Thoughts on [4ACV07] - Jurassic Bark

[Reply #160 on:]

I found this posted on the jump the shark site...

"What is it with these people? Do they not get that sitcoms are simply not the place to try and tug at heart strings? Has Alan Alda's thumb print become so indelible over the years that it must mar even the best of television comedies? Make no mistake, up to this point "Futurama" has been just that: a brilliant and brilliantly funny television comedy. Although I was a bit underwhelmed by the pilot episode, a pinch of patience in this case served me well. Subsequent episodes featured some hilarious and extremely well-thought-out plot lines, characters and situations. Sadly, this streak of greatness came to a crashing halt last evening as we got to watch Fry's dog slowly pass away while waiting for him to return to the pizza place. What the hell was the point of that? It's really too bad that the only thing these badger-slappers at Fox could think to say about cloning is that... Well, damn it, it just might give you back your puppy. Showing the slow wasting away of a cute and cuddly animal in a bid for sympathy is just about the most crass, inexplicable and downright tasteless example of bathos I've ever seen on television. Say what you will about "ER" and "Third Watch" (and, believe me, being a fan of neither show, I know I have), but I've yet to see either one just outright hold up a picture of a suffering innocent in a bid to be "heartfelt" or "sensitive." After a debacle like this (which, unfortunately, came at the tail end [no pun intended] of what was up until that very moment one of the better episodes) "Futurama" deserves to go off the air. This makes all the equally misguided attempts at emotional depth proffered (mercifully, infrequently) on "The Simpsons" seem tame by comparison. Hell, this makes one long for the posing, posturing and moralizing of latter-day "Night Court." At least they had the good sense and subtlety not to show us the grim fate of a lovable canine in living color. "Futurama" is just as dead. "

With so much to choose from in this post, I'll just comment on the fact that if something thinks a show should be taken off the air because of a dying dog they have some real issues.  Plus that dude thinks that FOX has something to do with the plots of the show. 

[Reply #161 on:]

There's always been a divide between those fans who believe the show should be purely jokes on a plot, and those who believe there should be some emotion thrown in there as well. I happen to agree very much with the latter, primarily because I don't class Futurama as a sitcom, but a light-hearted sci-fi (a little like the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy).

There are plenty of people on the "Jump the Shark" website have a whole range of views that I don't agree with. Unfortunately, that's the nature of democracy (or at least free speech). You have to put up with people who don't agree with you. But chief among some of these people is the utter disregard they have for anyone who does like the show. Provide a reasoned and detailed explanation, like Teral's dissemination of Voyager vs DS9 ( ), and I'm willing to listen. Anyone who types "FUTURAMA SUX BECAUSE ITS FROM THE SAME GUY WHO MADE THE SIMPSONS AND THE SIMPSONS R GREAT AND NOTHING CAN BEAT THE SIMPSONS" is frankly not worthy of listening to.

And thats my little rant on reviewers come to an end  .

[Reply #162 on:]

*SWISH!*

That was the sound the point made as it passed over the head of the author of the above mentioned post.

If he want a bandwagon of crude offensive jokes show him the KOTH both, if he just want lame jokes show him Family Guy.

Yes, Futurama is first of all a comedy, but since when did comedy mean extermination of emotions? Ever since SP3K, when Fry told Leela he gave up, and Leela responded by putting her hand in his and just smile to him, have Futurama been about comedy and emotions. I'm sure this guy was foaming around the mouth while watching "Luck Of The Fryrish" and "Leela's Homeworld".

"Jurrasic Bark" wasn't about showing cruelty to a puppy. It was about loyalty, devotion and unconditional love. Seymore were loyally waiting for Fry every day, because that's how dogs are (or so I'm told), and Fry didn't bring back Seymore because in his ind the dog moved on, and lived a fruitful and happy life after Fry disappeared. Not wanting to bring him back was one of the most selfless acts Fry have ever done, and that shows character.

Thanks, CyberKnight. 

[Reply #163 on:]

I loved the Leela/Amy wrestling!
Was Hermes in this episode at all?

[Reply #164 on:]

not sure about Hermes.
Gotta love this ep. Its where my avatar is from, when he's dancing in the rain.

[Reply #165 on:]

 

Originally posted by Cikboy:
Has Alan Alda's thumb print become so indelible over the years that it must mar even the best of television comedies?..."

Alan Alda's thumbprint is on Futurama?  I bet Sarge clocked him for ruining a morning's work.

Personally I like TV shows that have characters I care about, even comedies.  I live vicariously through Fry, adore Leela, laugh with/at Bender, and pity Zoidberg.

By comparison the latest Simpsons episodes are filled with 1-dimensional characters, and all sense of family and friendship has gone out the window.  It's still funny, but it feels empty.

[Reply #166 on:]

*Bumped for The down-unda*
Great episode, im going to bed...

[Reply #167 on:]

Damn fine ep, just brilliant....the whole thing was great, and the Nibbler/shadow parts add more to the back story which I love....The idea that the whole Futurama premise (Fry being frozen) was destiny or whatever and that we gradually find out how and why, is im my mind just brilliant....This is why we love the show, so much thought goes into it, and yeah it has emotion which does get to you.... 
I felt sad when Seymour died at the end, but I knew it was coming *mental note don't read spoliers beofre you see the ep   *

I agree with whoever said there's to many happy endings these days, yeah this is a cartoon but so what it should have everything, and it does, and now this is turning into a rant sorry.... 

Great ep and I can't wait for TWOF....!

Edited to mention the piledriver....Brilliant....!! BAM 

[Reply #168 on:]

 

Originally posted by CyberKnight:

There are plenty of people on the "Jump the Shark" website have a whole range of views that I don't agree with. Unfortunately, that's the nature of democracy (or at least free speech). You have to put up with people who don't agree with you.    .

Jurassic Bark is quite simply the best piece of television of the new millenium so far (and I don't think it will be surpased for a long long time).

As for puting up with the opinions of  morons from 'jump the shark', I think we should all take note of Anakin Skywalkers views...

"Padme: the problem is that people don't always agree.

Anakin: Then they should be made to.

Padme: By who? Who's going to make them, you?

Anakin: Of course not me, but...I don't know...somebody.

Padme: It sounds like a dictatorship to me.

Anakin: Well.......if it works."
 

[Reply #169 on:]

 

Originally posted by Cikboy:
I found this posted on the jump the shark site...

"...Sadly, this streak of greatness came to a crashing halt last evening as we got to watch Fry's dog slowly pass away while waiting for him to return to the pizza place. What the hell was the point of that?... "

I agree with the guy about that much for sure, but I don't agree with what he said later in the post, that Futurama should be booted off the air for making such a badly done sad scene.

But yes I agree, it was really really sad for me. Even though Seymour didn't have much time onscreen for us to really develop an emotional bond with him, it still is just so incredibly (perhaps overly) sad to see any animal slowly wither and die a sad frustrating death. Worse, there really was no real point to it. It just wasn't enjoyable to watch. And i like touching mushy sad endings, but this one was just annoyingly frustrating and overly sad, when there was no good reason for that.

The ending of "Time Keeps on Slipping" was also sad but not in the same way at all. I was left with a feeling of "Aw shucks that's too bad, Fry." But not an overwhelming sense of helplessness and complete tragedy like in the ending of "Jurassic Bark."

And no, I'm not a total animal lover/freak who got offended by the ending or anything, I just think the ending just didn't fit well with the episode, or the series for that matter. It did not go over well. It wasn't a sad and touching ending. It was a senselessly tragic ending. For me anyway.

I guess portraying a sad moment in a funny cartoon is pretty difficult. There's a fine line between sad but hopeful and completely, utterly and needlessly suicide-inducingly depressing.

[Reply #170 on:]

i agree with most of what the guy said, but i dont think things can be completley rid of emotion, its just its important to get it right, otherwise it just gets in the way of comedy.

its been a while now since i saw the episode, but while it was funny, i always hate in programs, problems occuring through stupitidy, bender tries to destroy seymour, because he's to stupid understand that fry isn't pushing him away, he's just excited about finding something that meant something to him from the twentieth century, and bender was really dumb not to understand that. there should never have been the problem of rescuing him,
and then there's frys stupid assumption, even if he'd been correct that seymour had moved on, why wouldn't he want to be brought back to life, unless he's in doggy heaven or something

[Reply #171 on:]

since when is showing some emotion in a comedy "jumping the shark"? futurama has given us episodes that tug at our heart strings from the very beginning. it's nothing new to the show. "jurrassic bark" was very depressing. watching seymour die while remaining steadfast and loyal to the very end was difficult. i was teary eyed well into the commercials. and i'm still looking for that song they played at the end.

[Reply #172 on:]

Wasn't very funny, but the plot makes up for that.

It felt very much like LOTF, with frequent flashbacks in the ep counterparting the real story. I like how the writers do that.

First off, I can't get over Seymour. He is the cutest animal I've ever seen on a TV show! He is the cutest!   

As I expected, I got worked up over the ending. I think the song was kinda crummy, and at first the ending was not as sad as I thought it would be. But once I thought about it more, it was really sad. The thought of poor Seymour waiting out there for Fry for so long, and Fry doesn't even think Seymour remembers him... 

It was kind of funny when Leela's in her outfit and kind of, breaks it, when he says she'll jump in (or something) because I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to pull off their clothes and jump in a lava pool. I think it's pretty clear the writers and staff wanted guys to drool.   

Overall, this ep had little things to laugh at, but the plot and Seymour himself make up for that a little, so this ep gets a B

[Reply #173 on:]

 

Originally posted by User_names_suck:
i agree with most of what the guy said, but i dont think things can be completley rid of emotion, its just its important to get it right, otherwise it just gets in the way of comedy.

its been a while now since i saw the episode, but while it was funny, i always hate in programs, problems occuring through stupitidy, bender tries to destroy seymour, because he's to stupid understand that fry isn't pushing him away, he's just excited about finding something that meant something to him from the twentieth century, and bender was really dumb not to understand that. there should never have been the problem of rescuing him,
and then there's frys stupid assumption, even if he'd been correct that seymour had moved on, why wouldn't he want to be brought back to life, unless he's in doggy heaven or something

Bender craves attention and when he's best friend didn't pay any attention to him at all, and then when Fry was really mean to him he snapped, and that "pretended to like the dog" thing is a joke based on the riducoulus ideas people get into their head when their hurt and frustated.
And Fry didn't think Seymore didn't wan't to come back,he didn't wan't him back beacuse he would be hurt that he had his dog infrontom him but it he didn't remember Fry.

[Reply #174 on:]

I would agree that the ending of the episode was very sad but I thought it was alos effective and necessary and that this was certainly one of the very best Futurama episodes.

[Reply #175 on:]

Finally saw it last night (thanks CN!) It was very sad but well worth it. As a bonus, we got to see into Fry a bit more with some of his comments to Seymore about how people treat him.

As for Amy and Leela in the ep, it was silly and pointless but VERY nice to watch (gotta try to find the Leela figure)! F_Hil is 'prolly right in her assesment!

[Reply #176 on:]

The whole Amy and Leela thing was pointless, but in a really good way.

The dying dog waiting for an owner that will never come is pointless and in a really bad way.

I like all of the so called emotional episodes, but the ending of Jurrasic bark just made me want to kill myself.

[Reply #177 on:]

 

Originally posted by Teral:
"Jurrasic Bark" wasn't about showing cruelty to a puppy. It was about loyalty, devotion and unconditional love. Seymore were loyally waiting for Fry every day, because that's how dogs are (or so I'm told), and Fry didn't bring back Seymore because in his ind the dog moved on, and lived a fruitful and happy life after Fry disappeared. Not wanting to bring him back was one of the most selfless acts Fry have ever done, and that shows character.

Teral summed it up pretty well here.     I'm sorry, but you guys that didn't like the ending, you just don't get it.   

And Seymour, we're all walking on sunshine.

[Reply #178 on:]

I loved the wresteling scean!
Nice to look at and it's funny that he get's annoyed of two hot babed wresteling beacuse he must put he's doggy bed in place 

[Reply #179 on:]

This episode kind of made me sad. I dont know why, and it might be the death of me, but I have a weakness to dogs. It was just....sad how Seymour just sat there and waited for Fry to come back.

[Reply #180 on:]

 

Originally posted by Thoth:
 Bender craves attention and when he's best friend didn't pay any attention to him at all, and then when Fry was really mean to him he snapped, and that "pretended to like the dog" thing is a joke based on the riducoulus ideas people get into their head when their hurt and frustated.
And Fry didn't think Seymore didn't wan't to come back,he didn't wan't him back beacuse he would be hurt that he had his dog infrontom him but it he didn't remember Fry.

i know but i just find it stupid
and impossible to sympathise with

[Reply #181 on:]

I just saw "Jurassic Bark" for the first time.  I really enjoyed this episode, I think it's my favorite of season 4.  As pointed out multiple times, the ending was very emotional.  The ending was very moving and very bold in my opinion.  It's this kind of emotional punch found in Futurama that makes it so much better to watch than many other shows.  Great episode.

On a related note, I'm sad that this is the last episode of Futurama that I haven't seen.  No more "new" episodes to see. 

[Reply #182 on:]

Love the episode, and who knows the song they play at the end? When the dog (forgot its name) waits for Fry all his life, which was really reall sad. There should be another ep. when fry uses the 'what if' machine, and say "what if i cloned my dog?" that would be interesting

[Reply #183 on:]

 

Originally posted by User_names_suck:
 i know but i just find it stupid
and impossible to sympathise with

Why exactly is it stupid?

[Reply #184 on:]

Seymours rendition of "Walking on Sunshine" Is so touching! So cute!

[Reply #185 on:]

 

Originally posted by helpimchoking:
Love the episode, and who knows the song they play at the end? When the dog (forgot its name) waits for Fry all his life, which was really reall sad.

The song is called "I will wait for you" by Connie Francis....
She isn't the original singer but that is the version on Jurassic Bark....

[Reply #186 on:]

I think it's come to a point where people are so used to happy endings that they need a slap round the face for their naivety. "Jurrasic Bark" was that slap.

 I personally loved this episode and thought it was probably the most focussed and coherent storyline of Season 4. The tried-and-tested flashback style of TLOTF is employed again to great effect and the development of Fry and Bender's relationship is right up there with the likes of I, Roommate. 

 The Leela and Amy wrestling scenes were also...interesting.  Not just because of their choice of attire, but also because they showed just how engrossed Fry was in preparing for Seymour's revival that he wouldn't even bat an eyelid at their capering. And Bender's brief stint with Robo-Puppy in the same scene was priceless. "Robopuppy mistreatment alert!" 
 
 As for the ending, I didn't actually well up like a lot of people did, but neither did I find it pointless and unenjoyable. Far from it in fact: I'm sick of TV shows doing exactly what I expect them to and was glad to see that Futurama had the balls to do an episode that didn't end with sunshine and rainbows for once. I just thought it was a really well written plot twist, sad as it may be, and I pity all the fools who want an episode where Seymour is brought back to life and hope they get over themselves. 

[Reply #187 on:]

I didnt like the wrestling part wit leela and amy, but its funny what they say:

[Scene: Planet Express: Lounge. Leela and Amy wrestle while Fry stands at the side holding Seymour. Leela pins Amy down.]

Fry: Are you two gonna be done soon?

Leela: Sorry, but we need to practice hand to hand combat in case an enemy knocks the laser gun out of our hands and they slide waaaaay across the room.

lol funny.

[Reply #188 on:]

Something that disturbed me about those scenes though is that in some shots, Leela clearly has no butt crack. 

[Reply #189 on:]

This just came to mind because of the tear-jerkers poll, but I meant to post it when I first saw the episode.  The story of Fry and Seymour reminds me a lot of the story of chu-ken Hachiko, a famous real-life dog from Japan.  Hachiko belonged to a professor at Imperial University named Ueno Eisaburo, who brought the dog to Tokyo in 1924.  He used to follow him to the Shibuya train station every morning, and then wait for him to arrive in the evening.  But in 1925, the professor was taken ill at work and died.  Hachiko waited for him every evening at the train station for ten years before he died on March 8, 1935, right there on the spot where his master last left.  But during that time, he had become a familiar sight at Shibuya, and his story became famous as an illustration of the importance of loyalty and friendship.  Even before he died, they had already erected a statue to him.  It was melted down during the war, but recreated in 1948.  He even has his own gift shop now.

[Reply #190 on:]

i like the pictures aslate posted wonder why aoi1 didnt have nibblers shadow???
???hmm
?

[Reply #191 on:]

Well, I loved the episode, it showed that there was someone missing Fry after he was frozen

- but on the other hand it was perhaps a bit too sentimental for me. Not sure, perhaps 4/5.

[Reply #192 on:]

I haven't seen a Futurama episode in a long time and I just saw this for the very first time.

I cried at the end of the final scene of this episode. I never saw anything that sad on TV before. Almost as sad as The Green Mile. After watching this, I came to the conclusion that whoever is in charge of FOX has no idea what good TV is.

        

[Reply #193 on:]

Yeah, but your avitar is from the episode. Did you pick it before or after viewing the episode?
Anyway, a great episode. It was so sweet, sad, and funny all at the same time. Particularly:

"What do we want?!"

"Fry's dog!"

"When do we want it?!"

"Fry's dog!"

[Reply #194 on:]

I picked it after I saw the episode.

LOL, yea thats a funny scene.

[Reply #195 on:]

 

Originally posted by bender0101:
i like the pictures aslate posted wonder why aoi1 didnt have nibblers shadow???
???hmm
?

if you dont want the spoiler, go watch the why of fry

Show spoiler

because nibller pushed him into the tube, so for fry to not be frozen, nibller would have not pushed him, therefor he wouldn't be there! understand?

[Reply #196 on:]

omg....i only saw that episode tonight. now i have to admit that i am an emotional person when watching movies, but i have never ever reacted like this to anything. oh! im with ImmortalDragon- sader than the green mile.

i cant beleieve that i have been sobbing and crying like it was my own dog that died. i am even *STILL* doing those fast convulsing sobs where you cant breathe properly and i watched the episode about 4hrs ago. I have never been so afffected by something so beautiful, yet so sad. that song just made it complete.

then learning that this ACTUALLY HAPPENED has just made it all the more worse. i have very sore eyes. i guess i commend the futurama gang on writing soemthing so powerful! i know i get over emeotional- and i could see the 'closure' they where trying to present- but it was too sad for it to be a heart warming ending. i mean its not about it being a dog, or just a cartoon, it all about the idea that someone had so much love and loyalty that theyd wait.

wow. good and bad work guys!!
ohh now im upset that i didnt type in my username properly ohhhhh.

[Reply #197 on:]

This episode is good, but not great, IMHO. I just didn't feel bad for Seymour in the end. I was too shocked by how revealing Leela's outfit was, sacred that Leela might kill Amy and amazed by Fry's parents' stupidity to weep over Seymour. I thought TKoS was much sadder, esp. with Arachneon (the only atomic superman who I liked at all) getting killed, Bender sobbing for a painfully long time, and Fry and Leela actually getting divorced (plus it Judge "Worst. Futurama character. EVER" Whitey who divorced them). But I thought the Bender being jealous of Seymour subplot was pretty cute.

[Reply #198 on:]

Best. Episode. Ever.

[Reply #199 on:]

 

Originally posted by Teral:

If he want a bandwagon of crude offensive jokes show him the KOTH both

I take it you don't like KOTH, Teral, which is ironic, as it helped give fame to Lauren Tom, who voices Amy Wong, one of your (and mine) favorite characters. I bet you hate Married.. With Children, even though it gave Katey Sagal fame.