The LAST Futurama News Thread... Forever? (Caution: Spoilers)

[#360 :]

Haha I'm the one that put it up

I think it looks good because a couple of them this season were bad

[#361 :]

C'mon Rowe, this is your last chance to prove you can be a good Futurama writer. Don't screw this up.

"If that doesn't make you cry, the next episode will".
That phrase could be interpreted in so many ways...

That said, the preview does not show too much. Only the whiny, "I will not do anything but feel sorry for myself" Fry, which has not been such a great hit so far.

[#362 :]

I have this odd feeling this might be Rowe's best episode.. ever.

[#363 :]

This weeks episode was really good, for some reason I have a feeling the finale will be ok
Not sure if that's due to the fact that I know most of the story due to comic con but we will see

[#364 :]

Haha I'm the one that put it up

I think it looks good because a couple of them this season were bad

A little off topic, but I've been on your YouTube channel before.  I had no idea you were on this forum.

[#365 :]

C'mon Rowe, this is your last chance to prove you can be a good Futurama writer. Don't screw this up.

"If that doesn't make you cry, the next episode will".
That phrase could be interpreted in so many ways...

That said, the preview does not show too much. Only the whiny, "I will not do anything but feel sorry for myself" Fry, which has not been such a great hit so far.

Fry isn't whiny, he just cares about his friends and family more than himself. He doesn't feel sorry for himself.

[#366 :]

I want to argue that a bit

What about in the "The Why of Fry" the line where he actually had a tear coming down when he said "but it was my life"
That line shows that he is upset that his life was disrupted and he did feel sad for himself

[#367 :]

I want to argue that a bit

What about in the "The Why of Fry" the line where he actually had a tear coming down when he said "but it was my life"
That line shows that he is upset that his life was disrupted and he did feel sad for himself

Yes. But Fry has said on many occasions that his friends and family ARE his life, so technically he feels sad (ok, maybe for himself, but because he would miss his friends.)
I'm not saying he's not sensitive and emotional, but he's not whiny.

[#368 :]

What? I think Fry has always been whiny. Since Season 1. There's really no big difference with Fry's whininess. It's always been the same.

Although, he has been more whiny in the second run than he was in the first run. I don't find it as annoying as some people look it out to be. I mean, there were a good chuck of episodes from Season 6 where he's whiny. Really whiny. It has been reduced down quite a bit in Season 7. Which is probably a strong point for the season. Although in this most recent Season 7B, he's been starting to become a little whiny again. But only in like 3 episodes.

[#369 :]

Ok I guess I agree with that

But he does complain sometimes but it's not to an extrem point

[#370 :]

What? I think Fry has always been whiny. Since Season 1. There's really no big difference with Fry's whininess. It's always been the same.

He didn't burst in tears for hardly any reason in the first run.
E.g. the Christmas episode: While Leela ran away crying for having no one thinking of her, Fry's reaction was just a rather grumpy "Hey...how about a little sympathy here".
Also, sadness was reserved for much bigger themes. It was usually Fry getting hit by the saddest themes, things that would have gotten everyone down ((TLOTF: Seeing how the whole life could have been. TWOF: Suddenly confronted with he choice of sacfificing himself or loosing Leela.). Yet, there was usually just a sad look, a single tear running down the face, and often some determination to still change a bit about that  (A quest to get the clover to make his life better, etc...).

Overclockwise

and Meanwhile

featured a "I have a problem...I gonna kill myself" crying, passive char. Little problem, no action, but big drama and tears. That does not make that character likeable

TKOS showed a much better way to handle such a theme:
Fry did not sit there and cry about not getting Leela. He tried to change the situation by learning to master the ship, and having the idea to move the stars.
Only when these (rather impressive and touching) efforts turned out to be for nothing, THEN Fry was sad. The story showed a character doing everything he could, doing more than most other people would. Those endeavours STILL leading to no avail gave the story tragic and sadness. A failure where basically no failure was deserved.

Imagine TKOS with the new, whiny version "Leela, will you got out with me". "No". "Waaah...I'll kill myself". It would not have been touching, sad or tragic. It's just some loser who -upon the first problem- already gives up and feels sorry for himself.

[#371 :]

Yes, I do agree that Fry's sensitivity has come up more over the seasons, but I guess I just can't see it as whininess. That's just me.

[#372 :]

Well Fry doesn't cry unless he is devestaded or it's really emotional
Like in The Luck of the Fryrish

I know that might be a bad example because he was happy but it was emotional

[#373 :]

What? I think Fry has always been whiny. Since Season 1. There's really no big difference with Fry's whininess. It's always been the same.

He didn't burst in tears for hardly any reason in the first run.
E.g. the Christmas episode: While Leela ran away crying for having no one thinking of her, Fry's reaction was just a rather grumpy "Hey...how about a little sympathy here".
Also, sadness was reserved for much bigger themes. It was usually Fry getting hit by the saddest themes, things that would have gotten everyone down ((TLOTF: Seeing how the whole life could have been. TWOF: Suddenly confronted with he choice of sacfificing himself or loosing Leela.). Yet, there was usually just a sad look, a single tear running down the face, and often some determination to still change a bit about that  (A quest to get the clover to make his life better, etc...).

Overclockwise

and Meanwhile

featured a "I have a problem...I gonna kill myself" crying, passive char. Little problem, no action, but big drama and tears. That does not make that character likeable

TKOS showed a much better way to handle such a theme:
Fry did not sit there and cry about not getting Leela. He tried to change the situation by learning to master the ship, and having the idea to move the stars.
Only when these (rather impressive and touching) efforts turned out to be for nothing, THEN Fry was sad. The story showed a character doing everything he could, doing more than most other people would. Those endeavours STILL leading to no avail gave the story tragic and sadness. A failure where basically no failure was deserved.

Imagine TKOS with the new, whiny version "Leela, will you got out with me". "No". "Waaah...I'll kill myself". It would not have been touching, sad or tragic. It's just some loser who -upon the first problem- already gives up and feels sorry for himself.

When I meant he's whiny, I mean him complaining just too much. And it most certainly has been there throughout the entire series. I never mentioned anything about him crying. He's barely done it in the series.

In Overclockwise, him just doing the "I have a problem...I gonna kill myself" thing was incredibly stupid. It seems too Family Guy-ish. And that's just one thing out of many that makes me hate that episode. I mean Leela leaving for pretty much no raisin was incredibly dumb too. It's definitely the worst finale ep, and maybe the shows bottom 20. I still enjoy it, but only for the Overclocking Bender. The Fry-Leela stuff was just poor. Very poor.

Plus, Overclockwise is pretty much the only episode we've seen where Fry would even be whiny like the "I have a problem...I gonna kill myself"  arc. I do not recall any episode where that could be seen. Except for the preview I saw for Meanwhile. Which really bothers me too. Hopefully he does it better somehow.

[#374 :]

Inquisitor Hein,stole the words from my mouth! Because it's exactly what I think about Fry actually.

In the original run (and part of season 6) when he had a problem well,he cried about it but at least he tried to find a solution in the process and that is my huge complain now ,He only whines about Leela (and sometimes Bender) and Overclockwise it's the perfect example, was indeed really stupid.

And another issue that really worries me, is not only the writers shows him as a crybaby....they show him as a STUPID crybaby. Fry used to be clueless because,well he was new in the future,but come on! actually he more or less knows what is going on, why make him more stupidier? (for example the M joke in Calculon 2.0,was really dumb).

I know,Fry is such a sensitive guy with a good heart, why people must confuse it as a sign of idiocy? Another reason of why I think that Freela's relationship is really weak and bad written ACTUALLY, Fry does EVERYTHING for Leela, and what does Leela? Nothing.

I just noticed something in "Leela and the Genestalk" ,Fry (and the whole Freela thing) was really well written (besides the beans part,but as I said before, it's  important for the plot) because Fry not only was worried because he wanted to impress Leela,he did what was right! something that anyone would do too.

And then that reminded me to "The Mutants Are Revolting" when Fry was a mutant, what was Leela's reaction? She didn't even want to share the same air with him at first. isn't that unfair? I don't know why the writers are so good with Leela but they show the worst of Fry.

Anyways I haven't seen that Meanwhile's preview because I don't want to ruin the surprise for myself but hopefully I hope more than a "Fry/Leela episode only" because,the show is named Futurama, not Freela's Show.

And about next week's episode! Wow I was wrong about Rowe,he is actually a good writter after all.

[#375 :]

The writers don't intentionally show the worst of Fry. I mean, they show Leela being at her worst in plenty of episodes. And the show doesn't revolve around Fry/Leela, it's just that since its the finale, they should include some of it.

(edit)

Just forget what I said. I'm very argumentative lately.

[#376 :]

Fry's default setting is stupid, lazy, dirty, etc. When the plot needs him to be otherwise, he stops being his usual self and shows some courage, determination, etc.

Leela's default setting is hard-working, competent, and serious. When the plot needs her to be otherwise, she stops being her usual self and has a breakdown.

[#377 :]

If Game of Tones sucks, I will hate Micheal Rowe. I will never forgive him for ruining such a good premise. For as long as I live. I will make him rue the day he became a Futurama writer.

[#378 :]

I think Game of Tones will be pretty good I actully liked the animatic that we got from it and it made me laugh so I don't think it will be bad

it should be the futurama/simpsons crossover we should be more worried about

[#379 :]

I think Game of Tones will be pretty good I actully liked the animatic that we got from it and it made me laugh so I don't think it will be bad

it should be the futurama/simpsons crossover we should be more worried about

And I saw it, too. It looks very promising. More precisely the scenes of Fry's past (or his dream...?). If Mike does manage to fuck it up though, I will hate him. As much as I previously posted I would.

Also, this is my 666th post, eh?

[#380 :]

If Game of Tones sucks, I will hate Micheal Rowe. I will never forgive him for ruining such a good premise. For as long as I live. I will make him rue the day he became a Futurama writer.

All a writing credit signifies is who penned the original draft. Futurama is still primarily group written.

it should be the futurama/simpsons crossover we should be more worried about

No we shouldn't, it's not even happening on Futurama.

[#381 :]

But it's still from the same creator

It's not like the family guy/Simpsons one where it's two different humor styles

[#382 :]

A writing credit is more or less down to who penned the story. Obviously, they hash the bones of the plot out in the writers' room before hand, but it's the equivalent of someone writing a film based on a book. They're adapting it into the script.

Then all the other writers come in and jokes get thrown in from all over the place.

So whilst a writing credit isn't a good sign of if the episode will be full of great gags or not, it's fairly indicative of how well written the actual thing will be.

[#383 :]

No, not really.

Stories get rewritten. For that matter, it's completely common practice for stories to be completely hashed out (through a "treatment," or some other stage before the actual first script draft) before then being given to a writer to draft the first script of. As well, scripts themselves are often written mostly by the group and then assigned to whichever writer based on whatever reason (say, they happened to pitch the synopsis initially).

Writing credits are an interesting curiosity, but anyone with any real familiarity with television writing will tell you that they mean substantially less than, say, 90 of PEEL seems to think they do.

Also, even if Mike Rowe wrote every last second of his credited episodes (which he didn't), Jesus, get a grip Solid Snake. He's a writer on some TV episodes you didn't like; he didn't kill your mom.

[#384 :]

But it's still from the same creator

Uhhh, so? These shows have at least a dozen different writers staffed on at any given time. And even if that wasn't the case: Different cast, different setting, different premise, and both shows have been going long enough to distinguish themselves from one another and carve out their own distinct style. Futurama stopped being known as "that other Matt Groening show" a long time ago. And, by all accounts, Groening's involvement in both is quite minimal (certainly less so than David X Cohen and Al Jean would have at the moment).

Regardless: IT'S NOT AIRING ON FUTURAMA!!! If this thing is shit, it winds up being "another bad Simpsons episode." Who gives a shit? Case closed.

[#385 :]

There will be lots of things to go wrong, but with everything you never really know in the beginning... Also opinions differ on the episodes Row has written, I mean, just 3 out of 8 of his writing I didn't like. And considering the animatic so far this will be great!

The crossover tough, not much to say about it. I've hardly seen any simpsons episode and I can't judge the writing whatsoever.

[#386 :]

Notice that 7b is gets darker as it go on? The last four seem REALLY dark

[#387 :]

Many of the episodes that are considered the best ever are pretty dark. This is probably the episodes the writers think are the best right here.

[#388 :]

Notice that 7b is gets darker as it go on? The last four seem REALLY dark

Game of Tones, yes.
Muder on the Planet Express-yes and no. It looks dark, but I'm sure it won't be.
Stench and Stenchibility-looks dramatic, but not dark.
Meanwhile-Hearing the first act and hearing about the second, yes, but we all know about the happy ending.

And I do agree with Snrub about some of the best ones being kind of dark.

[#389 :]

Notice that 7b is gets darker as it go on? The last four seem REALLY dark

Game of Tones, yes.
Muder on the Planet Express-yes and no. It looks dark, but I'm sure it won't be.
Stench and Stenchibility-looks dramatic, but not dark.
Meanwhile-Hearing the first act and hearing about the second, yes, but we all know about the happy ending.

And I do agree with Snrub about some of the best ones being kind of dark.

goT, EXACTLY
MoTPE, will be dark IMO
S&S, Agreed
Meanwhile, Who knows the end is good?

[#390 :]

The announcer on CC said that the finale will "blow your mind".

[#391 :]

"Dark" is relative here. The show is a comedy, and the vast majority of episodes have happy resolutions or at least play the sadness for laughs rather than emotion (e.g. Tale of Two Santas). Something can have a happy ending and still be somewhat dark in tone or content.

[#392 :]

the vast majority of episodes have happy resolutions or at least play the sadness for laughs rather than emotion

Except for those emotional episodes, such as Jurassic Bark. However, they are not "dark" episodes.

[#393 :]

I have high hopes for these final four

[#394 :]

Eric Rogers just tweeted about Game of Tones and he said "Game of Tones." Kleenex. You were warned."
I'm even more excited now

[#395 :]

HOPES ON ULTRA HIGH>>>> BUT WILL THEY BE CRUSHED????

I'm expecting this episode to be in the top ten now.
Are my expectations far too High???
Probably.

But God, I hope it's Rowe's masterpiece and it got a sublime crew rewrite to boot.

[#396 :]

I pray not.

I already plan on saying "Futurama has Reversed The Shark!" with this episode.

[#397 :]

I hope they kill that 'shark' with some type of laser guided sharkplosion bazooka.

[#398 :]

HOPES ON ULTRA HIGH>>>> BUT WILL THEY BE CRUSHED????

I'm expecting this episode to be in the top ten now.
Are my expectations far too High???
Probably.

But God, I hope it's Rowe's masterpiece and it got a sublime crew rewrite to boot.

I'm expecting it to be really good, too. Now that Eric Rodgers said the kleenex thing, i'm expecting even more from it!

[#399 :]

idkd about Game of Thrones.  Maybe I should read up on it a bit before watching this ep?  I *did* go out of my way to watch Silence of the Lambs before viewing the similarly named Clamps episode.