Shipping Even Higher into the Sun...

[Reply #200 on:]

Heheheh. This show is going down the toilet.

[Reply #201 on:]

Were you ever a true fan, anyway?

[Reply #202 on:]

I was, of the original run.
Now they're just stumbling over their shoelaces.

[Reply #203 on:]

Time to unfan this show, eh?

[Reply #204 on:]

It may be time put it out of its misery.

Times have have changed, comedy is too different nowadays. Its a lot more wacky and in your face. And the sexual references are through the roof, and they've tried to shoehorn Futurama into this criteria to fit with everything else.

I don't remember Fry ever admitting he was in fact stupid during the first four years. And now he does it every other week.

And I highly doubt they could ever again write an episode today that me want to cry as much as Jurrassic Bark or The Luck of the Fryrish did.

They have no idea what they're doing or what they want to be doing with the show, they're just making it because people wanted it back.

I'm sure I could make some kind of comic to attempt to salvage the positives of what's left. And no, I don't mean re-write the stuff I don't agree with like the plethora of fan fiction writers.

This is not the Futurama I grew up with.

[Reply #205 on:]

I actually had a few laughs with the Eggman episode. In fact I enjoyed pretty much all of it except for that whole bit of 'what the hell has happened between Fry and Leela I dun geddit'.

It's never going to feel like 'old' Futurama, because it isn't.

[Reply #206 on:]

It's never going to feel like 'old' Futurama, because it isn't.

But that doesn't mean it's bad or any lower in quality. IMO.

[Reply #207 on:]

It kind of annoyed me that all of a sudden now Leela is calling Fry her strictly platonic friend. The beginning of this season seemed to imply they were pretty much a couple now. Then nothing more was said on the matter. And now they're back to being just friends. I is are confrootsed. Or just haven't been playing close attention

Exactly, and her flirting with that gross Scottish guy felt pretty mean of her.  (Especially since she hates hunters, remember Birdbot where she was willing to let the penguins starve themselves to death rather then let them get shot?)

I really hate how the writers keep making Leela realize Fry is the one for her in one episode (Devil's Hands, TLPJF) and then the next episode she's either referring to him as "just a friend" or even dating some unremarkable bozo.  It just feels like the Writers enjoy the "Fry pining after Leela" schtick way too much to give it up.

Anyway, one thing I've been wondering recently is: Lots of weird looking aliens exist in the future, and humans also want to date them/or at least find them attractive.  Kif for example is considered extremely handsome by females of many different species (including a misandrist femputer)... but why are so many people grossed out by Leela's eye?  I'm guessing it's because she falls in the uncanny valley.  She looks human, but thanks to her giant staring eye, freaks people out, whilst a less human looking alien doesn't.   She looks very human, but because of having one eye, stops short.  Personally, whenever I see more realistic looking fanart of Futurama, Leela usually looks rather creepy, even more so then Zoidberg or Kif.  

[Reply #208 on:]

It's never going to feel like 'old' Futurama, because it isn't.

But that doesn't mean it's bad or any lower in quality. IMO.

I think that is what any1else tried to say.  But apparently, Maz is too clever for her own good.

[Reply #209 on:]

Exactly, and her flirting with that gross Scottish guy felt pretty mean of her.  (Especially since she hates hunters, remember Birdbot where she was willing to let the penguins starve themselves to death rather then let them get shot?)

I don't think she was being mean, exactly, because in her interactions with Fry that were separate from Angus, she was very kind to him (comforting him and such). The only scene where she felt maybe a bit cruel (or at least insensitive) was when she was telling Fry she had brunch plans with Angus, and that she was going to be wearing her hottest tanktop-stretch pants combo. I guess we're just in a situation where Leela loves Fry but can't commit to him, for whatever reason; where she values his friendship but doesn't want to date him; where she doesn't want to see him hurt emotionally, but still does a fair deal of the hurting.

I don't want to say that we're back to square one, because there has been a definite overall change in her attitude to Fry in season six compared to the original run and the movies--but I am annoyed by the writers' inability to just make up their  minds about Fry and Leela's relationship. Again, though, I have to hold out hope that "Overclockwise" will set things right, and that they will be a real couple in season seven.

[Reply #210 on:]

Heheheh. This show is going down the toilet.

Maybe to you, but not to others...

[Reply #211 on:]

It's never going to feel like 'old' Futurama, because it isn't.

But that doesn't mean it's bad or any lower in quality. IMO.

I think that is what any1else tried to say.  But apparently, Maz is too clever for her own good.

Fry's adjustment to the 31st century has played itself out.  Not that he doesn't look back to his life before he was frozen.

Bender's compulsion with stealing, swearing and pornography has played itself out.  Not that he doesn't occasionally engage in that.

That is some of the great things about the 1st run.

But the characters and interaction between characters and their response to situations have developed over the years.  They are familiar with each other now.

[Reply #212 on:]

Exactly, and her flirting with that gross Scottish guy felt pretty mean of her.  (Especially since she hates hunters, remember Birdbot where she was willing to let the penguins starve themselves to death rather then let them get shot?)

I don't think she was being mean, exactly, because in her interactions with Fry that were separate from Angus, she was very kind to him (comforting him and such). The only scene where she felt maybe a bit cruel (or at least insensitive) was when she was telling Fry she had brunch plans with Angus, and that she was going to be wearing her hottest tanktop-stretch pants combo. I guess we're just in a situation where Leela loves Fry but can't commit to him, for whatever reason; where she values his friendship but doesn't want to date him; where she doesn't want to see him hurt emotionally, but still does a fair deal of the hurting.

I don't want to say that we're back to square one, because there has been a definite overall change in her attitude to Fry in season six compared to the original run and the movies--but I am annoyed by the writers' inability to just make up their  minds about Fry and Leela's relationship. Again, though, I have to hold out hope that "Overclockwise" will set things right, and that they will be a real couple in season seven.

Mean isn't really the right word, youre right.  Tactless or insensitive works better.   Leela is a very insecure individual after all, and was starved of affection for most of her life, and doesn't want to put herself in a position of being hurt, rather then her just being, as I am sure the French say: "La bitch grande".  (I dunno French. The car is female but the garage is male?  Right.)   

Still, I think its just down to the writers loving the Fry Pursuing Leela angle too much, that they are probably lost (or just think they are) without it.   There are plenty of comedic moments to be mined with them as a couple, and the core dynamic doesn't have to change.  Leela will actually have more reason to get on Fry's case about things that annoy her after all.

[Reply #213 on:]

Still, I think its just down to the writers loving the Fry Pursuing Leela angle too much, that they are probably lost (or just think they are) without it.   There are plenty of comedic moments to be mined with them as a couple, and the core dynamic doesn't have to change.  Leela will actually have more reason to get on Fry's case about things that annoy her after all.

Agreed. Apparently the writers would be out of their comfort zone, dealing with the ramifications of putting Fry and Leela in a real, committed, canonical relationship--and that scares them. But it's true that little about the show would really change, and that putting the two of them together indefinitely would open up a lot of avenues for telling different kinds of stories. This is definitely just a matter of the writers fearing change, or being unsure of their abilities, or something like that.

But I am getting tired of this Fry-and-Leela-belong-together crap, especially when the writers are so eager to play up the soulmates angle without actually taking it anywhere. I've said this before, but the writers either have to put Leela and Fry together in an unambiguous way, or they have to abandon this shippy stuff altogether and just let them be friends. And I think "Overclockwise" is going to be a pivotal episode in that respect.

[Reply #214 on:]

It was a bit jarring I suppose because since ITWGY whenever their relationship has been brought up it's been heavily implied that they're dating (TLPJF and TMAR for example).

However, I happen to concur with Gorky here. It seemed fairly out of place to throw their relationship into doubt in this particular episode and it never really came to anything either. It was just set up, led to the odd look of annoyance from Fry before just vanishing again. It seemed peculiar to not pay it off at all, which leads me to believe that they may be setting something up for Overclockwise...or at least adding a bit of groundwork to the context of their relationship for the start of the episode.

Perphaps they won't but I'd like to think that it'd at least pave the way to some sort of development. Otherwise it just served to add confusion to perhaps the show's main story arc for no reason whatsoever.

[Reply #215 on:]

Exactly Gorky, The Prisonor of Benda showed that Fry and Leela dating opens up new possibilities for comedy and storytelling: their arc in this episode doesn't really make sense if they aren't dating (for the most part, if they're not supposed to be dating, it makes Leela's girlfriend-esque nagging come off as coming extremely needy/batshit insane).  Leela and Fry are always bickering like a married couple, she is always nagging him ect.  The writers need to realize that the same dynamic can carry on.  If anything it can be a bit stronger: your spouse always has more reason to get on your case then your friend does.   It's not like we are asking them to get married or have children, for chrissakes.  The 'Fry pining after Leela" thing has gotten old, long ago.  Having them be a boyfriend/girlfriend opens up a wealth of new storytelling and comedy possiblities.  

Amy had a lot more of her core personality (being a slutty, bed hopping party girl) by being in a relationship, but it's just made her into a more interesting, complex character (more of a good "bad" girl then just the college bicycle).

[Reply #216 on:]

How's that joke end? "Everyone's had a ride," right? Good stuff!

And I'm just tossing this out there because it was mentioned on the Infosphere's page for "Fry Am the Egg Man," but does anyone else think it's possible that Leela was throwing herself at Angus in a convoluted scheme to save Fry from having his pet killed? I don't see it like that, I suppose because Leela showed an interest in Angus before he expressed his desire to kill Mr. Peppy, but I don't know. It does make her actions seem a bit less wishy-washy and insensitive.

[Reply #217 on:]

Nope, I don't see it.  I know the writers are trying to play up Fry's devotion to her, but there are times when it just borders on making Fry look like a dogged, pathetic schmuck who refuses to take a hint and Leela look like a shallow, petty bitch stringing along a guy she has no interest in.  They have stretched this dynamic and it's broke now.  It's like the punchline to the joke you just mentioned.  There are only so many times the "Fry does something sweet or clumsily hits on Leela, and she coldly shoots him down" can be funny or original.  Now it's just old.

When the Beta Couple has progressed way more and is far more solid then the alpha couple, you know something is wrong.  Amy and Kif have had their problems and their setbacks, but they bounce back, and they've had their triumphs as well.  Fry and Leela?  Still yes no and maybe, while Amy and Kif are probably getting ready for their real wedding.

[Reply #218 on:]

Angus really doesn't seem to be like the type of guy Leela would go for.

Although... She has been with a variety of people/aliens/mutants in the past...

[Reply #219 on:]

She likes manly men, but she has flipped her shit out when dealing with hunters, even when the hunting is going to benefit everyone.  But then again she seems fine with stomping puppies, and in the original run, she wasn't too fussed about Nibbler nomming puppies.  I do think Leela's maternal side and soft spot for animals has been severely downplayed this season.   A big cornerstone of her character is that she's a complete hypocrite, but its getting a bit much now.

[Reply #220 on:]

A big cornerstone of her character is that she's a complete hypocrite, but its getting a bit much now.

Now that's probably one of the only OOC things that I find annoying too.

[Reply #221 on:]

Nope, I don't see it.  I know the writers are trying to play up Fry's devotion to her, but there are times when it just borders on making Fry look like a dogged, pathetic schmuck who refuses to take a hint and Leela look like a shallow, petty bitch stringing along a guy she has no interest in. 

Oh, I agree that it's a stretch (I was just piggybacking on someone else's conjecture (sounds hot, right?)); I just figured I'd throw the possibility out there. I would have really respected the writers if they had decided to go the route of Leela seemingly hurting Fry by going after Angus, but really having pure intentions all along. As it stands, though, I don't think that was the writers' intention--and, if it was, it was waaay too vague and ambiguous for most viewers to notice.

What makes this all more confusing, though, is that Leela really was showing genuine concern for Fry throughout the episode (I especially liked her telling him there was no need to kill Mr. Peppy, because he had just given her a love concussion). If the writers want to just write Fry and Leela as good friends, then they have to quit it with Fry pursuing her and professing his love and whatnot. I agree with you that it's not doing either character any favors.

[Reply #222 on:]

Yes Gorky I agree.  The Will They Won't They is really annoying.  I didn't like it in Friends with the extremely blurrrgh Ross and Rachel storyline, why would I want such an overboiled, soap opera cliche in Futurama?  I'm just glad we haven't seen the Mad Dash to the Airport thing, which would make me think the show has jumped the shark.

If they are meant to be together, get them together.  If they aren't, then give it some finality.  Now its just confusing and irritating. 

[Reply #223 on:]

Now its just confusing and irritating. 

This concept of shippiness confuses and infuriates us!

[Reply #224 on:]

Now its just confusing and irritating.  

 
This concept of shippiness confuses and infuriates us!

Finally!  Someone made that joke.  I was worried I was going to have to do it.

[Reply #225 on:]

I guess I now kinda agree with what Gorky said, in the sense that perhaps there's a reason they brought this up now, so that it can be fixed later in the season.
Maybe I'm just being hopeful....

[Reply #226 on:]

Heheheh. This show is going down the toilet.

Maybe to you, but not to others...

But if I say it, it has to mean something, don't it?
Pshaw.

[Reply #227 on:]

I guess I now kinda agree with what Gorky said, in the sense that perhaps there's a reason they brought this up now, so that it can be fixed later in the season.
Maybe I'm just being hopeful....

The "Overclockwise" Preview clip has Fry saying "...and Leela left me". You'd think that to leave someone, you'd have to be together with that person in the first place.
(On the other hand, you'd also think that a group a professional writers could make a (non) couple identifiable as such )

[Reply #228 on:]

I don't think I'm a shipper, at all, because I found that line in the last episode hilarious!

[Reply #229 on:]

Heheheh. This show is going down the toilet.

Maybe to you, but not to others...

But if I say it, it has to mean something, don't it?
Pshaw.

I dunno, I am not feeling it.

[Reply #230 on:]

The "Overclockwise" Preview clip has Fry saying "...and Leela left me".

Or she could of just wandered off and 'left him'...

[Reply #231 on:]

Is "to wander off" really a synonym for "the leave someone" in English? (I always thought "to leave someone" had a rather obvious meaning...)

[Reply #232 on:]

I guess I now kinda agree with what Gorky said, in the sense that perhaps there's a reason they brought this up now, so that it can be fixed later in the season.
Maybe I'm just being hopeful....

lip has Fry saying "...and Leela left me". You'd think that to leave someone, you'd have to be together with that person in the first place.
(On the other hand, you'd also think that a group a professional writers could make a (non) couple identifiable as such )

Exactly.  If they had actually made them a couple rather then a confusing maybe they are maybe they're not, that statement would actually have some real impact.  As someone who wants to be a writer, I believe in showing not telling, and from what we've been shown, they dont seem to be together anyway.

[Reply #233 on:]

Is "to wander off" really a synonym for "the leave someone" in English? (I always thought "to leave someone" had a rather obvious meaning...)

Well, yes... technically.

[Reply #234 on:]

Do you mean
a) "Yes, it's obvious"
b) "Yes, it's a synomyn"
??

[Reply #235 on:]

You can take your leave of another person, which is similar to wandering off; the usual meaning of the phrase "to leave [someone]," though, is "to abandon a romantic partner."

As it pertains to that "Overclockwise" clip, though? Eh, the optimist in me wants to believe that Fry means Leela has left him in the romantic sense--but, based on what the writers have shown us of Fry and Leela's "relationship," I'd say they were going for the more innocuous, platonic meaning of the phrase.

[Reply #236 on:]

Do you mean
a) "Yes, it's obvious"
b) "Yes, it's a synomyn"
??

B.

Obviously, the writers intended it to mean that Leela left Fry in a romantic sense, but the literal meaning is that she simply physically left the area. I was just defending Danny's comment that was meant as a bit of a joke, I'm sure.

[Reply #237 on:]

Okay, thanks for the clarification:)

[Reply #238 on:]

After the last episode, the whole Leela/Fry (romantic?) relationship seems like it doesn't even exist. Pretty much the same for the 6B season. The casual viewer would say that they are just friends and nothing more. Seems to me that Leela doesn't undeserved even an inch of Fry's love.
Now Amy and Fry.. That's completely opposite thing!

[Reply #239 on:]

Seems to me that Leela doesn't undeserved even an inch of Fry's love.

Just an inch? What have you heard?