The following contains spoilers for Futurama season 12 episode 10, “Otherwise,” now streaming on Hulu
Futuramalooks like it is expanding their scope to an entire multiverse, but that comes with some specific risks for upcoming seasons.Futuramahas always been willing to push the limits of its sci-fi setting for the sake of comedy or romance, with plenty of universe-shaking events occurring over the last twelve seasons. TheFuturamaseason 12 ending “Otherwise"broadened the horizon exponentially thanks to the formal introduction of a multiverse. The episode even ended with the show’s main characters adrift between realities. On one level, that’s an exciting prospect. It opens the door to plenty of storytelling possibilities.
However, there’s also a fair amount of risk that comes from shifting the show in this direction. The new approach is well-trodden ground in modern sci-fi, and this embrace of wild opportunity could distract from the established continuity and characters that have helped makeFuturamaso compelling. These aren’t necessarily certainties, and the strength ofFuturamaseason 12overall suggests that a full multiversal plunge forFuturamawould still be entertaining. Still,here are the biggest risksFuturamafaces if it goes full multiversalin season 13 and season 14.
8The Multiversal Adventures Could Further Remove Stakes
FuturamaHaving Limitless Realities Might Mean There’s No Consequences
By opening up a multiverse of possibilities and possible ret-cons,Futuramamight have just set itself up to lose any remaining character tension.There’s already been a stakes problem inFuturamafor years, thanks to the show’s glib approach to death. Multiple characters have died inFuturamaand quickly been brought back, either through outside intervention or unexpectedplot twists inFuturama. This has leftFuturamasomewhat underwhelming whenever it wants to shift into high gear and raise the stakes, as the natural tension that could potentially be produced in these sequences is largely non-existent.
Futurama’s Season 12 Finale Repeats A Big Risk That Was Ruined By The Show’s Last Cancellation
Futurama’s season 12 finale is an exciting development, but it’s reminiscent of how a previous universe-expanding finale was quickly ret-conned.
There’s little threat to characters like Bender inFuturama’s regular continuity. The non-canon anthology episodes could actually introduce stakes for minor bursts with their versions of the main cast, but often for the sake of a dark joke instead of carrying on the overarching themes and plot of the story.BringingFuturamaacross the multiverse could further undermine stakes. While the emotional storytelling of Fry and Leela’s potential ending was well-made and compelling, it was somewhat undercut with the knowledge that a newly codifiedFuturamamultiverse could kill off (and replace) anyone it pleases.
7The Multiverse Could Cost The Show Its Supporting Cast
Futurama’s Supporting Cast Could Be Lost If The Show Leaves The Main Reality
One of the more exciting potential beats in “Otherwise” is the reveal that the Planet Express Crew has effectively been set adrift in the multiverse. This could shake up the show as a whole, allowing the creatives to send the crew to exotic and inventive new locations. However, removing them from their primary setting also means the show could lose the ability to easily deploy the massive gallery of supporting characters it has developed over the years. Season 12 episodes like “Quids Game” highlightedthe sheer comedic depth ofFuturama’s supporting characters.
Simply ignoring that growth — especially with Amy, given her three children — would undercut the core emotional strength of the characters that have always groundedFuturamaeven when it embraces the bizarre
Leaving New New York and the 31st Century that’s been established over the last twenty-five years could leave them behind. On top of the comedic elements this would leave hanging, this could also blunt the genuine character development and relationships of characters like Amy and Hermes, who have specifically grown during season 12 in relation to the loved ones that aren’t on the ship.Simply ignoring that growth — especially with Amy, given her three children — would undercut the core emotional strengthof the characters that have always groundedFuturamaeven when it embraces the bizarre.
6The Show Could Lose Sight Of Their Central Arcs
Expanding To The Multiverse Could Be Problematic ForFuturama’s Main Emotional Storylines
With the ability to go to any possible setting or time period inFuturama’s vast multiverse, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the show embrace a more liberated and experimental tone. However,this might have the unintended effect of drawing attention away from many of the show’s central arcs. Storylines like Amy and Hermes' family struggles, Zoidberg’s few interpersonal connections, and Bender’s constant existential searches might take a backseat to a more formal sense of experimentation.
This would be a shame, as the genuine and steady character development at the heart ofFuturamahas always been a key part of what makes it so compelling. The show benefits from the deeply detailed and emotionally resonant characters at the center of the series. Despite their absurd sci-fi nature, the characters have relatable desires, flaws, and strengths. If the series fully embraces the multiverse adventure without keeping some focus on the characters at the heart of the series,the show’s emotional throughlines could suffer.
5Futurama Could Experiment With Closure
One of the more interesting elements of “Otherwise” is the way the episode played with Fry and Leela’s romance, ultimately showcasing one of the ways the series could come to an end. Although another version of Fry and Leela (along with the rest of the Planet Express Crew) survive and head out on a new adventure, the episode provides a sense of potential closure for Fry and Leela’s storyline.This could end up inspiring the creatives to explore other potential approaches to closurefor the series.
Futurama Bringing Back Bender’s Most Tragic Enemy After 23 Years Can Finally Solve His Oldest Mystery
Bender’s oldest nemesis in Futurama makes a return in season 12’s finale “Otherwise,” which could be the key to exploring a lingering Bender mystery.
This could push the series closer to actually finishing off the plotlines baked into the show’s overarching story. The risk of this can already be seen in “Otherwise,” which risked being a perfectly bittersweet finale for Fry and Leela. If the eventual genuine ending of their story inFuturama’s inevitable finale fails to reach the heights of “Otherwise,“then it could look even worse by comparison. The same could be said for any other explorations of howFuturama’s stories and characters could end, setting the show up to be compared to itself down the line.
4Futurama Could Face Accusations Of Imitations
FuturamaWould Be Exploring A Concept That’s Become Very Commonplace
Futuramahas formally opened up the multiverse going forward, which is a fun concept. However,it’s also a concept that’s become increasingly tapped out in recent years. Shows likeRick & Morty, which clearly took some level of inspiration fromFuturama’s approach to sci-fi and comedy, have been traversing the multiverse for over a decade. The multiverse has been fodder for mainstream blockbusters like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and more artistic endeavors likeEverything Everywhere All at Once, highlighting different strengths of the storytelling device.
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However, this means thatFuturamafollowing a similar tract could lead it to be accused of following a trend that’s already been having diminishing results in other franchises. The multiverse concept being a driving force forFuturamagoing forward could subsequently feel like a retread of other sci-fi properties. WhileFuturamahas always found success in subverting expectations in the sci-fi genre, the multiverse has already been played for comedy, drama, action, and adventure.Futuramacould find itself facing accusations of just following a sci-fi trend instead of expanding upon it.
3Futurama Could Lose Story Cohesion And Continuity
Futurama’s Lore Could Become More Confusing With Alternate Timelines At Play
While it’s never been afraid to break the rules it established for itself,Futuramahas always benefited from a surprisingly consistent continuity. Elements like Fry’s status as the chosen one or Leela’s mutant storyline built on previous seasons worth of development and growth.This helped giveFuturamaa sense of scope even while the show itself remained focused on the charactersand the resulting comedy of their interactions with an absurd universe.
While the multiverse expands that scope more than ever before, it also sets up the potential that it could overshadow the more grounded character elements that have always benefitedFuturama. With the ability to hop from timeline to timeline,Futuramacould lose some of that cohesionthat’s always kept the internal timeline compelling and understandable. Potentially countless encounters with variants, each with their own different timelines and variants, could cost the show some of the tighter story construction that’s allowed it to have slow-burn lore reveals.
Futurama Just Confirmed That The Show’s Biggest Multiverse Fan Theory Is Actually True
Futurama season 12 has finally concluded, with the multiversal finale confirming one of the biggest fan theories surrounding the series.
2Futurama Could Get Lost Playing Too Much With Genre
AlthoughFuturamahas always had a lot of fun playing with tone,the show’s sci-fi setting has typically served as the backbone of the show. Non-canon anthology episodes were typically a place to experiment more openly with genre, leading to snarky but loving parodies of everything from classic animation to the antics of Scooby-Doo. Season 2’s “Anthology of Interest” highlighted how the show, when freed from typical canon and rules, could become an effective horror show. These are reasons to be excited for the possible multiversal adventures ofFuturama, but they also pose a risk.
The show could embrace the experimentation to a fault, leaving behind the established mix of dark goofball comedy, high-concept sci-fi, and emotionally grounded characters that has defined the series up to this point. If the multiverse proves tantalizing as a set-up to experiment with,Futuramacould lose its unique sense of goofy sci-fi identity. While it could be a lot of fun to seeFuturamafiltered through different storytelling styles, it would be a shame to lose the distinct mixture of tones that’s come to define the animated series.
1Futurama Could Find Dangerous New Heights (Or Lows)
FuturamaCould Just Ignore Big Events If It Leans Too Hard Into The Multiverse
Futurama’s multiversal excursion could end up leading to a lot of things, including the kind of cosmic threats that endanger entire multiverses. These could introduce new heights for the show’s approach to action and adventure. However, there’s also a risk that those kinds of stakes would feel drab compared tothe multiple near-apocalyptic eventsFuturamahas played with (and promptly ignored) over the last twenty-five years.
Major events and potentially show changing elements could easily be washed away, similar to how season 12’s “Attack of the Clothes” endedwith the apparent end of the world that was promptly reversed by the next episode.Futuramacould lose any remeants of excitement in the process, costing the show what drama and stakes it can elicit from time to time. The biggest risk ofFuturama’smultiverse is that nothing ends up feeling like it matters in the grand scheme of the series, leaving the show’s events to blend together and become lackluster.
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Futurama is an animated science fiction series that follows Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy from late-20th-century New York City. He is accidentally cryogenically frozen for a thousand years and becomes an employee at Planet Express, a delivery service in the retro-futuristic 31st century.
