Critic Reviews

A terrific blastoff. ... Groening, deeply influenced by the paranoid fantasies of writer Philip K. Dick, the dystopian surrealism of the Firesign Theatre, and every cornball sci-fi movie, creates an airy atmosphere ripe for satirizing our love of computer technology.

At its best, Futurama blends raised-eyebrow postgraduate-thesis humor and fifth-grade-lunchroom spit-take humor. That’s not a combination you see every day--and as a bonus, Futurama stirs in unironically beautiful, at times thrilling visuals.

"Futurama," like "The Simpsons," is a multi-layered, full-family treat: silly and goofy-looking enough to hook the kids, and subtle and sarcastic enough to charm their parents. [26 Mar 1999]

"Futurama" is smart but not pointy-headed, satirical but not annoying. It's the hallmark of Groening and his people: sly, subversive humor delivered with such who-me? guiltlessness that it's hard not to like. [26 Mar 1999]

The passion that the Futurama team has for these characters and this world is clear in every single moment of these new episodes. Some of the jokes do feel a bit dated and don't stick the landing, but on the whole, it's a strong return to form for a beloved series.

Another satiric triumph from Matt Groening. [27 Mar 1999]

Every single episode is a winner. Genuinely, there are no duds in the bunch.

Futurama is typically about its crew of 30th-century misfits tackling a common-day problem in a futuristic environment, one that usually starts rather trivially and grows into total chaos. This formula is untouched in the excellent season premiere.

[Futurama has] eccentric yet oddly sympathetic characters, scores of clever pop-culture homages, and a unique visual aesthetic that isn't afraid to experiment with a variety of styles both vintage and modern.

You will giggle repeatedly.