Futurama

Every single episode is a winner. Genuinely, there are no duds in the bunch.

From those quippy jokes in the title sequence, Fry’s imbecilic antics, to a dazzling cameo by an iconic rapper, there is something in the newly reemerged series for everyone. Yet, though “Futurama” remains true to its roots, our society sits at a very different place than it did a decade ago. Thus, whether or not “Futurama” can make the same punchy impact it made so many years ago remains to be seen.

There are places in which the show’s age is beginning to show. The six episodes made available to press feature direct references, both major and minor, to NFTs, Amazon warehouses, and Ivermectin, which all already feel dated. That said, the endless possibilities of Futurama’s wide, weird universe means that some of these “ripped from last year’s headlines” topics can still play out in fresh, funny ways.

These episodes feel like Futurama, though some of the voice actors sound a little older (and maybe a little underpaid) and there are some weird visual hiccups ... but anyone looking to return to a comfort show will have no problem cozying up with this latest revival.

If you’ve been a fan of this show over the last quarter-century, you’re going to watch these new episodes, and they’re going to be as funny and sometimes frustrating as they’ve always been.

At its best, Futurama remains a charming, sci-fi-tinged hangout comedy in the vein of a futuristic Community or It’s Always Sunny. But the re-reboot only reinforces how great that very first run was, more than 20 years ago.

Do these new episodes feel essential? Not really. I don’t know that I ever felt that way about the show to begin with, but I have such admiration for its love of zingers, its bouncy-cynical depiction of the future, and a cast of characters who are plainly ridiculous and yet committed to one another.

There isn’t a conspicuous dud episode in the bunch, and every episode made me smile and laugh. At the same time, in this batch of six episodes, there isn’t a single memorable new character, inspired episodic structure or mind-warping piece of futuristic whimsy. You could have told me these were episodes from either of the original runs of the series and I wouldn’t have been surprised. That’s both totally acceptable and a little disappointing.

“Futurama” has always worked best when it has leaned into an almost Vaudevillian sense of humor. Most of that “Catskills Comedian” set-up/punchline material comes from DiMaggio’s Bender, still a consistently hysterical character. .... When the writers of “Futurama” try to get topical, they falter a bit.

There's still plenty of great stuff happening in season 11 of "Futurama" that keeps the ship aloft, but if we get a season 12 I hope there's more science fiction silliness and less contemporary satire.

At this point in its unlikely lifespan, Futurama's blend of sci-fi parody, satirical digs at modern culture, and classic sitcom tropes is rarely hilarious but usually amusing. It's comfort food, as reliably satisfying as a bowl of Bachelor Chow washed down with a swig of Slurm.