Thoughts on 7ACV03 - Decision 3012 - SPOILERS!

[on:]

I'm not sure how I feel about this episode. On the one hand, there was a lot that I found funny; the characters were utilized well (it's nice to have a Leela-goes-on-a-crusade episode where she doesn't come across as terribly self-righteous); and the social commentary didn't seem too forced (to me, the Obama birth certificate controversy is so much a part of American history that it's not going to be dated in thirty years; it's on the same level of timelessness as, say, Watergate parodies (hell, just like the one this episode did with Hedonism Bot and Bender in the parking garage)). I especially appreciated the fact that only the trio went to Kenya to find Travers's birth certificate, as opposed to the whole damn PE crew; stories involving just the three mains were sorely missing from season six, but this one definitely felt like a Leela/Bender/(partly) Fry episode. And I liked that a lot.

On the other hand, though, this episode's pacing was so crazy-fast that I'm not sure I can really form a concrete opinion on the plot's progression; I'm not even a hundred percent sure what actually happened, beat-by-beat, in the story. I may have to rewatch it before I say anything more about it.

My preliminary feeling, though, is that this episode was at least on-par with last week's premiere. I'm thinking it'll be in the 6/10 to 7/10 range--average by Futurama standards, and a perfectly enjoyable episode.

[Reply #1 on:]

Wow, that episode blew me away.
Lots of big funny insane sci-fi moments!
The time code returned... and I lost my mind laughing/watching it.

The first act's beer-spensful twist opening blew me away with childish glee.
Then all the Nixon and Bender stuff was great as usual.
Next Bender eating Leela's hair in shock was so awesome.
The time travel twist theme in this one worked well.
I couldn't stop laughing... I loved seeing Bender as the future king of earth.

All the nods to BBS were quite welcome... right down to Bender's big blaster.
Great twist with Nixon winning in the end... and Bender knowing that he becomes the eventual king of earth no matter what.

Easily an 9/10 overall.

[Reply #2 on:]

I didn't expect much out of this episode, and I got about what I expected. I liked the references to BBS, and the whole Bender taking over bit reminded me of Fallout 3.

7/10

[Reply #3 on:]

This is the second week in a row that I've done this. Goddamn it, do I suck. I'm sorry, MuchAdo.

For what it's worth:

The time code returned

That was one of those plot points that was introduced so quickly--and almost offhandedly--that I sort of lost my bearings in the story. That said, though, I do agree that it's cool to have gotten a BBS call-back. Sometimes the four movies seem kind of removed from the rest of the Futurama universe, so it's cool when the writers acknowledge that a lot of significant, game-changing stuff took place in them.

[Reply #4 on:]

I do agree that it's cool to have gotten a BBS call-back. Sometimes the four movies seem kind of removed from the rest of the Futurama universe, so it's cool when the writers acknowledge that a lot of significant, game-changing stuff took place in them.

My thoughts exactly... I loved BBS.

[Reply #5 on:]

I would have enjoyed this episode more if it wasn't featuring such a biased political message.

Candidate with nothing but good intentions  is derailed by backwards "Earthers" who are simply there to try to disqualify him on a technicality (clear reference to Barack Obama). In the "twist" we are shown how Earth will be ruined if he doesn't win, and then he doesn't win, thus paving the way for the Republican Nixon to ruin everything.

Truly, we live in a world where Obama cannot succeed and thus the evil Nixonites will inevitably destroy humanity.

[Reply #6 on:]

I would have enjoyed this episode more if it wasn't featuring such a biased political message.

Candidate with nothing but good intentions  is derailed by backwards "Earthers" who are simply there to try to disqualify him on a technicality (clear reference to Barack Obama). In the "twist" we are shown how Earth will be ruined if he doesn't win, and then he doesn't win, thus paving the way for the Republican Nixon to ruin everything.

Truly, we live in a world where Obama cannot succeed and thus the evil Nixonites will inevitably destroy humanity.

To me it felt like they we're just using whatever current events to string together a funny story in which Bender becomes King of Future Earth... b/c some lesser evil (in this case Nixon) always paves the way for a greater evil.

The dude was even clearly designed after Obama and simply colored white... but what I'm saying is this one kind of had an anti-message:

Obama won... it didn't matter... Travers won... it didn't matter.

We're fucked no matter who we vote for.

In the cartoon.. and the real world.

Update:

Just another quick thought.. Travers... as in... Time Traversing Traveler.

3 good episodes in a row. They all felt like real Futurama episodes. Should I be scarred? 0-o

No.. be happy... all the kinks fronm being on cable are worked out now.

[Reply #7 on:]

Meh episode, the Obama references were lame but the jokes made up for it. I think they should have cut out the first act and focused on the Sci-Fi elements more.


5/10

Also, I caught this:



Watching it again it gets worse and worse

[Reply #8 on:]

Decent enough. So far I really think this season is doing fairly well in terms of quality. Was it a perfect episode? Not at all. It felt entirely too rushed, as previously mentioned. I think my favorite gag in this one was

Show spoiler

(aside from opening credits fare) the portion where Leela's hair gets sucked into Bender's mouth.

Not a huge spoiler, but I tagged it just so I wouldn't get nagged at. I liked the theme because it's very currently relevant and is potentially going to be for all time unless politics magically decided to become a happy, non-corrupt entity.

* Professor Zoidy falls to the floor with laughter which masks her pain and sadness for this country's possible future.

Horrible opinions aside, I'll give this one a 6/10 to a 7/10 rating, so perhaps a 6.5/10 is in order.

[Reply #9 on:]

Don't worry about spoilers, PZ. The thread title says to expect them! Spoil to your heart's content.

[Reply #10 on:]

I was VERY pleasantly surprised with this episode. I went into this episode pretty wary of it being too topical, but its topical gestures (Travers’ similarities to President Obama)weren’t preachy or annoying. They were just enough. There were some very strong lines in this episode. (I loved Zoidberg’s line about Nixon, and Bender’s “In your face, high school guidance counselor!”) As mentioned above by Gorky, Leela didn’t come across as annoying or self-righteous, just determined. She seems to be much more like-able this season than in the previous season. 



Nixon and Bender worked really well together, and I think that’s primarily because while they both have evil tendencies, they’re not full antagonists. (Such as Mom)



I had high hopes for the “sci-fi twist” mentioned in the countdown, and it delivered well. The plot overall definitely benefits from a second watching-it was fast but fluid. I thought it was very clever how Nixon ended up winning a third term, and the call backs to both “Bender’s Big Score” and “A Flight to Remember” (the bartender at the very beginning) were well done.



All in all, I believe Futurama is driven primarily by its characters and plot, both of which were strong in this episode. Throw in some good wit, and you’ve got yourself a very strong episode. 

9/10!

[Reply #11 on:]

3 good episodes in a row. They all felt like real Futurama episodes. Should I be scarred? 0-o

[Reply #12 on:]

This was headed for "worst episode ever" (or at least, "worst episode in a while") territory with all of the cheesy Obama references.

...but they saved it with the scifi twist. I loved Bender ruling the earth, and I loved the return of the timecode.

I didn't find myself laughing out loud very much during the episode, but the gags were passably funny. Nothing stood out as being particularly lame, and the story surprised me. All in all, a likable episode. I give it a 6.

[Reply #13 on:]

I'm just glad that Nixon is still the President.
Arooo

[Reply #14 on:]

I would have enjoyed this episode more if it wasn't featuring such a biased political message.

Candidate with nothing but good intentions  is derailed by backwards "Earthers" who are simply there to try to disqualify him on a technicality (clear reference to Barack Obama). In the "twist" we are shown how Earth will be ruined if he doesn't win, and then he doesn't win, thus paving the way for the Republican Nixon to ruin everything.

Truly, we live in a world where Obama cannot succeed and thus the evil Nixonites will inevitably destroy humanity.

^This.

South Park's "Goobacks" came to my mind. (Sure, immigration was not "Decicion 3012"'s main theme, but important enough anyway).  D3012's sci fi plot was introduced rather late. 2/3 rds of the episode featured rather ordinary politics, with the time travel stuff appearing as some "last minute addition, because were are in a sci fi show, after all".
South Park also showed the immigrant opponents in a very unflattering light, but at least gave their concern also a relatable reason. Which made that episode already appear far less biased. Also, "Goobacks" sometimes felt more sci-fi-y than D3012

Also, Leela did not appear consistent in that episode to me:
- First, she was persuaded by Traver's integrity, not going for empty phrases.
- Then, that (as I would like to call it) "IQ downturning mass-media campaign".
Which was not really done in a self ironic "Yeah..it's a kind of double standard, but WE are the good ones, after all").
For some reason, I would have rather envisioned Leela to pass on an even more honest/responsible and therefore even less liked message than Travers himself.
That "going hip for the sake of it" mood seemed more like Amy's thing.

When the sci fi plot started, the episode gained momentum and speed. But -as already mentioned- it was entered too late.

[Reply #15 on:]

I loved it. 9/10. I'll elaborate on that later.

[Reply #16 on:]

wow, that was a... strange episode to say the least.  I knew they were going to push the whole "obama is the savior of the world and the republicans are a bunch of stupid hicks" crap, and that was about as obnoxious as I expected it to be.  That said, there were alot of good jokes (the hospital's "zebra" entrance had me laughing out loud) and then Nixon won in the end anyway, so overall the episode had more going for it than against it.

Does anyone else think that something seems different about Leela this season?  I've liked her part in all three episodes so far.  Even on one of her trademark crusades like she was in this episode she didn't come off as self-rightous or bitchy.  

7/10

[Reply #17 on:]

10/10 for me. It's not often that I watch an episode for the first time and find myself completely pleased with it(late Phil fry and the reanimated season finale being only others since resurrection of series).

The background jokes were all there, including a reference to 'bendin' in the wind' with some of the locations mentioned at the debate(tri-state area).

The pacing also seemed perfect to me right on first view, so I know it was good.

As far as the politics go in this episode, I thought they made a great point in that you're screwed no matter who you vote for. I didn't see any leaning one way or the other(btw, I'm a Ron Paul supporter).

If this season continues this streak, then I'll be a very happy man.

[Reply #18 on:]

I thought the sci-fi twist was revealed a little late in the episode, but I still enjoyed it and it seemed to work well so that's good.

I really liked the free beer thing in the opening and the callbacks to BBS (also the zebra entrance joke was hilarious).

I agree that Leela seems to be more likable so far this season. Something about her crusade in this episode just seemed like classic Leela, but in a good way.

I'll give this one a 7/10.

[Reply #19 on:]

I really liked this one. The beer opening was brilliant, and it had some interesting twists.

And unlike last week, there wasn't some stupid annoyance that spoiled the entire episode.

My favourite gag was the way Bender used the giraffe to get into the building.

Not sure what score to give, I'll decide on that one later.

[Reply #20 on:]

I liked this episode. It wasn't one of the best, but it was still really nice.
Accept from the Obama references, the jokes were funny and I loved the opening.

7/10

[Reply #21 on:]

I liked this episode. The opening was great, but the rest of the episode was pretty good. I liked the reference to BBS with the time code, that surprised the **** out of me! And the ending where everybody forgot what happened. Liked the episode, but didn't really like the cheesy obama references. But other than that, great episode.

I gave it an 8/10, because I failed to see some charm in the episode. I just saw hilarity and sci-fi-iety ( is that even a word? )

[Reply #22 on:]

Overall, a fairly solid episode. Futurama seems to have a caught a little bit of the South Park style of story writing with some of their recent "topical" episodes like the Apple spoof two seasons ago and again tonight with the "Earther" movement. While it might diminish some of the originality the series has been known for, it didn't necessarily effect the quality of the episode.

By the way, I LOVED the giraffe gag. Also, the timecode photocopy was a nice touch.

[Reply #23 on:]

I honestly don't know how to rate any of the new episodes. For me, I think my perspectives are more extreme just after I am done viewing the episode. Time meshes episodes together, and the outstanding episodes are much more noticable.

I certainly was not expecting that kind of sci-fi twist to it. On the General Discussion thread, I predicted (albeit late and within hours of the episode's premiere) that Chris Travers was actually going to be a native Earthling, but didn't have a birth certificate as he wasn't technically born; he would have been hatched or extracted from a cloning tube or budded from something. I did enjoy the twist, but I am wary of this time-travel [related] episode. Futurama hasn't exactly been consistent with how concrete the power of time travel is. Much of the "canon" from the love-hate "Bender's Big Score" is thrown to the wind somewhat. I guess the time-traveling isn't all that bad, but it does seem to make a paradox (but I guess like the time sphere, it just solves itself). I do wonder if the future portrayed in the flash-forwards is canon, though. Hope not- that wouldn't be any fun.

Leela was slightly annoying as campaign manager for Chris Travers. She reminded me of Peggy Hill by just barging in to the political scene. Also annoying when you get the rest of the Planet Express crew into politics- like Amy really cares about taxes when she's hemisphere-rich. Aye, but I guess Leela was just a tool for the Planet Express crew to meddle in the controversy.

Overall, the episode had a few good laughs. Nothing that hysterical, nothing too memorable, but no blundersome misfires. I do want to note that the corn field Chris Travers and Leela were standing in during the campaign montage was pretty much identical to the rolling greens and farmland of the Amish homeworld seen in "Ghost of the Machines". Chris Travers would really have no reason to be campaigning on another planet, but I guess with a universe so big, you're bound to have identical locations.

Didn't like how they treated the broadcasting of Travers's birth. I guess it's a disgusting funny, but not a good kind (it was in the same vein as "Susan Boils". I am actually quite upset at the fact that after the birth, Petunia and others were just like, "Okay, so he's an Earthican, no argument there". That was the opportune time to continue with the controversy by addressing the people who still reject the fact that Travers was born on Earth. These people still very much exist today, much like the moon-landing and 9/11 skeptics. The moment was golden, yet the writers missed the chance. I'm amazed that they also didn't address the fact that Travers cannot become President of Earth as he would technically chronologically be only a few months old by the time he would assume office, nor did they address "A Head in the Polls" continuity that Nixon must have a new body every other term he runs (and wins) for office.

I must say, the Fry's Bender tattoo Zerox was hilarious. Didn't realize that it was a Zerox at first (even though it was explicitly stated to be so right before they showed the image); I though the darkness around the paper was charred. For once, I really enjoyed the "Bender's Big Score" references. But one thing eludes me now from that episode: is the Bender shown with the laser gun in the future from that era, or is that a Bender who didn't manage to self-destruct in the end of "Bender's Big Score"? Could that Bender even have time-traveled from a further future? So confused...

[Reply #24 on:]

I agree that Leela seems to be more likable so far this season. Something about her crusade in this episode just seemed like classic Leela, but in a good way.

I found myself thinking this too.  She seems like a totally different person than in 6B, in a good way.  Hell, I'll take it.

I'm not gonna vote yet because as others have said, this episode is very fast paced, but my initial impressions are good.  I'm a sucker for political satire, so that was a plus.  I liked how it didn't feel like just a Leela plot but more of a classic FLB thing, even though Fry was just along for the ride.  So many great callbacks.  I'm going to meditate on what I just watched and post a more in depth impression later.

[Reply #25 on:]

lol Nixon
"Im running for re-election of president of Earth..... the greatest planet in the world" xD

[Reply #26 on:]

I was expecting Travers to die a horribly gorey death right after he wins. But being erased from time is creepy too.

Also did it have to be Kenya? I get the Obama parallel without it.

Ergh...I don't know. 7/10.

Bender swinging the giraffe's head into the window and then everyone climbing up it was so freaking funny to me. I'm glad Nasty thought it was funny too.

EDIT: Nixon telling the squirrel to fall of the telephone poll. Random and so appropriate and hilarious.

EDIT x2: PANEM!!! (I've read the books).

[Reply #27 on:]

Well at least Humans living on other planet around other stars outside of Sol our Solar System will survive.

Maybe some time traveler should try assassinate Nixon? That would fix the future.


7/10

[Reply #28 on:]

This episode gets points for having the full length intro sequence, topped with a great caption and variation/play on the crashing into the billboard trope.  Great stuff.

An inconsistency comes to mind: Travers claims that Humanity is nearly wiped out by a robot rebellion in the year 3038, but in TLPJF we are shown that by the year 3050 civilization is basically the same as it was in 3010.

Perhaps that why Hermes and Amy are missing their bodies in TLPJF - lost in the rebellion, while Leela, being the superior fighter/survivor, was able to save hers.

Actually, come to think of it, it may not be a conflict after all.  In TLPJF, Fry/Bender/Farnsworth being missing may have affected the timeline so that the rebellion never happened, or so that the reasons for the rebellion never cropped up.

[Reply #29 on:]

nor did they address "A Head in the Polls" continuity that Nixon must have a new body every other term he runs (and wins) for office.

Eh, that didn't really bug me; if Nixon can pass a law stating that convicted felons can vote (as long as they vote for him!), I'd imagine he's capable of tweaking the 22nd amendment.

I will say, though, that I was kind of hoping Travers actually would remain the president of Earth. A down-and-out Nixon could have been fun to watch in future episodes. Also, I like when things are shaken up in the universe of the show a bit, and getting a new president could have led to some interesting scenes down the road. (I get that Travers is kind of bland and one-note or whatever--but Nixon's kind of one-note, too. Plus, he wasn't played by a guest star and would therefore have been able to recur aplenty.) It's not a huge, episode-ruining deal or anything; I'm just saying it might have been neat for Travers to stay in office is all.

Also, I agree that these two gags

the zebra entrance joke

Nixon telling the squirrel to fall of the telephone poll

were hilarious. For an episode that was really fast-paced, it was nice to have a few leisurely, goofy moments.

[Reply #30 on:]

I don't know which insane writer came up with xenophobes, but that's the best wordplay by far!

[Reply #31 on:]

Also, I agree that these two gags

the zebra entrance joke

Nixon telling the squirrel to fall of the telephone poll

were hilarious. For an episode that was really fast-paced, it was nice to have a few leisurely, goofy moments.

It had to, Fry and Zoidberg were MIA for most of this ep so they needed some extra funnies x]

I did love the beginning - captures your attention when they do something different.

[Reply #32 on:]

This episode gets points for having the full length intro sequence, topped with a great caption and variation/play on the crashing into the billboard trope.  Great stuff.

An inconsistency comes to mind: Travers claims that Humanity is nearly wiped out by a robot rebellion in the year 3038, but in TLPJF we are shown that by the year 3050 civilization is basically the same as it was in 3010.

Perhaps that why Hermes and Amy are missing their bodies in TLPJF - lost in the rebellion, while Leela, being the superior fighter/survivor, was able to save hers.

Actually, come to think of it, it may not be a conflict after all.  In TLPJF, Fry/Bender/Farnsworth being missing may have affected the timeline so that the rebellion never happened, or so that the reasons for the rebellion never cropped up.

At the very least, the uprising wouldn't have had Bender as a leader in that iteration of the universe.

Also, I dislike the part of any time travel story when a character fades away. In this case he's disappeared, reverting future-history to what it was that meant he had to be sent back in time in the first place. Right up until he disappeared this was a great episode.

[Reply #33 on:]

8/10 for me.  Good, solid episode, plenty of jokes.  I really hated the reset button slamming though, since the candidate was such a decent guy, it felt sad that he failed in his attempt to stop Nixon.  So I agree with Quonok, the reset button just felt stupid and tacked on.   It would have been better to keep him in power, and find another use for Nixon. It's fun to mess up status quos every so often.

One thing I did find weird was how so many dead background characters turned up again.  I would blame the People Hose, but most of the dead characters had pretty noticable character designs turned up in pretty much prime camera spots.  Both the women we saw flying out of the tubes in the beginning seemed just about fine later.  I'll just say it's the Future and assume they were somehow saved from their high speed splattery deaths.  The woman we also saw falling out of a window in AFTA also turned up fine.  We also saw Nixon's aide in AHITP (the one who he unceremoniously stamped on after he won) in the audience.  Am I being a bit too nitpicky?

Anyway I would have enjoyed this episode a lot more if they had kept Chris Travers in, rather then slamming a Diabolus Ex Machina.  He was such a good guy, that I was actually rooting for him, as sad as it sounds. 

[Reply #34 on:]

I subscribe to the notion that he did actually prevent the robot uprising.. but not by becoming leader.

Instead, having some serious competition for the presidency caused Nixon to get distracted and forget about the dyson fence... causing whatever-his-name was to grow up as a regular happy citizen in Kenya who never went back in time at all.

So, in a way, him disappearing was mission accomplished because it meant that his horrible old life never happened.

[Reply #35 on:]

3 good episodes in a row. This series so far, for me, is flawless (but there have only been 3 episodes - but still, all good episodes!)

I gave it an 8.... (farewell to arms gets a 9, and the bots and the bees gets an 8).
Great season so far.

[Reply #36 on:]

I was expecting this episode to be a super-boring political-no-one-cares thing, but it was really good!

I really liked how the Obama references weren't totally " In your face" and well-done. The African jokes made up for the Kenya thing. It was great to see a nod back to BBS  with the Xeroxed copy I really liked the Sci-Fi twist and Bender being king of the world. My favorite Bender face was brought back (The shocked one where he lifts up his "teeth"), and I actually really liked Senator Travers. Too bad Nixon always wins.

8 out of 10. I agree with Jarvio, a great season so far.

[Reply #37 on:]

@Zmithy - I'll go along with that. Perhaps if he was unopposed, he needn't have bothered with any manifesto anyway. Though you would have thought that if Travers was removed from history, another candidate would have been retconned into his place. Ah well.

It was a nice twist - one of several actually, all ones I didn't quite see it coming, though I imagined something bad was going to happen after he won. Maybe him revealing himself to be just as bad as Nixon once in power - maybe not Dyson wall building but still, trading one evil for another - another candidate for the "doesn't matter who you vote for" moral though probably a lot less subtle/more generic.

Didn't laugh out loud a huge number of times, though I did really enjoy the aforementioned Giraffe and "fall dammit!" gags

Anyway, yes, thing is though, Travers didn't really think it through, did he - sets up his own fall, and if he doesn't have a birth certificate, why choose the unearthly middle name? The fool! The foolish fool!

8/10

[Reply #38 on:]

Yet another episode that sounded pretty average but turned out to be amazing.

Highly impressed. Nerdgasm'd at the return of the Time Code and Time Sphere. And Travers was an awesome character, really didn't want him to disappear. And how awesome was incorporating the opening with the episode? VERY.

9/10

[Reply #39 on:]

I subscribe to the notion that he did actually prevent the robot uprising.. but not by becoming leader.

Instead, having some serious competition for the presidency caused Nixon to get distracted and forget about the dyson fence... causing whatever-his-name was to grow up as a regular happy citizen in Kenya who never went back in time at all.

So, in a way, him disappearing was mission accomplished because it meant that his horrible old life never happened.

I feel happier thinking that, but on the other hand... doesn't that mean Nixon will be free to go ahead with his Soylent Plan and Dyson Sphere, since the universe now behaves as if his opposition never happened which means that Nixon is going to do what he was going to do anyway, and that was the bad future which means...
You know what.  Fuck it.  I'll just say what you said happened happened, I've had enough time travel mindscrews.

Also why is Soylent Majority treated as a moral event thing, when eating humans really isn't considered much of a taboo, both on Earth and throughout the universe? Soylent Cola, anyone?  Also, I hope the soylent majority has a nice filtration system for getting rid of ground up robots.   I don't like having lots of nasty gears and shredded metal in my human pulp.