# Where should I start with Futurama? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 6, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024 "2011-07-06T13:09:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/21 "2011-07-06T21:19:09Z")
As if the OP needs another confirmation at this point, start at the start. The first few episodes are a cohorent unit that establish everything. After that, it gets pretty episodic but there’s enough continuity and callbacks to make it rewarding to follow the episode order. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/22 "2011-07-06T21:19:09Z")
I’ve seen all the episodes that were on Fox, and the 1st DVD. Where do I go from here? The rest of the direct-to-DVD stuff, or the Comedy Central stuff? thanks Brian ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/23 "2011-07-06T21:25:01Z")
When I watched S1, I was absolutely amazed to discover how many cultural references I was by then well familiar with came from Futurama. So start there, so you can finally realize what the heck everyone’s talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/24 "2011-07-06T21:37:55Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > I’ve seen all the episodes that were on Fox, and the 1st DVD. Where do I go from here? The rest of the direct-to-DVD stuff, or the Comedy Central stuff? I THINK the ‘DVD Movies’ were all broken up into episodes. Did you see the ‘spammer aliens’ bit, the ‘universe-sized-tentacle-rape-monster’ bit, the ‘D&D parody’ bit and the ‘universe-sized golf course’ bit? If so, there may be nothing left but the new seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/25 "2011-07-06T21:43:39Z")
I am the greetest! Now I am leaving Earth forever, for no raisin! \<3 Futurama, start at S1E1. You won’t regret it. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/26 "2011-07-06T22:21:29Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > I’ve seen all the episodes that were on Fox, and the 1st DVD. Where do I go from here? The rest of the direct-to-DVD stuff, or the Comedy Central stuff? > > thanks > Brian The 1st Comedy Central episode picks up right from the end of the last DVD episode, so if you skip the DVDs you’ll miss out on a few plot details. That being said, the 2nd and 3rd “movies” are kinda weak compared to the 1st, but the 4th is entertaining enough. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/27 "2011-07-06T22:29:35Z")
I would be very angry should you choose to start anywhere other than the first episode. But it’s not you; it’s just that these balls are making me testy. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/28 "2011-07-06T23:41:36Z")
Even _I_ laughed at me when I invented this alien cross-species episode selector, but I guess I showed myself! ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/29 "2011-07-06T23:55:59Z")
I’m going to establish _my OWN_ episode viewing order . . . with _Blackjack!_ and _Hookers!_ . . . in fact, FORGET the episodes! ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/30 "2011-07-07T00:03:48Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > I’m going to establish _my OWN_ episode viewing order . . . with _Blackjack!_ and _Hookers!_ . . . in fact, FORGET the episodes! And the blackjack. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/31 "2011-07-07T00:24:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > When I watched S1, I was absolutely amazed to discover how many cultural references I was by then well familiar with came from Futurama. So start there, so you can finally realize what the heck everyone’s talking about. This. You cannot properly call yourself a Doper without having first assimilated all of Futurama. ETA: Just don’t expect anybody IRL getting what you said. I suspect Dopers are the only people who watch it, but we are legion. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/32 "2011-07-07T00:32:00Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Why do you always have to say it that way? Haven’t you heard of a little thing called “showmanship?” ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/33 "2011-07-07T00:40:19Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I am the greetest! Now I am leaving Earth forever, for no raisin! > > \<3 Futurama, start at S1E1. You won’t regret it. It’s just as well. Earth is a world of spelling errors and plot holes. ---
**Author:** ![Hap\_Shaughnessy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecc23a/32.png) [@Hap\_Shaughnessy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hap_Shaughnessy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/34 "2011-07-08T07:31:30Z")
No I’m… doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/35 "2011-07-08T10:07:57Z")
Don’t watch Jurassic Bark unless you are willing to cry. And, yeah, start with the first episode. I’d say the first few are essential for truly understanding the premise, and there are some really satisfying callbacks later. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/36 "2011-07-08T13:21:20Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I would be very angry should you choose to start anywhere other than the first episode. But it’s not you; it’s just that these balls are making me testy. Please, no more violence. We have already seen far too many bodybags and ballsacks! ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/37 "2011-07-08T16:19:44Z")
> [@ugly ripe tomato](#): > > Please, no more violence. We have already seen far too many bodybags and ballsacks! But they told me you guys looked like jerks. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/38 "2011-07-09T02:32:09Z")
Watch Futurama in order. After you watch the season 4 episode “The Why of Fry” go back and watch the very first episode from season one… then revel in brilliance of the writer of the series. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/39 "2011-07-11T10:42:21Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > It doesn’t matter at all where you start. Don’t listen to him! He’s the father of all lies, and the uncle of all tricks! ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024/40 "2011-07-11T11:35:02Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > But they told me you guys looked like jerks. _They_ look like dorks! :mad: (I know you said jerks, but my inner pedant couldn’t justify posting an incorrect Futurama quote.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-should-i-start-with-futurama/588024.md?page=3)