What is the appeal of "shippiness"?

[on:]

[[I am not deliberately attempting to flame, insult or irk any shippers with this post. It's just an opinion, read: opinion]]

I just can't understand the appeal of character relationships in Futurama. I am not a cold heartless bitch, I sometimes do find aspects of Fry+Leela or Kif+Amy somewhat "cute", but not something that I mush over or "awwww" about. To me, the relationships and the more dramatic aspects of the show definitely take a back seat to the humour and comedy. I can't understand why someone would want to read one of those fics which have Fry and Leela in some romantic encounter or another. Futurama wasn't meant to be a soap opera (shudder). I watch Futurama for the reason I watch the Simpsons - the humour. Sorry if I have a superficial personality but that's the way it is 

Now, with that off my chest, feel free to tear me apart   

[Reply #1 on:]

Ok, *tearing in progress*
I hear what you mean but without the shippyness between Fry and Leela the show AND fanfics wouldn't be the same.

[Reply #2 on:]

I will get out of the way and let Venus, Shiny, Spacecase and Layla inform you of the importance of 'shipiness' to Futurama.

You may not survive the onslaught.

[Reply #3 on:]

By the way what does "shippiness" mean? I've only seen it used on PEEL.

[Reply #4 on:]

That's just the way we are. Some people are in it for the humor others are in it for the character relationships. It's all about what floats your boat. And shippiness just happens to be what floats my boat. I am a professional shipper. I've shipped for many fandoms and will probably ship for many many more.

[Reply #5 on:]

 

Originally posted by futz:
By the way what does "shippiness" mean? I've only seen it used on PEEL.

Shippiness is what we refer to when calling a TV show (in this case Futurama), romantic or emotional. When it leaves the stigmatic comedy behind and makes you go "awwwww, that's sho shweet".

That being said, I think the shippy episodes of Futurama (The Sting, Jurassic Bark, Luck of the Fryrish} are what makes it a very good show, and seperates it from others like The Simpsons and Family Guy. When a show doesnt need to rely solely on comedy and cheap jokes for people to like it is when it's truely good in my eyes.

But at the same time, Futurama takes it one step further and continues to incorporate comedy into the shippy scenes. Like at the endings of "The Sting" and "The Why of Fry" where there are touching moments between Leela and Fry and then it's broken up by a "You could really use a shower" or a "YES!" line. It's a nice reminder that what you are watching is a cartoon and you can't take things too seriously. Very important...

[Reply #6 on:]

Sorry, I dont know what I was thinking I was whacked on on spam-a-hol.

But the offer is still open 

To be honest the jokes in futurama arent all the great. You dont get nominated for Emmy's with cheesy jokes. Its the character development that makes it great.

I refuse to watch jurassic bark because its one of the saddest things I've ever seen.

[Reply #7 on:]

 

Originally posted by Col. Klink:

I refuse to watch jurassic bark because its one of the saddest things I've ever seen.

True, I don't watch JB as much as the other eps due to its being a sad ending (my wife bawled awhen she watched the end - she now places that ep along Steel Magnolias and Terms Of Endearment as her 'Cry DVD's').

The message was clear and very important - for all of Fry's screwups, for all his stupidity, there was something in the universe that loved him unconditionally.

And it was completely out of the blue - nobody saw that ending coming.

[Reply #8 on:]

   

Originally posted by The Pizzazz:
[[I am not deliberately attempting to flame, insult or irk any shippers with this post. It's just an opinion, read: opinion]]
I just can't understand the appeal of character relationships in Futurama. I am not a cold heartless bitch, I sometimes do find aspects of Fry+Leela or Kif+Amy somewhat "cute", but not something that I mush over or "awwww" about. To me, the relationships and the more dramatic aspects of the show definitely take a back seat to the humour and comedy. I can't understand why someone would want to read one of those fics which have Fry and Leela in some romantic encounter or another. Futurama wasn't meant to be a soap opera (shudder). I watch Futurama for the reason I watch the Simpsons - the humour. Sorry if I have a superficial personality but that's the way it is
Now, with that off my chest, feel free to tear me apart

*Sigh*
Y'know, my original reply to your post was as long as the Oxford English Dictionary. I will not inflict it on you.   

In summary:
First, I promise,I'm doing my best to pull in my claws.
Second, No one says you, or anyone else for that matter, is cold, heartless, or a bitch for not 'getting' shippiness. If you like the gags, and I like the shippiness, all that means is we like the same thing for different reasons (and we both have good taste).   
Third, I don't know if I can adequately explain the appeal of shippiness, but it starts with intimacy.
Ask a man what intimacy is, and his answer will boil down to sex: Physical intimacy.
Ask a woman, and her answer will mean verbal self-disclosure: Emotional intimacy.

It's an awkward thing, not un-like tap-dancing, blindfolded through a minefield; fraught with opportunities for betrayal, rejection, and all manner of angst.

Essentially, people look for someone they can trust, and vice-versa. Why? Well, it's hard-wired into human brains. We're social animals.

Why do some people like shippiness? I don't think I can do the answer to that question justice. What light I may shed on the subject is like so:
The second-best thing to being in a trusting, intimate, relationship, is having someone you care about be in such a relationship.

The first hallmark of good writing is to write characters readers will care about.

The third-best thing to being in a trusting, intimate, relationship, is having a character or characters you care about be in such a relationship.

Does this help?

Congratulations! You graduated "SpaceCase's School of Sociology!" In six to eight weeks, you may expect a certificate suitable for framing, or house-training a puppy...

[Reply #9 on:]

Wow. This is a very good question. I do like the Fry/Leela ship but can't seem to explain why. I think that it's...it's...cute.
That's a stupid answer, but this is a much harder question to answer than I realised. Congrats to The Pizzazz for thinking of it.

Edit: SpaceCase posted ^that answer about 3 minuets before mine, and that is much better that this pathetic excuse of an answer.

[Reply #10 on:]

Can't compete with SpaceCase's essay, but it's certainly worth thinking about.

I'm one of the guilty parties who likes the shippy so much that I've actually delved into the Futuramaverse by writing a dramatic fanfic. So, the question is, why on earth would a relatively sane person do such a thing?

Let me start off by saying I like Futurama because of the comedy. It charmed me instantly, but it never, ever would have gotten me to write a drabble, let alone a story. That said, I think you're right in saying the creators intended it to be basically a smart comedy and shippers tend to warp it a bit from those intentions.

I like Futurama 'cause it makes me laugh in a smart, thoughtful way.

I love Futurama for the characters. Beyond the Fry/Leela reluctant romance, the major characters each have a unique, wonderful personality that reaches beyond the humour. The creators didn't have to give their characters personality to make a decent comedy. I hesitate to name specific shows as examples, not wanting to offend, but there are plenty out there.

Voice acting, animation, writing, directing all combine together to give what could be two dimensional characters, three dimensional personality. Yes, they're entirely fictional cartoon characters in an imaginary world, but I can identify with them as though I knew them.

Who hasn't felt a little overwhelmed and confused by the world? Who hasn't lost something they can never get back? Who hasn't had a friend drive them crazy most of the time, then turn around and make everything a little better?

Hasn't everyone suffered through a little unrequited love?

Characters, the best characters, just stagger through life the best they can, despite all the nastiness and heartbreak, and they still manage to make us smile.

I'm not sure you can take much from all that, but I'm not sure what else to say. I write Fry and Leela and Bender and Amy and the whole kit and kaboodle as a way to discover what they'd do in difficult circumstances. It's odd, and perhaps a little narcissistic, but I learn more about them when I write them, and maybe I'm even learning a bit more about me.

Hmm... well that was needlessly philosophical. Carry on then.

Edited 'cause I spelled Yale with a 6.

[Reply #11 on:]

Layla makes a good point there, exploring the human condition is really what makes Futurama so compelling, I think. And it does so rather boldly. Personally, it isn't the humour alone that draws me to the series, it's that transcendental quality that really pulls it together. So cool.

[Reply #12 on:]

As was said before, I can't really explain why I like "shippy" episodes so much. I guess it just boils down to a person's preference. (I would explain my stance in more detail, but I'm in the middle of a project. Maybe if I remember, I'll write an essay on this.)

[Reply #13 on:]

 

Originally posted by Nasty Pasty:

That being said, I think the shippy episodes of Futurama (The Sting, Jurassic Bark, Luck of the Fryrish} are what makes it a very good show, and seperates it from others like The Simpsons and Family Guy. When a show doesnt need to rely solely on comedy and cheap jokes for people to like it is when it's truely good in my eyes.

I completely agree with that.  I think the shippy/dramatic stuff is what makes Futurama a great show, instead of just a good show.  Although I definitely appreciate the humor, I don't think we would care about the characters as much without the "shippiness" every once in a while.   

[Reply #14 on:]

I agree. The emotional stuff makes us care about the characters and when you care about the characters it makes the jokes seem funnier. For instance, Family Guy is funny, but i don't give a damn about the characters. Therefor i don't go out of my way to watch the show. But i do care about the Futurama characters and so i watched the show religiously.

[Reply #15 on:]

I love the shippy episodes of Futurama. Like said earlier, other cartoons just can't make the jump from comedy to shippy. Family Guy could never be taken seriously if they tried a shippy episode, one reason I don't like it too much.

Futurama's different. Even though it is a comedy, they blend in shippy episodes and moments in so well you can't remember it's a cartoon sometimes.

Has anybody ever cried because of Futurama's shippy moments? I am manly enough to admit I have after watching Jurassic Bark.

[Reply #16 on:]

In a world of TV shows that are all about helping the viewer to escape from their everyday life, Futurama is a nice and welcomed break. While still being a great comedy, you can also care about the characters (to a point of course, otherwise Fry wouldn’t be able to have all those great injuries) and deals with real (or future-realish) issues.

In my opinion, the Sting and Jurassic Bark are a few of the very best ep., not because of their "shippyness" but for the fact that it was something that the viewers, and myself, could personally relate to. Like said before, the “shippyness” is what separates Futurama from the rest of the cartoons out there and truly makes it an amazing show.

The “shippness” also lets us write Fry/Leela inspired fanfics/drawings and made us watch every ep. (When they were still being created) to see if that would be the one were they finally got together (well for my anyways.  )
 

EDIT: i can't spell 
------------------
"Why am I sticky and naked? Did I miss something fun?" 

[Reply #17 on:]

 

Originally posted by Ralph Snart in a different thread:
Is there a 12 step 'shippy' program?

1. Amazon Women in the Mood
2. Love's Labours Lost in Space
3. When Aliens Attack
4. Brannigan, Begin Again
5. Why Must I be a Crustacean in Love?
6. Raging Bender
7. War is the H-Word
8. Roswell that Ends Well
9. 30% Iron Chef
10. Where No Fan Has Gone Before
11. Route of all Evil
12. Spanish Fry

[Reply #18 on:]

 

Originally posted by Nixorbo:
 1. Amazon Women in the Mood
2. Love's Labours Lost in Space
3. When Aliens Attack
4. Brannigan, Begin Again
5. Why Must I be a Crustacean in Love?
6. Raging Bender
7. War is the H-Word
8. Roswell that Ends Well
9. 30% Iron Chef
10. Where No Fan Has Gone Before
11. Route of all Evil
12. Spanish Fry

Replace "Route of All Evil" with "A Head in the Polls" and I'll give it my stamp of approval too.

[Reply #19 on:]

 

Nixorbo:

1. Amazon Women in the Mood

That's enough to kill anything.

The idea of Bea Arthur being involved with anything 'shippy' is nauseating to say the least.

OK, you killed 'shippy' with one step!

[Reply #20 on:]

What about Bendless Love?  That was kind of shippy. 

[Reply #21 on:]

 

Originally posted by *Ralph Snart*:
*The idea of Bea Arthur being involved with anything 'shippy' is nauseating to say the least.*

u can say that again RAlph snart

[Reply #22 on:]

   

Originally posted by Venus:
That's just the way we are. Some people are in it for the humor others are in it for the character relationships. It's all about what floats your boat. And shippiness just happens to be what floats my boat. I am a professional shipper. I've shipped for many fandoms and will probably ship for many many more.

Venus hit the nail on the head. Basically, it just comes down to your personality and how you feel about relationships [read:love].  Sometimes there's just those elements (like chemistry, cuteness, overall atmosphere) in certain relationships, even if they're fictional cartoon ones, that make you love 'em.  I can see why some don't like it; it probably gets in the way of their more preferred humor or plot, etc. 

oh, and Case has got a good case (    ) too:
   

Originally posted by SpaceCase:
The second-best thing to being in a trusting, intimate, relationship, is having someone you care about be in such a relationship.

we, or i at least, like to see characters i care about be happy, and when two characters seem 'right' for each other, I like to see 'em together.  Call it a humoruos, tasteful soap opera without the sappy shit, if you will.

I've been a [somewhat long-time] shipper ever since I first the show, as I am with a good number of other shows     

[/firstGDpostinalongwhile!]

[Reply #23 on:]

I'm guessing this "shippiness" I've heard on this board is a british term because I have never heard of it anywhere else and I didn't know what it meant until this thread. Am I right?

[Reply #24 on:]

Nope, pretty general as far as I can tell. The first 4 or 5 PEELers I heard it from were American.

Welcome to PEEL. Enjoy it here.

[Reply #25 on:]

I've seen it used in several other places; I think most of them, if not all, were American.

But I didn't know what it was until I discovered the term here.  So I guess it's not too unusual.

As Teral said, welcome.. read this if you haven't already.

[Reply #26 on:]

I must agree with you on most parts. But the romances  are important. However they must never become anymore serious than they are. A great example of badness of it is BumbleBeetheta's fiction (sucktacoular) But it is also a great thing

[Reply #27 on:]

shippy, non-shippy, its all the same

[Reply #28 on:]

I think shippyness is good to keep the interest of fans. If there is a possibility that two characters may eventually "get involved", it's more incentive for the viewers to watch the shows.