Now here is an episode that really doesn’t waste a moment. I really like when Futurama decides to explore a corner of its universe that is relatively untapped. Space pirates are an established element, even if just on a couple occasions ( “Godfellas” most notably), but “Our Flag Means Medical Coverage” now gives them greater attention and a funny and interesting context. Of course it is also an episode about one of the regular structures of the series, D.O.O.P, and some interrogation of its own practices and leadership in a curious if thinly explored political conflict. A nice dichotomy to present alongside some enjoyable new worldbuilding. It begins with D.O.O.P President Glab marking a controversial new allegiance with the dictatorial Vampire Empire by delivering to them a grand gemguliam crystal piano. Zapp Brannigan and Kif are of course assigned with its transport while Fry and Bender have been hired to make the actual delivery. But D.O.O.P’s Admirella is suspicious of the whole...
The persistent motif across the MCU’s Spider-Man movies has been growing up. It began by following the titular hero through his latter years of high school , and reached its peak in Spider-Man: No Way Home , in which by the end Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is thrust into adulthood rather dramatically by the death of his aunt and the choice to have everybody forget he exists -including his beloved MJ (Zendaya). That film concluded with a very humbled Peter deprived of most of his connections and resources, living a solitary existence in a squalid apartment while fighting crime as his alter ego, revealing his true identity to absolutely nobody. An unusually bold choice for a franchise that likes to position its heroes as privileged celebrities. The harsh realities of maturity were on his doorstep, and it promised tremendous development for the series’ future. That promise is delivered on in Spider-Man: Brand New Day , for the most part. While some of the usual Marvel traits in script, ...