Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?

Infobox Futurama episode
episode_name = Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love?


caption = Fry and Zoidberg fight to the death.
episode_no = 18
prod_code = 2ACV05
airdate = February 6, 2000
country = USA
writer = Eric Kaplan
director = Brian Sheesley
opening_subtitle = From The Network That Brought You "The Simpsons"
opening_cartoon = Unknown
season = two

"Why Must I Be a Crustacean in Love" is episode five in season two of "Futurama". It originally aired in North America on February 6, 2000. The plot is an extended parody of the Star Trek episode, "Amok Time." The title refers to the Doc Pomus song "A Teenager in Love".

Plot

Amy and Leela drag Fry and Bender to the gym, and Doctor Zoidberg tags along. While at the gym, Zoidberg behaves erratically and aggressively, and even develops a head fin. Back at the laboratory, Professor Farnsworth examines a restrained Zoidberg, and determines that it is mating season for Zoidberg's species.

The crew flies to Zoidberg's home planet, Decapod 10. After a short tour, Zoidberg sets up a mound on the beach and begins trying to attract a mate. After an unsuccessful day, Zoidberg meets Edna, an old classmate. She rejects him and Zoidberg leaves depressed.

Fry begins teaching Zoidberg how to win Edna's heart using human romance techniques. Zoidberg thinks all of the answers to Fry's questions are "Ask her to Mate with me!" Eventually Zoidberg gets the idea. Using his newfound techniques, Zoidberg successfully woos Edna to a date. While at a restaurant, Leela reveals to Edna that Fry is responsible for the change in Zoidberg.

Under the pretext of discussing Zoidberg, Edna invites Fry to her apartment and begins an unsuccessful attempt at seducing him. Zoidberg walks in, sees them embracing, and challenges Fry to Claw-Plagh, a ritual fight to the death.

In the arena, Fry is about to defeat Zoidberg, but cannot kill his friend. Unfortunately, Zoidberg doesn't feel the same way and cuts Fry's arm off with his claw, which makes Fry shout "You bastard! You bastard!" to Zoidberg. After more fighting, Fry and Zoidberg look up to discover the entire Decapodian audience has left—including Edna, who has decided to mate with the king. Once every Decapodian is underwater, masses of eggs float to the surface; Zoidberg has missed the mating frenzy of his species. They soon witness the corpses of all the Decapodians float to the surface, where they are feasted on by seagulls. Zoidberg explains that members of his species die after mating and apologizes to Fry about how he acted. He felt things he never felt before: "love, jealousy, and passion for disembowelling." He then tries to reattach Fry's arm but he reattaches it on the wrong side.

Broadcast and reception

Brian Sheesley won an Annie Award for "Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television Production" for this episode in 2000.cite web |url=http://www.annieawards.com/28thannieawardwinners.htm |title=28th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners
publisher=International Animated Film Society |date=2000 |accessdate=2007-06-28 ] The animatic for this episode is included on the "Futurama" volume two DVD.cite web| url=http://www.animatedbliss.com/REVIEWS/review.asp?TID=327&title=DVD+Review:+Futurama+Season+2| title=DVD Review: Futurama Season 2| publisher=AnimatedBliss.com| date=2004-01-19| accessdate=2008-02-09] In "Doug Pratt's DVD" Pratt notes this as one of the stronger episodes of the second season because of its use of character humor and the extension of the jokes beyond simple gags.cite book|last=Pratt| first=Douglas| title=Doug Pratt's DVD: Movies, Television, Music, Art, Adult, and More!| pages=474]

References