Futurama has a unique history of ending, only to be revived, leading to multiple episodes written as potential series finales. These six episodes, each serving as a distinct conclusion at different points in the show's run, are ranked here based on their effectiveness as finales.
"Overclockwise" (2011)
This episode, written by Ken Keeler, was created during a period of uncertainty about the show's future after its move to Comedy Central. It centers on Bender becoming an omnipotent supercomputer after being overclocked. While it features a good story for Bender, the episode is considered the weakest finale because Fry, the series' primary protagonist, is relegated to a B-plot. Though the moment where Fry and Leela learn about their future is touching, a finale should place its main character front and center.
"The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings" (2003)
Ken Keeler also penned this episode, which aired as the apparent conclusion to the original run on Fox. It tells a touching story of Fry learning the holophonor to impress Leela, making a deal with the Robot Devil that results in a swapped-hands predicament. Fry eventually composes an opera for Leela, but the Robot Devil reclaims his hands. While the episode is sweet and features a memorable performance by Fry, it's ranked lower as a finale because it feels like the creators were hedging their bets, not entirely committing to a definitive end. As showrunner David X. Cohen noted, they wanted to "hedge our bets and not have everyone literally wave goodbye at the end."
"Otherwise" (2024)
This episode, written by Margot Pyrceman, concluded Hulu's second season and was also crafted with the possibility of it being a final episode. It explores the concept of a Futurama multiverse, acknowledging continuity errors and referencing previous finales, particularly "Meanwhile." While the multiverse concept was an interesting way to tie up loose ends, the episode's reliance on other storylines and its title's similarity to "Meanwhile" made it feel less like a standalone conclusion.
"Final Ending: The Last Conclusion" (2026)
The most recent finale, written by Margot Pyrceman, is a strong entry that delves into the idea of endings themselves. The plot follows Fry's quest to discover the conclusion of a lost PG-13 movie he was kicked out of as a child. Professor Farnsworth theorizes that the need to know story endings is an evolutionary trait. This episode is praised for its high-concept exploration of finales, directly referencing "Meanwhile," and offering an original perspective born from the show's repeated experiences with potential endings.
"Into the Wild Green Yonder" (2009)
This episode was the final installment of the four direct-to-DVD movies, which were designed to be split into four TV episodes. Written by Ken Keeler, it involves Fry in a cosmic battle between the Encyclopods and the Dark Ones. Despite structural challenges inherent in adapting movie-length stories into episodic formats, "Into the Wild Green Yonder" successfully conveys a grand scale, feeling like a fitting, albeit not perfect, conclusion to the series at the time.
"Meanwhile" (2013)
Widely regarded as the best series finale, "Meanwhile" perfectly blends heart, grandiosity, and a thought-provoking concept. After Leela's near-death experience, Fry proposes, and Professor Farnsworth invents a "Time Button" that allows for ten-second jumps into the past. The episode culminates in Fry and Leela aging together in a frozen world after the button breaks, only for the Professor to reset time. While the events are undone, the emotional impact remains. This finale felt definitive, unlike previous attempts, and subsequent episodes have acknowledged its significance, suggesting even the writers recognize its superior status.