Type of Series: Comedy; Science Fiction;

    Similar Shows: The Simpsons; Buck Rogers In The 25th Century;

    Typical Episode: The episodes revolve around Fry (a human male), Leela (an alien female) and Bender (a robot male). Fry is originally from the 20th Century and occasionally the show is concerned with his attempts to adjust to life in the year 3000. Otherwise, the episodes tend to be built around what the characters do for a living: They deliver stuff. To alien planets. In a spaceship. So, their adventures take them into space, and onto alien planets.

    Cool!

    The Inner Light: This is a show about friendship.

    Strengths: Good jokes and good characterisations. As you'd expect from a show by the creator of The Simpsons, each episode of Futurama provides a healthy quota of hearty laughs. Just as important, though, is the fact that the characters are interesting and likable.

    Weaknesses: It comes off badly when compared to The Simpsons. Which is natural. But it's also nothing to worry about. The Simpsons may be slicker and faster and funnier, but Futurama is still only finding it's feet. Once it hits its stride it will easily stand side by side with it's stable-mate.

    Impressive Characters: Bender is my favourite. He gets all the best lines and he's also the most interesting character.

    Impressive Actors: John DiMaggio as Bender.

    Impressive Episodes: The pilot was cool, and had some very funny gags. The rest of the first season was almost as good, but - truthfully - none of the episodes deserves special mention.

    Impressive Writers: Matt Groening is the man behind it.

    Continuity: None so far. Each episode has been self-contained.

    Rewatchability: Enormous. Sky One are airing the first season over and over, and I still tend to make time to sit and watch it.

    Episode Guide: EpGuides.Com is the best place to go for Episode Guides.

    Reviews:

    Other Info: Structurally this is the same show as Buck Rogers In The 25th Century, with a male, a female and a robot being the central focus for the stories. It would therefore be wa-a-a-ay cool (I think) to have Gil Gerard and Erin Grey as guests in an episode.

    Miscellaneous Comments:    2 January, 2000

    I've really warmed to Futurama. It's funny and interesting. Bender and Fry are well written as friends, Leela is cool and the supporting characters are growing on me.

GRADE: B+

Review by Michael Leddy

Comments are welcome: rikerdonegal@hotmail.com

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