Summary
Futurama season 11 references a storyline from The Simpsons that hasn't been mentioned in over a decade.
The episode mocks Amazon as the Planet Express gang explores a satirical rendition of the company. The introduction of the colossal dome in the episode could potentially integrate the Futurama and Simpsons universes as a lasting aspect of the show.
In Futurama season 11, episode 5, titled "Related to Items You've Viewed," the show cleverly incorporates a storyline from The Simpsons that hasn't been addressed in 13 years. Throughout the years, both Futurama and The Simpsons have shared numerous connections through references, hidden details, and intertwined narratives. However, in this particular episode, Futurama subtly pays homage to one of The Simpsons' most iconic and significant storylines, despite its absence from The Simpsons for over a decade.
The episode parodies the well-known real-world company Amazon, as the Planet Express crew embarks on a satirical journey to a version of the company in the Futurama universe. They encounter an Alexa parody created by the show's antagonistic character, Mom, and eventually find themselves venturing to a Momazon warehouse on the moon. As the episode progresses, the growth of Momazon becomes uncontrollable, leading to a multitude of challenges for the entire universe. This hilarious installment carries on the tradition of Futurama's mockery of real-world companies, while also paying homage to a beloved storyline from The Simpsons.
Futurama Season 11's Momazon Dome Storyline Copies The Simpsons Movie
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The story in Futurama season 11's Momazon episode is not directly related to the conflict in The Simpsons Movie. However, there are hidden similarities between the two, as the Futurama episode also features a plan by the villain that is reminiscent of The Simpsons Movie. Towards the end of Futurama season 11, episode 5, the sentient Momazon warehouse starts to expand, gradually enveloping the moon, Earth, the solar system, and eventually the entire universe. Although the Momazon Dome storyline is resolved quite quickly, fans of Matt Groening's other works will easily spot the major parallels to The Simpsons Movie and the challenges faced by the main family throughout its narrative.
In The Simpsons Movie of 2007, Homer unintentionally contaminates the water supply of Springfield, leading to the EPA's intervention. The EPA responds by encasing the town in a giant glass dome, trapping all its inhabitants (except for the Simpsons). The similarities are hard to miss, with The Simpsons' EPA dome covering Springfield and Futurama's sentient Momazon dome encasing New New York. Although The Simpsons Movie's EPA dome has not been mentioned since season 22, episode 6, titled "The Fool Monty," dedicated fans of The Simpsons will recall the dome storyline and appreciate the recurrence of this conflict in Futurama season 11.
Futurama's Giant Dome May Be A Permanent Part Of The Show
Matt Groening's Futurama & Simpsons Universe Connections Make The Repeated Dome Storyline Even Better
In contrast to the self-contained narratives of most Futurama episodes, the gargantuan dome featured in Season 11, Episode 5 could potentially become a permanent fixture in the show. By the conclusion of the episode, the Momazon dome has expanded to such a colossal extent that it envelops the entire known universe. Professor Farnsworth affirms the presence of the Momazon dome, although its vast size renders it virtually imperceptible. Consequently, while upcoming episodes of Futurama might not overtly showcase the Momazon dome, it remains a constant entity within the show's universe. Given Futurama's propensity for referencing previous storylines, it is conceivable that the Momazon warehouse might reemerge at some point in the future.
The intertwining of the universes of Futurama and The Simpsons has been ongoing, and the recurring Momazon dome plotline strengthens this connection. Initially, The Simpsons was portrayed as an in-universe show in Futurama, featuring its creators and merchandise. However, it has since been reimagined as part of the Futurama timeline. The crossover episode "Simpsorama" serves as confirmation that the characters from both shows exist within a shared universe. Consequently, the actions of The Simpsons undeniably have an impact on the future of this universe. Given this connection, the repeated use of the dome storyline in Futurama becomes more logical.
It makes sense for a powerful company like Momazon to replicate the dome trick from The Simpsons Movie. In the show's universe, this strategy was successful in containing Springfield, which would undoubtedly be known to Momazon's powerful AI. Thus, it is plausible that Momazon learned from this tactic and decided to employ their own dome to further enhance their power. The absence of direct references to The Simpsons Movie in the episode adds an interesting parallel, making Futurama an even more enjoyable experience.