Bendless Love
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| Futurama episode | |
| "Bendless Love" | |
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|---|---|
| Episode no. | 38 |
| Prod. code | 3ACV06 |
| Airdate | February 11, 2001 |
| Where |  United States |
| Writer(s) | Eric Horsted |
| Director | Swinton Scott |
| Opening subtitle | Torn From Tomorrow's Headlines |
| Opening cartoon | Unknown |
| Guest star(s) | Jan Hooks |
| Season 3 January 2001 – December 2002 |
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| List of all Futurama episodes... | |
"Bendless Love" is the 6th episode in season 3 of Futurama. It originally aired in North America on February 11, 2001.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
After an overly dramatic takeoff results in an inelegant crash onto the streets of New New York, Leela discovers that the Planet Express ship's essential L-unit has been straightened. After discovering that other objects in the office (including Professor Farnsworth) have been bent, suspicion naturally turns to Bender. In order to confirm their suspicions, Hermes plays the security tape from the night before, which shows Bender sleep-bending. The professor sends Bender away to satisfy his psychological need for bending.
Bender gets hired at a bending plant as a scab worker during a strike, and discovers that Flexo who was sent to prison in Bender's place in a previous episode, is also employed as a scab. Also working at the factory is a solidly-built fembot named Angleyne. Bender quickly develops an affection for Angleyne, and they begin dating. Their relationship goes well, until Bender discovers that Angleyne and Flexo were previously married and then divorced, and that they may still be affectionate.
In an attempt to discover Angleyne's true feelings, Bender disguises himself as Flexo, and meets her at an orbital night club. While there, Bender flashes the wad of cash he has made as a strikebreaker, which angers the members of the Robot Mafia who are present. Bender (as Flexo) succeeds in seducing Angleyne, and rushes off to kill Flexo.
Bender arrives at the bending plant where Flexo is working the night shift, and starts a fight. Meanwhile in the crane control booth, Clamps of the Robot Mafia moves an unbendable girder into position above Bender and Flexo. Because they don't know that Bender was disguised as Flexo, the Robot Mafia wants Flexo dead for Bender's monetary indescretions.
Clamps releases the girder, which crushes Flexo. Angleyne confesses that she still loves Flexo, and Bender decides that her happiness is more important than his, and resolves to save Flexo by bending the unbendable girder. After a mighty struggle, he frees Flexo, earning Angleyne's appreciation, but not her love. Having gotten bending out of his system, Bender returns to his job at Planet Express.
[edit] Cultural references
- The title of this episode is a reference to both the 1981 film "Endless Love", and the song by the same title.
- The "L-unit" in the beginning is made of "340 pounds of Tonka-tough steel."
- After the group watches Bender bend the Professor, Zoidberg yells at him, "J'accuse!"
- In order to bend the unbendable girder Bender applies "Bendgay" a reference to Bengay.
- The scene where Bender helps Angelyne bend a girder is a parody of a similar scene between Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in the film Ghost.
- Zoidberg makes a reference to Scooby-Doo.
[edit] Awards
- Actor John DiMaggio (Bender, Flexo, Sal, Joey Mousepad) won an Annie Award (Animation Award) for "Best Outstanding Performance Voiceover by a Male Human".
[edit] Quotes
- Leela: Gentlemen, I've completed my report on the crash.[Slams large binder on desk.]
Bender: Whoa! I'm not readin' that crap! Summarize it in one word.
Leela: Sabotage! - Amy: You remember your own birth?
Bender: Sure, it was only four years ago.
Fry: You're only four years old?
Bender: Precocious little scamp, ain't I? - Farnsworth: My new bent outlook has completely re-energized me. I'm even dating a young Brazilian retired actress.
Fry: Alright!
Farnsworth: Some say I'm robbing the cradle but I say she's robbing the grave. - Bender: You degenerate hussy! I'm disappointed in you too, Angleyne.
- Bender: You call yourself divorced?! You're making a mockery of one of our most honored institutions!
- Fry: That doesn't look like an L at all! Unless you count lowercase.
Bender: You know we don't! (slaps Fry). - Dr. Zoidberg: (After fixing the slinky) There, little friend. Good as new. (The slinky slinks down from book to book until it spontaneously combusts on its own. Zoidberg then starts to cry in grief.)
- Sal: Welcomes aboard, scab.
Bender: Great to be here.
Sal: Come on. I'll introduces you to your scab co-workers you'll be scabbing with. [He points to a bending unit.] This here's our scab foreman.
[edit] Trivia
- The design of Angelyne was originally going to be based around Audrey Hepburn.
- This is the second episode where Bender keeps his sanity while wearing a magnet (the Flexo goatee on his date with Angelyne as Flexo), the other is "A Flight to Remember" while wearing a magnetic bowtie: both the goatee and the bowtie are below his head, and therefore don't affect Bender [from remarks by David X. Cohen in the commentary].
- When Bender's head is attached on the assembly line, Flexo's head can be seen in the box it is drawn from.
| Preceded by: " The Birdbot of Ice-Catraz " |
Futurama episodes | Followed by: " The Day the Earth Stood Stupid " |
