cant really answer specifically since i hate about 3 quarters of the ep's + movies.

[Reply #263 on:]

i cant really answer specifically

Which begs the question, why post in this thread at all?

[Reply #264 on:]

Or even watch the episodes and movies?

[Reply #265 on:]

He's never watched the episodes or movies according to his post in the do you still watch Futurama thread. He's clearly just a troll talking shit.

[Reply #266 on:]

Superheroes one. I'm not involved enough to remember the name and stuff. That one was a lot less 14 LSV than normal, so eh....

[Reply #267 on:]

'The Cryonic Woman', 'That's Lobstertainment' and 'A Leela of her own' just don't do it for me. I still like them, but not as much as I love the series as a whole, including the movies.

The cryonic woman starts out good, with their being fired and then the mix up, the old guy having a heart-attack, fry's method of power-napping...

But then Michelle comes into it and it just all goes down hill. The only thing I like is when they scare the crap out of her and she's freaking about the year 3000...

The other two are the same, they have some good moments, some funny one-liners but really thats about it, in my opinion at least. The general consensus seems to point towards these episodes plus a few more, good to see I'm not the only one who can see the flaws.

[Reply #268 on:]

Does everybody else hate that episode? Because that's how it seems. If so, why? I always liked it, in fact I'd say it ranks pretty highly on my list of favorites. Am I alone here?

[Reply #269 on:]

I like "That's Lobstertainment!" I wouldn't say it's one of my favourites but I never did understand why people hate it so much...

[Reply #270 on:]

I like it too.
I too don't understand why most people hate it. Also I don't understand what's so bad about The Cryonic Woman..

[Reply #271 on:]

The Cryonic Woman is a bad episode. The jokes are off, and Michelle is just annoying. You know you have a bad episode when Pauly Shore is a redeeming quality.

That's Lobstertainment isn't horrible at all and shouldn't be last on anybody's list.

[Reply #272 on:]

It's got Zoidberg!

[Reply #273 on:]

The Cryonic Woman is a bad episode. The jokes are off, and Michelle is just annoying. You know you have a bad episode when Pauly Shore is a redeeming quality.

What the hell is wrong with Pauly Sh- You know what? Don't answer that, I get that he's an acquired taste. I liked The Cryonic Woman too, although not one of my favorites. "They aughta have a cure for heart attacks by then." "We have one now!" "Ooh, so you won't mind if I use this!"

Funny stuff. What exactly about the jokes were "off"?

It's got Zoidberg!

You all still have Zoidberg!

[Reply #274 on:]

I thought Cryonic Woman was funny. Joke-wise, it was a fine episode. It just had an unbelievable premise and an annoying character (Fry's girlfriend), so I guess that turned some people off.

Lobstertainment was hated because it was a Hollywood parody and it premiered right after The Simpsons started getting into this rut where they'd do lame Hollywood parodies every single episode. So when Futurama did it, it seemed like overkill. Plus there was nothing particularly strong about the jokes or the story. Zoidberg is boring on his own, and his uncle was double-boring. It was just an uninteresting episode in every aspect.

I guess it's not offensively bad, but it is definitely a weak episode.

[Reply #275 on:]

I've never understood the hate for that episode. Yeah, it's a weaker episode. A little dull on repeat viewings, but by no means a "bad" episode.

[Reply #276 on:]

Plus there was nothing particularly strong about the jokes or the story. Zoidberg is boring on his own, and his uncle was double-boring. It was just an uninteresting episode in every aspect.

Really? I thought it had some good jokes and I liked that it had just that little bit of heart at the end. Oh well, different tastes, I guess...

[Reply #277 on:]

No no no.  Not until you understand that everything Zoidberg says is a joke, do you understand Zoidberg.  Every piece of dialogue by Dr John A. Zoidberg is humorous.

Until you know this, you are useless.

[Reply #278 on:]

I don't mind it, it's not top, but it's by no means bottom. And it does have some funny moments.

Next time you see me, don't be surprised if I've eaten!

[Reply #279 on:]

The difference between The Cryonic Woman and That's Lobstertainment:

A-plot's main character:
Cryonic: Fry
Lobstertainment: Zoidberg

B-plot's main character:
Cryonic: There is no B-plot
Lobstertainment: Bender

Other major/guest characters:
Cryonic: Michelle, little kids
Lobstertainment: Harold Zoid, Calculon


Lobstertainment wins hands down.