We should all marry coffeeBot, then.
I'm in!
Er, anyway...
So what I'd like anyone willing to do is: discuss which episodes are integral to the Fry/Leela relationship plot. With the aim of deciding:
The fewest number of episodes you can watch while keeping all the lovely Fry/Leela sentiment.
Oh, hot damn, I feel like this question was
made for me. In the earliest days of my Futurama fandom, when I was like 12 years old, my mushy little preteen heart led me exclusively to Fry/Leela-heavy episodes. In other words: this is a question I've thought a
lot about, for a very long time.
With all that in mind, here are a few different ways of looking at/answering your question...
Minimum Number of Episodes to Convey the Full Scope/Progression of Fry and Leela's relationshipDespite the show's ample,
ample use of the reset button, there is still some mildly cohesive, gradually building "love story" to be salvaged from all the false starts (and restarts). To wit:
1.) Space Pilot 3000 - Not only does it tell the story of Fry and Leela's first meeting--it also contains one of the sweetest and most understated moments between them (and Bender!), in the ruins of Old New York.
2.) Xmas Story - I think the concept of Fry and Leela being "lonely together" is one of the most important (albeit, subtle to the point of near invisibility) emotional undercurrents to their relationship--a genuine (and poignant) point of connection between the two of them. The conflict in this episode, with Fry missing his family even though Leela never even had a family, also relates nicely to that aforementioned scene in the pilot where we first see that Fry and Leela are both dealing with some serious social isolation and feelings of abandonment.
3.) Parasites Lost - The first time Fry admits his love for Leela, even though she ultimately shoots him down in rather brutal fashion. This also establishes Fry's underlying mission for the remainder of the original run: to get Leela to love the real, de-wormed him.
4.) Time Keeps on Slippin' - Showcases multiple attempts from Fry to win Leela's heart, and also gives us a nice sense of where Leela's landing on all this, emotionally: she loves his boyish charm, hates his childishness, and will never, ever be with him. Real bummer, all things considered, but like PL it does demonstrate that under certain conditions (say, if he just so happens to move the stars for her) Leela would be more than amenable to dating/marrying Fry.
5.) Leela's Homeworld - This one might be a bit contentious, but it is one of those rare instances in the old run where Fry does something for Leela without the sole, bald intention of "making her love him" (which is, you know, gross). There's also that really lovely/funny exchange about Fry being a holding, kissing, stroking (also spanking!) machine--but, for the most part, this one makes the list because it really does demonstrate the lengths to which Fry is willing to go to make Leela happy...and, you know, keep her from unwittingly murdering her parents. It's also a nice complement to "Xmas Story," in that Fry is finally able to make good on his mission to alleviate Leela's loneliness at never having had a family, so there's that.
6.) Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles - So, in addition to just being the most adorable thing ever (and showing Fry and Leela on a totally and enthusiastically consensual date), this episode actually ends with some mild progression in the Fry/Leela ship: that half-lidded, goofy look Fry and Leela exchange at the end of the episode when she admits that she's really happy to have her adult life back.
7.) The Why of Fry - Not only is there a great kiss at the end of the episode, but it plays into the show's myth arc in just about the shippiest way possible.
8.) The Sting - The only episode from the original run where we're really seeing the ship from Leela's point of view. I am not going to enumerate the ways in which this episode is brilliant and perfect and harrowing and delightful--but, you know, it is. I defy your wife not to love it!
9.) The Farnsworth Parabox - It's fun to see parallel universe Fry and Leela be so happily married--plus, the end of the episode shows Leela's feelings for Fry (and willingness to consider him as a romantic partner) actually evolving and moving forward.
10.) The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings - Again, this one is pretty obvious. I agree completely with FHM's assessment.
11.) Bender's Big Score - The movie itself is pretty uneven, and for most of it things look pretty bleak for Fry and Leela--but, of course, the reveal at the end renders everything that precedes it retroactively The Shippiest Thing Ever, and proof positive that Leela really could (and probably does) love Fry.
12.) Into the Wild Green Yonder - In some ways I think this is actually a better would-be finale than Devil's Hands, if only because it is less ambiguous than its predecessor
and (much like "Leela's Homeworld") all the wonderful things Fry does for Leela are motivated not by the desire to make her love him, but simply out of his own deep love for her. In any event, your wife probably wouldn't want to miss out on Leela's first (and, if memory serves, only?) outright declaration of love toward Fry (not worm-Fry, not Lars) in the whole series.
13.) Rebirth - This episode establishes the (irksome) on-again, off-again terms by which Fry and Leela's relationship will be governed for all of season six.
14.) The Late Philip J. Fry - Basically the shippiest episode that ever shipped. Its merits and overall importance to Fry and Leela's love story is self-evident.
15.) The Prisoner of Benda - Fry and Leela's first time having sex...albeit, in the most disturbing way possible.
16.) Overclockwise - This episode establishes the more or less stable, together-for-real terms that will govern Fry and Leela's relationship for all of season seven.
17.) A Farewell to Arms - This episode is kind of grotesque, but it also has a lot of really great Fry/Leela moments that work to solidify the fact that, yes, Fry and Leela really
are a couple this time, no take-backsies.
18.) Fun on a Bun - Basically "The Sting" of the new run, at least in terms of how it approaches Leela's psychology, even if overall it's sort of underwhelming. That said, the orbital kiss at the end (and Fry's line about the blood in his head migrating...elsewhere) is pretty great.
19.) Fry and Leela's Big Fling - Fry and Leela take an honest-to-god couple's vacation together, which is pretty neat. It also introduces us to Sean, which closes the book on Leela's past relationships.
20.) Meanwhile - Not the best finale, but certainly the most overtly, single-mindedly, unapologetically shippy one.
Minimum Number of Episodes Required if You're Just Looking for the Highest of Shippy HighsI realize that first list is a bit bloated, so here's a truncated version, which contains only the most grandiose and/or heartstring-tugging moments in Fry and Leela's relationship
1.) Parasites Lost
2.) Time Keeps on Slippin'
3.) The Why of Fry
4.) The Sting
5.) The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings
6.) Bender's Big Score
7.) Into the Wild Green Yonder
8.) The Late Philip J. Fry
9.) Fun on a Bun
10.) Meanwhile
Bonus Episodes to Add to Either List, as They Contain Some Shippy ContentThese episodes can supplement either of the previous two lists: they're not overtly or even primarily shippy, but they still have some really cute/sweet/funny moments between Fry and Leela that run the gamut from ambiguously romantic to obviously romantic.
1.) Episode Two: The Series Has Landed - That scene in the lunar lander is really lovely.
2.) My Three Suns - Leela has Fry's back the whole time, and upon learning that Leela has "died," Fry is finally able to cry (suggesting that, you know, both characters are pretty fond of each other).
3.) A Flight to Remember - Fry and Leela's first on-screen kiss, even if it was just a ploy to keep Zapp from sexually harassing Leela for the entirety of their space cruise.
4.) Put Your Head on My Shoulders - Leela saves Fry from his awkward Valentine's Day date, and the ending suggests (erroneously) that Bender had wanted to get the two of them together all along.
5.) A Bicyclops Built for Two - This episode has a lot of really funny Fry/Leela moments ("Animals go in the
corner"),
plus Fry goes out of his way to keep Leela from making a huge mistake by marrying the wrong dude.
6.) The Problem With Popplers - Fry calls Leela beautiful, and she calls him a fat hog. Heartwarming stuff!
7.) Anthology of Interest I - The second segment, obviously.
8.) War is the H-Word - Fry admits to having a thing for a cyclops he works for, and Lee Lemon is quite intrigued by this information.
9.) The Day the Earth Stood Stupid - "Leela cried for her lost love as Fry lay dead under the heavy bookcase." Also, it's fun to see the two of them on their adventure through literature's greatest hits. (I'll admit this one is a bigger stretch than most.)
10.) The Cyber House Rules - Fry's a whiny bitch the whole way through, and Leela is rightly annoyed by his jealousy, but his reassurance to her at the end of the episode that "there's nothing wrong with anything" is oddly sweet.
11.) Insane in the Mainframe - You get that big ol' smooch (beep), plus the smaller kiss on the cheek at the end. Leela is also the most anguished of anyone on the PE crew about Fry's robotification.
12.) I Dated a Robot - Another stretch, but Fry flirting with Leela at the start of the episode, and insinuating that
she is one of the things he's always wanted to do in the future, is pretty funny.
13.) A Leela of Her Own - Fry's too nervous to smack Leela's butt, even after she gives him full-throated permission!
14.) Love and Rocket - The Fry/Leela stuff is only a B story, which is why it didn't make my first list, but I'd say this is probably one that your wife would really enjoy if she's into the ship (and/or the Ship, as voiced by Sigourney Weaver).
15.) In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela - There are some sweet Fry/Leela moments at the start of the episode, even if the
end of the episode is, you know, Leela boning Zapp.
16.) Attack of the Killer App - That final scene between Fry and Leela, and the way she happily leans into the hug, is pretty sweet.
17.) The Duh-Vinci Code - For the "mile-deep club" gag.
18.) Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences - Fry's comic book is basically all about rescuing Leela, and being rewarded in the end with many smooches.
19.) The Mutants Are Revolting - Lots of cute Fry/Leela moments here. She can
almost stomach kissing him!
20.) Law and Oracle - Leela basically cat-calls Fry in his short shorts. It's funny.
21.) Fry Am the Egg Man - Sure, Leela's flirting with another dude for most of the episode, but Fry's decision to let Mr. Peppy go is ultimately precipitated by his love of Leela.
22.) Reincarnation - The first segment is all about Fry and Leela's relationship. It is also hilarious.
23.) Zapp Dingbat - Leela calling Fry marriage material (this
could go on the first list, considering that admission, but it's not really necessary context for the eventual proposal in "Meanwhile").
24.) The Butterjunk Effect - There's a lot of boning in this episode. Some of it is even between Fry and Leela!
25.) Free Will Hunting - You see a post-coital Fry and Leela. Saucy!
26.) Near-Death Wish - This episode contains one of those "Fry, wanna fuck?"/"Leela, no means no!" moments that's kind of amusing.
27.) T: The Terrestrial - There's a considerable Fry/Leela kiss at the end of this episode, if memory serves. Otherwise, though, it's pretty underwhelming.
28.) Leela and the Genestalk - Lots of sweet Fry/Leela stuff here.
29.) Game of Tones - Leela gets jealous of Michelle, which is a nice counterpoint to Fry getting jealous of Sean in "Fry and Leela's Big Fling."
30.) Murder on the Planet Express - One of the many character beats in this episode involves Fry and Leela trusting (or not trusting) each other. There's also a pretty intense make-out session in a closet.
So, in brief: it takes between 10 and 50 episodes to get the most out of your shippy dollar. I'd say it's really closer to 25 episodes, if you sprinkle some of the episodes from the last list into the first list, but 10 is probably the bare minimum.