# Futurama returns -- anticipation and the first two episodes \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 23, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213 "2010-06-23T05:09:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/61 "2010-06-25T02:40:18Z")
Loved the first episode. Glad to see the show’s back on. I didn’t like the DVDs though. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/62 "2010-06-25T03:12:31Z")
Rebirth=Loved It, In…Leela=Meh (if I wasn’t so starved for Futurama content it’d rate a Hated It). ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/63 "2010-06-25T04:11:54Z")
Reposting my reaction from the other thread… The first episode was note-perfect and, notably, written by David X. Cohen. Very clever and full of science fiction tropes. The second episode was shit and, even more notably, written by a new writer. It was brain-dead, relying on “naughtiness” for laughs. The whole tone was completely off. Seriously, it’s the only truly bad episode of _Futurama_ yet. Terrible. No wit at all. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/64 "2010-06-25T06:04:50Z")
I liked the second episode, especially the V’ger parody, and also Zapp’s reaction when he gets caught again and again in his lies, which just get bigger and bigger. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/65 "2010-06-25T06:23:15Z")
Both episodes fit the mold of the series. You don’t get a _Roswell That Ends Well_ with every episode. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/66 "2010-06-25T06:29:42Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Both episodes fit the mold of the series. You don’t get a _Roswell That Ends Well_ with every episode. I found _That’s Lobstertainment!_ and all four movies worthwhile. Even the worst episodes warranted a 6-7/10. But this second episode fell into the trap of “let’s be edgy for its own sake”. Cue Amy dressed as a dominatrix and calling for an orgy. Seriously, WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/67 "2010-06-25T06:34:01Z")
Frankly, the most irritating part of either episode was how the first one got resolved in about 30 seconds with the revelation that Fry was a robot and the two just walk off and everything goes relatively normal. But it was a perfectly acceptable way to spend an hour. I was satisfied. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/68 "2010-06-25T06:52:43Z")
I caught the first one and liked it. The second one didn’t record for some reason. And when I tried to catch the repeat at 1am, even though it was labeled with the correct title on the interactive guide, the actual episode was The Why of Fry. Which, granted, is probably the best episode of Futurama ever. But still, disappointed that now I have to wait til Monday to see the second one. I found the constant ‘plot reset’ buttons to be amusing. I’m glad they didn’t include Leela and Fry falling out of love. Although I didn’t catch the second episode, I did see it’s title. Which I assume is a reference to _something_ but my brain lacks delta waves so I can’t quite figure it out. What is “In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela” a reference to? > [@Lobot](#): > > But this second episode fell into the trap of “let’s be edgy for its own sake” Well that is a long standing tradition on Futurama. See episodes revolving around casual nudity, casual dismemberment, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/69 "2010-06-25T07:08:55Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Although I didn’t catch the second episode, I did see it’s title. Which I assume is a reference to _something_ but my brain lacks delta waves so I can’t quite figure it out. What is “In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela” a reference to? “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”, a.k.a. “In the Garden of Eden” by Iron Butterfly. > [@](#): > > Well that is a long standing tradition on Futurama. See episodes revolving around casual nudity, casual dismemberment, etc… Those moments were usually side-gags that didn’t treat the characters like props for the sake of a cheap laugh. For example, the nudity was in keeping with the social commentary angle, i.e. the shift in norms over 1000 years. This episode, on the other hand, had no point behind these gags. Even the Eden parody was wasted. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/70 "2010-06-25T07:20:55Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Although I didn’t catch the second episode, I did see it’s title. Which I assume is a reference to _something_ but my brain lacks delta waves so I can’t quite figure it out. What is “In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela” a reference to? The episode had kind of a garden of eden thing, so it is probably a reference to Bart’s prank where he gave the church lady music to “In the garden of eden,” which turned out to be In-A-Gadda-da-vita. I don’t know if In-A-Gadda-Da-Vita has a closer connection with the garden of eden, but that’s the connection I make. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/71 "2010-06-25T07:30:32Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > Reposting my reaction from the other thread… > > The first episode was note-perfect and, notably, written by David X. Cohen. Very clever and full of science fiction tropes. > > The second episode was shit and, even more notably, written by a new writer. It was brain-dead, relying on “naughtiness” for laughs. The whole tone was completely off. Seriously, it’s the only truly bad episode of _Futurama_ yet. Terrible. No wit at all. I fully agree with this. And then anyway, it was the first episode that contained the hottest / second hottest moment in Futurama. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/72 "2010-06-25T07:57:16Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > The episode had kind of a garden of eden thing, so it is probably a reference to Bart’s prank where he gave the church lady music to “In the garden of eden,” which turned out to be In-A-Gadda-da-vita. I don’t know if In-A-Gadda-Da-Vita has a closer connection with the garden of eden, but that’s the connection I make. Have a look [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida_%28song%29#Overview). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/73 "2010-06-25T12:31:59Z")
If you think about it both of these movies were pretty well in keeping with what we saw in the movies, which was a racier Futurama that could still do some great sci-fi material that made you think. I liked Rebirth better because the twists were great and they presented some probing questions about humanity. But watching Fry grieve was not so funny. I probably laughed more at In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela. You had the Professor saying “I don’t like the look of this _V-Giny_” with Leela and Zapp flying in a sex position in an invisible spaceship and Zapp’s line “I’m actually kind of proud of this one,” and it did have some funny moments in my opinion. And a couple of minutes after the episode ended, I realized they did manage to make a fairly sophisticated point - that censorship is inherently voyeuristic - in a blunt way. I’m looking forward to watching this again and I’m very glad the show is back. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/74 "2010-06-25T12:41:21Z")
I can hardly complain about the lack of funny bits in either episode, and frankly I think the new season is well begun. But it did sort of set off alarms. I hate to turn into one of those kvetch monkeys on the internet, but the pace seemed hyper in both episodes, with a focus on being madcap at the expense of story or character. See? There I go. ---
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/75 "2010-06-25T13:06:54Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”, a.k.a. “In the Garden of Eden” by Iron Butterfly. > > Those moments were usually side-gags that didn’t treat the characters like props for the sake of a cheap laugh. You mean, like the cut-off-his-penis gag we saw in the first episode of the evening? How many times are they going to go back to that well? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/76 "2010-06-25T13:30:02Z")
I was very “meh” about both of them, as well as the “movies” they put out preceding this return. Like **Johnny Angel** said, the pace seemed rushed and I felt like they’ve reached the point where we’re supposed to make assumptions about the characters’ motivations because we “know” them by now, which I’ve always felt when shows inevitably do this is lazy and degenerating into self-pardody( **the Simpsons** have been doing this for at least a decade already), that there’s no need for any kind of characterization or explanation. I guess I was just used to thinking of the original 4 seasons as a set piece, that the show was done and that’s all there was to it, and adding on to those 4 seasons is somehow doing them a disservice, which they may possibly be. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/77 "2010-06-25T13:35:14Z")
I’m glad it’s back, but those were both pretty weak. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/78 "2010-06-25T14:48:18Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > what happened to all the “robot love will destroy humanity” [Futurama Announcer] DON’T…DATE…ROBOTS![/FA] brought to you by [distorted] Thaaa..SpacePope[/distorted I wonder if RoboLeela and RoboFry are going to be a factor in the new series, or if they were just a one episode throwaway gag, I hope we see more of their characters I liked both episodes, but the first ep was a bit stronger, the second ep traded far too much on the "Zapp is a loser/incompetent who is unable to “make it with a woman” " (him not get snu-snu) but I did find it amusing how every one of Zapp’s machinations and plans to get Leela to like him (or at least get pity-Snu-Snu) fell through I also like that they carried over the we-renamed-Uranus-Urectum gag from “A Big Ball of Garbage” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/79 "2010-06-25T14:51:25Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > I also like that they carried over the we-renamed-Uranus-Urectum gag from “A Big Ball of Garbage” I got a kick out of that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213/80 "2010-06-25T14:53:04Z")
I liked both episodes and I liked the first one better. I liked how they transitioned from the movie to back to regular old episodes in Rebirth. Bender having to party non-stop kept cracking me up as he popped in and out of the episode and him singing “Coma-coma-coma-coma-coma chameleon” had me laughing out loud. I really liked how several times through out the episode they referenced what really happened to the show. Bender making the comment about “the idiots who canceled us and the idiots who brought us back.” and the Professor mentioning Comedy Central. The second epsiode wasn’t as strong but it felt like a regular old Futurama epsiode. Not awesome but still had it’s funny moments. The V-Giny going around censoring planets made me think it was a combination parody of V-ger and the V-chip for tvs. I thought the gang going all “Repent now for your sins!” and wearing the robes and carrying the signs was pretty good. The best part though was Brannigan getting caught in ever increasingly bigger lies. EDIT: Yeah the Urectum gag. It took a few seconds for my brain register it so I had to rewind to make sure and then I giggled. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futurama-returns-anticipation-and-the-first-two-episodes-edited-title/544213.md?page=5)