Futurama (Hulu Relaunch) Talkback (Spoilers)

[Daikun]

New episodes begin July 29.

 

[RoyalRubble]

First look at the new episodes-



07/08:
New trailer released-

 

[SpecialColorfull]

Pointless cash in revival is ALIVE!

 

[harry580]

@aegisrawks and why its a bad thing?

 

[SpecialColorfull]

@aegisrawks and why its a bad thing?

Spoiler Alert I dont like it.

 

[RoyalRubble]

An interview with David X. Cohen.

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

Well the new season (or second half of the latest season however you want to frame it is) has started so I'm talking about the premiere.

"The One Amigo" - Like "Season 11" seems like this season is focusing on a lot of episodes poking fun at satire points... that were already covered like a couple of years ago. Even the Simpsons made a Treehouse of Horror segment all about NFTs in 2023 so yeah this feels out of date. I will admit the Planet Express crew asking the kids what exactly NFTs are and what they specifically do or don't earn and being annoyed when it's explained what they own is utterly worthless is funny and you know it is nice to actually see the kids used... well as much as Futurama uses the children characters as I am glad to see Mandy and Axl mix decently well with Cubert and Dwight. And honestly the stuff with the actually planned robbery were the comedic highlight especially Farnsworth paying for a full model of the musesum and pointing out the more overly complicated a heist is the better, and if it wasn't spoiled by a promo I saw for this early (which is my fault i don't know why I spoil myself on bits early with this show) how Zoidberg was used to break the glass was also really good.

Honestly the Bender stuff felt like it should have either hit more comedically or dramatically then it actually did. Maybe if there was a better reason for "Bender decides to go searching for his roots" then for all things NFT or if the reveal everyone wasn't playing well in the ancient Robot basketball game to not be sacraficed better then it was but it never really clicked as well as it could have. There are some solid jokes like Fry looking through Bender's bio and noting he spelled Mexico with three Xs (missed a good reference though as Bender should have said "The X's made it sound cooler" to call back the classic Anthology of Interest line), the Danny Trejo esque Bender talking about how easily their ancient monuments get broken apart and the grandma stealing the necklace from Bender's mom. Plus I do appreciate them going with the whole Bender's mom being a big robot arm as yeah that was established before and Futurama is suppose to have a pretty good sense of continuinty so even though a lot of this just feels there for the episode that throughline makes it work. The ancients just telling about how to work the necklace though even if there was a good joke on them not being able to chase after Bender felt like a let down though but I will say pointing out how pointless NFTs are to anyone who aren't machines is a good last line so overall a decent start or sort of mid start to the season. Admittedly not anywhere near as funny as say "The Impossible Stream" though yeah the point of that was really making you laugh and get excited again about Futurama and show the series still has it while this is either a mid point or just the start of a shorter season so makes sense it wouldn't click as much though I do hope we get more episodes not just trying to take a stake at stuff dated years ago. Yeah again Futurama has always done that (See "That's Lobsertainment") but there should be a balance of those episodes and not have them so spaced together so closely. Plus they should be worthy of epsiodes like I get having a Covid episode and iguess NFTs are stupid enough to comment on but I'm hoping if the series goes on they don't feel the need to say make a Skibidi Toliet episode or something.

 

[harry580]

a skibidi toilet episode would cause alot of people to call futurama brainrot if that happens

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

"Quids Game" - Okay THIS is a better example of taking a concept that stems from "modern from the last couple of years pop culture and making an episode about it." Yes this is an episode obviously based on the CONCEPT of Squid's Game so chances are if you at least know what that is you'll get the idea of "these aliens forcing everyone to play children's games or they die" more but it's not directly called out or paralleled and still given a specific reason for happening within the canon. Like last week having to explain NFTs though sort of funny at points still requires talking about NFTs but here you can just say these are three outlandish weird aliens who have their own specific motivations for forcing these games on everyone and not connect it with anything else which I do appreciate. Especially since I mostly know of Squid Game from reviews and basic word of mouth but I still really got into this episode, though that may be because it's our First Fry episode since "Meanwhile"

Yeah kind of like how the Simpsons started being focused on Bart before Homer became the lead, Futurama's kind of weird because it's central lead character has sort of shifted away. However it's extra weird here because usually at least Bart would get a focus episode per season but we didn't get any from Fry in the first run of this new Hulu run. "The Impossible Stream" is like ABOUT Fry but he stops really being a character half way through and "The Prince and the Product" was more about those toy brand Futurama characters where one of the segments didn't even really focus on Fry so yeah this is his first focus of the run and even more telling it's a "look back at Fry's past" kind of focus. Which yeah let's just say out front doesn't hit nearly the emotional highs of something like "Jurassic Bark" "Luck of The Fryish" or even "Game Of Tones" but honestly I actually did really like the story it tells. The idea that Sherri wanted Fry to have a good birthday party where he would actually feel like a winner and not a loser without any friends makes a lot of sense and I do like how this plays into her "obsessed over sports" part of her personality feeling what's most important is him winning so helps him cheat even though it became clear he didn't want to just be seen as a cheater. Like it's a good way too of connecting the tragedy and sadness of the flashback with the current timeline seeing everyone knows there Fry isn't a cheater so even though he lost in the end he can still feel good about it. I guess a negative in terms of emotion though is the idea of the characters still having to play despite them seeing friends and family die which yeah you know isn't going to stick so like even the bit of Fry horrifed seeing Leela die doesn't really work but I guess that's not really supposed to be that much of the emotional focus.

And honestly this to me is easily one of the funniest episodes of the revival so far as like most jokes especially in the first two acts kept making me crack up. I always hate just listing gags because like it's funnier actually watching them then just pointing them out but again just so many hit I do have to at least list a few.

- How everyone crowded into the ship to wish Fry happy birthday (especially Zapp appearing below him)

- "What did you have us crash into this time Leela?"

- One of the aliens admitting he doesn't have a motivation while the other one saying he has two.

- Bender coming up with the idea of knocking the other team out so they could win.

- Zoidberg dying and his only regret was not having any cake.

- The aliens actually liking the Pop goes the weasel cover playing for over 6 hours of musical chairs.

- Kiff getting squished for failing the grammar portion of the penultimate test.

- The various different "twists" and the crew realizing they were twist kind of aliens.

- And you know what I think I always like the jokes with that one random neighbor lady who appears who I don't think we know who she is (and if that's the case I hope we never know her name as it's funnier if we don't know) as I loved her having that one stock she gave to "That Guy" in "Future Stock" because Farnsworth hated her cat but this is probably her best showing. How she had no idea what a donkey was but somehow survive being swallowed and taking out Fry to be the winner is just so funny especially when even these alien overlords have no idea who she is either.

So though nothing that emotionally gripping the actual story was well handled and again all the jokes were really solid so a really good episode and yeah a good example of how to use more modern pop culture in Futurama without super drawing attention to the satire even when that's what they're doing.

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

"The Temp" - Uh am I the only one here who still cares about Futurama? Oh well I still want to talk about the new episodes coming out so if I'm talking alone hey I did that for One Piece chapters as well here so whatever.

Anyway, this is one of those episodes I can imagine in much lesser hands being either really annoying or just uberly depressing to the point of not being funny. In an era where I think Bob's Burgers finally gave people the hint you don't need a parade of jerks to lead an adult cartoon and Smiling Friends gaining a following for it's leads actually being decent people, a lot of the mean and cynical starring characters in animated series feel a lot less funny to feature. I mean that still can work and I feel some series that are seen as overly cynical people aren't seeing the full picture of (Rick and Morty is a very cynical and bitter show but it has a more earnest and optomistic heart you do have to dig at but is still there) but it can be a problem and in a lot of these series, this plot would be horrendous. Seriously the idea that there's this seemingly innocent guy who actually finds happiness just being a good worker and getting to explore the universe even in such a crummy job but gets abandoned for years going desperatley crazy and wanting to belong he crosses several lines just to be forgotten again feels like one of those "yeah I will hate you through and through for doing this." Seriously if this was the plot of a Family Guy episode or American Dad even in the best seasons of those series I think it wouldn't work but yeah it actually works in this one quite well.

I think the reason for that is that they make it clear from the beginning that though the crew are a bit creeped out by Frank's optmistic attitude, the key thing about him is that he's just generally forgettable. But as it goes along it doesn't come across like they are just being jerks but it's just this general universal vibe that they just can't really remember him if he isn't around at all and that just seems to be a thing with him. Like the whole anti climax of Bender staging this plan to take Frank out and getting the crew back in the ship... but them just forgetting all about him and the Professor going "eh the ship's on it's side a lot sometimes that just happens" and them just taking off is not only funny but really fits with the vibe they're going for. Like you do feel a bit bad for Frank but it's presented in a way that is just his lot in life but he's not just a punching board to wail on or anything but it's just his thing and again works with the narrative they are trying to tell. Even the idea of him hypnotizing the crew to see him as Fry you get where he's coming from and how desperate he is for this life but get why it just wouldn't really be a thing to the others even really Fry at the end and still works well. Like most shows this would feel like it's pushing a line of some kind but you don't get that here and that is part of the fun.

And I just dig the rest of the plot lay out as well. I remember being annoyed in "Spanish Fry" that we had to have a whole end arc of Lrr and Ndnd's romance not feeling that was worth devoting to seeing them squabble but this renew vows ceremony and seeing how Omincri Persi 8 operates in that way actually is funny. Details like Lrr just blasting the guy who tried roasting him or the two fighting on chairs the planet express crew had to hold on them is funny plus it had it's purpose to the story as this one off thing making you question what was going on without dragging itself out but also not feeling like a pointless first act like well the Simpsons has and still does so often do. I also really dig the idea that this actually connects back to the show's past. Granted i also wasn't a fan of "Amazon Women in The Mood" but having that be the reason Fry needs a vacation and they get the temp they leave on the book planet is funny. Plus I love the jokes about Amy's disgust about reading (granted we have seen books in Futurama before I mean yeah the "Liberry" isn't the most known place but it isn't as rundown in previous episodes but eh still funny here) or Bender counting himself and the others and even Zoidberg disgusted at Frank being tolerant of him. Again just a lot of good bits in a plot you'd think would be a lot meaner and nastier then it winds up being so good on you Futurama not going that route.

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

"Beauty And The Bug" - Okay outside of some of the voices in terms of either age or getting more appropriate actors to play the parts and maybe the Fulu Plus Ad Break gag, this to me is a pretty classic season 1-4 era episode of Futurama. I'm not saying that as a negative or even like a back handed compliment since this is a solid episode but it's also one that makes me question the people who believe the show at this point totally went off script or can't be "as good" as it used to. Like I feel sometimes fans of the original run have blinders on believing that most every episode is either some emotional tour de force like "Leela's Homeworld" or "Luck Of the Fryrish" or this super interesting new sort of sci fi comedic spin like "The Farnsworth Parabox" or "Rosewell That Ends Well" when there was also a balance of more average regular episodes that were also good but not ones that would really stand for like a particular reason or leave a forever lasting impression on you. They were good, they had their point and you enjoyed while watching them, and then you moved on getting what came from the episode. And I feel the revival obviously can hit bigger highs (and some of the lows that let's face it even the original run had as well) but it can also hit that sweet spot. You know the "Bendless Love" kind of episode which this one sorts right into... in fact though again it's not great it probably is overall better then "Bendless Love" thinking about it.

For one this one though being a Bender romance is specifically all focused on the Buggalo aspect. Like yeah they do have to have the first part set up to reexplain Buggalo but I feel it works especially as it gives a good contrast between Amy and the rest of the crew. And you know in something like the Simpsons this kind of plot would be given to Lisa and involve probably more obnoxious moralizing and preaching while here it can be a more side thing and come from a place of Amy having a Buggalo as a pet so having a more earnest connection to the creatures but not like jerkishly always shaming the others for the idea of the sport. I really liked the moment between her and Bender of him admitting to feeling something and Amy guessing it's guilt (which yeah Bender's felt before but "I haven't felt this emotion" gags were also something even the earliest seasons contradicted so if it's funny I don't have a problem with it) and leaving Bender alone to actually apologize to the Buggalo. It's nothing grand or super revealing but it's solid and works within the context of the story. Even as someone who actually liked the idea of the two pairing in "Proposition Infinity" (despite the steps it took to get there) I do feel this is a better understanding of having a moment between these two characters then that episode had. Plus the gags of Leela just enjoying eating Buggalo parts or "Beyond Buggalo" being seen as disgusting and also as pork "because I don't like pigs" and the Buggalo apparently being brainless are funny. And you know I have to say I do love and enjoy the reveal that the Buggalo have a collective sentience of like an ant colony so do have a form of intelligence but actually LIKE Buggalo Fighting because they actually enjoyed a chance to kill matadors so they wanted the sport back that was funny.

Another reason this works over something like "Bendless Love" and even the Bender subplot in "A Flight To Remember" is that Marquita actually does have her own character. Like not Rose was pretty much just Rose as a robot from Titanic and Angeline especially when you found out she was with Flexo was also a pretty just "loving girlfriend" sort of character. I appreciate though how Marquita though flirty is also a serious Matador who can feel something with Bender but also appreciates the sport but when he has that whole speech about how it should be about living is down to be with him until realizing how much of a cheating skeezoid he is. Which yeah is kind of an obvious place to take that considering we've seen that before and admittedly "Proposition Infinity" still has the best joke associated with that aspect of Bender but the idea of him admitting to only sleeping momentarily with the Buggalo and then getting with all those other ladies and doing "not too much sleeping" was great and you know underplayed but still obvious as you saw the episode and works for why she's a one shot in a not insulting way either. Again not every episode should be about reinventing the wheel but telling fun romps and we get that here with a lot other solid jokes from Marquita's long name the Chairmen can't even remember and Bender pointing out that guy is from the Robot Fighting league and "owner of every other sport" and him later talking about buying the Knicks on Craig's List. Plus the announcer constantly trying to walk out early to avoid traffic and Bender being okay because he has a sword in his antenna or he was stabbed through his face hole and Petuina still doing the gambling slot motion even when the machine was gone are again just good classic bits that are funny. Like I'm not saying this is the top of Futurama in any era but it's solid enjoyable Futurama and again makes me question the idea the show doesn't "have it" or "should have ended a decade ago." Like it still can do solid episodes like this which is more then enough reason to keep it around contrary to what some others may think.

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

"One Is Silicon The Other Is Gold" - I have to say probably my biggest compliment to the episode is the reveal that the Chat Bot and the random new lady in Leela's friend group were one and the same and yeah the fact that the title really should have given it away but how they actually revealed it did really work. I kind of thought it would be the Chat AI going crazy and just wanting to kill Leela's friends and Leela having to find a way to trick it or take it out but that has been done before and I do like the idea of having it be this overall negative experience the chat bot used to bring the friends together and tying that into the concert from the opening. Like I was assuming the concert would be like the Omnicronians ceremony from "The Temp" and just be there for the opening bit because sometimes Futurama still apes the Simpsons in that regard but no it had a point and I appreciate how those two seemingly random bits interconnected.

I will say though this isn't like the greatest episode or anything but like "Beauty And The Bug" I'm not expecting every episode to bat a 1000 when the original show didn't do that and so long as it's amusing or interesting enough I'm fine plus this is better then a lot of the "boys vs girls" episodes from previous runs.... it is kind of messed up we're STILL getting episodes like that nowadays but I guess in some aspect that debate will never die out but I appreciate the subtley of this one. And I admit the joke of Fry speaking at the funeral and his reading coming from an Adventures Boy mystery he was into was great and hoenstly the Adventure Boy stuff was probably the highlight comedy wise. Admittedly the bad concert sans how Bender was able to print the tickets and the one band dying weren't that great and the stuff with the girls book club just being more into wine and trips feel like super obvious jokes but again how that ended worked well. So yeah not a great episode but not an awful one or anything. So far this revival in 15 episodes has had ONE full dud which I think is still a good track record.

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

"Attack Of The Clothes" - You know this is probably a stupid thing to bring up but quite honestly I'm not really a fan of the "let's end on a disaster/we're screwed ending we aren't going to properly address in the enxt one at all or characters die" just as a joke for a lot of shows, which include Futurama. I know the point is that these comedies sometimes have a darker more out there ending and again this isn't something that just started in THIS run or even the Comedy Central run; "When Aliens Attack" had half of new New York on Fire, "War Is The H Word" had the bomb in Bender exploding and even "The Route Of All Evil" ended with Cubert and Dwight being eaten so again Futurama has done this before. But quite honestly it does bother me the show decides to end with the idea of The Clothes just falling down covering the entire world as the crew huddles under the professor's Umbrella and... that's it. Like maybe if this was a two parter and that the next episode fully addressed it but the next one is about Hermes discovering some ancient espresso recipe or something that likely won't have any connection to this story at all, thus yeah having that be the big "oh this is where things wind up for the week" feels off to me. I also really wish they would address more Zoidberg's relationship status with Marianne. Like that was her who he was sleeping with in the dumpster during the montage right? So they are still a thing so like we going to here any updates on their relaitonship? You can't say 'oh she's a celeb she's a hard get" considering this one brought Cara Delavigne, Tim Gunn AND Bill Nye in. Like Gunn and Nye weren't needed you could have easily brought Clarke back at least for a line to showcase that if you're still using her like I get the idea of going with Zoidberg still as pathetic but again still show there are some bones there.

I'm coming out on those because honestly those are my biggest critiques which is impressive considering based on the premise and even the clip I wasn't really high on this one. The idea of Farnsworth pivoting to fashion felt like such a weird stretch that wouldn't offer a lot of good joke opportunities but you know I was proven wrong on that especially with the idea of making these moth creatures 3D printers that make these brand new outfits and then making ones that fade away in a day and you need to throw them through a space/time hole which winds up only being like a few days in the future. I was for sure they were also going to have a tired old "oh the Professor just becomes too big now that he's king of fashion and doesn't care at all about anyone" angle but they don't do that and also actually have Zoidberg's pity party actually focus on the whole actually giving clothes to other people and have everyone just on board with getting his pants back because you know at this point I feel like the Planet Express crew has bonded to just want to fufill everyone's silliest whim without really needing to ask that much and that aspect honestly works for me. And you know I have to say this one had a lot of gags that made me laugh; Fry actually having a seatbelt on the recliner but then falling with the couch out, Wornstrom winning because the envelope was made out of recycled bits from last year's winner, the professor's high heeled slippers, not even the dumpster or ocean wanting Zoidberg for his terrible fashion sense on fashion week, Bender's apathetic calls of "no come back" thinking Zoidberg would kill himself (still not as funny as "do a flip" from "When hermes Requsiotned His Groove Back" but Bender wants to at least openly appear still hating Zoidberg so it still works), Morbo hating Linda's combination of day and midnight as words, Cara sacrificing herself just so Zoidberg wouldn't have wrinkeled pants and Farnsworth asking what time it was when asked when the clothes were sent to. Again just a lot of funny lines after the other that yeah made this sans the ending a very solid amusing episode again nothing spectacular but still fun and worth watching and still makes me question people who say Futurama has fully dropped off quality.

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

Honestly I have been watching and enjoying the last four but I do feel since I'm the only one who is apparently reviewing these it's harder to want to review here and talk about them but I will go over my thoughts on these latest episodes fairly quickly.

"Planet Espresso" - You know having ANOTHER episode that has a major focus on the Planet Express Ship opening another kind of business that seemingly does well at first and then implodes on itself right after "Attack of the Clothes" really doesn't work like you do need to vary up this aspect of your stories one after the other. Especially since in this era of streaming the airing of episodes isn't determined by the network but rather the order you want to put them in more so having two in a row like that doesn't work. Especially since the more interesting part of this was Hermes whole story about his hatred of his father but then in pursuing this coffee business winding up ignoring his whole family but yeah that wound up having to be taken up by stuff involving the business. And as amusing as Fry trying to hold a strike or even seeing Mom pop up again are for a bit they do take away from the point of what's happening and sans the history of these coffee aliens not really a lot of great jokes in this one. I do like this one focusing on Hermes and I do appreciate how this season especially wants to give all the primary cast their own episode (ironically enough Zoidberg hasn't really had his. "I Know What You Did Next X-Mas" is more Bender focus and "Attach of the Clothes" is more Farnsworth focused so yeah so far in this Hulu run Zoidberg hasn't had his own focus. Maybe because for some reason they still don't know what to do with bringing back Marianne from the Comedy Central era thus don't want an excuse to have to bring up that hook yet) but this one really needed more time on Mr. Conrad relationship with his father less on coffee jokes. Which ironically isn't the issue of...

"Cutness Overload" - Aka this is the Amy episode about her family relationship but this time about her kids. Specifically Mandy bonding with one of those Orphanarium kids we've seen before which is cute. At first I thought them being the ones to solve the whole cute infestation was sort of lame especially the whole "cute recognizes cute" thing but you know not only is it nice seeing the kids actually do something important in an episode but the whole point of this is showing them growing and general relationships as well as Amy not exactly being a good mother. And much as I do like "Children of A Lesser Bog" and do feel she is still trying to be a better mother then Inez you do have to take into account Amy can still be a rather selfish and shallow person and I actually do like this episode really leaning into that aspect of her. That she does have her own challenges and things to work on as a parent now that she is one that aren't just about whether or not she really loves her kids but how to properly relate and give them what they actually want and you know weening off her own parental issues and all that stuff clicked. Much more then the commentary aspect of this episode. Like "Planet Espresso" was a lot of coffee jokes that aren't the greatest but at least they are on a common subject you can just always milk as a bit. But the toys here are pretty much beanie babies crossed with Pokemon with all the gags that honestly feel like they were written back the last time Kristen Gore was writing for Futurama over 20 years ago without really much updating. Like that hasn't been such an obvious problem in most of these episodes as even the ones that were out of date were just out of date by a few years but this by a couple of decades and yeah does hurt the satire point they're making. Some bits about how the creatures normally are just dolls and it takes a super rare variant to take control over them are fine but yeah that aspect is pretty lame and hurts the episode.

"The Futurama Mystery Liberry" - Okay this wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better then "The Prince and the Product" in terms of an anthology episode because again Anthology episodes SHOULD have simple set ups that just allow for joke opportunities. And here it's Levar Burton just showing up randomly to read takes on various popular kids mystery books through the lens of the character. I admit I haven't really specifically read Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys or Rintin Tin or Encyclopedia Brown and just know of them through pop culture osmosis but there are some amusing bits. Like Amy and Zoidberg playing the friends of the Leela and Fry and Bender Drew/Hardy expys who always get crapped on and just leaving at the end when the wormhole sucks them through or how the continents breaking apart and reforming is what the Wormstrom rival was coppled in or even the casting of the Robot Cop partner as Bender's dad and Fry as the street tough punk in the Bender ending segment. I admit none of these three match up even to Comedy Central's "Saturady Morning Fun Pit" GI Zapp Segment which rivals "Dial L for Leela" or "Raiders of the Lost Arcade" for the best Futurama segments ever but none of these are the random just pointlessly off segments from "Prince And The Product" either so that's something.

"Otherwise" - You know I actually rewatched "Meanwhile" before watching this one. And you know though "Meanwhile" I do feel is a pretty decent episode I never got the hype people put on it as this perfect Futurama ending that apparently some said "oh how dare the show go on with the Hulu run when it could have ended with "Meanwhile" and been this perfect series". So re seeing it again I do admit the premise of the 10 second rewind button is really cool but "Meanwhile" only really works as the perfect finale for the Fry/Leela shippers who felt the show was all about that when... it wasn't. Like honestly the more I think about it the more annoying and messed up ending the series with most of the cast frozen in time and just two of them having a good life. I mean I guess it is a really interesting like good hearted Passengers sort of story but I don't think it's the epic master piece most others part it as and quite frankly I'm glad the show went on and had a chance to tell a different finale and quite honestly though I may get flack for saying it "Otherwise" to me is better then "Meanwhile."

Again minus the callbacks to the first delivery and the ending and time travel button concept "Meanwhile" is fine but again pretty overhyped not even having really the drama of some of Futurama's most heavy episodes. This one doesn't really either but I do feel it does have a more interesting and heavy idea; the fact that Fry actually is able to peer into the various alternate timelines and what ifs of his life and sort of actually see his attempt from "Meanwhile" at marrying Leela but it now playing out differently because of it being a memory. Like the idea of actually being able to glimpse at these alternate worlds and have them affect you especially us knowing that they did live through these other lives I do actually like and though again not played for drama it is a really solid idea. Same with the whole trying to get rid of the regular Planet Express ship and getting a new one. As others have brought up it is odd that this literally aired right around when the latest Simpsons premiere also played with the idea of a finale with more permanent stakes changing but managing to worm more around to the regular status quo. This one wasn't as meta about it though as it was playing out as this alt idea of another way Fry and Leela could have been married trying to find the original planet express ship as yeah I knew once they dove down and didn't see them come up we'd eventually see an alternate version but that being the one firing on the one we were following more this episode before getting out was still cool. And though I do feel they do need to sooner or later actually have Fry and Leela properly marry instead of just teasing it (maybe that will be saved if Futurama goes up to 200) I do like the end with them still being fine exploring what else will happen in this take on their relationship.

And I admit in terms of comedy Bender's rivarly with the can opener was easily one of the comedic highlights of this entire season. Seriously between him shooting it after it pointed a sword at him basing that off what he saw in a "funny movie" and then Amy bringing up that he had a fling with the Planet Express ship and Bender pointing out "I had a fling with a lot of things I just move on" are some really great laughs from this series and yeah a great ending to end this season on. There were some more kind of average to decent or meh episodes this half but even this episode pointed out not all the adventures hit greatness but I feel are worth it for the great epiosdes like this one and hope the next batch has at least a few that measure up to this one.

 

[Classic Speedy]

I finally started watching the Hulu seasons after getting caught up on the Comedy Central ones. So... the premiere, anyone else feel the animation quality took a hit? It looked like it had a much smaller budget. Also, not like he can help it but Billy West's voice was noticeably weaker for Fry and Farnsworth in the time since the CC episodes (Zoidberg and Nixon still sounded okay, but that's probably because they aren't as big a strain on his voice). Phil LaMarr as Hermes as well, albeit to a lesser extent.

 

[Neo Ultra Mike]

So... the premiere, anyone else feel the animation quality took a hit? It looked like it had a much smaller budget.

The quality itself for the most part didn't take a hit. There are some off poses here and there (especially in "The Impossible Stream") but the actual animation is still as consistently good as it's always been and doesn't feel cheaped out in any way. I will grant you it's nowhere near as fluid as say The Simpsons is now but that was never the case for any era of Futurama which honestly though as a lot of great designs and backgrounds like animation quality wise probably is the weakest of all the Groening shows.

Also, not like he can help it but Billy West's voice was noticeably weaker for Fry and Farnsworth in the time since the CC episodes (Zoidberg and Nixon still sounded okay, but that's probably because they aren't as big a strain on his voice). Phil LaMarr as Hermes as well, albeit to a lesser extent.

I do think Farnsworth actually still sounds about as good but that's also because it's probably easier for West to do an old man voice now then it was when it started out. The Fry voice though is a lot weaker and yeah much as I do like the revival you can feel that every time he has like a major line. It's not as bad as Julie Kavner's Marge per se but yeah he can't quite pull off that voice which yeah everyone else for the most part still really can. Katey Sagal and John DiMaggio haven't missed a beat at all as Leela and Bender but with him you can tell. Phil LaMarr's Hermes I guess a bit weaker but again not really that noticeable especially compared to Fry.

 

[Classic Speedy]

The quality itself for the most part didn't take a hit. There are some off poses here and there (especially in "The Impossible Stream") but the actual animation is still as consistently good as it's always been and doesn't feel cheaped out in any way. I will grant you it's nowhere near as fluid as say The Simpsons is now but that was never the case for any era of Futurama which honestly though as a lot of great designs and backgrounds like animation quality wise probably is the weakest of all the Groening shows.

Thankfully the animation's gotten a bit better since that premiere. I dunno, something about the premiere just looked off- it almost looked like a Flash animated show at certain points.

 

[Classic Speedy]

Who else has watched the new batch of episodes?

"The World is Hot Enough" was probably the most consistent in terms of laughs.

"Wicked Human" was really convenient timing considering the TikTok rapture nonsense last week.

"Murderoni" had probably the biggest laugh of the season: "I knew that stuff I made up was true!"

"The White Hole" and "The Numberland Gap" were the requisite science-heavy episodes of the season. They were conceptually interesting but didn't really make me laugh that much. "Hole" in particular was pretty predictable: The clones did their job and then disintegrate. Over and over.

 

[John Pannozzi]

^ Yeah, I also watched the new season, and I'm pretty much in agreement with everything you said there.

 

[RoyalRubble]

AWN has interviews with the voice cast.