As much as fans of the animated show Futurama want to blame the Fox
network for mis-managing the series during its five year run, they can bask
in the glow of the well-made DVD set Futurama: Volume 2, released August
12. Bringing together 16 episodes of the series’ second season and the
first three chapters from the third season into one package, the DVD includes
deleted scenes, commentary from the principals and executives of the series
for each show and storyboards for selected shows. As Professor Farnsworth would
say, “Good news, everyone!”
Futurama, which is the brainchild of The Simpsons creator Matt
Groening, follows the exploits of a cryogenically-frozen man named Fry waking
up in the year 3000. Making fast friends with debauched robot Bender and one-eyed
alien Leela, the three become staff members at an intergalactic delivery service.
Along with an eclectic supporting cast including his wizened great-nephew (times
30 generations), a Rastafarian ex-Olympian who manages the delivery service,
a man-eating intern and a crab-alien doctor, the series recently ended its five-year
run on Fox and has found a new audience as part of the Cartoon Network’s
Adult Swim block.
Among the episodes that stand out in the package are:
• “XMas Story”: In the future, Santa is an evil robot who
eradicates all those he deems naughty— which is pretty much everyone,
save for Dr. Zoidberg. Can the Planet Express Crew, along with several homeless
robots Bender brings home to the melee, band together to stop the evil Santa
and save Christmas? This episode also introduces Tinny Tim, a robot straight
from Dickens’ Christmas tale, who would recur in later episodes. As guest
voice John Goodman (as Santa) says at the end, “"I'll be back when
you least expect it. Next Xmas!" Classic start to a seasonal trend for
the series.
• “Why Must I Be a Crustacean In Love”: Dr. Zoidberg’s
internal timeclock begins to tick—he travels to his homeworld for a rating
ritual. Of course, the object of his affection falls for Fry, which leads to
a “Gladiator”-style battle between the two. Big fan of Zoidberg
and this look into his culture is a good one, if a little bit derivative.
• “Deep South”: The Planet Express team goes deep fishing
and Fry subsequently falls in love with a mermaid. In trying to find him, they
find the lost city of Atlanta, sunken beneath the ocean. Southern jokes abound
and the episode provides some of the best visual gags of the series’ run.
• “Anthology of Interest 1”: Professor Farnsworth creates
a machine that can show what could have been. What if Bender was 500 feet tall?
What if Leela was a little more spontaneous? What if Fry had never traveled
to the future? Boasting a guest appearance by Al Gore (whose daughter writes
for the series) and others, this is the series’ “Treehouse of Horrors.”
Probably the best episode of the bunch, and it even has a twist—could
the course of Futurama all be happening in a lonely Professor Farnworth’s
head?
I also have a soft spot for the episode “A Head in the Polls,”
which brings the Richard Nixon back in politics— first the headless wonder
using Bender’s body, then something resembling a Transformer.
As someone who has caught the show only sporadically (NFL games on Fox
usually pre-empted the series here on the East Coast), the DVD offers a great
re-introduction to the series. I wish I could have caught more of the original
episodes when they first aired, as it offers a wry commentary on present-day
society that I like.
Although the package was rushed to shelves – in light of the first volume’s
success in stores – this DVD offers a treasure trove of extras. The best
of the volume is the commentary feature provided with each episode, which includes
producers Groening, David X. Cohen and Bill Odenkirk, writers Stewart Burns,
Eric Kaplan and Patric Verrone, editor Paul D. Calder and voice talents Billy
West and John DiMaggio, as well as others. The insight into the making of the
episodes, the minutiae and the banter between the close-knit group (especially
the mocking of the Harvard University pedigree that some of the writers have)
is much recommended. The only quibble I have is trying to find the darn thing,
as it’s hidden in the “language selection” area, not the “special
features” section, which is a bit off from other DVDs I’ve viewed.
The transition to DVD also brings better sound and color than on the network,
although there are some scenes in which you notice some aliasing and minor defects.
Even better is the original Groening etchings that can be found on each disc
and sub-menu. The sprinkled deleted scenes are a treat throughout, although
each doesn’t top two minutes in total. On the negative-to-lukewarm side,
the Easter Eggs showing “The Class of Futurama” is nothing worth
searching out for, unless you really want to see the high school photos of those
involved with the production, and the storyboards really don’t add much
to the package.
The volume is sure to stand out on shelves in its unique packaging (kudos to
the designers, as each disc gets its own separate DVD case), with the feeling
of a great deal of effort being put into it. It’s too bad Fox never
gave this much attention to the series. For those who love animation and The
Simpsons, this disc is well worth investing in and sure to be a keeper for
DVD fanatics.
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