Which is better: X-Mas Story or AToTS?

[on:]

In similar fashion to the other thread I started. Which one do you like better: Xmas Story or A Tale of Two Santas?

Personally, even though I prefer John Goodman's voice of Robo Santa to John D's, I'm going to have to go for AToTS soley for the Neptunians.

[Reply #1 on:]

X-Mas story was a good first step in establishing the characters enough for the truly character based stuff to work, but still isn't quite there.  A Tale of Two Santas, on the other hand, is uproariasly funny and I barely ever stopped laughing out loud when I first watched it.

[Reply #2 on:]

 I have to say that whilst I think John DiMaggio did a very good job of matching John Goodman's Santa voice, his dialogue in ATO2S didn't seem anywhere near as witty at that of X-Mas Story, where practically everything Santa said could've been a punchline. "Your mistletoe is no match for my T.O.W missle," for example. And I think in general, X-Mas Story has the edge over ATO2S in terms of humour, as it's crammed full of witty jokes.

 However, I'd say that ATO2S has a more consistent and coherent plot. It's a lot more linear and I found it more engaging as a result. So I think both episodes have advantages over each other.

[Reply #3 on:]

Xmas Story is more rewatchable. But I like them both.

[Reply #4 on:]

"Xmas Story" is much better.  It's probably in my top ten best episodes, while "A Tale..." is probably in my top ten worst.  I thought they did pretty much every joke they could with Santa in the first one, so the second one was unnecessary and in it Santa was just silly.  I'm not saying it was impossible to do another Christmas show (though it would have been incredibly difficult to match the quality of "Xmas Story"), I just thought that wasn't the way.  Some of the jokes were flat, the plot was uninteresting, and the ending looked as if they'd just run out of steam.  Still, Zoidberg as Jesus is one of his best bits.

[Reply #5 on:]

 

Originally posted by Action Jacktion:
and the ending looked as if they'd just run out of steam.

You'd have thought they could've thought up a better ending line than "Play Santa again and I'll kill you next year!"

[Reply #6 on:]

X-Mas Story is the "all-around Futurama episode". It encapsulates everything that makes Futurama Futurama. A healthy dose of humor, some social commentary, a bit of shippyness, a tribute/diss to sci-fi, and great use of all the major characters. Brilliant episode, and it's one of the best in the series. A Tale of Two Santas is also really good, but not this good.

[Reply #7 on:]

I actually like TOTS's ending better than Xmas'. I don't know why, just do. But, "Xmas Story" is better, one of the best eps all around.

[Reply #8 on:]

 

Originally posted by M Jackson:
Xmas Story is more rewatchable. But I like them both.

I'll have to agreee with Jackson.. Tale of 2 Santas just has too many senseless violence. Don't get me wrong. I love violence and stuff/people blowing up but Xmas Story has an additional Fry-i-will-do-anything-stupid-to-win-heart-Leela-even-if-kills-me part. I think it was the first time he did it.

[Reply #9 on:]

I've only seen 2ACV04, but it was very well-written in spite of the occasional randomness (strip chess, anyone?). But from what I've heard, 3ACV03 is just as good - you know an episode of "Futurama" has to be hilarious when FOX puts their infamous "due to the graphic nature of this program, viewer discretion is advised" warning on it. Wasn't it the first "Futurama" episode that FOX just outright did not want to air? (Of course, by the end of Season 4 it had plenty of company in that regard, including all episodes prior.)

[Reply #10 on:]

On their own, Xmas Story is the better episode, it has some great Fry/Leela moments.

But DXC's "introduction" to AToTS? 

[Reply #11 on:]

They are both good, but Xmas has the benefit of being the first.  Goodman was great (by the by, why didn't he do ATOTS?) and has a strong Fry and Leela plot.  But, ATOTS has the neptunians and Jesus Zoidberg.  It isn't as solid, but it is all good.

[Reply #12 on:]

What about "Xmas time is fear"? That one was really good too.

[Reply #13 on:]

I think the reason that "Xmas Story" is better than ATOTS is that all of the hilarious Santa jokes are packed into the third act, which leaves the first two acts open for the main characters to develop a plot before adding a major antagonist.  The clearest example of this is that the episode could have been truncated after Fry and Leela had set things right to create a self-contained mini-episode.  Naturally, the third act was the gravy on the cake.  ATOTS is different almost to the extent that it's the reverse of its predecessor.  Fry, Leela, and Bender 'defeat' Robot Santa in the first act, which sort fo gave me a deflated feeling for the rest of the episode.  I don't know, maybe I just don't remember it well enough.  I do remember not liking ATOTS as much as I liked "Xmas Story".

[Reply #14 on:]

Though I haven't seen ATOTS yet, I have to say I loved this from XMS:

"Ahhh, BRISK!!" 

I mean, that's just comedic genius.  Anytime the professor is naked is hilarious (except for maybe Mother's Day, which was just scary).  So unless he's nude in ATOTS, I don't think it'll stand up to XMS.

[Reply #15 on:]

As much as I luv the squishy Zoidberg Jesus, I'm going to agree with the majority and say Xmas Story. 

Most people already brought up the reasons that explain my choice here. Xmas Story had a lot of heart, I think.  And it's not every day you get an episode written by DXC...squeeeeeeee.

[Reply #16 on:]

"Xmas Story" most definitely, as apart from the song in "A Tale of Two Santas" I didn't really find it that funny or clever. Kinda disappointed in it in the end.

As for why Goodman didn't do Santa the second time around... I asked that once too. Apparently it was because, as Scruffy would say, "Schedule conflict."

[Reply #17 on:]

X-Mas story is a very good episode

[Reply #18 on:]

 

Originally posted by Kif White:
As for why Goodman didn't do Santa the second time around... I asked that once too. Apparently it was because, as Scruffy would say, "Schedule conflict."

John Goodman was too busy reading Zero-G Juggs to reprise his role as Santa?

Anyway, I'm gonna have to go against the crowd here and vote for A Tale of Two Santas. Although I can agree that Xmas Story was a perfect all-around Futurama episode, I laughed so much at ATOTS, so it gets my vote. So many great quotes...

HYPERCHICKEN: Take no need to fear me... *violently pecks at the witness* I'm sorry, I thought you was corn...

LEELA: Remember, Professor - Bender is Santa, so we don't need to hurt him, right?
PROFESSOR: Yes, yes - you sound like a broken Mp3...
*Bender drops down the chimney*
BENDER: Ho ho...
*Professor pulls a shotgun out of nowhere and fires at him*

Also, Zoidberg as Jesus was just plain hillarious.   

[Reply #19 on:]

I find it almost impossible to choose. Both are in my top 10 ever Futurama eps. I think I prefer 'Xmas Story' very slightly more, mainly because of the Fry and Leela storyline. It add's a touching emotional sense of depth to it. But 'ATOTS' in my opinion is one of the funniest Futurama eps ever, they went all out with that one and it's awesome! 

[Reply #20 on:]

X-Mas Story. 

[Reply #21 on:]

X-Mas story; though AToTS was good, too.

"That's a stupid animal! You're stupid!"

[Reply #22 on:]

 

Originally posted by Anarchist:
X-Mas Story is the "all-around Futurama episode". It encapsulates everything that makes Futurama Futurama. A healthy dose of humor, some social commentary, a bit of shippyness, a tribute/diss to sci-fi, and great use of all the major characters. Brilliant episode, and it's one of the best in the series. A Tale of Two Santas is also really good, but not this good.

I was going to say something similar, but Anarchist put it much more eloquent than  I could ever hope to do. I agree with everything he said.

My personal decription of "Xmas Story": the Perfectly Balanced Futurama Episodetm

[Reply #23 on:]

I prefer ATO2S, it has funnier stuff and more laughs I thought....the plot isn't much but it's about Christmas what can you expect....

Xmas story was funny but I've seen it so many times I think I'm just bored with it now....

[Reply #24 on:]

It's so hard to choose!  But if I really had to pick, I would also have to go against the majority and pick ATOTS.  That episode so fast paced, and so funny.  It's amazing that much story and gags can fit in 22 minutes.  Also, it has a catchy song.  Although don't get me wrong.  I really like X-Mas Story a whole lot, too.

Regarding John Goodman versus John DiMaggio, I don't see what some people are complaining about.  I absolutely cannot hear a difference between the two voicings.

[Reply #25 on:]

 

Originally posted by Evil Fox Exec:
Regarding John Goodman versus John DiMaggio, I don't see what some people are complaining about.  I absolutely cannot hear a difference between the two voicings.

 I can, but it's a subtle one and not really worth describing. As I said though, it was the dialogue I was more bothered about.

 I would like to point out two other advantages that ATO2S has over X-Mas Story though: Chicken Lawyer and Judge Whitey.   

[Reply #26 on:]

My favorites from ATO2S are the Zoidberg Jesus and the elves' song.

But, Xmas Story takes the cake all the way.

[Reply #27 on:]

ATO2S is easily the better episode in my opinion.

I can't tell the difference between the 2 Santa voices either.

[Reply #28 on:]

Haven't seen ATOTS since it aired, so have to go wid wutts I Know... Xmas Story.

[Reply #29 on:]

They are both awesome but ATOTS wins my vote.

[Reply #30 on:]

I'm gonna go with Xmas Story...

"You get the TOENAIL!"

[Reply #31 on:]

what is Xmas time is fear???

[Reply #32 on:]

It's the story in the Futurama comics #6.

[Reply #33 on:]

I have to give my vote to X-mas Story, a great combination of eveything that made Futurama a great show.

"Um, your present may need some assembly?"

Professor wins a medal, just priceless. 

[Reply #34 on:]

i like both of them, but 'a tale of 2 santas' was a lil funnier cuz those lil elf peeps. I like the part when they sing. Lol i like 'a tale of 2 santas' better tho. they both were good.

[Reply #35 on:]

It's a tough question, but ATOTS just gets it, because of Zoidberg and the defences around santas castle/lair.

[Reply #36 on:]

i think atots getis it because its got the elves which are a good idea and the massive barricades around P.E.s building with trespassers will be shot in fairy lights on the roof

[Reply #37 on:]

You notice how ATO2S is a lot darker than Xmas Story also? In Xmas Story, the scene painted is that in the future, people still enjoy Xmas - they go skiing, give each other presents, etc. but they all stay aware that they need to be indoors by sundown due to the annual visit of the Robot Santa.

 In ATO2S however, the general attitude is a lot more pessimistic. On the news, from the Professor, everything we hear about Christmas is centered pretty much around Robot Santa. And it doesn't have a happy ending either: Santa and Bender wreak havoc, we see a 7 second scene of the PE crew huddled together in fear meanwhile, Santa chucks Bender out of his sleigh and threatens to kill him. It's not a picture of people enjoying themselves but generally just surviving.

 Does anyone think that the tone of each Xmas episode influenced their opinion of the episodes?

[Reply #38 on:]

Who thought of who?

Xmas was way better.

[Reply #39 on:]

Althrough AToTS had elves, song, and Zoidberg as jesus, AToTS is better

Mayor: DON'T LIE IN FRONT OF JESUS!

Sorry, it's Xmas story