Futurama Season 11 Unleashes Pandemic Madness with the Epic Return of 5 Classic Villains!

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Futurama season 11, episode 7!

Summary

In its pandemic episode, Futurama season 11 reintroduces five iconic villains, injecting the show with a thrilling blend of excitement and nostalgic charm. The resurgence of characters such as Professor Wernstrom and Dr. Banjo brings a new and captivating element to the storyline, diverting from the usual intergalactic and robot foes.

In a thrilling twist, Futurama season 11 has unveiled its long-awaited pandemic episode, which not only showcased a clever parody of COVID-19 but also reintroduced five beloved villains from the show's history. Building on its commitment to resurrecting memorable characters, the latest season of Futurama has delighted fans by bringing back iconic adversaries such as the Robot Mafia, the Borax Kid, and the parasitic worms. However, the real highlight came in episode 7, titled "Rage Against the Vaccine," where the series took things to another level by reintroducing five of the most adored Futurama foes.

Futurama has made a triumphant return, thanks to Hulu, who revived the beloved animated sci-fi series for an eleventh season, more than ten years after it went off the air. Despite the considerable time gap since the show's conclusion in 2013, Futurama remains as captivating as ever, thanks to the majority of its original cast reprising their iconic roles. Additionally, numerous side characters from Futurama have also made a comeback in season 11. Episode 7 of Futurama's eleventh season, titled "Rage Against the Vaccine," follows this exciting trend, bringing back five notorious villains from the series.

5 Professor Wernstrom

4 Dr. Banjo

Professor Ogden Wernstrom makes his highly anticipated return in episode 7 of Futurama's 11th season, taking on a prominent role as the chief rival to Professor Farnsworth. Wernstrom, known as Farnsworth's arch-nemesis, consistently outshines him in the realm of invention and even manages to steal his girlfriend, Mom. As the episode progresses, Farnsworth unveils his groundbreaking vaccine to the public, only to have Wernstrom appear and introduce a formidable competitor, reigniting the fierce competition between the two professors. The reappearance of Wernstrom is particularly refreshing, offering a welcome departure from the usual intergalactic and robot adversaries encountered in previous episodes, thanks to his human villainy rooted in the bustling city of New New York.

In the world of Futurama season 11, episode 7, we encounter not just one, but two scholarly adversaries to Professor Farnsworth. Enter Dr. Banjo, who makes his debut in this eleventh season. Initially, Dr. Banjo emerges in "A Clockwork Origin" where he engages in a public debate with Professor Farnsworth, expounding upon the subject of evolution. In a subsequent episode titled "Rage Against the Vaccine," Dr. Banjo adopts an anti-vaxxer stance and vehemently opposes Professor Farnsworth's vaccine. However, interestingly enough, he eventually succumbs to the voodoo cure by the episode's end. This marks only the third appearance of Dr. Banjo in Futurama, making his return in the seventh episode of the eleventh season truly a delightful sight.

3 Barbados Slim

2 Lrrr

Other than Professor Farnsworth, another character in the episode also has his own nemeses – Hermes' romantic rival, Barbados Slim. Barbados Slim is a recurring character in the series Futurama, known for his athleticism, good looks, and deep voice, which makes Hermes see him as a threat. Despite knowing that his wife, LaBarbara, cheats on him with Barbados, these three characters surprisingly have to team up in season 11. They all travel to New New Orleans and use voodoo to develop a cure for Explovid-23. Their efforts pay off, and they successfully bring the vaccine back to New New York.

Returning to Futurama in season 11, episode 7, the Omicronian Emperor, Lrrr, resumes his timeless scheme to conquer and annihilate Earth. Lrrr has been a recurring character since season 1, episode 12, "When Aliens Attack," often portrayed as a villain, yet occasionally displaying friendship and camaraderie with the Planet Express crew. However, in "Rage Against the Vaccine," Lrrr reverts to his villainous nature, aiming to strike Earth during the vulnerable phase of the Explovid-23 pandemic. Despite his efforts, Lrrr's plans crumble swiftly as Explovid-23 mutates, enabling it to infect the Omicronians as well.

1 Ndnd

Ndnd, the fierce wife of Emperor Lrrr, is an Omicronian villain who frequently collaborates with her husband in their mission to conquer planets. In a similar fashion, they both decide to invade Earth during the Explovid-23 pandemic. However, shortly after arriving, Ndnd contracts the disease. While Ndnd has a smaller role in "Rage Against the Vaccine" compared to other Futurama villains, it is a welcome sight to have her back, and fans can hope for her return in future episodes of Futurama season 11.

New episodes of Futurama are released on Mondays on Hulu.