Thoughts on 6ACV12 - The Mutants Are Revolting - SPOILERS

[on:]

Last one for a while! Futurama's 100th episode "The Mutants Are Revolting" needs reviewing and discussing and then reviewing again!

[Reply #1 on:]

10/10

[Reply #2 on:]

Why did the mailbox say 'Turanga', if the family's last name is Leela?

[Reply #3 on:]

9/10,

There were a ton of callbacks, any one else see the Angry Norwegian can?

[Reply #4 on:]

Good episode, not great but good. Bender's reaction to seeing mutant Fry was priceless and I like that they brought back the creepy hair robot.

Why did the mailbox say 'Turanga', if the family's last name is Leela?

It's not the Family name is Turanga, ie: Turanga Leela, Turanga Morris, etc. The family name just comes before the given name, Japanese names work the same way.

[Reply #5 on:]

Did you guys know I have a crush on Leela...

=^.^=

I give it an 8!

[Reply #6 on:]

It wasn't as good as TLPJF or TPOB, but it was certainly better than last week's. I give it a 9. I loved the party scene (I spotted Fanny, Morgan Proctor, and that bartender-bot), and I immediately got the reference to the Moloch scene from Metropolis. Also, my dad is old enough to remember Devo, and he liked the Devo jokes.

And the shippy thread was sweet, if not *as* poignant as, say, TLPJF; at least we got a romantic Fry/Leela kiss that didn't involve robot duplicates or swapped bodies. And that ending bit where Fry asks Leela to dance (or was it the other way around) was shhoooo shweeet. (And I was amused by that weird dance they did, for some reason...)

But on the downside, the episode did seem kind of rushed. I wonder, would it have worked better as an hour? The 'ship angle could have been fleshed out more - as with ITWGY, it kind of felt like they didn't devote as much time to it as they could have/should have.

All in all, at least this "season" ended on a pretty good note, and I feel optimistic that the Xmas episode and next year's 13 will be good.

[Reply #7 on:]

Now that I think about it, I can't believe it's over already. How time flies. Then again I was gone for half of it and watched all those in one day so it was only like 6 weeks for me.

[Reply #8 on:]

But on the downside, the episode did seem kind of rushed. I wonder, would it have worked better as an hour? The 'ship angle could have been fleshed out more - as with ITWGY, it kind of felt like they didn't devote as much time to it as they could have/should have.

I actually enjoy the "rushed" episodes, because I think the writers for Futurama pull it off pretty well, and it's a very tricky thing to do.  When they keep the jokes and the plot coming consistently and effectively, without stalling on any one scene or idea, they're in top form.  I relate it to watching a really good floor gymnast, quick and precise and sticking all the landings.  It's a tough thing for any show to do, and Futurama does it exceptionally well (most of the time).

[Reply #9 on:]

Favorite gags: the "I See BM" missile and Zoidberg coining the word "Enscribbled".

But another Titanic parody? It was dated back when they did in in 1999.

[Reply #10 on:]

OK episode, but I thought this episode really should have been an hour long.  The sewer mutants deserve a more inspired origin story, and it's kind of dissatisfying that the resolution to the conflict hinged upon a secret about a one-time character who was introduced only for the episode.

[Reply #11 on:]

I thought this was a really good episode, not the best but definitely up there and a nice season finale (as in, it's a good note to end the season on, not the series). I loved Leela's outfit at the ceremony thing, she was sooo pretty. The party scenes with Bender were great, since it was a nice call back to The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings (this helps since that was the episode they played right after) where Bender shows that he actually does care about his crew mates as friends and maybe even family. Anyway, I liked it, I wish there was more coming soon, but it'll be worth the wait.

I gave this a 9/10 in the poll though I would round it down to an 8.7 really. The episode was fluffed with good episodes like The Problem with Popplers and Devil's Hands so I was feeling generous. I would give the overall season a solid 87%. One thing I demand to see next season is Fry and Leela have a tender moment where they are just Fry and Leela. Not robots, not in other people's bodies, not cockblocked by a mutant, etc. Just one Fry and Leela kiss dammit!

[Reply #12 on:]

  As I was wactching the episode I knew that the ending was going to be fast, but I kept trying to figure to out how Leela would get to live on the surface agian.

 I have to agree with what speedracer siad about the ending.

and it's kind of dissatisfying that the resolution to the conflict hinged upon a secret about a one-time character who was introduced only for the episode.

 

 I gave it a 9/10
  

[Reply #13 on:]

I totally agree w/ you, Spacedal. We need a real kiss like that. They've gotten better over the season, but I really hope we get to see more of them as an honest-to-zombie-Jesus couple.

[Reply #14 on:]

To be fair they were cockblocked by the Professor not a mutuant.

Fry: "Hey Leela, wana join the mile deep club?"

Leela: "Sure, why not?"

Professor: "NO TIME!"

[Reply #15 on:]

While the mutants were revolting, this episode was not. Awesome way to close pout the season.

[Reply #16 on:]

"Both kinds of revolting!"

I am too tired to articulate my opinions...but this was good. Very successful season finale. I can't believe the season is over already--but it's cool knowing we have more next year, rather than thinking "aw crap, is this the series finale?".

I stayed up and watched The Devil's Hands episode afterwards, which was awesome. It kind of made me tear up a little...for so many years, we all thought that was it! And now here we are, and we get to watch new episodes and complain about all of the little flaws we pick out. It is great. I hope this party never ends.

[Reply #17 on:]

I thought it was absolutely fantastic. Perhaps because I felt so let down by last week's episode, that the sheer relief of a good one this time just shoots my enthusiasm-o-meter off the dial. Here are just a few of my reasons:

- I always like when Leela's parents make an appearance.
- I thought it was a nice touch for the crew to be morose and dejected after Leela was dropped down into the sewer.
- The whole "Bender is gyroscopically stable" so he's carrying the explosive souffle--what an awesome visual treat and great camerawork. And him running around the asteroid, what, like three times? Great visual gag.
- The bending party at the end (what's that song? My husband thought it might be by Devo since they guest starred). They danced like Peanuts characters, especially Fry and Leela.
- So many gags and jokes--I can't list them all, and I'm whupped. Off to bed for me.

I guess most of all, I loved the whole thread of Fry longing for Leela. Really sweet.

[Reply #18 on:]

Great episode in every way. I love it. 8/10

[Reply #19 on:]

Well, with everyone saying last week's was a pretty lame episode, maybe the powers that be intended for me to miss it twice. This episode was pretty good. It was solid, had good everything. I know I missed a few callbacks but I caught a lot of them. I adored Bender's little party and his glasses! So nerdy looking on him. Gotta love his sense of style. Overall, I think it deserves a solid 8/10 and it leans towards a nine for me. Not a bad season ender.

[Reply #20 on:]

I'm glad the episode wasn't a giant wank fest and Devo didn't have that much to do with it.

[Reply #21 on:]

Much love for the episode.  I know they did a titanic parody in the first season, but I totally forgot about that until I finished the episode.

Lots of small gags;

Mutant: Play `Whip it!`
Devo: No, play the other one.

Devo`s umbrella... now I want one lol.

Also when Leela`s grandma said about Mr. (forgot his name) poked her face with a cane... that made me laugh.

Anyways, now i`m excited for the DVD set... CANNOT WAIT FOR THOSE COMMENTARIES

[Reply #22 on:]

Drippy is back?  Sweet deal.

[Reply #23 on:]

To be fair they were cockblocked by the Professor not a mutuant.

Fry: "Hey Leela, wana join the mile deep club?"

Leela: "Sure, why not?"

Professor: "NO TIME!"

I was talking about this episode, Leela kissed Fry through the mutant, not him. But you've only helped further my point.

Oh and 10+points for the Devo umbrella.

[Reply #24 on:]

so, sewage down in the sewers mutates you, but pumping it all on the surface does nothing to all the people up there?

[Reply #25 on:]

To be fair this episode didn't do anything to parody the movie 'Titanic', just the real-life event, itself. Although it's been 10 years since I saw it so I may be wrong.

I loved it. The first act was the funniest thing Futurama's done so far this season in my opinion and although the jokes got spread a lot thinner in the following 2 acts, the plot was still great. It's my 2nd favourite episode of season 6 so far.

so, sewage down in the sewers mutates you, but pumping it all on the surface does nothing to all the people up there?

It's a specific lake that mutates you, not just sewage.

[Reply #26 on:]

Drippy is back?  Sweet deal.

I'm always in a quantum state of back and not back.  I'm Schrodinger's Taco.  Nice to see my favorite Nick is still around.

I stayed up and watched The Devil's Hands episode afterwards, which was awesome. It kind of made me tear up a little...for so many years, we all thought that was it! And now here we are, and we get to watch new episodes and complain about all of the little flaws we pick out. It is great. I hope this party never ends.

I know what you mean, I always get a slight pulling sensation in my stomach every time I hear Leela say, "I wanna hear how it ends."  Gets me.

[Reply #27 on:]

Wow, I was hoping this episode would be great and I wasn't disappointed.

I liked that it had so many callbacks, but not enough to make the episode feel like a callback-fest, the animation was great (especially Bender holding souffle while the Planet Express ship is avoiding the asteroids), the jokes were funny which is always a plus and most of all, the plot was interesting.

Overall, I'd say this is my second favourite of the season just behind The Late Phillip J. Fry. As for a score, 9.7 or so, rounded up to a 10 for the poll.

[Reply #28 on:]

Why did the mailbox say 'Turanga', if the family's last name is Leela?

Get out.

Wonderful episode.  Not my favorite of the season (see: TLPJF) but up there.  The Land Titanic was way funnier than it really should have been.

[Reply #29 on:]

Why did the mailbox say 'Turanga', if the family's last name is Leela?

In other episodes before this it said the same thing. Also what Frisco17 said answered your question.

I thought this episode was great in this short review, in more than it's good Fry and Leela relationship aspects by my point of view. And the mutants didn't get their freedom with really any violence. Plus Fry was inside a mutant so thus wasn't a mutant, which leads me to think this theory, Fry is immune to mutation for it's very possible trace amounts or lots of that water hint his body/DNA, maybe because he is a mutant or something like being his own grandfather?

LaBarbara and Barbados Slim dancing together? I bet nothing gonna develop between them. But some good or bad fan fics writers might like me, however I don't really care for this, so I'm not gonna write anything about it.

So 10/10 from me.

[Reply #30 on:]

First time poster here but lurking for a while.
Episode was good, the pacing of the jokes and the characters' reactions seemed very consistent with the old episodes.
One thing that is still bothering me after reading the comments is the mailbox saying Turanga. I was going to accept Turanga being the family name, but then i remembered in one episode (can't remember which one) Fry is surprised when someone mentions leela as "turanga leela", amy replies saying "that's her name, phillip"
Anyway not a big deal, great 100th episode!

[Reply #31 on:]

Some good solid moments, but a little predictable. I didn't really like Fry's "mutation" because it was a little predictable that he'd be back to normal somehow, but otherwise a good solid, and funny, episode.

8/10

[Reply #32 on:]

Great episode... 9/10. Probably the second best of the season after TLPJF. I loved Bender's party scene with some great characters and brilliant animation. Also the final scene was funny and slightly heatwarming... The biggest laugh I had all episode was probably Bender extending his arm to Amy for a dance and then bending her in the air!

Oh... and gryo-Bender was excellent, holding the souffle upright. But I couldn't help to wonder what the point of that is in space when there is no 'up' and 'down'. Still an excellent scene, again with great animation!

[Reply #33 on:]

I enjoyed it. It wasn't as funny as many of the other neo-Futurama episodes, but the plot was excellent and a whole lot of fun to watch. The animation was absolutely spectacular, and I enjoyed the various twists in the plot and change of canon very much. I guess it would have worked better as a longer episode. While it didn't feel rushed to me, I get the feeling they wanted to include so much more. Although, this episode feels the most like the original run of episodes, in my opinion.

The only thing I didn't like is that they did not use the full intro. This, of all episodes, should have had a specifically chosen clip! I really hope this is just a broadcast thing, and we'll be seeing the intro in all of it's glory in all the episodes in the Season 6 DVD come December.

[Reply #34 on:]

"Here's to the next 100... and hopefully we won't get cancelled for two and a half ******* years in the middle again!"

Middle of the pile, again. The Titanic idea was old when Morgan Robertson wrote Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan

which was written fourteen years before the Titanic sank.

Even more interesting,

John Jacob Astor IV was on the Titanic. It was reported by a young immigrant survivor (Louis Garrett) that as the last lifeboat was being loaded, a middle-aged gentleman was with his very young, pregnant wife. He helped her into the lifeboat, then looked back to the deck and saw others wanting to get aboard. He kissed his wife goodbye, and, returning to the deck, grabbed the first person in his path.  Fortunately, the young boy Louis Garrett (12 years old at the time) was there in the right place at the right time and was put into the lifeboat. Many newspaper stories were written that told how John Jacob Astor gave up his life for a young immigrant his name was Louis. The Astor family records indicate that, according to Mrs. Astor, Mr. Astor had words with a crewman who tried to prevent him from helping his wife into the lifeboat. He did so anyway. And, he kissed his wife and, returning to the deck, began helping others into the lifeboat. (Source: Wikipedia)

This appeared to me to be the Devo episode, like "The Deep South" was the Donovan episode. Devo released an album called Are we not men?, which was one of the mutants' lines.

A question for those of you who watched this in a better format than TV ... When Fry is heading down to the toxic lake, he passes by a box which has some writing on it; what did it say?

And something no one seems to have noticed; at the end of the episode, it says "In Memory of Alex Johns" (a co-producer of Futurama). He died on August 7 of this year.

[Reply #35 on:]

I may be the only one, but animation seemed very sloppy in the first few scenes.  Some really bad drawings.  It got better later on and such, no doubt.  Maybe I am just oversensitive.

But that's really my only issue with this episode.  I actually like the Titanic idea, because it was the stupidest one I have seen so far.  To me, it sort of made fun of all other Titanic parodies and allusions.

[Reply #36 on:]

I enjoyed it too - but was kinda underwhelmed by some aspects. I think the only time I really laughed out loud was with Zoidberg and his umbrella. That and I do and I don't like rushed episodes. Bah, anyway, fine send-off until X-mas comes. 8/10.

[Reply #37 on:]

Good episode

[Reply #38 on:]

The only thing I disliked about this was seeing Barbados Slim at the party. I was hoping his line at the end of BBS would be for real - just for the giggles.

[Reply #39 on:]

I immediately got the reference to the Moloch scene from Metropolis.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Cause I was gonna go crazy if nobody else did (which is why I signed up to post).

But I'd like to take that one step further if I may...

Not only do I think that the sewage machine was a reference to Metropolis, but...the whole episode's basic plot is also from Metropolis as well.

To those who have not seen the movie (watch it if you haven't!), Metropolis is a famous, landmark German science fiction film made in the late 20s. And the basic plot of the whole movie is a clash between two classes; the "thinkers", who plan out and manage parts of the city and live above ground,...and the "workers", who live underground and work the machines that keep the massive city functioning (see some similarities already?). In the film, Freder, the son of the city's founder, heads into the factories and witnesses the terrible life of the workers as well as a horrifying accident when the M-Machine (the one similar to Futurama's sewage machine in this episode) explodes. Disgusted by all of this, Freder disguises himself as a worker (aka Fry becomes a mutant) in order to learn the workers' anguish. Eventually, a robot (transformed to look like the peaceful leader of the workers) is sent to cause mayhem by convincing the workers to revolt, stop working, and destroy the machines (again, similar?).

And the movie continues on from there, but that's where the similarities pretty much end.

Any thoughts? Did I miss anything? Or am I completely mad?