Was There Ever A Decline?

[on:]

Many people know that during Seasons 10-12 in The Simpsons, there was a decline in quality, and is still not good as it used to be in the newest episodes. Was there ever a decline in Futurama? I don't think there was, i don't think Futurama was given the chance to have a decline because of Fox. Sure there was bad episodes, but there was classics surrounding the bad ones.

What do you think?

[Reply #1 on:]

I kinda agree. I don't really think any Futurama episodes are 'bad', but some aren't as good as others. Such as, IMO 'That's Lobsertainment', and 'Kif Gets Knocked Up A Notch', but you're right, they were surrounded by classics. I don't think there was really a decline, and it's hard to judge without seeing all the episodes yet, but I think it's good, if not better than it was. There's more depth and emotion now because it's developed more. I guess some more lower quality eps have crept in in the last 2 seasons, but that's my opinion   

[Reply #2 on:]

From the episodes I've seen I'd say there wasn't a decline, sure there are a few episodes that are less than great but they are scattered throughout the full run of the show, not all at the end that would indicate a decline.

[Reply #3 on:]

Futurama had one or two episodes per season which were less entertaining, however other shows (including Star Trek) that I watched on a regular basis had far more disappointing episodes per season.

[Reply #4 on:]

the only decline came off the screen. It was all the fox- futurama relationship. Oh yer, the ratings.

[Reply #5 on:]

If this is the end of Futurama, I think we can seek solace in the fact that it will be remembered as one of the best shows ever.

Imagine in 5 years, a young kid sit down in front of TV and for the first time in his life he sees an episode of Futurama and an episode of Simpsons (completely randomly chosen).

With Futurama he has a 100% chance of seeing a good episode and a 75% chance of seeing a great episode or better. With Simpsons he has a 75% chance of seeing a good episode or better, and a 20% chance of seeing something truely craptacular. Considering most Simpsons episodes will be from season 8 and onwards I might be too generous about the Simpsons quality.

The point is no matter what Futurama episode he'll see, he's almost guaranteed a good experience.

Okay, time for some more objective views: Futurama have a few questionable episodes here and there. That's unavoidable, but compared to other shows, Futurama have excelled. Look at DS9, a show I love, yet it managed to produce one of the most downright offensive episodes I've ever seen (Profit And Lace), while Futuram managed to stay above such thing.

Off the top of my head I could probably mention 4 or 5 episodes that failed to live up to Futurama's high standards. Still most of these would be above tv standards, so depedning on the last 8 episodes, I think there wre no decline.

[Reply #6 on:]

Nop, I also think there was no decline.
We don't know what is coming up, but if it stays like the rest of 4ACV I'll love it.

In some threads I've read that the newer episodes aren't that good anymore, which I can't understand.
Come to think of it 4ACV might be my favourite season as there has been so much plot development so far....

[Reply #7 on:]

What i was saying before "it is better for it to be cancelled at its highest point (or a top point) than letting it continue too much time and comming down.

think of it as the roman empire!

[Reply #8 on:]

No decline at all. A few weaker episodes scattered throughout the run, but overall, it just keeps getting better and better. I agree that it's best for it to go out at its peek, but I don't think it's even reached its peak yet 

[Reply #9 on:]

What's that phrase, 'Jumping The Shark'?
Definitely Futurama will go down as a show that never jumped the shark.

What is a bit of a shame though is that, like a lot of other classics, the creators never had a great deal of fore-warning that the end was near, and so never had a chance to create a proper end to the series.  I always thought Chris Carter's 'Millenium' series was the greatest victim of this cirumstance (the way Season Three ended, I would have strangled my own mother to see how Season Four would have unfolded -but Fox (yes, them again) pulled the plug).

[Reply #10 on:]

 

Originally posted by Akito01:

What is a bit of a shame though is that, like a lot of other classics, the creators never had a great deal of fore-warning that the end was near, and so never had a chance to create a proper end to the series.

I couldn't agree more. its like a realy long movie without a resolution. futurama isn't one of those shows that you can just cancel without some kind of ending

[Reply #11 on:]

 

Originally posted by Akito01:
What's that phrase, 'Jumping The Shark'?

If you are asking where that phrase came from, it was a phrase invented to describe a show which had reached a point in the show so high, that no subsequent moment could ever be a good. Kind of an "it's all downhill from here" sort of thing. The original example was an episode of Happy Days in which The Fonz jumped over a tank with a shark in it while on his motorcycle. The author of the phrase decided that from that point on, the show was in a permanent decline. Go to http://www.jumptheshark.com  to see some examples. (Note: They list "The Simpsons" as never having jumped the shark however, so take everything there with a grain of salt)

 

Originally posted by zozer:
I couldn't agree more. its like a realy long movie without a resolution. futurama isn't one of those shows that you can just cancel without some kind of ending

I agree as well.

If Fox is, as it appears, so hell bent on cancelling the show, it seems they might still have time to assemble everyone for one last episode that could be a fitting end for the series. An hour-long episode that left all doors open for resurrection (or perhaps even a movie) would be my favorite way to end the show's run on Fox.

[Reply #12 on:]

The simpsons Has jumped the shark. ITs differnt now, more Mass orientated.
But anyway Like the new eps of the simpsons some of the futurama are silly. Like the aformentioned. thats the sort of show you would get if you put Jim Caerry in charge.
Silly eps dont suspend disbelief.

[Reply #13 on:]

O'neil: We will have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

Bra'tak: The bridge is too heavily defended, we will have to take the forest path

O'neil: It's a cliche

look folks, we will see how this thing ends and have world war one of flame wars toward fox about it when it does show, when it does show! so till then sit tight and watch, coment as we go along here.

[Reply #14 on:]

I think the answer comes from that thread that held on for so long "Worst Futurama Episode".  There wasn't an episode mentioned that didn't have at least one "Are you crazy? I loved that one" reply.

Even though we may each have our personal lists of favorites and non-favorites, I doubt anyone here will argue the fact that every single one of the 64 episodes so far (and I'm sure the last 8 as well) containted at least a couple of moments we each laughed at.  I think that speaks volumes about the quality of the writing.  Are they all 22 minutes of wall to wall hilarity?  No.  But - they are all good and highly entertaining.

If Futurama had followed the Simpsons since it's beginning, I have no doubt that it would have been on for years and eventually lost it's edge, but in it's four years Futurama never came close to being anything less than wonderful.

[Reply #15 on:]

Although Futurama has had a few not-so-good episodes here and there, I'd like to think it kept a steady pace of usually good episodes, and of course, some really excellent ones too.

By the way - The Simpsons began to decline in 1999, if you want my opinion. Seasons 2-6 of The Simpsons rule though.

Anyway, going back to Futurama - every show has some poor episodes and some incredibly great episodes. I'm just glad Futurama has hardly any poor episodes. I'd say it's been a pretty good run, even if it has been cancelled. And look on the pro side - at least it ended before it went the way The Simpsons did.

[Reply #16 on:]

Well it's hard to say if there were any bad ones,because as fans we tend to be more forgiving. (Some fans pick the thing apart to the point of making ya wonder if they EVER liked the show,but that's another point for another thread)
But I'd have to say Futurama never jumped the shark.

[Reply #17 on:]

Futurama didn't bat a thousand, but then again, no one does.  It didn't jump the shark, but then again, it never really had a chance to.  That may be the silver lining of the dark cloud.

The Simpsons... I've heard, and tend to agree, that its jump the shark episode was the one where Seymour Skinner is an imposter (real name Arman Tanzarian).  There have been some bright episodes since then, but it's been mostly downhill. 

Amazingly enough, this coincides with the time Matt Groening left the Simpsons to start work on Futurama...

[Reply #18 on:]

Looking at the show as a whole, to my mind there was a slight drop-off in energy/quality/whatever towards the end of each year from season 2 onwards (probably because the writers were worn out!). The episodes that I liked the least tend to come around this time in each production block. But on the other hand they frequently have good episodes surrounding them, so this may not be entirely scientific. 

[Reply #19 on:]

I reckon Futurama will jump the shark about five minutes after the end of "The Devil's Hands..."

[Reply #20 on:]

I personally think that season 2 had a greater percentage of good episodes than season 3, though season 3 had some really good episodes.  And we really can't judge season 4 because we've only seen just over half of its episodes (though I liked most of those).

And I think The Simpsons jumped the shark with "You Only Move Twice" (where Homer works at a company run by a supervillain).  The whole tone of the show changed at that point.  But there were still a few good episodes after that.

[Reply #21 on:]

I don't really like the first season of the simpsons, it got great from year 2.

But for futurama, it's 4 excellent seasons.

[Reply #22 on:]

No, there was no decline.  A decline indicates a steady downward trend over time.  If anything the last few eps have been heading upwards in watchability.  Sure there are a few duds, but not nearly enough to predict the start of a deline.  I hope and feel the last few will be among the best ever.

[Reply #23 on:]

I think it jumped season 4. It got less funny and "darker". Of course it's still funny, but it when downhill starting season 4.

[Reply #24 on:]

 

Originally posted by payndz:
Looking at the show as a whole, to my mind there was a slight drop-off in energy/quality/whatever towards the end of each year from season 2 onwards (probably because the writers were worn out!). The episodes that I liked the least tend to come around this time in each production block. But on the other hand they frequently have good episodes surrounding them, so this may not be entirely scientific.   

I dunno, I've said the same thing about Star Trek seasons.

[Reply #25 on:]

.

[Reply #26 on:]

Overall, it got less funny sometime during season 4. The Buggalo and the PE Ship episodes were pretty bad, and a couple of the season 5 episodes sucked. Of course, this could be a result of the poor episode mix (airing completely different types of episodes - first a funny one, then a dark and emotional one, and then a 'childish' one and so on). Season 1 and 2 consisted of somewhat equal and balanced episodes. They were funny, they introduced funny characters or planets in almost every episode and 'everybody' got the jokes and references. The storyline was kinda Seinfeld-ish (the main characters had their small plots 'within' the main plot), and the scenery changed every couple of minutes.
Now it seems the writers often just decide for a theme and stick very closely to it, struggling to find a way to cram all the characters into it. 

[Reply #27 on:]

I never though there was a decline in quality. Some, 3 or 4 or the max, might haven't had had the same spark but that ain't a decline imo.

[Reply #28 on:]

Futurama didn't jump the shark. It was fed to the shark after getting beaten, raped, and stabbed to death in a back alley somewhere.