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Author Topic: The Mighty Specu-les! Futurama Speculation II  (Read 40262 times)
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Who, Where, What, How?

Delivery Boy
**
« Reply #200 on: 07-03-2011 19:33 »

That was my mistake aki. I put that in by accident. Thats why I took it out, straight away.
If anything I would like more episodes about the core trio exploring new new york.
Aki

Professor
*
« Reply #201 on: 07-03-2011 19:37 »

Matt Groening has a rant on (I believe) 1ACV02 commentaries about how the most amazing thing about Futurama is that in one moment they are on a pretty regular Earth, and then a moment later they are several lightyears away in a wondrous world. This enables the show to do regular, sitcom-y shows like I, Roommate, Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch and The Devil's Hands Are Idle Plaything (to mention a few) while at the same also do really out-of-space episodes like Where No Fan Has Gone Before and Neutopia. I couldn't agree more. And personally, I love both types.

That was my mistake aki. I put that in by accident. Thats why I took it out, straight away.
If anything I would like more episodes about the core trio exploring new new york.

I see.
cyber_turnip

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #202 on: 07-03-2011 23:15 »

Quote
* To much screen-time for minor characters ruins the story
I disagree, especially that it ruins the story.

Quote
* Episodes based around minor characters
If it's an episode based around someone like Scruffy or Lrrr, then yes, it's not something I'm a fan of -if it's someone like Hermes or Amy then no, that's fine in my eyes.

Quote
* Their are no main characters anymore
Each episode still has clear protagonists. This can be a different character each week, but the show's always been like that.

Quote
* The crew hardly go to weird planets anymore
They went to the Cyclophage reserve planet in Rebirth.
Although it was Earth in the end, they thought they were on an Eden-like planet for much of In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela.
Proposition Infinity had the tornado planet.
The Duh-Vinci Code had the DaVincian homeworld.
The Late Philip J. Fry was all on Earth, but the different time periods might as well have been different planets.
That Darn Katz! let us see the cat planet in a fair bit of depth, sure the crew didn't actually go though.
A Clockwork Origin was set on that baron planet that robots rapidly evolved in.
The Mutants are Revolting began with a delivery to an asteroid... not quite a planet, but close enough.
Neutopia was mostly set on that Rock Alien's planet.
Benderama showed us a glimpse into the Giant Unattractive Monster's planet.
Ghost in the Machines had the Amish planet.
spira

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #203 on: 07-04-2011 17:25 »

I think it's not so much an issue of focusing on the main three as it is an issue of focusing on just two or three characters. Looking through the list of Season 4 vs Season 6 episodes, there are only two or three Season 4 ones that can really be said to feature the entire crew about equally (Parabox, 300 Big Boys, maybe WNFHGB), but especially lately there have been more Season 6 episodes that have the whole crew actively in there pretty much all the time (Killer App, Benda, Holiday Spectacular, Neutopia, Benderama). This isn't necessarily bad, but it a large contributor to the general consensus, which I agree with, that the newer episodes feel rushed.
Gorky

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #204 on: 07-04-2011 21:28 »

Spira is my new favorite poster, as I have agreed with literally everything she's posted in her day-long PEEL career. Please stick around, spira; we could use more PEELers like you. :)

Now that I'm done being creepy...

I think it's not so much an issue of focusing on the main three as it is an issue of focusing on just two or three characters.

I had never put that together, that the broader focus character-wise is what's making some episodes seem oddly-paced, but it makes total sense. After all, "Lethal Inspection" was easily one of the best episodes of season 6A, no pacing problems or anything, and it focused on Hermes and Bender alone (with that super-brief, super-amusing Leela subplot). I don't have a problem with shows that begin with some setpiece that involves the whole crew (there's the war reenactment in LI; to use an example from the original run, though, there's the visit to Romanticorp in "Love and Rocket")--I just think the show should winnow it down to a couple key players by act two. "The Duh-Vinci Code," the aforementioned LI, and "The Late Philip J. Fry" did this particularly well last season.
spira

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #205 on: 07-04-2011 22:22 »

Hooray, I feel loved! (I will have to depart for a month in two weeks. But I shall return, and when I do I will let out a mighty "I'M BACK, BABY!" and there will be much rejoicing. From you, at least, maybe.)

After all, "Lethal Inspection" was easily one of the best episodes of season 6A, no pacing problems or anything, and it focused on Hermes and Bender alone (with that super-brief, super-amusing Leela subplot).

Exactly. I am pretty sure that one is my favorite from the new series. I though The Mutants are Revolting, which, again, opens with a whole-cast scene (the souffle - also hilarious) and then turns into a Fry/Leela-centric plot with good use of Bender, had a pretty solid ending and was also good. Also, Professor x Leela's grandmother. If there is no fan art, I am making some now.

There are some good older episodes that did have the whole crew in them pretty actively. The example I'm thinking of is Parasites Lost, which has the whole crew either being Fry, being seduced by Fry, or being in Fry. It works though because, like Gorky said, by act two there are "a couple key players" clearly defined. By the third act, the episode is pretty much only Fry/Leela. It fits together so nicely.

I think it's also noteworthy that you referred to the LI Leela subplot as "super-brief" because that's another thing that worked in a lot of Futurama episodes so far - a strong A-plot that's funny but has the heart and emotion that makes the show gold, interspersed with one or two subplots/scenes that are mostly for being funny. LI did this really nicely. The Deep South had the fun Zoidberg subplot. Leela's Homeworld had the Honest Bender thing. The Why of Fry had the Chaz thing (what an ass). There are also a few episodes that don't really have subplots (Brannigan, Begin Again?) and also work. Trying to squish too many plots in is the real problem.

Neutopia, for the sake of example, tried to cram too many characters into a 22-minute block and, as a result, had a lot of funny one-liners but didn't draw attention to any main characters or lead me to that warm-fuzzy-Futurama feeling of a connection with the characters.

Getting back to the actual topic of this thread, I speculate that the rest of this season will be more focused. Season 6.0 started out with three episodes that tried to feature everyone. I can pardon Season 6.5 for starting out with two crammed episodes. Ghost in the Machines was a giant leap in a good direction.
Imy

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #206 on: 07-05-2011 11:56 »

Probable, though I like to think it's an album of all the wedding cakes that he can't afford, taunting him with their delicious designs.

That sounds most likely.
SorynArkayn

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #207 on: 07-05-2011 14:38 »

Quote
* To much screen-time for minor characters ruins the story
I disagree, especially that it ruins the story.

Quote
* Episodes based around minor characters
If it's an episode based around someone like Scruffy or Lrrr, then yes, it's not something I'm a fan of -if it's someone like Hermes or Amy then no, that's fine in my eyes.

Quote
* Their are no main characters anymore
Each episode still has clear protagonists. This can be a different character each week, but the show's always been like that.

Quote
* The crew hardly go to weird planets anymore
They went to the Cyclophage reserve planet in Rebirth.
Although it was Earth in the end, they thought they were on an Eden-like planet for much of In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela.
Proposition Infinity had the tornado planet.
The Duh-Vinci Code had the DaVincian homeworld.
The Late Philip J. Fry was all on Earth, but the different time periods might as well have been different planets.
That Darn Katz! let us see the cat planet in a fair bit of depth, sure the crew didn't actually go though.
A Clockwork Origin was set on that baron planet that robots rapidly evolved in.
The Mutants are Revolting began with a delivery to an asteroid... not quite a planet, but close enough.
Neutopia was mostly set on that Rock Alien's planet.
Benderama showed us a glimpse into the Giant Unattractive Monster's planet.
Ghost in the Machines had the Amish planet.

Excellent rebuttal, cyber_turnip.

I think that many fans are grasping at straws, trying to divine why they don't like the new episodes of Futurama as much as the original run.

My theory is that the seven year break in production of the TV series and the smaller full-time writing staff, are the most prominent factors regarding why the show doesn't seem as good as it used to be.

I recall David X Cohen saying in one of the DVD commentaries that a major part of the job as a writer on the show was re-writing; meaning that after each writer completed a script, the writers worked on each script in the writers' room, re-writing them and making them as funny and entertaining as possible. The fact that the show has fewer of the original writing staff working in the writers' room now may be why the episodes don't seem as good in the opinion of we long-time Futurama fans.
spira

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #208 on: 07-05-2011 15:16 »

Quote from: SorynArkayn link=topic=20106.msg1216346#msg1216346
I think that many fans are grasping at straws, trying to divine why they don't like the new episodes of Futurama as much as the original run.

I think this is true to a great extent. There are some notable differences between the two sets of episodes, but there are also tons of similarities and people don't point those out as often. Still, I wouldn't mind in the slightest if just Fry, Leela, and Bender would hop in the ship and go deliver something somewhere for half an episode.
cyber_turnip

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #209 on: 07-05-2011 16:54 »

But it's not like Fry, Bender and Leela would go and deliver something for half an episode in the original run...

Hell, the only delivery-based episodes I can think of are Fear of a Bot Planet, The Series Has Landed (which had Amy along for the ride), The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz (which had Zoidberg) and a Pharoah to Remember.

Of course, more episodes featured a delivery in act 1, but season 6 has plenty of that too with episodes like The Mutants are Revolting and Benderama.
SorynArkayn

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #210 on: 07-05-2011 17:22 »
« Last Edit on: 07-05-2011 17:41 »

But it's not like Fry, Bender and Leela would go and deliver something for half an episode in the original run...

Hell, the only delivery-based episodes I can think of are Fear of a Bot Planet, The Series Has Landed (which had Amy along for the ride), The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz (which had Zoidberg) and a Pharoah to Remember.

There are plenty more examples, such as "My Three Suns", "Mars University", "Brannigan, Begin Again", "A Tale of Two Santas", etc.

I don't recall a single episode wherein the entire story was about delivering a package. In most episodes the package was a macguffin that facilitated the PlanEx crew travelling somewhere new, and then hijinks ensued.

I think if an episode was based entirely on delivering a package, it would really stand out, and it would probably feel contrived and/or restricted, and therefore might not be very entertaining or funny.

I'm comfortable with the convention of using the package delivery as a bridge to the main story. It has worked well in the past, and I think it's a good place to start for stories for future episodes.
Gorky

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #211 on: 07-05-2011 17:28 »

The only episode I can think of where the crew spends most of the episode doing a delivery (or, more accurately, deliveries) is "Love and Rocket." Most of that episode takes place on the ship, showing the crew delivering candy hearts and such. In that case, the story is more about what the crew is delivering than it is about where they're delivering it, so in that way the episode is kind of an anomaly.

Also, this:

I'm comfortable with convention of using the package deliver as a bridge to the main story. It has worked well in the past, and I think it's a good place to start for stories for future episodes.
flesheatingbull

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #212 on: 07-05-2011 17:39 »

i speculate that they will visit hovering squidworld 7 soon, to visit philip j fry.
DannyJC13

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #213 on: 07-05-2011 17:40 »
« Last Edit on: 07-05-2011 17:49 »

I think most of the comics are heavily based on PE deliveries... Like, nearly all of them are.

Also, I've been thinking, Colleen was the Chief of Police, now Fry is joining the Police, wonder if there will be a call back or a reference? :p
Gorky

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #214 on: 07-05-2011 17:51 »

It might be a little morbid, considering Colleen was voiced by the now-deceased Brittany Murphy... :hmpf:
DannyJC13

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #215 on: 07-05-2011 17:52 »

It might be a little morbid, considering Colleen was voiced by the now-deceased Brittany Murphy... :hmpf:

Yes, but in a tribute kind of way. Like at the end of Bender's Game with Gary Gygax, that wasn't morbid...
Gorky

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #216 on: 07-05-2011 18:04 »

This is true. But BG was dedicated to Gygax in part because he died in the middle of production, and the writers weren't going to scrap what was essentially a love letter to Gygax because of his death. Brittany Murphy died in 2009, meaning the writers have had plenty of time to rework any story ideas that might have involved Colleen. If they wanted to dedicate an episode to her memory, and considering Colleen's involvement with the police force, it would be appropriate for "Law and Oracle" to be that episode. But an end-of-episode tribute is different from an explicit call-back in the episode itself; the former is respectful, and the latter would creep me out just a bit. Then again, I'm easily creeped out.
cyber_turnip

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #217 on: 07-05-2011 21:03 »

I wouldn't be surprised if they pop Colleen into the background without a speaking role... just a nod to her character... but it's more likely they won't do that given that it'd raise the question of why she isn't still living with Yivo in another dimension. A Gygax-esque dedication would be nice, though.

But it's not like Fry, Bender and Leela would go and deliver something for half an episode in the original run...

Hell, the only delivery-based episodes I can think of are Fear of a Bot Planet, The Series Has Landed (which had Amy along for the ride), The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz (which had Zoidberg) and a Pharoah to Remember.

There are plenty more examples, such as "My Three Suns", "Mars University", "Brannigan, Begin Again", "A Tale of Two Santas", etc.

I don't recall a single episode wherein the entire story was about delivering a package. In most episodes the package was a macguffin that facilitated the PlanEx crew travelling somewhere new, and then hijinks ensued.

I think if an episode was based entirely on delivering a package, it would really stand out, and it would probably feel contrived and/or restricted, and therefore might not be very entertaining or funny.

I'm comfortable with the convention of using the package delivery as a bridge to the main story. It has worked well in the past, and I think it's a good place to start for stories for future episodes.

But that's my point, those examples you gave only used the delivery as a jumping off point and season 6 seems to be doing that about as often as the original run. Maybe not quite as much as seasons 1 and 2, but certainly as much as 3 and 4 (which in my opinion, are the best seasons).
lilkitten29

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #218 on: 07-05-2011 21:10 »

But doesn't Colleen live in another universe now? I don't think we would see her ever again..
DannyJC13

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #219 on: 07-05-2011 22:02 »

But doesn't Colleen live in another universe now? I don't think we would see her ever again..

cyber-turnip just said that. :laff:

but it's more likely they won't do that given that it'd raise the question of why she isn't still living with Yivo in another dimension.
Dorsal Axe

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #220 on: 07-05-2011 22:03 »

Maybe just as a picture on a wall of "Former Chiefs" or something. It wouldn't be too morbid or unexplained given that Colleen was written out anyway.
SorynArkayn

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #221 on: 07-06-2011 01:55 »

But that's my point, those examples you gave only used the delivery as a jumping off point and season 6 seems to be doing that about as often as the original run. Maybe not quite as much as seasons 1 and 2, but certainly as much as 3 and 4 (which in my opinion, are the best seasons).

I understand.

It occurs to me that most of the episodes that used the package delivery convention were solid, funny, and entertaining episodes. That's why I think that it might be benefitial to use it more often.

Now that I think about it, I miss the jokes about how insanely dangerous PlanEx's deliveries are, such as the TV commercial in "The Series Has Landed -- "Planet Express. Our crew is replaceable. Your package isn't." -- or Ebola-9, or Fry griping about Cannibalon in "A Flight to Remember". Those jokes seemed to end abrubtly after Season 1.
lilkitten29

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #222 on: 07-06-2011 05:33 »

But doesn't Colleen live in another universe now? I don't think we would see her ever again..

cyber-turnip just said that. :laff:




Hahaha, oops! My bad.
spira

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #223 on: 07-06-2011 06:36 »

It occurs to me that most of the episodes that used the package delivery convention were solid, funny, and entertaining episodes. That's why I think that it might be benefitial to use it more often.

That was my point with my original comment way up there somewhere, which was a bit hyperbolic. Thanks for rephrasing, this is more like what I meant to say.

Now that I think about it, I miss the jokes about how insanely dangerous PlanEx's deliveries are, such as the TV commercial in "The Series Has Landed -- "Planet Express. Our crew is replaceable. Your package isn't." -- or Ebola-9, or Fry griping about Cannibalon in "A Flight to Remember". Those jokes seemed to end abrubtly after Season 1.

This is also a good point! I think the opening of The Series Has Landed is gold.
flesheatingbull

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #224 on: 07-06-2011 07:03 »

It occurs to me that most of the episodes that used the package delivery convention were solid, funny, and entertaining episodes. That's why I think that it might be benefitial to use it more often.

That was my point with my original comment way up there somewhere, which was a bit hyperbolic. Thanks for rephrasing, this is more like what I meant to say.

Now that I think about it, I miss the jokes about how insanely dangerous PlanEx's deliveries are, such as the TV commercial in "The Series Has Landed -- "Planet Express. Our crew is replaceable. Your package isn't." -- or Ebola-9, or Fry griping about Cannibalon in "A Flight to Remember". Those jokes seemed to end abrubtly after Season 1.

This is also a good point! I think the opening of The Series Has Landed is gold.

agreed, as well. those jokes were priceless.
DannyJC13

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #225 on: 07-06-2011 18:17 »

An episode I rarely hear mentioned on PEEL, A Flight to Remember. Brilliant. :D

And the Black Hole is just amazingly funny. 'I love you Bennddddeeeerrrrrrrr... *Gets sucked in*' :laff:
Aki

Professor
*
« Reply #226 on: 07-06-2011 22:20 »

"You'll share your love again. After all, it is shareware."
DannyJC13

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #227 on: 07-06-2011 23:41 »
« Last Edit on: 07-06-2011 23:43 »

From the DXC interview:

But it turns out it hibernated in Fry when he was frozen. So we have a couple of those flashback-style episodes coming up.

MORE CRYOGENICS! :love:

Also:

David X. Cohen: Tom Kenny, if you're a Spongebob fan. Tom Kenny will be back as Abner Doubledeal, the fast talking chairman of the Ultimate Robot Fighting league, and later the owner of the New New York Mets. He'll be back as that character.

I have a feeling he will be in 'Yo Leela Leela'.
FistfulOAwesome

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #228 on: 07-07-2011 06:36 »

From the DXC interview:

But it turns out it hibernated in Fry when he was frozen. So we have a couple of those flashback-style episodes coming up.

Like, the creature in Fry Am The Egg Man has been in him the whole time? That makes no sense. Nearly his entire body was destroyed in Rebirth (minus some hair particles and some dust), so the hibernating creature would have been destroyed along with him. The only explanation would be that Fry vomited it way long ago without realizing it (like, it's lodged in the kitchen sink pipes or something) and it finished its hibernation in a new location. Otherwise, I mean, that would be the most blatant continuity gaff the show had ever done.

Would you post a link to this interview?
lilkitten29

Starship Captain
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« Reply #229 on: 07-07-2011 06:40 »

What is hibernating in Fry?? lol. And I don't think it is the creature from Fry Am The Egg Man.
FistfulOAwesome

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #230 on: 07-07-2011 06:47 »

Ugg, you're correct. DXC means the cold virus in Cold Warriors. Well, that's a relief.
Imy

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #231 on: 07-07-2011 08:37 »

Aw, I was just warming to the idea of Fry harbouring a parasitic alien larvae in his body :(
Aki

Professor
*
« Reply #232 on: 07-07-2011 14:45 »

Looking forward to Doubledeal. I hadn't thought much of it, but Yo Leela Leela sounds like a likely episode for him to be in.

Aw, I was just warming to the idea of Fry harbouring a parasitic alien larvae in his body :(

I. e. the common cold. :)
DannyJC13

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #233 on: 07-07-2011 17:31 »

Would you post a link to this interview?

http://t.co/WYc11k1 ;)
FistfulOAwesome

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #234 on: 07-07-2011 18:02 »

Quote
DXC: We're going to do some more flashbacks to Fry's childhood and I think a crazy story about Fry importing the common cold back to the future, where the common cold has been eradicated and people have lost all resistance. But it turns out it hibernated in Fry when he was frozen.

It's now very obvious that I jumped the gun. I read this interview before. I don't know why I forgot it.
DannyJC13

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #235 on: 07-07-2011 18:07 »

We all make mistakes, FOA. ;)
Gorky

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #236 on: 07-09-2011 14:52 »
« Last Edit on: 07-09-2011 14:53 »

Ha, spira, it'd be so sad for you if we were. :p

Anyway: That profile made me a bit more enthusiastic for "The Silence of the Clamps," which is probably the only episode remaining this season for which I am not super-duper excited. The Robot Mafia doesn't exactly amuse me (especially not Clamps), but this clip posted by Louiswuenator many moons ago is entertaining enough. If the story focuses more on
then I think things will be A-OK.
Mongo

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #237 on: 07-09-2011 15:26 »

I have to say that "Silence of the Clamps" is the episode I am least looking forward to, of the remaining episodes of this season.  Clamps is the ultimate one-joke character, good in small amounts but potential comedy poison if he is a central figure.  On the other hand, Bender in witness protection has some potential, so the episode might be better than I fear it will be.
spira

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #238 on: 07-09-2011 17:49 »

I'm not sure that clip makes me more excited for the episode, but it was nice to see Fanny again and the ending was funny. I kind of feel like a Clamps-centric story is almost as bad of an idea as a Scruffy-centric story. The success of this episode will heavily depend on pacing, I think.
flesheatingbull

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #239 on: 07-09-2011 19:13 »

i don't know, fellas. i think that 'yo leela leela' sounds much worst. in two weeks we shall know, though.
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