Futurama’s Return Is Equal Parts Nostalgic and Very, Very 2023

After debuting in 1999, a number of Emmy winner Futurama had an on-and-off existence throughout Fox, the direct-to-DVD realm, and Comedy Central, with its obvious finale in 2013—till information got here final 12 months that Hulu had ordered 20 new episodes. The first 10 arrive July 24, and followers will probably be glad to know they have been well worth the 10-year wait.

That stated, you needn’t be an present fan of Futurama (or be on a quote-along foundation with the greater than 120 episodes that got here earlier than) to understand the brand new season. Sure, there are Easter eggs for long-time devotees, and it’s a extra rewarding viewing expertise in case you are at the very least considerably accustomed to the present—however the plot callbacks are defined sufficient in order that new viewers ought to be capable of comply with alongside.

It goes with out saying that so much has modified in our world since 2013, and Futurama—a present at all times keen on commenting on present occasions, regardless of being set within the thirty first century—is raring to embrace the tradition of 2023. It’s simply as desperate to acknowledge the surreal feeling that accompanies Futurama’s long-awaited, they-said-it-couldn’t-be-done return, although it will get most of these winks (and there are so much, together with one precise fourth-wall break) out of the way in which in episode one, “The Impossible Stream.”

Even earlier than the opening credit, Professor Farnsworth (Billy West) has defined away the “massive disruption in the flow of time” which has taken the Planet Express gang from the 12 months 3000—the 12 months Fry (additionally Billy West), a pizza-delivery man unintentionally frozen in 1999, was revived within the unique collection—to 3023. Or to place it one other manner, courtesy of boozy robotic Bender (John DiMaggio): “Why is my beer stale?” Because you and your shiny steel ass have aged 10 years, sir! With that taken care of, Futurama is on its merry manner.

io9 was supplied six of the ten episodes for evaluate, and we gained’t be spoiling particular plot factors right here. But it’s not giving something away to notice a number of the well timed matters season 11 pokes into. These embody the overwhelming feeling of attempting to maintain up with streaming reveals (Futurama’s in-universe service of selection: “Fulu;” undoubtedly hit pause when it reveals the house display to learn all of the punny but oddly acquainted names for the assorted collection); and the “high-tech gold rush” world of bitcoin and cryptocurrency, actually interpreted with a Wild West theme. It additionally introduces “Momazon,” an Amazon-alike that unleashes smart-home assistants which might be just a little too good; alarmingly speedy deliveries that Planet Express, a small enterprise, can’t compete with; deplorable circumstances for warehouse employees; and the concept an algorithm is aware of what you need to store for earlier than you even seek for it (this episode’s title is “Related to Items You’ve Viewed”).

There’s additionally an Ivermectin joke—and although it wasn’t included within the first six episodes, the trailer for this season guarantees there’ll be much more pandemic humor. Plus, there’s virtually a complete episode impressed by Dune, with a really well-placed celeb voice cameo. Beyond that, Futurama reveals there’s nonetheless coronary heart lurking beneath the snark, inspecting themes like motherhood, pet possession, and constructing relationships—household, romantic, and amongst pals—regardless of being surrounded by ridiculous chaos.

Though it will possibly typically really feel just like the present is racing alongside attempting to cram in fan-favorite characters (Robot Devil! Calculon! Robot Santa Claus! The Hypnotoad!), and that first episode leans awfully exhausting into the self-referential stuff, all of it feels very rooted within the present Futurama has at all times been—with bizarre asides, intelligent gags, and characters you possibly can’t assist however love, although they have a tendency to at all times do the flawed factor. The leap to 2023 feels as seamless because it might probably really feel, which is actually the best strategy to please old-school followers and, hopefully, the legions of recent ones this revival will convey into the fold.

Futurama was created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen. The remainder of the voice solid contains Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr, and David Herman. Futurama’s new season premieres July 24 on Hulu.

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