Alternate ending to the original run?

[on:]

I was wondering recently; if Futurama was never un-canceled, and for some weird, unspecified reason, they chose not to have  "The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings" as the series finale. Instead, they made it something else.

What would it be? Which other episode would make a satisfying conclusion?

I know that nothing would be as great as the Devil's Hands, but I think that "The Why of Fry" would be appropriate. And if they were really brave, and wanted an exceptionally tragic  ending to the series, "Time Keeps on Slippin'"

Thoughts? Any other episode that would have worked as the final one?

[Reply #1 on:]

IMHO..

I do not think Futurama was un-cancelled...

It is a miracle that Futurama has continued till now..

And thank God it has..

[Reply #2 on:]

Unreal, do you mean you want us to think of an ep already in existence, or make up our own story of the perfect ending?

[Reply #3 on:]

Sorry if I was too vague, I meant one that already exists.

[Reply #4 on:]

"Godfellas" maybe, but I do think it would have to focus some more on Fry and Leela (And include more of the crew) to be the final episode

[Reply #5 on:]

Yeah, but I don't think Bender should've just been sent back to Earth, maybe they could end it with the crew meeting God and something epic happening.

[Reply #6 on:]

I think you hit the nail on the head with 'The Why of Fry' to be honest.

I suppose my second choice after that would be 'Roswell that Ends Well' just to see the show burn out with maximum glory.

[Reply #7 on:]

the honking.

[Reply #8 on:]

the honking.

Wat.

Yeah 'The Why of Fry' is my favourite ep.

[Reply #9 on:]

I would choose Time Keeps On Slipping. I'm very much a shipper, but I still think that a tragic ending like that would be very interesting.

[Reply #10 on:]

Although Parasites Lost and Time Keeps on Slipping used to be my favorite episodes as a big shipper, I must say Why of Fry is climbing the list of my favorite episodes. Mainly because Leela is becoming a completely unlikeable character and I'm starting to lament Fry's affection towards her. Her cold indifference that kept the chase so interesting has been slowly replaced with a selfishness that knows no bounds.

[Reply #11 on:]

^ Ouch.

[Reply #12 on:]

See I like that he relentlessly tries and fails in the original run, but I don't like how they took their relationship/friendship, wherein sometimes they are together and other times they are not, depending on whether the plot calls for it or not. They should have had them dated for a few episodes, have it end weirdly like when Amy and Fry dated, and still have them remain friends as Fry goes on to date other chicks making Leela jealous. That would have been acceptable to me.

[Reply #13 on:]

"Time keeps on slipping" would also be my favorite.
The ending should be something big, and the fate of the universe should qualify:)

[Reply #14 on:]

"The Why of Fry" is a top ten episode for me, but the only thing that keeps it from being finale material, I think, is the lack of screen time for any character besides Fry. I mean, the entire second act is just him and the Nibblonians. I love the note the episode ends on, where Fry has just saved the world and gotten closer to Leela, but a good finale should really include all of the characters to a greater extent. Devil's Hands did that really well, I thought; the story revolved around Fry and Leela, but the rest of the PE crew had their moments.

That said, though, I think "The Sting" would have probably made a good finale, since it utilizes the whole cast really well and ends on a sweet, progress-has-been-made note.

[Reply #15 on:]

When I read the thread title, I thought this was about alternate endings to "Devil's Hands," but that would be too easy.

As for the actual thread topic, I think "Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles" would have been a decent finale.  It's from Season 4; it features the entire main cast, plus Leela's parents, Amy's parents, and Hermes' family; it has Fry and Leela going on an actual date together; and it ends with the characters hugging and appreciating how lucky they are to have each other as friends.  Seems like a good way to end the series.  The final scene with Pazuzu telling the story to his child and saying good night to the audience makes it even better.

[Reply #16 on:]

When Why of Fry first aired, I felt like it should have been the final episode. Gorky is right that it doesn't feature the rest of the cast very much...but it gives perfect closure to Fry's story. He fulfilled his destiny; saved the universe and won the girl. Perfect ending.

[Reply #17 on:]

Agreed with the Why of Fry, although I was fine with The Devils Hands as a finale. It certainly marked the end of something anyway.

[Reply #18 on:]

When Why of Fry first aired, I felt like it should have been the final episode. Gorky is right that it doesn't feature the rest of the cast very much...but it gives perfect closure to Fry's story. He fulfilled his destiny; saved the universe and won the girl. Perfect ending.

Not to mention how it takes everything full-circle. What better way to end than a revisit to the events of the first episode?

[Reply #19 on:]

Good point, cyber_rootvegetable, but leaving that remark about "the other" hanging for eternity would be rather cruel. At least now we have some hope that they might address that someday.

[Reply #20 on:]

If course Devil's Hands was perfect in the respect that it WAS basically an opera at the end.  A form of art so old and respected that the whole cartoon genre is a mere infant compared to it.
It was: Let's go for the REAL great art, let's go REAL big, let's get really CLASSIC.
All other alternate endings can -imhO- only qualify as finale based on the assumption there never was a "Devils Hands" episode

[Reply #21 on:]

The last 3 episodes of the original series should have been The Why Of Fry, The Sting, then The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings. Anyone else agree with me on this one?

[Reply #22 on:]

I like that idea! It would build up the drama nicely.

[Reply #23 on:]

Yep, that's an excellent airing order.