The Mighty Specu-les! Futurama Speculation II

[Reply #80 on:]

What would you consider a mundane episode? Like I wouldn't put The Cyber House rules among my favorites, but it did show the importance of being happy with who you are. I, Roommate was decent to establish the living quarters for Fry. By mundane do you mean like...something irrelevant on a wider scale? I'm just a little confused is all.

I too would like to see them visit other planets as well. It seems contradictory that I would like both NNY and other planet episodes, but what I'm trying to get at is time to take a break from the heavier theme episodes. Maybe it's the anthropologist in me, but involve a culture, whether NNY or another planet. My Three Suns was definitely among my favorites of Season One, if not my favorite.

[Reply #81 on:]

"Mundane" meaning more "normal" I guess.  Like, aside from Bender being a robot, there's not that much about I, Roommate's plot that's really abnormal for any other sitcom, or for general life...it's a pretty everyday conflict.

This, as I attempted to imply, can also apply to parts of otherwise non-mundane plots; for instance, again, "Time Keeps on Slipping" is about time skipping around, which is non-mundane and certainly crazy and otherwordly, but the emotional core - Fry having unrequited feelings for Leela, and trying and failing to win her over - is a relatively mundane and common situation, in both TV and life.

It's not automatically bad to be "mundane"; it's often a good thing.  But I'm just not always as much into episodes of this show where the plot is almost completely mundane.  I like there to be an actual sci-fi or fantastical element to it, with a more "mundane" - or maybe "everyday" is a better word for it - conflict or emotion at its core.  But something like I, Roommate is pretty much just a normal sitcom episode, aside from the characters including a robot and a one-eyed lady and a lobster and a chinese girl...  

But yeah, I hope that makes some sense.

[Reply #82 on:]

Ah yeah I see what you mean. Well it is a show about the future...exploit what you have available! Do things what you wouldn't be able to do in normal sitcoms is what you are saying, and I agree.

If you look at my favorites like Roswell That Ends Well, Farnsworth Parabox, Where No Fan Has Gone Before, they have sci fi written all over them (WNFHGB not so much but more like a reference to a sci fi show lol). But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy ones like A Big Piece of Garbage or Love's Labours Lost In Space (which we all know was really just between Leela letting her guard down with a man, Zapp). I actually really really like those episodes. They make me feel nostalgic about when the show first came on and how it seemed the writers were too apprehensive to take on the meatier science fiction themes they seem to take on every few episodes. But maybe it just seems like that for me, I unno.

To me, those were the silly fun episodes that anyone could enjoy. But then they had to go and evolve...! Hahaha. Seriously though, I enjoy the depth one episode can have, but we need a few simpler ones in the mix too to remind us of why it was so popular to begin with.

[Reply #83 on:]

I too would love both down to Earth sit-com episodes as well as the more Star Trek kind of things. Fear of a Bot Planet, Where No Fan Has Gone Before and A Clockwork Origin are all really strong eps with an awesome sci-fi foundation.

[Reply #84 on:]

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

[Reply #85 on:]

my three suns
fear of a bot planet
amazon woman in the mood
a pharaoh to remember

these are all trekky episodes to me. i'd love to see more episodes in this strain.

[Reply #86 on:]

I'm looking forward to a lot of these new episodes, like Ghost in the Machine and Mobius Dick.  The only one I'm unsure of and I said this before was Law and Oracle.   My worries are Fry will become some muscular Herculean hero in it.  And my other worries for this episode are the PE Crew will get captured by some bad guy and Fry is the only one with the ability to save them.

Or as I said before, Leela will get framed for a crime she didn't commit like murder and end up on Death Row and is about to go to the chair and Fry will save her at the last minute.  I hope this episode won't be like that. 

[Reply #87 on:]

The only one I'm unsure of and I said this before was Law and Oracle.   My worries are Fry will become some muscular Herculean hero in it.

[Reply #88 on:]

That jpg never gets old

Law and Oracle makes me think of that one Trilogy comic when Fry playes Apollo? Hermes? I don't even remember. But it reminds me of it.

[Reply #89 on:]

I sure hope we will see Scruffy again. (Yes, I know "The Futurama Holiday Spectacular" wasn't canon, but still.)

[Reply #90 on:]

There is a Scruffy origin episode, so uhm... yes?

[Reply #91 on:]

There is a Scruffy origin episode, so uhm... yes?

Oh, I forgot about that one. Thanks.

Edit

The Nibblonians are surely the most powerful and oldest race in the universe (17 years older than the big bang). Their sun would of died out by now when the Human race came to beinging, but they must have some sort of technology that keeps their star (sun) from dying (stopping it turning into a red giant.) for it to be there so long, immortality if you will. The Nibblonians must know some thing on Fry being the Mighty One and Leela The Other on what they both mean?

And let's not forget very few even know of their race existence.

[Reply #92 on:]

My guess for the future episodes is that they'll have to address the issue of Bender in the Fry/Leela relationship eventually.

[Reply #93 on:]

There is a Scruffy origin episode, so uhm... yes?

Taking a seldom heard background character and giving them a whole episode. Oh no, it's Simpsons all over again. I will be optimistic though because Scruffy seconds it.

[Reply #94 on:]

There is a Scruffy origin episode, so uhm... yes?

I will be optimistic though because Scruffy seconds it.

Agreed.
"Who Are You? I'm Scruffy. The Janitor."

[Reply #95 on:]

There is a Scruffy origin episode, so uhm... yes?

Taking a seldom heard background character and giving them a whole episode. Oh no, it's Simpsons all over again. I will be optimistic though because Scruffy seconds it.

I am sure it is in the Zoidberg origin episode.  Where it is just a short joke.

[Reply #96 on:]

Sounds logical. I don't mind episodes focusing on the crew members other than the main ones, and that includes Scruffy. As long as they don't overdo it.

[Reply #97 on:]

The episodes I'm most looking forward to are:  Mobius Dick, Silence of the Clamps (Love anything with the Robot Mafia), Ghosts in the Machines, and Neotopia after seeing those pictures!  Love to see Fry and Zoidberg as girls! 

Sorry for overracting about Law and Oracle.

[Reply #98 on:]

Recently I've been having a few concerns with this upcoming broadcast season... and they're probably irrational.

These qualms ignited upon the release of the screenshots of "Neutopia". I have a feeling that this episode will reason with the characters, namely Fry and Leela, why both sexes must co-inhabit. And I could imagine them reconciling after a fight in that episode with make-up sex in the end. They've done it before, but last time it didn't matter because they were in two male bodies of two drastically different species. But, I fear that this sexual encounter may begin the process of reproduction. The crew behind Futurama seems still out-of-touch from the fans, and I do worry at times that they may go to this direction. I would absolutely be disgusted if this happened. Seems extremely cliche, especially after "The Simpsons" featured a major out-of-wedlock pregnancy. These fears only expand when seeing the titles of the next two episodes following "Neutopia"- "Yo Leela Leela" and "Fry am the Egg Man". Titles can mean nothing, somewhat like "The Prisoner of Benda", but they could also have very active meaning in the actual plot and elements of the episode, such as "The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings", "That Darn Katz", and "A Bicyclops Built for Two" (the latter is my favorite episode title next to "The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz"). Well, "Yo Leela Leela" is without a doubt based upon the strange children's show. Could "Yo Leela Leela" have something to do with children? Then, there's the matter of the title of "Fry am the Egg Man". Going by this streak of thoughts, I fear that the egg might be Leela's and something to do with Fry being a father. Please no. Not yet. We have yet to find out information about The Other. This isn't another Simpsons. Save it for the very very very very (and then some) final episode of the series to introduce children as a treat for all the dedicated fans. I even think even if my fears are [hopefully] incorrect, we may be seeing some kind of future to "Futurama" (again; twice in one production season) in "Overclockwise" based upon assumptions derived from the title. "Overclockwise" sounds like a time-skip episode. I hope it gives another false future but renews all hope in the Fry-Leela relationship.

Hurr... this fear has made me sick. Please let it not be true. I may still obsess over the Fry-Leela relationship, but that would be one cliche direction (and probably lacking emotional reaction from the audience as well).

[Reply #99 on:]

Wow, you're really making a big leap here. Hasn't DXC already stated that those things aren't going to happen?

[Reply #100 on:]

Wow, you're really making a big leap here. Hasn't DXC already stated that those things aren't going to happen?

Exactly!

There is nothing to worry about.

[Reply #101 on:]

Wow, you're really making a big leap here. Hasn't DXC already stated that those things aren't going to happen?

Agreed. The writers seemed unwilling to fully commit to the Fry/Leela relationship this season (what with the occasionally jarring incongruity caused by a few throwaway lines, like Fry "looking for love" in "Attack of the Killer App" and Leela being without a man in "That Darn Katz"); I really doubt they're contemplating the possibility of getting Leela pregnant. And I agree that it would be a maaajor Jump the Shark moment, and would prove that the writers are completely out-of-touch with what the fanbase wants. And, though I think there were a few missteps this season ("Lrrreconcilable Ndndiffernces", for example, seemed like the writers were just trying to amuse themselves; the same goes for the holiday spectacular), I don't think the writers are completely blind to where we as viewers hope the show does (or doesn't) go.

[Reply #102 on:]

People stop bashin Lrrrenconcilable Ndndifferences It's classic Futurama like how it was originally aired and it was my favorite of the season. I could watch that episode three times in a row and still find it funny (I did that, actually).

Everyone knows once a character get knocked up they're out of ideas. Although Kif did become pregnant. Hm.

[Reply #103 on:]

Lrrrenconcilable Ndndifferences is one of the best eps of the new batch, and one of the only eps to stand comfortably alongside the originals. I don't get the hate either...

[Reply #104 on:]

It's Lrrr. I've seen the episode enough times to call it the most breezy of the new episodes, making it a very easy rewatch, yet I still feel something is off, and that something is Lrrr. The episode feels too much like he's the star and the P.E. crew are soft-of there just cause. Same reason "Where the Buggalo Roam" is considered "meh" by the fandom as a whole (though Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences is simultaneously more focused on its side character and a better episode). It's not appreciated to sideline the main characters, which consciously or subconsciously is dragging the episode for a lot of people.

[Reply #105 on:]

Where the Buggalo Roam wasn't that funny, that's why. The main funny parts were contributed by Zapp's character.

And what about Brannigan Begin Again? Lrrrenconcilable Ndndifferences is similar to that, where a secondary character comes knocking on their door asking the crew for help but the focus remains on Zapp. I found that episode quite entertaining as well.

[Reply #106 on:]

Same reason "Where the Buggalo Roam" is considered "meh" by the fandom as a whole (though Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences is simultaneously more focused on its side character and a better episode).

Where the Buggalo Roam wasn't that funny, that's why.

* Tedward sulks in the corner.

[Reply #107 on:]

Lol. I thought it was an average episode! I'm saying maybe that's why people don't like it, because the humor had to come from Zapp and the Martians. The worst for me has and always will be That's Lobstertainment How could you not like the Tooban throat singing?

[Reply #108 on:]

It feels nice to have an episode that goes back to the "roots", and that's "Lrrr... Ndndiff" was to me, I liked it. I felt that some parts could have been a bit better, but that's just nitpicking. A solid episode.

I can't say that any episode is really bad... *Checks memory...* Oh, wait. There's that abomination also known as 6ACV13. Apart from that, there's nothing really bad. But "Proposition ∞" and "That's Lobstertainment!" were a bit below everything else.

[Reply #109 on:]

I really like Proposition Infinity too. It had George Takei, cmon!

I wasn't too much of a fan of Leela's Homeworld. It was necessary for the plot of the series, agreed. Funny? No. Any episode that focused too heavily on the relationship between Leela and her parents seemed forced to me, like Less Than Hero - however the subplot of Bender and Fry being superheros was amazing heh. I also didn't think much of A Taste of Freedom.

[Reply #110 on:]

How could you not like the Tooban throat singing?

That's a question to anyone, right?

Any episode that focused too heavily on the relationship between Leela and her parents seemed forced to me, like Less Than Hero - however the subplot of Bender and Fry being superheros was amazing heh.

I'm not trying to nitpick, but I thought that was the plot; the three of them (Leela included) became superheroes and Leela's parents ended up involved. You can say that the hero stuff is just a frame for the episode to really be about Leela's relationship with her parents (which you're saying you don't like), but I don't know if it's accurate to split those into plot and subplot.

[Reply #111 on:]

I agree that the subplot in "Less Than Hero" is the Leela/Munda/Morris thing--the superhero thing is definitely the A story. I mean, that's why it's called "Less Than Hero" instead of, I don't know..."Leela's Got Parents Now and It's Weird" (or something even less clever than that).

As far as "Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences" goes: I'm not knocking those who enjoyed it, but it just didn't do much for me. Lrrr is a peripheral character who did not need an entire episode to roam free in. And I agree with FoA: the PE crew wind up being the peripheral characters, which is just a no-no for me. "Spanish Fry" (which is a similar episode) works because the conflict begins with the PE crew: Fry's nose is stolen and he and Leela and Bender have to find it. In "Lrrreconciable Ndndifferences", though, the conflict itself is rooted in the marital problems of two tertiary characters who are really only funny in small doses (because, when you get down to it, they're kind of one-note characters anyway).

[Reply #112 on:]

Where the Buggalo Roam wasn't that funny, that's why. The main funny parts were contributed by Zapp's character.

And what about Brannigan Begin Again? Lrrrenconcilable Ndndifferences is similar to that, where a secondary character comes knocking on their door asking the crew for help but the focus remains on Zapp. I found that episode quite entertaining as well.

I concede that BBA does have a focus on Zapp, but it's never to the detriment of the crew's part of the plot. Zapp joining the crew is the plot. Him being disbarred was merely a way for the writers to get him there. Otherwise, its about how he wrecks their natural order (Flexo is similarly used in The Lesser of Two Evils). You'll notice that when he's mutinied against the plot doesn't stop, but continues on with the P.E. crew alone (Lrreconcilible Ndndifferences only does this for its ending).

Plus, Zapp isn't a tertiary character (thanks, Gorky) like Lrrr is. He's more developed than most other non-main characters on the show (joined by the likes of Mom, Nibbler, and Kif). He's the non-main character with the most appearances/screentime on the show (by a substantial amount) and a deep history with one of them. It makes more sense that he'd go to Leela for help, while Lrrr, who in previous appearances doesn't recognize or acknowledge the crew (like Mr. Burns does to Homer), really doesn't seem like he logically would have gone to the P.E. Crew (specifically Leela) for help. Imagine how little sense Lrrr showing up would have been without the preceding scene at Comic-Con and compare to how much sense Zapp showing up in BBA still makes even if the crew weren't present at the DOOP ceremony.

Furthermore, I find the writing of Lrrr in 611 (I don't want to write the title again) to be against his earlier characterization. Lrrr is normally very boastful, leaving any "weak" moments (like crying in the Duraflame Forest or a few times in this episode) to be played for comedy (not that his boastfulness isn't joked about with his various mike mishaps). Here he seems to be a baby who succumbs to nagging. Lrrr works best when he's chanting "I am Lrrr, ruler of the planet Omicron Persei 8!", not crying on Leela's shoulder or constantly emasculated by his wife.

I wasn't too much of a fan of Leela's Homeworld. It was necessary for the plot of the series, agreed. Funny? No. Any episode that focused too heavily on the relationship between Leela and her parents seemed forced to me, like Less Than Hero - however the subplot of Bender and Fry being superheros was amazing heh. I also didn't think much of A Taste of Freedom.

I want to take a moment to defend Leela's Homeworld. I find it strange whenever any episode like it is said to not be funny. I can understand that some people legitimately do not find an episode to be funny, but I find the case with people accusing a "serious" episode of not being funny usually has to do with the episode not being completely focused on being funny. I don't think that a single Futurama episode was ever written with the intention of having no jokes in it. Every single "serious" episode has it's dramatic moments, but they never have completely sacrificed humor in their attempts to explore the characters. So I ask you, futurefreak, did Leela's Homeworld's dramatic beats underscore the jokes in the episode for you, or did you actually find the jokes that existed to be sub-par?*

*Personally, I think the humor present in Leela's Homeworld (and there is a lot of it) to be superior to humor in episodes that were completely dedicated to comedy.

Same reason "Where the Buggalo Roam" is considered "meh" by the fandom as a whole (though Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences is simultaneously more focused on its side character and a better episode).

Where the Buggalo Roam wasn't that funny, that's why.

* Tedward sulks in the corner.

I like "Where the Buggalo Roam" too (sorry, Gorky).

[Reply #113 on:]

The "humor" from Leela's Homeworld definitely wasn't memorable because I don't remember any quotes from that. That is much what I myself base a good episode off of, was it memorable enough to remember it later? No, it wasn't. The only thing I remember from that was Professor's nose machine: "It can do other things, why shouldn't it???" I don't hate the episode, it was just definitely in my bottom quarter of all Futurama episodes. I loved the ending though. But getting there was...meh.

"The Sting" was also one of those "serious not explicitly funny" episodes. And I loved it. It was scores above Leela's Homeworld. I thought maybe I didn't like Leela's Homeworld because  of Leela's whining, which is odd because both episodes center around a distraught Leela crying her eyes out. Maybe it's because I find the Leela-Fry relationship more touching and important than Leela-Leela's parents. When they're in the plot for more than a couple lines they're a total buzzkill. I think, maybe, I'm just very irritated with Leela's character in the episode. Granted I haven't seen the ep in probably a good year or two, but from what I remember she was getting really bossy and pushy on everyone which got old fast.

I will continue to defend LrrNdnd because it was amazingly well written and quick with the jokes. Even at the comic con scene I had to slowmo the DVD to catch all the gags.

[Reply #114 on:]

"Leela's Homeworld" is a top ten episode for me (and I prefer it to episodes of a similar, Serious-with-a-capital-'S'  type (most notably "Jurassic Bark", which I think is kind of overrated)). I do think your enjoyment of the episode depends on how emotionally invested you are in the Leela's-parents arc (because it's not the funniest episode around--but if you have a vested interest in Leela figuring out that Munda and Morris are her parents, you're probably more forgiving of the lack of jokes and/or more receptive to the jokes that are there), so it makes sense that others aren't as keen on it as I am.

Meanwhile, I think that enjoying "Where the Buggalo Roam" is an unforgivable offense...

[Reply #115 on:]

Geez, I must be up for the death penalty, not only did I thoroughly enjoy "Where The Buggalo Roam", but I did also not like "Proposition ∞".

I've offended people to an "unforgivable level", but I'm also a complete "romo".
I should retire my opinions and find some new ones.

"Leela's Homeworld" had to be made, but it was a good emotional episode. I can't really say if it's "good" or "bad". But it was for sure not bad. Bad is when I want to switch the channel, and the only episodes that has wanted me to do that is 6ACV04 and 6ACV13.
See any connection between these? 

I guess that there's too much hate from me here, but that's just my opinion. 

[Reply #116 on:]

Well we'll never all agree on the good and bad episodes, but I thoroughly enjoy discussing it with you guys here Makes me feel aliiive!

I was thinking last night about how the writers might be lurking these places and laffing their asses off. Then I really hoped they would make a very subtle veiled shout out to this place.

Show spoiler

My real thought was, wouldn't it be something if they used a phrase of my name, like "we're all future freaks here" or something and I thought that's it. That's the highest peak I will ever reach. I can now retire on the lil desert island in my mind into obscurity. A (wo)man can dream though, a (wo)man can dream...

[Reply #117 on:]

somebody things they're important.

btw, i better see a carnotaurus in a future episode!

[Reply #118 on:]

somebody things they're important.

btw, i better see a carnotaurus in a future episode!

I am pretty convinced that it will appear.

futurefreak, I can't say that I feel aliiive when discussing this, but I can though say that I in another way. I feel more like aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive eeeeeee!

But that's kinda the same thing. We're at least being polite.

[Reply #119 on:]

I know we've finished discussion this bit, but I carried it on anyway.
Okay, so we were talking about Fry and Leela starting a family and stuff. Well, I think that it could be done, but only within these situations:
(First of all, I think it should be a one/two episode thing)
An experiment of the Professor's which involves Fry and Leela
How it could end: Maybe the experiment does work properly and the 'infant' ages very quickly so before Fry and Leela could become attached it has already become old and passed away.
Why it could be an interesting episode: As it grows through it's life stages, it becomes close friends with the different members, for example:
Infant: Fry, Leela
Toddler: Nibbler (?)
Child: Dwight, Cubert
Teenage: Could become bully of Dwight and Cubert, befriend Bender (?)
Young Adult: Amy
Adult: Hermes, Zoidberg, Scruffy (?)
Senior: The Professor
(Obviously Fry and Leela would count for all stages... maybe not Senior)
The episode would have a serious emotional end, for obvious reasons.

Work these ones out yourself...
A 'mutant' thing with Leela
An alien related, an alien which morphs into certain species
Within an Anthology of Interest episode
 

Pretty cruddy, but whatever, I'm tired.  ...