The final of the “Futurama” season was the perfect exploration of futility and chaos

Futurama Season 13 is available for Binging on Hulu for a full week now. Although the episodes are generally very strong, the final of the season, “The White Hole”, rises in classical territory of all time, perfectly encapsulating the continuous fascination of the series for a brutal failure and a ridiculous chaos – more of science -fiction shenanigans, of course.

“The White Hole” begins as an anomaly appears in the sky above New York. He is so brilliant that he disrupts Bender’s attempt to rob the courthouse for reasons that we never learn (Bender has he never needs a reason?), And he is quickly nicknamed the “Brightmare” by FuturamaHysterical newspapers reliably.

Professor Farnsworth, of course, knows what is the mysterious light: the white hole promised by the title of the episode. It is the opposite of a black hole, exploding energy, matter and time rather than sucking them – and it has a very specific objective. It is a portal inviting representatives of all the different universes to attend the birth of a new universe.

Naturally, the Planet Express Crew – In number eight, the exact amount specified for the guest group – estimates to obtain the concert. But just once, no quantity of bribe the president of the earth can butter Richard Nixon’s head in a pot. The team, in particular the former teacher, is simply too old to survive the epic journey.

It’s disappointing. But when the group of young children selected by hand does not manage to reach their destination – they bounce after aging 80 years (“our bodies have been withered and our lives wasted,” says the leader unfortunately as teacher Cackles) – a solution is highlighted: “a crew in cold stone storage for 10 million years”. Picked the black and white reagent sending the Planet Express gang on their magnificent mission.

Once we are on the rocket, the teacher explains how it will really be possible. While the team – which also includes Fry, Leela, Bender, Hermès, Amy, Zoidberg and Scruffy – while being frozen in “Carbonana”, a 3D biological printer will be on standby, ready to make duplicates of one of them if the need appears. A teacher’s head hologram is also waiting, ready to provide instructions.

These are strictly temporary Copies, be careful. Most of the “The White Hole” is sweated in the journey, because small crises (a spill that requires a scruffy mop) and huge (a sensitive yogurt monster that mpts of the snack cup thrown from Fry) occurs, requiring the services of replicants that exist for only five minutes before dissolving in a pile of bones.

Comedy degenerates while the duplicate cycle continues; It’s like a time loop, except that the characters expire as soon as they finish the task they need. At one point, Amy Number 31 complains: “I continue to create just to encourage people before I disintegrate!”

Having such specific, stupid and short -lived purposes quickly generates resentment while millions of years pass; Finally, this round tower of disposable life forces the characters to a state of mind that evokes BreakupThe tensions of innocences against outings or the misfortune felt by the clones of Moon Or Mickey 17.

“The originals” are the only versions that matter. They doze the journey so that they can emerge at the right time to drop out with admiration in front of this new galaxy which is born. But existence itself is the real “glorious reward”, to paraphrase the professor. When the ship reaches “the horizon of the reverse event”, the duplicates decide to rebel.

Rather than awakening their originals, they decide they Should see the newborn universe instead. After all, only real humans can go home – after only a short time has not spent on earth, thanks to the quirks of White Hole – and lounging in the glory of their success.

“We have done the job … We deserve glory,” says number 1 218 Leela. “I mean, technically, We Has not done the job, but we always deserve glory!

The originals successfully return home, with a fanfare led by a mechanical arm exploited by the preserved and disembodied head of John Williams, but none of them can attend at a wink of this new dazzling universe.

Consequently, the Planet Express The crew obviously cannot share what they have seen with anyone on earth. It is a huge disappointment for all those waiting for 15 good minutes to take 10 million years to fly and return. “Shut up and take your medals,” growls Nixon while the white hole in the sky stands out forever.

THE Futurama The characters perpetually sabotage, then bounce despite their actions. But this familiar arc has rarely been accomplished with a narrative synchronicity as well ordered. They may have been screwed up with a miracle by their own jealous counterparts – but they all survived to wonder what happened And To live another day.

Futurama Season 13 is streaming on Hulu.

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