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Author Topic: Down! Bad Episode! (Worst Episode Discussion)  (Read 22511 times)
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jeepdavetj

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« Reply #80 on: 07-30-2011 20:01 »

I dunno, 90 seconds is A LOT of time when it comes to a TV program.
Gorky

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« Reply #81 on: 07-31-2011 04:35 »

I just rewatched "Bender's Game" today, and good god is it atrocious. The first two parts are decent, if not brilliant (the insane asylum stuff seems like a retread of "Insane in the Mainframe," and a story about Leela's anger issues would have worked just fine in a twenty-two minute episode--but, dragged along through a ninety-minute movie, it gets pretty stupid); there are a lot of nice gags, and I really enjoy the demolition derby and the Farnsworth/Mom backstory.

But once it gets to the Cornwood stuff, the movie goes waaay downhill. I'll admit that I don't know much about Dungeons & Dragons or The Lord of the Rings or whatever else BG is parodying, but if I disliked every Futurama episode whose references I didn't understand, there would be about five episodes total of the series that I liked. I just feel like Leela is totally exaggerated in the movie's second half (the eating-the-heart thing is so tasteless and disturbing and grossly out of character; even if you want to excuse it as the behavior of someone who is not actually Leela, but an alternate-universe counterpart, it's still freaking disgusting), and the characters seem to lack motivation. DtB made this point about "The Duh-Vinci Code" and "All the Presidents' Heads" in this thread, and I think his point can be applied to "Bender's Game," as well. I understand why Farnsworth wants to destroy the dark matter supply; not only will it put Mom in her place, but it will also end the price gouging on fuel. But why do Leela and Fry tag along, and why the hell do they agree to partake on an analogous voyage once they enter Cornwood? The characters are being used in service of the plot, and little of what happens seems organic to their established personalities. And that's a big no-no for me.

So, yeah. There are some funny moments (Zoidberg getting the keys out of the Professor's stomach, and later ratting Leela out for taking the ship without permission; Rosie killing Astro and Elroy because they were dirty; Fry trying to use a freeze ray on Bender, only to be corrected and told it's a cone of coldness; Farnsworth warning Fry not to let Bender touch him down there; Mom commanding her thighs to burn and claiming that her interview with Morbo made her want to puke her face off)--but they come almost exclusively from the first half of the movie. The only decent thing to come from the last forty-five minutes is the reveal that Igner is Farnsworth's son, but even that is made pretty obvious throughout (what with Farnworth repeatedly calling Igner out for his repugnant stupidity, and Igner helping the crew escape his brothers seemingly for no reason), and is thus not so revealing after all.

In fairness, though, I guess it's just the second half of the movie (two episodes, technically), that I would classify as among the Worst Episodes Ever.
lilkitten29

Starship Captain
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« Reply #82 on: 07-31-2011 04:59 »

And the part where Mom and Fry turn into dragons is definitely cringe worthy. I can't stand that scene for some reason.
coffeeBot

Urban Legend
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« Reply #83 on: 07-31-2011 05:31 »

When it comes to the movies, I frankly can't stand Beast with a Billion Backs. Then again, I'm a big shipper, and Amy sleeping with Zapp made me cringe like no other. When that happened, I came so close to turning it off and not finishing the movie at all.
To be honest, though, I wish they'd stop using the "Amy is a slut" joke. She was pretty promiscuous early on, but after Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch, they established that she was serious about their relationship.
Gorky

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« Reply #84 on: 07-31-2011 05:52 »

When it comes to the movies, I frankly can't stand Beast with a Billion Backs. Then again, I'm a big shipper, and Amy sleeping with Zapp made me cringe like no other. When that happened, I came so close to turning it off and not finishing the movie at all.
To be honest, though, I wish they'd stop using the "Amy is a slut" joke. She was pretty promiscuous early on, but after Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch, they established that she was serious about their relationship.

As far as being a shipper goes: I've gotten to the point where I can rationalize most of what happens with Fry and Leela's relationship in "The Beast With a Billion Backs"--which is a good thing, because it frees me up to enjoy all the hilarity and raunchiness and absurdity that the movie has to offer. The Amy/Kif/Zapp thing doesn't bother me, because I don't think Amy is portrayed as a slut; she is mourning the loss of Kif throughout the second third of the movie, and only sleeps with Zapp at a point where he's pretty much the last un-tentacled man on Earth (not to mention, he seems sympathetic to Amy's loss; I mean, hell, Zapp finds himself lamenting the loss of his fourth lieutenant at least once a month). It's not an act of sluttiness as much as it is an act of desperation, and Amy clearly feels awful about it afterwards.

Meanwhile, making Amy a Water Nymph(o) in "Bender's Game" is such blatant fan service, what with the whole Leela make-out scene. That bothers me more than anything in Billion Backs. (And, of course, I've already discussed how much PI bugs me for how carelessly it handles Amy and Kif's relationship).
flesheatingbull

Starship Captain
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« Reply #85 on: 07-31-2011 07:51 »

Man, Proposition Infinity is great....so many hysterical moments ("Hopes....deleted," "Even horse and ghost!") and fantastic social satire. One of my favorite season 6 shows. Did people hate it because of Kif and Amy breaking up or something?

I mean I dunno, I literally quote the "imagine all the terrible things that could happen to our children" stormy cloud ad whenever the topic of the gay marriage controversy comes up in conversation. It's a spot-on episode.

it's far fetched, and feels out of the futurama canon.

why?

1) three people fitting into one mascotlike outfit is stupid and not believable.
2) robots and humans falling in love. it is stupid, far fetched, and morally bankrupt. robots are machines, and their culture deserves to be better than this. the more original and different a culture is than our own, the funner it is to see and learn about.
3) the planet was wicked lame and unoriginal. Planet Tornadus. really?
4) the different weather in jars didn't make any sense.
5) the homosexual agenda. hell, i don't care if gays get married, but i don't like futurama having episodes that directly parallel the present day. futurama is a show, for me, that can tell awesome sci-fi tales with great simpsons(groening) humor.


i would like to mention the things i did like in the episode.

1)billy west's tune.
flesheatingbull

Starship Captain
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« Reply #86 on: 07-31-2011 07:55 »

also, you woman are weird. TBWABB was my favorite movie. it had an epic sci-fi plot, with the zapper scoring. i loved it, and i'm sure many other gentleman did too.
UnrealLegend

Space Pope
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« Reply #87 on: 07-31-2011 10:05 »

also, you woman are weird. TBWABB was my favorite movie. it had an epic sci-fi plot, with the zapper scoring. i loved it, and i'm sure many other gentleman did too.
I never used to like it very much. But it's grown on me.
DannyJC13

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« Reply #88 on: 07-31-2011 10:39 »

also, you woman are weird. TBWABB was my favorite movie. it had an epic sci-fi plot, with the zapper scoring. i loved it, and i'm sure many other gentleman did too.

I liked it, but not for Zapp scoring... :O_o:
UnrealLegend

Space Pope
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« Reply #89 on: 07-31-2011 13:32 »

We hoped you'd see it on YouTube first!  :laff:
Gorky

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« Reply #90 on: 07-31-2011 15:05 »

also, you woman are weird. TBWABB was my favorite movie. it had an epic sci-fi plot, with the zapper scoring. i loved it, and i'm sure many other gentleman did too.

It's probably my second favorite movie, after "Into the Wild Green Yonder." I'm just saying that I think Fry was a teensy bit out-of-character, and seeing him be all mopey for most of the movie was kind of dumb (and Leela's last-minute acceptance of Yivo's love, right before Bender comes to rescue them from the other universe, is totally unnecessary). I love when it becomes this big ol' Escape the Monster story with Zapp and Amy and Leela, though, and pretty much everything else is hilarious, too. It's just that, characterization-wise, the writers took a few liberties that I didn't appreciate.
Zmithy

Professor
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« Reply #91 on: 07-31-2011 16:17 »
« Last Edit on: 07-31-2011 16:20 »

Yeah, Bender's Game is just really weak. I struggle to remember absolutely anything other than Leela's shock collar about the plot.

There's a lot of episodes that were kinda meh, but only a few have made me want to turn the TV off.. act 3 of the holiday spectacular certainly did that more than any of the other ones, so it wins the worst ep prize. Just yesterday I put all of the new episodes on a usb stick for my housemate to watch (give us region 2 dvds already!), but I just couldn't bring myself to put that one on there, basically nobody likes it.

still not happy that *that* monstrosity is effectively the third AOI episode, but at least it looks like we'll be getting another potentially awesome AOI-style ep before the end of this season.
DannyJC13

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« Reply #92 on: 07-31-2011 16:56 »

Everyone hates BG, but it changed a huge part of the Futurama Universe, the value and use of Dark Matter.

I enjoyed BG BTW.
Tedward

Professor
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« Reply #93 on: 07-31-2011 17:42 »

Everyone hates BG, but it changed a huge part of the Futurama Universe

To someone who doesn't like it, that might only make it worse since it can't be dismissed as having no bearing on the rest of the show.
DannyJC13

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« Reply #94 on: 07-31-2011 17:45 »

Fine by me, I can sit back and laugh as they nerdrage and sulk about it.
AdrenalinDragon

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« Reply #95 on: 07-31-2011 17:56 »

The Beast With A Billion Backs and Bender's Game annoyed me so much that I've never watched either one of them more than once so far. Really unfunny, broke continuity, and out of character for most characters. I'd pick any episode over them because a bad 22 minute episode is better than watching an bad 90 minute movie instead.
Bend-err

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« Reply #96 on: 07-31-2011 17:58 »
« Last Edit on: 07-31-2011 18:17 »

nevermind...
coffeeBot

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« Reply #97 on: 07-31-2011 18:04 »

Gorky, you're probably right, it probably shouldn't have skeeved me quite that much. But right after Kif's "death", and with Zapp of all people? Eew.
Gorky

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« Reply #98 on: 07-31-2011 18:17 »

Everyone hates BG, but it changed a huge part of the Futurama Universe

To someone who doesn't like it, that might only make it worse since it can't be dismissed as having no bearing on the rest of the show.

Exactly. Though, actually, like I said, I'm not bothered by the reveal that Igner is Farnsworth's son--which arguably has a greater impact on the characters than does the elimination of dark matter as a viable source of fuel. Still, some of the most bearable bits of BG to me are the dark matter parts, and Nibbler's explanation of what went down on Vergon 6. And the writers do a decent job of covering their tracks in that respect, what with whale oil being the new dark matter. Whether or not we'll ever get a callback to the Mom/Igner/Farnsworth mess remains to be seen.

Gorky, you're probably right, it probably shouldn't have skeeved me quite that much. But right after Kif's "death", and with Zapp of all people? Eew.

Oh, I agree that it's icky. But I don't think it's a comment on Amy's sluttiness (which I agree is played up in certain episodes, despite the security and happiness she feels in her relationship with Kif in episodes like "Where the Buggalo Roam" and "Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch"); I think it's more about her grief, and Zapp's exploitation of that grief. I think "Proposition Infinity" is a much bigger offender in that respect, as are a few of the throwaway lines from season six (the orgy suggestion in "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela" and the nude video greeting in "The Late Philip J. Fry" come to mind--though I find both of those gags perfectly amusing).
cyber_turnip

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« Reply #99 on: 07-31-2011 21:53 »

I love The Beast with a Billion Backs and Bender's Game, but then I hated Into the Wild Green Yonder.
SpaceGoldfish fromWazn

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« Reply #100 on: 08-01-2011 03:31 »

I didn't think it was slutty of Amy to sleep with Zapp in BwaBB.  It was just Zapp, being the complete sleazeball as he is, taking advantage of a young woman who was EXTREMELY emotionally vunerable.  (A young woman who he was, five minutes before, seriously considering murdering and using her skin for a shelter, or possibly even skinning alive, no less.)  Oh and the young woman was the widow of someone who he claims is his friend and whose death he was responsible for.  Yet he pretended to care about Kiff, and instead manipulated Amy's grief and loneliness to get her into bed.

So yeah, I think it's pretty worrying that people think it's because Amy is a slut, when really it's an extremely new low for Zapp.  I would say its easily the most horrible thing he has done onscreen so far to any of the characters.  
coffeeBot

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« Reply #101 on: 08-01-2011 10:10 »

I was way too harsh on Amy, I admit it. But to be fair, my thoughts were more along the lines of, "I expect this kind of grossness from Zapp, but Amy is really doing this?!?"

Believe me, I'm not exactly giving Zapp a free pass.
LobsterMooch
Professor
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« Reply #102 on: 08-01-2011 19:05 »
« Last Edit on: 11-10-2011 16:46 »

 :evillaugh:
Gorky

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« Reply #103 on: 08-02-2011 04:08 »

Amy actually seems to have the tendencies of a serial monogamist, really, more so than a bed-hopping floozy. She's the one who's still interested in a relationship with Fry in "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," even after he wants to break it off; she doesn't stray from Kif in favor of other guys until "The Beast With a Billion Backs" (a forgivable transgression, since Kif was dead); and, in "Proposition Infinity," Kif breaks up with her, and she immediately enters a serious relationship with Bender. She's admittedly on the prowl, presumably for some hot, one-time lovin', in "I Second That Emotion" (going to a guy's car for coffee) and "Xmas Story" (flirting with the guys at the ski lodge). But once she gets together with Kif, the only time she questions the relationship is in "Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch"--but that's more about her fear of being a mother than anything else.
SpaceGoldfish fromWazn

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« Reply #104 on: 08-02-2011 16:11 »
« Last Edit on: 08-02-2011 16:13 by SpaceGoldfishfromWazn »

I still don't think it was "My husband's dead, so it's not cheating!" it was Zapp taking advantage of a very emotionally vunerable young widow.  Note how Amy is crying her eyes out and actually wants to talk to someone about Kif, while Zapp is going "He's right over, here.  Closer. Closer."

It's similar to Mildred seducing a man similar to her fiancee after the latter's untimely death.  She was devastated, but its pretty obvious she was using it as a coping mechanism, rather then a "Oh, I'm single now, baby!"

If you want a slut, look at LaBarbara who appears to have been flanderized into one.  In earlier episodes she was a devoted wife who chose fat ugly Hermes over a human Adonis.  Now she remarries Barbados Slim whenever she gets the chance, and her cameo in Mutants are Revolting implies she cheats on Hermes.
Gorky

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« Reply #105 on: 08-02-2011 16:23 »

I agree with you, SpaceGoldfish; I'm not trying to blame Amy for sleeping with Zapp. He took advantage of the situation, and it's not like Amy was so thrilled to be free of her quasi-husband so that she could go around boning other guys. Like you say, she was devastated. I'm just saying that, for people pointing to her actions in "The Beast With a Billion Backs" as proof of her sluttiness, the fact that Kif was dead should give them pause.

And I don't think LaBarbara is a slut; I think the writers just love callbacks to her relationship with Barbados Slim. Her actions in "Neutopia" make it clear that she loves Hermes in any form, as long as, uh, their parts interlock. Her behavior in other episodes is the result of inconsistent writing (she is a tertiary character after all, so I understand--albeit, don't particularly appreciate--that the writers might keep her on a longer leash in terms of characterization), not necessarily a late-minute decision by the writers that it would be funnier if LaBarbara was kind of skanky. Though, you know, they've taken the Hermes-smokes-a-lot-of-pot jokes a bit too far this season; maybe they're just doing the same thing with the LaBarbara-has-a-smokin'-hot-ex-husband angle. In any event: not cool, writers.
LobsterMooch
Professor
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« Reply #106 on: 08-02-2011 16:32 »
« Last Edit on: 11-10-2011 16:40 »

 :cry:
coffeeBot

Urban Legend
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« Reply #107 on: 08-03-2011 01:49 »

So, I actually re-watched BwaBB. It was so much better this time. Perhaps because I was less full of righteous anger for Kif.
I continued the streak and re-watched The Honking, too. I had always hated The Honking, but I felt like it too was better with another viewing. It still wasn't great, but Fry being insulted that Bender wasn't trying to kill him was hilarious.
LobsterMooch
Professor
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« Reply #108 on: 08-03-2011 16:08 »
« Last Edit on: 11-10-2011 16:38 »

 :cool:
Free Hot Meal

Liquid Emperor
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« Reply #109 on: 08-04-2011 11:07 »

Easy!  IAGDL
SpaceGoldfish fromWazn

Urban Legend
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« Reply #110 on: 08-04-2011 16:08 »

Not that I think its a bad episode, and I just saw BBS again...

Why didn't Nibbler just EAT the nude scammers in the beginning?  He's eaten much larger villains/threats before, including people, so why not?  He  was trying to kill them anyway.  I mean he's done pretty assholish things before (like dooming most of Vergon 6's animals to extinction), and he has shown no qualms about eating sentient life, so what gives?
SpaceMaN

Urban Legend
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« Reply #111 on: 08-04-2011 17:33 »

Would you eat a nudist?
SpaceGoldfish fromWazn

Urban Legend
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« Reply #112 on: 08-04-2011 17:34 »

Would you eat a nudist?

Would you eat a hermaphrodite flamingo?
SpaceMaN

Urban Legend
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« Reply #113 on: 08-04-2011 18:05 »

Probably.  Gender has no bearing on deliciousness.
transgender nerd under canada

DOOP Ubersecretary
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« Reply #114 on: 08-04-2011 18:08 »

Would you eat a nudist?

Do you put pants on all your food before you cook it or something?
SpaceMaN

Urban Legend
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« Reply #115 on: 08-04-2011 18:11 »

You take things far too literally.

And yes, you should see the drawer of foodpants I have near the stove.  I have to know if it's gay or not before I cook it, so I can put appropriately fruity clothing on before I seal in it's hot gay juices.
SpaceGoldfish fromWazn

Urban Legend
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« Reply #116 on: 08-04-2011 18:21 »

You take things far too literally.

And yes, you should see the drawer of foodpants I have near the stove.  I have to know if it's gay or not before I cook it, so I can put appropriately fruity clothing on before I seal in it's hot gay juices.

Emporio Armani y fronts or GTFO.
coffeeBot

Urban Legend
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« Reply #117 on: 08-05-2011 03:55 »
« Last Edit on: 08-05-2011 03:56 »

You take things far too literally.

And yes, you should see the drawer of foodpants I have near the stove.  I have to know if it's gay or not before I cook it, so I can put appropriately fruity clothing on before I seal in it's hot gay juices.

I'm pretty sure that "hot gay juices" is now my favorite phrase ever.

As for BBS, I really love it, if only for Lars. I absolutely LOVE Lars.
SpaceGoldfish fromWazn

Urban Legend
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« Reply #118 on: 08-05-2011 04:17 »
« Last Edit on: 08-05-2011 04:22 by SpaceGoldfishfromWazn »

You take things far too literally.

And yes, you should see the drawer of foodpants I have near the stove.  I have to know if it's gay or not before I cook it, so I can put appropriately fruity clothing on before I seal in it's hot gay juices.

I'm pretty sure that "hot gay juices" is now my favorite phrase ever.

As for BBS, I really love it, if only for Lars. I absolutely LOVE Lars.

*Makes a memo: Remember to use the phrase "Hot Gay Juices" next time it is appropriate.*

Also, in reference to the pop culture quotes, we have always had pop culture quotes, but they used to be worked in a LOT better, and would make sense.  Example:
"Why don't you join a mainstream religion, like Oprahism, or Vodoo."

That works, because Oprah's presence is felt in the 31st century, but that her talkshow has evolved into a fullblown religion over a thousand years.  I thought this line was pretty hilarious.  Not so funny would be: "Wow that is fatter/cornier then Oprah!"

So the Lady Gaga (which is even less funny, because at least Oprah is something that Fry would know about in his own timeline) line: "
"This week in the Universe!  Unintimidated by DooP armies, cyborg despot Empress Gaga continues her reign of terror across the Andromeda Galaxy!  Go get her, boys in velour!"

Seriously, I don't really care for Lady Gaga (personally I think she tries way too hard to be seen as eccentric), but I think there are much cleverer and funnier ways you can drop someone in that 31st century, when that person is someone who purposely makes herself resemble a futuristic transvestite hookerbot.  Hell, half the people in the People Hose are wearing something she probably has hanging up in her wardrobe.
coffeeBot

Urban Legend
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« Reply #119 on: 08-05-2011 04:38 »

Seriously, I don't really care for Lady Gaga (personally I think she tries way too hard to be seen as eccentric), but I think there are much cleverer and funnier ways you can drop someone in that 31st century, when that person is someone who purposely makes herself resemble a futuristic transvestite hookerbot.  Hell, half the people in the People Hose are wearing something she probably has hanging up in her wardrobe.

That could actually be a good way to work in Gaga references- have people wearing her outfits in the future. A meat dress would be immediately recognizable, and suitably weird.
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