Thoughts on 6ACV19 - Ghost in the Machines - SPOILERS

[Reply #200 on:]

Then just go for the original:

Das religiöse Elend ist in einem der Ausdruck des wirklichen Elendes und in einem die Protestation gegen das wirkliche Elend. Die Religion ist der Seufzer der bedrängten Kreatur, das Gemüth einer herzlosen Welt, wie sie der Geist geistloser Zustände ist. Sie ist das Opium des Volks.

[Reply #201 on:]

All further polite and civil religion discussion should go [wikipeelia=List of threads in Off-Topic#Religion_Thread]here[/wikipeelia].

[Reply #202 on:]

Marx, he's a bit dubious too, but let us not get into a historical debate...

I get the Bender killing himself thing now. Lynn may have said it was murder but a guy who suddenly doesn't want to die really wouldn't say "haha, missed me" in the confines of a suicide booth. Though actually Bender might; strikes me of the sort of character who would stick his head above the top of the trench so he can chastise the enemy about being incapable of hitting an elephant at such a dis-

Tangent.

Aynho, there are a few general points that I do actually agree with SorynArkayn about. I guess in the end, for me, for all the episode's failings, the story didn't make me as AnGRy as Benderama's, hence the higher tolerance.

[Reply #203 on:]

What a total waste of the idea of robot ghosts that was introduced way back in The Howling.

Fail...

What exactly did you find funny about Bender with a Casper-tail? The whole thing didn't work for me. Not when Bender was oblivious that he was dead. Not when he squashed the Robot Devil's song. Not when he was tormenting Fry. And not when he was trying to redeem himself. Bender was INFINITELY more funny as the Were-Car than as a robot ghost.

Can you explain to me how this was worse than Holiday Craptacular? What was so much better about that episode? Or were you just high while watching that one?...

Simple, I LAUGHED more that the Holiday Craptacular. I agree that it was terrible, but this episode was even less funny and more boring; therefore it's worse.

And BTW, I believe that @$$holes who accuse others of being high are projecting. I've never taken an illegal drug in my life, but my college roommates did on occassion; and it seemed to make them laugh a lot -- so I'd assume that if I had been high, it could only have improved my opinion about this awful, awful episode. So your feeble insult defies all logic, moron.

I wholeheartedly disagree. The Robot Devil was used brilliantly, he had just the right amount of screen time, never outstayed his welcome, but was there long enough to help give the episode pace (although admittedly the pace went too fast at the end). I found his lines funny and fully in-character. I really don’t see the problem. He has proved my initial doubts wrong that he might’ve not worked so well as a recurring character. Time and time again he shines through as a quality character who it’s always a pleasure to see more of. He’s established himself as a major part of the Futurama universe and I would gladly partake in viewing more of his devious deeds and tomfoolery again...

Really, what exactly did the Robot Devil say or do that you considered funny? As I mentioned, the funniest thing he did in this episode was the song-that-wasn't -- and that line about Granny Hester being naked but unharmed (which elicited a chuckle, but wasn't LoL funny). In comparison to his appearances in "Hell is Other Robots" and "The Robot Devil's Hands are Idle Play Things", and even his cameo in "The Beast With A Billion Backs", the Robot Devil was utterly wasted in this episode.

The Amish Planet wasn’t particularly funny I agree, but seeing how much Bender cared for Fry and basically redeeming himself in this act ultimately was what made it important and worthwhile. As I pointed out in my above review, I also liked how it called back to the beginning of the episode, where instead of Fry saving the nerd from the spherical object rolling towards him; it was Bender who saved Fry from the spherical object rolling towards him. Does that not to you redeem it somewhat?...

I understand that Bender was trying to redeem himself, but I didn't think it was conveyed very well. It didn't have the emotional resonance of "Jurassic Bark", "The Sting", or "Lethal Inspection". Bender's vain attempts to redeem himself just seemed juvenile and boring to me.

I think a much better and more meaningful way for him to save Fry would have been if his love for Fry enabled him to overcome his robot ghost intangibility (similar to the ending of Ghost) and he saved Fry that way -- instead of simply co-opting the Robot Devil's body.

BTW, why the hell was Fry carting around his geodesic barn on the back of an ox cart!? That seemed stupid and contrived to me. As was animals could be spooked by robot ghosts. That whole thing was contrived so that Bender could somehow kill Fry, even though he should NOT have been able to interact with anyone or anything on the Amish planet.

The resolution to this episode was painfully predictable and contrived. And the episode ended with the worst non-joke ever. There was no button! There was an excrutiating silence, then fade to black and roll credits. It was the worst ending of any Futurama episode I've ever seen!

Didn’t you watch The Cryonic Woman? What was so much better about the ending to that episode? I would really like to know. It’s fair to say that Ghost In The Machines had one of the poorer endings of the show, but it is by no means the worst...

Why am I NOT surprised you're a Cryonic Woman-hater. WTF is your problem with the ending of that episode? So the Prof dropped Fry out of the flying PlanEx ship. That was FUNNY! Fry survived a hover-car crash and his head being transplanted onto Amy's body, so presumably he could've survived that too. And if your gripe is that he wasn't given his job back, the simple explanation is that the Prof FORGOT why he fired him, AGAIN! Let it go already. If you hate "The Cryonic Woman" because of Michelle/Sarah Silverman, or Polly Shore, then just admit it. Because that episode's ending wasn't any more illogical than any of the episodes wherein the PlanEx crew are horribly injured, or New New York or the Earth is left devastated, but everything is back to normal in the next episode.

That episode's ending was infinitely funnier than the excrutiatingly UNfunny and unbearable silence of this awful episode's ending.

Are these really your opinions or are you just being a troll? If serious, then why do you watch Futurama?...

Those were honestly my opinions about this episode. IAGDL and AotKA were disappointing, but still had their funny moments. I am not exaggerating or being a troll. I am being 100% truthful when I say that I only laughed a half dozen times during this episode, and that I consider it the most unfunny and boring episode of Futurama ever. I don't understand what you people seem to enjoy or consider funny or touching about this episode. This episode did not work for me whatsoever.


I can only hope that once the new-Futurama-episode novelty wears off, maybe other people's opinions about this episode will change; and maybe you'll understand what I'm talking about.

I was admittedly very harsh in my criticism about "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela" last season, whereas others thought it was great. But now it seems like it's recognized as one of the worst episodes of last season -- along with "Attack of the Killer App". I predict/hope that this episode will not be regarded so favourably at the end of this season.

[Reply #204 on:]

But In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela and Attack of the Killer App were considered to be two of the worst episodes of all time from their initial airing... a few people stood up for them and liked them, but that doesn't mean that they went down very well as a whole. Ghost in the Machines' reception is pretty much the opposite so far.

[Reply #205 on:]

Indeed, only SorynArkayn is fighting this episode tooth and nail.

Unfortunately, the rest of us are idiots for enjoying it!

[Reply #206 on:]

I didn't like it either, Soryn!

[Reply #207 on:]

Indeed, only SorynArkayn is fighting this episode tooth and nail.

Unfortunately, the rest of us are idiots for enjoying it!

Svip, apparently you didn't notice that I never maligned any of you for liking this episode. Instead, I've been repeatedly asking WHY you liked it and found it funny, because I don't understand.

YOU were the one who characterized the rest of you (the people who liked this episode) as idiots.

[Reply #208 on:]

In a Gadda da Leela and Killer App also aired toward the very beginning of last half-season, and not long after the first half-hour episode in seven years; clearly there wasn't as much to compare them to. (That being said, I enjoy both and Killer App in particular, though Gadda is one of the weaker episodes of the series probably.) Ghost in the Machines is an episode that we're all able to have more perspective on, because there's already more to compare it to. For some of us, it compares quite favorably to the other episodes we've seen so far. I don't see why that's such a problem.

[Reply #209 on:]

What a total waste of the idea of robot ghosts that was introduced way back in The Howling.

Fail...

What exactly did you find funny about Bender with a Casper-tail? The whole thing didn't work for me. Not when Bender was oblivious that he was dead. Not when he squashed the Robot Devil's song. Not when he was tormenting Fry. And not when he was trying to redeem himself. Bender was INFINITELY more funny as the Were-Car than as a robot ghost.

I found it funny when Bender was fucking around with the machines, that amused me greatly. The toaster joke in which the first piece of toast said "Bo", and then the second piece of toast popped up with another "o" is an example I found funny. Bender opening and closing the door so Fry couldn’t get through, and then Dr Zoidberg casually opening in Fry’s face it is another example. When Bender felt dejected because no one could hear his jokes near the beginning before he was aware he was a ghost and then he said "This is Hell", and then the Robot Devil quips "You wish", that was a great and funny line brought about by Bender’s situation. The reason I said "Fail" is because it was holograms in The Honking btw ...

Simple, I LAUGHED more that the Holiday Craptacular. I agree that it was terrible, but this episode was even less funny and more boring; therefore it's worse.

And BTW, I believe that @$$holes who accuse others of being high are projecting. I've never taken an illegal drug in my life, but my college roommates did on occassion; and it seemed to make them laugh a lot -- so I'd assume that if I had been high, it could only have improved my opinion about this awful, awful episode. So your feeble insult defies all logic, moron.

I’ve given some examples I found funny in Ghost In The Machines, so please can you give me some examples of what is so much funnier in Holiday Craptacular? Also, at what point did I mention illegal drugs? I didn’t, you’re the one bringing that into the equation. I seriously don’t understand how anyone could find Holiday Craptacular more funny and enjoyable than this episode, that’s why I asked if you were high, I didn’t say that you were high, there’s a difference, dumbass...

Really, what exactly did the Robot Devil say or do that you considered funny? As I mentioned, the funniest thing he did in this episode was the song-that-wasn't -- and that line about Granny Hester being naked but unharmed (which elicited a chuckle, but wasn't LoL funny). In comparison to his appearances in "Hell is Other Robots" and "The Robot Devil's Hands are Idle Play Things", and even his cameo in "The Beast With A Billion Backs", the Robot Devil was utterly wasted in this episode.

Aside from his brilliant introduction to this episode that I mentioned above, and of course the song which wasn’t (that you mentioned), which was hilarious (that’s two funny moments within seconds of him appearing), we continue with him saying "You’re a ghost", to which Bender replies "A g-g-g-g-ghost?", "No, just the regular kind" that was funny and genuinely great dialogue. The Robot Devil’s smoking resembling an infinity symbol which he blows at Bender for being stuck in a infinite loop is another great funny joke. Also, although you may not have found it funny, I liked the hands joke as well...

When the Robot Devil offers to make Bender a deal, and Bender says "I’m not stupid, so yes absolutely" that is another great and funny line. Bender says "I like that there’s no catch this time", but the Robot Devil says "But wait, there’s a catch", even though I knew it was coming, and because it did come, it just made the payoff all the more funny. Later on in the episode Bender comes back to visit the Robot Devil and he responds "Argghh, a ghost! Oh, it’s you", another funny line. When the Robot Devil shows Bender Fry’s Wikipedia page, again I found that funny. I also found it amusing when Bender said "You’re using my own words against me! Go to Hell!", and then the Robot Devil replied "Soon enough"...

So that’s what, ten or so jokes in this episode involving the Robot Devil which I found funny. I would hardly call his appearance "utterly wasted" as you so lightly put it, in fact that claim is ludicrous in light of this evidence I’ve just provided you with out of the goodness of my heart. So there you go, it’s right there if that’s what you wanted to see so badly ...

I understand that Bender was trying to redeem himself, but I didn't think it was conveyed very well. It didn't have the emotional resonance of "Jurassic Bark", "The Sting", or "Lethal Inspection". Bender's vain attempts to redeem himself just seemed juvenile and boring to me.

I think a much better and more meaningful way for him to save Fry would have been if his love for Fry enabled him to overcome his robot ghost intangibility (similar to the ending of Ghost) and he saved Fry that way -- instead of simply co-opting the Robot Devil's body.

BTW, why the hell was Fry carting around his geodesic barn on the back of an ox cart!? That seemed stupid and contrived to me. As was animals could be spooked by robot ghosts. That whole thing was contrived so that Bender could somehow kill Fry, even though he should NOT have been able to interact with anyone or anything on the Amish planet.

I personally liked the way Bender used the Robot Devil’s body to save Fry. The Amish stuff, well I agree a lot of that stuff just didn’t do it for me, but I don’t think this is a perfect episode by any means and I didn’t claim it was...

Why am I NOT surprised you're a Cryonic Woman-hater. WTF is your problem with the ending of that episode? So the Prof dropped Fry out of the flying PlanEx ship. That was FUNNY! Fry survived a hover-car crash and his head being transplanted onto Amy's body, so presumably he could've survived that too. And if your gripe is that he wasn't given his job back, the simple explanation is that the Prof FORGOT why he fired him, AGAIN! Let it go already. If you hate "The Cryonic Woman" because of Michelle/Sarah Silverman, or Polly Shore, then just admit it. Because that episode's ending wasn't any more illogical than any of the episodes wherein the PlanEx crew are horribly injured, or New New York or the Earth is left devastated, but everything is back to normal in the next episode.

That episode's ending was infinitely funnier than the excrutiatingly UNfunny and unbearable silence of this awful episode's ending.

Did I say I hated The Cryonic Woman? No, I implied that it had a worse ending. It certainly isn’t a favourite episode of mine, but as I have expressed on this very board before, if you would take the trouble to look, I actually liked the first part of the episode. Sure you can try and logically justify the ending, but that doesn’t change the fact it was a bad ending because it was simply lazy writing. It was trying too hard to quickly wrap it up and attempt a cheap laugh, which it appears they got from you, congratulations...

Those were honestly my opinions about this episode. IAGDL and AotKA were disappointing, but still had their funny moments. I am not exaggerating or being a troll. I am being 100% truthful when I say that I only laughed a half dozen times during this episode, and that I consider it the most unfunny and boring episode of Futurama ever. I don't understand what you people seem to enjoy or consider funny or touching about this episode. This episode did not work for me whatsoever.


I can only hope that once the new-Futurama-episode novelty wears off, maybe other people's opinions about this episode will change; and maybe you'll understand what I'm talking about.

I was admittedly very harsh in my criticism about "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela" last season, whereas others thought it was great. But now it seems like it's recognized as one of the worst episodes of last season -- along with "Attack of the Killer App". I predict/hope that this episode will not be regarded so favourably at the end of this season.

My original review of In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela was hardly glowing, in fact on the whole it was negative and it still is. Generally the community still thinks of this episode as one of the worst episodes of Futurama. As for Attack of the Killer App, I had good and bad things to say about it and I was on the whole quite neutral about it. It has nothing to do with "new-Futurama-episode novelty wearing off" or anything like that. Perhaps you should visit "The Old Everything is worse now" discussion thread. Amongst over enlightening stuff, you will find that I rate Season 6 so far a little lower on average than the original four seasons...

Even if you didn’t like the Ghost In The Machines, the way you’re talking about it seems overly negative and dramatic as if to say "Hey, look at me, I hate this episode, why won’t somebody please listen to me? I hate it so much I’m considering deleting it and never watching it again! 1/10. I demand that you tell me why you don’t feel the same way!" That’s how you come across in this thread and you say you’re not a troll, but those are very trollish things to say you have to admit. If that’s your honest and true opinion then that’s up to you, but it’s bad, and you should feel bad ...

You may or may not have noticed that my review for this episode wasn’t totally glowing either, although not a patch on your negative slur. I have criticised a few points regarding it, but I didn’t let them totally ruin my enjoyment of it and give it a pitiful score and go parading it about like I’m proud. I hope the examples I’ve provided are enough to satisfy your needs, because I don’t feel like quoting the whole episode...

[Reply #210 on:]

Otis P Jivefunk, I appreciate you taking the time to provide examples of what you considered funny in this episode...

Unfortunately, NONE of the things that you mentioned I considered funny -- which I suppose isn't surprising, because we watched the same episode, but had very different impressions of it.

Really, you liked the Bo-o! toast joke?
Bender messing with the automatic door? If Bender had slammed it on Fry, that would've been funny -- and a great callback to Pilot episode.
I didn't even recognize that Zoidberg part as a "joke".
And did you literally laugh out loud at the Robot Devil's quip?

We're discussing this episode here, so I'm not going to dredge up examples from the terrible holiday episode. As I said, I laughed at maybe six things in this episode. Trust me, I can provide more than six examples for the holiday episode, which is why IMO this episode is worse.

Don't try to backpedal or nitpick. Whenever someone asks "are you high?" it's really an accusation. And what drugs that you can get high off of aren't illegal? Yours was a stupid and juvenile insult that vainly attempted to undermine my arguments.

You actually consider the Robot Devil blowing an infinity symbol smoke ring qualifies as a "joke"? Nevermind a "great funny joke". Same with Fry's wikipedia page, and all the "jokes" that you mentioned that IMO fell flat.

It seems apparent to me now why you think this episode is funny, because to you virtually everything qualifies as a joke.

You claimed that the ending of "The Cryonic Woman" was "lazy writing". Then what do you think of the non-existent, painfully un-funny non-joke ending to THIS episode!? It's like the writer just gave up and didn't bother to write a proper button for the ending. You may consider dropping Fry out of the PlanEx ship to be a "cheap laugh" to go out on, but a cheap laugh is infinitely better than NO LAUGH at all, which is unfortunately what happened in this episode.

I didn't mean to call attention to myself with this overly negative review, but in case you've forgotten, the discussion of episode went OFF-TOPIC for nearly two full pages, and devolved into a religion-vs-atheism flame war. I desperately wanted to get this thread back on track and try to understand how and why so many people liked this episode. So what you consider trolling was merely an attempt to understand what people considered funny about this episode. Unfortunately, the answer still escapes me because what you considered "jokes" fell embarassingly flat. They elicited more eye rolls and groans than LoLs or even chuckles. Honestly, I felt like Kiff groaning at all the stupid things that Zapp Brannigan says -- that's the most apt comparison I can make to my impression of this awful, unfunny episode.

And BTW, I feel that the score of 1/10 is justified because I consider this episode to be the worst and least funny episode of Futurama ever. I've given out scores of 2, 3, and 4 to other episodes. This episode was the worst, therefore it only deserves a 1 out of 10.

[Reply #211 on:]

The automatic door gag was funny to me because of panicky Fry trying to time it. Instead of calling someone over to prove he wasn't going crazy, or finding another way to the other side, he treats it like a video game and ends up successfully jumping through. The Zoidberg part was cheap imo. Plus, the idea of a crazed, sliding door viciously opening and closing like that is funny in it's own right.

[Reply #212 on:]

Otis, dude, I'd leave it there... there are a million other things you could be doing with your time which are more pleasant and worthwhile than responding to that wall o' text.

I liked the episode. It was pretty funny.. no major gags, but tons of little chuckles. I'd give it an 8/10.

[Reply #213 on:]

Otis, dude, I'd leave it there... there are a million other things you could be doing with your time which are more pleasant and worthwhile than responding to that troll.

Apparently anyone who voices a contrarian opinion to the majority opinion is villified as a "troll".

No wonder American politics are so divisive. [edit: Happy i_c_weiner?   ]

Otis, dude, I'd leave it there... there are a million other things you could be doing with your time which are more pleasant and worthwhile than responding to that wall o' text.

I liked the episode. It was pretty funny.. no major gags, but tons of little chuckles. I'd give it an 8/10.

Oh, look who back-pedaled.

I find it so obliviously ludicrous that, by your own admission, there were no "major gags" in this episode, only "little chuckles", but still you deemed this episode worthy of 8/10.

What score would give a genuinely spectacular episode, like "A Roswell That Ends Well", or "Amazon Woman in the Mood", etc.? Because 10/10 would not be an adequate distinction between "perfect" episodes like those, and this episode. Judging by your standards, you'd give them a 15 out of 10. You'd have to score them above 10 to adequately express how superior those truly amazing episodes are compared to this one.

[Reply #214 on:]

Why do you consider him a troll? He has spent a lot of times articulating his feelings, which are perfectly subjective and legit, even though I couldn't disagree more. If Otis wants to discuss it with him, fine, I don't. But I don't see what makes Soryn a troll.

[Reply #215 on:]

A quick fact check of his profile would've shown you that Zmithy is British, not American. Please stop trying to splinter the conversation and recreate a test thread experience in here or attempting veiled ad hominem responses. I've only seen Otis and myself try to debate with you civilly thus far.


The automatic door gag was funny because the expectation was Bender would close it on Fry and repeat what we've seen before. However, the result was Fry getting through fine and Zoidberg using it like a regular door, hitting Fry in the face. It's delightfully ironic, and I personally found it a great gag.

[Reply #216 on:]

I can't believe no-one has pointed out Fry's line when asked his name by the mayor.

"I dunno. Fry, I guess."

[Reply #217 on:]

I can't believe no-one has pointed out Fry's line when asked his name by the mayor.
"I dunno. Fry, I guess."

Actually I quoted that all day after hearing it.

[Reply #218 on:]

I should start quoting that whenever someone asks my name. "I dunno. Aki, I guess". Interesting conversation starter - either they recognize the quote and you have a TV show to discuss, or they don't and you can act like you think the CIA is spying on your teeth.

[Reply #219 on:]

Also, Fry getting hit in the face by the door follows up on him already getting "spooked" and being hurt in some way by Bender a bunch of times in a row, so the one time he manages to get by....he still gets hit in the face. It's funny.

There's plenty of great lines/jokes in this episode. Drug man, the Ghostbusters bit, the spot-on Exorcist/Poltergeist bit, "only one carry on churner allowed,"...of course, humor is subjective, but the fact that you don't find it funny doesn't mean it doesn't qualify as a joke, or it that it won't be funny to another person.

This episode has a lot of hilarious spoofs on the "limbo" story seen commonly in fiction, and a rather sweet/touching element in the third act. There are a few episodes that I really dislike (300 Big Boys mostly chiefly), but this isn't to say that I can't understand why someone else would appreciate them. I don't really get why this has turned so contentious.

[Reply #220 on:]

Hi, everybody! Haven't been here in a while, really missed the place.

Suffice it to say that these new eps have been stellar. Loved all 3 of them. Last season's eps were sort of up and down for me; but this season's been great so far.

With one caveat: "Ghostbusters" will never, ever EVER in a trillion billion megazillion years be LAME. So there.

[Reply #221 on:]

I was a Ghostbuster one year for Halloween (not as a kid, either, this was a couple years ago), I have a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man bank on my dresser, and I own two different versions of the video game....

But Ghostbusters II was really weak. Not awful I suppose, but weak. And it came out in 1989. That's what made it funny to me. GB II killed the momentum of the franchise, really.

Oh, well also, I've picked up the nasty habit of asking people "who ya gonna call?" whenever they're dialing a phone, just to test them and see if they say "Ghostbusters!" The show actually taking that lame joke and putting a spin on it was great.

[Reply #222 on:]

There's plenty of great lines/jokes in this episode. Drug man, the Ghostbusters bit, the spot-on Exorcist/Poltergeist bit, "only one carry on churner allowed,"...of course, humor is subjective, but the fact that you don't find it funny doesn't mean it doesn't qualify as a joke, or it that it won't be funny to another person.

This episode has a lot of hilarious spoofs on the "limbo" story seen commonly in fiction, and a rather sweet/touching element in the third act. There are a few episodes that I really dislike (300 Big Boys mostly chiefly), but this isn't to say that I can't understand why someone else would appreciate them. I don't really get why this has turned so contentious.

Haven't you ever seen a TV show or movie that your friends raved about, but you hated it? And you were utterly bewildered why they liked it.

Aside from this episode, the most recent example I can provide is Piranha 3D. My friends thought that movie was great; whereas I HATED it.

That's the way I feel about this episode. The majority says it's a good episode, liked the "jokes", and seem to think that the third act was genuinely touching. NOT ME. I am absolutely LOST in regards to this episode.

Ironically, I think Zmithy described it best when he admitted that: "It was pretty funny.. no major gags, but tons of little chuckles." Whereas I rolled my eyes and Kiff-groaned instead of chuckled, and only laughed out loud a few times during this episode. That's why I scored it so poorly, because I just didn't think it was funny or enjoyable at all.

[Reply #223 on:]

But didn't Piranha 3D actually suck out loud?

[Reply #224 on:]

But the difference here is that Piranha 3D actually did suck out loud.

I 100% agree that Piranha 3D sucked.

From MY perspective, you're like my friends who loved Piranha 3D, whereas I hated it. And I believe I'm right.

Your acknowledge that I was right about Piranha 3D legitimizes my personal opinion about this episode. The fact that you and most of the other people here liked this episode does nothing to change my opinion about this episode. And I don't expect that my opinion will alter yours either.

I've been desperately trying to understand why anyone enjoyed this episode, but I realize now it's futile. There are certain episodes of Futurama that some people hate, whereas others do not. For example, a lot of people seem to hate "The Cryonic Woman", but I don't. It's not one of the better episodes, but it's definitely not the worst. So I declare this to be MY "The Cryonic Woman" episode, which I hate for reasons that no one else can apparently understand.

[Reply #225 on:]

Haven't you ever seen a TV show or movie that your friends raved about, but you hated it? And you were utterly bewildered why they liked it.

He just said he hated 300 Big Boys, which is overall a beloved episode with many fans (me included).

[Reply #226 on:]

Everyone has different opinions. We just have to accept it. I personally like The Cryonic Woman and That's Lobstertainment whereas I don't really care for Godfellas.

[Reply #227 on:]

There are plenty of things that friends or family of mine love that I hate. But I don't act like I'm mad at them for liking it. And if I ask them why they liked it, I don't start by saying "how could you like it when [ten paragraphs of ranting about how much I hate it and how anyone who likes it is crazy]?" I just ask them why they liked it, and calmly state my own opinion in response.

Also, even in stuff I hate, I try to recognize whatever the good points are, or how certain things could be good points to other people. For instance, I don't really think the format of 300 Big Boys works, but if someone said "I just like that it shows all the characters going about their day" or something to that effect, I would understand, even if I disagreed. There's a distinction between "how could you find that joke funny when it could have been like THIS and it didn't make sense to me and X joke in season two was so much funnier and..." and "I didn't really find that joke funny for X reason." The latter is conducive to dialogue, the former often just inhibits your own ability to understand what the other person is saying to you even when you're actively trying to.

[Reply #228 on:]

Wait.... so was Bender the ghost in this episode?

[Reply #229 on:]

There are plenty of things that friends or family of mine love that I hate. But I don't act like I'm mad at them for liking it. And if I ask them why they liked it, I don't start by saying "how could you like it when [ten paragraphs of ranting about how much I hate it and how anyone who likes it is crazy]?" I just ask them why they liked it, and calmly state my own opinion in response.

That's ironic, because you're actually using the kind of hyperbolic language that you've accused me of using -- the difference is, I didn't.

If you had bothered to read my posts -- instead just b!tching about how long they were -- you would see that I was very careful about NOT maligning other people in my posts (with a few exceptions in response to blatant insults). I never accused ANYONE of being "crazy" for liking this episode. I never even declared anyone of being wrong for liking this episode. Instead, I expressed my bewilderment, and I often responded, "Really, you thought that was funny?" to specific examples.

I'm talking as much about the tone of your posts as the specific words in them. I read a fair amount of your posts (I'll admit I had to skim a little) and that was the tone I got from them, even if you didn't outright call anyone crazy in so many words.

I understand and appreciate that you're just trying to generate discussion, but I think the hostile tone generated hostile responses. "Really, you thought that was funny?" is a perfect example of what I'm talking about, because the phrasing and tone of that question is making the other person feel like they are "wrong" for finding a joke funny, even if you aren't explicitly saying so. "I see why you might find that funny, but I didn't for this reason..." is a response that will be less likely to get an angry response back. I speak from experience.

And Winna: yes, although it depends a bit on how you define "ghost."

[Reply #230 on:]

You [Soryn] didn't like the episode and you didn't think it was funny, end of discussion. DotheBartman is right, it's your tone that's coming off wrong.

[Reply #231 on:]

you know, i'm sure a lot of folks with not be surprised, but sorynarkayn is not totally wrong in my eyes. during 'neutopia' and 'benderama', i literally laughed out loud several times(more-so during neutopia). during 'ghost in the machines', i don't even remember laughing once.

my other futurama friend and i discussed this episode today, and we both came to the conclusion that it was the least funny episode of the three, but wasn't as bad as 'aotka' and prop. in.

it was a bad, cheap plot, but it still felt pretty good. with that said, if the writing and plots don't improve, the show could become a simpsons 2.0(simpsons after season 10, that is).

ps: wasn't gianna michaels in piranha 3d? that automatically boosts the ratings, imo.

[Reply #232 on:]

I was a Ghostbuster one year for Halloween (not as a kid, either, this was a couple years ago), I have a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man bank on my dresser, and I own two different versions of the video game....

But Ghostbusters II was really weak. Not awful I suppose, but weak. And it came out in 1989. That's what made it funny to me. GB II killed the momentum of the franchise, really.

Well, it's supposedly back on track ... IMDb lists "Ghostbusters III" as being in the works: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289401/

[Reply #233 on:]

I was a Ghostbuster one year for Halloween (not as a kid, either, this was a couple years ago), I have a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man bank on my dresser, and I own two different versions of the video game....

But Ghostbusters II was really weak. Not awful I suppose, but weak. And it came out in 1989. That's what made it funny to me. GB II killed the momentum of the franchise, really.

Well, it's supposedly back on track ... IMDb lists "Ghostbusters III" as being in the works: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289401/

Yeah, I don't know how I feel about another Ghostbusters...the principle actors haven't, um, aged well. But the video game that came out a couple of years ago is AWESOME. IMO someone ought to make a big-screen animated version of GB and just have the original actors do the voices. If a company like Dreamworks did it, it could rock.

[Reply #234 on:]

Well, after three viewings, Ghost in the Machines is still really funny. It's ranked up as one of the better S6 episodes and definitely among my most rewatchable.

The Robot Devil was completely hilarious in this and a fun villain. His consistent love of musicals is shot down effortlessly (S.S. Anything Goes is a good background gag to support Bender denying the song) and his wimpiness got a good quick callback (his yelp at Bender's return). There's also something very funny to me about him in Granny Hester's and his feminine cries and pronunciation of "occupado" when Bender starts possessing him.

The parade was a great bit to start the episode, especially the fear over a giant sausage (my brother points out this is practical behavior for the crew, considering all the weird things that have threatened them over the years), the Jamaican Pride float (these writers just won't stop hammerin' at that stereotype), and of course, Dr. Ben Beeler (He's a Paleontologist).

I find it a bit strange that Fry had sex with the mayor's wife, but only because she's not much of a looker.

I like the gag about Fry's name for this episode, but it does remind me of a humorous translation problem that joke will have in spanish. The previous Fry's name gag, from Luck of the Fryrish, is in the spanish dub but makes no sense since the spanish word for Friday is Viernes (also, spanish for french fries is papas fritas), which takes away to pun-ish nature of the joke and just makes it a random statement. Same will happen with the GITM joke, assuming they go with another direct translation.

Aside from the beginning-to-end gags, I'm very pleased with how wonderfully Bender's love of Fry is the driving force behind the entire plot. This episode is one of the best examples of why their friendship is the show's strongest running storyline. From the hoist of Fry on Bender's shoulders to his killing lust really being a sense of betrayal to his utter devotion after Fry's confession, you can see Fry means a lot to Bender. Beautifully done. Same with Fry thinking of Bender and missing him at various points throughout the episode (especially his queasiness at Amy suggesting he clank Bender's eyeballs together to ease himself), to remind that their friendship is a strong forth-and-back.

This one is contending for my favorite of S6 thus far, since it's such a well done mix of humor and character. Good Bender show.

[Reply #235 on:]

Better. Better than the other two IMO. Kept me in giggles throughout the episode, not any really huge HAHA moments but good solid chuckles all the way through. At first I didn't know about the storyline but then I had to turn off my logic and let my imagination run wild about a Robot being a ghost (since there IS an established Robot Hell). Love the callback to the song in Hell is Other Robots. Nice ending where Bender saves Fry, although it's to be expected.

I wasn't sure what rating really to give the episode. I didn't think it was as low as a 7 but I also didn't think it was as high as an 8. I did give it an 8, however, to show no hard feelings on the new stuff. Bender wanting to hug Fry and put his arm around him when he was a ghost was quite touching, actually, even for a robot.

I think I will have to become exposed to these more to get more comfortable watching them. I still feel like I'm dreaming these episodes haha

[Reply #236 on:]

Better. Better than the other two IMO... I think I will have to become exposed to these more to get more comfortable watching them. I still feel like I'm dreaming these episodes haha

That's the spirit! You'll find that some of them are better the second or third time through.

[Reply #237 on:]

after watching the new one yet again, it has grown on me quite a bit. it truly does feel like one of the originals. even if the plot isn't the best and it isn't the funniest, i still love it.

[Reply #238 on:]

Wait.... so was Bender the ghost in this episode?

Stupid! There's no such thing as ghosts.

It's a robot ghost.

[Reply #239 on:]

you know, i'm sure a lot of folks with not be surprised, but sorynarkayn is not totally wrong in my eyes. during 'neutopia' and 'benderama', i literally laughed out loud several times(more-so during neutopia). during 'ghost in the machines', i don't even remember laughing once.

My point.

Even the worst sitcoms on TV can elicit chuckles -- often followed by eye rolls and groans. That doesn't make them funny or enjoyable.

Futurama is (or was) great because most episodes provide plenty of hearty laugh-out-loud laughes; some episodes had jokes that I laughed so hard at that they brought me to tears; or I laughed so long that I had to catch my breath, and then continued laughing. Futurama provided me with the best laughes I've ever had!

The contrast between Futurama's funniest episodes and this one, which barely made me laugh at all, couldn't be greater IMO.

my other futurama friend and i discussed this episode today, and we both came to the conclusion that it was the least funny episode of the three, but wasn't as bad as 'aotka' and prop. in.

I'm grateful that someone recognized this -- despite that this episode has been rated higher than the first two.

it was a bad, cheap plot, but it still felt pretty good. with that said, if the writing and plots don't improve, the show could become a simpsons 2.0(simpsons after season 10, that is).

I agree that the quality, inspiration, and free spirited nature of the writing seems to have diminished since the first four production seasons. Occassionally there are glimmers of classic Futurama, but overall the series feels like it's changed, and not for the better.

I hate to admit this, but I think that you're right that Futurama has begun to feel like The Simpsons 2.0 -- meaning it's best days have passed.

There's nothing that I want more than for Futurama to return to what it was like in the original run, wherein I enjoyed nearly every episode -- whereas now I skip about a quarter of the sixteen new episodes, because I don't enjoy watching them at all.