Leela Region: #3 Robot Devil vs #2 Hermes Conrad

[on:]

In what'll surely be a close match-up, we have the Robot Devil and Hermes facing off in the Leela Region's other semi-final. The Robot Devil has had one of the most impressive records coming into this match-up, beating his opponents a combined 67-7 (about 22-2 on average!). Hermes, on the other hand, has been the second least impressive of the 2-seeds (in front of only Amy). Who'll move on in this battle of many fans' favorite antagonist versus a PE employee? Discuss now and the poll opens tonight at midnight!

[Reply #1 on:]

Robot Devil is still on of the best robots on the whole show, and even though quite a few people hated him in the episode GitM, he is still an epic character and maybe one of the best minor characters on the show.
Hermes is still great and all and had a fantastic episode with Bender in S6, but I think I am going with the Devil.

[Reply #2 on:]

This is perhaps the most difficult one of the current polls.  Hermes has become a far greater character in season 6.  I even thought he was okay in HHRHGB, but he never got much air time since then.  But in season 6 that changed, making him more adaptable and interesting.

The Robot Devil on the other hand has not seen a lot of screen time in season 6 (I am not comparing his screen time to Hermes', that would be unfair; but rather to his screen time in general), so in a way, his character hasn't been 'ruined', like Mom have suffered a bit from (but still wins, see other thread!).

I know these posts are supposed to include my conclusion, but I have yet to make it!

[Reply #3 on:]

Robot Devil is still on of the best robots on the whole show, and even though Gorky alone hated him in the episode GitM, he is still an epic character and maybe one of the best minor characters on the show.

Fixed that for ya.

Anyway: I'm voting for Hermes--and not for some irrational taking-a-lousy-episode-out-on-a-great-character reason, either. "Lethal Inspection" was perhaps the biggest surprise of season six for me, in terms of how unexpectedly brilliant it was; I think Hermes deserves some recognition for that episode alone.

The Robot Devil is hilarious, yes. He plays a prominent role in one of my favorite episodes of the series. He's a great villain. But what's his schtick, really? The devil's not exactly an original character (making him a robot is a cool sci fi twist, but is it all that inspired, when you think about it?), but an anal-retentive pothead bureaucrat? Now that's a great character.

[Reply #4 on:]

In what'll surely be a close match-up [...]

I doubt it.

I'm guessing that the Robot Devil will take this match-up, and quite easily. I've always liked Hermes, and I feel like Lethal Inspection has made him more popular. However, I still don't think that Lethal Inspection's greatness will save Hermes from the Robot Devil's huge following.

[Reply #5 on:]

I also see the Robot Devil winning that one easily...

[Reply #6 on:]

This is really difficult. I'm still undecided but I'm inching towards the Robot Devil.

Both are fantastic characters.

[Reply #7 on:]

I came in here thinking "Robot Devil ALL THE WAY" but Gorky's post has made me reconsider a bit. The Robot Devil, though funny, is certainly two-dimensional at best. Hermes has seen quite a bit of character development over the new season, and though I wasn't much of a fan of him early on in the series, he has grown on me. I loved his role in BBS. I loved Lethal Inspection. I may just end up voting for him. Not sure yet, and I want to hear more opinions before I decide.

[Reply #8 on:]

The Robot Devil may not be perfect but he's such a terrific character.  I especially love hearing the anguish in his voice when his plans are thwarted or his sensibilities offended.  

Gorky seems pretty set on her track and even my desperate misquoting of Luke Skywalker in "Empire" could not alter her trajectory.  And that's fine, because sometimes we just have to go with our hearts and I understand that.

[edit] I did read the explanation above and concur that Hermes should get major props for Lethal Inspection but Beelzebot still takes it for me.

[Reply #9 on:]

This is easy, Robot Devil. Next!...

I do like Hermes really, but I like the Robot Devil's deal making nature more...

[Reply #10 on:]

TRD may be a hilarious character but Hermes is more important to the show so I voted for the Jamaican bureaucrat.

[Reply #11 on:]

Wow...this is my toughest decision of this round.  I honestly like both characters (especially Hermes after LI).

I don't know who to vote for yet.  To the thinking chamber!

[Reply #12 on:]

I voted for Hermes, after all this deliberation. He is more valuable to the show and his character is more original and inherently interesting.

[Reply #13 on:]

Wow, the Robot Devil won! Didn't see that one coming. A lot of Peelers have good taste then!...

[Reply #14 on:]

Really? I'd have been surprised if Hermes had won.

[Reply #15 on:]

Well..this one was really close. And as this was not an immediatelly obvious decision for some folks, I think a Hermes victory also would have been possible...

[Reply #16 on:]

I can conceive of Beelzebot possibly taking the whole shebang!  It's not completely out of the question.

 

[Reply #17 on:]

Dammit. He better not steal Zapp's thunder.

[Reply #18 on:]

Really? I'd have been surprised if Hermes had won.

Usually the clool characters get a rough ride around these parts...

[Reply #19 on:]

Dammit. He better not steal Zapp's thunder.

You got $50 on it?


I expected this one to end close and honestly, would have been comfortable with it going either way.

[Reply #20 on:]

The Robot Devil wins 13-9. Continue discussion in the General thread.