The following contains spoilers for Futurama season 12 episode 10, “Otherwise,” now streaming on Hulu
Futuramaseason 12 brought back Bender’s most goofy nemesis, and it could set up an exploration of a tragic mystery the show has never fully delved into.Futuramahas steadily explored more and more about the histories of its main characters, especially in season 12. The latest season of the animated sci-fi/comedy has expanded on theorigins of Benderand Hermes, while also highlighting the young struggles faced by Fry, Leela, and Amy. One way it’s done this has been by bringing back older characters like the Wong family or Fry’s parents, highlighting the scope of the show’s universe.
One return in theFuturamaseason 12 ending"Otherwise" highlights the way these deep cuts can set up new potential story. A gag character from the early seasons of the show comes back in full force in “Otherwise” and their rivalry with Bender is taken to a ridiculous extreme. It’s a solid joke in the episode, but also a reminder of the potential stories set up by the character. One of Bender’s earliest enemies inFuturamagets a surprising return in season 12, and it could quietly be the perfect way to reintroduce a lingering tragic mystery about Bender’s backstory.
The Can Opener’s Return In Futurama’s Season 12 Finale Explained
Bender’s Feud With The Can Opener, Explained
The can opener returns toFuturamain season 12’s “Otherwise,“reinvigorating Bender’s longest-running harsh animosity. A running gag inFuturamahas always been Bender’s habit of developing unexpected animosities and foes, setting up numerous conflicts across the show. One of the most absurd was established in season 2’s “I Second That Emotion,” which revealed Bender despises the magnetic can opener at Planet Express. Bender barely escapes it in that episode, prompting the rage that fuels him for much of the episode. The seemingly inanimate tool briefly paralyzed him in season 3’s “Bendin' in the Wind,” but has been absent since.
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That changes in “Otherwise,” which makes the can opener far more prominent for the episode. The rest of the crew celebrate the can opener as if it were a genuine member of the crew, despite it coming close to killing Bender again. Once the episode’s timeline diverges afterFuturama’s multiverse twist, one version ofBender finally confronts the can openerin the new Planet Express Ship and murders it — losing one of his hands in the process. It’s a goofy turn of events, but one that potentially sets up a storyline thatFuturamahas actually never explored with Bender’s backstory.
Bender’s Father Died Off-Screen To A Can Opener
Bender’s father has never actually been featured inFuturama, outside of a reference in “I Second That Emotion.” That episode revealed that Bender’s father had been killed by a can opener, giving him a reasonable fear of such devices.Futuramahas never delved more into that aspect of his backstory. By contrast, Bender’s mother (a robotic arm that was used at the Mom’s Friendly Robot Factory) has been seen in pictures, played a major role before her death in the podcast-only special “Radiorama,” and had her (and by extension Bender’s) extended family formally introduced in season 12’s “The One Amigo.”
Bender’s father is a great direction to explore, especially in light of howFuturamahas delved into the families of other characters and also established how robots procreate. Even if he isn’t brought back formally, an episode highlighting who he was and if he had any relationship with Bender before his death could be a compelling way to expand on Bender’s backstory beyond the revelations seen in “The One Amigo” or season 7’s “Lethal Inspection.” The return of the can opener and Bender’s hatred for himcould justify that sort of exploration, finally delving into the story of Bender’s father.
Futurama Season 12 Brought Back Several Classic Characters
FuturamaSeason 12 Brought Back Plenty Of Minor Characters For Creative New Stories
The Can Opener might not be as important in the actual show as “Otherwise” implies, which makes the jokes about it funnier and reinforces the multiversal qualities of the episode.Still,Futurama’sdecision to bring back the Can Opener’s feud with Bender is a clever and comedic touch that adds some goofy turns to the otherwise bittersweet romanticism of Fry and Leela’s story in the episode. This return also followsa trend thatFuturamaembraced in season 12. While the season did introduce new wrinkles and characters toFuturama’s universe, it also brought back some classic characters from previous seasons.
Much ofFuturama’s supporting cast were present for “Quids Game,“taking part in a lethal version of Fry’s childhood birthday party. The episode also returned to Fry’s childhood,mining his tragic backstory for more pathos. Zapp Brannigan made some silly appearances. Characters like Vyolet the mutant and Lauren Cahill got more personality than ever in “One Is Silicon and the Other Gold,” while the orphan Sally was important for the first time in seasons. The Can Opener might not really be a character, but its return highlights how season 12 has brought back the past for new gags and stories.
How Futurama Season 13 Can Improve On Season 12’s Strengths
Bringing BackFuturamaSupporting Characters Has Benefited The Show
Season 13 ofFuturamahas already been confirmed (as well as season 14), meaning fans will get plenty more adventures with the Planet Express Crew. Whether those adventures are back in the show’s standard-setting or set across the multiverse has yet to be seen, season 13 needs to continue tobuild on the strongest elements of season 12. This includes the wayFuturamatreated supporting and minor characters. The season took plenty of small-bit players and brought them back in fresh ways that benefited episodes. Characters like Sally and Vyolet illustrate howFuturamabuilds off previous gags for new stories.
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The can opener is a great proof of that concept, a silly gag from the early seasons that sets up solid character-based comedy. Bender’s hatred for the can opener is a good gag, and could be the doorway to exploring other storylines like the fate of Bender’s father. It’s one of the best qualities ofFuturama’s deep bench of gag characters, allowing silly concepts to set up surprising pathos.Futuramaseason 13 needs to continue this streak of clever decisions, and the can opener’s return could point to an ideal unexplored aspect of the show’s lore that’s rife for expansion.
Futurama
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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.
