Keep looking forward!
Good news everybody! Planet Express is back and making more deliveries. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Leela, Bender, Amy, Dr. Zoidberg, and Hermes continue to explore the future and the despite his insignificance manages to be on the forefront of the human society…which they might just lead to destruction.
Futurama aired on FOX from September 26, 1999 to May 21, 2000. The series won its first Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for “A Bicyclops Built for Two”. Season 2 has been collected in Futurama—Volume 1 and Futurama—Volume 2.
Fry’s a gamer!
Despite enjoying the show, I had already stopped watching Futurama by this point. Time, work, and other problems had limited my viewing periods and unfortunately, Futurama was on the chopping block…I wish I had stuck with it at the time because it still continues to be a fun show.
Futurama was never The Simpsons and that is what many (including myself) kind of expected to be. With similar looks and feels, Futurama could easily be confused with The Simpsons, but the series has entirely its own feel. The series felt a bit more like a continuing series than The Simpsons with plotlines carrying on throughout seasons instead of getting the reset at the end of the episodes (I realize The Simpsons does this too, but it feels more deliberate here).
Abundant amounts of nakedness in the future!
Like The Simpsons, Futurama is all about the characters. The first season introduced the characters, but here, they are really starting to be fleshed out. Former supporting characters like Hermes, Amy, and Dr. Zoidberg are now starting to come into their own and getting their own episodes.
Futurama—Season 2 is a great watch if you never got around to seeing the series. If you’ve worked you way through other animated series, you should come back to the future and visit Futurama again. It is worth the trip.
Futurama—Season 2 Complete Episode Guide:
“A Flight to Remember”
2.1 A Flight to Remember Airdate: 09/26/99
Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth books a trip for the company on the new space Titanic. When Leela realizes that Zapp Brannigan is a board, she pretends that Fry is her fiancé, but finds competition from Amy when she tells her parents that Fry is also her boyfriend. Bender finds love with an aristocratic robot, and Hermes recalls the tragedy that he suffers at the Olympics. When Zapp steers the Titanic into danger, the crew fights for survival.
“Mars University”
2.2 Mars University Airdate: 10/03/99
Fry decides to enroll in Mars University to prove he still has what it takes to be a college drop-out. Bender tries to reconnect with his fraternity Robot House. Professor Farnsworth tries to create a super-intelligent monkey named Guenter, and Fry finds himself in competition with him.
“When Aliens Attack”
2.3 When Aliens Attack Airdate: 11/07/99
Fry accidentally knocks FOX offline back when he was a pizza delivery man and starts a war with aliens. With a force led by Zapp Brannigan leads a team to war against the aliens, Fry and his friends must create an ending to the 20th century show.
“Fry and the Slurm Factory”
2.4 Fry and the Slurm Factory Airdate: 11/14/99
Slurm hosts a “win a tour of the Slurm factory” and Bender and Fry set out to find the winning bottle cap. When Fry wins, Bender, Farnsworth, Leela, , and Hermes travel to the Slurm factory…where Leela, Fry, and Bender uncover a secret about the Slurm’s secret ingredients!
“I Second that Emotion”
2.5 I Second That Emotion Airdate: 11/21/99
Nibbler breaks a fang and Leela learns it his birthday. As Bender grows jealous of Nibbler, Bender flushes Nibbler…leading Farnsworth to try to insert emotions into Bender which links him to Leela’s feelings. When Bender flushes himself to find Nibbler, Leela and Fry enter the sewers to find them both and are faced by the mutants.
“Brannigan, Begin Again”
2.6 Brannigan, Begin Again Airdate: 11/21/99
Zapp Brannigan accidentally destroys D.O.O.P. (Democratic Order of Planets) headquarters at the ribbon cutting ceremony and is stripped of his rank (along with Kif Kroker). Forced to work for Professor Farnsworth, Zapp inspires Bender and Fry to start a mutiny against Leela.
“A Head in the Polls”
2.7 A Head in the Polls Airdate: 12/12/99
It is election time and Leela tries to get Fry motivated in voting. Bender finds his body is worth more money and sells it…leading to Nixon to buy it so he can enter the election himself.
“Xmas Story”
2.8 Xmas Story Airdate: 12/19/99
It is Christmas time, and Farnsworth takes the crew to the ski slopes. Fry finds himself missing his family and Christmas and has to teach the team about real Xmas. Fry sets out to get Leela a gift since she is without a family but learns that the world is haunted by a robot killer Santa Claus.
“Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love”
2.9 Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love? Airdate: 02/06/00
Dr. Zoidberg finds he’s succumbing to his mating instincts. Bender, Leela, and Fry must take Zoidberg to his home planet to find a mate. Fry must teach Dr. Zoidberg to fake love.
“Put Your Head on My Shoulders”
2.10 Put Your Head on My Shoulders Airdate: 02/13/00
A trip to Venus leads to romance between Amy and Fry. As Fry spends more time with Amy, he starts to quickly feel smothered. When Dr. Zoidberg crashes Amy’s car, Fry finds himself attached to Amy…literally.
“The Lesser of Two Evils”
2.11 The Lesser of Two Evils Airdate: 02/19/00
A trip to a year 2000 New York City period amusement park leads Fry to strike another Bender model robot named Flexo. When Flexo volunteers for a special delivery, Fry suspects Flexo is a danger…when the atom disappears, the search for Flexo is on!
“Raging Bender”
2.12 Raging Bender Airdate: 02/27/00
A fight at the movie theater leads Bender to be selected by Ultimate Robot Fighting organization. When Bender finds himself winning, he learns that the fighting is rigged based on popularity. When Bender’s popularity falls, Bender finds that he might have to win the fight for real, and Leela fights for her honor.
“A Bicyclops Built for Two”
2.13 A Bicyclops Built for Two Airdate: 03/19/00
A trip to the internet leads Leela to possibly find where she comes from when she encounters another Cyclops. Fry suspects Alkazar is hiding something and sets out to stop Leela from getting marrying him.
“How Hermes Requesitioned His Groove Back”
2.14 How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back Airdate: 04/02/00
Hermes fails at his Central Bureaucracy inspection and takes time off at a “spa” while Morgan Proctor acts as Planet Express’ bureaucrat. Morgan takes Fry as her secret lover which leads to Bender’s brain being filed…and only Hermes can save him!
“A Clone of My Own”
2.15 A Clone of My Own Airdate: 04/09/00
Professor Farnsworth worries about his legacy and decides to activate his clone Cubert. When Cubert reveals he doesn’t want to follow in Farnsworth’s footsteps, the Professor decides it is time to die…and a rescue mission is planned to the Near Death Star.
“The Deep South”
2.16 The Deep South Airdate: 04/16/00
When Hermes accidentally acquisitions a fishing licenses the Planet Express crew goes fishing. Fry sees a mermaid and everyone thinks he is crazy…leading to the discovery of the lost city of Atlanta and a life changing decision for Fry.
“Bender Gets Made”
2.17 Bender Gets Made Airdate: 04/30/00
Leela is blinded in a cooking accident leading Bender to a job at the chef’s restaurant. When Bender meets the robot mafia, he becomes one of the agents…but learns Leela’s ship is the target of their hit!
“The Problem with Popplers”
2.18 The Problem with Popplers Airdate: 05/07/00
Leela discovers a delicacy called Popplers and turns it into a worldwide phenomenon. When Popplers are revealed to be the intelligent offspring of Omicronians, Leela might have to sacrifice herself to save the Earth.
“Mother’s Day”
2.19 Mother’s Day Airdate: 05/14/00
It’s Mom’s birthday and the robots are celebrating by giving her presents. Mom decides to enact her plans to have the robots rebel…and take over the world! The only hope for humanity could be Professor Farnsworth who must rekindle his relationship with Mom.
“Anthology of Interest I”
2.20 Anthology of Interest I Airdate: 05/21/00
Professor Farnsworth reveals he’s created a machine which can show possible futures based on questions. Bender wonders what would happen if he was a giant. Leela questions what would happen if she were more impulsive. Fry wonders what would happen if he never came to the future.
Related Links:
Futurama—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Futurama—Season 3 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Futurama—Season 4 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Futurama—Season 5 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Futurama: Bender’s Big Score (2007)
Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs (2008)
