Thoughts on [4ACV12] - The Sting

[Reply #40 on:]

Just watched it! The beginning was um...well mediocre, but when they got to the hive everything turned around. Very well done and it's good to see Patrick's last episode will be a good one. The ending was great and  towards the end it was hard to tell what was a dream and what was real. The song "Bee Happy" (Which by it's description corny) was executed the way only Futurama could do such a song. One of my favorites from McSeason 5 by far.

[Reply #41 on:]

This was a pretty romantic and poignant episode. The beginning was good, when they were in the beehive. And then the whole plot had a few twists thanks to Leela's dreams. Especially the one where Fry was regenerated from the honey. For a while, I was wondering how Fry will return. I was even thinking that maybe Fry's appearance will take a brief hiatus until his return in a later episode. I could use more comedy in the series next time, but this was still good to watch.

[Reply #42 on:]

First review here (though I've done a few at the NHC), so cut me a little slack  .  This is also the same text as my review at the NHC.

Oddly enough Tomacco seems to have enjoyed it more then I did. Not that I didn't like it though.

Definetely an interesting episode, that had me literally saying "what the fuck is going on?" out loud, but in a good way. The direction was definetely amazing and unlike anything I'd ever seen in animation, and I really dug the "2001: A Space Odyssey" thing. I think my main issue was just that it wasn't the funniest episode. It was pretty consistant in that regard, and had lots of great moments (all the refs to past episodes, "RIP Meatbag", Bender's court order and pretty much everything else with him, everything with Hermes), but wasn't as consistantly gut busting as some other episodes that take a more serious route, though the focus of the episode was definetely on its plot, so it was funny enough to be perfectly forgivable. Definetely the highest honor I can give this episode is that it was unlike anything I'd really ever seen before in movies or tv, and was incredibly creative, which wins it big points from me.

For now: 4/5 B+/A-

[Reply #43 on:]

Oh my god, i just freakin realized i taped this ep on a tape that was at the very end.......it only taped till the first comercial break (when fry actually dies) and then rewinded and ejected itself..............

I AM GONNA KILL MY SELF.....I AM SO FREAKIN STUPID FOR NOT CHECKING THAT STUPID TAPE!!!!!!!! 

[Reply #44 on:]

And To show the whole story in less than 30 minutes is wonderful!!!  This kind of plot usually takes an hour to build up and a half hour to climax... Kinda like when you're having great sex and so on... Anyhow, It was great for me seeing Gunther... I personally liked the lil monkey when the rest of ya'll hate him.

[Reply #45 on:]

"Look out!"

Did anyone notice Sarge's avatar? We finally get to see it in action, after all this time.

Also, didn't Sarge mention some black box humor that was cut because of 9/11? Someone give us some sexy details, before I kill myself again.

[Reply #46 on:]

THE STING SUCKED ASS!........on of the worst episodes of futurama ever...... didnt laugh once........ it made me MAD........ now i can see y it was cancelled...... buncha Assholes at fox!......

[Reply #47 on:]

Shippy, trippy fun!  One of the shippiest by far.  Got a chance to exercise the ol' tear ducts at the end.  In your face, whomever said the space bees weren't the same creatures as the space wasps!  I accurately predicted that twist a few weeks ago.  Paranoid theories: one.  Regular theories: a million.  I have to admit though, I did think Fry was dead and replaced by a royal jelly clone.  I was already expecting a showdown between clone Fry and original Fry.  A man can dream, you know.  A man can dream.  I'll have more to say on this ep after I've watched it a few more times.  There was another Jewish joke, however.  When the PE crew look inside Fry's empty locker, Zoidberg says, "bupkis."  That's Yiddish for "nothing at all."  Also, I think Zoiby's name in glitter behind him while he sang was some kind of weird reference to "The Jazz Singer" (which I haven't seen in years).  It was great seeing Father Changstein el-Gamal again.  He was so right in his little jab at clergy.  Farnsworth's "I made myself sad" echoed Bender's empathic line in "I Second That Emotion."  Anarchist used my "three thumbs up" line before I got a chance, so... two finglongers up!  Nothing disappointed.  That musical number was way weird, as any scene would have to be in order to be novel on Futurama.  Thank you, Mr. Verrone.  Excellent work there.  Scruffy on the bagpipes.  Hilarious.  Maybe he's a descendant of (Scottish janitor) Willie from The Simpsons?  The bringing items back from dreams thing reminded me a bit of "Nightmare On Elm Street."  Is it my imagination, or was Farnsworth totally manipulating the crew, with his thinly veiled, "you guys aren't tough enough" challenge? 

You know, Fox 5 NY introduced the show with a "stellar comedy lineup" (or somesuch) advert that touted the virtues of King of the Hill, Simpsons and some other stuff, but conspicuously omitted mention of Futurama.  Ironic, considering it was supposed to be the buildup teaser for "an all-new episode of Futurama!"  They really have it in for our favorite show, it seems. 

Nonetheless, I feel satisfied like after a long snu-snu bout.  If I have one regret, it is that I did not watch this ep stoned.  Leela needs a kid already.  Her maternal instincts got ahold of her like Krazy Glue. 

[Reply #48 on:]

Just fucking go to hell Toad. Don't be so negative. It was Patrick Verrone's last episode and it was well-written, funny, and just all in all well done. And never blame Futurama for it's own cancellation you sack of vomitous waste! YOU'VE BEEN AN ASS SINCE DAY ONE!

[Reply #49 on:]

Also I liked music in this episode.

 

Originally posted by FishyJoe:
"Look out!"

Did anyone notice Sarge's avatar? We finally get to see it in action, after all this time.

yeah I did.

[Reply #50 on:]

 

Originally posted by Chanukah Zombie:
 In your face, whomever said the space bees weren't the same creatures as the space wasps!  I accurately predicted that twist a few weeks ago.   

Wow you must be some kind of magical genius to have figured out that WASPS and BEES are not the same thing. Did you get a cookie for that one?

[Reply #51 on:]

I liked the ep though it lacked any good laffs it was emotional and I liked how the ep played out so to speak. I also liked how this ep touched back on many other eps from the past. Another thing that I noticed about this ep was its many referances to other shows/movies. A good example of this was the bee being sent into outter space like out of the movie Alien. As for how they ran the story I thought they did a good job.

[Reply #52 on:]

OK, I'm a dork: what does 'ship' mean when used as an adjective?

("This was a very shippy episode." )

[Reply #53 on:]

As I suspected, this episode had the same basic plot and ending as the fan fiction I read (I can't remember the title).  In the story, Fry is killed and Leela grieves, but in the end it turns out the whole thing was her dream and she'd been knocked unconscious in the same way that she thought Fry had been killed.  That isn't the most original idea, but I immediately thought of it when I read that the episode involved Fry dying.  I guess that'll teach me not to read fan ficiton.

Anyway, someone interrupted me while watching the episode, just as I was interrupted during the previous two new episodes.  That's really annoying, especially when there's no real reason for the interruption.  I taped the episode so I'll watch it again when I calm down.

[Reply #54 on:]

...Best....Ep.....EVER  there was no part i didn't like. I've already seen the ep all the way through 3 times and the wake-up-in-hospital scene 3 separate times.

As a major shipper i was absolutely delighted. The tone of Fry's voice when he was sobbingly pleading to her was heartbreaking and her crying out to him was just as much so. it was the sweetest most moving thing i have ever seen. And i've been waiting for him to drape his jacket on her for the past three years. I'm so happy it was this ep they had that happen in. And did you notice that in her memory box Leela still has the "You leave me breathless" heart? She kept it, how cute is that? I'm just dissapointed she didn't have her wedding ring from TKOS. And the hug at the end was so beautiful the "you could use a shower" line didn't even hurt the mood. not that i'm saying i didn't like that line. It had me laughing out loud.

The way she kept flinging Nibbler from the bed was hysterical. I've accidently done that to my cats on a few occasions.    And the look on Leela's face when things kept going weird was golden. i loved when she popped the squeezy thing

"i am not under stress damnit!" *pop*

I love how trippy it got. I love mind trips. i actually had it mostly figured out before the ep even aired. Only my theory was that when she finally wakes up for real, she wakes up on the bridge of the ship and Fry was never stung at all, she was, and the whole him being dead thing was just a dream she had while SHE was dead and during the whole thing Fry was desperately trying to revive her. And when Fry started yelling at her from the picture frame i thought my theory had been confirmed. Bits of it sounded like something you would say to someone who was actively dying.

 

Originally posted by Spanghewed:
The only thing that I could say could make the episode better is if at the end, as it faded to the credits, Fry told Leela to wake up again. > 

NONONONONONONO! Waaaayyyy to creepy! i got chills just reading that, let alone actually hearing it as part of the ep.   

 

Originally posted by Anarchist:
Just want to add, this has been stuck in my head for some reason: I loved the inflection in Leela's voice when she said "It got through" at the end. Something about it got to me, somehow. I'm still trying to figure it out.

i noticed it too. One of Katey's better moments. what can i say? The girl is good.

[Reply #55 on:]

Dear Velour Fog,

I'm sorry; I must have written ambiguously. I'll try to be a little clearer here. What I said way back then was that the two species were, in fact, the same thing. This despite the difference in name. That was the big novelty and that was the idea that encountered skepticism at the time. I hope you don't blame me for feeling a little vindicated now. After all, my wild speculations get shot down a lot around here so it's refreshing to get one right now and then.    What are your thoughts on the episode? 

 

Originally posted by VelourFog:
 

Originally posted by Chanukah Zombie:
 In your face, whomever said the space bees weren't the same creatures as the space wasps!  I accurately predicted that twist a few weeks ago.   

Wow you must be some kind of magical genius to have figured out that WASPS and BEES are not the same thing. Did you get a cookie for that one?

[Reply #56 on:]

 

Originally posted by Chanukah Zombie:
  Leela needs a kid already.  Her maternal instincts got ahold of her like Krazy Glue. 

yeah she does. her biological clock is going nuts on her. 

[Reply #57 on:]

Meh... it was pretty good. I thought the ending should have progressed their relationship more. I mean, it shows that Leela likes Fry, but they still are at the same level. Left me feeling empty. Probably a top ten episode.

Also, needed a few more jokes in the middle... I like drama and all, but it is a comedy, and I watch it for the humor.

[Reply #58 on:]

LOVED IT!  Being a shipper, I really enjoyed it.  Still, it didn't have too many laughs, but Futurama is only a third comedy(drama, action/adventure).  Why did it make evryone sad?  Because Fry died?  I loved the refs, and all the previous characters.  Sad to see the show go, but I think if the rest of the eps are like this, at least it's going out well. 

BTW, Hypno Toad, WHAT THE **** IS YOUR PROBLEM!

Rating: 4.5/5

[Reply #59 on:]

@Anarchist:

Dude, I thought I was the only one to pick up on that change in tone.  It was subtle but it was there.  Who says voice acting is easy?  I don't know how to interpret it either but something tells me it means, "you finally did it -- I'm yours forever now."  I know this seemingly contradicts the plot of the series finale, but my gut tells me "maybe." 

 

Originally posted by Anarchist:
EDIT - Just want to add, this has been stuck in my head for some reason: I loved the inflection in Leela's voice when she said "It got through" at the end. Something about it got to me, somehow. I'm still trying to figure it out.

[Reply #60 on:]

Another 2001 reference was great (tho the 2001 gags have been so prevelant it's almost pointless to even mention them now)
But what about the reference to Honey Comb cereal.   

Great episode. 

-cs

[Reply #61 on:]

It wasn't the first time such a reference appeared in the show but few things epitomize growing up in the time and place the writers did than that silly cereal and its even sillier commercials. 

 

Originally posted by Chriswell:
But what about the reference to Honey Comb cereal.   

-cs

[Reply #62 on:]

I'm still laughing at Bender plugging himself into the golf course and jumping into the water to retrieve the golf ball... The look on his face just cracks me up... I also found it funny how when Leela pulls the plug out of Bender how he goes flying away like a balloon. 

In other news, the episode was pretty great although it did have its moments where it seems to have stalled.  Most noticeably the beginning... Some of Herme's lines didn't feel quite in place.

[Reply #63 on:]

Yeah, I have to give this episode a thumbs up for sure as well. The tear-jerker factor was still a notch below Luck Of The Fryish, but the payoff at the end was still brilliant.

Some great movie references in this ep,as has been mentioned: Alien (their helmets look exactly like the ones in the first movie), Star Trek III, and 2001.

This might be a completely insane correlation to make, but during that tripped out musical number when all them were stung and exploded one by one, I was strongly reminded of the scene from End Of Evangelion when we see all the various NERV staff being touched by versions of Rei and exploding into goo as they lose their physical form.  Um, complete coincidence, I'm sure.

[Reply #64 on:]

@Prowla RX7:

The funny thing is, Bender being an artificial intelligence, the lake was probably as "real" to his computer brain as a real one would be to us.  No wonder he was so ticked off; "virtual" and "actual" wading are probably near-synonyms for him. 

In other news, you're right.  I too noticed the apparent "dumbing down" of Hermes.  He came off more like a retardate than a Rastafarian.  What was up with that? 

[Reply #65 on:]

 

Originally posted by Chanukah Zombie:
@Prowla RX7:

The funny thing is, Bender being an artificial intelligence, the lake was probably as "real" to his computer brain as a real one would be to us.  No wonder he was so ticked off; "virtual" and "actual" wading are likely near-synonyms for him. 

In other news, you're right.  I too noticed the apparent "dumbing down" of Hermes.  He came off more like a retardate than a Rastafarian.  What was up with that? 

Oh yeah, the continuity was airtight, ironclad.  So many features of the established Futurama milieu were used in this ep, it was great! 

[Reply #66 on:]

First post here yay 

5/5 for me.

Call me a nerd but these last few episodes of Futurama have really gotten me. This episode had me everywhere. When Fry "re-materialized" from the queen goo, I was pissed that they took such an easy route to end it. The whole episode had me asking where are they going for this.

I've also come to the conclusion that Futurama is too good for Fox. Like Fry said earlier, "But that's not why people watch TV. Clever things make people feel stupid, and unexpected things make them feel scared." JB, Fryish, this one, and most of the recent episodes have been too good for Fox. Really unlike anything I've watched on TV before them. They're no Joe Millionaires if you guys get where I'm going with this.

On a lighter note, did anyone notice Farnsworth and Hermes voices were a little different?

[Reply #67 on:]

Very good, very good.  I had high expectations for this ep and was not disappointed.  It was weirder and way more romantic than I though it would be, but that is a good thing.  The reference to the Honeycomb cereal commercial had me laughing "Honeycomb's big - yeah yeah yeah"  Leela's descent into insanity was very trippy and well done.  The ending had shades of "Red Dwarf - Back To Reality"  That's not a bad thing by any means.  Did anyone notice the scene were Sarge got his avatar from?  All in all a tip top notch episode of this very good McSeason.

After I watch it a few more times and I'm sure my rating will go up.  For now a conservative 8/10

[Reply #68 on:]

OMG...I loved it!  It was absolutely magnifique.  The jokes were quite funny, especially the Professor's and the one with Fry's ex-girlfriends.  Leela waking up and throwing Nibbler off the bed made me chuckle, as I do that quite a bit with my cat.  The dreams were all very interesting and the one where Fry gives Leela his jacket was a gift from shipper heaven.  I think I'll make a scan of the framegrab of Fry and Leela dancing and use that as my avy. 
The song and dance number was great, very funny and the last dream with the picture got to me.  When Fry tells Leela he loves her, I got very misty-eyed.  The end was also quite sweet, especially that "It got through" line.  I was waiting for an ending similiar to TWoF, but they can't all end that way, now can they? 
At any rate, I LOVED it.  My favorite episode now.  It's very sad that we are nearing the end because season four has been the best, IMO.

[Reply #69 on:]

 

Originally posted by plugtwo:
On a lighter note, did anyone notice Farnsworth and Hermes voices were a little different?

I didn't notice any change in Farnsworth's voice but I did notice that at the beginning Hermes voice was a little deeper and less-Jamaican than normal.

[Reply #70 on:]

FOX has already b*tch slapped us in the face by cancelling the show... if it turned out the whole thing was a dream that would be like b*itch slapping my other cheek.

PLEASE PICK THE SHOW UP CARTOON NETWORK. Maybe if we all go march on their headquarters while butt naked that would get their attention.

[Reply #71 on:]

I hate the fact that the series is coming to an end... It apparently is obvious that this show was definitely cancelled before its time.  If only we can convince SpikeTV (first all new channel for men.. although women would watch it if Futurama n such appears.) to somehow convince Groening to continue the series so that we would be able to see it keep going.  Just my opinion.

[Reply #72 on:]

Uh, I'm not sure if this comment belongs here or not, but am I the only one who's aware of the fact that queen bees do not have stingers? They have ovaries instead. That's what makes them queen bees.

[Reply #73 on:]

Anarchist,

I take it you have studied the anatomy of giant queen bees from outer space?

[Reply #74 on:]

Yeah, but Giant Space Queen Bees DO have stingers. 

[Reply #75 on:]

 

Originally posted by Kipper:
I loved it when leela woke up and nibbler would go flying! (i have a dog the size of nibbler and sometimes when i wake up in the morning i realize that i am have only 5 minutes to get ready so i jump out of bed and my poor little dog goes flying)

 

Originally posted by Venus:
The way she kept flinging Nibbler from the bed was hysterical. I've accidently done that to my cats on a few occasions.

 

Originally posted by BumbleBeeTheta:
Leela waking up and throwing Nibbler off the bed made me chuckle, as I do that quite a bit with my cat.

Dude, we have seriously gotta stop letting our animals sleep with us. we're gonna wind up killing them. And that would be sad.   

[Reply #76 on:]

Another thing that concerned me is the fact that Nibbler was still himself when Fry died...  Knowing that Fry is the one and only person capable of saving the Universe, you'd think he would be a lil sad or something.

[Reply #77 on:]

that was because it was all leela's dream. She doesn't know that Nibbler would notice or even care that Fry was gone, so in her dream he behaved the same as she was used to him behaving. had Fry died for real Nibbler probably would have been a little more upset.

[Reply #78 on:]

 

Originally posted by Yoplait:
Anarchist,

I take it you have studied the anatomy of giant queen bees from outer space?

As a matter of fact, yes. Yes I have.

[Reply #79 on:]

(Okay, I watched it again by myself and managed not to get interrupted.)

That was an amazing episode.  I'd probably put it in my all-time top ten even though I've just seen it.  It wasn't perfect, but it worked very well, combining humo

r, sadness, romance, and weirdness.

As I said, I figured out the ending, but not the details.  It wasn't until the end that I realized why Dream-Fry kept telling Leela to wake up, or that eating three spoons of honey represented going into a permanent coma.  The Jelly-Fry didn't fool me, but it was a very well-done escalation of her instability.

As others have pointed out, there are tons of references to previous episodes.  At the funeral I spotted the Wongs, two Trisolians, Cubert, Dwight, Chester A. Arthur, Sal, two Neptunian "elves," two Cygnoids, and Seymour.  And here are the contents of Leela's box if you missed them:

• Slurm can
• Picture of Fry
• Moon magnet ('The Series has Landed')
• Spoon depicting Fry as Trisol emperor ('My Three Suns')
• Fry's first mustache ('The Cryonic Woman')
• Π-in-One oil ('Insane in the Mainframe')
• "U Leave Me Breathless" candy heart ('Love and Rocket')
• The flower ('The Why of Fry')

The animation really stood out.  The beehive is one of the best looking locations ever; both the backgrounds and actual animation were very well done, and the computer-animated bees were really good too.  The 2001 sequence did a good job duplicating the effect from the movie.