Why so little of Leela - centered episodes?

[on:]

Hi, again some new member of crew who wants to have some attention. Subject of my interest is this : I like Leela but we must be sincere to ourselves. There is not really much episodes about her. I remember these:
First season - "Love´s labour lost in space"
Second season: - "A bicyclops built for two"
Third season: - "The cyber house rules" 
Fourth season: -"Leela´s homeworld"
               -"A Leela of her own"
Fifth season: -"The Sting"
(I don´t count "Less than hero" and "Teenage mutant Leela´s hurdles" - just subplots) 
 Why? Yes of course there are some reasons why she is more complicate (but definetely NOT less interesting) than other characters, but it doesn´t make her more importent than Bender (she is really  more important) who has plenty of his - centered episodes.   

[Reply #1 on:]

Hello new crew member!   

There are not so many Fry or Bender centered episodes as well, but there are many episodes in which the plot focuses on one more then just one character.

[Reply #2 on:]

I think it's becuase Fry or Bender are comic characters, who do crzy things for no reason, while Leela is more sensible, and as such is less likly to get herself ina  zany, A-Story situation.  It's like the lack of Marge-centered stories on The Simpsons.

[Reply #3 on:]

I think you could count Fry/Leela episodes as Leela episodes as well as they do focus in on her just as much as Fry. Parasites Lost is a good example of this and even The Why of Fry in my opinion. These are episodes that are not directly about her but do reveal and advance her character quite a bit so that she is not just a bit player in the overall storyline.
There are alot of Bender episodes because he is... well, Bender. He is definitely the fan favorite and the one that is most identifiable to both casual and die-hard fans. That and you can do so much more with him than with Leela. It was even stated on one of the commentaries that with Bender you can give him some obsessive behaviour in an episode and it really isn't out of character.
The episodes that you do mention are very good though and are some of my favorites. Leela's Homeworld is one of my all time fav's and The Sting is slowly climbing up that list.
RM

[Reply #4 on:]

Leela as a character suffers from what could be called 'limited comic situation potential'.  Where as Bender can become a chef or a folk-singer, and Fry can search for a 4-leaf clover or become his own grandfather, the majority of Leela-centred stories are about her origins or search for love (serious topics as Futurama goes).

Of course, they did try the 'comic situation' for Leela in 'A Leela Of Her Own' but...well...

[Reply #5 on:]

"Look out! Teral's got a gun!" 

IMHO, Leela is more of a reactive than proactive character. She reacts to events, rather than initiates them (although she does, rarely). She grounds the personalities of Fry and Bender, and, as she says herself, "<Her> friends always die if <she's> not there to save them."

She's also just too good natured a character to be impulsive. Fry can be a little insensitive, and Bender....well, is just Bender.  .

[Reply #6 on:]

 

Originally posted by planetcutie:
'limited comic situation potential'. 

What? Leela ... limited? You must have been watching some other kind of Futurama then.

[Reply #7 on:]

Yeah I know but...
Bender hasn´t "so many" centered episodes?
A fear of a bot planet
Hell is other robots
I second that emotion ( OK 60% of Bender, 40% of Leela)
Lesser of two evils
Raging Bender
Bender gets made
The Honking
Bendless love
Bendin in in the wind
Love and Rocket(?)
A pharaoh to remember
Godfellas
30% Iron chef
Bender should not be allowed on TV
Bend her
Obsoletely fabulous
Fry- centered episodes are harder to list but there are plenty of them, where Fry is important for including his "mighty abillities" or his past or just his view of story (mainly Fry/Leela romantic episodes). Leela-o rama is very small in this competion.     

[Reply #8 on:]

That was response for Gocad´s first commentary. 

[Reply #9 on:]

 

Originally posted by Bendo:
I think you could count Fry/Leela episodes as Leela episodes as well as they do focus in on her just as much as Fry. Parasites Lost is a good example of this and even The Why of Fry in my opinion. These are episodes that are not directly about her but do reveal and advance her character quite a bit so that she is not just a bit player in the overall storyline.
There are alot of Bender episodes because he is... well, Bender. He is definitely the fan favorite and the one that is most identifiable to both casual and die-hard fans. That and you can do so much more with him than with Leela. It was even stated on one of the commentaries that with Bender you can give him some obsessive behaviour in an episode and it really isn't out of character.
The episodes that you do mention are very good though and are some of my favorites. Leela's Homeworld is one of my all time fav's and The Sting is slowly climbing up that list.
RM

That probably correspond to my feelings. It is just "bad aftarteste" that writers didn´t  done good "character´s balance".

[Reply #10 on:]

I actually find Leela very funny. because she's a more sensible character, and has a certain amount of dignity to keep, it's even funnier when something realy de-grading or embarrasing happens to her.
And hi Rhodan, just to let you know that you should use the edit button instead of double posting.

[Reply #11 on:]

I actually think if anything, Leela's had more screen time rcently than any other character. Especially with her parents getting introduced in 'Leela's Homeworld', and then us getting another 2 eps with her and her parents in Season 4 

[Reply #12 on:]

 

Originally posted by Gocad:
 What? Leela ... limited? You must have been watching some other kind of Futurama then.

Ah, the wonderful world of quoting out of context.  Leela by no stretch of the imagination is 'limited'.  Her character just doesn't lend itself easily to comic situations. I, more than many, appreciate Leela's depth of character, but that's not the same as 'immediate' humourous potential Eg. Bender, Zoidberg.

(this is getting complicated, especially for someone who's been awake as long as I have)

[Reply #13 on:]

 

Originally posted by M Jackson:
And hi Rhodan, just to let you know that you should use the edit button instead of double posting.

thanx

[Reply #14 on:]

Season One
Space Pilot 3000 - Fry
The Series Has Landed - Fry
I, Roommate - Bender & Fry
Love's Labours Lost in Space - Leela
Fear of a Bot Planet - Bender
A Fishful of Dollars - Fry
My Three Suns - Fry
A Big Piece of Garbage - The Professor
Hell is Other Robots - Bender
A Flight to Remember - The PE Crew
Mars University - Fry/The Professor
When Aliens Attack - Fry
Fry and the Slurm Factory - Fry

Season Two
I Second That Emotion - Bender & Leela
Brannigan Began Again - Leela
A Head in the Polls - Bender
Xmas Story - Leela & Fry (I would consider this the first "shipper" episode... Although "Flight to Remember" held heavy shipper overtones, this is the first one to heavily incorporate it, in my opinion)
Why Must I Be A Crustacian In Love - Zoidberg
Lesser of Two Evils - Bender
Put Your Head on my Shoulder - Fry & Amy
Raging Bender - Bender
A Bicyclops Built for Two - Leela
A Clone of My Own - The Professor
How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back - Hermes
The Deep South - Fry
Bender Gets Made - Bender
Mother's Day - The Professor
The Problem with Popplers - Leela
Anthology of Interest I - Fry, Leela, Bender
War is the H-Word - Fry, Leela, Bender
The Honking - Bender
The Cryonic Woman - Fry

Season Three
Amazon Women in the Mood - Amy & Kif
Parasites Lost - Fry & Leela
A Tale of Two Santas - Bender
The Luck of the Fryrish - Fry
The Bird-bot of Ice-catraz - Bender & Leela
Bendless Love - Bender
The Day the Earth Stood Stupid - Fry
That's Lobstertainment! - Zoidberg
The Cyber House Rules - Leela
Where the Buggalo Roam - Amy & Kif
Insane in the Mainframe - Fry
The Route Of All Evil - ...Prof. & Hermes?
Bendin' In The Wind - Bender
Time keeps on slippin' - Fry & Leela
I Dated A Robot - Fry
A Leela of Her Own - Leela
A Pharaoh To Remember - Bender
Anthology of Interest II - Fry, Leela, Bender
Roswell that Ends Well - Fry
Godfellas - Bender
Futurestock - Fry
30 % Iron Chef - Bender

Season Four
Kif Gets Knocked Up A Notch - Amy & Kif
Leela's Homeworld - Leela
Love & Rocket - Fry, Leela, Bender
Less Than Hero - Leela
A Taste Of Freedom - Zoidberg
Bender Should Not Be Allowed On TV - Bender
Jurassic Bark - Fry
Crimes of the Hot - The Professor / Bender
Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles - I would say Leela
The Why Of Fry - Fry
Where No Fan Has Gone Before - Fry
The Sting - Leela
Bend Her - Bender
Obsoletely Fabulous - Bender
The Farnsworth Parabox - The Crew
Three Hundred Big Boys - The Crew
Spanish Fry - Fry
The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings - Fry & Leela

That's how I see it, anyway. So, the tally is:

Fry: 18
Bender: 16
Leela: 10
Fry & Leela: 4
Fry, Leela, Bender: 3
Leela & Bender: 1

And I counted Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles and Less Than Hero as Leela episodes because I felt those were more "Leela" than any other character. Anyway, I think had the show gone on, Leela and Fry episodes would've occured much more often, and the only reason "Fry" episodes would even continue is because he is really the star of the show. But, just my opinion. Feel free to disagree with any of the "character designations" I've given the episodes.

[Reply #15 on:]

I think Futurama is a group affort. Meaning the show works best when an episode make active use of as many main characters as possible. Take "Xmas Story", it's the quinsential group show. Each and every one of the 7 main characters have a valuable contribution to make, and the episode are among the best Futurama have to offer. Other examples are "Roswell That Ends Well", "Godfellas", "Parasites Lost" and "Amazon Women In The Mood".

Episode focusing on a single characters, while occasional stellar ("Luck Of The Fryrish" and "Leela's Homeworld" ), suffer from a singleminded track and he plot are often non-existant. Case in point: most Benderific episodes.

Leela's character isn't wellsuited for visual and slapstick humor (one of the reasons "A Leela Of Her Own" was such a breath of fresh air, and to all who think this episode sucked, I hate you). Leela's character is that of the upstanding, wellmeaning type, who want to do the right thing. Meaning, she plays well of Bender and Fry's lazy, what's-in-it-for-us-attitude. Leela is also more suited for the quick odd joke. Since we see her as a serious, down-to-earth person, remarks about brewing beer as a kid, etc. works great.

I've always been of the opinion Leela found her homeworld far too soon. They never cashed in on the "I'm an alien allright"-idea. Unfortunately.

In conclusion, yes we have more Benderific episodes than Leela(exclusively)-centered, but I don't think that's a bad idea. I like group-episodes better, I think it brings better things out for Leela's character.

And we do get a lot of Leela-action in the other episodes. Check the screen-possesion chart at WEFNZ.

[Reply #16 on:]

She is less interesting than the other characters, and not as funny.

I don't want her to be kicked out, Futurama needs her, but she just isn't really funny!

[Reply #17 on:]

She's not exactly the life of the party. She provides the intelligence of the group not ot mention the ass kicking action.

[Reply #18 on:]

 

Originally posted by alexvilagosh:
 and not as funny.

Laugh out loud funny? Agreed.
Funny overall? Have to disagree, lots of oneliners and weird stories are sure to draw a chuggle and a smile.

 

She is less interesting than the other characters,

As a character I don't think they come anymore interesting. Sure she's no Garak, but she'll grind Bender into the ground any day of the week.

[Reply #19 on:]

If nothing else I think we've gotten too little Fry, and too much Leela lately (to be fair thought, they are airing out of order).  It seems like every SCENE with Fry this season has somehow involved his love for Leela, an otherwise good aspect of the show that's gotten a little irritating lately, and the only real Fry episodes we've had so far are Jurassic Bark (best....episode.....ever...) and The Why of Fry, and the latter STILL mixes in the Fry/Leela stuff, even putting in a Leela subplot of sorts.  Spanish Fry will hopefully be more Fry only oriented, or as a whole crew maybe (and hopefully very little Fry/Leela stuff this time), and of course the final episode will be yet more Fry/Leela stuff, though its more acceptable there.

And looking at this season, Leela has had plenty of attention.  Less then Hero, Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles, and The Sting were all focused on her in a way (she even prompted the initial box opening in Farnsworth Parabox), and has had more scenes not related to Fry's love for her then Fry has had on his own it would seem.  Hopefully Spanish Fry, and the three Bender episodes, will give the whole thing more breathing room for stuff not related to Leela or Fry's love for her, before the obviously "shippy" heavy last episode.

[Reply #20 on:]

Fry is stoopid and stoopid is funny and funny sells

[Reply #21 on:]

I think Fry has the majority being the main character.  Leela and Bender are equal.  Amy has like three, Hermes about one, and Zoidy has a few.  My favorites are usually centered around two different plots, like A Flight To Remember.

[Reply #22 on:]

 

Originally posted by Teral:
Laugh out loud funny? Agreed.
Funny overall? Have to disagree, lots of oneliners and weird stories are sure to draw a chuggle and a smile.

Leela is not really funny, she is more passive funny. Like says something which one of the other characters make fun of. Then we have the Fry dating funny, which is Fry dependant. Kinda funny, but she is not funny on her own there. Then there is violence humor, which I would say that she is good at(Time keeps slipping, When Fry shows her his time-proof shelter or in Bender gets made, when she kicks Fry). However she does not have a Zoidberg quality, woob woob woob.

[Reply #23 on:]

Yeah what DrRotmos said.

[Reply #24 on:]

Originally posted by DotheBartman:
If nothing else I think we've gotten too little Fry, and too much Leela lately

Too much Leela? Leela has been the main person in only 10 episodes, while Fry has 18 under his belt(Or pants pocket). I don't really care that there are Leela centered episodes. She is a intresting character and she is quite funny. And why does everyone hate "Shippy" episodes? I love the "Shippy" episodes. Ever since season 1 I wanted for them to get together and now it will pay off. This is only my opinion and so I wont throw an insult at any body, I'm not that kind of person.

[Reply #25 on:]

Was it just me or was Leelas character a bit off in Route of all evil? I cant picture her acting as dumb as Fry and Bender after 'Brannigan begin again' and 'War is the H word'.

[Reply #26 on:]

Teral I agree, my favourite episodes are the ones where everyone is featured, such as A Flight To Remember. But what do you mean by Leela found her homeworld too early? There wasn't that much time left!

[Reply #27 on:]

Yeah, in light of how things went it was a rather good decision.

But when they wrote "Leela's Homeworld" the Futurama staff didn't know the show would be cancelled. Although they had had difficulties with FOX, everything still looked as if Futurama would have more seasons to come.

Considering how Leela being an alien, and her longing to find her species, was such a vital part of Leela's character, we saw suprisingly little of it. "A Bicyclops Buílt For Two" and "Whizzin'" in AOI II, and that's about it. Making 3 or 4 additional episodes, spread over a couple of seasons would have made for a better development of that story arch.

All seen in the context of the show, "Leela's Homeworld" aired far too soon.

[Reply #28 on:]

well Leela being alone in the world was a part of her character and that played into the plot and her motivations in other episodes like A Flight To Remember. And Xmas Story, etc.

[Reply #29 on:]

Being alone in the world is part of everyone's character.  The show is about loneliness and alienation.

I made myself sad...

[Reply #30 on:]

Its probably because Leela is a boring character that only shippers give a crap about. She's just one of those characters there to control the others and make some morals and what not. She's not funny nor very entertaining to the average viewer. Its not like there's many more Bender/Fry-centered episodes. Personally, I think she's had too many episodes. Most of them aren't even that great.

[Reply #31 on:]

As much as I'd like to see it, if and when Leela and Fry ever do "get together" ... that's Futurama's 'jump the shark' moment.

[Reply #32 on:]

I totally disagree with you, Jrrr Poppler.  Leela is a very interesting character.  Not very funny, but she adds other things to the show.  Most of the very emotional episodes are about her.

BTW, did anyone else notice that there haven't been any Zapp episodes lately?  And there probably won't be any more.

[Reply #33 on:]

yah, Leela is one of the most interesting characters from the non-comedy perspective, but the problem I see lately is that she's become the straight man for the "Fry is stupid" jokes and the "Fry wants to get with Leela" jokes.  It's like her role has been reduced to that girl who won't go out with Fry, instead of having a 2-sided exploration of their relationship.  Maybe it's just because there have been a couple of really shippy episodes in a row, but the way they're stretching out Fry's agony is becoming repetitive and it comes at the expense of Leela's character development.
If I hear Fry say "why won't you go out with me" again...

[Reply #34 on:]

Hey, I'm a shipper, I can live with that.

[Reply #35 on:]

 

Originally posted by spacepilot3000:

Originally posted by DotheBartman:
If nothing else I think we've gotten too little Fry, and too much Leela lately

Too much Leela? Leela has been the main person in only 10 episodes, while Fry has 18 under his belt(Or pants pocket). I don't really care that there are Leela centered episodes. She is a intresting character and she is quite funny. And why does everyone hate "Shippy" episodes? I love the "Shippy" episodes. Ever since season 1 I wanted for them to get together and now it will pay off. This is only my opinion and so I wont throw an insult at any body, I'm not that kind of person.

The "shippy" stuff isn't really bad or anything.  I rather enjoy it, for the most part.  I guess my problem is, as I said (and also as I said, the episodes aren't airing in order to be fair) there seems to be an overabundance of the shipper stuff lately, and Leela plots, especcially compared to standalone Fry stuff (as I said, Why of Fry and Jurassic Bark are the only season 5 episodes so far that really focus on him).  The shippy stuff is again good for the most part, but it just seems to be used too much lately, in some cases even to the point of seeming a little awkward and misplaced, like in Farnsworth Parabox.  Its a good aspect, but it needs to be balanced properly with the rest of the show, as it is just one aspect that makes this show great, as is the character of Leela herself.  Its like, Homer Simpson is great, but they'd be making a BIG mistake if they suddenly made every Simpsons episode about him....oh, wait....