DotheBartman
Liquid Emperor
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« Reply #80 on: 07-07-2013 11:18 »
« Last Edit on: 07-07-2013 11:19 »
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Though I agree with DtB, Zed, and others who say this episode follows the typical formula for Bender-centric stories, this fact doesn't bother me because I have always been pretty fond of such episodes ("The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz," "Godfellas," and "Bend Her" are Top 25 episodes for me).
I should clarify (along with saying I also like those episodes) that I don't really consider episodes like that to be part of the same formula that this one is. Nor do I really think that Bender episodes as a whole are, necessarily, usually on the weaker side of things. There are plenty of exceptions to that. Plus, I mean, I named my dog after Bender. I love Bender! It's more specifically about episodes where Bender takes on some new job or interest and thus goes on some kind of adventure that mostly excludes the other characters. Godfellas has deeper themes, Birdbot is specifically about the conflict between Bender and Fry (and with Leela also), even something like Pharaoh to Remember (as bad as that episode is) is really about something more than "here's a standard sitcom story, but it's more interesting because it involves robots." There's more of a central conflict to all of those episodes, other than us caring (for some reason) about whether Bender succeeds in his new interest that he literally just learned about or took interest in. Bender becoming a chef. Or joining the mob. Or becoming a wrestler. These are more what I'm talking about. Or becoming a paparazzi. Episodes where you could probably sub Homer Simpson from the Mike Scully era in and change a few details and no one would could tell the difference. It's kind of a sitcom "X character becomes [blank]" formula where there just isn't even much to say about it. I don't even hate those episodes, either. I like all the examples I mentioned well enough (though, 30% Iron Chef is probably in the bottom ten or so of the series). It's just a specific type of formula that works okay but almost refuses to produce greatness, with the odd exception (namely Bendin' in the Wind, the previous folk-singing episode). But Bender episodes as a whole have a much prouder history than that, including many recent episodes. Lethal Inspection, Benderama, Ghost in the Machines, among others are favorites of mine.
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Beamer
DOOP Secretary
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This episode didn't have me cracking up like Futurama usually does (though more than enough chuckles to keep it from being completely stale), but it had a pretty surprising plot, in that, I thought it was going to be a lot less inventive than it actually turned out to be. Once I realised what was going on, I enjoyed this one a lot more. And I liked the drawing style during Bender's songs, too. I gave this one a 7.
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MuchAdo
Professor
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I agree with all the bad reviews and Eric Roger's saying they were high on plastic fumes when they made it.
This episode was only 40% good, at most.
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Eternium
Professor
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I found the rap ending quite amusing, but the lyrics were a bit weird...
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sparkybarky
Liquid Emperor
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I didn't dislike this episode. On the whole, I enjoyed it. The animation was superb. I especially loved the "old-timey" monochromatic segments that illustrated Bender's lyrics; it provided that O Brother Where Art Thou feel to his songs. Which I think is very fitting, given how music is central to that movie, and that people went nuts when T. Bone Walker unearthed all those old, old songs from a time and place that made them feel...nostalgic perhaps (for the good ole days of Jim Crowe?). The space train was quite beautiful (though pretty nonsensical to me--why would there be trains in space, even if they do fly, given that there are much sleeker and more aerodynamic means of traveling). I especially loved the animation of the scene where the robots were working while Bender reclined with his drink.
The plot was overly circuitous and meandering, but I did appreciate the twist, and the theme of the 3D printer printing out anything that Bender imagined. (Octopuses/octopi were quite stupid, though.) I liked the character of Big Caboose and his deep baritone voice...I wish he had sung more. The ending...eh, yeah, it was slick and overdone a la Simpsons but I suppose slick and overdone was the point. I was amused by their rapping.
Being a big fan of Americana and roots music, I was rather distracted by the moniker "folk singer." It seemed his songs were more blues or bluegrass. When I think of "folk songs" I think of Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, or Woody Guthrie...but, whatever. The distinction is probably one that I alone make, or care about.
The jokes were few and far between, but as I said, the animation tipped the scales in favor of a more positive experience for me. I give it a 6.5/10.
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Juliet
DOOP Secretary
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Manage to watch this episode. Another great Bender episode with some funny moments and a good story plot. Remind me of the episode Bending In The Wind with Beck.
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Tachyon
DOOP Secretary
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So where's the joke in the prison name. 11-Worth. I know there's a joke and I'm just missing it.
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SolidSnake
Professor
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I found the rap ending quite amusing, but the lyrics were a bit weird...
I wish they could have saved it for the credits, like they did with "Free Will Hunting". I really wanna bring my vote for this ep down to a 6/10. It kinda blew. Not exactly horrible or anything, but kinda bad. I do like Bender's folk song a little, and the printer twist alot, but it just wasn't even funny. The worst part, is that there wasn't even any B-Plot to help make up for the ep! It totally deserves a 6/10 meh.
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Not4You2Know
Crustacean
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Negative Negative Negative! What do you people WANT?
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JoshTheater
Space Pope
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It goes without saying that this isn't Keeler's best episode, but it's far from the worst. I'll call for a 7.5/10 for now, and as always that's bound to change for either the better or worse.
Exactly how I feel. The Honking was more than likely his worst.
Whaaaa? Sorry, but The Honking is a great episode. The Tip Of The Zoidberg, The Six Million Dollar Mon, Overclockwise, and this episode were all phenomenally worse. Not sure why everyone thinks Ken Keeler has been the show's saving grace recently, since his last good episode was The Prisoner Of Benda (which, to be fair, was excellent, especially in terms of being a newer episode).
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SolidSnake
Professor
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....Read my post after that one.
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SolidSnake
Professor
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Yeah, I only watched it like 3 times in the past. I was too busy watching Classics like "The Luck of the Fryrish", "Parasites Lost", "Farnsworth Parabox", you know, those eps. I never liked alot of Season 2 episodes. I did really like some episodes. like "A Head in the Polls", and "A Clone of my Own".
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bnevs18
Crustacean
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I just watched this for the first time, CC had a marathon on and I watched 40% through Assie for the first time. Alot of times you have to watch an episode twice before you get most of the episode...that said:
1/10 Not the worst episode ever based on itself, but considering the resources they had it is possibly the most disappointing. Where were the jokes? There were very few of them, and while this season is alot about revisiting good things from the early seasons, Bender's folk singing already has been revisited.
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Monster_Robot_Maniac
Liquid Emperor
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« Reply #107 on: 11-11-2013 17:50 »
« Last Edit on: 11-11-2013 17:53 »
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I gave it a 5/10, and honestly, I'm being very generous by giving it that high of a score. The story was poor and felt very re-hashed, the jokes fell flat, and it was just overall bad. They covered all of the bases on Bender's love of folksinging back in 2001 with Bendin' in the Wind, which wasn't a very good episode either, so why would they do it again so many years later? Even the 3D Printer plot felt very stupid. By the year 3000, 3D printing would be a very common thing, making the use of it in this episode very illogical. Unless I'm forgetting an episode or two, I'd say that this is Ken Keeler's worst Futurama episode, and that's sad, because he's such a great writer. I can't quite decide if I hate Saturgay Mourning Shit Fit for this one more, but judging by ratings, I guess it's SMFP. After looking through and thinking about most of 7B's episodes, I'm starting to realize that this wasn't that great of a season, for the most part. I think the quality picked up from Assie Come Home on, however, so I suppose they were just saving the best for last.
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DannyJC13
DOOP Secretary
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You know, after watching this episode again, I don't think it's that bad. It's definitely one of the show's weakest episodes, but I didn't find it as bad as I did when it first aired. Some of the songs in it are pretty catchy, and the twist is neat, even if it is somewhat obvious to most viewers.
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