Review: Futurama “Final Ending: The Last Conclusion”

The 14th season of Futurama wrapped up on Hulu with the release of its 180th episode, “Final Ending: The Last Conclusion.” Delivering an emotional narrative centered on Philip J. Fry’s past, the episode serves as a pivotal turning point for the animated series as Hulu transitions the franchise away from traditional TV seasons.

The episode centers on Philip J. Fry’s deep-seated need for closure. Back in his 20th-century childhood, Fry and his brother Yancy snuck into a PG-13 film at the local theater—only to get kicked out before seeing how it wrapped up. Centuries later in 3026, Fry’s obsession with tracking down the missing ending triggers a chaotic adventure across space, time, and history. The other cast gets into their own bits with Dr. John needing to perform surgery and Bender trying to survive a mafioso hit. The quest jumps into prehistoric eras, complete with a sequence reimagining the Planet Express crew as cavemen. In typical absurd fashion, the cavemen manage to outsmart a mammoth stuck in tar pits, only to end up trapped in the tar themselves while Caveman Fry sets off to make brand-new friends.