The Mind-Bending Return of a Spine-Chilling Futurama Horror Saga After 23 Years
Futurama Season 11 resurrects a spine-chilling storyline from 23 years ago Discover the intriguing reason behind this unexpected horror trend's revival
Summary
Futurama season 11 brings back the show's strange horror gimmick, featuring a slasher story about killer cars that picks off the main cast.
Futurama has previously showcased a murderous vehicle in a season 2 episode, which revolved around a sinister werecar. The absence of Halloween episodes in Futurama might be attributed to the presence of eerie elements in the show's Christmas specials, and the inability to surpass the iconic Treehouse of Horror episodes from The Simpsons.
Continuing popular arcs from the original series, Futurama season 11 rehashed a strange horror storyline from 23 years ago. Despite being a sci-fi comedy series, Futurama seldom delves into the horror genre. However, season 11 took a peculiar approach by bringing back Futurama's peculiar horror gimmick.
With Hulu reviving the beloved Matt Groening sci-fi series for an eleventh season, Futurama has returned. Critics and fans alike have praised Futurama season 11 for its clever writing, well-developed characters, and impressive animation. Some fans even argue that season 11 is on par with the original series, leaving many hopeful for a renewal and a potential Futurama season 12. Following in the footsteps of previous seasons, season 11 also featured anthology episodes. However, it stood out with its odd continuation of a peculiar trend.
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Futurama Season 11 Features Another Slasher Story About Cars
Futurama's 11th season takes a surprising turn as it pays homage to the original series by delving into a slasher narrative centered around cars. In the episode titled "The Prince and the Product," the entire Futurama universe is transformed into a bustling realm of automobiles, with each member of the Planet Express crew assuming the form of a distinct motor vehicle. Nevertheless, an enigmatic homicidal car emerges, systematically targeting the beloved main characters of the show. This spine-chilling slasher storyline marks one of the darkest plots in Futurama to date.
Why Futurama Doesn’t Do Halloween Episodes
Strikingly enough, the presence of a malevolent automobile in Futurama is not an unprecedented occurrence. Among the limited collection of horror tales in the series, one can recall season 2, episode 18, "The Honking," where Bender is depicted in his endeavor to elude an otherworldly and diabolical car. Intentionally parodying classics such as The Howling and Christine, this episode proudly displays its influences from the horror and slasher genres. Nevertheless, the reappearance of the killer car concept in season 11 remains peculiar, considering that these two episodes constitute the rare instances of horror in the world of Futurama.
Futurama’s limited horror collection mainly stems from its lack of Halloween episodes. While the show boasts an abundance of Xmas specials, it barely touches upon the Halloween holiday, leaving fans to ponder over the reason behind this omission. One possible explanation is that the show's Xmas specials already provide enough scares, as they often revolve around the gang eluding a murderer Santa. However, a more plausible theory, cherished by fans for years, exists.
Futurama, the sibling show of The Simpsons, shares a significant overlap in writers and creative team. The Simpsons is renowned for its highly acclaimed Halloween specials, especially the annual Treehouse of Horror episodes. It is speculated that the Futurama team may feel unable to surpass the beloved Treehouse of Horror episodes, which could be a reason for their inclination to not attempt it at all. Additionally, the unpredictable nature of Futurama's frequent cancellations and renewals makes it challenging to anticipate when the show will be on air, making it difficult to plan holiday specials.
