Going to the World of Tomorrow 3.18.08: Futurama - Brannigan, Begin Again
Posted by Jerome Cusson on 03.18.2008
Remind me not to make anyone die to prove their loyalty.
Fry/Professor Farnsworth/Zapp Brannigan/Dr. Zoidberg…Billy West
Bender…John DiMaggio
Leela…Katey Segal
Amy Wong…Lauren Tom
Hermes Conrad…Phil LaMarr
Maurice LaMarche...Various Voices
Danny Jacobs ... Additional Voices
Writer: Lewis Morton
Director: Jeffrey Lynch
Original Airdate:November 28, 1999
Production Code: 2ACV02
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Fry and Bender rebelled against Leela? Well, then you’ve come to the right episode. However, before that Fry and Bender play a very violent game of chess that reminds me of the game Chewbacca and R2-D2 play in the original Star Wars.
Opening Subtitle: Not Y3K Compliant
The best part of this episode, among the many, is the returning Zapp Brannigan, who’s always good for a laugh. Prior to the big return, Farnsworth and Hermes have a delivery for Planet Express to make to the Democratic Order of Planet’s, or D.O.O.P. It’s a pair of ceremonial scissors for a ribbon cutting ceremony. We get our first introduction to the Amazonian planet and the Neutral planet. Zapp is indeed back with his sidekick Kif, and they are already causing trouble (well, Zapp is) by taking the giant scissors away from Leela for some stupid reason. Yarn people? Zapp then realizes the fine art of “Rock, Paper, Scissors” and the conundrum contained within.
Zapp is a major moron who tries to cut the ribbon from his ship with a laser beam. At the old D.O.O.P headquarters, Zapp pleads not guilty to blowing the place up. That didn’t work out so well. The leader of D.O.O.P dismisses the charges, but then proves her own stupidity by allowing Leela to testify and then even allowing Zapp to cross-examine her. Thankfully, the deliberations last the amount of time it took to type this sentence. Zapp is stripped of his rank as captain, and he becomes very emotional. His final statement is a fine parody of some movie speeches of the past. Kiff is also dishonorably discharged. Why the hell does he stay with that one-celled idiot. We hear the song from Midnight Cowboy accompanying a montage of Kiff and Zapp doing stuff in New Tork.
Bender and Fry are having their own fun, but Leela isn’t all that happy. Zapp and Kiff knock on the door looking for a job. Farnsworth, on the other hand, uses the hiring of those two as a pretext for distracting everyone from Planet Express’ horrendous safety record. The U.S. government is likely as good a model as any for that. Farnsworth announces a delivery to a planet with a great deal of gravity. Fry and Bender complain to Zapp about how strict Leela is. Zapp announcing how much he enjoys spankings is quite disturbing,
Leela and Kiff are getting along swimmingly. Kiff is even being appreciated for his work for the first time ever. At least he’s also useful, unlike Zapp. After landing, Leela tells the crew to deliver one pillow at a time. Of course, they don’t listen and the dolly they try to carry all the pillows on breaks. It is at this point when the crew becomes very disgruntled and is ready for a revolution. Kiff is also complaining about his treatment courtesy of Zap.
Zap convinces the two dummies how much better of a captain he would be. Fry and Bender help Zapp with a mutiny of the ship and put Leela in the laundry room. Fry and Bender begin drinking so they can be loyal enough for the new captain. There’s a lot of irony in that statement. Zapp decides to once again attack Switz… I mean, the Neutral planet because the man doesn’t know when to give up. It is his way of trying to become a hero and the captain of D.O.O.P.
Fry is almost too excited for this war. Zapp calls the president and offers a message of peace. Zapp decides to fly the ship into a capitol building and kill his two loyal soldiers while safely escaping in the only spacesuit. That’s about all Fry and Bender can take. Time for another mutiny to reinstate Leela. Kiff wants to stay with Leela and the others, but his being so damn annoying leaves him stuck with Zapp. Bender needs Leela to save himself, Leela, his banjo?, and Fry.
At this point, the only way for the ship to be saved is Fry and Bender actually having to do some real life actual work. The begrudgingly put in some of the dark matter into the left engine, and somehow get bailed again. Leela is proud of her two comrades. Zapp convinces D.O.O.P… wait, Leela convinces the organization that Zapp is a competent captain. They just didn’t want Zapp around. Farnsworth is really the bad guy as he informs Fry and Bender they can’t have time off.
The “Bite my shiny medal ass!” moment for best line/moment : Bender referring to himself as a lovable rascal.
The Zoidberg moment for worst line/moment: Nothing too offensive here.
The 411: I enjoyed this episode a lot simply because almost anything with Zapp and Kiff is comedy gold. Also, when Leela gets to act like an adult over her sometimes simple cohorts, that usually provides some very humorous moments as well. Next week shall be very interesting since we’ll be getting political in “A Head in the Polls.”
