I should be used to the fact that Futurama has been un-cancelled.
I really should. Since its final
Fox episode aired in the summer of 2003, we Futurama
fans have been privy to 4 feature-length direct-to-DVD movies, plus an initial
Comedy Central order of 26 episodes, spread across 2 years: the summers of 2010
and 2011. Currently, we’re only 3 episodes into Comedy
Central’s second 26-episode order, which will tide us over until Labor Day
2013. In fact, if you do the math, the number of post-cancellation half-hours
(68 = 52 Comedy Central episodes, plus the 4-part episodic versions of the 4
movies) almost rivals the show’s original 72-episode Fox network run. Not bad for one of Fox’s most mishandled
series, eh? :-)
And yet, in its return, Futurama
has had a surprisingly low profile. Its
return to television never got the amount of attention that its fellow
cancelled Fox animated series, Family Guy,
received… a sticking point that the Futurama
fan base will still chide to this day. While
its return has been appreciated, the ratings have been adequate, but never tremendous. (Certainly, Fox is looking to make most of
its Futurama money off of the
DVD/Blu-ray sales, and the syndication rights, rather than its Comedy Central
airings.) And yet, of all the rebooted animated series in recent memory, Futurama has managed to be incredibly
solid and consistent thus far, picking up from its original Fox run without
seemingly missing a beat. (I’d say that Beavis and
Butthead’s return last fall was astonishing, although the reboot is operating
on a more complex level than the original series ever attempted, so I’m reluctant
to make a direct connection between the old and new eras of that series.) Tonight’s episode, “Decision 3012”, continues
that streak with the strong level of writing and pacing that we’ve come to
expect from the series.
The episode kicks off in a fun way, with the show’s regular
intro segueing directly into the actual plot.
Traditionally, the Planet Express ship crashes into the billboard TV
just because, but this time around, Bender crashes the ship because of the
giant “FREE BEER” message that it displays.
As it turns out, the free beer is being served up by Earth President
Nixon, as a shameless tactic to earn the public’s support for his
re-election. Nixon is running on a
campaign to prevent space aliens from entering our planet, and promises to
build a fence around the solar system to keep them out. But during a debate, Nixon encounters a
formidable challenger in Senator Travers, a down-to-earth politician who shows
actual concern for society’s issues… an aspect that quickly strikes a chord with
Leela, who ends up becoming his new campaign manager in the process. The debate scene is one of the episode’s
highlights, partially because of the jabs at endless debate schedules,
political sound bites, and unruly mobs – the latter of which evokes golden-age Simpsons. (“According to reputable scientists—“ “BOOOOOOOO!!!”)
However, the Travers campaign encounters trouble when Bender
joins Nixon’s campaign, specializing in dirty tricks. Bender is unable to find any dirt on Travers…
but he and Nixon ultimately start a rumor that Travers himself is an alien… a
rumor that gains momentum when Travers is unable to present his certificate of
birth. Now, when my DVR’s plot summary
mentioned the birth certificate plot, I was afraid that not only was the show going
to go pointedly political and take on the birther movement, but even more so, I
was afraid that said satire was going to horribly date this episode. (Futurama doesn’t have a great history in
this respect: Remember the first-season episode that revolved primarily around
the Ally McBeal clone Single Female Lawyer? How well has that held up?)
Fortunately, the episode redeems itself (and then some) by adding
a nifty twist: Travers doesn’t have a birth certificate because he hasn’t been
born yet. (GASP!) In fact, he’s been sent back in time from the
year 3028, Kyle Reese-style, to prevent a horrific future where aliens are
eradicated from Earth, menial jobs like “harvesting crops, teaching math, and
curing disease” disappear, humans receive the Soylent Green treatment, and the
world is ultimately taken over by robots… who are led by one Mr. Bender Bending
Rodriguez. Fortunately, since Travers
will be born in 3012, Leela suggests that Travers’ birth be broadcast on live
TV. And so, we’re treated to a bizarre
sequence where news anchors Morbo and Linda report on the birth live from the
delivery room. (Quoth Morbo: “Linda, I’m down here at the pelvis, and folks ‘round
these parts can’t remember the last time a time-traveling senator attended his
own birth. Back to you!”)
Once the baby Travers comes, the adult Travers gains a huge
lead, and ends up defeating Nixon in the election. But, in a wonderful paradoxical ending,
Travers’ election ensures that Nixon doesn’t build the space fence that would
cause the cycle of chaos. As a result, the
adult Travers is erased from 3012, since he was never sent back from the future
in the first place… and Nixon is re-elected, unopposed.
A number of Futurama’s
small strengths are on display in this episode.
The show’s deep bench of supporting characters pays off here, with Morbo
also serving as debate moderator, Calculon emceeing the political convention, and
Hedonismbot playing a 31st-century version of Deep Throat. The visual gags come fast and furious in this
episode, from the “Thundercrats” convention to “The League of Extraordinary
Women Voters”. Bender’s unlimited
transforming abilities are used nicely here, as Bender converts himself into a
urinal at Travers’ campaign headquarters… with disgustingly hilarious results.
Between the laughs and the crafty plot, I’d say I was
satisfied with this episode. I’m not
exactly sure whether I liked this or the “Bender’s baby boy” season premiere
more (hey, that robot baby was cute!), but tonight's show was good nonetheless. And
now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to munch on some Soylent Majority! Mmmmmmmm...
Random notes:
- I am numbering episodes of Futurama based on their production cycle, rather than season, due to the unusual airing schedules of the series. (FYI: The Fox network run consisted of four production cycles, the DVD movies were the fifth cycle, and the first two Comedy Central seasons were the sixth.... making the 2012/2013 episodes part of cycle seven.)
- “Bender, you can’t even vote. You’re a convicted felon!” “Convicted, sentenced, and executed!”
- Election 3012: The Choosening!
- Freeze-frame alert: Among the signs displayed at the political convention are: eHio, iOwa, Waterworld, Kardashistan, the Tri-State Area, Panem, and Atlanta.
- “Enviro-mite!!!”
- Nixon: “Are you wearing a wire?” Bender: “I’m 40% wire!”
- “If it’s on TV, it has to be true!” How wise you are, Fry.
- This video has made its way around the Internet for the past several weeks, but since it has pertinence to Futurama, I’ll link to it again: Here’s a panel from the Emerald Comic-Con in Seattle, in which many notable voice actors read scenes from Star Wars, including Futurama cast members Billy West, John DiMaggio, and Maurice LaMarche. You’ll hear Bender, Professor Farnsworth AND Dr. Zoidberg as Luke Skywalker, and Morbo as R2-D2, among many others.
- Next week, Bender joins the paparazzi! See you then!
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