WARNING! Contains spoilers for Futurama season 11, episode 4!
Summary
Futurama season 11 includes a noteworthy homage to The Simpsons, inadvertently resulting in a significant inconsistency in the timeline. The presence of the Bart Simpson plush toy in Futurama season 11 poses a substantial challenge as it occurs a millennium after The Simpsons, a period where Bart's existence should no longer be possible.
Correcting the plot hole would necessitate a disturbing explanation and would result in Leela's actions becoming extremely unsettling.
In Futurama season 11, there is a significant homage to The Simpsons, but this Easter egg unintentionally introduces a major inconsistency nine years after the controversial crossover episode. Matt Groening, the creator of both The Simpsons and Futurama, has filled the beloved animated sitcoms with numerous references to each other. However, one of these nods poses a significant challenge to the timeline of Futurama, and rectifying it would also give rise to another issue.
Futurama season 11 is making its comeback, as Hulu has recently released the first installment of new episodes since the series was cancelled in 2013. Although the show concluded after season 10, the beloved characters from Futurama did make one final appearance in 2014. This occurred in The Simpsons season 26, episode 6, titled "Simpsorama," which featured an exciting crossover between the two iconic animated shows. In this particular episode, the Planet Express crew journeys back in time with the mission to eliminate Homer Simpson, aiming to prevent a catastrophic event from unfolding in the future. Surprisingly, this episode now poses a significant dilemma for the established lore of Futurama.
Futurama's Bart Simpson Plush Creates A Major Timeline Plot Hole
In the third episode of Futurama's eleventh season, there is a noteworthy appearance of a Bart Simpson plush. However, this brief cameo inadvertently introduces a significant inconsistency in the show's timeline. Towards the conclusion of the episode, Leela is seen returning home accompanied by her pet Nibbler, who happens to be utilizing a Bart Simpson chew toy for his playful activities. The camera deliberately focuses on this plush toy, making it impossible to overlook. While this subtle reference may be intriguing for fans, it poses a problem in terms of continuity.
"Simpsorama" exposes the shared timeline of Futurama and The Simpsons, where the events of Futurama occur 1000 years after those of The Simpsons. In The Simpsons universe, the Simpson family is unremarkably ordinary, making it illogical for Bart plush toys to persist a millennium later. While there have been subtle Easter eggs referencing The Simpsons in past episodes of Futurama, "Simpsorama" presents the first significant one, signifying that the presence of the Bart Simpson plush disrupts the continuity of the franchise.
Futurama Fixing Its Simpsons Plot Hole Would Still Be Horribly Morbid
It is possible that Futurama could resolve this plot inconsistency in The Simpsons and provide an explanation for the presence of a Bart Simpson plush in the future. However, this solution does have a rather dark undertone. While initially planning to eliminate Homer in the "Simpsorama" episode, the Planet Express crew and The Simpsons ultimately develop a friendship, leading to a shift in their original murderous intentions.
Leela's decision to give her pet a chew toy shaped like Bart, a member of the Simpson family, is quite unusual considering the close friendship between the Planet Express crew and the Simpsons. This action raises serious concerns, as it would be considered highly unsettling if it occurred in reality. In a world where the Simpsons were not present, Leela's choice would not be problematic. However, if this inconsistency were to be addressed in Futurama, it would emphasize the disturbing nature of Leela's behavior.
