comedy n' drama

[on:]

I see quiet a few people are debating about what type of futurama eps they think is better, some people like pure comedy...while others like the ol' honeydrippin' drama. Personally i dont mind the more dramatic epsiodes, but only if it continues to be funny and doesn't turn into some type of soap opera...but i wanna know what you lot think about the subject.


*if this has been done i apologise in advance* 

[Reply #1 on:]

the drama is ok in moderation... would rather futurama not become a comedy/drama fest like king of the hill.

[Reply #2 on:]

 

Originally posted by diagnostic:
I see quiet a few people are debating about what type of futurama eps they think is better, some people like pure comedy...while others like the ol' honeydrippin' drama.

What about those who like good measures of both?  Huh?  WHAT ABOUT US?

[Reply #3 on:]

I want a good laugh so voted comedy 

[Reply #4 on:]

I enjoy a balanced mix of comedy and drama. The first season had a lot less drama and focussed more on comedy, the second continued to do this while building on character interaction and background. The third season has made full use of the ground laying of previous seasons using drama in a superb and effective way.

Although comedy is where it should never leave permanently, drama is very good. I love the dramatic storylines and the way they create character development making me genuinely care for the characters. A balanced mix is what I like, I don't want it to go down the drama road and focus on it long term, a few dramatic episodes per season works best with comedy and story reliant episodes taking up the majority.

[Reply #5 on:]

i've got no problem with the drama and stuff, you gotta have more comedy anyways but i think the romance needs to cool off a little in the show.

I liked it best when we just got teased with the Leela/Fry thing rather than made a huge deal about it.

[Reply #6 on:]

The drama and comedy are both done so well in Futurama that it's tough to pick. It's billed as a comedy, so to see good drama thrown in as well makes it a real treat to watch.

[Reply #7 on:]

It really doesnt make a difference, but all my favorite episodes are on the emotional end, so thats what i voted for.  I enjoy a good laugh like the next guy, and i really do enjoy the balance the best.

[Reply #8 on:]

hmmm... time to get the sissors and glue!

*snip snip* *Paste Paste*
 

Erdrik
I thought it was a decent eps. And I Would like to say that the 'emotionally compelling episodes' are the best part of Futurama. Whats the point of cramming in jokes when the characters have no depth? If the characters were simply there for the punchline, then the show would quickly turn into:
Standard Character#2 makes standard wild crack#500 at Standard Alien Chick#4. All laugh in a humorous manner. Standard Character#4 slips on Standard Character#80's Standard BananaPeel#6. Fade out End Standard Comedy#650.
Blech what a load of donkey-crap! The fact that the characters are developed and given depth makes the jokes on them funnier and more meaningful, 'emotionally compelling episodes' are a requirment!

Awwh, yes. A job well done. 

[Reply #9 on:]

I wouldn't mind the show being hillarious rather than amusing.  I like drama also though.  It would be tough to get the mix right.  I think they can do as much drama as they want, as long as the drama they choose doesn't suck.  There is plenty of drama as it is now compared to jokes, the way I see it.

Personally, without the type of drama the show has, I probably wouldn't like it nearly as much.  Many jokes have fallen flat on their face, and no "emotionally compelling drama" means the episode will suck... but an episode can have comedy only and still be good.  I would be really careful of mixing drama and comedy; I don't think making fun of drama works at all (see: KoTH, certain futurama episodes).  Comedy you can just "get".  Drama comes with time; must be force fed to you sometimes.

Luck of the Fryish and Parasites Lost still give me chills while watching the end... maybe the best drama is found at the end of episodes rather than the middle?

[Reply #10 on:]

Warning! Ranting ahead!

Futurama is a comedy show. That's what lured me in and kept me interested. The first few episodes (that I saw) was jampacked with good jokes, subtle humor and cool little background gags that you probabbly wouldn't notice on first viewing, but would make rewatching the episodes that more enjoyable.

At the same time there where nice little moments of emotion, like the lunar lander scene in 1ACV02 (I still love that scene). It shoved that the writers weren't just trying to do a standard comedy show, with generic jokes and one absurd story after the other (like another Groening-cartoon, that shall remain nameless) week after week. They cared for the characters and obviously had ideas as where to take them in the development. Continuity and references to former episodes became an important part of the show (and of my enjoyment of the show).

The first 2 seasons focused more on laying the groundwork of the characters and the future, and showing some of the absurd gadgets and things that existed. This resulted in some of the best episodes so far, heavily relying on comedy. Up until "AOI I" comedy with a hint of emotionalism was the keywords, and we all loved it.

When the groundwork of the characters was laid, the time had come to tap into it. I think "Parasites Lost" was the starting episode for a fullblown focus on both comedy and drama/emotionalism. It has pretty much stayed that way since, and I for one love it. I love to laugh myself silly when Lrr got stoned from eating Free Waterfall Jr., I love to get all mistyeyed from the ending of "Leela's Homeworld" and "Luck of The Fryish", I love the rollercoaster thrillride that is "Parasites Lost" with it's high dozes of both comedy and drama, I love....ah, you get the picture.

I think Futurama has hit the perfect mixture of comedy and drama/emotionalism. Comedy first and emotionalism thrown in either in nice scenes or in entire episodes, with outstanding results, and always keeping an eye out for continuity, development and staying true to the core of the characters.

Okay, the Leela/Fry thing has gotten a bit too much attention lately and Leela found her homeplanet way to soon. But other than that the drama parts are keepers. I really don't have any sugestions as how to improve the mix, so I'll take option #4, not to vote.

[Reply #11 on:]

 

Originally posted by Teral:
A whole buncha stuff

There's no part of that rant I didn't like.

[Reply #12 on:]

One thing I would like to mention: there are two types of drama in Futurama.  There is episode wide drama (parasites lost, luck of the fryish, etc).  These types of episodes attempt to build up to a cresendo.

There is also sudden drama that is unexpected, which I like a lot.  A few examples are from Godfellas when Fry is talking about his search for Bender, in the series has landed in the Lunar Lander, and so on.  I wish there would be more "sudden" drama than episode wide drama, even though many of the episode wide dramas are my favorite.

The Lunar Lander scene was one of my favorite, it was when I realized Futurama wasn't the simpsons... in spppaaacccce.  Luck of the Fryish sealed the fate for me and Futurama.

[Reply #13 on:]

If it's drama you want, watch a freakin soap opera...this is FUTURAMA- It's suppose to make your sides hurt (in a good way)!

[Reply #14 on:]

I want a down-to-earth, realistic show that's totally off the wall and swarming with magic robots.

[Reply #15 on:]

I voted comedy. Emotion and drama is Ok, but I wouldnt want that to become any more of a main focus - stick with the show's genre - comedy.

[Reply #16 on:]

 

Originally posted by ShineyMetal@$$:
If it's drama you want, watch a freakin soap opera...this is FUTURAMA- It's suppose to make your sides hurt (in a good way)!

Exactly this is Futurama. SMA, What yer looking for is called: The Simpsons.
If you can't stand a little emotional development then stop watching Futurama.   

[Reply #17 on:]

as i've said many times before i love the drama eps. and i fully agree with erdrik and teral on pretty much every point they made. You need the drama to develop the charactors and to make you feel something for them. otherwise who would care? also, if you have emotional attachments to the charactors it makes the jokes just that much more funny in my opinion.

[Reply #18 on:]

 

Originally posted by Nixorbo:
 What about those who like good measures of both?  Huh?  WHAT ABOUT US?

heheh sorry nix, I shoulda put an option saying  "a mix of both"
 

[Reply #19 on:]

Yeah, Futurama shouldn't turn into a soap opera, but you know, there really hasn't been a whole lot of drama on the show.

Let's see, over the entire 3ACV run we only had Parasites Lost, Luck of the Fryrish, Time Keeps On Slippin', and I guess you could include Godfellas.

Aside from a couple of "I don't know why my brother hated me so much/what did I do to make Leela love me?" type lines from Fry to set up the drama, Fryrish and Slippin' were pretty much straight comedies until the "awww" moments at the very end. Parasites Lost was also mostly comedy, with only a few quiet moments to develop the Fry/Leela romance. And correct me if I'm wrong, but those episodes were fucking funny. Some of the best comedy they've done so far, if you ask me. (Godfellas was lame, but oh well)

So that's only four dramatic episodes out of 22(I guess there's two more episodes yet to air, but they don't sound very drama-ey), and three of those were really hilarious. That's not bad at all, I don't see why people are complaining.

[Reply #20 on:]

I voted for comedy.  The drama's great, but the recent episodes have suffered, in my opinion, because of lack of laughs.

[Reply #21 on:]

Futurama should remain mainly comedy - drama should only apply when the plot is suitable, like "Love and Rocket" and "Luck of the Fryish". My personal best drama scene would be the last one in "Luck of the Fryish". I don't think it would make the cut if that twist in the story was omitted.

[Reply #22 on:]

Emotion is good but too much willturn it into slushy crap and there is already enough of that on TV (Buffy series six for example). The Comedy is good and is what the show is there for, the emotional bits are there for contrast.

[Reply #23 on:]

 

Originally posted by Erdrik:
  Exactly this is Futurama. SMA, What yer looking for is called: The Simpsons.
If you can't stand a little emotional development then stop watching Futurama.     

NO, simpsons can get mushy too, i want season one style back.

[Reply #24 on:]

 

By SM@:
NO, simpsons can get mushy too

Not anymore. I can't think of a single good emotional moment post-season 8.

[Reply #25 on:]

"Comedy's a dead art form. Now tragedy--that's funny."
--Bender, Xmas Story

I watch Futurama for the giggles--but the romantic or otherwise emotionally-engaging moments elevate it to "classic" status.

Anybody here remember the end of Blackadder Goes Forth? They could've gone for simple cheap laughs, but instead they made me love the characters and then used that to plummel me about the head. I always appreciate that. Jim Henson's Dinosaurs, too. (Hopefully, however, Futurama will end more like An Officer And A Gentleman than, say, Taxi Driver.)

Comedy is steak, drama is fudge sundae. Have too much of either and you'll spew--but both are cream-your-jeans fantastic if served well in the right amounts.

[Reply #26 on:]

 

Originally posted by Kryten:
I want a down-to-earth, realistic show that's totally off the wall and swarming with magic robots.

Hurray! "The Itchy And Scratchy And Poochie Show". Man, I love that episode, I must've seen it two times.

[Reply #27 on:]

Dramatic moments and even dramatic episodes that built depth into the characters are fine on occasion but its really all about the comedy.

[Reply #28 on:]

A comedic mood makes the show good, dramatic weight makes the show great.

[Reply #29 on:]

 

Originally posted by FishyJoe:
  Not anymore. I can't think of a single good emotional moment post-season 8.

FishyJoe has a good point, there have been emotional moments since Season 8 but not on the same scale and impact as previous seasons. In the Season 13 episode "Half Decent Proposal" I was pleased to see some emotion, Homer actually cared about Marge One of the main problems with recent Simpsons seasons is the lack of emotion and story, the wackiness has gone too far.

I'm very happy that Futurama has the perfect balance of emotion and comedy, lets not forget romance too. In it's current state I wouldn't change anything, I think it's perfect at the moment. If the show were to carry on for a long healthy life then I would want some gradual changes but I wouldn't want the formula to change too much, just enough to keep it fresh and innovative every season