Futurama, the beloved adult animated series, has sparked numerous fan theories throughout its run. However, only a select few of these theories have been officially validated. After a ten-year hiatus, Futurama returned for its eleventh season in 2023, making it the show's third revival following cancellations in 2003 and 2013. Should the show face cancellation again in the future, speculation suggests that it may make a fourth comeback in 2033. With its space-age adventures and involvement with time travel, Futurama has created complex timelines, leaving fans with many unanswered questions about the Planet Express crew. The show's exploration of parallel worlds, multiple lifetimes, deaths, and revivals has made it challenging for viewers to keep track. While fans have proposed various theories to address these mysteries, only a small number have been officially confirmed within the show's canon.
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5 Leela's Not Human, But A Mutant
Leela is first introduced as an extraterrestrial orphan, completely disconnected from her origins or any knowledge of her parents. In the second episode of the second season titled "I Second That Emotion," Leela unexpectedly encounters the Mutant community, residing beneath the city's sewers, in her quest to retrieve Nibbler who had been inadvertently flushed down the toilet by Bender. Upon closer inspection, Leela's parents can be observed in these particular scenes, with one female figure displaying noticeable similarities with Leela herself, including their characteristic single eye and vibrant purple hair.
The couple's reunion didn't occur until the "Leela's Homeworld" episode in season 4. It happened when Leela attended a gathering at her orphanage. Going along with her, Fry stumbled upon a note written in an alien language that was discovered with Leela when she was abandoned. This eventually led to Leela rediscovering her birth parents, who were horrified to realize that the only mutation she possessed was her distinctive eye. As a result, they had given her away in the hopes of providing her with a more ordinary life.
4 Bender Wasn't Actually Deprogrammed, He Just Got High
In the initial episode, Bender confides in Fry about his inability to defy his pre-programmed nature. Struggling with despair and contemplating entering a suicide booth, Fry offers a suggestion: that Bender endeavor to restore order to his life. Unexpectedly, in his attempt to comply, Bender accidentally collides with a light bulb, jolting his metallic frame with electricity. This incident triggers an abrupt shift in his demeanor, causing him to align with Fry's sentiment and choose to live. It is widely speculated that the shock disturbance destabilized Bender's programming, ultimately leading to the subsequent evolution of his personality throughout the series.
However, in the episode "Hell Is Other Robots," Bender develops an addiction to electricity similar to a human's addiction to drugs. It becomes evident that Bender had not been consistently subjecting himself to electrocution since the show's beginning. Nevertheless, this development demonstrates that being "high" on electricity has allowed Bender to realize that his programming is not as deeply ingrained in him as he once believed. Consequently, this sheds light on Bender's unconventional behavior throughout the series. Given his perplexing moral compass, it is logical for Bender to continue living with the realization that his intended purpose is more akin to a suggestion rather than an absolute directive.
3 The Real Reason Zoidberg Is Still Around
Zoidberg's continued employment at Planet Express remains a puzzling mystery to many, considering his loose interpretation of the role of a doctor. The other characters frequently express frustration with his incompetence and lack of understanding for the very race he claims to care for. This is particularly surprising given Professor Farnsworth's tendency to swiftly replace members of his crew. It is only in the sixth season episode "The Tip of the Zoidberg" that viewers are given insight into Farnsworth and Zoidberg's backstories.
After declining the requests of the Planet Express crew to terminate Zoidberg's employment, memories from Farnsworth's past come flooding back, revealing that Zoidberg had once saved his life from a formidable yeti. The adventurous duo had been sent by Mom on a mission to hunt down this legendary creature, and when Farnsworth falls victim to a brutal attack, he becomes fearful of having contracted hyper-malaria. This treacherous disease possesses the ability to manifest immediately or lie dormant, ominously waiting for the perfect moment to strike. As a precaution, Farnsworth extracts a solemn promise from Zoidberg to put an end to his suffering through a mercy killing, should he ever exhibit symptoms. Despite Zoidberg's lack of competence, he is entrusted with one purpose as a Doctor: to patiently await the consumption of Farnsworth by this dreadful affliction.
2 Nibbler Sent Fry To The Year 3000
In the pilot episode of Futurama, as Fry falls into the chamber, a small shadow is visible to the side. A millennium later, Fry wakes up in the Year 3000 and joins Planet Express, unaware that the reason for his arrival was lurking by his feet. After four episodes in the first season, Fry and Leela find themselves on the verge of disaster on Vergon 6 and encounter the tiny creature known as Nibbler. Leela decides to bring Nibbler back to Earth with them. Viewers reflected on the pilot, comparing the shadow to Nibbler's silhouette, pondering if there was a connection between Leela's pet and Fry's arrival in the future.
Despite the general perception of Nibbler as a cute and innocent creature, lacking intelligence, it is revealed in "The Why of Fry" that he is actually a member of the ancient Nibblonian race. This remarkable species has the vital responsibility of safeguarding the entire universe and ensuring the protection of those individuals who possess the potential to assist them in fulfilling this crucial mission. Unbeknownst to Fry, he is one of these extraordinary individuals. Consequently, Nibbler travels back in time, cunningly orchestrating Fry's entrapment in a cryogenic tube. This strategic move ensures his presence in the year 3000, as he endeavors to save Earth from the imminent threat of an attack perpetrated by the notorious Brain Spawn.
1 Futurama And Disenchantment Are Set In The Same Universe
Disenchantment, an animated fantasy created by Matt Groening in 2018, takes place in the fictional medieval kingdom of Dreamland. Fans have speculated that Disenchantment and Futurama exist in the same universe, and there is evidence to support this theory. In the Disenchantment episode "Dreamland Falls," both Fry and Professor from Futurama make a split-second appearance in a time machine. This clever reference to the Futurama episode "The Late Philip J. Fry" has sparked discussions about the potential connection between the two shows.
Following the release of Disenchantment, Futurama season 11 substantiated this thesis by featuring the fictional realm of Dreamland, situated in a time known as the Second Middle Ages. This concept was introduced in season 11 of Futurama. In the aftermath of the destruction of New York in 2308, society took on an aesthetic reminiscent of castles and mythical creatures akin to Dreamland. According to the established lore, this epoch lasted for the majority of the twenty-fourth century. Although the exact timeframe of Disenchantment remains unconfirmed, it can be inferred that it took place approximately 700 years prior to the commencement of Futurama, suggesting a potential correlation between the two shows.