Thoughts on 7ACV05 - Zapp Dingbat - SPOILERS!

[on:]

I think the first act was okay, the usual everyday Husband-Wife argument. Them splitting was a little bit off. Having Zap date Munda was too predictable.

The Second act was better, i liked the montage with Munda with Zap and Morris surfing with Fry/Bender. Leela seducing Zapp was a little predictable too, but i'm surprised it didn't work.

Third act was GREAT! Plenty of good moments! I loved the third act most! I give this episode a 9/10. It was pretty darn good! It actually made sense!

9/10

[Reply #1 on:]

This is the best episode I've seen in a long time....

period.

I hurt from laughing and screaming with excitement!

The ending rocked my world... glad they pulled the ep off without flaw... they knew it had to be really funny and well written to work.. and Rogers delivered a great script that was acted and animated just as well!

Morris gets to save the day and the status quo is restored.

10/10.

[Reply #2 on:]

It was funny, in fact - very funny.

[Reply #3 on:]

Huh, that was a really solid episode, much to my surprise. Morris and Munda's impromptu breakup really...worked for me, weird as that is to say. I mean, the episode starts out right with their anniversary dinner, and the smash-cut to their divorce was so rushed that it did make me scoff a little (as much as I liked the callback to that same cut with Fry and Leela in TKOS--and, speaking of which, I love that Munda's degree is exolinguistics plays a significant role in the episode. The backstory we got with Munda and Morris, courtesy of Leela's little slideshow, actually makes a lot of sense and was cool to see). Still, breaking those two up could have been a lot more nonsensical; I'm happy enough with what we got.

This episode was also damn funny. I like how episodes this season feel like they have room to breathe; there are certain gags, certain moments, that build slowly and are therefore more amusing to me. An example: The run between Fry, Leela, and Bender about being able to use the company credit card as long as they discussed business...which they find themselves painfully unable to do. My, did that amuse me.

I'm also really enjoying Leela this season: she genuinely cares about things, without seeming bitchy or callous. She was sweet with Morris and appropriately firm (and, at points, disgusted) with Munda. I thought her seduction of Zapp was a little ridiculous, if only because the episode didn't really go to great enough lengths to convince me that she was only trying to bone him to prove a point to her mother, and not because she was jealous or something. I mean, logically I know that Leela doesn't have feelings for Zapp and therefore was not trying to steal him from Munda or anything. Still, she barely interacted with Fry this episode (though I guess his presence in those scenes where she articulated her concerns about, and plans to sabotage, Munda and Zapp's relationship count as communicating with him? I don't know), and that seemed a little weird to me. He didn't object in the slightest to Leela skanking it up (albeit, for a good cause)? Though I know the episode would've been too packed if the writers had chosen to throw a Fry/Leela subplot into the mix, I was still unsatisfied on that front.

Ignore the above; I wrote it before I saw act three, which totally nailed it with that scene between Fry and Leela before the wedding. God, was that sweet. Act three as a whole seemed a little rushed--much like act one was--but it still worked for me. The break-up between the two happened so quickly, and Zapp didn't seem too bothered by it. My main gripe with this episode, ultimately, is that the writing on Zapp was a little off. He had some funny moments, and I bought that he loved Munda--but his inability to resist Leela's wiles made no sense to me. If he was going to allow Munda to slip away so quickly--and then preside over her remarriage to Morris, for god's sake--then he should have faltered at least a little when Leela tried to seduce him. It would have made me question his decency and devotion to Munda somewhat, and might have made their too-quick break-up a bit more believable.

All that said, though, this episode far exceeded my expectations. It may just be my favorite that we've seen thus far this season. A solid 9/10, which only loses points because of some issues with Zapp's characterization, and the wonky pacing of Munda and Morris's divorce (which felt organic, mind you, but also oh-so-very-rushed). Otherwise, the humor and emotion were spot-on, and I really loved what was done with Leela's character: we learned a lot about how she feels about her parents, and about Fry, and about Zapp. And, I don't know, that was kind of neat.

[Reply #4 on:]

Damn you DirectTV!!!!

[Reply #5 on:]

I actually really enjoyed this episode. Laughed out loud a bunch of times.

Good on it, Futurama.

9/10

[Reply #6 on:]

Mediocre episode, felt more like Family Guy in space than Futurama, especially Leela's sound effects. The Divorce made no sense whatsoever, and the final scene is wasted potential (A song could have saved the episode and everybody in the stream predicted it). Zapp had some good lines and the Goerge Takai in the Star Wars cantina was pretty funny, but overall it was lacklustre.

4/10 won't watch again until the DVD is released.

[Reply #7 on:]

The episodes this season keep getting worse and worse.  What's going on?!  This was one of the worst episodes in a long time and will go down in the annals of Futurama fandom as such.  The plot was ridiculous, the divorce and re-marriage between Leela's parents is a very old comedy fallback.  It was a very unimaginative and unfunny episode.  I didn't laugh one time.  But there were also several elements that seemed strange about this episode.  The voices didn't sound right, for one.

It almost seems like the writers have moved away from the sci-fi elements into writing just a regular cartoon comedy show.  I'm very, very disappointed.  The live chat was also disappointing as they didn't use any of the really good fan questions, only very generic ones.  Fans would have learned nothing from this "chat", and all devoted fans will be TO'd that the Mars orbit thing is being completely ignored as typical cartoon humor.  This is supposed to be a sci-fi comedy cartoon but one would never have been able to tell that tonight.  But I still haven't given up hope though; surely there will be at least one kick ass episode for season 7a.

[Reply #8 on:]

Crappy. So far this was the worse of season 7.

[Reply #9 on:]

Holy crap... that was unexpectedly brilliant.

Easily the best so far this season. Everything felt natural and smooth, and all the characters were used just the right amount (though I wish there was more Professor, the scene with Scruffy and his goldfish more than made up for that). And Fry was used perfectly. They didn't crap all over the Fry/Leela relationship like I thought they would. In fact, they did the opposite.

I was also glad to see that Leela seducing Zapp wasn't the entire plot of the episode. It was clearly something she didn't want to do, but done out of desperation (and it also came with some great lines: "Let's meet at say... exactly 7:58."   )

I like how Morris mentioned that he likes living in the sewer, which explains why we haven't seen much of them. Seeing Leela's Grandmother and the Borax Kid again was great as well.

But yeah. The entire episode held together nicely and didn't fall apart due to some tiny little annoyance like some of the previous episodes. The resolution felt natural unlike TBATB, Zapp and Kif were great as usual ("Honoured guests! Also Kif..."   ), and it didn't turn anyone into a total douchebag like what Season 6 did to Leela.

I wasn't a huge fan of the break-up, but like Gorky said, it worked fine even if it seemed a bit rushed. Still, that's a minor complaint for an otherwise stellar episode.

An easy 9/10.

Good job, Eric Rogers.

[Reply #10 on:]

GabeNewell, futuRAmaMA, and homerjaysimpson:

This was a good episode! I can't see why you hated it this much! It was so much better than the last 2. To call this bad is like calling BBS and TMAR bad episodes. I'm not trying to offend, just saying....... You guys are nuts!  You should re-view it in the morning.

[Reply #11 on:]

I've got a feeling this will be a love-or-hate episode similar to "Mobius Dick" and "Reincarnation", which both seem to have rather split opinions. I personally don't see any real issues with this episode, but others might.

[Reply #12 on:]

To call this bad is like calling BBS and TMAR bad episodes.

[Reply #13 on:]

Amazing episode. One of the best I've seen in a while. I'll have to re-watch it before I review it.

For now all I can say is goddamn Leela is one awesome pole dancer.

[Reply #14 on:]

I've got a feeling this will be a love-or-hate episode similar to "Mobius Dick" and "Reincarnation", which both seem to have rather split opinions. I personally don't see any real issues with this episode, but others might.

I understand now, I should've thought that there would be some people that are going to be really skeptical about the episode.

To call this bad is like calling BBS and TMAR bad episodes.

Aha, I love seinfeld! Hilarious Pic! But moving back to topic, I do think that you guys should rewatch in the morning. I found it very entertaining. Maybe you won't, but don't give up hope for Futurama yet! The new-episodes preview we got from Futurama Live was awesome! It looks better than what we've seen! Next Season sounds like a bigger improvement though, once again. I felt all...... Cuddly and happy after watching the sneak-peak...

[Reply #15 on:]

I really loved this episode. 10/10 for me.

[Reply #16 on:]

My favourite of the season thus far. I didn't love the ending, but it was satisfactory.  The breakup felt very natural to me actually, and the seduction scene was really funny! The exchange between Leela and Fry before the wedding was so darling, and again felt really organic. I feel like they showed us a glimpse of another side of Zapp which was unexpected, but nice.

Oh, I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. Might I also add that I'm ecstatic about the two-part season finale next year - it's been something I've wanted for a long time! You go, M&D!

[Reply #17 on:]

Aha, I love seinfeld! Hilarious Pic! But moving back to topic, I do think that you guys should rewatch in the morning. I found it very entertaining. Maybe you won't, but don't give up hope for Futurama yet! The new-episodes preview we got from Futurama Live was awesome! It looks better than what we've seen! Next Season sounds like a bigger improvement though, once again. I felt all...... Cuddly and happy after watching the sneak-peak...

Words cannot express the amount disapproval coursing through my veins, it's like I just injected myself with Martin Sheen.

[Reply #18 on:]

I dug it. I specifically enjoyed Morris' storyline. I also loved all of the reoccurring aliens. Awesome!

8/10

[Reply #19 on:]

There's something else I just remembered... though it's slightly off-topic.

As Leela was calling Zapp, there were three short sounds that sounded exactly like the Steam message tone. I've got no idea if it was just that particular video or not, but it caused me to minimize and check my Steam.   

[Reply #20 on:]

Best episode of the season so far.  It had actual character development and arcs that resolved.  It was character driven, rather than plot driven.  It had proper pacing (which did falter a bit at the end but not badly).  It had space ships shooting at each other.  It had relation ships shooting at each other.   The jokes were on, and there were many callbacks early on that felt natural rather than forced.  The montage felt like it had a place and wasn't just filler.

Most importantly, I felt emotionally connected and engaged to the episode.  I couldn't wait for the commercial breaks to be over and get back into it.  Excellent!

9/10

Fry and Leela talking about marriage?

Can't wait to watch it again @ 11:30

[Reply #21 on:]

For an episode that involved Leela's backstory with her sewer mutant parents, this episode wasn't half bad. First and second acts were pretty solid, third act seemed a little rushed with the predictable ending of the marriage before it began, but nice recurrence of themes. Pretty stable jokes too, nice callbacks to some characters (like Borax kid). Pretty decent episode, and best of all, NO CHARACTER DEATHS OR MUTILATIONS

Even for it being a Leela heavy plot with the other characters thrown in the background, I still ver much enjoyed it. I'm not really sure what to rate it, I wouldn't score it as low as an 8 but I don't know if I'd give it a high as a 9. My ultimate rating wold be an 8.5...buuuut I am feeling generous tonight. I'll give it a 9. Even though it wasn't spectacular, there was nothing that I really found that troubling about the episode. Except that my mom is the one who pointed out "how did Bender get his hands back after the first act?" hahahah. That's the magic of television! I also love how Zapp crossed the i in his name with a heart hehe.

[Reply #22 on:]

Sex with Zapp.

[Reply #23 on:]

Definitely the best episode of the season.  I usually don't like the whole two characters suddenly break up and then get back together at the end of the episode thing because it always feels so shoehorned in, but this made total sense.  Suddenly Munda is free to go explore the universe after the mutant revolt, and her degree in exolinguistics even hints that she has always secretly dreames of going off into space.  I was worried that they would overdo Leela's seduction of Zapp, or have her kind of get into it like she did in IAGDL, but they didn't.  Her horrified look when Zapp told her to call him "Daddy" was hilarious.  Fry and Leela even managed to have a tender moment that ddn't get all sappy.  Also, light saber pool = win.

I think this is my third favorite new episode behind TPoB and TLPJF.  10/10.  

[Reply #24 on:]

I liked this one more than I thought I would. The story wasn't one of the best ever, but I like when we get to see Leela's parents and I liked that the events of TMAR in some way played a part in their divorce.

I think all of the episodes so far in this season have been really good in terms of the amount of laugh-out-loud funny jokes in them. Zapp telling Kif to get on the wing and pretend to be a gremlin made me laugh so hard for some reason.

7/10

[Reply #25 on:]

Going in I had no idea what the plot was, mind you, but just knowing that it was going to be Leela-heavy didn't appeal to me. As I was watching the first scenes, I was even more skeptical when I figured out it was going to be centered on secondary characters who've never gotten an episode before. That being said, the episode really surprised me in how good it was. There were some groan moments (Leela's noises, "Sex with Zapp", etc) but it was overall a pretty solid episode. The A plot was definitely a lot better than the filler B plot. Speaking of which, was it just me or did it feel like they had a lot of spare time in this episode? I did enjoy the "moments to breathe", as somebody here put it, such as the company card joke, but at times it felt like they were doing montages just because they needed something to fill time. Overall, a pretty good episode. Initial viewing gives it an above-average solid 7.

Best moment: although he was a year late, Captain Lance Starman has finally appeared!

[Reply #26 on:]

The plot could have been a bit more interesting but it was really well constructed and paced, and used the characters well. Reminds me of the previous Eric Rogers episode in that way.

Quality stuff. I laughed a whole bunch of times, and you can't really go wrong with Zapp Brannigan.

"...and you can't return ice cream cake. We're dooooomed!"

[Reply #27 on:]

Very good! I keep noticing the epic music cues and stunning animation getting better and better, and this ep didn't disappoint. The only complaint I have is, if Zapp genuinely loved Munda, why did he seem to give 0 fucks that the wedding was off in the end?

[Reply #28 on:]

Zapp Brannigan doesn't give fucks, he only receives them.

[Reply #29 on:]

I absolutely loved the bit where they could put drinks on the business account if they talked about business.

"I'll just pay for it."

EDIT: Also, Agnew's "Stamp of Approval" is now my new favourite thing ever.

[Reply #30 on:]

I've got a feeling this will be a love-or-hate episode similar to "Mobius Dick" and "Reincarnation", which both seem to have rather split opinions. I personally don't see any real issues with this episode, but others might.

Really? Cause with both of those I had no feelings one way or another.
---

This bit is my commentary - it shall have bits and pieces that I thought when watching... warning: Random brain

Caption: "Cancel|OK" srsly, as I'm watching this online I nearly clicked it xD
Scruffy the only PE member to not go to the party?
Yeah, it may have been a quick divorce decision, but I think it mirrored Fry and Leelas quick divorce in TKOS a little bit
Cantina! <3... oh my, Takei, I think you may be in the wrong sci-fi reference, lol
Nice little callbacks and references all the way through this Cantina scene

I absolutely loved the bit where they could put drinks on the business account if they talked about business.

"I'll just pay for it."

Couldn't have said it better myself At least Bender tries!
Also, Bender just makes Leelas horror worse. Nasty *shudder* I'm with Leela, the Munda/Zapp doesn't work for me at all
Random spot: Leelas slippers are a reference to Matt Groenings (first?) character Binky
Benders 'Aww' was totally out of character and made me laugh for some reason.
"Lee Lemon" is totally not the best costume to wear when trying to hide from Zapp, surely he would know it's her from last time or has it really been that long that he's forgotten?[/rant]
Poor Leela... poor Fry, ugh all those needle holes
I want to see Kif pretend he's a Gremlin!
Zapp should have some Champaggin with his Par-mesian Cheese
(I might be slow on this) Leela had a window installed!
Nice pickup line Fry... WOAH HOLD UP... did Leela take the (not so subtle) marraige proposal seriously?!
Scuse me a moment...

Show spoiler

Ahem. 
xD Love the timpani
Holy Macaroni!
Bwahaha Can't return ice cream cake - such a horror!
God's glorious sewer that's one thing to call the universe xD
Fry & Leela hug! Erm, I may be riding on high from before still.
Sweet ending <3

I enjoyed that. Don't get why you say it's all rushed - they've got 22 mins to cram all that story in and they did so through the power of a couple of montages. Not a fave ep, but definitely not a bad one.  6-7/10

[Reply #31 on:]

Sex with Zapp.

Ha, I forgot about that. Not the act itself, but Munda's repetition of that was very unnecessary.

I think all of the episodes so far in this season have been really good in terms of the amount of laugh-out-loud funny jokes in them. Zapp telling Kif to get on the wing and pretend to be a gremlin made me laugh so hard for some reason.

2nd Shatner Twilight Zone Ref ftw! (it is only the second, right?)

[Reply #32 on:]

Ha, I forgot about that. Not the act itself, but Munda's repetition of that was very unnecessary.

Sex with Zapp.

Show spoiler

[Reply #33 on:]

Ha, I forgot about that. Not the act itself, but Munda's repetition of that was very unnecessary.

Sex with Zapp.

Show spoiler

You're a maniac!

[Reply #34 on:]

I really enjoyed this ep, the pacing was great, and it focused on a core of Bender, Fry and Leela. No pop culture references or toilet/mutilation humour for once.

Felt exactly like an episode from the original run. Solid 9/10 from me.

I loved the voice acting Leela did while talking to Morris, that was awesome... kinda similar to the scene in the original run where Fry does all the "and they'd be all like... " noises. Looking forward to the fan art that results from the pole-dancing scene.

[Reply #35 on:]

Loved it. Extra chuckles for the lepregonorrhea and kettle drum bits.

[Reply #36 on:]

Surprisingly good. It seemed a little rushed, but there was a lot of story to get into 20 minutes. Some parts felt too predictable but overall it worked nicely, especially the third act. Lots of cool callbacks, and I enjoyed seeing some results of TMAR.

[Reply #37 on:]

It had actual character development and arcs that resolved.  It was character driven, rather than plot driven.

That's a good point. Before this episode aired, I was worried it would be another "Proposition Infinity": breaking up characters in an established and seemingly-sturdy relationship (in that case, Kif and Amy) for the sake of a story that did not need to be told, nor really fit in with the kind of satire Futurama generally does. However, Morris and Munda's break-up was not done because the writers wanted to have an episode where Leela's mom dates Leela's ex-lover who once made love at her (I mean, that might have been their main intention, but that's not the vibe I got); it was done because Morris and Munda are two characters who, based on personality quirks and details we've seen in flashbacks (in both this episode itself and "Leela's Homeworld"), want different things from life after forty years of marriage.

It made total sense to me that Munda would want to see the world--and, rather than inventing some new character she could meet who would make that particular dream come true, the writers used Zapp, a guy who travels a lot and leads the kind of life that Munda's after. It just helps that Zapp has a history with Leela, but I don't think the story necessarily would have required it.

So, yeah. That was a long-winded way of saying that I agree with what you're (much more concisely) saying, Louis.

I liked that the events of TMAR in some way played a part in their divorce.

Also a good point--and, again, Morris's desire to stay put being at odds with Munda's desire to live on the surface made total sense for their characters. I liked how that conflict was resolved at the end of the episode (convenient though it may have been, storytelling-wise, that the Nimbus's auxiliary defense dealie was a glorified surfboard. Kind of reminded me of the climactic battle in BBS, and how Hermes' anal-retentiveness saves the day), and how Munda gave Morris that adoring look when he made his (somewhat cheesy, granted, but good-cheesy) comment about the whole universe being God's sewer. Really nicely done.

NO CHARACTER DEATHS OR MUTILATIONS

Yikes, Randi, if that's your biggest beef with the new season, you're really not gonna like "The Six Million Dollar Mon."

Sex with Zapp.

Ha, I forgot about that. Not the act itself, but Munda's repetition of that was very unnecessary.

I agree that both the act and Munda's repetition of its mention were gratuitous--but I still laughed out loud when Leela got that call on her wrist thingy: "SEX WITH ZAPP!" Past episodes have established that Leela and Munda have a somewhat antagonistic (read: normal) mother-daughter relationship, and they both love to nag people, so it makes sense for them to deliberately agitate one another in such a way.

[Reply #38 on:]

A pretty funny episode, even though I hate it for screwing with Morris and Munda's character dynamic for some cheap laughs: "SEX WITH ZAPP!  SEX WITH ZAPP!  SEX WITH ZAPP!"  I'm just glad they didn't have Morris enquiring what Petunia's "rates" were.

Though it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  The jump to the divorce did give me a massive groan, as did Morris acting pretty douchey at the anniversary.  But when the jokes were good, damn they were good.   And when they had sweet moments, they were sweet, too, such as the ending, the flashback video, Leela making peace with her mother and so on.  I also squeed when Leela kissed Fry on the cheek: so shippy but cute, in a very Leela way.

I also liked the little references they had in here, such as Breakfast Under Tiffany's, and the Nineteen Eighty Four reference.   And we saw Leela's grandmother, and she's still cute as a button with tentacles.

Even so... I really wish they had left Morris and Munda alone, and gone with a different angle.  I'm glad the whole "Leela gets jealous of her stalker getting with someone and tries to break  them up but rejects him when he breaks up with his new squeeze" angle, because I personally loathe that sort of storyline.   Maybe they could have done: Leela trying to save Zapp from a golddigger/flesh eating alien female in disguise, or maybe gone with a "Loose Lips Sink Ships" angle, and have Leela try to prise Zapp from the embrace of a female alien spy/assassin, who is trying to seduce the secrets to Earth's defence network for her species' invasion.

[Reply #39 on:]

I wouldn't say its the best episode so far this season but its certainly in the top five.

Not great but still pretty good.

I did feel that the nature (and location) of the emergency back-up controls (or whatever they were) was a bit too contrived but thats about the worst criticism I have of this episode.

8/10