Review: "A Clone Of My Own" (Season 2, Episode 10)

Airdate: April 9th, 2000

Congratulations, Wesley Crusher. You are no longer the most hated teen genius in sci-fi history.

Synopsis: Mars University (the college where Fry dropped out of) hosts a surprise 150th Birthday Party for Professor Farnsworth. A recollection of his life makes him realize that he's not long for this world - even if he makes another decade, after that, robots take him away to the Near-Death Star for eternity. Thus, he decides to name a successor - his clone, Cubert Farnsworth, who has been sitting in a tube for a while (thus making him the second of his family to sit in a tube for an extended period of time.) Thing is, Cubert is a bit of a jackass, dismissing every one of the Professor's accomplishments as impossible, and refusing to continue his legacy.

Oh, thing is, the Professor also fibbed a little about his age.

Review: Of al the major Futurama characters, the one I would argue is the most interesting is Professor Hubert Farnsworth. As much of a madman he is, what with his dubious ethics and questionable treatment of his employees (at best), there's also been hints at pathos, that he really has done little with his life. "A Clone of My Own" is the first episode to really dive into Professor Farnswroth's mindset, and the episode reaps the rewards.

Review: "A Bicyclops Built For Two" (Season 2, Episode 9)

Note: sender of E-mail is not as dignified as he appears. Not. Even. Close.

Airdate: March 19th, 2000

Synopsis: While on a Matrix-like "internet", Leela meets another cycloptic humanoid. However, Fry interrupts their transmission before important information can be exchanged. On a trip to deliver popcorn to Cineplex 14, however, the cyclops able to come in contact with the PlanEx trio, and they wind up on the planet Cyclopia. There, Alcazar explains that the two of them may very well be the last of their race. However, not only does Alcazar have a more loutish side to him, the truth about his role as the future of the species is more shocking than meets the eye.

Review (SPOILERS): The cliche of "last of the species" is very much identifiable in science fiction - to the point where even newer takes on the subject tend to subvert it immediately, or add other unique twists - The Last Man on Earth, for example (featuring soon-to-be Gravity Falls alumnus Kristen Schaal). (I'm not getting into the twists, because spoilers.)

Here's the deal - the premise itself is one that, without any sort of twist, is one of the creepier in sci-fi lore. Two people of the opposite sex are the last of their species? Hate to bring this into the picture, but that would be impossible as far as the continuation of said species goes, what with the "incest or death" after "Generation A" reproduces. The inbreeding would devastate the species. And that's without the reluctance on either partner's part. To look at that, Futurama takes on a look at how a domestic situation would play out with this trope - one that dates back to "Genesis". (Reminder: spoilers after the break)

Review: "Raging Bender" (Season 2, Episode 8)

Sticking somebody in a barrel? Yeah, that'll put some butts in seats!

Airdate: February 27th, 2000.

Synopsis: While at the movies (to escape the possibility of Brain Slug assimilation), Bender manages to infuriate a movie patron to the point where he challenges our lovable rascal to "fistycuffs". Catch is, he's actually "The Masked Unit". Only by luck does Bender defeat him. However, he manages to get noticed by the Commissioner of the Ultimate Robot Fighting League, and is signed up to be a professional wrestler, where he learns all about the tools of the trade... mainly, that matches are fixed according to popularity.

Review: Ah, yes. "Raging Bender". Definitely an interesting episode to analyse, if only for the sociological and entertainment aspects of it. This episode not only takes a look at the media empire that is wrestling and pro-fighting, but also tries to take a look at the power revenge. The results, unfortunately, seem a bit underwhelming.