To the Year 3014 or Bust - General Futurama Discussion

[#240 :]

Fair enough!

[#241 :]

Yes, yes, I meant Season 7A.

[#242 :]

Recently, on the Futurama News thread, members have voiced their concern for the quality of the upcoming three-part season finale "Naturama". So, minutes before the episode airs, on the new Futurama thread designated for general discussion, I'm going to discuss some of their "fears".

Without a doubt, "The Futurama Holiday Spectacular" was one of the worst (in my book, the worst) episodes of Futurama. Fortunately, it wasn't canon. Unfortunately, it is still considered "Futurama". And yes, the episode had an overarching theme of "environmentalism" through each of its three segments.  Now people are worried that "Naturama" is going to follow suit as it has been discovered that all three segments focus on mating. While I do understand their concerns especially after the trainwreck of a Christmas special, it's not going to be quite the same. "The Futurama Holiday Spectacular" was a Christmas episode featuring segments about some holiday tradition that just had to use some sort of material object that was threatened by poor environmental habits. "Naturama" is all about Futurama castmembers reimagined as animals and focuses on mating. Environmentalism is not associated with Christmas. But, nature is all about sex. From an evolutionary/biological standpoint, the meaning of life is all about reproducing another generation to continue your race. While Futurama didn't have to focus solely on reproduction in wildlife, reproduction is of utmost importance.

And now I leave- the season finale is about to come on!

[#243 :]

I ain't worried about anything!

31st Century Fox is doing great so far. Getting ready for the 3rd act!

[#244 :]

Welp, Cubert did not appear once in 7A, and Nibbler only appeared for like 4 seconds and it wasn't even in canon form. Hmm.

[#245 :]

So?  Now gather around, children; to insert characters in episodes for the sake of doing so is bad, m'kay.  Season 7A have already had some instances of this, where former characters appeared for no other reason than doing so.  Fortunately, season 7A haven't been terrible in that regard compared to say season 6 and the films for that matter.  In short; less 'fanwank' this season.

Nibbler and Cubert are characters who have each their own significance on the show.  Making them appear for no reason is much more troubling than tertiary characters.  For one thing, Cubert did not appear until half way through season 2, after which he only made a subtitle string of appearances.  But each time, there seemed to be a need to utilise his character.  I cannot think how any of the plots so far in season 7A would have bettered with a Cubert appearance.

Nibbler, on the other hand, is more difficult to ponder.  It feels - to me at least - that the writers are setting this up for a reveal.  A big twist, that will only be emphasis by his lack of appearance in episodes prior to this.

As a comparison:  Nibbler's first appearance in Season 3 is "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid" and in season 4 - while he has a subtle appearance in "Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch" (I think at the baby shower) - his first appearance is "Jurassic Bark" (as the shadow).

I don't care enough about Cubert to wonder if there is a reason he is not in Season 7A, but I guess it has something to do with his character not being necessary.

[#246 :]

Nibbler, on the other hand, is more difficult to ponder.  It feels - to me at least - that the writers are setting this up for a reveal.  A big twist, that will only be emphasis by his lack of appearance in episodes prior to this.

I considered that.

I cannot think how any of the plots so far in season 7A would have bettered with a Cubert appearance.

7ACV02. The Professor (or anyone else for that matter) didn't give a shit about where Cubert was. He wasn't seen on Mars with them either. So basically Cubert was left alone on earth to die and no one gave a fuck.

[#247 :]

That seems reasonable, though.

[#248 :]

I think a better example would be "Near-Death Wish".

Ned and Velma clearly didn't get it when Fry first tried to explain his relation to them, so it might have been interesting if somebody tried to explain that Cubert was a clone of their son.

[#249 :]

It's established that Cubert goes to boarding school. Presumably, said school is on another planet which was safe during the events of "A Farewell to Arms".

[#250 :]

It's established that Cubert goes to boarding school. Presumably, said school is on another planet which was safe during the events of "A Farewell to Arms".

Or the Professor is just a lousy parent.  He was willing to abandon Cubert at the end of ITWGY by flying through a wormhole that potentially lead to billions of light years from Earth.  Same with the Conrads willing to leave Dwight essentially an orphan with no idea what happened to his mother and father.

[#251 :]

There was really no need for Cubert to appear in "Near-Death Wish". Fry basically filled in the role as the childish grandson...

[#252 :]

Sort of.  Cubert is a smark aclecky kind of kid, while Fry is the chidlike, innocent kind of kid.

[#253 :]

Maybe the writers are purposefully excluding cubert slightly, due to knowledge of him being one of the least popular characters?

[#254 :]

Maybe the writers are purposefully excluding cubert slightly, due to knowledge of him being one of the least popular characters?

Recently a lot of fans have taken a liking to him though.

Maybe Cubert is part of Nibbler's mission, and they were off together somewhere saving the universe or something...

Spin-off?

[#255 :]

On top of Svip's comments, it's worth noting that both Nibbler and Cubert are voiced by guest stars so they're even less likely to just throw the characters in without good cause.

[#256 :]

Eh, I'm not too fussed about Cubert but Nibbler should have at least appeared in an episode as throughout last season it was established he was part of the crew now (and even he he has reverted back to his pet-form, he could have had a non-speaking role in at least one episode...)

[#257 :]

I am not sure about this but I think in the episode were Cubert become a paper delivery boy they mentioned him visiting from boarding school.  And for those of you that read Futurama comics, #16 is a whole comic dedicated to finding a new boarding school for Cubert.  So my vote for why he's not there or even mentioned is because he's back at boarding school.

As for Nibbler he's always off doing something in his cute little spaceship.   

[#258 :]

Why Futurama hasn't jumped the shark

[#259 :]

While I don't think the show has jumped the shark, I don't completely buy the article's argument that the different and hitherto unattempted combinations of character interaction is proof that the show has more tricks up its sleeve. Some of the various pairings haven't seemed all that natural, like they arose out of an established affinity (or animosity) between characters. But interesting article.

I really liked that Happy Days ep where the Fonz did that. Hey, I was probably 7 years old at the time.

[#260 :]

http://www.avclub.com/articles/moby-dick-in-space-movie-in-spacedevelopment-in-sp,86172/

Sound familiar?

[#261 :]

What a rip, at least it's ripping on a good episode though...

[#262 :]

* UnrealLegend  waits for Inquisitor Hein to comment

[#263 :]

Does he hate Mobius Dick? I'm glad that other people like it. Leela went mad, so hence her out of character actions, so I really can't fault it because of that. I loved the strange visual images of the whale swim-flying through space, and the additional dimension thing.

[#264 :]

I'm in that small club of people that dislike Mobius Dick also.

[#265 :]

I think it's one of the better 6B episodes.

[#266 :]

I'm in that small club of people that dislike Mobius Dick also.

Mobius is beyond underrated.

[#267 :]

I'm in that small club of people that dislike Mobius Dick also.

And a very fine club it is indeed. Well done, good Sir

But...to take up the cudgels for "Möbius Dick" Fans:
Some of them even come off as relatively normal people. They might be sitting next to you in the subway, and you would never guess.
Discrimination is the last thing these persons should suffer: They need our unconditional help, our understanding, and our support.
So -with the help of Jesus and our fighting men and women overseas- they might still become respected members of our society, making a valuable contribution to said society.
Good bye, and God bless you all, my fellow Peelers.
Good night.

[#268 :]

Mobius is beyond underrated.

If all anyone ever says about an episode is that it's underrated, is it really underrated?

[#269 :]

I'm in that small club of people that dislike Mobius Dick also.

Mobius is beyond overrated.

Fixed.

[#270 :]

If people fight over it being either overrated or underrated, I'd say they cancel each other out and it just becomes "normal".

[#271 :]

If people fight over it being either overrated or underrated, I'd say they cancel each other out and it just becomes "normal".

Incorrect. It's all about opinion.

[#272 :]

If no one had any opinion whatsoever it would be neither overrated nor underrated, or either good or bad, for that matter.  Since people do have opinions, it is overrated to some people and underrated to others.  Personally I liked that ep, but parts of it really grated on my nerves.

Speaking of opinions, one's opinion tends to carry more weight when one is not being a jerk about it.  Just sayin'.

[#273 :]

If people fight over it being either overrated or underrated, I'd say they cancel each other out and it just becomes "normal".

Incorrect. It's all about opinion.

Obviously.

[#274 :]

All of these post and only one mention of the new movie?

[#275 :]

Well, I mean, I posted it in the upcoming films thread before you posted it here, for a start.

And it's not like anyone took any notice of it there, either.

[#276 :]

I looked at the upcoming films thread and it looked like you all were talking about Die Hard and Indiana Jones. I guess I missed it.

[#277 :]

Well, I mean, I posted it in the upcoming films thread before you posted it here, for a start.

And it's not like anyone took any notice of it there, either.

Maybe people think that if they ignore it then it'll go away :P

[#278 :]

I think a good episode would include an episode including the marriage of AT&T and AOL.  For what it is worth

[#279 :]

An episode is called "Amarutuf" apparently. What has this replaced then? Because I thought we got all the titles for 7B, and this wasn't one of them... but now it is. Did an older title change?