Bendless Love
Encyclopedia
"Bendless Love" is the sixth episode in season three of Futurama
. It originally aired in North America
on February 11, 2001.
's essential L-unit has been straightened. After discovering that other objects in the office have been bent (including Professor Farnsworth
, who is bent forward at a right angle), suspicion naturally turns to Bender (who now bends Farnsworth backward at a right angle). The crew 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; throughout the episode, the Professor annoys the rest of the crew with his uplifting personality and fascination of looking up at the sky now that he is bent backwards.
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 buxom blue-collar beauty of a 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 are a divorced couple on friendly terms, 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 nightclub. 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, although still acting like Bender) succeeds in seducing Angleyne, but when she discovers his identity, Bender 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, the Robot Mafia moves an unbendable girder into position above Bender and Flexo. Because they do not know that Bender was disguised as Flexo, the Robot Mafia wants Flexo dead for Bender's monetary indiscretions. The girder is dropped on top of Flexo, crushing him. 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 satisfied his need for bending, Bender returns to his job at Planet Express. However, in the act of fixing the Professor, he bends him even further back (so that his back is now against the back of his legs), making him depressed now that he can no longer look up at the sky, though no one really cares.
(Bender, Flexo, Sal, Joey Mousepad, Elzar) won an Annie Award
for "Outstanding individual achievement for voice acting by a male performer in an animated television production" for his performance as Bender in this episode.
Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
. It originally aired in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
on February 11, 2001.
Plot
After an overly dramatic takeoff results in an inelegant crash onto the streets of the city, the crew discovers that the Planet Express shipPlanet Express Ship
The Planet Express Ship is a fictional spaceship in the animated series Futurama, which bears the official designation "U.S.S. Planet Express Ship." The ship was designed and built by Professor Hubert Farnsworth and is the sole delivery ship of Planet Express, a delivery service owned by the...
's essential L-unit has been straightened. After discovering that other objects in the office have been bent (including Professor Farnsworth
Hubert J. Farnsworth
Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, or simply The Professor, is a fictional character in the American animated television series Futurama. He is voiced by Billy West using a combination of impressions of Burgess Meredith and Frank Morgan. Farnsworth is the proprietor of the Planet Express delivery...
, who is bent forward at a right angle), suspicion naturally turns to Bender (who now bends Farnsworth backward at a right angle). The crew plays the security tape from the night before, which shows Bender sleep-bending
Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a sleep disorder belonging to the parasomnia family. Sleepwalkers arise from the slow wave sleep stage in a state of low consciousness and perform activities that are usually performed during a state of full consciousness...
. The Professor sends Bender away to satisfy his psychological need for bending; throughout the episode, the Professor annoys the rest of the crew with his uplifting personality and fascination of looking up at the sky now that he is bent backwards.
Bender gets hired at a bending plant as a scab worker during a strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
, 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 buxom blue-collar beauty of a 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 are a divorced couple on friendly terms, 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 nightclub. 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, although still acting like Bender) succeeds in seducing Angleyne, but when she discovers his identity, Bender 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, the Robot Mafia moves an unbendable girder into position above Bender and Flexo. Because they do not know that Bender was disguised as Flexo, the Robot Mafia wants Flexo dead for Bender's monetary indiscretions. The girder is dropped on top of Flexo, crushing him. 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 satisfied his need for bending, Bender returns to his job at Planet Express. However, in the act of fixing the Professor, he bends him even further back (so that his back is now against the back of his legs), making him depressed now that he can no longer look up at the sky, though no one really cares.
Broadcast and reception
In its initial airing, the episode received a Nielsen rating of 4.6/8, placing it 79th among primetime shows for the week of February 5-11, 2001.Awards
Actor John DiMaggioJohn DiMaggio
John William DiMaggio is an American voice actor. A native of North Plainfield, New Jersey, he is known for his gruff, deep voice and New Jersey accent, which he uses to voice mainly villains and anti-heroes.-Filmography:...
(Bender, Flexo, Sal, Joey Mousepad, Elzar) won an Annie Award
Annie Award
The Annie Awards have been presented by the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood since 1972...
for "Outstanding individual achievement for voice acting by a male performer in an animated television production" for his performance as Bender in this episode.
External links
- Bendless Love at The Infosphere.