Futurama, new tone?

[Ossian]

Over the last 3 months I've been watching all the Futurama episodes from the start as I've never seen them before and my friend recommended them. Well, I loved it to say the least, really funny and I adore sci fi so all the references really clicked with me.

The problem I have is the new season on comedy central. Is it just me, or has the show changed for the worst with their freedom from Fox's "conservative" restrictions.

Looking over the last 9 episodes most of them have been preachy about some sort of controversial issue.

Spoiler: examples with some spoilers

In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela: Whole episode basically involved censoring and I guess how absurd it is.
Attack of the Killer App: Bashing Apples and steve jobs and twitter/facebook craze.
Proposition Infinity: Obviously centered around Gay marriage and rights, once the episode finished, bender discarded the whole relationship and Amy got back with Kif in literally 30 seconds it seemed. Once the episode made its point, they just reversed like nothing ever happened. Beating over the head much?
The Duh-Vinci Code: Making fun of the book, was pretty funny, but still had a tone of trying to teach us a lesson I felt.
A Clockwork Origin: Covered Creationism vs Evolution and wasn't pulling punches against creationists.

Futurama has always used real world issues and parodied them in its own way to make a point, but I'm feeling that they were being held back and now its taken on a sort of M*A*S*H. vibe to it and just preaching at us. (Ironically they parodied that also with the War is the H-Word Episode)

Am I being nit picky or am I on to something?
The other episodes were great besides the Cats one.

 

[Zirat]

I know how you feel, i've been getting that preachy vibe from a couple spot's in the episodes you mentioned. But it's not all bad, I mean, look at 'The Late Mr. Fry' that was just an entertainig episode with a cool story and some touching moments.

Give them a little time, I think they just need to get this out of their system

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Yeah they have changed the tone slightly.

But I love it the same. They're known for doing crazy shit with a cast of insane characters.

Let them have their fun.

 

[Total LOLige]

I can't give you any feedback on the new episodes because they're not out in england yet
I've got one question though have they changed the voice actors?

 

[Worgen]

the tone is a bit different but its still damn good, not sure if Id call it better or worse tho

 

[wrecker77]

I still haven't got over the fact that Fururama is back! YES!

Is it really a problem? It doesn't really affect the episode or anything. I like the new episodes so far.

 

[Dioxide20]

I hope it doesn't take the Simpson's approach. "Lets be more like Family Guy"

 

[Gigano]

I think they've saved up ideas for these episodes over the years they've been off-screen and worked on the Direct-to-DVD movies (which couldn't be too political due to length and sales), so I'd think that they're just blowing off some accumulated steam in the sixth season before returning to form when new episodes are written.

Not that I don't like this more political approach, but classic Futurama which mixed episodes up more was even better.

 

[Irridium]

It has changed a bit, its definitely noticeable. Its not bad, just different.

Still funny as always though, which is what matters.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

Well, I can't really say its for the worst. But the show has always had lots of subtextual "preaching." Nixon, for example.

I can't give you any feedback on the new episodes because they're not out in england yet
I've got one question though have they changed the voice actors?

You do know that downloading/streaming episodes of television shows is, for all intents and purposes, legal, right?

And apart from phil hartman being dead (zap branagan), same actors.

 

[Total LOLige]

I can't give you any feedback on the new episodes because they're not out in england yet
I've got one question though have they changed the voice actors?

Link removed - MOD

I'm from the UK too, just if you want to watch them all

Edit: And no they haven't. Same voice actors.

cool thanks

 

[Outright Villainy]

I've only seen a couple of episodes so far, but I'm not too fond of it compared to older stuff. The iPhone one particular just wasn't funny at all, and not even in an obvious way. The parody was paper thin, but they didn't even make use of that. Plus a sight gag with a puking goat that felt a little too close to family guy-esque scraping the barrel. I'll wait till I've seen all the episodes until I judge it though, it could just be a lapse. The preachiness never bothered me as much, it's the decline in wit that I'm more disappointed in.

 

[Plauged1]

I like the new way it handles things in the show, its still funny and has the same futurama sense of humor with a general idea or lesson thrown in for most episodes so theres no dramatic change at all. Its just a edgier more up to date futurama if you ask me, which I think is a great thing cause its still funny and entertaining and at times emotional, just like the old episodes.

 

[Gigano]

...
Yeah, this, most likely they'll return to normal soon enough, but for the overall lack of Futurama we've had these new eps aren't all that bad. Oh and may I say, your avatar is spooking me a little bit.

Yep, medium Futurama is still leaps and bounds over most other shows. And a few episodes have been quite good.

You certainly may. The character depicted is usually a very gentle soul, but she's not pretty when angered.

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

Over the last 3 months I've been watching all the Futurama episodes from the start as I've never seen them before and my friend recommended them. Well, I loved it to say the least, really funny and I adore sci fi so all the references really clicked with me.

The problem I have is the new season on comedy central. Is it just me, or has the show changed for the worst with their freedom from Fox's "conservative" restrictions.

Looking over the last 9 episodes most of them have been preachy about some sort of controversial issue.

Spoiler: examples with some spoilers

In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela: Whole episode basically involved censoring and I guess how absurd it is.
Attack of the Killer App: Bashing Apples and steve jobs and twitter/facebook craze.
Proposition Infinity: Obviously centered around Gay marriage and rights, once the episode finished, bender discarded the whole relationship and Amy got back with Kif in literally 30 seconds it seemed. Once the episode made its point, they just reversed like nothing ever happened. Beating over the head much?
The Duh-Vinci Code: Making fun of the book, was pretty funny, but still had a tone of trying to teach us a lesson I felt.
A Clockwork Origin: Covered Creationism vs Evolution and wasn't pulling punches against creationists.

Futurama has always used real world issues and parodied them in its own way to make a point, but I'm feeling that they were being held back and now its taken on a sort of M*A*S*H. vibe to it and just preaching at us. (Ironically they parodied that also with the War is the H-Word Episode)

Am I being nit picky or am I on to something?
The other episodes were great besides the Cats one.

Family Guy does the same thing really. They had the FCC episode and everything. Yeah, they got preachy, but it's not under fox's rule anymoer and they can actually look into these issues. Meh, it doens't bother me as much as other people

 

[Total LOLige]

I just watched the first episode of the new series, I don't really see much difference.I rather enjoyed the crank parody

 

[Snake Plissken]

I am very much enjoying the new season, although I do agree that there is a slightly different tone. I don't mind the preachiness,really, because they're only preaching to the choir. I loved the latest creationist episode. Creationists DESERVE to be mocked.

Side-note: Does anybody currently KNOW what's going on with Fry and Leela?

 

[Dok Zombie]

I've loved the new episodes, but they are getting dangerously close to becoming a soapbox for the creators political views, just like Family Guy did.