TV Review: FUTURAMA Season 14 delivers pensive, self-reflexive and predictive episodes

While this article avoids spoilers, the first six episodes of Futurama Season 14 were screened for review.

Are we really reaching the end of our time in the world of tomorrow? Futurama Season 14 is comprised of the final ten episodes ordered by Hulu (so far). These episodes are funny, of course, but also see the long-running animated sci-fi sitcom in a pensive, self-reflexive and (for at least one episode) predictive mood. But is this really our last visit to New New York City?

Past Nasti-fication

Futurama was created and developed by Matt Groening and David X. Cohen and originally premiered on Fox on March 28^th, 1999. I remember the commercial for the first episode, which prominently featured the clip of the NNYC tube system spitting Stupid Ages throwback Philip J. Fry (Billy West) directly into a brick wall, only to have another man dismiss the incident by muttering, “tourists.”

I wasn’t completely won over by the advert at the time, which was obviously meant to make the show appeal to as wide an audience as possible (rather than sci-fi nerdlingers like yours truly). But on February 6^th, 2000, I finally gave the show a chance, with the episode “Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?” The episode is a parody of the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Amok Time,” and by the time it was over, I was a Futurama fan for life.

Futurama became a part of my life in the way no show had before. I quoted the lines incessantly (and while I like to think I’ve grown out of this somewhat in the intervening decades, there are still several key phrases that remain fully integrated into my vernacular). In 2003, I scrounged up cash to buy a PlayStation 2 so I could play the “lost episode” video game (the only game I ever owned for the system aside from Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – no regrets).

But in 2004, things took a turn for the worst. After jerking the show around their schedule and delaying certain episodes (sometimes for years), Fox cancelled Futurama. Devastated, I held a “funeral” for the show, subjecting my high school friends to a viewing of the final episode as it aired (after we had watched my VHS recording of “Parasites Lost” beforehand, which I assumed would provide the most necessary context). I made a Robonorah and printed invitations that featured death-related images and quotes from the show.

Without new episodes, I began to seek out issues of Futurama Comics from Bongo Comics. The first few issues showed up in my local grocery store’s periodical aisle, but after that, I began frequenting Time Warp Comics in Boulder, Colorado for my Futurama fix. For a while, Adult Swim aired the episodes, fulfilling the opening title gag for “The Devil’s Hands are Idle Playthings.” And when the DVD collections were finally released in the United States, I dutifully purchased each one and listened to the commentaries for every episode.

And then came the DVD movies. While I didn’t drag everyone I knew this time, I brought my most Futurama tolerant friends to the local Wal*Mart at midnight on November 27^th, 2007 so I could purchase Bender’s Big Score the minute it became available (immediately heading home to watch it afterwards). And so it was with all four of the straight-to-DVD movies.

Next came the Comedy Central revival. On June 24^th, 2010, “Rebirth” aired, picking up the storyline right where the final movie, 2009’s Into the Wild Green Yonder, left off. By the time the four seasons of the Comedy Central run had passed, I had relocated to Southern California and met and was dating my future husband. I made Ollie Kaplan watch “Meanwhile” with me on September 4^th, 2013. I cried more than he did.

So, suffice to say, I have something of a personal history with the show.

Futurama Season 14

And it probably also goes without saying that the arrival of the initial batch of Futurama Season 14 episode screeners was a cause of significant celebration in the Kaplans’ Quarters. And it probably equally goes without saying that all six episodes were screened that evening.

What can I say about the episodes without spoilers? I laughed quite a lot, including at several opening gags (the first one of the season is killer). I also winced a little, in the way that you wince when commentary on contemporary social and/or political issues hits a little too close to home.

These episodes see the show in a pensive and self-reflexive mode. While it never feels repetitive, there are many components from past Hulurama episodes that are brought back here – not to mention a healthy dose of components from earlier episodes of the show, as well. One of my favorites is the inclusion of the Futurama version of the “Happy Birthday” song, which existed because back when “I Second That Emotion” first aired in November 1999, “Happy Birthday to You” wasn’t yet in the public domain.

Rather than focus too much on individual characters, most of the episodes are ensemble based – and there are fewer guest stars than in some seasons. I’m fine with all this. Just in case this is the final season of Futurama, I’m pleased to spend as much time as possible with my beloved Planet Express crew.

The season includes another episode written by Nona Di Spargement (I get it)… And when you watch it, you’ll immediately understand why it was credited to Nona Di Spargement (oh, now I get it). I mean this favorably, by the way. “Di Spargement”’s episodes have been great.

There’s an episode that pays homage to a particular classic sci-fi novel, and another that affords a comedy perspective on a certain contemporary pop culture trend. And still another episode is mostly just Futurama in a silly and ridiculous mood (and which includes a sight gag that still cracks me up when I think of it).

In other words, these episodes are pure Futurama. I’ve already watched them multiple times, and I’m looking forward to watching them many, many more times in the future.

Goodbye from the World of Tomorrow?

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed the Hulu incarnation of Futurama. The animation budget has seemed generous, the essential component of reuniting the cast was managed, and while I’ve enjoyed almost all of the individual episodes, it even included a few of my all-time favorites. These included Season 11’s “All the Way Down,” Season 12’s “The Temp” and Season 13’s “Murderoni” (a non-exhaustive list).

But so far, Hulu has yet to renew Futurama past this season. So, will the conclusion of Season 14 finally be the actual Futurama series finale? And after a quarter century, can I finally be okay with that?

Science has no answers. But one thing’s for certain: I am looking forward to the rest of the season, and being able to talk about the new episodes with my friends. And if the show is concluding, well, maybe I am finally emotionally mature enough to let one of my favorite shows of all time come to an end.

However if I’m given the chance to go around again, I’m probably always going to choose more Futurama. I’ll buy the Blu-ray collections (please) if they’re ever released (with commentaries, please please please), and I’ll keep rewatching all 180 episodes like the total fucking Melllvar I am.

One way or another, there will always be a part of me that lives in the world of tomorrow.

The first two episodes of Futurama Season 14, “Beef” and “Catfish Hunter,” are now available for streaming on Hulu. The remaining eight episodes of the season will be released Mondays through September 28^th, 2026.