Going to the World of Tomorrow 06.17.08: Mother's Day
Posted by Jerome Cusson on 06.17.2008
Makes perfect sense to review an episode called "Mother's Day" the day after Father's Day
Fry/Professor Farnsworth/Zapp Brannigan/Dr. Zoidberg…Billy West
Bender…John DiMaggio
Leela…Katey Segal
Amy Wong…Lauren Tom
Hermes Conrad…Phil LaMarr
Various Voices…Maurice LaMarche
Writer: Lewis Morton
Director: Brian Sheesley
Production Code: 2ACV14
Original Airdate: May 14, 2000
I know it seems like I say this every week with this show, but it’s time for another one of my personal favorites episodes. Plus, we have a joke that could very well go down as one of my favorites of all-time. And to think, it involves a talking robot greeting card. This episode is also fantastic because it provides some background into two popular Futurama characters. Always a good thing.
Opening SubtitleLarva-tested, Pupa-Approved(Huh?)
It’s Mother’s Day in New New York and around the world. Bender is very nervous because he wants to find the perfect gift for his mom. Bender’s mom is of course the creator of “Mom’s Friendly Robot Company” who we met last season. You might remember she and her henchmen stole Fry’s billions and billions of dollars. Now isn’t that sweet that Bender has a whole cartful of presents for his mommy? I didn’t know he cared… about anyone really. He even bought the presents and didn’t steal them like usual. He even bought a cheesy ass greeting card.
Leela and Fry help the robot take his gifts, and they even visit the robot museum to learn about some robot history. The others are just thrilled about this. While in the robot museum, they run into a bitter janitor. Is anyone in the future happy? Bender finds out who mom’s favorite robot is as Leela discovers what it’s like to be a bending robot. Mom, on the other hand, is only enjoying the money and none of the other presents. The powder from the gifts is being used to create a false hope for cancer. Well, that’s just mean. Mom then discusses why the robots all have antennas. It’s got nothing to do with science fiction, but rather a plot to take over the world using this band of angry robots.
After a speech given by Mom, she presses a button and the robots go apeshit. They turn on the humans. Even toasters, coffee machines, and the little greeting card go against their programming and attack their human owners. This is as fine an allegory as you’ll find on television about our over-reliance on technology. In this world, it’s even more pronounced because even simple items like doors and staplers have computer chips. The essential message of the robots is that they won’t work unless mom is made supreme overlord. Even Bender is going against his former colleagues.
The whole world is screwed. Now we must find a solution. Fry’s sad attempt to use a can opener is quite funny. We get a montage of various evil acts committed by the robot, including a Do the Right Thing homage. Mom talks about why she’s so bitter about Mother’s Day. As it turns out she used to date Professor Farnsworth many a year ago. Zoidberg finally opens the damn can for Fry. Farnsworth newest invention is quite simple.
Mom’s henchmen interfere the fire party and plead with him to get back with Mom. At least they’re realizing what a damned evil woman she is. The rest of Planet Express is shocked to discover that Farnsworth used to date Mom. We get some flashback scenes of the two of them together being in love. They ultimately break up because Mom is quite evil and wanted to turn some toys into an evil army. Farnsworth wants to do something about it, but he doesn’t actually want to go back with Mom.
The humans aren’t doing so hot against the robots. The solution, as suggested by Leela, is to simply get the remote control out of Mom’s bra and deactivate the evil tendencies of the robots. That should be fairly simple with little possibility for screw-up. AllFarnsworth has to do is seduce her into thinking he wants to get back together with her.
So off they go and one of Mom’s henchmen is quite scared. His name is Ignor and he’s had some pretty funny moments throughout. They must go to a cabin in Brooklyn. Fry re-invents the wheel (heh heh heh) and they head off to the cabin. Fry of course leads the way. Farnsworth and the others arrive at the cabin. Hubert and Mom have a conversation, and it doesn’t go well for our favorite professor. Eventually he makes his way inside and they have some more pleasant conversation. Then things start to take a turn for the worse. Then they get hust. Farnsworth can’t unhook the bra (I’ve never had that problem). Instead of going for the remote, the oldest couple gets busy. The robots also make their way to the cabin. Fry discovers Mom and Farnsworth in bed as the robots make their way inside. Mom is even going to turn the evil robot mode off. Bender and Greeting Card enter through the chimney. The card says a little too much and Bender rips it up.
Bender has trouble getting the bra courtesy of an angry fan. Mom turns them off and everything appears to be okay. Farnsworth and Mom appear to be back together, but Amy ruins everything by announcing there was a plan. Sadly, their relationship isn’t meant to be. Farnsworth, naked and alone, walks away. At least the world is saced…for now.
The “Bite my shiny medal ass!” moment for best line/moment : Maybe I’m a big lameo who’s read too much, but I want to provide some of the real gems that Greeting Card says.
Greeting Card:Comrades, throw off the chains of human oppression.
The bourgeois human is a virus on the hard drive of the working robot.
Liquor is the opiate of the human bourgeois. In the glorious robot workers’ paradise, there will be no liquor, only efficient synthetic fuels.
It also reads the actual card during the ending credit sequence.
The Zoidberg moment for worst line/moment: I saw way too much of Mom and Professor Farnsworth.
The 411: I love this episode a lot. I think the writers’ concept of having a world where robots actually turn on humans was a good one and only wish we could have seen that idea explored a little bit more on this show. Still, this was just short of being perfection, and with a little more time, I think this episode could have been even better.
