Futurama's Dark Revival: The Most Haunting Episode in 20 Years

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Futurama season 11, episode 9!

Summary

In season 11, episode 9 of Futurama, the show takes a twist towards darkness, which may unsettle certain fans as it deviates from its typical light-hearted comedy. "The Prince and the Product" is another non-canon anthology episode, but one of its storylines contains an unsettling and disturbing tone.

The content involving Zoidberg carrying out the mass murder of the entire Planet Express crew and subsequently creating a repulsive hybrid car crosses the line and feels inconsistent with Zoidberg's established character.

Futurama has always been recognized for its lighthearted comedic nature, yet Hulu's recent revival of the show introduced its darkest episode in two decades. Known for its offbeat plots, imaginative science fiction concepts, and eccentric moments, Futurama has occasionally delved into darker themes, but it primarily maintains a jovial and humorous tone. Nevertheless, in episode 9 of season 11, Futurama completely deviates from its usual style, presenting an exceptionally grim storyline that may not sit well with certain fans. Hence, let's explore why the strangest episode of Futurama's eleventh season is also its darkest.

Futurama has made a comeback with Hulu bringing back the beloved Matt Groening series for an eleventh season, more than ten years after it ended. The Hulu revival successfully carries on many of the stories, characters, and traditions from the original seasons of Futurama. Season 11, episode 9 of Futurama takes a big step in this direction. The show has always had non-canon anthology episodes, and "The Prince and the Product," episode 9 of season 11, continues this tradition. This particular episode features three separate storylines where the Planet Express crew are portrayed as toys, but one of these storylines takes a particularly dark turn.

"The Prince And The Product" Is Futurama's Darkest Episode Since "The Sting"

"The Prince and the Product" is not the first dark storyline in Futurama, as evidenced by the episode "The Sting" in season 4. In this episode, the Planet Express crew embarks on a dangerous mission to collect honey from space bees, a task that had previously led to the death of Professor Farnsworth's former crew. During the mission, Fry is stung by a space bee and appears to be dead, leading to a funeral held by the crew. However, Leela has a vision indicating that Fry is still alive, though the others dismiss her claims as insanity. Eventually, Leela chooses to enter a self-induced coma in order to be with Fry in her dreams. The shocking twist comes at the end when it is revealed that Leela has been in a coma since the bee attack, absorbing all of the venom from the stinger. This revelation adds an unexpectedly gruesome element to the storyline, as both Leela and Fry believed the other to be dead.

Zoidberg Murders The Entire Planet Express Crew In Futurama Season 11, Episode 9

The segment "The Prince and the Product" in Futurama is known for its dark undertones, particularly due to the murder of the entire Planet Express crew orchestrated by Zoidberg. Set in a non-canon world that parodies Hot Wheels toys, each character is portrayed as a car. A disturbing video begins circulating in New New York, which, upon being watched, prompts the viewer to receive a mysterious phone call. Answering the call causes the individual to lose control of their mind, resulting in the cars being discovered later, brutally dismembered by an unknown assailant.

It is eventually revealed that Zoidberg is the mastermind behind the murders in "The Prince and the Product." Through a series of calculated actions, Zoidberg systematically eliminates each member of the Planet Express crew, leading them to a chop shop where he dismantles their cars. In a grotesque display, Zoidberg combines parts from his friends with his own body, creating a horrifying hybrid car comprised of fragments from the entire crew. Although the characters are depicted as cars in this episode, imagining them as humans intensifies the disturbing nature of Zoidberg's sinister plan.

Zoidberg's Slasher Plot Takes Things Too Far

The episode has some comedic moments, but Zoidberg's slasher plot goes too far. It is completely out of character for Zoidberg and doesn't really fit. Although Zoidberg may not be the smartest, he would never go as far as murdering his friends and using their body parts. Zoidberg cares deeply for the members of the Planet Express crew, and while he may have some tragic moments, he would never cross this line. While a dark Futurama episode could work, the Zoidberg storyline is not quite right.

Catch new episodes of Futurama every Monday on Hulu.