When Planet Express is hired to tow a super-tanker full of liquid dark matter Leela resigns in disgust after being told they would have to fly dangerously close to a penguin colony on Pluto; in fact she is so disgusted she joins the protest led by Free Waterfall Snr. Much to the chagrin of Fry, Bender is made captain of the ship and immediately lets power go to his head and ends up sober in charge of the ship. Inevitably the trip does not go well and the penguins end up covered in the liquid dark matter. As punishment he is forced to spend five hours helping to clean up the mess. While doing that he escapes by wearing a tuxedo and hiding amongst the penguins; this goes well until an accident causes him to reboot... in penguin mode. Meanwhile it becomes apparent that far from wiping out the penguins the dark matter has made them ultra-fertile... if they are to be saved the environmentalists will be forced to start shooting them!
This is a bit weaker than some of the previous episodes in season three but that doesn't mean it isn't good. The environmental message might seem a bit heavy handed at first but the way it is twisted when they are forced to cull the penguins is pretty funny. There was no explanation as to why Bender had a 'penguin mode' but to be honest I think that just made it funnier! Fan's of the late character Free Waterfall Jnr. will be pleased to see we get to meet his father in this episode... not that he fairs much better after the penguins attack! Over all it isn't a classic episode but it is still well worth watching.
This is a bit weaker than some of the previous episodes in season three but that doesn't mean it isn't good. The environmental message might seem a bit heavy handed at first but the way it is twisted when they are forced to cull the penguins is pretty funny. There was no explanation as to why Bender had a 'penguin mode' but to be honest I think that just made it funnier! Fan's of the late character Free Waterfall Jnr. will be pleased to see we get to meet his father in this episode... not that he fairs much better after the penguins attack! Over all it isn't a classic episode but it is still well worth watching.
