You know...I've been pretty hard on this season of Futurama.
But fucking christ is this fucking awful. I mean, reused jokes, unfunny bits, just terrible fucking writing all around. The first 20 minutes of have been a complete waste of time.
I haven't watched the episode yet (DVR'd it), so I was concerned when I saw the negative reaction on here. Then I saw that JustinSane was the one making the negative comments, so now I'm not worried anymore.
I also found it underwhelming. Giving each of the vignettes a common holiday theme and the same basic ending made the episode feel more repetitive than the other anthology episodes.
I also found it underwhelming. Giving each of the vignettes a common holiday theme and the same basic ending made the episode feel more repetitive than the other anthology episodes.
I don't think it was conveyed well enough that they were doing something akin to Stephen Colbert's christmas special -- IE Lampooning chrismas episodes.
I thought it was alright, not great. Certainly not the worst episode of the season (that would be the goddamn cat one). Overall, though, I feel it has been extremely strong so far.
Cherrn on
All creature will die and all the things will be broken. That's the law of samurai.
Yeah, there were some good jokes (the ending of the first one was kind of great, not knowing going in it was an anthology) but it wasn't quite up to their best work. Didn't hate it like Justin just thought it was meh to funny.
enlightenedbum on
Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
I'm thinking I probably would have enjoyed the Futurama Christmas more if I hadn't just watched the season finale of Venture Bros. before hand. It's hard to follow the "What's a 'rusty venture'?" bit with "Rocks fall, everyone dies x3".
All of the songs were good, except kwanza. The one where the lead used to be a rapper. it sounded terrible.
Did john goodman do santa again?
Overall the episode was weird but worth keeping over the cats episode for sure.
I assumed the half-hearted nature of the Kwanza one was deliberate (given that the first chunk of the segment was heavily playing on the 'nobody knows/cares' angle) but it doesn't really excuse it sounding poor.
But it's more that everything felt a bit lazy and half-baked - compare either of the other 'Anthology of Interest' episodes and you get the sense that the writers are trying to cram in as much as humanly possible into the tiny segments. Not a second of screentime is wasted - you're either listening to a quip, getting a sight gag or having the story rapidly shunted along. These just all felt oddly...slow - perhaps down to the repetition, or perhaps just due to more of the jokes falling flat and having to carry things until the next one.
The only thing that's really confusing me about the new series is that they seem underwritten - the core stories are solid, but the scripts don't seem to have been endlessly reworked to eliminate the stuff that doesn't work as well or up the joke density. I understand that they're working with a massively reduced budget and staff, but to be honest I thought that would affect the visuals more than the writing - penning a funny exchange is far, far less expensive than getting the voice actors in to record it and then animate it. But the animation and voicework have been top-notch, throughout the movies and new season - it really does seem to be a writing issue.
Bioptic on
0
Options
valhalla13013 Dark Shield Perceives the GodsRegistered Userregular
edited November 2010
There were three shows I wanted to watch Sunday, Futuram, Venture Brothers and The Walking Dead. This is the only one of the three I managed to stay awake to see. And it was not my favorite. It really didn't feel as funny as some of the previous episodes and I was disappointed. and I have loved this new season so far.
valhalla130 on
0
Options
NappuccinoSurveyor of Things and StuffRegistered Userregular
The only thing that's really confusing me about the new series is that they seem underwritten - the core stories are solid, but the scripts don't seem to have been endlessly reworked to eliminate the stuff that doesn't work as well or up the joke density. I understand that they're working with a massively reduced budget and staff, but to be honest I thought that would affect the visuals more than the writing - penning a funny exchange is far, far less expensive than getting the voice actors in to record it and then animate it. But the animation and voicework have been top-notch, throughout the movies and new season - it really does seem to be a writing issue.
The only thing that's really confusing me about the new series is that they seem underwritten - the core stories are solid, but the scripts don't seem to have been endlessly reworked to eliminate the stuff that doesn't work as well or up the joke density. I understand that they're working with a massively reduced budget and staff, but to be honest I thought that would affect the visuals more than the writing - penning a funny exchange is far, far less expensive than getting the voice actors in to record it and then animate it. But the animation and voicework have been top-notch, throughout the movies and new season - it really does seem to be a writing issue.
There's a new episode running this Thursday on Comedy Central! Wait, that statement's not accurate. Let me try again. There's TWO new episodes running this Thursday on Comedy Central! And then one a week through the first week of August!
And if the stuff being posted on Futurama's Facebook feed is anything to go by, we're in for some truly crazy crap. How crazy? Crap like this!
And this!
So what are the episodes about? The episode names are wonderful enough, but I'll put the synopses in spoilers:
Benderama
Bender gains the ability to replicate himself.
Neutopia
The crew encounter a bizarre alien with power to change their characteristics.
Ghost in the Machines
Bender's disembodied software haunts the Planet Express building after he dies.
Law & Oracle
Fry quits his job and becomes a police office.
The Silence of the Clamps
Bender goes into hiding after testifying against the Robot Mafia.
Yo Leela Leela
Leela becomes a Hollywood big shot after her series creation.
All the Presidents' Heads
The crew alters history when they travel back in time.
Mobius Dick
Leela hunts down a mysterious four-dimensional space whale.
And yes, the show is bringing back the craziest thing of all.... MATH!
AtomikaLive fast and get fucked or whateverRegistered Userregular
edited June 2011
I kind of hated on the last season when it aired, but upon revisiting it several times (thank, Netflix streaming!), I really liked them more and more. I think my expectations for a new season set my desire for deep continuity a bit too high.
Television, in any regard, has to make the choice of how strongly to utilize continuity. The stronger a show depends on continuity, the shorter its viable lifespan. Given the choice of 7 seasons of Futurama or 20, I think I might like 20.
Last season started pretty weak, but got much better near the end. That combined with some of these episode concepts sounding pretty great has me excited.
Yes. Another time travel episode. Good news everyone indeed.
Sentry on
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
wrote:
When I was a little kid, I always pretended I was the hero,' Skip said.
'Fuck yeah, me too. What little kid ever pretended to be part of the lynch-mob?'
0
Options
NocrenLt Futz, Back in ActionNorth CarolinaRegistered Userregular
edited June 2011
Please tell me that Law & Oracle synopsis isn't a typo.... Please?
Last season started pretty weak, but got much better near the end. That combined with some of these episode concepts sounding pretty great has me excited.
This. Started out kinda sketchy but really picked up as it went on.
I feel comfortable placing "The Late Philip J. Fry" in the highest echelon of Futurama episodes. Stuff like Jurassic bark, Time keeps on slippin', and Luck of the Fryrish.
Also I just noticed that its title is a pun. Awesome.
I feel comfortable placing "The Late Philip J. Fry" in the highest echelon of Futurama episodes. Stuff like Jurassic bark, Time keeps on slippin', and Luck of the Fryrish.
Also I just noticed that its title is a pun. Awesome.
I feel comfortable placing "The Late Philip J. Fry" in the highest echelon of Futurama episodes. Stuff like Jurassic bark, Time keeps on slippin', and Luck of the Fryrish.
Also I just noticed that its title is a pun. Awesome.
I feel comfortable placing "The Late Philip J. Fry" in the highest echelon of Futurama episodes. Stuff like Jurassic bark, Time keeps on slippin', and Luck of the Fryrish.
Also I just noticed that its title is a pun. Awesome.
I'm gonna feel dumb asking, but what's the pun?
It sounds like he's dead when he was actually just late.
Bagginses on
0
Options
Magus`The fun has been DOUBLED!Registered Userregular
Posts
{Twitter, Everybody's doing it. }{Writing and Story Blog}
But fucking christ is this fucking awful. I mean, reused jokes, unfunny bits, just terrible fucking writing all around. The first 20 minutes of have been a complete waste of time.
Mine Your Own Beeswax
And this whole bee storyline is fucking dumb.
...It's just a television show?
I thought it was funny, myself.
3DS Friend Code: 0404-6826-4588 PM if you add.
https://twitter.com/Hooraydiation
I don't think it was conveyed well enough that they were doing something akin to Stephen Colbert's christmas special -- IE Lampooning chrismas episodes.
Did john goodman do santa again?
Overall the episode was weird but worth keeping over the cats episode for sure.
I assumed the half-hearted nature of the Kwanza one was deliberate (given that the first chunk of the segment was heavily playing on the 'nobody knows/cares' angle) but it doesn't really excuse it sounding poor.
But it's more that everything felt a bit lazy and half-baked - compare either of the other 'Anthology of Interest' episodes and you get the sense that the writers are trying to cram in as much as humanly possible into the tiny segments. Not a second of screentime is wasted - you're either listening to a quip, getting a sight gag or having the story rapidly shunted along. These just all felt oddly...slow - perhaps down to the repetition, or perhaps just due to more of the jokes falling flat and having to carry things until the next one.
The only thing that's really confusing me about the new series is that they seem underwritten - the core stories are solid, but the scripts don't seem to have been endlessly reworked to eliminate the stuff that doesn't work as well or up the joke density. I understand that they're working with a massively reduced budget and staff, but to be honest I thought that would affect the visuals more than the writing - penning a funny exchange is far, far less expensive than getting the voice actors in to record it and then animate it. But the animation and voicework have been top-notch, throughout the movies and new season - it really does seem to be a writing issue.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Very much seconded. Or thirded. Whatever.
There's a new episode running this Thursday on Comedy Central! Wait, that statement's not accurate. Let me try again. There's TWO new episodes running this Thursday on Comedy Central! And then one a week through the first week of August!
And if the stuff being posted on Futurama's Facebook feed is anything to go by, we're in for some truly crazy crap. How crazy? Crap like this!
And this!
So what are the episodes about? The episode names are wonderful enough, but I'll put the synopses in spoilers:
Benderama
Neutopia
Ghost in the Machines
Law & Oracle
The Silence of the Clamps
Yo Leela Leela
All the Presidents' Heads
Mobius Dick
And yes, the show is bringing back the craziest thing of all.... MATH!
I'm ready for season 6.
Television, in any regard, has to make the choice of how strongly to utilize continuity. The stronger a show depends on continuity, the shorter its viable lifespan. Given the choice of 7 seasons of Futurama or 20, I think I might like 20.
This. Started out kinda sketchy but really picked up as it went on.
Also I just noticed that its title is a pun. Awesome.
Almost all Futurama's episode titles are puns, often working on two or three levels. I, Roommate and Fishful of Dollars being my two favorites.
xbl - HowYouGetAnts
steam - WeAreAllGeth
Roswell That Ends Well.
End of argument.
I'm gonna feel dumb asking, but what's the pun?
Steam Profile | Signature art by Alexandra 'Lexxy' Douglass
It sounds like he's dead when he was actually just late.
Steam Profile | Signature art by Alexandra 'Lexxy' Douglass
You are technically correct - the best kind of correct.
{Twitter, Everybody's doing it. }{Writing and Story Blog}
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSQO7eum79A&feature=related
Basically a perfect clip, right there.