“Futurama” just won’t quit. The adult animated comedy has already aired four would-be finales in a staggered run that’s spanned three decades, and it’s still not over: The series has been revived again at Hulu, with another batch of new episodes slated to drop in 2023. Hooray for Zoidberg!
So what keeps “Futurama” fans coming back for more? From Professor Farnsworth’s off-the-wall one-liners to Bender’s cutting, heartless wit, the series combines the best elements of a workplace comedy and a time-traveling sci-fi epic in an animated format where the sky’s the limit (or the galaxy’s the limit — you catch my drift).
In the 140 episodes that aired from 1999 to 2013, the Planet Express crew embarks on hijinks ranging from the absurdly funny to the devastatingly emotional. So crack open a can of Slurm and read on for the 10 best episodes (so far) of “Futurama.”
Honorable Mentions: “Fry and the Slurm Factory,” “The Why of Fry,” “Three Hundred Big Boys,” “A Head In The Polls,” “Why Must I Be A Crustacean In Love?”
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“Jurassic Bark” (Season 4, Episode 7)
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Hulu In the series’ most heartbreaking episode, Fry discovers the fossilized remains of his dog, Seymour Asses, while touring a museum. Professor Farnsworth sets out to clone the dog, but Fry stops the process at the last minute after finding out Seymour lived to age 15, assuming he must have lived a full life for the 12 years after Fry’s freezing. In a devastating flashback montage, it’s revealed that Seymour spent every day of his life waiting for Fry’s return outside of Panucci’s Pizza. Set to “I Will Wait for You,” sung by Connie Francis, it’s nearly impossible to hold back tears watching Fry’s faithful pup take his final breath. “Futurama” is at its best when it leans into its heart, and “Jurassic Bark” is the perfect example of why the show is so much more than a raunchy cartoon.
Most Memorable Line: “I should have understood how someone can love an inferior creature, because I love you. Not in the way of the Ancient Greeks, but the way a robot loves a human, a human loves a dog and, occasionally, a gorilla loves a kitty.” – Bender
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“The Devil’s Hands Are Idle Playthings” (Season 4, Episode 18)
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Hulu Fry sets out to learn the holophonor (a recorder-esque instrument which projects holograms alongside music) in order to impress Leela and win her heart. After a recital gone wrong, Fry strikes a deal with the Robot Devil to trade hands with any robot on earth. Upon the random spin of a wheel, Fry obtains the Robot Devil’s skilled hands, so he begins to write an opera based on Leela’s life (commissioned by the delightfully flamboyant Hedonismbot). However, due to some treachery from the Robot Devil, Leela loses her hearing in an air horn accident, so he strikes another deal, giving her a pair of robot ears in exchange for one of her hands. When Fry refuses to return his robot hands during the opera, the Robot Devil demands Leela’s hand in marriage. Fry selflessly accepts his fate and takes his own hands back, and even though he now lacks technical skill with his clumsy hands, he plays a simple tune that’s somehow sweeter than even the most polished aria. After seasons of teasing the relationship between Fry and Leela, their undeniable love for each other — and romantic smooch— makes this episode one for the books.
Most Memorable Line: “Surgery in an opera? How wonderfully decadent!” – Hedonismbot
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“Meanwhile” (Season 7, Episode 26)
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Hulu In the series’ most recent finale, Fry finally decides to propose to Leela. He uses and abuses a new tool from Professor Farnsworth which allows him to travel back in time by ten seconds, ultimately causing a misunderstanding that makes him believe Leela has rejected his proposal. In a state of despair, Fry leaps from the Vampire State Building, forcing himself into an endless loop of falling and pressing the time travel button. When he finally grows too tired to keep up the cycle, he splatters on the ground — but Leela and Bender devise a way to save him. However, in the process, the button is destroyed, and time freezes around Leela and Fry. So the lovers decide to grow old together and travel around the world with only each other’s company. When they return to the Vampire State Building, they discover that Farnsworth still exists. With his help, they’re able to restore the natural timeline, but in exchange, they’ll forget their adventures together in the time-frozen world. They smile and opt to “go around again.” This was a truly satisfying conclusion not only to the series itself, but also to the central relationship of the show.
Most Memorable Line: “If I could make one moment last forever, this is the one I would choose.” – Fry
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“Leela’s Homeworld” (Season 4, Episode 2)
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Hulu When Bender begins disposing toxic waste into the sewer, he angers the underground creatures who live there. In retaliation, they kidnap the foul-mouthed robot, along with Fry and Leela, and sentence them to be dunked in a lake that will turn them into mutants. Embarking on their escape, Leela discovers a couple’s home full of photos and news clippings documenting her life. In the end, it’s revealed that Leela is not an alien but rather a sewer mutant, and her real parents abandoned her in order to give her a better life. In a heartwarming montage set to “Baby Love Child” by Pizzicato Five, viewers see that Leela’s parents secretly looked out for her over the years, sneaking her birthday presents and tucking her in at night. It’s a moment that will bring a tear to your eye and convince you to pick up the phone to tell your mom you love her.
Most Memorable Line: “I order you to dispose of that toxic waste properly. Or bribe me. Either way, it’ll cost $500.” – Hermes
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“The Day The Earth Stood Stupid” (Season 3, Episode 7)
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Hulu When floating brains stage an assault on the Earth, Leela’s adorable pet Nibbler finally reveals himself to be more than meets the eye: a Nibblonian ambassador meant to observe humans. The brains render everyone on earth stupid — except Fry, that is. On the planet Eternium, Nibbler explains to Leela that Fry’s brain wave pattern (due to being his own grandfather) makes him the only human who can resist the Brainspawn, so he sends Leela back to Earth to relay a message that will help Fry defeat them. Leela and Fry embark on a dangerous journey through literature-inspired worlds before Fry is able to out-smart (and out-dumb) the Brainspawn. It’s satisfying to finally begin to understand Fry’s greater purpose for being sent to the year 3000, and this episode also contains the first appearance of the Hypnotoad. All glory to the Hypnotoad.
Most Memorable Line: “Have my years of wild hedonism finally caught up with me?” – Leela
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“A Fishful of Dollars” (Season 1, Episode 6)
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Hulu Fry discovers that his bank account, left dormant for a thousand years, has collected $4.3 billion in interest. And when he learns that his favorite pizza topping, anchovies, are extinct, he forks over $50 million in an auction for a single can. Little does he know, anchovies are also the key to permanently lubricating robots, and his purchase has drawn the ire of “the world’s most huggable industrialist,” Mom (who makes her first appearance in this episode). The evil CEO hatches a plan to stop Fry by recreating his old workplace and tricking him into revealing his pin number: the price of a cheese pizza and a large soda at Panucci’s Pizza. All of Fry’s pricey purchases are repossessed — except for the anchovies, which he puts on a pizza to share with the Planet Express crew. Naturally, they all hate the taste, while Zoidberg flies into an anchovy-induced rage. In addition to incorporating a Pamela Anderson voice cameo and introducing one of the series’ most iconic antagonists, “A Fishful of Dollars” perfectly presents Fry’s lovable foolishness as he repeats his “top secret” pin number multiple times.
Most Memorable Line: “You might as well put that checkbook away, because I’ve discovered something even more important: my friends. And they aren’t worth even a penny to me!” – Fry
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“The Luck of the Fryrish” (Season 3, Episode 4)
Image Credit: Screnshot Courtesy of Hulu Back in the 20th century, it’s revealed that Fry’s older brother Yancy is jealous of him. When Fry discovers a seven-leaf clover, he becomes extra lucky, beating Yancy at any challenge. But when future Fry is unable to locate the clover, he surmises that Yancy must have stolen it… and his identity. Fry sets out to dig up his brother’s grave and retrieve the clover but soon discovers that the good luck charm actually belongs to Yancy’s son — who he named in memory of Fry. “The Luck of the Fryish” serves as a nice reminder that Fry had a real life before the events of “Futurama” and is surprisingly touching for a character known for his goofiness.
Most Memorable Line: “Daddy has a present for you today. Do you know what it is? [He pulls the clover out of his pocket.] It’s a lucky clover that can help you be successful in whatever you do — even breakdancing — and it once belonged to someone very special.” – Yancy
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“How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back” (Season 2, Episode 11)
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Hulu Hermes is atwitter with excitement for an inspection from the Central Bureaucracy, which could lead to his promotion. But when a poker cheating scam leads Bender to hide out in Hermes’ office, his hopes of reaching level 35 are dashed. Morgan, a substitute level 19 bureaucrat, sends Hermes on a paid vacation while she takes over his job at Planet Express. She is overcome with lust upon seeing Fry’s filthy way of living (“Dirty boy!”), but when Bender discovers their scandalous secret, she downloads his brain and ships it to the Central Bureaucracy. There, Zoidberg enlists Hermes to help the gang navigate the never-ending rows of file cabinets and piles of mail. He masterfully organizes it all while singing a jaunty tune that will be stuck in your head for days: “When push comes to shove, you’ve got to do what you love, even if it’s not a good idea!”
Most Memorable Line: “I am Bender. Please insert girder.” – Bender
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“When Aliens Attack" (Season 2, Episode 3)
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Hulu Back in 1999, Fry spills his drink on the TV station’s control panel during the finale of “Single Female Lawyer,” an in-show sitcom and spot-on parody of “Ally McBeal.” “Like anyone on Earth cares,” he says — and he’s partly right. The people of Earth may be able to get by, but the aliens of Omicron Persei 8, who receive the broadcast a thousand years later, demand answers. Fry, Leela and the gang put on their own makeshift production of “Single Female Lawyer” to satisfy Lrrr, the alien planet’s ruler, who has launched an assault on Earth. While Leela’s improvisation initially does not impress the attackers, the squad is able to turn things around enough to save the planet. The deadpan humor of the Omicron Persei 8 citizens is the perfect foil to the Planet Express crew, and this episode sets up many more memorable planet invasions to come. Of course, we can’t forget Bender’s profound theme song: “Single female lawyer, having lots of sex!”
Most Memorable Line: “This is an outrage! I demand to know what happened to the plucky lawyer and her compellingly short garment!” – Lrrr
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“Roswell That Ends Well” (Season 4, Episode 1)
Image Credit: Screenshot Courtesy of Hulu In typical Fry fashion, he microwaves a metal popcorn container, which creates an emission that combines with a nearby supernova, sending the Planet Express team hurtling back in time to 1947. Against Professor Farnsworth’s orders, Fry meets up with his grandfather, Enos, and makes it his mission to keep him alive. Of course, Fry unwittingly causes his death by locking him in an abandoned house… in the middle of a nuclear weapon testing range. Convinced that Enos’ fiancée Mildred must not actually be his grandmother, Fry sleeps with her — becoming his own grandfather in the process. Of course, the crew makes it home to the future safely, but they may have changed history. This episode is a true reminder of the ensemble’s power: Leela and Farnsworth masquerade as a 1940s couple while Zoidberg holds his own during a hilarious military interrogation and autopsy.
Most Memorable Line:“Stomach contents: one deviled egg.” *Zoidberg re-eats the egg* “The same deviled egg.” – Autopsy Scientist