Review: "Love's Labours Lost In Space" (Season 1, Episode 4)

This is not even remotely as romantic as this appears at first glance.

Airdate: April 13th, 1999

Synopsis: Leela's love life is at an all-time low- nobody wants to date her because of her one eye, and her standards are pretty strict. Kind of a bad combination for love. Not even a group trip to a disco is enough to get her a partner. (Even Zoidberg went home with a partner- an actual lobster, but still!)

However, she has to put her ambitions for love behind her, as the Planet Express crew are sent on a charity mission (for the tax breaks). Farnsworth directs the trio to Vergon 6, a "sunny little doomed planet" that's on the verge of collapse after the dark matter within was mined for sweet, sweet starship fuel. The three come across the Nimbus 5, a Democratic Order of Planets starship operated by the eccentric Zapp Branigan and his frustrated assistant, Lieutenant Kif Kroker.

Leela initially holds him in high regard, and requests help on the expedition. However, Zapp not only manages to show the callous he has to his crew members, but throws the trio in prison for violating "Branigans Law", which prevents interference of undeveloped planets. Zapp, however, has another plan- try and seduce Leela away from the mission. After making himself out as a buffoon while trying to seduce her, Zapp breaks down and laments his loneliness. Leela takes pity on the man... and beds him.

Review (SOME SPOILERS): When the internet was in it's early stages (read, the 90s), one of the great battles in science fiction fandom (right alongside B5 v DS9 and Joel v Mike) was who was the better Star Trek protagonist: Jean-Luc Picard, from TNG, or James T Kirk, from TOS. Defenders of the latter tend to colour Picard as being serious and a tad bit aloof to his crew, defending Kirk for his chutzpa and being a father to his men. Defenders of Picard, meanwhile, paint Kirk as a chauvinist cowboy who bedded everybody in sight, and praise Picard for his diplomacy and culture. Of course, these are just broad strokes, and both had elements of the other (just in different quantities), but my point still stands.

A crossover between these two could've shut the fans up for years. Unfortunately, said crossover just had them talk over breakfast, attempt to fight Malcolm McDowell, and climaxed in what is, in my opinion, one of the most underwritten scenes in Trek history. Few were really satisfied with the outcome.

Now, why do I bring this up?


In my review of "The Series Has Landed", I made a brief comparison between Leela and Picard. For those unaware, Picard was very much dedicated to his job, as well as diplomatic and pragmatic, yet also serious and somewhat by-the-book. Granted, as the series goes on, Leela will become more like DS9's Ben Sisko- far more willing to take direct action compared to Picard- but we're still seeing a pragmatic, diplomatic Leela at this point.

This episode has her meet Zapp Brannigan, hailed as the greatest captain in the Democratic Order of Planets. If Leela is a gender-swapped Picard, then Zapp is a complete parody of Kirk and the stereotypes that comprise him. He sacrifices wave after wave of men during missions (a parody of the redshirts from TOS), totally lacks charisma (a deep contrast to the charismatic Kirk), sometimes breaks the most coven rule in the book (Prime Directive vs Brannigan's Law), and has a sense of arrogance about himself.

In effect, this episode's plot starts as "what if a Kirk/Picard meet-up was done right?" It spirals into "what if Picard and an exaggerated parody of Kirk met up, and one tried to seduce the other?"

But enough about Kirk and Picard, let's focus on this episode.

Zapp Brannigan is a relatively one-note character- a parody of Kirk. However, the writing, the rapid development of his character, the delivery by Billy West... all of that combines to make one of the greatest characters in the history of animation. Every ounce of him is so pitiful, it's pretty hilarious. He's such a buffoon that he doesn't even bother to lie to the trio about his battle strategy- he just presents it as a victory.

However, there's an ambiguity over the breakdown that got Leela to bed the man. On one hand, he went into his "captain-to-captain" meeting with the expectation that he will leave that room having slept with Leela. On the other hand, he's such a pathetic man that you have to wonder if his "just so lonely" breakdown was at least somewhat genuine. Either way, his even more blatant sexism and ego afterwards- that Leela was so enthralled by her encounter with Zapp that she will come crawling back to his bed- erases any potential sympathy there is for the man.

If Zapp Brannigan is a send-up of Kirk, then Kif Kroker is a total send-up of Spock. Played by the brilliant Maurice LaMarche, Kif, in contrast to Spock, is not as tightly in control of his emotions, only indicating his displeasure via sighs and the odd comment to the trio. ("The jackass wants to see you in his quarters." "The fatso says you're free to go.") The delivery of his lines, showing resignation and frustration... it's all brilliant.

Being that this is the first episode to truly focus on Leela, this episode is really the one to fully establish her character- professionally, she's no-nonsense and very diplomatic. This extends into her personal life- her standards don't waver, almost to the point of hypocrisy. Still, I think her decision to sleep with Zapp has an extra aura of irony- both Zapp and Leela are lonely (or at least, Zapp claims to be), Leela sees the loneliness in Zapp... if it wasn't part of Zapp's goal to get her to pity him, it certainly showcases that, due to her own personality, Leela can make a bit of a blunder.

Hell, this is the first blunder the show has her make, sleeping with somebody as incompetent and annoying as Zapp. Once Fry and Bender realize what transpired, they're absolutely shocked. That moment of realization is absolutely brilliant. Thankfully, Leela more than moves past this liaison- leaving Zapp in the dust, without him even knowing.

Oh, and there's Nibbler. He's a plot device here. Later episodes expand on his character. We'll get to him a bit later.

The Democratic Order of Planets is itself a send-up of Star Trek's Federation and the real-life United Nations... and it's not loving. Brannigan's Law, a send-up of the Prime Directive, is utterly ignored by the organisation... simply for cheap, cheap energy. Only when the planet's mined hollow is the act enforced, preventing any rescue missions.

What else do I have to say? The plot is a brilliant send-up of those "prime directive" episodes in Star Trek. The comedy is fantastic. Zapp Brannigan is absolutely perfect. This is probably going to be the best of the season.

It took The Simpsons a season to hit it's stride. It took TNG three seasons. It took Futurama four episodes.

Tidbits:

• With the resurgence of "hipster-dom", the scene at "The Hip Joint" has aged well. "Oi, did that lad say rings are cool?" "No- he said they're stupid." "COOL!"
• Brannigan's voice is actually a send-up of Phil Hartman's. Hartman had actually auditioned for the role. Unfortunately, he wound up dead in a murder-suicide by his wife. (There was a rumor going around that Fry was renamed in honor of Brannigan. Billy West, who also voices Fry, has claimed otherwise.)
• Interestingly, there's no indication that Leela even considered asking Fry out on a date. The reason is this- Leela is very professional, Fry is a subordinate, and the friendship between the two is still developing.
• Any quotes concerning Zoidberg's professionalism is truly hysterical. "The female Leela's problem is purely medical. Soon, she will drop her eggs, and they will hatch, and all will be well!"

Favorite Scene: God, every single line with Zapp Brannigan is hysterical. However, every scene between him and Leela, especially the "quarters" scenes, stand out from the rest.

Least Favorite Scene: I can't name one. They don't put a wrong foot anywhere.

Memorable Quote: "I'll be in the escape pod. If that wicker chair I like survives the slaughter, have it sent to my PO box." - Zapp Brannigan, upon learning that the trio have boarded. Truly, a professional is in charge of the Nimbus.

Score: 9