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Author Topic: Least Favorite Character Everyone Else Seems to Love  (Read 3237 times)
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nataliesharp

Crustacean
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« on: 09-10-2010 03:25 »

I am looking through people's favorite episodes on here and noticing a lot of you seem to really love the episode "The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings."  I've also noticed it was on the Monster DVD as well, and I just can't really understand why, I've never really thought it was all that great.  Sure it ends on an up note for Fry and Leela, but it also has that Robot Devil I can't stand.

The first time we see the Robot Devil I thought of him as a throw away character after Hell is Other Robots.  I honestly can't figure out what the appeal is to people.  Besides him having Homer Simpson's voice actor, I can't think of anything I really like about him.

I'm also just not a fan of the Globetrotters, who are, IMHO, throw away characters as well...

So this got me wondering what characters you all dislike despite throngs of people who love them.  I sometimes can't believe some of my friend's responses to this question.  One of my friends doesn't like Calculon, which I think is crazy.  That guy cracks me up.  He's the David Hasselhoff of robots.

So we're not all just saying negative stuff, maybe also say a character or two you always enjoy- mine are Roberto and Hedonism Bot.
KurtPikachu2001

Urban Legend
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« Reply #1 on: 09-11-2010 01:01 »

I don't really care for TDHAIP.  Brings back bad memories when it was cancelled.  I like to watch Futurama for the adventures, social commentary, and the humor!  Never really cared if Fry and Leela got together.  My least favorite character is Zapp.  I also hated Morgan Proctor.  Plus, the Robot Mafia should've been in this new season more. 

My favorites are Bender and Leela.  My sister Hailey believe it or not hates Fry.  She thinks Bender and Leela should be a couple.   I understand where you're coming from.   And it seems like nobody likes any episode I like.  I.E. Lethal Inspection.  I think people are complaining about season 6 is because Fry and Leela aren't together.  My favorite movie was BWABB, and everyone else hated it and like ITWGY.
Jezzem

Urban Legend
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« Reply #2 on: 09-11-2010 01:07 »

I like to watch Futurama for the adventures, social commentary, and the humor!  Never really cared if Fry and Leela got together.

Yet you get pissed off when anything bad happens to Leela?

I think people are complaining about season 6 is because Fry and Leela aren't together.

Uh, Fry and Leela are together. Also, no one's really been complaining about season 6 at all except for a few people.
Christopher

Starship Captain
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« Reply #3 on: 09-11-2010 01:32 »

benfdr
coldangel

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #4 on: 09-11-2010 04:53 »

a lot of you seem to really love the episode "The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings."

Because it's awesome. Artistically and thematically brilliant. Anybody who doesn't like it is a philistine.

It was nominated for an Emmy and an Annie, and has received near-universal acclaim.


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Robot Devil I can't stand..... I can't think of anything I really like about him.

He's a delightfully camp villain, as well as being a physical manifestation of Satan. Since TDHaIP was based loosely on Faust, you kind of need the Devil in it. I mean... duh!


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I'm also just not a fan of the Globetrotters

That, at least, I do agree with.
seattlejohn01

Space Pope
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« Reply #5 on: 09-11-2010 07:28 »

The first time we see the Robot Devil I thought of him as a throw away character after Hell is Other Robots.  I honestly can't figure out what the appeal is to people.  Besides him having Homer Simpson's voice actor, I can't think of anything I really like about him.
I've always loved the Robot Devil, maybe because, although he's "the Devil", he acts like he's constantly unable to accomplish whatever he wants.  He's also a little bit of a sissy, as he screams like a frightened little girl.  I think he's a great Groening-esqe character that hilariously throws the viewer's expectations back in their face. 
nataliesharp

Crustacean
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« Reply #6 on: 09-11-2010 17:36 »

Philistine?  Artistically it was awesome.  Thematically it wasn't all that impressive.  I guess I don't find an homage to an old story to be as amazing as you do.  I mean Faust?  Talk about overdone.  It's damn near trite.  It's no more sophisticated than a reference to the Twilight Zone.  A deal with the devil story?  What's next?  A flashback episode?
Tedward

Professor
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« Reply #7 on: 09-11-2010 18:06 »
« Last Edit on: 09-11-2010 18:08 »

And it seems like nobody likes any episode I like.  I.E. Lethal Inspection.

Hmm? I think most people, myself included, consider that one of the best episodes of the new season behind only a certain few.

I've always loved the Robot Devil, maybe because, although he's "the Devil", he acts like he's constantly unable to accomplish whatever he wants.  He's also a little bit of a sissy, as he screams like a frightened little girl.  I think he's a great Groening-esqe character that hilariously throws the viewer's expectations back in their face.  

I think you're quite right about why he's so interesting a character. And while he has his "sissy" moments, he's not really effeminate; instead he's very theatrical, and is great fun to watch as he attempts to be in charge of his surroundings, often remaining frustrated but still actually threatening to the other characters.

Talk about overdone.  It's damn near trite.  It's no more sophisticated than a reference to the Twilight Zone.  A deal with the devil story?

But this isn't just a deal with the devil where he tries to take something of value (like a soul) from the other party and is merely toying with the mortals with little to really lose; here, the other party ends up with something that personally belongs to the devil, who is at a bit of a disadvantage and who would rather undo his deal. I think it's a fine twist on a classic scenario.

Besides, I'd say Futurama usually does a good job with presenting interesting takes on "overdone" things anyway, whether it offers a twist or not; "The Prisoner of Benda" is a great example of a reasonably familiar concept taken to a hilarious and very well-executed level.  
KurtPikachu2001

Urban Legend
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« Reply #8 on: 09-12-2010 01:19 »

I don't mind seeing something bad happen to Leela just as long as it's happening to the other characters as well.  I really agree with natalie on this topic.
Jezzem

Urban Legend
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« Reply #9 on: 09-12-2010 02:16 »

I don't mind seeing something bad happen to Leela just as long as it's happening to the other characters as well.

What about when something bad happens only to one of the other characters? I don't see you running around yelling "THEY TURNED FRY INTO THE PUNCHING BAG THIS EPISODE SO IT'S LAME!!!!1"

That, and bad things happen to all of the characters, just mostly not at the same time as each other, so getting pissed of that something bad is happening to Leela and no one else in an episode is pretty stupid.
coldangel

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #10 on: 09-12-2010 02:30 »

I mean Faust?

Come on now, don't pretend that you have ever read Faust or had any clue as to its existence before I mentioned it.
winna

Avatar Czar
DOOP Ubersecretary
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« Reply #11 on: 09-12-2010 19:34 »

That's quite arrogant and presumptuous of you coldangel.  Everyone is entitled to their opinions even if most of us don't agree with nataliesharp.  I felt the globetrotters were throw-away characters as well.  I mean.... they have their own planet, but Bubblegum-Tate seems to show up all the time..... first he has a spot on Iron Chef and now he also has like 3 phds and he's needed to solve all mathematics?  Why not just make him a part of the crew at this point and replace Bender with him.... it's not like the fans will notice the difference anyways!
nataliesharp

Crustacean
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« Reply #12 on: 09-12-2010 19:42 »

@coldangel

lol, wow, how very pompous of you.

Believe it or not, people may know things, but not feel inclined to lord them over others like reading something makes them important.  You're right, I've not read Faust, but I do know what it is, it's not as obscure as you'd think.  You listen to any death metal band and you'll find references to Faust until your ears bleed.  They even made a crappy comic book about it.  I'll bet you're all butt happy over H.P. Lovecraft and Rabelais too, aren't you?

I mean, if we want to talk overdone, lets talk about the whole persona of literary snob and the inherent pleasure reward system of false superiority.  Using references you don't expect people to know?  Textbook example of pretension.  Kind of comes off as pathetic, especially when one is just trying to have a friendly conversation about a cartoon.
Jezzem

Urban Legend
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« Reply #13 on: 09-12-2010 19:59 »

first he has a spot on Iron Chef and now he also has like 3 phds and he's needed to solve all mathematics?

Um, no. He is revealed to have like 3 PhD's in the first episode that he appears in. His spot on Iron Chef came many episodes after his first appearance.

So, first he's a basketball player from another planet, then (in the same episode) it turns out he has like 3 PhD's and helps the Professor solve the Time Skipping issue. THEN he has a spot on Iron Chef.
nataliesharp

Crustacean
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« Reply #14 on: 09-12-2010 20:02 »
« Last Edit on: 09-12-2010 20:07 »

And thank you winna, I feel exactly the same way.  The very essence of this post was to mention things you dislike despite popular opinion.

I guess the main reason I didn't like Idle Hands is because it conflicted with Parasites Lost.   I mean, we have Fry able to use the holophoner when his brain is beefed up by the worms, but in Idle Hands all he had to do was use the devil's hands?  Sure, a more impressive brain improves dexterity, but I just think the two concepts don't fit too well together, even with the devil's abilities.  However, Futurama isn't really known for it's complete continuity, nor should it be.  I mean, we see Bender come fresh off the factory floor full grown in some episodes, but in others he has a smaller childlike form.  It's whatever serves the joke and the story, which is the beauty of the animation format.

Another aspect I didn't care for was the use of the holophoner in general.  While the sequences are gorgeous, they kind of stop the momentum of the story dead.  I think it's nice for the show to be able to take these breaks, so I am willing to allow it to some degree.  Part of the beauty of the show is its capacity to slow down and just be gorgeous eye candy.

But then we tie in the fact, that I never did like the robot devil, and the episode just doesn't do it for me like it did for everyone else.  It's the same reason I don't like robot santa.  While it is slightly funny that some idiot decided to build them as robots, the original premise wears thin before an entire episode comes to an end, let alone a second appearance.
RodneyTrotter

Poppler
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« Reply #15 on: 09-12-2010 21:20 »

Calculon - I can't stand him for no apparent reason.  :hmpf:
Globetrotters - I really don't know what's their purpose
Clamps - he freaks me out a bit :O_o:
Nibbler - I love the Nibblonian commander version of him, but when he's in those diapers and has that squeaky voice he's really annoying
Jezzem

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #16 on: 09-12-2010 21:38 »

Globetrotters - I really don't know what's their purpose

They help when the Professor isn't smart enough to figure something out. I thought was pretty obvious with the events of Time Keeps on Slippin', Bender's Big Score and The Prisoner of Benda.
coldangel

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #17 on: 09-13-2010 05:19 »

@coldangel

lol, wow, how very pompous of you.

Thank you!  :D


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Believe it or not, people may know things

Some, but not many.


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You're right, I've not read Faust

And that is all. Everything further is irrelevant.




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You listen to any death metal band

I will first take the liberty of skewering my eardrums with a knitting needle.


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Using references you don't expect people to know?  Textbook example of pretension.

What I expected was for the material to be looked up on wikipedia or something. It's really no skin off my nose if you choose not to read the classics; I just thought it worth pointing out that the presence of the Devil figure makes perfect sense in the context of an adaptation of Faust, rather than being 'a throwaway character'.

As to your insecure knee-jerk reaction, I can only say:  :laff:
RodneyTrotter

Poppler
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« Reply #18 on: 09-13-2010 17:41 »

Globetrotters - I really don't know what's their purpose

They help when the Professor isn't smart enough to figure something out. I thought was pretty obvious with the events of Time Keeps on Slippin', Bender's Big Score and The Prisoner of Benda.

I still think Time Keeps on Slippin' would be better without them. I know it's supposed to be random, but still...
bendershaul

Crustacean
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« Reply #19 on: 09-15-2010 02:44 »

I am looking through people's favorite episodes on here and noticing a lot of you seem to really love the episode "The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings."  I've also noticed it was on the Monster DVD as well, and I just can't really understand why, I've never really thought it was all that great.  Sure it ends on an up note for Fry and Leela, but it also has that Robot Devil I can't stand.
If you let the Robot Devil ruin this episode for you then I feel sorry for you.  The Robot Devil was the antagonist of this episode, a character used to further the plot.  Personally, I find the Robot Devil delightful and I have never thought of him as a throwaway character.  If you can throw away the Robot Devil then you should throw away Robot Santa or Nickson.  I understand that you are not going to like every character but you shouldn't let this ruin the overall episode.
  I love 'Devil's hands' .  I thought the fact that fry was willing to go through so much just to win Leela was touching and something most people can relate to.  But the reason I love this episode was because of the ending.  When this episode was initially created no one knew if there would ever be another episode of futurama.  This was the end.  I thought that it was perfect that the title characters shared a moment at the end of the episode, and the last words were Leela's: "Please don't stop playing Fry.  I want to hear how it ends."  It was poetic and left the viewer, a fan, satisfied that even though the show was ending, the characters were happy and content.  That is why this was such a great episode, because it took a series that was facing a premature ending and gave it a poetic and fantastic send off.
superbender
Crustacean
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« Reply #20 on: 09-17-2010 23:58 »

I hate Zoidberg, but everyone seems to think it funny.
The Golbetrotters they are black, they are good!
Robot Devil has Homer Simpson's voice and has a giant wheel, what a wonderful life.
coldangel

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #21 on: 09-18-2010 07:30 »

The Golbetrotters they are black, they are good!

Reverse racism?
superbender
Crustacean
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« Reply #22 on: 09-18-2010 08:31 »

No, I just think that their colour (without any racism) make they look cool.
coldangel

DOOP Secretary
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« Reply #23 on: 09-18-2010 11:36 »

...
...Uh-huh...
Jungle Fever.
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