Futurama’s Revival Proves How Brilliant Its Last Ending Was

The news that a third Futurama revival is in the works at Hulu is both surprising and welcome – and it highlights just how smartly the show’s last ending was. Currently, almost all of the original cast members are slated to return, with the huge exception of John DiMaggio, who has voiced Bender in every season of the animated series since the beginning. DiMaggio’s absence will be a huge blow to the upcoming reboot, though thanks to a vocal fanbase, there is still a chance of his involvement.

One of the longest-running storylines of Futurama is the romantic relationship between Fry and Leela. Though the pair have come together a few times during the series, Fry’s undying and often unrequited love for his co-worker has been a longtime staple of his character. The show has devoted a number of stories to the potential couple, but it was the final episode before Futurama‘s most recent cancellation that took things to the next level – and did so in a way that left the door open for future episodes.

The final episode of Futurama season 7 centered around two things – a time-travel device and Fry’s marriage proposal to Leela. After an accident breaks the device, Fry and Leela alone are trapped in a single moment in time. They take advantage of this to live out the rest of their lives together, traveling the world and enjoying one another’s company. It’s a romantic and hugely satisfying way to end off the pair’s relationship, but what’s more, the episode ends with a surprise appearance by Professor Farnsworth, who repairs the time travel device. He gives Fry and Leela the chance to go back just before the events of the episode without the knowledge that any of it ever happened. Although time travel is a staple of Futurama (with a fun nod in Disenchantment), the final moments of Futurama‘s season 7 finale are perhaps some of the strongest in the entire series.

Fry’s final words in Futurama season 7 are “What do you say? Do you want to go around again?” It’s highly unlikely that the creators and writers of the show believed another season was on the way (it’s certainly doubtful they believed it would return nearly 10 years later), but the choice to make a finale that was both emotionally satisfying and full of reset potential was a forward-thinking one that has clearly paid off. If Futurama had simply ended with Fry and Leela growing old together, the moment would have to have been explained away at the very beginning of the upcoming reboot.

It’s exciting to see Futurama return as more than a reference, and although it’s unclear what the stories of the new season will be, Fry and Leela’s will-they-won’t-the-relationship will likely be back in full. Although that may be slightly disappointing for some fans who felt gratified by finally seeing the pair together, Futurama has always excelled at crafting satisfying yet bittersweet moments. Besides, there’s always the chance that this new season of Futurama will deliver an even more final ending for two of its most lovable protagonists.

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