Difference between revisions of "Stench and Stenchibility"

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== Plot ==
== Plot ==


{{cleanup|section=yes}}
=== Act I: "It won't be long, Johnny cakes. My space bus gets in at four thirty." ===


=== Act I: "It won't be long, Johnny cakes. My space bus gets in at four thirty." ===
Zoidberg video-chats a creature named [[Zindy]], who he later reveals is his girlfriend to [[Fry]], [[Leela]] and [[Bender]]. The three agree to help him clean his dumpster. When they begin, Bender attempts to help by dropping in a [[Hal's Roach Bombs|bug bomb]]. All of the {{cat|insect|bugs}} escape and attack the crew and Bender. He quickly sheds all of the bugs, but compulsively and meticulously stomps every one of them into mush. Arriving in time to observe this "performance", [[Randy]] invites Bender to compete in a local tap-dancing competition. Bender accepts the invitation, suddenly discovering his "brand-new dream of being the greatest tap-dancer in all [[Earth|the world]]!...Of all time!"


The episode opens with [[Zoidberg]] chatting online with his girlfriend [[Zindy]]. He heads outside to tend to his dumpster and clean it up. [[Bender]] drops [[Hal's Roach Bombs|a bug bomb]] in it and the bugs run out and infest him. Bender kills them all in a form of tap dancing and is offered by [[Randy]] to be part of competition. Zoidberg decides to purchase flowers for his girlfriend he uses his life saving and even charms the flower girl working there. He heads to the train station with half a bouquet of daisies. He waits eagerly as [[Parolee's Choice Bus Lines|Zindy's space bus]] pulls in. The two embrace and Zindy begins to notice his stench. On another road Zindy confesses she can't stand his stench and dumps him.
Going to meet Zindy at the bus station, Zoidberg decides to purchase flowers. He finds a flower vendor stall parked outside the Planet Express building. The vendor, a pretty woman named [[Marianne]], offers to sell him some. He asks what the cheapest bouquet is ($6), and asks for half of them. He finally meets Zindy as she gets off the bus, where she complains of a terrible smell. The two then walk to the park, where she realises the smell is emanating from Zoidberg, at which point she vomits and leaves him forever.


=== Act II: "Can I have a refund now?" ===
=== Act II: "Can I have a refund now?" ===


Zoidberg heads back to the flower stand asking for a refund. The merchant first denies his request replying she doesn't get enough business
Heartbroken, Zoidberg attempts to return his half-bouquet of now-wilted daisies for a refund. Already devastated over Zindy, he is crushed further when Marianne responds that she can't afford to refund the $3 that was his life savings, as her stall is unpopular due to reasons unknown to her. When Zoidberg breaks down in tears, she is moved, saying, "I can't stand to see a living thing cry." Zoidberg is charmed when she confirms with him, "You are a living thing, right?" [[Roberto]] appears and attempts to mug them, but Zoidberg finds that he has reached rock bottom. He carelessly confronts Roberto, even inviting Roberto to kill him. Gesticulating, Zoidberg happens to raise his arms, blasting Roberto with his horrible body odor and driving him away. Marianne is very impressed with Zoidberg having been so "brave and frugal". Zoidberg is confused that she isn't repulsed by his stench; Marianne explains that she was born with no sense of smell. After a montage of enjoyable dates, they find themselves having, as Zoidberg later puts it, "a wonderful night of lovemaking in my dumpster!"
to give refunds but then accepts it as Zoidberg tears up. Just then [[Roberto]] appears out of nowhere with a bayonet. He threatens to stab them so the merchant offers him all she has, including Zoidberg's refund, and he gladly accepts, but Zoidberg threatens Roberto, telling him to kill him now as he has noting to live for. As Zoidberg raises his arms, Roberto runs away in horror from his foul stench. The merchant is wowed at begins hitting on Zoidberg with him hitting on her in turn. She addresses her self as [[Marianne]]. The two go on a sequence of dates all over at [[Limburger King]], a [[discount petting zoo]] and in Scenic [[New Jersey]]. The two spend a night in his Dumpster. Meanwhile at [[NNY Recreation Center|the recreation center]], Bender meets his opponents for the tap-dancing competition, including six-year-old Tonya, a {{cat|children|little girl|s=no}} with a pacemaker. Zoidberg introduces Marianne to the {{Planet Express|Crew}} they are wowed and when Marianne leaves he admits why Marianne loves him; because she has no sense of smell. Everyone disagrees over giving Marianne a new nose as with it she will smell Zoidberg and break up with him. Back at the recreation center, the tap-dancing contest has begun now with [[Petunia]], [[H.G. Blob]], and [[Greg]] eliminated Bender and Tonya face off. At there locker, Bender devises a devious plan which Tonya hears and breaks his leg tube. Zoidberg brings his girlfriend to central park and he describes the scent of a flower to her. Marianne longs to smell a flower like that, so Zoidberg tells her about the nose transplant.
 
At the tap-dancing competition, Bender meets his opponents, notably six-year-old [[Tonya]], a {{cat|children|little girl|s=no}} with a heart condition that requires her to live with a pacemaker. Tonya is over-the-top cute, and everyone is taken with her, except Bender.
 
When Zoidberg introduces Marianne to the {{Planet Express|crew}}, everyone is amazed at Zoidberg's luck. After Marianne takes her leave, they ask the obvious question. When Zoidberg describes her defect, Hermes laments the lack of a cure. Farnsworth asserts that a skilled surgeon could indeed cure Marianne with a nose transplant. Zoidberg is genuine: he becomes excited while contemplating her happiness without realizing the sad consequence until the others bring it to his attention. With their encouragement but with terrible chagrin, Zoidberg decides he must forever keep the cure secret from Marianne.
 
As weeks pass, while Zoidberg and Marianne get to know each other, the tap-dance competitors are eliminated one by one until only Bender and Tonya are left. When Randy presents them to the audience, Tonya reminds everyone how over-the-top cute she is, and Bender announces, "I'm gonna kick your ass, little girl!" Later, arguing with Leela, Bender attempts to disabuse her of her notions about Tonya with, "I've looked into her eyes and seen her soul. She's a {{cat|monster}}." When Fry and Leela leave, Tonya suddenly appears. She clubs Bender in the left knee with a police baton and runs away. Bender's leg is in need of repair or he won't be able to dance.
 
While Zoidberg and Marianne have been enjoying each other's company, Zoidberg has often been painfully reminded of his duplicity. After weeks of this, while on a picnic, Zoidberg describes the smell of a flower for Marianne. She responds, "I'd give anything to be able to smell a flower like that." Zoidberg is stricken. He reveals his secret and offers to give her the transplant. She joyfully accepts, as Zoidberg stoically takes on the weight of his new sorrow.


=== Act III: "Smell you later." ===  
=== Act III: "Smell you later." ===  


The Planet Express Crew decides to help Zoidberg. They say it is very noble to give Marianne a new nose. Bender rushes in with his broken leg asking Zoidberg to fix him but there is no time. Leela arrives with a nose from a donor who got in a fencing accident. Zoidberg addresses Marianne and then Amy injects her with anesthesia as she responds "smell you later". Zoidberg begins the "delicate procedure" by snipping her nose off with one of his claws. Back at the competition Bender has bandaged his leg and is facing Tonya. She breaks off his leg but he outsmarts her. Still, Randy picks Tonya. She says her winning speech but is stuck down by a heart attack. Meanwhile, Marianne awakes from her operation and is offered to smell flowers but is disgusted by their scent. Zoidberg tries to explain how it is him who smells but she turns out liking his scent as she had never learned a good smell from a bad smell. Back at the tap-dancing competition, Tonya is pronounced dead. A joyful Bender won't wait to tap-dance on her grave, so he decides to tap-dance on her corpse. Sadly for him his rhythmic chest compression restarts her heart. The two then form a friendship after realizing how evil they are. From then on, Tonya and Bender are a street tap-dancing show that robs people who pass by. Marianne, now disgusted by the scent of flowers gets a new job collecting waste and dumps Zoidberg in her truck and they kiss.
Zoidberg is preparing for Marianne's nose transplant as Bender limps in, asking Zoidberg for help with his badly injured leg. Zoidberg is wrapped up in his own issues and has no time for Bender. As Zoidberg sits at her bedside as Marianne is prepared for the procedure, she is unaware that for him, this is a goodbye. He starts to break down for a moment, but he pulls himself together and proceeds with the operation.
 
On stage at the tap-dancing competition, Tonya projects her cute image to the audience as she and Bender trade barbs under their breath. Because they have so much in common, Bender mentions that they could have been friends in another {{universe}}. She rebuffs him sharply. After their dance, while awaiting the judge's decision, Bender vows to Fry and Leela that he will dance on Tonya's grave. Tonya wins the contest and receives an award, but suffers a fatal "cute little heart attack" in the middle of her acceptance speech.
 
Marianne wakes from her anesthesia as Zoidberg sits sadly beside her bed. He offers her flowers so she can enjoy the scent for the first time, but she hates the smell. Zoidberg assumes that he is the source of the smell she finds offensive, but she discovers otherwise. She really does hate the smell of flowers, and she really does enjoy Zoidberg's stench.
 
To the horror of onlookers, Bender decides not to wait for Tanya to be buried, and he dances on top of her dead body, unwittingly dancing on her chest cavity. To Bender's horror, his dance restarts Tonya's heart. She sits back up and seems perfectly fine. To Bender's further horror, the previously horrified onlookers swarm him in order to congratulate and praise him.
 
Bender and Tonya are found later, having joined forces, tap dancing on the street with a hat on the ground for donations. When [[Hattie McDoogal]] arrives and drops money into their hat, they mug her and run away. Back at Zoidberg's dumpster, Marianne drives up in a dumpster truck as Zoidberg has a morning cup of dumpster juice. She explains that she had to get a job, and with Zoidberg's permission, dumps him and his dumpster into her truck. The two are last seen sitting together in the front seat and driving away.


== Production ==
== Production ==
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{{expansion|section=yes|{{ctf|1}}}}
{{expansion|section=yes|{{ctf|1}}}}


On 11 {{April}} [[2012]], ''Futurama'' [[writers and directors|writer]] [[Eric Rogers]] revealed that "[this episode and "[[7ACV26]]"] now [had] stories". <ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/#!/ERogTweets2Much/status/189902597757468672|title=ERogTweets2Much|author=Eric Rogers|date=2012-04-11|site={{w|Twitter}}|accessdate=2012-04-12}}</ref>
On 11 {{April}} [[2012]], ''Futurama'' [[writers and directors|writer]] [[Eric Rogers]] revealed that "[this episode and "[[7ACV26]]"] now [had] stories". <ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/#!/ERogTweets2Much/status/189902597757468672|title=ERogTweets2Much|author=Eric Rogers|date=2012-04-11|site=[[Twitter]]|accessdate=2012-04-12}}</ref>


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.
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.
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=== Image Gallery ===
=== Image Gallery ===
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Futurama Stench and Stenchibility Zindy.jpg|[[Concept art]] of Zoidberg's [[internet]] girlfriend [[Zindy]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/52460002710/countdown-to-futurama-zindy-meet-zindy-shes|title=Countdown to Futurama: Zindy|date=2013-06-08|site=Comedy Central {{w|Tumblr}} blog|accessdate=2013-06-08}}</ref>
File:Futurama Stench and Stenchibility Zindy.jpg|[[Concept art]] of Zoidberg's [[internet]] girlfriend Zindy. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/52460002710/countdown-to-futurama-zindy-meet-zindy-shes|title=Countdown to Futurama: Zindy|date=2013-06-08|site=Comedy Central {{w|Tumblr}} blog|accessdate=2013-06-08}}</ref>
File:Futurama Stench and Stenchibility Nurse Amy.jpg|Concept art of [[Amy]] in a [[:Category:Nurses|nurse]] uniform. <ref name="nurse">{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/52544046859/countdown-to-futurama-nurse-amy-heres-amy-in-a|title=Countdown to Futurama: Nurse Amy|date=2013-06-09|site=Comedy Central Tumblr blog|accessdate=2013-06-09}}</ref>
File:Futurama Stench and Stenchibility Nurse Amy.jpg|Concept art of [[Amy]] in a [[:Category:Nurses|nurse]] uniform. <ref name="nurse">{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/52544046859/countdown-to-futurama-nurse-amy-heres-amy-in-a|title=Countdown to Futurama: Nurse Amy|date=2013-06-09|site=Comedy Central Tumblr blog|accessdate=2013-06-09}}</ref>
File:Futurama Stench and Stenchibility Marianne.jpg|Concept art of Marianne. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/52651757191/countdown-to-futurama-marianne-a-few-weeks-ago|title=Countdown to Futurama: Marianne|date=2013-06-10|site=Comedy Central Tumblr blog|accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref>
File:Futurama Stench and Stenchibility Marianne.jpg|Concept art of Marianne. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://comedycentral.tumblr.com/post/52651757191/countdown-to-futurama-marianne-a-few-weeks-ago|title=Countdown to Futurama: Marianne|date=2013-06-10|site=Comedy Central Tumblr blog|accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref>
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*The blonde woman in the pink dress, seen at the NNY Recreation Center, resembles [[Stephanie]].
*The blonde woman in the pink dress, seen at the NNY Recreation Center, resembles [[Stephanie]].
*Marianne mentions a "falafel guy". This may be the [[falafel cart man]].
*Marianne mentions a "falafel guy". This may be the [[falafel cart man]].
*This episode is reminiscent of the Spanish novel ''{{w|Marianela (novel)|Marianela}}''. In the novel, a blind man is led around by an ugly girl who everyone hates due to her ugliness. When his sight is restored through an operation, the man realizes it is her only as she dies of a broken heart and is upset. The same happens in this episode except with the sense of smell and without ending in death.
*In a [[list of deleted scenes|deleted scene]], [[Tinny Tim]] is selling {{cat|newspaper}}s announcing the end of World {{cat|battle|War}} VIII.
*In a [[list of deleted scenes|deleted scene]], [[Tinny Tim]] is selling {{cat|newspaper}}s announcing the end of [[Earth|World]] War VIII.
*This episode is very similar to the ''[[The Simpsons|Simpsons]]'' episode "{{s|Dumbbell Indemnity}}" ([[1998]]), in which Moe starts dating {{s|Renee}}, a florist whose stall was across the road from {{s|Moe's Tavern}}. Moe also tries to stop a robber from stealing money from her, very similar to the way Zoidberg stops Roberto from stealing from Marianne. Both Moe and Zoidberg mention how they don't mind being killed as they have nothing to live for.


=== Allusions ===
=== Allusions ===
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{{cultural mentions}}
{{cultural mentions}}
*The episode's title is a reference to the [[19th century|1811]] {{w|Jane Austen}} novel ''{{w|Sense and Sensibility}}''.
*The episode's title is a reference to the [[19th century|1811]] {{w|Jane Austen}} novel ''{{w|Sense and Sensibility}}''.
*Bender's bug bombs are named "[[Hal's Roach Bombs]]", a homage to [[American]] film and television producer, director, and {{cat|actor}} {{w|Hal Roach}}. <br> The front part of Bender's box reads "KILLS THE LITTLE RASCALS!", a reference to the series of short films ''{{w|Our Gang|The Little Rascals}}'', created by Roach.
*Bender's bug bombs are named "[[Hal's Roach Bombs]]", a homage to [[American]] [[films in Futurama|film]] and television producer, director, and {{cat|actor}} {{w|Hal Roach}}. <br> The front part of Bender's box reads "KILLS THE LITTLE RASCALS!", a reference to the series of short films ''{{w|Our Gang|The Little Rascals}}'', created by Roach.
*Marianne's flower stand is named "[[The Flowering Inferno]]", a reference to the [[1974]] film ''{{w|The Towering Inferno}}''.
*Marianne's flower stand is named "[[The Flowering Inferno]]", a reference to the [[1974]] film ''{{w|The Towering Inferno}}''.
*Marianne's character may be a reference to the character {{w|Eliza Doolittle}}, from the [[1910s|1912]] play ''{{w|Pygmalion (play)|Pygmalion}}'' and the [[1964]] film ''{{w|My Fair Lady (film)|My Fair Lady}}'', who had a {{w|Cockney}} accent and sold flowers, though the plots of the episode and the play/film differ greatly.
*The episode's plot loosely follows the storyline of the [[1931]] film {{w|City Lights}}, in which The Tramp (played by {{w|Charlie Chaplin}}) falls in love with a poor blind flower street-vendor and convinces her that he is rich and handsome. Upon hearing of a doctor that can cure her blindness, he is initially unwilling to tell her of this discovery as he doesn't believe she will love him if she could see what he really looked like.
*Marianne's character may be a reference to the character {{w|Eliza Doolittle}}, from the [[1910s|1912]] play ''{{w|Pygmalion (play)|Pygmalion}}'' and the [[1964]] film ''{{w|My Fair Lady (film)|My Fair Lady}}'', who had a {{w|Cockney}} accent and sold flowers, though the plots of the episode and the play/film differ greatly.  
*Petunia's tap-dancing outfit may be a reference to the jogging ensemble of {{w|list of Spaced characters#main characters|Marsha}} from the [[British]] sitcom ''{{w|Spaced}}'', complete with lit cigarette.
*Petunia's tap-dancing outfit may be a reference to the jogging ensemble of {{w|list of Spaced characters#main characters|Marsha}} from the [[British]] sitcom ''{{w|Spaced}}'', complete with lit cigarette.
*The name "[[Fleur de Liz Parfum|Fleur de Liz]]" is a play on the names "{{w|fleur-de-lis}}" and "{{w|Liz}}". The use of "Liz" is a reference to actress {{w|Elizabeth Taylor|Liz Taylor}}, whose [[head jars|preserved head]] is seen in the bottle.
*The name "[[Fleur de Liz Parfum|Fleur de Liz]]" is a play on the names "{{w|fleur-de-lis}}" and "{{w|Liz}}". The use of "Liz" is a reference to actress {{w|Elizabeth Taylor|Liz Taylor}}, whose [[head jars|preserved head]] is seen in the bottle.
*Bender's knee injury is a reference to the [[1994]] assault case where professional figure skater {{w|Nancy Kerrigan}} received a knee injury from the ex-husband of fellow skater {{w|Tonya Harding}}.
*Bender's knee injury is a reference to the [[1994]] assault case where professional figure skater {{w|Nancy Kerrigan}} sustained a knee injury in an brutal attack by the ex-husband of fellow skater {{w|Tonya Harding}}.  His cries of "Why? Why? Why?" match Kerrigan's reaction to the attack.  
*[[Band-Ape]] is a reference to the line of adhesive bandages {{w|Band-Aid}}, previously alluded to in "[[Bendin' in the Wind]]", as "[[Bend-Aid]]".
*[[Band-Ape]] is a reference to the line of adhesive bandages {{w|Band-Aid}}. "[[Bend-Aid]]", a concert at which Bender performs in "[[Bendin' in the Wind]]", is unrelated, being a reference to a series of charity efforts, known as "{{w|Band Aid (band)|Band Aid}}", performed by numerous popular musicians during the 1980's.
*After Bender dances on his hands, Randy says "Ew, look at him dance; he don't care!". This is likely a reference to the {{w|honey badger|honey-badger}} [[YouTube]] video. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg|title=The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger (original narration by Randall)|author="czg123"|date=2011-1-18|site=YouTube|accessdate=2013-10-27}}</ref> It may also be a reference to the {{w|Athens|Athenian}} nobleman {{w|Hippocleides}}.
*After Bender dances on his hands, Randy says "Ew, look at him dance; he don't care!". This is likely a reference to the {{w|honey badger|honey-badger}} [[YouTube]] video. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg|title=The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger (original narration by Randall)|author="czg123"|date=2011-1-18|site=YouTube|accessdate=2013-10-27}}</ref> It may also be a reference to the {{w|Athens|Athenian}} nobleman {{w|Hippocleides}}.
*Bender's line "Together, we shall rule [[Milky Way|the galaxy]]!" is likely a reference to ''[[Star Wars]]''{{'}} [[Darth Vader]]'s line "Join me, and together we can rule {{sw|the galaxy}} as father and son", from the [[1980]] film ''{{sw|Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back}}''.
*Bender's line "Together, we shall rule [[Milky Way|the galaxy]]!" is likely a reference to ''[[Star Wars]]''{{'}} [[Darth Vader]]'s line "Join me, and together we can rule {{sw|the galaxy}} as father and son", from the [[1980]] film ''{{sw|Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back}}''.
*Bender's line, "In another life, we could have been friends" is likely a reference to the ''[[Star Trek]]'' episode ''{{w|Balance of Terror}}'', in which a Romulan states "In a different reality, I could have called you friend." This same line is also referenced by [[Melllvar]] in "[[Where No Fan has Gone Before]]".
*An image of a pony can be seen inside [[Tonya]]'s locker. This is most likely a reference to ''{{w|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic}}'', in which Tonya's voice actor, [[Tara Strong]], voices the pony [http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Twilight_Sparkle Twilight Sparkle].


=== Continuity ===
=== Continuity ===
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*Previous episodes have shown that Zoidberg can't tell the difference between male and female [[humans]], yet in this episode he clearly can tell that Marianne is female.
*Previous episodes have shown that Zoidberg can't tell the difference between male and female [[humans]], yet in this episode he clearly can tell that Marianne is female.
**He may have finally learned to tell the difference.
**He may have finally learned to tell the difference.
**It may have been a good guess.
*After the camera zooms out to reveal that Zoidberg and Marianne are not at [[Burger King]] but at [[Limburger King]], there is less space to the left of the "B".
*After the camera zooms out to reveal that Zoidberg and Marianne are not at [[Burger King]] but at [[Limburger King]], there is less space to the left of the "B".
*Zoidberg mentions "lovemaking" to Marianne in his dumpster, yet it was established in "[[Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?]]" that [[Decapodians]] die when they mate.
*Zoidberg mentions "lovemaking" to Marianne in his dumpster, yet it was established in "[[Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?]]" that [[Decapodians]] die when they mate.
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{{chars-begin|note=no}}
{{chars-begin|note=no}}
*[[Central Park]]
*Chizzler {{miso}}
*Chizzler {{miso}}
*'''Debut''': [[Discount petting zoo]]
*'''Debut''': [[Discount petting zoo]]

Revision as of 10:10, 5 November 2016

Season 7 episode
Broadcast season 10 episode
Stench and Stenchibility
Stench and Stenchibility infobox.png
Dr. Zoidberg giving Marianne a flower.
No.139
Production number7ACV25
Written byEric Horsted
Directed byCrystal Chesney-Thompson
Title captionNot The Episode With The Dead Dog
First air date28 August 2013
Broadcast numberS10E12
Title referenceThe 1811 Jane Austen novel Sense and Sensibility
Opening cartoon"In a Cartoon Studio"
Special guest(s)Emilia Clarke
Tara Strong
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 →

"Stench and Stenchibility" is the one hundred and thirty-ninth episode of Futurama, the twenty-fifth of the seventh production season and the twelfth of the tenth broadcast season. It aired on 28 August 2013, on Comedy Central. It guest-stars Emilia Clarke as Marianne and Tara Strong as Tonya. Dr. Zoidberg meets the love of his life while Bender squares off in a deadly tap-dancing competition.

Plot

Act I: "It won't be long, Johnny cakes. My space bus gets in at four thirty."

Zoidberg video-chats a creature named Zindy, who he later reveals is his girlfriend to Fry, Leela and Bender. The three agree to help him clean his dumpster. When they begin, Bender attempts to help by dropping in a bug bomb. All of the bugs escape and attack the crew and Bender. He quickly sheds all of the bugs, but compulsively and meticulously stomps every one of them into mush. Arriving in time to observe this "performance", Randy invites Bender to compete in a local tap-dancing competition. Bender accepts the invitation, suddenly discovering his "brand-new dream of being the greatest tap-dancer in all the world!...Of all time!"

Going to meet Zindy at the bus station, Zoidberg decides to purchase flowers. He finds a flower vendor stall parked outside the Planet Express building. The vendor, a pretty woman named Marianne, offers to sell him some. He asks what the cheapest bouquet is ($6), and asks for half of them. He finally meets Zindy as she gets off the bus, where she complains of a terrible smell. The two then walk to the park, where she realises the smell is emanating from Zoidberg, at which point she vomits and leaves him forever.

Act II: "Can I have a refund now?"

Heartbroken, Zoidberg attempts to return his half-bouquet of now-wilted daisies for a refund. Already devastated over Zindy, he is crushed further when Marianne responds that she can't afford to refund the $3 that was his life savings, as her stall is unpopular due to reasons unknown to her. When Zoidberg breaks down in tears, she is moved, saying, "I can't stand to see a living thing cry." Zoidberg is charmed when she confirms with him, "You are a living thing, right?" Roberto appears and attempts to mug them, but Zoidberg finds that he has reached rock bottom. He carelessly confronts Roberto, even inviting Roberto to kill him. Gesticulating, Zoidberg happens to raise his arms, blasting Roberto with his horrible body odor and driving him away. Marianne is very impressed with Zoidberg having been so "brave and frugal". Zoidberg is confused that she isn't repulsed by his stench; Marianne explains that she was born with no sense of smell. After a montage of enjoyable dates, they find themselves having, as Zoidberg later puts it, "a wonderful night of lovemaking in my dumpster!"

At the tap-dancing competition, Bender meets his opponents, notably six-year-old Tonya, a little girl with a heart condition that requires her to live with a pacemaker. Tonya is over-the-top cute, and everyone is taken with her, except Bender.

When Zoidberg introduces Marianne to the Planet Express crew, everyone is amazed at Zoidberg's luck. After Marianne takes her leave, they ask the obvious question. When Zoidberg describes her defect, Hermes laments the lack of a cure. Farnsworth asserts that a skilled surgeon could indeed cure Marianne with a nose transplant. Zoidberg is genuine: he becomes excited while contemplating her happiness without realizing the sad consequence until the others bring it to his attention. With their encouragement but with terrible chagrin, Zoidberg decides he must forever keep the cure secret from Marianne.

As weeks pass, while Zoidberg and Marianne get to know each other, the tap-dance competitors are eliminated one by one until only Bender and Tonya are left. When Randy presents them to the audience, Tonya reminds everyone how over-the-top cute she is, and Bender announces, "I'm gonna kick your ass, little girl!" Later, arguing with Leela, Bender attempts to disabuse her of her notions about Tonya with, "I've looked into her eyes and seen her soul. She's a monster." When Fry and Leela leave, Tonya suddenly appears. She clubs Bender in the left knee with a police baton and runs away. Bender's leg is in need of repair or he won't be able to dance.

While Zoidberg and Marianne have been enjoying each other's company, Zoidberg has often been painfully reminded of his duplicity. After weeks of this, while on a picnic, Zoidberg describes the smell of a flower for Marianne. She responds, "I'd give anything to be able to smell a flower like that." Zoidberg is stricken. He reveals his secret and offers to give her the transplant. She joyfully accepts, as Zoidberg stoically takes on the weight of his new sorrow.

Act III: "Smell you later."

Zoidberg is preparing for Marianne's nose transplant as Bender limps in, asking Zoidberg for help with his badly injured leg. Zoidberg is wrapped up in his own issues and has no time for Bender. As Zoidberg sits at her bedside as Marianne is prepared for the procedure, she is unaware that for him, this is a goodbye. He starts to break down for a moment, but he pulls himself together and proceeds with the operation.

On stage at the tap-dancing competition, Tonya projects her cute image to the audience as she and Bender trade barbs under their breath. Because they have so much in common, Bender mentions that they could have been friends in another universe. She rebuffs him sharply. After their dance, while awaiting the judge's decision, Bender vows to Fry and Leela that he will dance on Tonya's grave. Tonya wins the contest and receives an award, but suffers a fatal "cute little heart attack" in the middle of her acceptance speech.

Marianne wakes from her anesthesia as Zoidberg sits sadly beside her bed. He offers her flowers so she can enjoy the scent for the first time, but she hates the smell. Zoidberg assumes that he is the source of the smell she finds offensive, but she discovers otherwise. She really does hate the smell of flowers, and she really does enjoy Zoidberg's stench.

To the horror of onlookers, Bender decides not to wait for Tanya to be buried, and he dances on top of her dead body, unwittingly dancing on her chest cavity. To Bender's horror, his dance restarts Tonya's heart. She sits back up and seems perfectly fine. To Bender's further horror, the previously horrified onlookers swarm him in order to congratulate and praise him.

Bender and Tonya are found later, having joined forces, tap dancing on the street with a hat on the ground for donations. When Hattie McDoogal arrives and drops money into their hat, they mug her and run away. Back at Zoidberg's dumpster, Marianne drives up in a dumpster truck as Zoidberg has a morning cup of dumpster juice. She explains that she had to get a job, and with Zoidberg's permission, dumps him and his dumpster into her truck. The two are last seen sitting together in the front seat and driving away.

Production

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On 11 April 2012, Futurama writer Eric Rogers revealed that "[this episode and "7ACV26"] now [had] stories". [1]

On 5 February 2013, Vulture.com released a preview clip for the tenth broadcast season, [2] which contained footage from the episode.

On 22 August, MTV Geek released a 50-second preview clip featuring Fry, Leela, and Bender at the NNY Recreation Center. [3]

By 23 August, a one-minute preview clip featuring Zoidberg meeting Marianne had been released. [4]

Image Gallery

Additional Information

Trivia

Allusions

Click here to see cultural mentions made in this episode.

Continuity

Zoidberg with white eyes.

Goofs

  • When Zoidberg says "Nope", his eyes are white.
  • Roberto runs away from Zoidberg's smell, but it was previously stated that robots don't have a sense of smell. [citation needed]
    • In "The 30% Iron Chef", Bender claims to have the sense of smision. Roberto might have used smision to "smell-see" Zoidberg.
  • Previous episodes have shown that Zoidberg can't tell the difference between male and female humans, yet in this episode he clearly can tell that Marianne is female.
    • He may have finally learned to tell the difference.
    • It may have been a good guess.
  • After the camera zooms out to reveal that Zoidberg and Marianne are not at Burger King but at Limburger King, there is less space to the left of the "B".
  • Zoidberg mentions "lovemaking" to Marianne in his dumpster, yet it was established in "Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?" that Decapodians die when they mate.
    • Actually what is said is that they die when they pass on their genes, it's possible that since he was mating outside of his species, he didn't die because he didn't pass on his genes.

Quotes

    [Zoidberg and Marianne lean in to kiss each other for the first time, but Zoidberg pulls away.]
    Zoidberg: First, let me pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming! [He pinches his arm with his claw and cuts it open.] [screaming] Owch! I forgot I was a giant crab!

    Bender: The rest of you might as well give up now, 'cuz I'm gonna take home da— Hey. What's my grand prize gonna be?
    Randy: Oh. There is no prize, Dorothy. Unless you count the satisfaction of winning.
    Bender: It... will... be... mine!

    Fry: Dude! You made the finals! Congrats!
    [Fry smiles.]

    Randy: Okay, dance maniacs. Let's have a big hand for our finalists — cute, little Tonya... and mean, old what's-his-name!

Appearances

(In alphabetic order)

Characters

Places

Miscellaneous

References

  1. ^ Eric Rogers (11 April 2012). ERogTweets2Much. (Twitter.) Retrieved on 12 April 2012.
  2. ^ Jesse David Fox (05 February 2013). Watch a Preview of Futurama’s Seventh Season. (Vulture.com.) Retrieved on 17 August 2013.
  3. ^ Charles Webb (22 August 2013). So Do You Think Bender’s Got Talent In This ‘Futurama’ Clip? [EXCLUSIVE]. (MTV Geek.) Retrieved on 22 August 2013.
  4. ^ Futurama "Stench and Stenchibility" date clip. (Comedy Central.) 22 August 2013. Retrieved on 23 August 2013.
  5. ^ Countdown to Futurama: Zindy. (Comedy Central Tumblr blog.) 08 June 2013. Retrieved on 08 June 2013.
  6. ^ Countdown to Futurama: Nurse Amy. (Comedy Central Tumblr blog.) 09 June 2013. Retrieved on 09 June 2013.
  7. ^ Countdown to Futurama: Marianne. (Comedy Central Tumblr blog.) 10 June 2013. Retrieved on 10 June 2013.
  8. ^ Countdown to Futurama: Zoidberg and Marianne Get Robbed. (Comedy Central Tumblr blog.) 11 June 2013. Retrieved on 11 June 2013.
  9. ^ Taryn Ryder (20 March 2013). Seth MacFarlane and ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Emilia Clarke Break Up. (Omg.yahoo.com.) Retrieved on 19 June 2013.
  10. ^ "czg123" (18 January 2011). The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger (original narration by Randall). (YouTube.) Retrieved on 27 October 2013.