Difference between revisions of "Leela and the Genestalk"

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{{episode infobox
{{episode infobox 2
|name=Leela and the Genestalk
|name=Leela and the Genestalk
|image=[[File:Leela and the Genestalk infobox.png|225px]]
|image=[[File:Leela and the Genestalk infobox.png|225px]]
Line 9: Line 9:
|directed by=Lance Kramer
|directed by=Lance Kramer
|caption=SPOILER ALERT: [[robots|ROBOTS]] AND WHATNOT
|caption=SPOILER ALERT: [[robots|ROBOTS]] AND WHATNOT
|first aired=7 August, [[2013]]
|first aired=7 {{August}}, [[2013]]
|number=7ACV22
|number=7ACV22
|broadcast number=S10E09
|broadcast number=S10E09
Line 17: Line 17:
|opening cartoon=''{{w|Tom and Jerry (Van Beuren)|Rocketeers}}''
|opening cartoon=''{{w|Tom and Jerry (Van Beuren)|Rocketeers}}''
|special guest={{w|Adam West}}<br>{{w|Burt Ward}}
|special guest={{w|Adam West}}<br>{{w|Burt Ward}}
|guest-stars={{w|Adam West}} and {{w|Burt Ward}} as themselves
}}
}}
"'''Leela and the Genestalk'''" is the one hundred and thirty-sixth episode of ''[[Futurama]]'', the twenty-second of the [[Season 7|seventh production season]] and the ninth of the [[Broadcast season 10|tenth broadcast season]]. It aired on 7 August, [[2013]], on [[Comedy Central]]. After a rare condition causes [[Leela]] to grow tentacles, she stumbles upon [[Momsanto|a secret genetic-engineering facility]].
After a rare condition causes [[Leela]] to grow tentacles, she stumbles upon [[Momsanto|a secret genetic-engineering facility]].


== Story ==
== Story ==
{{message box
=== Act I: "There were still so many things I wanted to let go of." ===
|type=warning
While riding a mechanical [[buggalo]] at [[Tex 1138's]], [[Leela]] finds that she is breaking out in suction cups. [[Dr. Tenderman]] explains that due to a genetic condition, her body has begun a process called [[squidification]], in which her limbs "will be gradually transformed into a slithering mass of tentacles." There is no cure, and a very expensive surgery can only delay the symptoms for a few months. In spite of these drawbacks, the [[crew]] send [[Fry]] to sell the company [[Planet Express ship|ship]] to pay for the operation. At the market, a [[bean salesman|con artist]] buys the ship for two gigantic, magic beans that are supposedly a miracle cure for Leela's ailment. Back at [[Planet Express headquarters|headquarters]], [[Farnsworth]] is so angry that he knocks the beans out of Fry's hands, causing them to fly out the window. The beans fall onto fertile soil and grow in a few hours into a beanstalk that reaches the clouds. Leela realizes that she doesn't want to share her misery with her friends, and decides to cut off contact with them and live in the [[New New York sewers|sewer]]. As she opens the manhole leading to the sewer, she notices the new beanstalk and decides to "take the beanstalk less traveled."
|header=This plot summary is too long.
|content=Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise.
}}


While riding a mechanical [[buggalo]] at [[Tex 1138's]], Leela finds that she is breaking out in suction cups. She discovers that she is  developing a genetic condition called squidification, a condition in which the body slowly transforms into a slithering mass of tentacles. She goes to [[Taco Bellevue Hospital|the hospital]] and is told that there is no cure for squidification, except an extremely expensive surgery that would only delay the symptoms for a few months. [[Fry]] decides that the {{Planet Express|crew}} has to do everything in their power to be able to pay for the operation, so he goes to market to sell [[the ship]]. While there, Fry meets [[bean salesman|a trader]] who says he'll take the ship in exchange for magic beans that he says will cure any ailment. Fry makes the trade.
=== Act II: "It's some kind of de-luxe apartment in the sky." ===
At the top of the beanstalk, Leela finds a flying {{cat|castle}} grounds occupied by colorful flying {{cat|fishe|fish}} and a unicorn that eats them. She is suddenly captured by [[Mom's sons|Mom's three sons]] and taken to [[Mom]], who explains that the castle is her genetic engineering facility, where she conducts experiments such as creating gigantic beanstalks for feeding the hungry. In spite of the arguably philanthropic nature of Mom's experiments, Leela is offended, considering the experiments to be crimes.


When he gets back to [[Planet Express headquarters|the company building]], he presents the beans to the rest of the crew, only to get yelled at by the rest of the crew. [[Professor Farnsworth]] even knocks the beans out of Fry's hands, causing them to fly out the window. When Leela walks in on them, she says that she appreciates whatever they are trying to do, but claims that this is one of those rare problems with no magic solution and she leaves, again looking very depressed. The camera shows the beans outside under a dripping pipe beginning to grow into a large beanstalk.
After three weeks go by, everyone realizes that they don't know Leela's whereabouts. Fry and Bender, after both being hit in the head by Leela's boots, which have fallen from the sky, fly together to Mom's facility to rescue Leela. To Fry's horror, Leela's entire body except her face has been transformed into the mass of tentacles that Dr. Tenderman predicted.


When everyone is going home for the day, the door closes in front of her and she sees her reflection. Fry appears behind her and outs his hands on her shoulders and says that she looks sad and asks her if she wants to go to the phone store and check out the new ringtones. She says no and that it's been a weird day and that she wants to stay and think. Fry says okay and puckers his lips for a kiss. In return Leela puts one of her newly sprouted neck tentacles to his lips.
=== Act III: "Don't report them missing till ''after'' we max out their credit cards." ===
While trying to escape from the {{cat|laboratorie|lab}}, Fry, Leela, and Bender encounter a [[Stan|giant]], bound to an operating table connected to medical machinery. Believing that he is suffering Mom's genetic experiments, Leela frees the giant, who then chases the escapees until they flee down the drain of the giant's bathroom sink. Strangely, the drain carries the three back to the bridge of the facility, where Leela confronts Mom. In order to put a stop to the experiments, Leela causes the facility to fly out of control. As it nears the ground, it passes close by the [[Planet Express]] headquarters, to which Fry, Leela, and Bender jump to safety.


After everyone has left, Leela writes the Planet Express crew a letter telling them that she is moving down to [[New New York sewers|the sewers]] and not to try to contact her. Before she descends down into the sewer, she sees one of the vines from the beanstalk and decides to take "the beanstalk less traveled". At the top she says it's like a fairy tale and that this a turn for the better, only to be captured by [[Walt]], [[Larry]], and [[Igner]] seconds later. She is put in a cage and brought to [[Mom]]. She is told that she discovered her floating genetic-engineering gacility, [[Momsanto]] (as her experiments would be illegal on earth, but her facility is above the law, literally). In the facility, Mom is trying to genetically engineer a giant beanstalk that wouldn't collapse under its own weight, but has been unsuccessful.  
Later, Mom drops by to thank Leela for helping her to "engineer the perfect bean." Leela is still horrified by genetic engineering in principle; Mom attempts to sway her by re-introducing her to the giant, whom she has cured of hereditary gigantism and reduced to a normal-sized man. Leela is still not impressed, but quickly changes her mind when Mom announces that she can cure Leela herself.
Leela asks to be released from the facility, but Mom says Leela's got "some freaky DNA" and wants to see what's in her genes (and at that Igner laughs).


Meanwhile, [[Hermes]] and Fry discover the collapsed remains of the beanstalk. Later, Fry talks about how much he misses Leela while holding her [[wristlojackimator]]. It's been three weeks since they've seen her and he wants to go down to the sewers and visit her. Then, the wristlojackimator gets a call from [[Turanga Munda|Leela's mother]]. She asks where Leela is, revealing to Fry that Leela is not where they thought she was. Later, while pacing around where the Planet Express ship used to be, Fry goes on about he has to find out where Leela is and he and [[Bender]] are suddenly hit in the head with Leela's boots. Fry and Bender then take a jetpack up in the sky to attempt to find Leela and find the genetic-engineering facility.
The episode ends with Fry and a cured Leela walking hand-in-hand through [[New New York|New New York City]], which has been transformed into a jungle of giant beanstalks.


On arrival, Fry mentions how it looks like the mural on [[Fry's cousin|his cousin]]'s van. Then, Leela spots them from her tower and Fry says they'll rescue and asks how to get up to the tower. To that, she replies that she'll let her hair down and they can climb up, but she actually lets down a series of tentacles. Fry comments that it's not hair but climbs up anyway, meeting [[Burt Ward's head|Burt Ward]] and [[Adam West's head|Adam West]] on the way up. When they reach the top, Leela is reluctant to reveal her entire body to them because her body had turned into a cluster of tentacles. Fry says that nothing about her body could ever shock him, but when she shows her body, he screams, but claims that it was because he was so excited to see her. Bender bends the door open and they all escape her room.
== Production ==
 
{{expansion|section=yes|{{ctf|1}}}}
While walking through the lab, they encounter a creature with the head of an alligator and the wings of a bird causing them to enter the room covered in warning signs (where Mom claims she keeps warning signs) where they find [[Stan|a large giant]] being genetically engineered. The giant is restrained to a chair and Leela frees it. It attacks them and they hide behind the series of enlarged common objects and escape down the giant sink drain. The drain takes them to the facility's cockpit, where they meet Mom. Leela tells Mom that they will do anything to stop her from genetically engineering things and she spins the wheel of the ship, causing it to rock and plummet towards the ground. When they are close to the Planet Express building, Leela wraps one of her tentacles around the tower and she, Fry, and Bender escape Mom. They all return and Leela reveals herself to her co-workers, who are very surprised with her appearance. [[Dr. Zoidberg]] finds her beautiful.


Later, when she and Fry are alone, Leela tells him that whatever [[Fry-Leela relationship|romantic relationship]] they have could not continue and Fry says that he wants to spend his life with her and that looks change, but she'll always be Leela, the woman he loves. They kiss and the genetic-engineering facility comes into view. Mom comes out and says that Leela helped her engineer the perfect bean. Leela stands by her opinion of genetic engineering being wrong until Mom says that she can cure her squidification with genetic engineering and she accepts the treatment. The episode ends with her and Fry holding hands while the city is being engulfed by the new beanstalk Mom produced.
On 5 {{February}}, 2013, {{w|Vulture.com}} released [[Vulture preview clip|a preview clip]] for the tenth broadcast season,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/02/watch-a-preview-of-futuramas-seventh-season.html|title=Watch a Preview of ''Futurama''’s Seventh Season|author=Jesse David Fox|date=2013-2-5|site=Vulture.com|accessdate=2013-8-17}}</ref> which contained footage from the episode.


== Production ==
By {{date|1 August}}, Comedy Central had released a two-minute preview clip featuring Fry sell the Planet Express ship to pay for an operation for Leela. <ref name="preview clip">{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/video-clips/dc1yk5/futurama-magic-beans|title=Magic Beans - Video Clip|site=Comedy Central|accessdate=2013-07-01}}</ref>
{{expansion|section=yes|''[[Countdown to Futurama]]''}}


By 1 August, 2013, Comedy Central had released a two-minute preview clip featuring Fry sell the Planet Express ship to pay for an operation for Leela. <ref name="preview clip">{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/video-clips/dc1yk5/futurama-magic-beans|title=Magic Beans - Video Clip|site=Comedy Central|accessdate=2013-07-01}}</ref>
On {{date|6 August}}, it was revealed that the characters [[Finn the Human|Finn]] and [[Jake the Dog|Jake]], from the animated [[TV]] series ''{{w|Adventure Time}}'', would appear in the episode. <ref name="MTV Geek">{{cite web|url=http://geek-news.mtv.com/2013/08/06/adventure-time-futurama-crossover/|title=Algebraic News, Everyone! ‘Adventure Time’ Crosses Over With ‘Futurama’ This Week!|author=Charles Webb|date=2013-8-6|site={{w|MTV}} Geek|accessdate=2013-8-6}}</ref>
 
On 6 August, it was revealed that the characters Finn and [[Jake the Dog|Jake]], from the animated [[TV]] series ''{{w|Adventure Time}}'', would appear in the episode. <ref name="MTV Geek">{{cite web|url=http://geek-news.mtv.com/2013/08/06/adventure-time-futurama-crossover/|title=Algebraic News, Everyone! ‘Adventure Time’ Crosses Over With ‘Futurama’ This Week!|author=Charles Webb|date=2013-8-6|site={{w|MTV}} Geek|accessdate=2013-8-6}}</ref>


=== Image gallery ===
=== Image gallery ===
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=== Trivia ===
=== Trivia ===
*Amy's mother, who was featured in the first promotional picture, was replaced with a random man for the episode. It's possible that the scene originally took place at the [[Wong Ranch]].
*Amy's mother, who was featured in the first promotional picture, was replaced with a random man for the episode. It's possible that the scene originally took place at the [[Wong Ranch]].
*The name of the doctor from "[[The Tip of the Zoidberg]]" is revealed to be [[Dr Tenderman]].
*The name of the {{cat|doctor}} from "[[The Tip of the Zoidberg]]" is revealed to be [[Dr Tenderman]].
*It is revealed that Leela occasionally lays an egg.
*It is revealed that Leela occasionally lays an egg.
*In "[[Fry and Leela's Big Fling]]", Leela stated that her arm bracelet could only be removed via cutting off her arm. She takes it off without difficulty while packing her things.
*In "[[Fry and Leela's Big Fling]]", Leela stated that her arm bracelet could only be removed via cutting off her arm. She takes it off without difficulty while packing her things.
*In "[[Yo Leela Leela]]", Leela tells the [[Cookieville Minimum-Security Orphanarium|Cookieville]] [[orphans]] about a one-eyed princess who lived in a magical, one-room castle. "Yo Leela Leela" was also [[writers and directors|written]] by [[Eric Horsted]].
*[[John DiMaggio]], the voice of Bender, provides the voice of Jake in ''Adventure Time''.
*[[John DiMaggio]], the voice of Bender, provides the voice of Jake in ''Adventure Time''.
*Squid Leela is featured in the cover art for [[Volume 8]]. An image of Leela riding the mechanical buggalo is used on the episode menu, along with a piece of {{cat|s=no|music}} from the episode.
*In "[[Mars University]]", the Professor calls genetic engineering "preposterous science-fiction mumbo-jumbo".


=== Allusions ===
=== Allusions ===
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*The episode's title is a reference to the folk story "{{w|Jack and the Beanstalk}}".
*The episode's title is a reference to the folk story "{{w|Jack and the Beanstalk}}".
*Many scenes reference fairytales.
*Many scenes reference fairytales.
*The name "Tex 1138's" is a reference to the [[1971]] film ''{{w|THX 1138}}'', directed by ''[[Star Wars]]'' creator {{w|George Lucas}}.
*The concept of "fake" wild west, reveled when a bar owner calls a command center, when mechanical Buggalo breaks down, is a reference to a [[1973]] SF movie ''{{w|Westworld}}''.
*The concept of a castle in the clouds may be a reference to the [[20th century|1986]] film ''{{w|Castle in the Sky}}''. The concept of a flying castle may be a reference to the {{w|Howl's Moving Castle|1986 novel}} and [[2004]] {{w|Howl's Moving Castle (film)|film ''Howl's Moving Castle''}}.
*The name "Tex 1138's" is a reference to the [[1971]] [[films in Futurama|film]] ''{{w|THX 1138}}'', directed by ''[[Star Wars]]'' creator {{w|George Lucas}}.
*Momsanto is a parody of the agricultural-biotechnology corporation {{w|Monsanto|Monsanto Company}}, previously parodied in "[[The Series Has Landed]]", as the Monsanto Corporation.
*The way Leela uses her tentacles to swing her way up the beanstalk is reminiscent of the way {{w|Spider-Man}} swings amongst [[Old New York|New York]]'s buildings.
*Leela's phrase "dee-luxe {{cat|apartment}} in the sky" is a reference to the theme {{cat|song}} of the sitcom ''{{w|The Jeffersons}}''.
*The concept of a castle in the clouds may be a reference to the [[1980s|1986]] film ''{{w|Castle in the Sky}}''. The concept of a flying castle may be a reference to the {{w|Howl's Moving Castle|1986 novel}} and [[2004]] {{w|Howl's Moving Castle (film)|film ''Howl's Moving Castle''}}.
*Momsanto is a parody of the agricultural-biotechnology {{cat|corporation}} [[Monsanto]].
*Leela letting her "hair" down so that Fry and Bender can climb up the tower is a reference to the [[Germany|German]] fairy tale "{{w|Rapunzel}}". Burt Ward also says "holy Rapunzel, Manbat".
*Leela letting her "hair" down so that Fry and Bender can climb up the tower is a reference to the [[Germany|German]] fairy tale "{{w|Rapunzel}}". Burt Ward also says "holy Rapunzel, Manbat".
*Adam West and Burt Ward's appearance at the window for a [[cameo]] during the vertical wall climb is a parody of the running gag in ''Batman'' where Batman and Robin would scale a wall with their bat-ropes and encounter a special celebrity looking out the window.
*Adam West and Burt Ward's appearance at the window for a [[cameo]] during the vertical wall climb is a parody of the running gag in ''Batman'' where Batman and Robin would scale a wall with their bat-ropes and encounter a special celebrity looking out the window.
*Burt Ward tells Adam West that there is a duo there to rescue them, and West asks how dynamic they are. This is a reference to the term "{{w|dynamic duo}}", used to refer to Batman and Robin.
*Burt Ward tells Adam West that there is a duo there to rescue them, and West asks how dynamic they are. This is a reference to the term "{{w|dynamic duo}}", used to refer to Batman and Robin.
*After Fry and Bender find Leela in Momsanto, Bender offers to "bend the door open" to get them out. Fry tells Bender that he can't bend a wooden door, but Bender does it anyways. This is likely a reference to the gag from the {{w|BBC}} show ''{{w|Doctor Who}}'', which has {{w|Doctor (Doctor Who)|the title character}}'s {{w|sonic screwdriver|sonic-screwdriver}} accessory be able to affect anything but wood.
*After Fry and Bender find Leela in Momsanto, Bender offers to "bend the door open" to get them out. Fry tells Bender that he can't bend a wooden door, but Bender does it anyways. This is likely a reference to the gag from the {{w|BBC}} show ''[[Doctor Who]]'', which has {{w|Doctor (Doctor Who)|the title character}}'s {{w|sonic screwdriver|sonic-screwdriver}} accessory be able to affect anything but wood.
*When Bender runs into Finn and Jake, Jake asks Bender what time it is, alluding to ''Adventure Time''.
*When Bender runs into Finn and Jake, Jake asks Bender what time it is, alluding to ''Adventure Time''.
*In the closing scene, the camera pans out to reveal a street becoming overgrown with vines. We see a traffic light with a red stop hand, but instead of a normal hand it is the {{st|Vulcan salute|Vulcan sign}} for "live long and prosper", from the ''[[Star Trek]]'' series.
*In the closing scene, the camera pans out to reveal a street becoming overgrown with vines. We see a traffic light with a red stop hand, but instead of a normal hand it is the {{st|Vulcan salute|Vulcan sign}} for "live long and prosper", from the ''[[Star Trek]]'' series.
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*The salesman that Fry sells the ship to mentions the [[common cold]]. The common cold was previously mentioned in "[[Cold Warriors]]".
*The salesman that Fry sells the ship to mentions the [[common cold]]. The common cold was previously mentioned in "[[Cold Warriors]]".
*Leela's seven-eighths [[blernsball]] jersey, from "[[A Leela of Her Own]]", can be seen in her [[Planet Express locker room|locker]]. The chicken hat that Fry gave her, in "[[Fun on a Bun]]", is also there.
*Leela's seven-eighths [[blernsball]] jersey, from "[[A Leela of Her Own]]", can be seen in her [[Planet Express locker room|locker]]. The chicken hat that Fry gave her, in "[[Fun on a Bun]]", is also there.
*The [[Hyper-Chicken]] previously said "I say, I say", mimicking {{w|Looney Tunes}}' {{w|Foghorn Leghorn}}, in "[[Free Will Hunting]]" (also the ninth episode of [[broadcast season 9|its broadcast season]]).


=== Goofs ===
=== Goofs ===
*After Leela is declared the winner, two of [[crack addict|the same man]] can be seen clapping.
*After Leela is declared the winner, two of [[crack addict|the same man]] can be seen clapping.
*When Fry insists that the crew must find a way to pay for Leela's operation, Hermes is seen in front of a fence where there is no place to stand. He is seen behind the fence a couple seconds later.
*When Fry insists that the crew must find a way to pay for Leela's operation, Hermes is seen in front of a fence where there is no place to stand. He is seen behind the fence a couple seconds later.
*Leela reveals that her [[wristlojackimator]] belongs to her, since she used it at the [[Applied Cryogenics|cryogenics lab]] (although it could belong to the lab given the circumstances when she quit), however when leaving Planet Express she places it in her locker.
*Before Leela climbs the beanstalk, she has four tentacles on each side of her neck, but after she climbs the beanstalk she only has three.
*Before Leela climbs the beanstalk, she has four tentacles on each side of her neck, but after she climbs the beanstalk she only has three.
*In this episode, Leela is strictly against genetic engineering, but in previous episodes {{citation needed}} she seemed to be okay with it.
*In this episode, Leela is strictly against genetic engineering, but in previous episodes {{citation needed}} she seemed to be okay with it.
Line 98: Line 101:


=== Quotes ===
=== Quotes ===
[[File:Volume 8 episodes.png|thumb|225px|The episode menu for [[Volume 8]], featuring Leela riding the mechanical [[buggalo]].]]
{{q|
{{q|
<poem>'''Professor Farnsworth''': Wha?
'''Leela''': It's called line dancing, Professor. It's fun, 'cuz there's no touching and lots of rules!</poem>
<poem>'''Leela''': Let's just get outta here.
<poem>'''Leela''': Let's just get outta here.
'''Bender''': No problem. I'll bend the door open.
'''Bender''': No problem. I'll bend the door open.
Line 106: Line 113:
<poem>'''Jake''': What time is it?
<poem>'''Jake''': What time is it?
'''Bender''': Time for you to shut up!</poem>
'''Bender''': Time for you to shut up!</poem>
<poem>'''Zoidberg''': Squid attack! Hit the deck!</poem>
}}
}}


=== Appearances ===
=== Appearances ===
{{chars}}
==== Characters ====
==== Characters ====
{{chars-begin}}
{{chars-begin|note=no}}
*'''Debut''': [[Adam West's head]]
*'''Debut''': [[Adam West's head]]
*[[Amy]]
*[[Amy]]
Line 120: Line 130:
*[[Crack addict]] {{cameo|link=no|1:10}}
*[[Crack addict]] {{cameo|link=no|1:10}}
*[[Professor Farnsworth]]
*[[Professor Farnsworth]]
*'''Debut''': {{w|Finn the Human|Finn}} and [[Jake the Dog|Jake]]
*'''Debut''': [[Finn the Human|Finn]] and [[Jake the Dog|Jake]]
*[[Fry]]
*[[Fry]]
*'''Debut''': [[Fry's cousin]] {{miso}}
*'''Debut''': [[Fry's cousin]] {{miso}}
Line 138: Line 148:
*'''Debut''': [[Stan]]
*'''Debut''': [[Stan]]
*[[Dr Tenderman]]
*[[Dr Tenderman]]
*'''Debut''': Tex 1138's employee
*'''Debut''': [[Tex 1138's employee]]
*'''Debut''': [[Texan scientists]]
*[[Underwater-house salesman]]
*[[Underwater-house salesman]]
*[[Walt]]
*[[Walt]]
Line 145: Line 156:


==== Places ====
==== Places ====
{{chars-begin}}
{{chars-begin|note=no}}
*'''Debut''': [[Momsanto]]
*'''Debut''': [[Momsanto]]
*[[New New York sewers]]
*[[New New York sewers]]
Line 160: Line 171:


==== Miscellaneous ====
==== Miscellaneous ====
{{chars-begin}}
{{chars-begin|note=no}}
*[[Blob]]
*[[Blob]]
*[[Buggalo]]
*[[Buggalo]]

Latest revision as of 22:02, 31 January 2016

Season 7 episode
Broadcast season 10 episode
Leela and the Genestalk
Leela and the Genestalk infobox.png
A more mutated Leela noticing the beanstalk in front of Planet Express.
No.136
Production number7ACV22
Written byEric Horsted
Directed byLance Kramer
Title captionSPOILER ALERT: ROBOTS AND WHATNOT
First air date7 August, 2013
Broadcast numberS10E09
Title referenceThe folk story "Jack and the Beanstalk"
Opening cartoonRocketeers
Special guest(s)Adam West
Burt Ward
Additional
Commentary
(Transcript)
Transcript

Pictures

Season 7
  1. The Bots and the Bees
  2. A Farewell to Arms
  3. Decision 3012
  4. The Thief of Baghead
  5. Zapp Dingbat
  6. The Butterjunk Effect
  7. The Six Million Dollar Mon
  8. Fun on a Bun
  9. Free Will Hunting
  10. Near-Death Wish
  11. 31st Century Fox
  12. Viva Mars Vegas
  13. Naturama
  14. Forty Percent Leadbelly
  15. 2-D Blacktop
  16. T.: The Terrestrial
  17. Fry and Leela's Big Fling
  18. The Inhuman Torch
  19. Saturday Morning Fun Pit
  20. Calculon 2.0
  21. Assie Come Home
  22. Leela and the Genestalk
  23. Game of Tones
  24. Murder on the Planet Express
  25. Stench and Stenchibility
  26. Meanwhile
← Season 6Season 8 →

"Leela and the Genestalk" is the one hundred and thirty-sixth episode of Futurama, the twenty-second of the seventh production season and the ninth of the tenth broadcast season. It aired on 7 August, 2013, on Comedy Central. It guest-stars Adam West and Burt Ward as themselves. After a rare condition causes Leela to grow tentacles, she stumbles upon a secret genetic-engineering facility.

Story

Act I: "There were still so many things I wanted to let go of."

While riding a mechanical buggalo at Tex 1138's, Leela finds that she is breaking out in suction cups. Dr. Tenderman explains that due to a genetic condition, her body has begun a process called squidification, in which her limbs "will be gradually transformed into a slithering mass of tentacles." There is no cure, and a very expensive surgery can only delay the symptoms for a few months. In spite of these drawbacks, the crew send Fry to sell the company ship to pay for the operation. At the market, a con artist buys the ship for two gigantic, magic beans that are supposedly a miracle cure for Leela's ailment. Back at headquarters, Farnsworth is so angry that he knocks the beans out of Fry's hands, causing them to fly out the window. The beans fall onto fertile soil and grow in a few hours into a beanstalk that reaches the clouds. Leela realizes that she doesn't want to share her misery with her friends, and decides to cut off contact with them and live in the sewer. As she opens the manhole leading to the sewer, she notices the new beanstalk and decides to "take the beanstalk less traveled."

Act II: "It's some kind of de-luxe apartment in the sky."

At the top of the beanstalk, Leela finds a flying castle grounds occupied by colorful flying fish and a unicorn that eats them. She is suddenly captured by Mom's three sons and taken to Mom, who explains that the castle is her genetic engineering facility, where she conducts experiments such as creating gigantic beanstalks for feeding the hungry. In spite of the arguably philanthropic nature of Mom's experiments, Leela is offended, considering the experiments to be crimes.

After three weeks go by, everyone realizes that they don't know Leela's whereabouts. Fry and Bender, after both being hit in the head by Leela's boots, which have fallen from the sky, fly together to Mom's facility to rescue Leela. To Fry's horror, Leela's entire body except her face has been transformed into the mass of tentacles that Dr. Tenderman predicted.

Act III: "Don't report them missing till after we max out their credit cards."

While trying to escape from the lab, Fry, Leela, and Bender encounter a giant, bound to an operating table connected to medical machinery. Believing that he is suffering Mom's genetic experiments, Leela frees the giant, who then chases the escapees until they flee down the drain of the giant's bathroom sink. Strangely, the drain carries the three back to the bridge of the facility, where Leela confronts Mom. In order to put a stop to the experiments, Leela causes the facility to fly out of control. As it nears the ground, it passes close by the Planet Express headquarters, to which Fry, Leela, and Bender jump to safety.

Later, Mom drops by to thank Leela for helping her to "engineer the perfect bean." Leela is still horrified by genetic engineering in principle; Mom attempts to sway her by re-introducing her to the giant, whom she has cured of hereditary gigantism and reduced to a normal-sized man. Leela is still not impressed, but quickly changes her mind when Mom announces that she can cure Leela herself.

The episode ends with Fry and a cured Leela walking hand-in-hand through New New York City, which has been transformed into a jungle of giant beanstalks.

Production

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On 5 February, 2013, Vulture.com released a preview clip for the tenth broadcast season,[1] which contained footage from the episode.

By 1 August, Comedy Central had released a two-minute preview clip featuring Fry sell the Planet Express ship to pay for an operation for Leela. [2]

On 6 August, it was revealed that the characters Finn and Jake, from the animated TV series Adventure Time, would appear in the episode. [3]

Image gallery

Additional information

Trivia

  • Amy's mother, who was featured in the first promotional picture, was replaced with a random man for the episode. It's possible that the scene originally took place at the Wong Ranch.
  • The name of the doctor from "The Tip of the Zoidberg" is revealed to be Dr Tenderman.
  • It is revealed that Leela occasionally lays an egg.
  • In "Fry and Leela's Big Fling", Leela stated that her arm bracelet could only be removed via cutting off her arm. She takes it off without difficulty while packing her things.
  • In "Yo Leela Leela", Leela tells the Cookieville orphans about a one-eyed princess who lived in a magical, one-room castle. "Yo Leela Leela" was also written by Eric Horsted.
  • John DiMaggio, the voice of Bender, provides the voice of Jake in Adventure Time.
  • Squid Leela is featured in the cover art for Volume 8. An image of Leela riding the mechanical buggalo is used on the episode menu, along with a piece of music from the episode.
  • In "Mars University", the Professor calls genetic engineering "preposterous science-fiction mumbo-jumbo".

Allusions

Click here to see cultural mentions made in this episode.
  • The episode's title is a reference to the folk story "Jack and the Beanstalk".
  • Many scenes reference fairytales.
  • The concept of "fake" wild west, reveled when a bar owner calls a command center, when mechanical Buggalo breaks down, is a reference to a 1973 SF movie Westworld.
  • The name "Tex 1138's" is a reference to the 1971 film THX 1138, directed by Star Wars creator George Lucas.
  • The way Leela uses her tentacles to swing her way up the beanstalk is reminiscent of the way Spider-Man swings amongst New York's buildings.
  • Leela's phrase "dee-luxe apartment in the sky" is a reference to the theme song of the sitcom The Jeffersons.
  • The concept of a castle in the clouds may be a reference to the 1986 film Castle in the Sky. The concept of a flying castle may be a reference to the 1986 novel and 2004 film Howl's Moving Castle.
  • Momsanto is a parody of the agricultural-biotechnology corporation Monsanto.
  • Leela letting her "hair" down so that Fry and Bender can climb up the tower is a reference to the German fairy tale "Rapunzel". Burt Ward also says "holy Rapunzel, Manbat".
  • Adam West and Burt Ward's appearance at the window for a cameo during the vertical wall climb is a parody of the running gag in Batman where Batman and Robin would scale a wall with their bat-ropes and encounter a special celebrity looking out the window.
  • Burt Ward tells Adam West that there is a duo there to rescue them, and West asks how dynamic they are. This is a reference to the term "dynamic duo", used to refer to Batman and Robin.
  • After Fry and Bender find Leela in Momsanto, Bender offers to "bend the door open" to get them out. Fry tells Bender that he can't bend a wooden door, but Bender does it anyways. This is likely a reference to the gag from the BBC show Doctor Who, which has the title character's sonic-screwdriver accessory be able to affect anything but wood.
  • When Bender runs into Finn and Jake, Jake asks Bender what time it is, alluding to Adventure Time.
  • In the closing scene, the camera pans out to reveal a street becoming overgrown with vines. We see a traffic light with a red stop hand, but instead of a normal hand it is the Vulcan sign for "live long and prosper", from the Star Trek series.

Continuity

Goofs

  • After Leela is declared the winner, two of the same man can be seen clapping.
  • When Fry insists that the crew must find a way to pay for Leela's operation, Hermes is seen in front of a fence where there is no place to stand. He is seen behind the fence a couple seconds later.
  • Leela reveals that her wristlojackimator belongs to her, since she used it at the cryogenics lab (although it could belong to the lab given the circumstances when she quit), however when leaving Planet Express she places it in her locker.
  • Before Leela climbs the beanstalk, she has four tentacles on each side of her neck, but after she climbs the beanstalk she only has three.
  • In this episode, Leela is strictly against genetic engineering, but in previous episodes [citation needed] she seemed to be okay with it.
    • She may have changed her mind.
  • In the scene where Hermes explains his plan to get his missing coworkers' money from their credit cards, the chairs' disposal changes when Fry, Bender and Leela arrive. Hermes' chair between Zoidberg and Amy disappears and a new empty chair appears next to the professor. Moments later, that same chair disappears.

Quotes

The episode menu for Volume 8, featuring Leela riding the mechanical buggalo.

    Professor Farnsworth: Wha?
    Leela: It's called line dancing, Professor. It's fun, 'cuz there's no touching and lots of rules!

    Leela: Let's just get outta here.
    Bender: No problem. I'll bend the door open.
    Fry: You can't bend a wooden door!
    Bender: [whispering] I know that and you know that, but this door looks pretty stupid.
    [The door bends.]

    Jake: What time is it?
    Bender: Time for you to shut up!

    Zoidberg: Squid attack! Hit the deck!

Appearances

(In alphabetic order)

Characters

Places

Miscellaneous

References

  1. ^ Jesse David Fox (05 February 2013). Watch a Preview of Futurama’s Seventh Season. (Vulture.com.) Retrieved on 17 August 2013.
  2. ^ Magic Beans - Video Clip. (Comedy Central.) Retrieved on 01 July 2013.
  3. ^ a b Charles Webb (06 August 2013). Algebraic News, Everyone! ‘Adventure Time’ Crosses Over With ‘Futurama’ This Week!. (MTV Geek.) Retrieved on 06 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b Countdown to Futurama: Adam West and Burt Ward. (Comedy Central's Tumblr page.) 29 May 2013. Retrieved on 31 July 2013.
  5. ^ Countdown to Futurama: Planet Express Crew Line-Dancing. (Comedy Central's Tumblr page.) 30 May 2013. Retrieved on 30 May 2013.
  6. ^ Countdown to Futurama: Cloud Castle. (Comedy Central's Tumblr page.) 31 May 2013. Retrieved on 31 May 2013.
  7. ^ Countdown to Futurama: Mom Poking Leela. (Comedy Central's Tumblr page.) 01 June 2013. Retrieved on 31 July 2013.