Thoughts on 6ACV10 - The Prisoner of Benda - SPOILERS

[Reply #120 on:]

How is that stupid at all? Scruffy's never shown an ounce of stupidity ever. He's definitely the most moral and loyal character on the show ("Scruffy believes in this company").

I think that Scruffy is "stupid" for passing up the opportunity to have sex with his "unrequited love" wash bucket while in Amy's smoking hot body. In this unusual circumstance, Scruffy is unimpeachably moral, but he's also incredibly stupid.

[Reply #121 on:]

That's not stupid at all. That's keeping your morals no matter what opportunity arises. Scruffy's in a class of his own. Plus, it was the wash bucket's unrequited love, not Scruffy's. Scruffy's got a place in janitor heaven.

[Reply #122 on:]

I must add, by the way, how I am CONSTANTLY ANNOYED by Big Bertha's voice being the one of the fortune telling gypsy, and her face being that of the Robot Hooker.

You don't suppose that Big Bertha and the fortune-telling gypsy did a body swap?

This must have driven the animators crazy. (Although, if your mind is put in someone else's body, you're still using their vocal chords, so it would be their voice not yours.)

Speedracer seems to have gotten the idea right, but I'm not too happy with his example; it's only a cyclic permuation. What swaps would work if you had seven bodies 1-7, where the minds are in the order 2341675? (This is a "product of two cycles.")

Decompose into disjoint cycles (2341)(675) and apply the trick to each disjoint cycle.  After the trick is applied to each cycle, the net result is that X and Y are swapped, so if there's an odd number of cycles, X and Y will have to perform one final swap at the end.

In the actual episode, the permutation was a product of a 7-cycle and a 2-cycle. (Farnsworth-Bender-Emperor-Bucket-Amy-Hermes-Leela), (Fry-Zoidberg)

Okay, it works.

The writers must have stumbled on the "two extra people" fact by accident; that's not something that's known to the general mathematics community. A lot of work went into this episode, for continuity's sake. (The commentary from "Bender's Big Score" mentions that the writers had written up a chart saying which version of which character was in the cryogenic room at what time ... I imagine that they did something like this for this episode.)

I seem to vaguely recall a story where a prince (or someone of royalty) runs across an identical twin who's a peasant, and they agree to switch places. What the peasant doesn't know is that there is a plot to assassinate the prince. It seems like the peasant-posing-as-prince discovers this, and he manages to convince the assassins that a swap has taken place. No, it's not "The Prisoner of Zenda." Any help?

I think you're referring to Mark Twain's "The Prince and  the Pauper", wherein a prince does switch places with a pauper. Great story, and I think the first one in which the rich-swaps-with-poor device was used. And BTW it's not really a "shippy" type of story.

That was probably the original inspiration, but I haven't read it, so that can't be it.

[Reply #123 on:]

I loved it! I laughed, tried to workout and loved this episode. But there is one little thing I would of liked to have seen if there was enough time. The Professor taking advantage of Amy and "borrowing a couple o' gallons" of her blood whiles inside her.

Well I would rate this episode 10/10 because I loved it!

[Reply #124 on:]

Wow. That was Amazing. Epic Episode! I don't think I've Lol'd at an Episode of Futurama that much before! Hope we get some more good ones like this and TLPJF. 10/10 

[Reply #125 on:]

Decompose into disjoint cycles (2341)(675) and apply the trick to each disjoint cycle.  After the trick is applied to each cycle, the net result is that X and Y are swapped, so if there's an odd number of cycles, X and Y will have to perform one final swap at the end.

In the actual episode, the permutation was a product of a 7-cycle and a 2-cycle. (Farnsworth-Bender-Emperor-Bucket-Amy-Hermes-Leela), (Fry-Zoidberg)

Okay, it works.

The writers must have stumbled on the "two extra people" fact by accident; that's not something that's known to the general mathematics community. A lot of work went into this episode, for continuity's sake.

The writers of Stargate SG-1 knew how to solve the problem for n = 2, though they surely didn't know how to solve the general case.  I wouldn't be totally surprised if this problem appears as a homework problem in some obscure discrete math text in Hungary (the real one, not the robotic one) or something like that, though it surely was new to Ken Keeler.

I guess if you wanted a really highfalutin formulation of the problem, you could also say that any rainbow path in the Cayley digraph of S_n can be extended to a rainbow cycle in the Cayley digraph of S_(n+2) under the natural embedding.

[Reply #126 on:]

I too thought the non-change of voices was a bit disappointing at first but I had forgotten about it by the second bodyswap.

Also, shouldn't Zoidberg's body have died shortly after 'doing it'?

Science cannot move forward without heaps!

[Reply #127 on:]

I'd say that that only happens after Decapodian on Decapodian action. Fry/Zoidberg and Leela/Professor probably did something a lot more mammalian - but I don't want to think about that.

[Reply #128 on:]

I haven't seen the 3rd movie yet

[Reply #129 on:]

Don't bother. If you're going to miss one of them, the third one is a good one to miss.

[Reply #130 on:]

Fnord, are you sure you're not thinking of the "History of the World" movie, the chapter where Mel Brooks plays both "Lowly Piss Boy" and the king of France? They swap places. Oh, and there's "The Parent Trap."

[Reply #131 on:]

Good episode, but before I vote, I have to watch it  in my language. Funny episode but not as good as Late Philip J. Fry. All is going too fast, especially the beginning and ending.

[Reply #132 on:]

Fnord, are you sure you're not thinking of the "History of the World" movie, the chapter where Mel Brooks plays both "Lowly Piss Boy" and the king of France? They swap places. Oh, and there's "The Parent Trap."

Those are just variations on The Prince and the Pauper. Rich guy trades places with poor guy because each other has what the other wants, then they realize the love the life they've left. You could've listed countless more movies that go off that simple plot.

Good episode, but before I vote, I have to watch it  in my language. Funny episode but not as good as Late Philip J. Fry. All is going too fast, especially the beginning and ending.

Hopefully the humor isn't lost in translation! I've heard that it happens a lot with Futurama due to its eclectic range of references. I haven't sat through an entire episode in French yet though, perhaps I'll watch an episode I haven't seen much (like Pharaoh, Cryonic, or BG) and see if it's funny. I'll probably find it funnier.

[Reply #133 on:]

Hopefully the humor isn't lost in translation! I've heard that it happens a lot with Futurama due to its eclectic range of references. I haven't sat through an entire episode in French yet though, perhaps I'll watch an episode I haven't seen much (like Pharaoh, Cryonic, or BG) and see if it's funny. I'll probably find it funnier.

I've seen many Swedish-translated versions of both Simpsons and Futurama where they simply skipped references that weren't as widely known in Sweden as USA. I remember some episode some episode when Homer said something to Bart like "woo, look who thinks he's Brad Pitt!" and it was translated into the equivalent of "woo, look who's an actor!"

[Reply #134 on:]

You mean subtitles?  I hope you mean subtitles.  Because it would be shameful for it to be dubbed.

Though, I have some times here in Denmark found the subtitles to be funnier than the line it is translating.  Often cruder too.

[Reply #135 on:]

The writers must have stumbled on the "two extra people" fact by accident; that's not something that's known to the general mathematics community. A lot of work went into this episode, for continuity's sake.

http://gizmodo.com/5618502/futurama-writer-invented-a-new-math-theorem-just-to-use-in-the-show

[Reply #136 on:]

Although I enjoyed the 3rd movie, I can understand why others wouldn't - here's all you need to know from the 3rd movie as far as continuity changes.

Show spoiler

Everyone is okay with Nibbler talking now. Dark matter isn't fuel anymore. Igner is the Professor's son.

[Reply #137 on:]

Fnord, are you sure you're not thinking of the "History of the World" movie, the chapter where Mel Brooks plays both "Lowly Piss Boy" and the king of France? They swap places. Oh, and there's "The Parent Trap."

Those are just variations on The Prince and the Pauper. Rich guy trades places with poor guy because each other has what the other wants, then they realize the love the life they've left. You could've listed countless more movies that go off that simple plot.

Right, i_c_weiner: my comparisons were supposed to be tongue-in-cheek, meaning that I meant them to be stupid.

[Reply #138 on:]

a very great and funny episode!!

-tonight a 11
-DOOMED!!!!!!

dont know why but i laughed a lot at that XD

[Reply #139 on:]

I gave it an 8.  When they first mentioned the idea of mind switching I kinda rolled my eyes.  Seemed like a bit of a cliche.  But it ended up being very funny.  Especially the Fry/Leela/Zoidberg/Farnsworth stuff. 

[Reply #140 on:]

I love The Janitor's cry.

*Sob Sob Sob Sob.* Yup.

[Reply #141 on:]

another classic futurama episode.  Like Crash, I went into it thinking that it was a bit of a cliche plot, but I was pleasantly surprised.  This may have been the funniest episode since Roswell That Ends Well.  The Japanese embassador having his arm cut off and then not reacting until he'd listened to his translator was hilarious.  And then there was that whole thing with Scruffy and Wash Bucket.  I laughed so hard at that that I couldn't concentrate on the next few minutes of the episode

also, chainswords have got to be the coolest weapons ever... EVER!

[Reply #142 on:]

...  When they first mentioned the idea of mind switching I kinda rolled my eyes.  Seemed like a bit of a cliche.  ... 

I think this may be why the ratings dipped this week. The concept of the episode probly made the more casual viewers skip it.
Too bad. They really missed out.

[Reply #143 on:]

I'd just like to know what Amy/Professor groans out in Chinese after finishing a rib...

[Reply #144 on:]

...  When they first mentioned the idea of mind switching I kinda rolled my eyes.  Seemed like a bit of a cliche.  ... 

I think this may be why the ratings dipped this week. The concept of the episode probly made the more casual viewers skip it.
Too bad. They really missed out.

Could also be because six viewers who have Nielsen boxes had plans for Thursday night.

[Reply #145 on:]

I'd just like to know what Amy/Professor groans out in Chinese after finishing a rib...

According to this article at http://theinfosphere.org/The_Prisoner_of_Benda#Trivia,
"When Amy in the Professor's body is eating ribs, she says 'I have died' in Cantonese." I loved the sound of her voice when she said that. Hilarious.

[Reply #146 on:]

From The Infosphere:

It was established in the episode "Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love" that, once a male Decapod releases his male jelly (has sex), he dies. However, in this episode, Fry, who was in Zoidberg's body, wound up having intercourse with Leela, who was in the professors body, and did not die.
It could be that, to die, the Decapodians need to mate with another Decapodian.
It could be that, Leela was keen to use her new appendage, therefore it would be Farnsworth male jelly, not Decapod, that was released.

First thing, let's get this out of the way:

 

Second:  Both Fry and Leela must be much kinkier than ever imagined.

Third:  They make Amy look like a church girl in comparison.

Forth:  Leela wanting to use her new penis:

Fifth:  Fry allowing said penis used on him    

A part of me has just died...

Yet, a great episode party due to the sheer outragenous of some of the situations.

Also, given the polite way Scruffy responds to Amy's entrance as calling her, "Ms. Wong", would suggest he has respect for her and may be one reason he didn't take Washbucket's advances.

[Reply #147 on:]

It's also possibly that Zoidberg used some other appendage. He has a new anatomical characteristic every episode, I'm sure there's things we don't know about him!

But, yes, that sex was wrong on so many levels. And yet there are shippers who are happy that Fry and Leela finally did it... Was that the first time they've officially in canon confirmed have had sex? If it is, this is the greatest/worst trolling the writers have every done. "Sure, they can have sex... as Zoidberg and Farnsworth!"


And I loved how Scruffy said, "Ms. Wong." So respectful. It's possible he acts like that to all the crew members/other staff though.

[Reply #148 on:]

And actually, to be really polite, it would be correct to address Amy as, "Dr. Wong".

One thing I do like about this reboot - it seems that the writers are giving all the characters face play instead of relying solely on "The Big Three".

[Reply #149 on:]

I gave it an 8.  When they first mentioned the idea of mind switching I kinda rolled my eyes.  Seemed like a bit of a cliche.  But it ended up being very funny.  Especially the Fry/Leela/Zoidberg/Farnsworth stuff. 

I forgot to mention this in my initial review, but I completely agree. Mind switching has been done to death, and I was not looking forward to this episode. It ended up being much better than I ever could have imagined. Bravo, writers.

And to the people complaining that the voices switched--trust me, it would have been confusing. Yes, it would have been more fun for the actors...but the jokes in this episode were so fast and furious, that adding confusion with voices would have just detracted from it. Why makes things unnecessarily complicated?

Also: yes, I love how they "trolled" the shippers with Leela and Fry's first confirmed canonical intercourse.

The episode gets better and better the more I think about it. My wife missed it and is getting frustrated with how much I talk about it. Can't wait to show her when it reruns.

[Reply #150 on:]

Hey FJ, Just pay a couple of bucks to amazon or iTunes and watch it with the wife person.

Believe me, she'll enjoy it and will think you're the greatest husband in the whole world for finding a way that both of you can watch the episode together.

Maybe even lead to a little "role playing" in bed.  So, do you want to be Farnsworth or Zoidberg?

And I gave it a 9/10.

[Reply #151 on:]

Maybe even lead to a little "role playing" in bed.  So, do you want to be Farnsworth or Zoidberg?

The question of the day, people.

My vote? I want to be Zoidberg. Testing out a bunch of new apparatus just sounds awesome, better than playing with some pruned old stuff (though as a guy, I might have some biased opinion there).

[Reply #152 on:]

I was hilariously disturbed by this episode. I enjoyed it a lot and I think with a few re-viewings I shall enjoy it more than I did the first time. Looking back at the episode it has the feel of the original run from fast-flying jokes to hell....everything, including the clever mathematics. These guys make math look cool, and I usually want to kill math with fire. Or perhaps searing hot plasma would be better. Anyways, awesome episode that I had no complaints about at all. I too looked at it and went "Ok, another mind-switching episode of a show. This ought to be somewhat cliched as far as those go" but I was pleasantly sent on a good, somewhat original take on the matter. Quite refreshing to say the least.

[Reply #153 on:]

Fnord, are you sure you're not thinking of the "History of the World" movie, the chapter where Mel Brooks plays both "Lowly Piss Boy" and the king of France? They swap places. Oh, and there's "The Parent Trap."

Nope to both, but "History of the World" is on my "to see" list.

Those are just variations on The Prince and the Pauper. Rich guy trades places with poor guy because each other has what the other wants, then they realize the love the life they've left. You could've listed countless more movies that go off that simple plot.

Yes, but I'm looking for the appropriate variation.

The writers must have stumbled on the "two extra people" fact by accident; that's not something that's known to the general mathematics community. A lot of work went into this episode, for continuity's sake.

http://gizmodo.com/5618502/futurama-writer-invented-a-new-math-theorem-just-to-use-in-the-show

[ mode="sarcasm" ]Ha ha.[ /mode ]

I gave it an 8.  When they first mentioned the idea of mind switching I kinda rolled my eyes.  Seemed like a bit of a cliche.  But it ended up being very funny.  Especially the Fry/Leela/Zoidberg/Farnsworth stuff. 

That's why I started off my "review" by saying "It's a review of Bodyswap ..." "Bodyswap" was an epsiode of Red Dwarf.

Looking back at the episode it has the feel of the original run from fast-flying jokes to hell....everything, including the clever mathematics. These guys make math look cool, and I usually want to kill math with fire. Or perhaps searing hot plasma would be better.

Yeah, most people don't stick around long enough to learn the cool math. Things like graph theory and combinatorial game theory are accessable to high-school students.

There was one major goof (related to the "voice changing" goof) that no one has mentioned yet ... Right after the first (Amy/Professor) swap, Amy's voice in the Professor says "It didn't work!" If they really swapped bodies, then Amy's mind would be looking out of the Professor's eyes, and she (he?) would be seeing the room from a different viewpoint, pointed in another direction. Hence, both of them would have known right away that the machine worked.

It would have been neat to see the swap from one of the minds' point of view, where we're looking at part of the room, and it cross-fades to another view of the room.

And here's another link to check out:

http://gizmodo.com/5618502/twenty-three-futurama-animators-go-insane-after-voice-mixup

[Reply #154 on:]

It's also possibly that Zoidberg used some other appendage. He has a new anatomical characteristic every episode, I'm sure there's things we don't know about him!

Had we seen either his neck gills or his underarm tendrils before?

Also, I liked that, even though most of the Employee of the Month awards were for either Hermes or Amy, at least once it had been awarded to Scruffy.

[Reply #155 on:]

Oh, and I forgot the first joke in the episode that made me laugh out loud:
"I'm 60% storage space!"
So perfectly timed.

[Reply #156 on:]

This is my favorite episode to date. The Scruffy/Wash Bucket scene was perfectly emotional and humorous. Best episode to date.

[Reply #157 on:]

Absolutely hilarious!!! I give it a 10/10. I knew this episode would be interesting to watch the moment I first heard about it!
I've always wanted to see a Futurama episode dealing with mind switching ever since I read that one Futurama comic "Freaky Fry-day" (my favorite one).
Oh ya, the Zoidberg/Professor or Fry/Leela scenes were disturbing, yet hilarious............I must say, that Zoidberg has a really gross body!

[Reply #158 on:]

A thought occurs:

If the  Earth is united under a single president (the head of Richard Nixon) then what is the function of the United Nations?

[Reply #159 on:]

Maybe it functions a bit like the Houses of Parliament over here in the UK. Maybe there are delegates who act like MP's, and maybe that's how different things are decided- at a UN conference.