Thoughts on Season 6 - SPOILERS

[Reply #200 on:]

Episode three... pretty "meh".

[Reply #201 on:]

Rebirth=Amazing

In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela=Okay

Attack of the Killer App=Bad

[Reply #202 on:]

I can't promise the new episodes will perform in the same way, but as I've mentioned in another post, my second viewing of Rebirth was way better than the first.

This is how I feel. On initial viewing, AotKA didn't feel as good as it did on second. First viewing, there were long commercials interrupting the action. I would chuckle here and there but that was it.

On second viewing, I was watching the HD version on my laptop with headphones and nobody around. I was able to pause, rewind, and see background gags. For example, the first time I hadn't noticed as much that it was Dr. Ben Beeler in front of them in line for the eyePhone, or that the pizza place was Cygnoid's from ALoHO. And I laughed out loud more than I had before. A similar situation happened with IAGDL.

This is why I'm going to take so long with posting my thoughts on all the new episodes. I don't want to rate the episodes unfairly off my first impressions of them, since that is too emotionally charged. I'd prefer to give them a fair shake by viewing them twice, so I can be sure whether what I liked or disliked about an episode is my true opinion of it or just first impressions. This is a good plan for me to keep following, since I've generally liked all three of these new episodes better the second times around more than the firsts, especially lightening up about elements that I found less than good on my first viewings (I didn't have problems with V-GINY's use or Susan once I saw their respective episodes again).

I suggest others currently disappointed with the new ones try giving them another shake before writing them or the new season off entirely. Who knows, you might have a change of heart (or you might keep your cold, hateful, black one).

[Reply #203 on:]

Nothing about this season has done anything more than amuse me mildly and in passing. The first half of the third episode was decent but after the boil thing it all went downhill. FAST.

[Reply #204 on:]

I definitely recognize some old names here from back in the FOX days (I don't remember when I actually signed up, exactly, but I used to lurk here through a lot of those episodes).  With that said, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that a lot of people here weren't watching Futurama back then, and that many were introduced through Adult Swim/Comedy Central reruns and/or DVDs.  

And for anyone who wasn't watching at that time, you don't remember what it was really like back then.  In the last "season," there was more than one occasion where the show was not on at all for more than a month.  And when it came back after weeks of pre-emptions, you'd sometimes get an episode like "Less Than Hero"...which seemed very underwhelming at the time.  Or, towards the end as the show was about to end its run (seemingly) for good, you'd eagerly anticipate each episode...and then get a "Three Hundred Big Boys" or "Obsolutely Fabulous."  And then you'd have to wait another week (at least) to see if the next one was better.  Those who started watching the show on Adult Swim when they first started showing it had it easy.  You had a new episode every night, four nights a week; if one didn't tickle your fancy, no matter, there was another episode the following the night, or the next Monday.  And that one that seemed underwhelming, you'd still probably see a bunch of times in reruns just because it was on.  And without thinking about it, your opinion would change.

I think it would be good for some people to take a step back and realize that we've been waiting for this show to come back for SEVEN YEARS.  The same emotion you feel when an episode doesn't quite overwhelm you with awesomeness is the same thing a lot of us were feeling with many of the new episodes back then.  Furthermore, you had people complaining even then about the show going downhill.  I saw SO many negative reviews for a lot of the episodes in the last couple seasons, for a variety of reasons.  For a while, it seemed that many of the "shippers" would automatically hate any episode that wasn't about Fry and Leela's emotions for each other; on the other hand, if they got so much as a shot of them looking longingly at each other, they would love it (no offense, by the way, to the good, sensible shippers here, and there are plenty of them).  Remember that scene, in what was (at the time) the second-to-last episode aired, when the crew was watching Hypnotoad and Fry complains that "this show has been going downhill since season three"?  For me that was one of the biggest laughs in that whole season at the time, because I had been hearing it for so long about Futurama!  Hell, there was a time or two during "season five" where I wondered if the show wasn't heading south myself.  Now most of those episodes are classics.  Go figure.  They're ingrained in all our heads and they're now the standard we judge the newest shows by.  At the time, we were all just judging any episode that didn't live up to "Luck of the Fryrish" and "War is the 'H' Word."

I guess if I have a point in this long-ass ramble...it's give it some time.  Not just the show, but your own perception of it.  Three episodes is not long enough to discern any concrete patterns, no matter what anyone says, and when we've been waiting so long for new episodes, I think it's inevitable that we're all sometimes going to feel that same feeling that many of us did back in 2002/2003...we're we'd wait so long just for a new episode, and then think "that was it?" about episodes we later came to adore or at least really enjoy.


Um, as for the season...I like it so far.  "Rebirth" was definitely the best one, but I've liked them all to varying degrees.  None of them are top-ten episodes or anything...but I'm giving it time.

    

[Reply #205 on:]

I agree. Time is everything. Let these episodes digest. I feel like this is why their CGEF rankings are so low. If these were old episodes, I have a feeling they'd be up 10 points.

And many times they've mentioned they have a few episodes this season that will rival Jurassic Bark. One en particulaire qu'I remember them labeling as such is The Late Philip J. Fry.

[Reply #206 on:]

Episode three... pretty "meh".

Watched it again, it grew on me a little. But there's still too much wrong with it for me to like it too much. Some things were overdone, some things were underplayed, and some things were just wrong. Not futurama-y. It wasn't a terrible episode, but it does have some serious flaws. I get the feeling that perhaps this new season is being cranked out a little more hurridley and on more of a tight budget than would be optimal.

Still, the show's back. I can't complain too much.

[Reply #207 on:]

I agree. Time is everything. Let these episodes digest. I feel like this is why their CGEF rankings are so low. If these were old episodes, I have a feeling they'd be up 10 points.

And many times they've mentioned they have a few episodes this season that will rival Jurassic Bark. One en particulaire qu'I remember them labeling as such is The Late Philip J. Fry.

I agree on both points. People are extremely critical to these eps, and so am I. I have given them pretty strong points, but they were all much better the second and third time around.

They have said this season will have both extremely funny episodes and some really emotional ones. I am really looking forward to The Late Philip J. Fry, although I just hope my hopes won't be too high. Even if all episodes are as good as these three, I will be happy. It's so far not extremely great episodes, no, but they are good ones that I can see myself watching over and over again for many years.

[Reply #208 on:]

They've admitted themselves that this series is "funnier than ever," So I have to wonder if perhaps... just perhaps they're putting a little too much into making it "funny" and too little into making it what it always was, funny but geeky at the same time.

MORE BACKGROUND JOKES!

Though I did notice in Ep3 - when they were all zombies, everyones eye was flashing, but the clowns nose was flashing. That made me chuckle for some obscure reason or another.

[Reply #209 on:]

They've admitted themselves that this series is "funnier than ever," So I have to wonder if perhaps... just perhaps they're putting a little too much into making it "funny" and too little into making it what it always was, funny but geeky at the same time.

Yeah, I miss the geek jokes. I think we'll find more of them in the more sci-fi episodes. And emotional episodes have always had the most complex and best jokes. So combine the fact that The Late Philip J. Fry is a sci-fi episode (time travel) as well as an emotional one...

[Reply #210 on:]

We now have an episode each focusing on Bender, Leela and Fry's asses.

[Reply #211 on:]

weiner: The whale vomit was central to the plot of the episode. They deliberately made the whale vomit because it had swallowed the watch kif bought amy, then the ambergris left in kif's body cavities became a new gift for amy after the watch was broken. It all tied together in many ways, which made it work. Was it gross? Yes, but it wasn't gross for the sake of being gross. The goat seemed gross for the sake of being gross. You could easily pull the goat out and replace it with something else without affecting the rest of the episode; you couldn't say the same about the whale vomit.

The season isn't as bad as some haters are making it out to be, but it does seem like the writing for the new episodes have been influenced a lot by family guy and internet memes. You may think this is awesomely hilarious, and that's fine and dandy, but to me and others, it is taking a show that was distinctive and uniquely funny and making it into something that is, at best, generically funny.

[Reply #212 on:]

All the reviews/episode scores on CGEF seem to reflect on the amount of positive shipping in the episode.

[Reply #213 on:]

Shippers rule the world. It's a sad day indeed.

[Reply #214 on:]

The whale-vomit thing was anti-plot.  That was kind of the point.  To the extent that it served the plot at all, it was serving the "plot" of an episode that reveled in not having one.  It was supposed to be an ultimate "just a bunch of stuff that happens" type of episode. 

The whale vomit was also one of my least favorite moments in the series (and part of, IMO, the worst episode of the series).  The goat was funnier AND served far more of a purpose.

[Reply #215 on:]

The season isn't as bad as some haters are making it out to be, but it does seem like the writing for the new episodes have been influenced a lot by family guy and internet memes. You may think this is awesomely hilarious, and that's fine and dandy, but to me and others, it is taking a show that was distinctive and uniquely funny and making it into something that is, at best, generically funny.

I agree with this.

[Reply #216 on:]

The goat served about as much of a purpose as the whale, and really wasn't even a tenth as funny.

[Reply #217 on:]

The goat served about as much of a purpose as the whale, and really wasn't even a tenth as funny.

They could have used a different gag, but they needed SOMETHING that would be legitimately gross and humiliating for Fry and/or Bender to do if they lost the bet.  And having the goat be a two-headed thing that vomits from each end was at least a (IMO) funny, Futuram-ish idea.  I can't really come up with any way to distinguish the whale from the worst moments on The Simpsons or Family Guy (I guess "worst moments" is kind of a redundant phrase with the latter).

The whale vomiting was (from what I can tell) basically backwards writing; the writers wanted to get to the point of the whale vomiting, so they had it swallow the watch.  It wasn't like they were saying "oh dear, now we've had the whale swallow it.  Is there an intelligent way for us to get it out?  No?  Ah screw it, let's just have the whale vomit it out, we have no choice!"  That wouldn't make much sense.

Humor is of course subjective, but the whale vomit scene was one of the few moments in the original run of the show that I was somewhat embarrassed to be watching.  It was just terrible.

[Reply #218 on:]

Remember when human Bender threw up about 3 times in Anthology of Interest II?

I don't have a point, I just thought i'd bring it up.

[Reply #219 on:]

The two-headed alien goat, humourously named "Mr. Chunks", and excreting stuff from both ends, didn't bother me as much as some of the throwaway jokes in this episode.

Bender yelling "Down in front!" at Zoidberg because his mating-rage-headfin was erect, and him saying, "Sorry, I get aroused by crowds." = unfunny, stupid (he's been in plenty of crowds before), and pointless.

The over-complicated Japanese toilet = The Simpsons did a similar joke about a high-tech Japanese toilet like 10 years ago, and it was much funnier. I thought the visual gag of the toilet having two joysticks was worthy of a chuckle, and much funnier than the toilet's Japanese-accented dialogue and Fry remarking that the toilet knew too much.

The Planet Express ship flying through the junk rings of Third World was lame and pointless. I think it was a reference to the exact same joke from Wall-e; so what was the point in copying it?

And I love dogs, so I hated the joke about the sick dog drinking the toxic water and its tail falling off. Call me heartless, because I couldn't care less about the Third World alien children picking through the toxic waste for valuable scraps, but cruel jokes about sick dogs are in bad taste IMO.

I know that Futurama isn't above gross out humour, but it should be used sparingly. The jokes about Mr. Chunks were good enough to condone the gross out bit.

[Reply #220 on:]

Bender yelling "Down in front!" at Zoidberg because his mating-rage-headfin was erect, and him saying, "Sorry, I get aroused by crowds." = unfunny, stupid (he's been in plenty of crowds before), and pointless.

I think that's just nitpicking.  I mean, first off, levels of arousal can fluctuate or be non-existent at times (I can't believe I'm talking about this).  It's also just such a minor thing.  It's not important continuity.

The over-complicated Japanese toilet = The Simpsons did a similar joke about a high-tech Japanese toilet like 10 years ago, and it was much funnier. I thought the visual gag of the toilet having two joysticks was worthy of a chuckle, and much funnier than the toilet's Japanese-accented dialogue and Fry remarking that the toilet knew too much.

I'll partially give you this, I thought of The Simpsons immediately.  But I thought it was funny enough to warrant it.  Maurice Lamarche's voice for the toilet was funny, and it was different in that it was an actual character rather than (from what I can recall...I haven't seen the episode in ages) just being sort of automated voice in The Simpsons version.  Also, the high-tech Japanese toilets are just a well-known thing being parodied, so it was never a Simpsons invention to begin with.  They're just making fun of the same thing.

The Planet Express ship flying through the junk rings of Third World was lame and pointless. I think it was a reference to the exact same joke from Wall-e; so what was the point in copying it?

I don't think that was a Wall-E reference...ever notice that the ship always seems to crash land or have some sort of minor trouble when it arrives anywhere?  (Has to push its way through spider webs, gets eaten by a plant, lands on the jack in the box, etc.)  It's just a Futurama tradition.

And I love dogs, so I hated the joke about the sick dog drinking the toxic water and its tail falling off. Call me heartless, because I couldn't care less about the Third World alien children picking through the toxic waste for valuable scraps, but cruel jokes about sick dogs are in bad taste IMO.

 

First off, I love dogs and will agree that dogs > children easily.  I volunteer regularly at a shelter.  But to me it was just a dark joke...the kind Futurama does a lot.  The dog didn't die and didn't seem to even notice the tail cracking off.  I thought it was fine.

In any case, even if I was bothered by any of those personally...they're all pretty minor little gags.  The show has had minor gags before that really make me cringe ("Nine, ten, a big fat hen.  The name's Bender").  It doesn't kill the episode for me, as long as it's still good overall.  

[Reply #221 on:]

And I love dogs, so I hated the joke about the sick dog drinking the toxic water and its tail falling off. Call me heartless, because I couldn't care less about the Third World alien children picking through the toxic waste for valuable scraps, but cruel jokes about sick dogs are in bad taste IMO.

Are you fucking kidding me? I love dogs too but I also have a sense of humour and I'm not a total idiot so I recognised that it wasn't a real dog and thought it was hilarious.

[Reply #222 on:]

What, no one likes birds enough to care that a bird was, like, vaporized by a cloud of toxic e-waste? Double-standards, I say!

To people who don't like all the pop-culture stuff: This episode gives me a certain Simpsons vibe--not a bad one, but a somewhat glaring one--and I just realized that Patric Verrone has actually written an episode of The Simpsons. I'm not sure if he did it freelance or if he was actually on-staff (the episode, "Milhouse of Sand and Fog", is from season 17; I've seen it in reruns but don't remember enough of it to comment on its quality), but I wonder if working on The Simpsons just changes you a little bit as a writer. (That wouldn't account for the movies not reminding me of The Simpsons in the slightest, but whatever.) I think the topicality of this episode--all the pop-culture stuff--is what reminds me most of The Simpsons, so I wouldn't worry that Futurama is becoming the kind of show that pulls lame pop-culture-based "satire" out of its ass on a weekly basis (because, obviously, not every episode is going to involve eyePhones and Twitcher). The theme of this episode just kind of gave the writers an excuse to base things more in current culture. And I think that's always kind of hit-or-miss.

[Reply #223 on:]

I really wish there was a way we could give the Futurama writers and staff some direct feedback..

[Reply #224 on:]

What, you don't think they lurk around PEEL reading our brilliant, witty, and insightful comments?

[Reply #225 on:]

And reading the slander as well of course.

Don't forget the slander.

[Reply #226 on:]

It is not. I resent that. Slander is spoken. In print, it's libel.

[Reply #227 on:]

It is not. I resent that. Slander is spoken. In print, it's libel.

Correct.

For Saurek's sake, the number of really negative reviews and comments are coming from fresh newbies - I don't know if that's because they are real and have an impossible standard for the show or if they're trolls trying to get the show's true fans irritated.

For the people who scheech at the top of their upper case letters, "I'm finished with Futurama.  Three episodes in after a 7 year layoff and they haven't pleased me, I'm gone!" will be back next week, bellyaching about the newest episode..

As an old real-life friend and former member would say, "For Chist's sake, get a life!"

[Reply #228 on:]

well I did hear DXC state that he does look through forums and I hope that's true. Although there is alot of slander on this forum that I disagree with, there is still alot of good constructive criticism. "rebirth" is the best episode so far, I didn't really like "ina-gadda-da-leela", but I do think that "attack of the killer app" was an improvement over the last. I really enjoyed it up until the whole boil thing. I have no idea what the writers were thinking but that was just plain dumb. I also the the Mr. Chunks was pushing it but still acceptable. The pop culture references didn't bother me as much but I still don't think they should become a major reoccuring gag in Futurama. They've always done it before but it wasn't something that was over done and didn't occur to often and it was perfect that way. Futurama created humor from it's own universe and that's what made it so great. So I'm fine with some pop culture references, as long as it doesn't become a major theme of the show. I also do believe that they areputting too much focus on the show being very funny (not necessarily bad) and not enough on the actually character of the show. Maybe they are trying to appeal to a more to a mass audience by putting a few less jokes people might not understand, I could be completely wrong though. Well, those are just some thoughts from a long time futurama fan. Very glad the show is back and I do think it will improve with time, it has been 7 years ya know! Also, there has only been 3 episode aired so I don't think it's fair to make a permanent judgement of this season.

[Reply #229 on:]

Pukeme Poopyu was worth it because it was a sendup of the Pushmi Pullyu.  I should probably be ashamed that I know of this from Ultima 6 and not from Dr. Dolittle, however.

[Reply #230 on:]

Hello again, people who probably don't remember me. Haha.

I'm glad it's back. That's really all that matters to me.
Honestly, I was a bit disappointed with the premiere episodes. They seemed a bit off to me, but that's understandable, they have to get the bats out of the belfry somehow.

However, Thursday's episode showed me that I don't have to worry about where this season is going. It got quite a few chuckles out of me. And as Fry fell into the space-goat vomit, I thought to myself,

"It's back."

...though I'm hoping gags don't become central to the show. Futurama embraced us with it's unique and interesting tales, and sure, while gags were present, they were not front-seat.

[Reply #231 on:]

I really liked the goat... Its back alright XD
Glad you found something to like about it with me so I don't feel stupid, Llama.

[Reply #232 on:]

I love Season 6 so far but, something feels different.

Rebirth: Good!
I liked this episode but, it seemed very rushed. I found that watching episodes from passed seasons, it never felt like 20/22 minutes, it felt longer. I liked the whole robot thing between Leela and Fry. I wasn't expectign the twist at the end I thought that was very clever! I do wonder if Robo-Fry and Robo-Leela will make a return?

In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela: Meh.
I liked this episode but, not greatly as Leela was out of character and things seemed to move really slowly. I did like some lines from Zapp and the whole 'Benders guinea pig' things, I found quite funny! I also disliked the way Fry never reacted to the fact Leela and Zapp just had sex right in front of him.

Attack of the Killer App: Futuramas Back
I loved this episode as it seemed, unlike the first two, it was planned out properly. I wasn't really bothered about the whole boil thing but, I just hope it doesn't return. I like the Leela and Fry relationship in this episode as it seems like they're back to the way they were but just little more open to each other. There was one thing I would have liked to have seen though, a problem or something with the installation of the eyePhone and Leela's eye, that could of probably got some extra laughs.

[Reply #233 on:]

I liked this episode but, it seemed very rushed. I found that watching episodes from passed seasons, it never felt like 20/22 minutes, it felt longer.

I can't remember who it was put someone already explained why the old episodes feel longer than 20/22 minutes. Something along the lines of "We know where all the jokes and such are so we're already playing them over in our head which makes it seem longer" or somesuch.

I also disliked the way Fry never reacted to the fact Leela and Zapp just had sex right in from of him.

Fry did react, though. He yelled "Censor it! Censor it!" and then the camera pulled out to a shot of the planet while Fry screams.

[Reply #234 on:]

I also disliked the way Fry never reacted to the fact Leela and Zapp just had sex right in from of him.

Fry did react, though. He yelled "Censor it! Censor it!" and then the camera pulled out to a shot of the planet while Fry screams.

You call that a reaction?  This is a reaction!

[Reply #235 on:]

That's not a reaction, that's a spoon.

[Reply #236 on:]

There was one thing I would have liked to have seen though, a problem or something with the installation of the eyePhone and Leela's eye, that could of probably got some extra laughs.

I had the same thought, that that was a missed opportunity. Maybe they didn't want to further make a punching bag out of Leela in this episode--I mean, the woman has a singing butt boil, for god's sake.

[Reply #237 on:]

Fry did react, though. He yelled "Censor it! Censor it!" and then the camera pulled out to a shot of the planet while Fry screams.

 I totally forgot that bit! I must edit.

[Reply #238 on:]

Well, what's my opinion of Season 6 so far? A bit shaky at times, but overall I felt myself entertained by the first 3 episodes. Do they match the original 72 episodes? I'm not sure, but I've decided to give the show a chance since its only been revived after so many years. I think Futurama will hit a home run again eventually, so it's just a matter of time...

[Reply #239 on:]

That's not a reaction, that's a spoon.

I see you've played reactioney-spooney before!