Zapp Brannigan's Shocking Legacy: The 10 Most Jaw-Dropping Moments on Futurama

Summary

Zapp Brannigan is a reprehensible character in the Futurama universe, as evidenced by his constant mistreatment of others and his reckless actions.

Zapp consistently demonstrates a complete disregard for others, from his inappropriate behavior towards his DOOP crew to his destructive actions against the DOOP headquarters. Moreover, his treatment of Kif, his consistent failures in the military, and his willingness to annihilate entire planets for personal gain serve to emphasize his truly abhorrent nature.

Zapp Brannigan, a recurring character in the Futurama universe, is notorious for his despicable actions. As the show's eleventh season unfolds, viewers are given a closer look at his most unforgivable deeds. While season 11 does touch upon some of his horrible moments, there are still several significant instances that are overlooked. Here, we explore ten storylines from Futurama that highlight just how terrible of a person Zapp Brannigan is.

Hulu has brought back the beloved sci-fi series created by Matt Groening, Futurama, for an eleventh season after over a decade of being off-air. Almost all of the original characters from the show's earlier seasons have made a return, including Zapp Brannigan, the arrogant DOOP military officer. Though Zapp has made appearances in several episodes of the new season, episode 8, titled "Zapp Gets Cancelled," focuses solely on his character. In this episode, he finally faces the consequences for his past transgressions. Throughout the show's 11 seasons, Zapp has been responsible for countless terrible acts, and we delve into the ten worst of them here.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

10 Exposing Himself To His Entire DOOP Crew

Surprisingly, one of the most reprehensible acts committed by Zapp takes place in the season 11 episode titled "Zapp Gets Cancelled." At the beginning of the episode, amidst a skirmish involving Zapp's DOOP team, he is forced to make quick decisions. Zapp, peculiarly enough, claims that his mind functions best while showering. However, instead of vacating the ship's command center, Zapp shamelessly disrobes and proceeds to bathe in full view of his crew. When asked to cover himself, Zapp haphazardly pulls a shower curtain closed, but it inadequately conceals only his upper half. Although exposing himself to the entire crew is repulsive, it does not stand as his most deplorable action.

9 Destroying The DOOP HQ

Many of Zapp's wrongdoings revolve around his employer, DOOP, with one particularly flagrant example being his unintentional destruction of the military headquarters. In the second episode of Futurama season 2, titled "Brannigan, Begin Again," the Democratic Order of Planets unveils its brand-new headquarters. Zapp Brannigan takes the honor of cutting the ribbon, but in a pompous display, he attempts to use the laser from his Nimbus ship, resulting in the complete annihilation of the building. Although this expensive error was accidental, it exemplifies the perilous nature of Zapp's inflated ego.

8 Constantly Losing Military Battles

Zapp Brannigan's military record in Futurama is truly unforgivable, spanning various seasons and countless battles. As one of DOOP's military leaders, Zapp consistently faces defeat against the Killbots, Omicronians, Decapodians, and other alien and mechanical races. His sole triumph remains the conquest of Tarantulon 6. Shockingly, despite his incompetence, Zapp holds a 25-star rank while the number of DOOP soldiers who have lost their lives under his supervision continues to grow.

7 Zapp's Treatment Of Kif

Kif, the faithful sidekick of Zapp Brannigan in Futurama, endures incessant mistreatment from Zapp. Zapp's actions towards the Amphibiosan are abominable, encompassing physical and emotional abuse, demeaning behavior, physical assaults, and even sexual harassment throughout the series. Disregarding Kif's personal life entirely, Zapp frequently encroaches upon his leisure time without any consideration. When Kif embarks on a quest to expose Zapp's misconduct in season 11, he recounts a series of profoundly impactful moments, including Zapp's offensive enactment of "greenface."

6 Attacking The Neutral Planet

Zapp, in his desperate attempt to be reinstated to DOOP after destroying the HQ in "Brannigan, Begin Again," initiates a new military operation against the Neutral Planet. Despite the fact that the Neutrals have had no conflicts or alliances with Earth, Zapp's unjustifiable campaign jeopardizes the lives of thousands of innocent Neutrals solely to fulfill his own selfish desires. This storyline is not only morally repugnant but it is also aggravated by the fact that Zapp shamelessly takes credit for Leela's actions in saving the Neutral Planet, ultimately leading to his reinstatement in DOOP.

5 Coercing Leela In "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela"

Zapp frequently subjects Leela to sexual harassment in the animated series Futurama, but the most distressing incident takes place in the episode "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela." In this particular episode, Zapp and Leela find themselves stranded on a lush forest planet, mistakenly believing they are the sole inhabitants of this seemingly desolate landscape. However, Brannigan eventually uncovers the truth that they are, in fact, still on Earth. He manipulates Leela by fabricating the notion that Earth has been obliterated, in hopes that she will engage in sexual activity with him in order to repopulate the planet. Shockingly, Leela succumbs to his advances and agrees to sleep with Zapp. However, their encounter is halted abruptly due to Zapp's performance anxiety, leaving him utterly unredeemed.

4 Flying The Titanic Into A Black Hole

In the tenth episode of season one of Futurama, titled "A Flight to Remember," Zapp Brannigan is given the responsibility of piloting the space Titanic on its inaugural journey. In an attempt to showcase his skills, Zapp alters the trajectory of the Titanic, leading it into a black hole. Thankfully, only one casualty occurs, but if Zapp hadn't been so fortunate, his arrogance could have resulted in numerous deaths.

3 Crashing The Nimbus Into The Planet Express Building, Killing Everyone

The Futurama movie Into the Wild Green Yonder concludes with Zapp Brannigan's Nimbus pursuing the Planet Express ship through a wormhole. However, the outcome of the space battle remains unseen until the episode "Rebirth." In this episode, it is revealed that Zapp's reckless maneuver resulted in the catastrophic crash of the Nimbus into Planet Express, causing the tragic demise of the entire Planet Express crew, Zapp himself, and other members of the DOOP. This incident serves as a prime example of Zapp's numerous tactical blunders throughout the series, but it stands out as the most devastating one.

2 Attempting To Launch New New York Into The Sun

In the episode "Cold Warriors," Fry contracts the common cold, which becomes a catastrophic pandemic in the 31st century where the disease no longer exists. As a result, an entire quarantine is imposed on New New York, and the proposed solution to contain the outbreak involves lifting the city off the ground and directing it towards the sun. Zapp agrees to undertake this perilous mission, demonstrating his readiness to sacrifice the entire city. Although their plan is ultimately foiled, it serves as a grim reminder of Zapp's willingness to prioritize the mission over innocent lives.

1 Agreeing To Destroy The Galaxy For Richard Nixon & A Minigolf Course

Leo Wong, in the movie "Into the Wild Green Yonder" of the acclaimed series Futurama, forms a sinister alliance with Richard Nixon as part of his plan to establish a vast cosmic mini-golf course. To carry out this destructive endeavor, Nixon seeks the assistance of Zapp Brannigan, a prominent figure in DOOP (Democratic Order of Planets), who shows no hesitation in obliterating significant portions of the galaxy. Zapp even goes to the extent of forcefully suppressing environmental activists to facilitate Leo Wong's abhorrent scheme. While Zapp Brannigan is known for his questionable actions in the series, his actions in "Into the Wild Green Yonder" stand out as particularly deplorable. Don't miss out on the latest episodes of Futurama, now available on Hulu every Monday.