The episode that defines Futurama?

[Reply #40 on:]

I've always chapioned X-Mas Story as the all-around Futurama ep, and I won't stop now.

TOTP...aww, screw it.

[Reply #41 on:]

I'd show them Roswell That Ends Well. Or Space Pilot 3000. Probabaly Space Pilot so that they could understand how it all happens, and then Roswell That Ends Well for some laughs. Time Keeps on Slippin' would be a good choice too. Its funny, it touches on the sci fi nature of it and you get an all round idea of how Fry feels for Leela. You get the whole package in one ep 

[Reply #42 on:]

my faveourite episode of futurama has to be the lobstertainment because nobody else likes it much and it stars zoidberg but mainly the fact not many people like it

[Reply #43 on:]

So you're saying That's Lobstertainment is the defining episode of Futurama because few people like it? Curious...

[Reply #44 on:]

yes thats exactly what im saying, im original you see  im glad someone knows what im talking about

[Reply #45 on:]

Yeah, but there's nothing particularly cool about liking things for the sole reason that no-one else like them. In this case, the reason fewer people like Lobstertainment is because it wasn't as funny or well written as a lot of other episodes.

 If you think it WAS funny and well written then by all means tell us about it but to just like something because no-one else does is even dumber than liking something because everyone else does. If you're going to be an outcast, at least have a good alabi. 

[Reply #46 on:]

errrrrrrrm ok my alabi is that i like zoidberg alot and  the episode has uncle zoidy and slyvester stalones (or whoevers they are) skeleton

[Reply #47 on:]

i'd say if the first 2 episodes was one big 44 minute episode (space pilot 3000 & series has landed) that'd be the best way, it introduces the main character and all the secondary characters as well in humourous ways especially with zoidberg doing a checkup on fry :P that to me is a classic moment

[Reply #48 on:]

   

Originally posted by bender55:
Space Pilot 3000

I would agree.  SP3K was the episode that started it all.  All the DVDs, comic books, video games, action figure and everything else with Futurama's name on it wouldn't be here if it weren't for Space Pilot 3000.
 http://www.peelified.com/cgi-bin/Futurama/1-002966/

[Reply #49 on:]

"The Problem with Popplers" IMHO

[Reply #50 on:]

I agree with most of the other commments made.  I would also like to add that I think that Fry and the Slurm Factory was an all around good episode myself.  If shows you who the characters are and what is going on in the Futurama Universe also a good episode like this is War is the H word.

[Reply #51 on:]

Amazon Women in the Mood

[Reply #52 on:]

We could begin at the beginning with SP3000, but I'd have to go a bit father along and say The Series Has Landed is a pretty defining episode.  A really defining ep. would have lots of fun with the whole cast, but episodes like that are hard to find, and TSHL is a good showcase for the three "main" characters.  Not to take anything away from SP3000, but the title of TSHL really says it all: the setup and plot have been established, and now the show can really get down to business, so to speak. 

[Reply #53 on:]

Roswell that ends well.


That episode was kinda half-way through the series and i think it was the climax of the show. It had everything: Some of the best comedy in the series, a hilarious storyline, and president Harry S Truman. Plus it won an Emmy.

It might not be my personal favorite (my fav is "The Sting" ), but i think this is the episode everyone will remember from this series.

[Reply #54 on:]

 

Originally posted by Nasty Pasty:
Roswell that ends well.


That episode was kinda half-way through the series and i think it was the climax of the show. It had everything:

Everything but Amy.   

It's a good episode, but I think that it's a bit overrated.  For one thing, most of the episode takes place in the past, so we really don't see much of 31st century life.  (It's hard to define a show about life in the 31st century with an episode that doesn't show life in the 31st century.)  Also, the whole Roswell thing has been done to death already.   Deep Space Nine had an episode a lot like this one.

I do give this episode extra points for handling time travel better than most sci-fi shows, though.

[Reply #55 on:]

Personally, I always tend to show people episodes based on their personal preferences. There are probably about 5 or 6 great choices, though:

X-Mas Story: The first truly character-driven story, in my opinion. It has humor, mixed with a down-to-Earth, emotional plot. That balances out the wackier Robot Santa stuff, and gives you a good episode.

Parasites Lost: Was the first step in reinventing the show. It has both humor and shippiness, and really develops Fry's character. Sure, you may need some background info to truly understand the episode, but...

Time Keeps on Slipping: This one went a step further than "Parasites Lost" did. It was just as funny (maybe even more so), and took shippiness to a whole new level (which I don't mind at all...). The Globetrotters are great as well. Oh yeah, and the bittersweet ending can hook someone to the show (believe me, it's true).

Roswell that Ends Well: Probably the biggest laugh-out-loud episode ever made, this one also has a good balance of all the characters (except, much to the dismay of David A, Amy). 'Nuff said.

Godfellas: Tied with a few others for my favorite episode, this one has great humor, as well as Bender at his best. Fry's sadness over the loss of Bender is sweet, and only adds to the episode. The plot makes a point at the end, although it is a bit subtle and never preachy.

Jurassic Bark: I've always prefered this one to "The Luck of the Fryrish", but only by a small margin (of course, they're easily interchangable). The episode is hilarious (with some sweeter moments) until the tearjerking ending. For some reason, I always thought that the ending of this one worked on a better emotional level than Fryrish did.

So, if I had to choose, I'd say "Time Keeps on Slipping". "Jurassic Bark" is ever so close behind. Also, "The Sting" (one of my favorites) is noticably absent from my list, only because it's probably a bit too shippy for a first-time viewer.

[Reply #56 on:]

My best friend is now into Futurama and the frist episode I showed her (which was perfect) was 300 Big Boys. It should each of the characters in their own habbitat (  ). And plus she loves Roseanne so that was great that she was in that episode too! 

[Reply #57 on:]

i room mate. sets the scene best of all eps.

[Reply #58 on:]

For me I would say "Luck of the Fryish" because it was a very good ep. It had a great story, jokes, and one of the best endings of the whole series.

Also Parasites Lost was great too.

[Reply #59 on:]

"The Farnsworth Paradox"

-Since the story is about the relationship between two univereses rather than individual characters, every big character is in it, more or less with an equal role.

-It has mind boggling concepts that really bake your noodle (notably the finale where the boxes go into one another)

-It has a very strong and approach to the Fry/Leela thing, as it completely satisfies the fantasies of shippers and yet teasers them so much. The fact that their happiness hinges on a coin is maddenly painful, and Fry is able to still be funny throughout ("I was at a Neil Diamond concert and got beat up by a guy named Scrunchy!" ) The Alternate Leela telling our Leela that she doesn't know what she's missing really hits you hard.

-It goes all out nuts with the science fiction element toward the end with the dozens of universes everywhere. Real hectic!

-The characters and their idiosyncracies are highlighted by the dopplegangers, and are often responsible for inexplicably funny jokes (the two farnsworths have this weird chemistry, like when they're both turning their wrenches...)

It had in-jokes of sorts. Universe 420! Hell yeah!

The only thing it lacked was a few real side-splitters, but my memory could just be tweaked.
Also, it could have used at least one emotional scene. Leela agreeing to go out with Fry at the end and never following up on it in the later eps doesn't count.

[Reply #60 on:]

Hook eps:
Amazonian Women in the Mood
Problem with Popplers,
War is the H-word
When Aliens Attack
Parasits Lost
Roswell That Ends Well
...maybe Time Keeps on Slipping

All these eps have some of the things that made Futurama awesome (and all have the advantage of being great eps, to boot.)

You might want to try one of those, then send your current seduction back to early S1 eps, to provide them with a better background.

I wouldn't suggest using these eps to hook folk:

Jurassic Bark (awesome ep, but people get weird ideas that Futurama's an overly melodramtic show.

Spanish Fry (people make assumptions that the entire series is full of low-brow humour).

Leela of Her Own (it just wasn't very good. Sorry Teral.  )

300 Big Boys (ditto, sans apology).

Otherwise, pretty much use your own discreation. Know your target, and pick out eps you feel they specifically might find interesting. Don't try to recruit idiots. 

[Reply #61 on:]

I think the first episode is actually a very-well rounded episode. It has everything, a dramatic and unusual plot twist, meeting of new people, an important lesson learned(for Bender),a chase through crowded city streets, and the start of what appears to be a beautiful relationship.

But then again, there was no Zoidberg, Amy, or Hermes.

So the second episode works well too, getting to know all the characters for who they are. I'd say if you combined the first two episodes into one, that would be the series definer.

[Reply #62 on:]

I'm with Ouch on this one.

Space Pilot 3000, Roswell that Ends Well and The Deep South were all fantastic episodes for different reasons, but for me the defining Futurama episode has to be The Farnsworth Parabox.

I just loved the way the show took popular scientific theory and made fun of it. Plus there were some great gags along the way.

Freakworth: "Dig it! All of you fitting in this box is like seriously freaked up."
Farnsworth: "Nonsense! Why, there's a whole universe in there."
Freakworth: "Dude. There's a universe in all of us."
Freak-Amy: "Right on, professor Freakworth."
Farnsworth: "Get a job!"

[Reply #63 on:]

 

The only thing it lacked was a few real side-splitters, but my memory could just be tweaked.

What about:

"Buddha, Zeus, God, one of you guys!  Help!  Satan, you owe me!"

That killed me.  It was made even funnier by the fact that it was only heard from offscreen. 

[Reply #64 on:]

Yeah, you usually have to see an episode more than once to remember specific jokes *downloads*

Hey, I'll buy it when it comes out...

[Reply #65 on:]

The one where Nibler sends Fry to fight the brains and fry learns that Nibler froze him

[Reply #66 on:]

The Why of Fry

Anyway... hmmm... this is a really tough decision.

Perhaps 300 big boys. It has many of the characters and shows their personalities well.

[Reply #67 on:]

What have we here?  Where did this thread come from, and who is that jerk with my avatar?

Anyway, just to be a maverick, I'd pick "Fear of a Bot Planet."  It's a ridiculous space adventure with ridiculous throwaway characters and a ridiculous conclusion.  It's Futurama in a nutshell.  LLLIS also fits the bill here, but I tend to favor FOABP.

Edit: Also, I have a shocking and horrible secret, and it is that I missed most of production season four or have only seen the episodes once.  Inasmuch, I can never really consider them when "best"-threads pop up.

[Reply #68 on:]

well its gotta be Space Pilot 3000...
that or Idol Hands Are The Devils Play Things...or


Hell Is Other Robots...

im obviously naming these because i rule and i think E=mcMCNeil smells like fish and French...

him always being in the dirt and eating dirt explains...meet me behind that huge blouder that looks like a car and ill tell you more...

and i end with...i hate you gibble, i hate you so f%#king much...