10 Things You Learn Rewatching Futurama
1. But Also Ahead Of Its Time
While it’s definitely 2000’s version of the year 3000, away from the gags themselves, Futurama was definitely ahead of its time... and not just because it was literally in the future.
Fox are often mocked for rejecting Rick & Morty because it was ‘too similar to Futurama’, but the pair are more alike than they seem. Both are episodic shows but feature a long running mythology and juggle several plot threads. Though Futurama wasn’t as committed to continuity (nor as existential, and has totally different humour... okay maybe Fox deserves to be mocked), it was one of the first animated shows to balance those two narrative styles.
Long running threads like Fry’s love for Leela were exceptionally well done, but Futurama was a lot more ambitious than often given credit for. Right from the pilot, you can see Nibbler’s shadow. This doesn’t pay off until seasons later, when it’s revealed a young Nibbler sent Fry to the future to save the universe.
Though some of the world building has aged poorly, the core ideas at the heart of Futurama have proven massively influential across both animation and sci fi. On a rewatch, you can see exactly why.