Leela and Fry’s Romance Gets Another Twist

Read Time:5 Minute, 39 Second

TV SERIES REVIEW
Futurama – Season 13
TV-14 –

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Year Released: 2025, Hulu/Disney+ (Season 13)
Runtime: 10 x 25m episodes
Series Developed: Matt Groening & David X. Cohen
Writer(s): Staff writers under Groening & Cohen
Cast: John DiMaggio, Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr, David Herman
Where to Watch: premieres Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET (All Episodes at Once)

RAVING REVIEW: Few animated shows have survived as many cancellations, revivals, and resurrections as FUTURAMA. After more than two decades, the series continues to prove that it thrives on unpredictability. Season 13 is a confident continuation of the show’s ability to merge science fiction satire with absurd, although mostly family-friendly comedy. It’s a season that dares to be both silly and smart, sometimes struggling, but still delivering a nostalgic yet fresh experience that feels like exactly what fans signed up for.

This batch of ten episodes presents a diverse range of ridiculous scenarios, from Fry confronting heartbreak when Leela’s supposed soulmate is revealed, to Bender undergoing an experimental treatment to become a giant, to the entire world erupting into chaos when people begin floating into the sky. The writers clearly enjoy pushing the boundaries of what stories can fit into the Planet Express framework, and for longtime fans, that sense of boundless invention is part of the fun. While not every idea hits with equal force, the variety keeps things engaging. The series knows what it is and consistently maintains that tone.

One of the standout qualities of this season is its mix of cultural parody and genre-bending. The show skewers everything from environmental debates in “The World is Hot Enough,” where the crew literally ignites a volcano to combat climate change, to modern tech anxieties in “Scared Screenless,” where Bender is sent to a camp for screen addicts. Episodes like “The Numberland Gap” even lean heavily into surrealism, pulling the crew into a universe where numbers are characters—a risky gamble that somehow works by embracing the absurdity.

As always, the heart of FUTURAMA comes from its characters, and Season 13 doesn’t forget that. Fry and Leela’s relationship continues its slow, time-twisted evolution, giving the season a consistent core. Bender remains the scene-stealer, whether he’s chasing space truffles with a pig in “The Trouble with Truffles” or falling into conspiracies about a pizza parlor basement in “Murderoni.” Even secondary characters like Zoidberg and Zapp Brannigan get their moments, with Zoidberg improbably adopted by Leela’s parents in “Crab Splatter.” These storylines don’t all carry equal weight, but they reflect the writers’ commitment to keeping the ensemble dynamic.

The animation remains polished, preserving the classic visual style while subtly enhancing the HD gloss of modern-day animation. Hulu’s 2023 revival already proved the show could look crisp without losing its identity, and Season 13 builds on that. Whether depicting cosmic spectacles, such as the birth of a new universe in “The White Hole,” or the chaos of a global float-a-thon in “Wicked Human,” the visuals remain as bold and colorful as ever.

That said, the season does highlight the show’s long-standing strengths and weaknesses. On the positive side, the writing continues to blend slapstick and satire with ease. The gags come quickly, and when they land, they’re as funny as anything from the series’ early days. On the other hand, some jokes feel recycled, and certain episodes lean too heavily on their central gimmick without fully exploring the emotional stakes behind them. For example, the conspiracy in “Murderoni” is amusing, but it never digs much deeper than surface-level parody. Similarly, the environmental satire in “The World is Hot Enough” works as comedy, but its commentary feels thin compared to some of the show’s sharper episodes from earlier years.

What elevates Season 13 is its refusal to settle for nostalgia alone. While fans will appreciate callbacks, the episodes take enough risks to feel inventive. “The White Hole,” which closes the season, is a particularly ambitious attempt at grandeur, embracing big sci-fi spectacle while still grounding the story in the lovable dysfunction of the crew. It’s a finale that underscores the show’s ability to balance high-concept science fiction with goofy banter — exactly the recipe that made FUTURAMA endure.

The voice cast, of course, is indispensable. Billy West and John DiMaggio continue to bring their iconic characters to life with the same energy they’ve had since the pilot, and Katey Sagal ensures that Leela’s balance of competence and vulnerability remains intact. Maurice LaMarche and Tress MacNeille still deliver dozens of supporting voices with versatility, reminding viewers just how essential the cast is to the show’s longevity.

Overall, this season feels like a solid continuation — not flawless, but undeniably entertaining. Longtime fans will appreciate how it honors the series’ legacy, and newcomers can still enjoy its blend of humor and sci-fi absurdity. It may not hit the emotional heights of episodes like “Jurassic Bark” or “The Devil’s Hands Are Idle Playthings,” but Season 13 proves that there’s still creative juice in the tank. For a series that has outlived its own cancellations multiple times, that’s an accomplishment in itself.

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