The Why of Fry
Encyclopedia
"The Why of Fry" is the tenth episode in the fourth season of the animated television series Futurama
. It originally aired in North America
on April 6, 2003. The episode was written by David X. Cohen
and directed by Wes Archer
. In this episode it is revealed that Fry's cryogenic freezing and arrival in the 31st century was not an accident, but a calculated plot by Nibbler
to save the universe. Along with "Where No Fan Has Gone Before
" (which succeeds this episode in production order), it is one of two episodes that do not contain Professor Farnsworth
.
feels useless after Leela and Bender return from an extremely successful mission without him and after Leela asks Fry to walk Nibbler
while she goes on a date with Chaz, the mayor's aide. Fry is convinced the only good he serves is to clean up after Nibbler, but Nibbler tells him otherwise. Having never heard Nibbler talk, Fry is dumbfounded as Nibbler knocks him out and takes him to Eternium. The Nibblonians explain that Fry lacks the delta brainwave due to a unique genetic disorder he acquired after he became his own grandfather
. This rendered him immune to the attack of the Brainspawn a few months prior (in "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid
").
The Nibblonians reveal the Brainspawn's plan to collect all knowledge in the universe, store it in a colossal memory bank called the Infosphere, and destroy the rest of the universe. Because of his immunity, Fry is the only person who can stop them. The Nibblonians give Fry a "Quantum Interphase Bomb" which will send the sphere into an alternate dimension forever and instruct Fry to implant it. As the Infosphere collects the last data, Fry enters riding the Scooty Puff Jr. After he plants the bomb, Fry is discovered when he asks the Infosphere's computer several frivolous questions. Fry tries to escape, but the Scooty Puff Jr. falls apart, trapping him. Fry activates the bomb anyway, and despite being doomed to enter the alternate universe, he is glad that his life had a purpose: "leading good to victory over evil".
The Brainspawn suggest that the Nibblonians are not as good as they appear. They show Fry something that happened December 31, 1999, the night he was frozen (in "Space Pilot 3000
"). Fry is upset to see that Nibbler tipped him into the cryogenic chamber and sent him to the year 3000. Nibbler explains that he had to do so, as Fry was the only person who could defeat the Brainspawn. The bomb detonates, sending the Infosphere to the alternate dimension. Meanwhile, Leela goes on her date with Chaz. Chaz reserves the rocket skating rink for Leela, but Leela dumps him after he turns away the Cookieville orphans who were supposed to visit the rink.
In the alternate dimension, the Brainspawn discover they can send Fry back in time to stop Nibbler from freezing him. Fry accepts their offer and is transported to the cryogenics lab. He appears behind Nibbler under the desk, just before his past self is frozen. He restrains Nibbler, who protests that Fry must be sent to the future to save the universe. Nibbler asks if there is anything he wants to save in the future, and Fry mentions Leela. After Nibbler mysteriously notes that Leela may be the "Other", advises Fry not to give up on her, and promises that he will help Fry win Leela's heart, Fry tips his past self into the cryogenic chamber. Before he disappears, Fry warns Nibbler about the fragile Scooty Puff Jr.
In the future, Nibbler gives Fry the sturdier Scooty Puff Sr., allowing Fry to escape the Infosphere after planting the bomb a second time. Nibbler and Fry return to Earth, and Nibbler gives Fry a flower before blanking Fry's mind. Back at Planet Express, Fry gives Leela the flower. Leela tells Fry that although he may not be the most important person in the universe, he is still a good friend, and she gives him a kiss.
" when Fry is originally frozen. Cohen points out that Nibbler's shadow is present in the pilot episode, a point which is explained in this episode, and that this was a plot point which was planned since the pilot. This indicates that Fry was intentionally frozen. Jokes about the extreme mass of Nibbler's feces and mention of Vergon 6 call back to "Love's Labours Lost in Space
". The planet Eternium, the Brainspawn and the delta brainwave concept were originally introduced in "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid
". A joke about Fry becoming his own grandfather is also included (i.e., "I did do the nasty in the pasty"), a reference to the events of "Roswell That Ends Well
". Cohen also notes that in the episode "Jurassic Bark
" a shot of Nibbler's third eye sticking out of a trash can is included as a reference to these events as well, an item which many fans had noticed.
This episode contains a scene which re-enacts events from the pilot episode, "Space Pilot 3000", after they have been changed by the events of this episode. The episode is so similar to the pilot that the Animation director even jokes that the animators charged their time twice for the parts that were taken from the pilot. In actuality, some of Billy West's lines in this episode are taken directly from the voice track for the pilot, specifically Fry's lines as he enters Applied Cryogenics.
Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
. It originally aired in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
on April 6, 2003. The episode was written by David X. Cohen
David X. Cohen
David Samuel Cohen , primarily known as David X. Cohen, is an American television writer. He has written for The Simpsons and he is the head writer and executive producer of Futurama.-Early life:...
and directed by Wes Archer
Wes Archer
Wesley Meyer Archer is a television animation director. He was one of the original three animators on The Simpsons' Tracey Ullman shorts and subsequently directed a number of The Simpsons episodes before becoming supervising director at King of the Hill. A...
. In this episode it is revealed that Fry's cryogenic freezing and arrival in the 31st century was not an accident, but a calculated plot by Nibbler
Nibbler (Futurama)
Lord Nibbler is a fictional character from the animated television series Futurama. He is voiced by Frank Welker, who provides not only his speaking lines but also the various noises he makes when not speaking English....
to save the universe. Along with "Where No Fan Has Gone Before
Where No Fan Has Gone Before
"Where No Fan Has Gone Before" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of the animated series Futurama. It originally aired in the United States on April 21, 2002...
" (which succeeds this episode in production order), it is one of two episodes that do not contain Professor Farnsworth
Hubert J. Farnsworth
Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, or simply The Professor, is a fictional character in the American animated television series Futurama. He is voiced by Billy West using a combination of impressions of Burgess Meredith and Frank Morgan. Farnsworth is the proprietor of the Planet Express delivery...
.
Plot
FryPhilip J. Fry
Philip J. Fry, known simply as Fry, is a fictional character, the main protagonist of the animated science fiction sitcom Futurama. He is voiced by Billy West using a version of his own voice as he sounded when he was 25.-Character overview:...
feels useless after Leela and Bender return from an extremely successful mission without him and after Leela asks Fry to walk Nibbler
Nibbler (Futurama)
Lord Nibbler is a fictional character from the animated television series Futurama. He is voiced by Frank Welker, who provides not only his speaking lines but also the various noises he makes when not speaking English....
while she goes on a date with Chaz, the mayor's aide. Fry is convinced the only good he serves is to clean up after Nibbler, but Nibbler tells him otherwise. Having never heard Nibbler talk, Fry is dumbfounded as Nibbler knocks him out and takes him to Eternium. The Nibblonians explain that Fry lacks the delta brainwave due to a unique genetic disorder he acquired after he became his own grandfather
Roswell That Ends Well
"Roswell That Ends Well" is the nineteenth episode of the third production season of the TV show Futurama. This episode, which won an Emmy Award, originally aired on December 9, 2001 as the season premiere of broadcast season four. It was written by J. Stewart Burns and directed by Rich Moore...
. This rendered him immune to the attack of the Brainspawn a few months prior (in "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid
The Day the Earth Stood Stupid
"The Day the Earth Stood Stupid" is the seventh episode in season three of Futurama. It originally aired in North America on February 18, 2001...
").
The Nibblonians reveal the Brainspawn's plan to collect all knowledge in the universe, store it in a colossal memory bank called the Infosphere, and destroy the rest of the universe. Because of his immunity, Fry is the only person who can stop them. The Nibblonians give Fry a "Quantum Interphase Bomb" which will send the sphere into an alternate dimension forever and instruct Fry to implant it. As the Infosphere collects the last data, Fry enters riding the Scooty Puff Jr. After he plants the bomb, Fry is discovered when he asks the Infosphere's computer several frivolous questions. Fry tries to escape, but the Scooty Puff Jr. falls apart, trapping him. Fry activates the bomb anyway, and despite being doomed to enter the alternate universe, he is glad that his life had a purpose: "leading good to victory over evil".
The Brainspawn suggest that the Nibblonians are not as good as they appear. They show Fry something that happened December 31, 1999, the night he was frozen (in "Space Pilot 3000
Space Pilot 3000
"Space Pilot 3000" is the pilot episode of Futurama, which originally aired in North America on March 28, 1999 on Fox. The episode focuses on the cryogenic freezing of the series protagonist, Philip J. Fry, and the events when he awakens 1,000 years in the future...
"). Fry is upset to see that Nibbler tipped him into the cryogenic chamber and sent him to the year 3000. Nibbler explains that he had to do so, as Fry was the only person who could defeat the Brainspawn. The bomb detonates, sending the Infosphere to the alternate dimension. Meanwhile, Leela goes on her date with Chaz. Chaz reserves the rocket skating rink for Leela, but Leela dumps him after he turns away the Cookieville orphans who were supposed to visit the rink.
In the alternate dimension, the Brainspawn discover they can send Fry back in time to stop Nibbler from freezing him. Fry accepts their offer and is transported to the cryogenics lab. He appears behind Nibbler under the desk, just before his past self is frozen. He restrains Nibbler, who protests that Fry must be sent to the future to save the universe. Nibbler asks if there is anything he wants to save in the future, and Fry mentions Leela. After Nibbler mysteriously notes that Leela may be the "Other", advises Fry not to give up on her, and promises that he will help Fry win Leela's heart, Fry tips his past self into the cryogenic chamber. Before he disappears, Fry warns Nibbler about the fragile Scooty Puff Jr.
In the future, Nibbler gives Fry the sturdier Scooty Puff Sr., allowing Fry to escape the Infosphere after planting the bomb a second time. Nibbler and Fry return to Earth, and Nibbler gives Fry a flower before blanking Fry's mind. Back at Planet Express, Fry gives Leela the flower. Leela tells Fry that although he may not be the most important person in the universe, he is still a good friend, and she gives him a kiss.
Continuity
David X. Cohen notes that he was particularly enthusiastic to write this episode because of how it tied into other episodes, feeling that it was something that was rarely done in sitcoms, particularly cartoons. He points out that the writing staff tried to tie as many episodes together as possible regardless of whether they were originally written with that intent. The episode contains flashbacks to the events of "Space Pilot 3000Space Pilot 3000
"Space Pilot 3000" is the pilot episode of Futurama, which originally aired in North America on March 28, 1999 on Fox. The episode focuses on the cryogenic freezing of the series protagonist, Philip J. Fry, and the events when he awakens 1,000 years in the future...
" when Fry is originally frozen. Cohen points out that Nibbler's shadow is present in the pilot episode, a point which is explained in this episode, and that this was a plot point which was planned since the pilot. This indicates that Fry was intentionally frozen. Jokes about the extreme mass of Nibbler's feces and mention of Vergon 6 call back to "Love's Labours Lost in Space
Love's Labours Lost in Space
"Love's Labours Lost in Space" is the fourth episode in season one of Futurama. It originally aired in North America on April 13, 1999. The episode was written by Brian Kelley and directed by Brian Sheesley. This episode introduces the recurring character Zapp Brannigan when he attempts to prevent...
". The planet Eternium, the Brainspawn and the delta brainwave concept were originally introduced in "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid
The Day the Earth Stood Stupid
"The Day the Earth Stood Stupid" is the seventh episode in season three of Futurama. It originally aired in North America on February 18, 2001...
". A joke about Fry becoming his own grandfather is also included (i.e., "I did do the nasty in the pasty"), a reference to the events of "Roswell That Ends Well
Roswell That Ends Well
"Roswell That Ends Well" is the nineteenth episode of the third production season of the TV show Futurama. This episode, which won an Emmy Award, originally aired on December 9, 2001 as the season premiere of broadcast season four. It was written by J. Stewart Burns and directed by Rich Moore...
". Cohen also notes that in the episode "Jurassic Bark
Jurassic Bark
"Jurassic Bark" is the seventh episode of season four of the television series Futurama, airing November 17, 2002. It was nominated for an Emmy Award, but lost to The Simpsons episode "Three Gays of the Condo".-Plot:...
" a shot of Nibbler's third eye sticking out of a trash can is included as a reference to these events as well, an item which many fans had noticed.
Production
David X. Cohen states in the episode commentary that he was eager to write this episode in part because it was something that had been discussed since the very beginning of the show. They had wanted to show that there was a larger conspiracy that had brought Fry to the future and notes on more than one occasion that this was something that had been planned since the pilot. Creator Matt Groening also notes that they had planned to hold off on using time travel plot lines until the series was better established. Cohen jokes that perhaps they should have explored this plot point earlier however since at the time the episode commentary was recorded it had become clear that the series would be ending. Cohen also thought it was important that the episode explored Fry's option of returning to the past and the question of whether he was happier in the past or in the future.This episode contains a scene which re-enacts events from the pilot episode, "Space Pilot 3000", after they have been changed by the events of this episode. The episode is so similar to the pilot that the Animation director even jokes that the animators charged their time twice for the parts that were taken from the pilot. In actuality, some of Billy West's lines in this episode are taken directly from the voice track for the pilot, specifically Fry's lines as he enters Applied Cryogenics.
Broadcast and reception
IGN.com ranked the episode as number twenty in their list of the "Top 25 Futurama Episodes" in 2006 because although the episode was not the funniest episode in the series, it had a fun story and was a "great continuation" to "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid".External links
- The Why of Fry at The Infosphere.