Futurama VS. Star Trek: The Next Generation

Futurama VS. Star Trek: The Next Generation

I was recently watching an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation with great pleasure. It was one of my favorites; perennial loser Reg Barclay suddenly becomes THE most competent officer on the Enterprise. He’s smarter, suaver, cooler than ever before. “This is just like when Fry had those worms in him,” I laughed to no one (it was 3am and I’m watching ST:TNG, who do you think is there?)Suddenly, it hits me like a heavy object thrown by my Klingon girlfriend: Futurama is based on Star Trek: The Next Generation!! So it is:

TEN FUTURAMA EPISODES THAT ARE EXACTLY LIKE ST:TNG EPISODES

Futurama- “Fear of a Bot Planet”: Fry and Leela disguise themselves as robots and discover that a robot planet where Bender is a celebrity in a culture that fears and loathes humans. ST:TNG- “Descent, Parts I & II”: Geordi and the others discover a renegade Borg planets where Data co-rules with his brother Lore in a culture that fears and loathes humans.

Futurama- “Fry and the Slurm Factory”: Fry and the crew visit the wonderous, magical factory the produces his favorite drink, but danger rears its ugly head when they discover the truth. (it’s alive!) ST:TNG- “Encounter at Farpoint, Parts I & II”: Jean-Luc and the crew visit Farpoint Station which produces whatever they desire, but danger rears its ugly head when they discover the truth. (it’s alive!)

Futurama- “A BiCyclops Built for Two”: Leela meets a man who seemingly knows a lot about her past and her race. Enchanted, the crew visits his homeworld. Meanwhile, Fry suspects Alkazar is hiding something. (He’s just a clever con-man!) ST:TNG- “A Matter of Time”: The crew meets a man who seemingly knows a lot about the Federation and its future. Enchanted, the crew gives him almost full access to their tech. Meanwhile, Jean-Luc suspects Berlinghoff is hiding something (He’s just a clever con-man!)

Futurama- “The Problem with Popplers”: The crew discovers a delicious new food, but Leela has a change of heart when she discovers a disturbing fact about the snack that endangers Earth. ST:TNG- “The Game”: The crew discovers an addictive new videogame, but Wesley has a change of heart when he discovers a disturbing fact about the game that endangers the Federation.

Futurama- “Parasites Lost”: Tiny alien parasites infect and enhance Fry, making him smarter and stronger, causing Leela to look at him in a new light.ST:TNG- “The Nth Degree”: An alien probe enhances Lt. Barclay, making him smarter and stronger, causing Deana to look at him in a new light.

Futurama- “The Luck of the Fryish”: Fry, initially angry at his brother for taking over his identity, learns a secret that reminds him of their fraternal love. ST:TNG- “Family”: Jean-Luc, initially angry at his brother for being a mean, jerk, learns about himself and that reminds him of their fraternal love.

Futurama- “Godfellas”: When Bender is lost in space, he is worshipped by a primitive race who misinterpret his wisdom. ST:TNG- “Who Watches the Watchers”: When a Federation observation blind is discovered, Picard is worshipped by a primitive race who misinterpret his wisdom.

Futurama- “The Sting”: Leela sees a world where Fry, stabbed through the heart, has died. Each time she wakes, she doesn’t know if it’s real or a dream. In a twist, it is Leela that is near-death. ST:TNG- “Tapestry”: Jean-Luc sees a world where he, stabbed through the heart and dying, has a better life that if he did not get mortally wounded. When he wakes, he doesn’t know if Q did help him or if it was a dream but in a twist, is glad and thankful to Q.

Futurama- “I Second That Emotion”: Bender the Robot gets emotions and subsequently gets into trouble. ST:TNG- uh, every Data-centric episode, but particularly in the movies.

Futurama- “Where No Fan Has Gone Before”: An amazing, hilarious ribbing of Star Trek fandom poking fun at fan worship and obsession. ST:TNG- “Encounter at Farpoint, Part I”, “Relics”, and any other time TNG had to mix with TOS… (except for “Sarek.” That shit was cool.)