Should Futurama have just stayed cancelled the first time?

[Reply #40 on:]

Cool.  Now all we need to do is genetically engineer cows to hop around from flower to flower, partially digest the contents of their crops, then regurgitate.  Then it's honey for everybody on the planet.  Huzzah!

Also, original Space Bees FTW!

[Reply #41 on:]

Didn't know it was your fave ep, but good choice Randi. Is Futurama also your fave show ever? Would that make TLPJF your favourite episode of any TV ever made?...

Futurama is my favorite show, yes. Favorite episode of anything? As weiner said, not quite sure. Roswell That Ends Well is my sentimental favorite episode. But as far as storyline, scifiness, shippyness, mixed in with humor goes, TLPJF wins hands down.

I never really though of my favorite episode of everything until you brought that up Otis. I have many favorites of all shows, but there isn't like one I could watch over and over and over again. 2 overs yes...anything else is too much.

[Reply #42 on:]

For me, it's a yes
The legacy of the show is diluted when it sticks around too long and the quality declines, the movies were a "benefit of the doubt" season and the return to episodes excited me as it had great potential, but this season has been low on laughs and fresh ideas, too many duds, references to when it was good instead of jokes and rehashed themes
I also think this is the wrong place to have this debate, as there are too many people of the type who will over react and stick their fingers in their ears...

[Reply #43 on:]

I agree that the quality of some recent episodes is a tad different than the original run, but I also believe it had some episodes that could stand alongside the original run. The movies were pretty good, aside from Bender's Game...that one was a bit tedious for me.

And I think this si the perfect place to have this discussion

[Reply #44 on:]

There is nothing wrong with discussing this here.

6B has a different vibe, sure, but a lot of the episodes, particularly the last three, fit right in with the original run. I think 7 will be even better. 6, for me, generally got better as it progressed, and I think now they're back in the swing of things and fully reunited with the show as it was.

[Reply #45 on:]

I think 6 was pretty average because it's the first time the crew have been back up and running at full capacity again, they need some time to get back into that old groove of the original run.

(IMO, 6 was great, possibly better than 4, but yeah.)

[Reply #46 on:]

So this is what it was like when Spacefish joined. Now I understand how frustrating that must have been for everyone. Welcome to PEEL, anyways, you board-breaker, you. Also, you're the 12000th member, which I guess is kind of cool maybe.

I also though 6A was better than 6B, but not by a whole lot.

Benderama? Really? Weird choice.

Lobstertainment is way worse than YLL and IAGDL in my opinion. Not, however, worse than Neutopia.

Hehe, I knew that the name was a little long, but I had trouble thinking of a shorter one (except the one I use on CGEF, but I don't want to be tracked down...).  What I didn't know was that it's possible to include a space in one's username like Spacefish does. I tried to edit that, but apparently a username can't be changed. Oh well.

Yeah, sometimes I agree with the majority, sometimes I don't. Benderama just had something light about it, it was funny, enjoyable and even pretty intelligent (tiny Benders manipulating elements in order to create alcohol? How cool is that!). IAGDL wasn't that bad actually, it was quite funny at times (chamber of understanding). I just hated the out-of-character behavior and the ending made me angry.

I probably shouldn't mention that I didn't like PoB or else I will get kicked out of here...

Edit: It's a miracle!

[Reply #47 on:]

I liked "Benderama" and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela" quite a bit; I agree that they were light and funny, and they felt quite reminiscent of the original run for me in terms of humor and story.

The legacy of the show is diluted when it sticks around too long and the quality declines, the movies were a "benefit of the doubt" season and the return to episodes excited me as it had great potential, but this season has been low on laughs and fresh ideas, too many duds, references to when it was good instead of jokes and rehashed themes

Eh, I don't know. In a way, that argument seems analogous to saying that the writers should have stopped with season three, because at that point the show had been getting progressively better and why would you want to produce a fourth season and risk it being awful? The show was canceled in its prime (season four is nearly perfect, in my opinion), so I don't blame the writers for coming back and hoping to be as great as they once were.

Were my expectations really high going into season six? Hell yeah. And I was a little disappointed. But season one was overall pretty blah for me, and season two improved on it a little, and season three improved on season two a little, and season four was just really special and well-done...so, I don't know. I have high hopes for season seven because I think season six was by necessity composed of a lot of throat-clearing; the writers had to get back into the swing of things. And season six ended really, really strong (the last three episodes were 10/10s for me)--so I think season seven has the potential to be pretty damn good.

'Course, I could just be once again setting myself up for disappointment. If season seven doesn't improve on season six, I don't know that I really want there to be a season eight. I do know that I don't think the show will have much life in it beyond, say, a tenth season. You can only sustain quality for so long, before you run out or ideas and inspiration and such. I just don't think the show has reached that point yet, but next season might be a deal-breaker in that respect.

[Reply #48 on:]

I think 6 was pretty average because it's the first time the crew have been back up and running at full capacity again, they need some time to get back into that old groove of the original run.

(IMO, 6 was great, possibly better than 4, but yeah.)

If anything Season 4 was the crew as into their old groove as much as possible, so if getting back into that old groove of the original run is what they need to do, then why do they need to do that if Season 6 is possibly better than Season 4? ...

[Reply #49 on:]

Well they... I... Shut up!

[Reply #50 on:]

I loved Season 6. Season 6A Was my most memorable ones watching because "Hey this show is back on T.V! I have to see it" and Season 6B wasn't as memorable. But Season 6B had better episodes hands down. Season 6A Had some stinkers like In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela and Lrreconceble whatever. But the rest I loved. I really like how Comedy Central made all those fun imaginable commercials in 2010, and some came on in 2011 like Fry-Day Commercial. Overall, I am very pleased with it coming back but I cant decide if it should have stayed cancelled.............so far i'd have to say No. Pretty Soon some people are gonna start realizing the Return of Futurama and were going to get a WAY BIGGER fan base!

[Reply #51 on:]

I probably shouldn't mention that I didn't like PoB or else I will get kicked out of here...

Nah, not really. I am actually surprised so many people really loved that one. It was really zany. Heavy on the sci-fi, though, which always seemed to be good. I like PoB a lot but it's not in my top 10 or anything... I don't even know that it is in my top 20, I'd have to check.

[Reply #52 on:]

Lrreconceble whatever.

Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences.

[Reply #53 on:]

[Zoidberg]If that's his pizza, I'm Lrrreconcilable whatever.[/Zoidberg]

[Reply #54 on:]

If Futurama stayed cancelled, The Late Philip J. Fry wouldn't have existed. That one episode alone is enough for me to not regret Futurama ever coming back. Season 6B was showing more episodes on par with the original run, so I think we can assume that Season 7 will be showing the same quality or better.

[Reply #55 on:]

so I think we can assume that Season 7 will be showing the same quality or better.

Same quality as OR = Yeah, 6B did feel like old Futurama.
Better than OR = That's going to be very tough.

[Reply #56 on:]

Noooooo...Season 6 may not be as great as Season 4, but it's certainly on par with the first three seasons and better than the movies. Without Season 6, we wouldn't have TLPJF, Lethal Inspection, Prisoner of Benda, A Clockwork Origin or Overclockwise. Futurama could get a lot worse and I still wouldn't wish it off the air.

[Reply #57 on:]

Same quality as OR = Yeah, 6B did feel like old Futurama.
Better than OR = That's going to be very tough.

Anything that's the same quality as the original run is more than good enough to be on the air, in my opinion.

[Reply #58 on:]

The first two seasons are my favourites, so I don't think 6 is on par with them and certainly doesn't have a lot in common. What I disliked most about the new episodes are two things: First of all, the voice acting (Billy West especially). And second, it seems that in most episodes the world has to be in perril of being destroyed, or there's time travel or... what I loved about the first two seasons was that they didn't try to have overly radical and dynamic plots. I really miss the casualness of old, old, incredibly old school Futurama.

[Reply #59 on:]

Yes, I can agree to that, as long as the plot is there. Yo Leela Leela involved a storyline that didn't have to the with the world ending, and it sucked major monkey butt imo. Howver, ones like Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love and Fry and the Slurm Factory - brilliant.

[Reply #60 on:]

I thought "Fry Am the Egg Man" had a nice story that was reminiscent of season one or two (it reminded me of "The Honking," just a smidge). Overall, though, I agree that there were a lot of episodes in season six where something the crew did affected the Universe At Large...and episodes like that should probably be used sparingly.

I did miss some of the quieter, more character-driven stuff this season--but that was more a hallmark of seasons three and four (which I prefer to seasons one and two), I guess.

[Reply #61 on:]

There were a lot of crazy plots in Season 6. I do miss the frequency of the "they go on a delivery to some random planet and shenanigans occur" episodes that characterized the early seasons. Filler middle episodes like TDK and President's Heads shouldn't really have a  "save the world" premise.

Some of the better episodes of Season 6 weren't drastic and world-shattering. Like Lethal Inspection, and Clockwork Origin, and Egg Man. It's not like that kind of episode has disappeared.

[Reply #62 on:]

Yes, I can agree to that, as long as the plot is there. Yo Leela Leela involved a storyline that didn't have to the with the world ending, and it sucked major monkey butt imo.

That's because Leela episodes are Leela episodes. They can be emotional (especially if Fry is involved), but they can't be funny. Yet the writers never stop trying...

@ Gorky: FAtEM's first half was exactly like I want Futurama to be. Especially the drivethrough is everything I love about Futurama. Take a futuristic setting - and make it everyday life, bare of any sci-fi romance. I just didn't like space Scotland, that's all.

Edit:

Filler middle episodes like TDK and President's Heads shouldn't really have a  "save the world" premise.

Exactly. Especially time travel shouldn't be overused. Btw, does your name happen to be inspired by Final Fantasy X? Just wondering. 

[Reply #63 on:]

The first two seasons are my favourites, so I don't think 6 is on par with them and certainly doesn't have a lot in common.

Glad to see someone else who enjoys the old eps from Season One and Two, overall they're highly underrated it seems...

Yes, I can agree to that, as long as the plot is there. Yo Leela Leela involved a storyline that didn't have to the with the world ending, and it sucked major monkey butt imo.

That's because Leela episodes are Leela episodes. They can be emotional (especially if Fry is involved), but they can't be funny. Yet the writers never stop trying...

A Bicyclops Built for Two is a Leela episode and that's hilarious, but that sorta goes back to your original point about Season One and Two being so good, after all it's a Season Two ep...

FAtEM's first half was exactly like I want Futurama to be. Especially the drivethrough is everything I love about Futurama. Take a futuristic setting - and make it everyday life, bare of any sci-fi romance. I just didn't like space Scotland, that's all.

Totally agree. Until the crappy Scotland stuff this ep was one of the most classic feeling episodes of Season Six. That Scotland stuff ruined it and took that feeling away. They should have kept things Sci-fi and futuristic, that Scotland shit had no place in this ep. Such a shame as if it wasn't for that it'd be one of my fave new eps ...

[Reply #64 on:]

The first two seasons are my favourites, so I don't think 6 is on par with them and certainly doesn't have a lot in common.

Glad to see someone else who enjoys the old eps from Season One and Two, overall they're highly underrated it seems...

Yes, I can agree to that, as long as the plot is there. Yo Leela Leela involved a storyline that didn't have to the with the world ending, and it sucked major monkey butt imo.

That's because Leela episodes are Leela episodes. They can be emotional (especially if Fry is involved), but they can't be funny. Yet the writers never stop trying...

A Bicyclops Built for Two is a Leela episode and that's hilarious, but that sorta goes back to your original point about Season One and Two being so good, after all it's a Season Two ep...

FAtEM's first half was exactly like I want Futurama to be. Especially the drivethrough is everything I love about Futurama. Take a futuristic setting - and make it everyday life, bare of any sci-fi romance. I just didn't like space Scotland, that's all.

Totally agree. Until the crappy Scotland stuff this ep was one of the most classic feeling episodes of Season Six. That Scotland stuff ruined it and took that feeling away. They should have kept things Sci-fi and futuristic, that Scotland shit had no place in this ep. Such a shame as if it wasn't for that it'd be one of my fave new eps ...

The Space Scotland stuff was just boring and ruined the other half of the episode. They could have done better than making a planet full of irish people! But before the space scotland i loved the episode.

[Reply #65 on:]

The Space Scotland stuff was just boring and ruined the other half of the episode. They could have done better than making a planet full of irish people!

Wat.

And it was called Doohan 6, not Space Scotland.

[Reply #66 on:]

I just whipped up some histograms of CGEF scores. I say, if we are judging this based on season 6's quality as compared to the original run, then hell no, they shouldn't have stayed cancelled. Look how similar the Season 6 and Season 3 ratings are! Not to mention that Season 6 has more 90%+ episodes than seasons 1 and 2 and equal those of 3.

Sure, season 6 has has more stinkers, but it's also worth noting that most of them were in season 6A. YLL is the only stinker of 6B. 8 out of 13 6B eps were rated 80-90% - that is a good solid score and some impressive consistency.

(Looking back on these, I should have edited the scale of the y-axis so that they're all equal...I may go do that. stay tuned.)



edit: the only ones that really suffered from uneven axis syndrome were the 6A/6B graphs, so here:

[Reply #67 on:]

Interesting statistics. I think however that the ratings on the first seasons seem a little harsh. Is "The Mutants Are Revolting" really better than "Space Pilot 3000"? Is "Tip of the Zoidberg" really better than "Brannigan Begin Again"? You can definitely compare the episodes within a season that way, but if you compare whole seasons, you must keep in mind that the sample sizes (and their makeup) vary wildly, that they are sometimes years apart and finally that some 6B episodes are a little overrated because they look really shiny compared to 6A (okay, that last bit was just speculation).

I don't disagree with your result, by the way. 6B wasn't great (by Futurama standards), but it was definitely back on the right track.

[Reply #68 on:]

Is "The Mutants Are Revolting" really better than "Space Pilot 3000"?

Yes.

Is "Tip of the Zoidberg" really better than "Brannigan Begin Again"?

Um, no. Not at all.

Yeah, I totally agree. However, the ratings for Season 6 episodes do tend to level out after about a week - the sample sizes are smaller, but they're still pretty large and it's not like the scores are going to be different today. It is a different group of people watching the eps though, and I do wonder how that influences it.

I am not sure how 6B is more "shiny" than 6A, but okay...

[Reply #69 on:]

Otis: A Bicyclops Built for Two was a Leela heavy episode, however her plot was supported with a subplot of Fry, which is why I think it worked. Same as Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love, where Fry supported the Zoidberg heavy plot. It seems that's the only way these kind of episodes can work. In That's Lobstertainment! the Zoidberg plot wasn't really supported by anyone. Bender was the one with the most involved story after him, however his story really had nothing to do with Zoidberg, they did not intertwine like the other previously stated episodes. And I think that is the issue on some of these episodes failing so badly, like Yo Leela Leela. Also that plot was just dumb...they essentially made what should have been a C story the main A story.

[Reply #70 on:]

I guess A Bicyclops Built for Two was improved by the supporting subplot of Fry, and also Bender was great too. You raise a good point regarding that in Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love too. I think you just could be onto something there. Agreed on Yo Leela Leela, not even a C story, not even a rejected idea, not even a terrible fan script. It has no place in Futurama, none ...

Is "The Mutants Are Revolting" really better than "Space Pilot 3000"?

Yes.

Definately not in my opinion. Space Pilot 3000 is way way better!...

[Reply #71 on:]

It's really hard to judge the pilot independently of all of the others, I think. Iunno, I really have a soft spot for Mutants are Revolting. It fits right in with the classics.

[Reply #72 on:]

I've never understood why 'Space Pilot 3000' is as highly regarded as it is. It's an amazing pilot, but if anything, I'd say it's in the weaker half of 'Futurama' episodes.

[Reply #73 on:]

I'd have to agree with you on that one. Most of season 1 is probably in the weaker half overall, with a couple of exceptions. It's not like there aren't really good episodes in the bottom half. I think the bottom half of CGEF ratings starts around 82%. (I am not on the computer with my spreadsheet to verify this).

[Reply #74 on:]

I've never understood why 'Space Pilot 3000' is as highly regarded as it is. It's an amazing pilot, but if anything, I'd say it's in the weaker half of 'Futurama' episodes.

That is not what is going to scare you.  There is some Russian guy dedicated to this episode.  He once wrote on our Nine talk page about Nine's appearance in the pilot.  He claims to have watched the episode at least a thousand times.

And somehow, I believe him.

[Reply #75 on:]

SpacePilot3000 is a sentimental favorite for me because well...it was the first episode. If you were to take emotion out of the equation though, it would definitely be one of the weaker episodes, agreed. Although it did abundantly employ really neat futuristic sci-fi stuff. That is what I miss about the episodes now. Not enough cool devices and machines and whatchacallits. Especially in the everyday. They're mostly just sitting on a couch watching the tv. 

[Reply #76 on:]

Just caught Futurama on FTA TV for the first time in an age - I, Roommate has more laughs than the entire season 6

[Reply #77 on:]

Just caught Futurama on FTA TV for the first time in an age - I, Roommate has more laughs than the entire season 6

Then do not post bad things about Season 6. Just be quiet and let the people who enjoy it, enjoy it.

[Reply #78 on:]

I, Roommate really is a cracking ep, extremely funny and just brilliant. It has a different type of humour to Season 6...

Although it did abundantly employ really neat futuristic sci-fi stuff. That is what I miss about the episodes now. Not enough cool devices and machines and whatchacallits. Especially in the everyday. They're mostly just sitting on a couch watching the tv.

Agreed, all that weird futuristic Sci-fi shit was great, it was fresh and new. I guess it's harder to come up with more of that junk after so many eps, but I do long for more...

[Reply #79 on:]

but I do long for more...

Second.

I think there are actually a few more Sci-Fi things coming into the show now, e.g. when the Robot Mafia are reading the sign about PE wanting a new employee, the sign itself is sci-fi, and there's a good view of hovercars and NNY in the background.