Futurama: Nectar Junkies

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Did I somehow miss every other instance where Leela and Amy are at one another's throats with insults? Or was that just built up for this episode only? I mean, I'm fine with either, but it was fairly enjoyable and I'd like to see some more of it, LoL. The overall episode, however, wasn't top-notch. Steroids are so 15 years ago! It was not without some decent jokes, like "you can work and be lazy at the same time - like a voice actor," but I wouldn't call it a re-watchable episode in the Futurama canon. It's wholly a stand-alone episode, though it was fun to see Kif's parents once again and be reminded that, technically, there are ongoing relationships on this show. I don't imagine we'll be treated to such things again in the near future.

Futurama "The Butterjunk Effect" (S07E06): [haha at the tap water in the bottle.] There's a butterfly derby that intrigues Fry, so he, Kif, Leela, and Amy go to see what it's about - apparently, women wear wings and battle in an arena (where fly swatters, bug zappers, frogs, and sticky traps act as obstacles), trying to be the last one aloft. [odd.] Leela and Amy decide to enter as amateurs, but they're not just against each other - they're up against some professionals. They lose but are still invited to join the league. [that should have been a sign, ladies...] They go for it but wind up ready to quit when they keep losing. They see that the others are on "nectar," and Amy is immediately interested in trying it. Their voices deepen and they become built and ripped, and they no longer care about their men. Before you know it, they're on a winning streak!

photo credit: Futurama TM and © 2012 Twentieth
Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

But, soon enough, their supplier can't provide any more nectar, so they must go with Kif and Fry (and Bender, for some reason) to Kif's home planet, where they can find it in the wild. They're told not to disturb the butterflies while they're mating, but a male sprays Fry with a scene he cannot wash off. [gross!] Well, as Leela and Amy are part-butterfly at this point because of all of the nectar that they have ingested, they're turned on by Fry, even though everyone else can't stand the smell [McGruff reference!?!] Both girls just can't get enough of him, so they have to get off the nectar. This means, of course, that they aren't souped-up for their final match, making them worry that they'll die fighting over a lava pit. [at that point, a reasonable fear!] The girls' wings are torn but they band together to act as one butterfly... for a split-second before TransformedFry flies in and attracts away the opponents - as they're still on the nectar. [totally should have seen this coming!] Later, Fry comes out of the inside of the insect and we're back to status quo.