• Futurama TM and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.
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    No. 8 - “Overclockwise” (Season 6, Episode 25)

    We all occasionally ponder what we are doing with our lives. In this episode, it is Leela’s turn, as she leaves Fry and sets off to find her place in the world. Fry is heartbroken, but lets her go. Meanwhile, Bender, the Planet Express’ alcoholic robot bending unit, figures out a way to overclock his system so that he is able to increase his intelligence. He eventually upgrades to the point of becoming an omnipotent being who is all and sees all. So when Fry comes to him asking for help to win Leela back, all Bender can do is look sad, as he is so intelligent now that he can even see the future. Eventually, he loses his power and goes back to being regular old Bender. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t take the time to write down the answers to life’s great mysteries first, including Fry and Leela’s ultimate fate. Leela later returns, having missed Fry, and the two read Bender’s synopsis of their destiny together. The range of emotions on their faces is pretty incredible for a cartoon, ultimately ending on expressions of content and happiness. Interestingly enough, this episode was written to serve as a series finale by long-time series writer Ken Keeler in case the show wasn’t renewed. It was, but what a fitting finale it would have been.