“Wait! There’s a snail on the tail of the frog on the bump of this log that I found in a hole on the bottom of the sea!” – Professor Farnsworth
It may have taken some time since its renewal, but the Planet Express has managed to breach the lower atmosphere and reach its optimal velocity. I mean, seriously, what other show but Futurama can boast having Stephen Hawking guest star as himself, let alone getting him to say “hubba hubba?”
The Season Six finale, “Reincarnation,” was presented as three short skits: the Fleischer-inspired “Colorama,” an 8-bit videogame level, and the terribly translated anime rip-off, “Action Delivery Force.” The three stories all loosely revolve around the discovery of a diamondium comet, though the stories quickly diverge in direction after that.
It may have been risky to reincarnate the Futurama universe in three entirely different animation styles, but the execution was flawless. In the black-and-white “Colorama,” the characters, and even the buildings, are stuck in a constant jig, like Betty Boop or Steamboat Willie. Trying to find Leela the biggest engagement ring he can find, Fry detonates one of the Professor’s doomsday devices on the comet. He fails, but it’s miserably romantic.
Fry’s detonation creates a rainbow with an entirely new color before the exploding comet covers everything in diamondium – the moment really does last forever, as Fry and Leela are encased in the diamond for a billion years, until they themselves are used as an engagement ring for spaghetti-tongued aliens.
The 8-bit videogame level certainly could have used more action, but with a keen eye and/or a pause button, I’m sure you caught all the glorious references to Asteroids, Dig Dug, and the original Donkey Kong, among others. The level consists of the Professor creating a microscope out of a piece of the comet, discovering the smallest possible particle-pixel and creating an equation that single-handedly explains the laws of the universe – he even puts Stephen Hawking out of a job! Just as his sadness level fills, and it looks like game-over for Farnsworth, Fry’s simple pondering of “Why?” renews his endless search for knowledge.
The anime parody “Action Delivery Force” genuinely felt as though the writers of Futurama sent their script to a Japanese translator, and then translated it back to English. It was cringe-worthily accurate so far as mistimed voice dubs and irrelevant laughter sequences go – I was able to pick out the parodies of Speed Racer and Cowboy Bebop, but I’m sure there are more than enough to rival the previous two sequences. The explosion of the diamondium comet has angered a race of dancing aliens, and it falls to the Action Delivery Force to save the day.
Aside from a few rehashed storylines and almost-emotional twist episodes, if you take the entire 26-episode season that commenced in summer 2010, you have to admit, Futurama has made a decent comeback. I think it’s safe to say that we can look forward to a more directionally-aware Futurama from now on – they’ve gotten all of their overripe ideas out of the way, and now they’re free to start plotting their antics for next season. Initiate season seven countdown sequence!
Some stats and info about Futurama, “Reincarnation”
TV SHOW – Futurama
SEASON/EPISODE – Season 6, Episode 26
NETWORK/STREAMING SERVICE – FOX/Comedy Central
GENRE – Comedy, Animated Shows, Science Fiction
CREATED BY – David X. Cohen, Matt Groening
This review was originally published on TV Geek Army.