Converting the heathens

[Reply #40 on:]

Interesting choice. Why that one may I ask? That might be a good one a few episodes into the series, from my perspective.

I suppose. It's one of my favourite episodes, for its pure hilarity.

It's also not a particularly futuristic episode (it is about the stock market, after all), so it wouldn't scare away someone who doesn't much care for sci fi. If you want to ease someone into the glorious nerdiness of the show, you might as well start with an episode that is typically hilarious but atypically sitcom-y as opposed to science-y.

[Reply #41 on:]

My gf used to not like Futurama because of Fry's voice (whaaa?), then she liked Futurama despite his voice, and now it's her favorite show. I made her watch Season 4 when she was still on the fence, and Devil's Hands was the major turning point

That's great: "Well, I've finally made up my mind.  After watching that episode, I've decided that I really do like this show after all."  "Too bad; that's all there is."

[Reply #42 on:]

My gf used to not like Futurama because of Fry's voice (whaaa?), then she liked Futurama despite his voice, and now it's her favorite show. I made her watch Season 4 when she was still on the fence, and Devil's Hands was the major turning point

That's great: "Well, I've finally made up my mind.  After watching that episode, I've decided that I really do like this show after all."  "Too bad; that's all there is."

Bahahaha, that's excellent. The first episode I actually saw was Devil's Hands. It was kind of really confusing, but made me go buy the whole first season so it must have done something good.

[Reply #43 on:]

Hahaha exactly, David. I remember having that conversation!
Spira, for her it was the opera scene that did the trick. And Robot Devil.

[Reply #44 on:]

Heh, not only was it the last episode, it was the last scene in the last episode.

Though, if someone's unimpressed by the opera there, they're likely not really going to love the rest of the series.

[Reply #45 on:]

Dang, that's right. I never fully realized the irony here. Talkin about this ep reminds me of possibly my favorite joke in Futurama: the Robot Devil's exit from the opera haha.
Edit: it's not ironic, it's coincidental!

[Reply #46 on:]

The running joke with Bender and irony in that one is priceless. There is so much goodness there. It's twenty-two minutes of brilliance.

Still not sure it's the greatest plan for the first ep to show a heathen, but it's a contender.

[Reply #47 on:]

Agreed. I'd start someone out with something like Bender Shouldn't Be Allowed On TV, or TLPJF if u really wanna blow their mind.

[Reply #48 on:]

Oh man, starting out with TLPJF would be insane. I think I'd save that one for someone who was a little more acquainted with the characters, but if the heathen in question is big on visual effects or crazy sci-fi then it wouldn't be a bad choice at all.

Bender Shouldn't Be Allowed on TV? An interesting choice. Too much Cubert, IMO, but it is a bit more down-to-earth. I don't know, I think if I wasn't going to start out with the pilot, which is probably what I would do, I'd go for something with a bit more punch. Maybe Insane in the Mainframe? I think that one tells a good story and is absolutely hilarious.

[Reply #49 on:]

Hmm, Cubert does suck eggs. I'm thinking anything with a heavy dose of Bender would be a good choice though. Space Pilot would be a good one, probably the most logical choice. I agree it shouldn't be a big sci-fi episode (unless it's TLPJF). SP has a sci-fi plot but the episode has a more human, emotional feel. And plenty of the main 3 characters. A Fishful of Dollars could work...Or when in doubt, anything with hypnotoad is sure to hook them in

[Reply #50 on:]

My gf used to not like Futurama because of Fry's voice (whaaa?), then she liked Futurama despite his voice, and now it's her favorite show. I made her watch Season 4 when she was still on the fence, and Devil's Hands was the major turning point

That's great: "Well, I've finally made up my mind.  After watching that episode, I've decided that I really do like this show after all."  "Too bad; that's all there is."

Bahahaha, that's excellent. The first episode I actually saw was Devil's Hands. It was kind of really confusing, but made me go buy the whole first season so it must have done something good.

Wow, I can't imagine someone's first exposure to the show actually being Devil's Hands! Maybe it's because I waited such a long time in anticipation for that ep that I find it hard to imagine. Still, you must have wondered what the hell was going on half the time surely?...

Also, agreed that Insane In The Mainframe would be a good starter ep to show a stranger, possibly after 5 or 6 eps or so...

[Reply #51 on:]

Haha ya, it'd be like starting with Prisoner of Benda or something. It wasn't her 1st episode tho, so she knew the characters and such. But it was the one that I guess made her think "hey, there's something special here" lol. (I think for me that episode would be The Series Has Landed, then much later when Jurassic Bark changed the rules on how hard a cartoon could hitcha).

[Reply #52 on:]

I did have basically no clue what the hell was going on. But I desperately wanted to, which is why I got hooked.

[Reply #53 on:]

I did have basically no clue what the hell was going on. But I desperately wanted to, which is why I got hooked.

Whoa wait a sec...that was your very 1st episode? That's craaazy, did you know at the time that it was the finale?