“Good news, everyone!” It is a catch-phrase that has become a symbol for the long-running TV show, Futurama.  The expression usually precedes something that would be considered as more “mixed news” than good.  It seems as if this time, it’ll be no different for Futurama fans.  As they mourn the end of the show, they are also given a spectacular finale.

The show, founded by The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, follows the exploits of Planet Express, a 31st century delivery company and its wacky crew of characters.  Some of these bold characters include Leela (Katey Sa

gal), a cyclops, Bender (John DiMaggio), a rebellious robot, and Fry (Billy West), a cryogenically frozen man from the year 2000.  Together, they explore the universe and get themselves into hilarious situations.  The show has become critically acclaimed for its ingenious parody of science fiction, as well as its down-to-earth heart.

Futurama has hit many highs in the past, taking home six Emmys during its thirteen-year run.  The first four seasons demonstrated the show’s ability to push the envelope on what “should” be the quality of an animated series.  After a short period in which it was dropped by Fox and acquired by Comedy Central, the show resumed its incredible antics.  Futurama drew a dedicated fan base who grew to cherish these episodes as “classics.”

However, many feel that its final season has not been on par with past episodes.  Such talk was put to an end by the series’ grand finale, entitled “Meanwhile.”  When Professor Farnsworth (Billy West) invents a button that can send the user ten seconds back in time, Fry steals it in an attempt to make his date with Leela last forever.

This could be considered a metaphor for how fans wish that the show could go on running until at least the 31st century.  Fry, being the lovable goof that he is, gets caught in an infinite loop.  This unfortunate situation displays the writers’ incredible combination of clever and crude humor that first put the show on the map.

The last ten minutes of the episode quickly transitioned from hilarious to poignant, and the show was able to say goodbye to its long cast of characters in a subtle way.  It was a sweet moment, but the writers were also smart enough to leave the show open ended, on the off chance that more episodes could be made.  However, after thirteen and a half years, fans got the closure that they craved for the characters that they have grown to love.