The following contains spoilers for Futurama season 12 episode 7, “Planet Espresso,” now streaming on Hulu
Futuramaseason 12 highlights a series long tragedy that’s been haunting Fry since the early seasons of the show. At the heart ofFuturamais Phillip J. Fry, an average guy from the late 20th century who serves as the show’s audience surrogate in the bizarre and comically dark world of the 31st century. In that time,Futuramatwists have sent Fry traveling through time, pit him against ancient aliens, and saved the universe multiple times. Despite this, Fry remains a comically put-upon every-man, especially compared to the other characters inFuturama.
It’s an element of the character that’s been repeatedly pronounced in severalepisodes ofFuturamaseason 12, with “Planet Espresso” doubling down on this element of the character for comedic effect. While Fry is a relatively minor character in the episode, his role in the episode highlights a series-long thread for the character that remains prevalent. Even while it can be hard to watch Fry still dealing with a problem that’s always haunted him, it’s also an important element of what makes the character so compelling and relatable.
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“Planet Espresso” Makes Fry The Most Underappreciated Futurama Character
Even Zoidberg Is Treated With More Respect In “Planet Espresso”
Futuramaseason 12’s “Planet Espresso” reinforces a series long trend with Fry,highlighting how he remains unappreciated even in an era he’s adjusted to and embraced. “Planet Espresso” sees the Planet Express Crew shifting their work once more, this time becoming a coffee company. Thanks to the powerful coffee produced on the farm owned byHermes' deceased father, the crew quickly becomes immensely popular in New New York. Unfortunately, the only actual employee of the coffee venture turns out to be Fry, who is quickly overworked and becomes sleep-deprived.
When he attempts to call out this unfair treatment, the rest of the crew go on strike claiming Fry needs to accept even worse treatment. It’s a quietly sad moment, especially when compared to Zoidberg. Although Zoidberg isFuturama’s favorite punching bag, he spends much of the episode enjoying himself on Hermes' field clipping beans. He even has a casual relationship with Hermes, who typically despises Zoidberg. By contrast,all of their friends and co-workers are uncaring about Fry’s plightand abusive to his position in the company. It’s far from the only time Fry has been criminally underappreciated, either.
Fry Has Never Gotten The Recognition He Deserves
Fry Is Constantly Put Down InFuturama
A recurring theme inFuturamahas always been Fry’s inability to be recognized for his talents in a proper way. Episodes like season 4’s “Future Stock,” season 5’s “The Why of Fry,” season 8’s “Law and Oracle,” and season 12’s “The Temp” have reinforced this theme, withFry constantly ignored at best and belittled at worstfor his work. His peers openly laughed at him for this, including his best friend and his long-time love interest. This leaves Fry as a source of audience sympathy even after years of being the main character in the series..
It allows Fry to remain the underdogeven when the lore of the show has confirmed he’s far more important than anyone gives him credit for. However, in episodes like “Planet Espresso,” it can feel strangely targeted and mean — especially just a handful of episodes after “The Temp,” which highlighted the importance of Fry’s connections with the crew and their empathy for one another. It’s even led him to quit Planet Express in the past, albeit briefly. It’s still a tragic circumstance that Fry has to put up with, and one that’s haunted him for over a thousand years.
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Fry’s Never Been Appreciated In Futurama, Especially In His Time
Fry’s Original Time Period Never Felt Like Home
No matter the challenges and tragedies Fry faces in the present day, it largely pales in comparison to his treatment back in the late 20th century.Futurama’s long-running emotional plot arc,Fry was completely underestimated and underappreciated by the people of his era. Season 12’sSquid Gamesparody “Quids Game” revealed his friends all left him when they mistook his genuine enthusiasm and unwitting luck for cheating. His girlfriend Michelle has been frequently shown to be a bad partner, actively cheating on him during their romance.
Most notably,even Fry’s family didn’t think much of him— explaining why his mother went out of her way to rig his childish birthday games in his favor in “Quids Game.” Fry’s parents both felt Fry lacked any true intellect, and his brother only openly professed emotion for his brother after he was frozen and believed dead to the world. This disconnect with the world of the 20th century may have been in part due to Fry’s failings as a young man, but it’s remained a potent reminder that the world he lost wasn’t necessarily made for him.
Fry Being Underappreciated Makes His “Chosen One” Status Even Better
Fry Is Underestimated Even After Saving The Universe Multiple Times
What makes Fry’s constantly underappreciated status in episodes like “Planet Espresso” all the more compelling is the wayit subverts typical sci-fi conventions surrounding the “Chosen One” archetype. In many franchises, a character discovering they’re fated for universal importance becomes a major source of drama or character development. The story shifts around them, and other characters in their orbit must deal with that reality. That’s not the case inFuturama, which has been teasing Fry’s importance since season 2 and has seen the character save existence more than once.
Despite this,Fry is specifically a character the universe doesn’t care about. His memory (and the memories of others) are often blanked after these massive adventures, ensuring his average status remains for much of the show. Even when it becomes more evident that Fry does have importance, others pay him little heed and still treat him as the lowest employee at a minor shipping company.Futuramahighlights how Fry’s more unassuming side is one of his best qualities, ensuring his status as the “chosen one” doesn’t go to his head. Being unappreciated makes his importance all the more compelling.
Fry’s Work Woes Reinforce Into His Tragic Role In Futurama
Fry Will Never Get The Credit He Deserves (AndFuturamaIs Better For It)
Futuramahas always been a clever comedy and a surprisingly sweet show amid all the epic sci-fi subversions.It’s also quietly been a powerfully bittersweet show at times, highlighting the losses of characters like Fry while still allowing them to be silly and fulfilled. Fry’s lost connection to his home time is only sadder when it becomes clear his parent’s doubts about him would be erased if they could see the things he’s accomplished in the future. His colleagues constantly underestimate him, even as his actions have helped ensure the future of their universe continues.
Fry being underappreciated highlights what makes the character compelling and admirable, despite his comical inadequacies and more selfish moments. He continues to stand by his friends and their unexpected missions even if they brush him aside in the process. Fry being so underappreciated plays into the show’s overarching approach to cosmic importance, undercutting it whenever possible and reinforcing the importance of an important person like Fry still being a good person. It’s an important element ofFuturamaand a key element of Fry’s role in the show.
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.
