Futurama (1999)

You can watch Futurama for pure entertainment or for something more meaningful. Either way you win. Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's ability to layer complexity into seemingly simple stories is remarkable. the emotional gut-punches disguised as comedy is evidence of a master.

Futurama has a few weak episodes scattered through its run but the high points more than compensate. Fry's storyline is beautifully handled. Matt Groening and David X. Cohen had a rare clarity of vision for the whole series.

Futurama manages to be both laugh-out-loud funny and genuinely insightful. the emotional gut-punches disguised as comedy gives the show a comedic engine that never gets old. Matt Groening and David X. Cohen understood that smart humour and broad comedy can coexist.

I did not expect Futurama to make me cry but here we are. Jurassic Bark hit me completely off guard. Professor Farnsworth is written with such care that the emotional moments land with full weight.

Futurama has a visual identity so distinctive that you can recognise it from a single frame. Matt Groening and David X. Cohen worked with artists who understood that style should reflect substance. The look of the show embodies identity and belonging.

Futurama is one of those shows you can't believe was made for children. The themes of sci-fi satire are handled with more depth than most adult dramas. Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's vision is unmistakable.

Futurama works on two levels: kids get the surface entertainment and adults get the subtext. Matt Groening and David X. Cohen's writing treats its audience with respect. The episode The Luck of the Fryrish is as good as any live-action drama.

Futurama shows its age in places but the core of what made it special remains. Bender's comic anarchy is still funny and Fry is still endearing. Some references land flat now but the heart is intact.

Futurama started strong and only improved. By season two, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen had found a confidence that made the show feel inevitable. The Luck of the Fryrish is one of the finest episodes in animated television history.

I watched Futurama as a kid and rewatched it as an adult. It's even better the second time. the science-based humour is only apparent when you're older. Fry remains one of the great animated characters.