Review: "The Deep South" (Season 2, Episode 12)

Airdate: April 16th, 2000

Synopsis: Hermes applies for a pet license for Nibbler. Unfortunately, he gets a fishing license instead, one that's not just liberal - it's mandatory. Thus, the crew go fishing in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Bender's antics, though, meet with an unbreakable diamond tether - one that gets caught by a fish, dragging the crew underwater. They survive, but the ship... not so much. While looking for food outside (thanks to the Professor, he can withstand the pressure), he comes across a mermaid, Umbriel (Parker Posey), who takes him to the lost city of... Atlanta.

Review: In 1996, Atlanta was given the opportunity to host the Summer Olympic Games. In spite of a terrorist bombing that killed two people and injured 111 others, the Olympics are widely regarded as a beautiful success for Atlanta, transforming the city into the social and financial capital of the then-blooming American South, even helping to rebut some of the archetypes that were associated with the region in general (racism and poverty, most prominently).

"The Deep South" attempts to fuse the archetypes of "old" Atlanta, "new" Atlanta, and the mythical underwater city of Atlantis. How does it work? Mmm...

Review: "How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back" (Season 2, Episode 11)

Airdate: April 2nd, 2000

This is where he lost his groove. (Don't worry - he doesn't jump. And no, that isn't exactly a spoiler.)

Synopsis: Hermes tries to prepare for a promotion from the Central Bureaucracy. However, all seems ruined when Bender's cheating at poker leads to the destruction of his offices. Only saved from suicide by threats of a demotion, he is put on paid leave ("the ultimate penalty") and sent to Spa 5 by Zoidberg - a nice, relaxing labor camp.

Bureaucrat Morgan Proctor takes over, and finds out that Fry is an utter slob. Being cooper up by neat freaks at the Central Bureaucracy, Proctor finds Fry's slobbishness attractive, and begins an affair that would make the Major cabinet blush, complete with granting Fry perks and demoting the rest of the crew. Once Bender finds out, well, let's just say...

"I am Bender. Please insert girder."

Review: Ah, the bureaucracy. No institution is more American than the offices often called the fourth branch of government. In many regards, bureaucrats are known as the blood of the public sector - to the point where conservatives a-la Rand Paul talk about the "federal bureaucracy" in an extremely pejorative tone. (Blogger's note - I tend to align with the more left-wing Democratic Party.) Jokes about the utter redundancy of the bureaucracy rarely get old, and this episode goes above and beyond with the satire, while also expanding on Hermes.

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.

Review: "Put Your Head On My Shoulders" (Season 2, Episode 7)

"Love is in the air, everywhere you look around..." - John Paul Young.

Airdate: February 13th, 2000

Synopsis: Amy goes and buys a new car, having passed her university classes. (Yes, Amy still goes to school. Remember that?) While taking Fry out for a spin on Mars, the car runs out of gas. Waiting for a tow truck, the two become enamored with each other. Shortly after they arrive back at Earth, however, Fry begins to feel smothered by Amy. Good timing, though, since just as he's about to break up with her, an accident puts his head on her shoulder. Literally.

Meanwhile, Bender decides to pull a Jerkass Homer, and start his own business. This time, he scams people out of money in a matchmaking scheme.

Review (SPOILERS): Ah, Valentine's Day. The day of love, loss, regrets, yadda yadda yadda. If my updates to this blog were any slower, the timing would be appropriate for this episode!

Instead, this is the blog's... sort-of Christmas Special. So... Merry Christmas, I guess?

Review: "The Lesser of Two Evils" (Season 2, Episode 6)

Airdate: February 20, 2000

Synopsis: While watching TV, the trio catch an advertisement for "Past-o-Rama", a theme park dedicated to celebrating the past in it's own cheesy way. While there, they take an old AMC Pacer type car and run into Flexo, a bending unit. In fact, he looks just like our loveable rascal. For some strange reason, Fry looks askance at him, especially after the quartet are commissioned to deliver a tiara to the "Miss Universe Pageant".

Review (SPOILERS): Season 2 contains yet another Star Trek parody, this time aping from "Mirror, Mirror" with "The Lesser of Two Evils". Don't expect these parallels to let up until the third season. Here, though, was another episode that was quite funny, if not Futurama at it's best.

Review: "Why Must I Be A Crustacean In Love?" (Season 2, Episode 5)

Airdate: February 6th, 2000.

Synopsis: Leela and Amy drag Fry and Bender to a gym. Zoidberg, extra-frisky, comes along, and manages to mess around the place. The reason - it's mating season for the Decapodians. Thus, they have to go back to Decapod 10 so that Zoidberg can join his species in the frenzy. Zoidberg has limited success in attracting a mate, but finds a potential partner in Edna. However, Fry tries to get Zoidberg to engage in a deeper relationship with her. Once Edna learns of Fry's strategies... she tries to seduce him. Zoidberg catches them, and declares that they shall settle this with claw-plach!

Fry: "What's that?"

Zoidberg: "A fight to the death!" 

Review: Another Star Trek: TOS parody here - they are a plenty in the first two seasons. This time, the episode parodied is among the most famous in the history of Star Trek: "Amok Time." The results here are quite funny, if not the best Futurama has to offer.

Review: "XMas Story" (Season 2, Episode 4)

"Lock the door, and hit the floor!
Cause Santa Claus comes tonight!!!"

Airdate: December 19, 1999

Synopsis: It's XMAS! Like Christmas, but with more X! Fry and Leela are the loneliest people in New New York, however. After reminding Leela of her constant loneliness, Fry goes out to buy her a present. This does not end well, especially when Robot Santa arrives... and threatens to blow them all to kingdom come.

Review: Ah, the Christmas special. Started with A Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, these specials are just a bundle of heartwarming... or at least cheese. These episodes and specials often have something extra put in them to get the viewer into the Christmas cheer, and makes you enjoy the Winter season... until February, when the third snowstorm comes, and you're tired of classes being cancelled all the damn time!

Sorry.

Normally, these Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanza/insanely-politically-correct-celebration-of-the-winter-solstice episodes are just full of joy and optimism. This episode manages to combine that heartwarming schmaltz we all love with one of the most disturbing environments in Christmas special history.

Review: "A Head in the Polls" (Season 2, Episode 3)

Just hope the silent majority doesn't mind Robot bodies, Richard Nixon.

Airdate: December 12th, 1999

Synopsis: After a mining accident on Titan that trapped over 1000 robots, the price of titanium skyrockets. Seeing profit potential, Bender pawns his body (40% titanium) and begins living life as a "decapitated" head. Despite his initial pleasure, a conversation with the Presidents of the United States - particularly Richard Nixon - makes him realize what he gave up.

Speaking of which, Earth is holding an election to determine who will be the next President of the Planet. The two candidates up for election - Jack Johnson and John Jackson - are not only identical clones, their political positions (despite being members of the Tastycrats and the Fingerlicans, respectively) are completely identical.

Nixon, having listened to Bender's story, decides to buy Bender's body and use it to run in the election (citing a loophole in the Constitution). Disgusted, Bender, Fry, and Leela realize that the only way they're getting the body back is through a break-in at a hotel in Washington.

Review (SPOILER ALERT!): Studying politics is right up there with studying history, watching science fiction dramedies, and eating Taco Bell on my list of "favorite pastimes". It's a world of tragedy, comedy, and backstabbing that shapes the way we live.

There's a Futurama episode about that, and it is hysterical - probably gonna be my favourite of the season.