14 Great Futurama Characters In Only One Episode
3. Gram Gram And Shabadoo (Near-Death Wish – Season 7, Episode 10)
Throughout the course of Futurama, we’ve seen plenty of background to Philip J. Fry’s family, right from his grandparents to his pet dog and of course, his distant future nephew Hubert Farnsworth who would be a prevalent part of the show. As for Farnsworth himself, we’ve never seen much of his family background as he is said to be the last of Fry’s living relatives in the year 3000 (with the exception of his genetically modified son Cubert).
It is not until Fry is so disappointed with the professor for not turning up to his award ceremony that he decides to search if he has any more living family in the universe. He discovers that Hubert’s parents live on the Near-Death star planet, a place where elderly inhabitants are connected to power-generating pods.
Fry, Leela and Bender join them in their virtual care home. Velma and Ned Farnsworth (nicknamed Gram Gram and Shabadoo) live up to every elderly person stereotype but it doesn’t matter too much because they’re sweet and gentle – it’s an excellent chance for Fry to bond with them and have the sensation of family.
Though it's not part of the plan, the two are brought back on earth. The crew wait with anticipation as the professor is about to be reunited with Velma and Ned. But they are met with bitterness and resentment because of his poor childhood. Despite Farnsworth’s refusal to spend time with his parents, Fry continues to bond with them until Hubert grows too jealous and escapes to his old childhood farm.
Once Ned and Velma find Hubert, it's explained that they couldn’t spend any time with him because of his night terrors which they had to help him with and therefore, it made them too exhausted during the day. Farnsworth finally realises why his parents neglected him. After understanding his parents always loved him, the professor rekindles his relationship with his parents.
The final moment is heartfelt and adorable. After Ned and Velma return to the Near-Death star to escape the pain of their physical bodies, Farnsworth re-programs their simulation to present their old farm in its prime and revert them younger. Himself connected, Hubert appears as a child version of himself so they can play together and enjoy the lost years.