Bender Bending Rodriguez is one of the most talked-about characters from the animated classic Futurama. As a foul-mouthed, beer-guzzling robot, Bender’s narcissistic and selfish behavior has sparked numerous laugh-out-loud moments throughout the series. His one-of-a-kind personality has landed him in a plethora of crazy situations. As such, this rebellious robot remains an iconic and beloved character in the annals of animated history.
With Futurama’s return for an 11th season, which premiered July 24 on Hulu, this is the best time to walk down memory lane and remember some of Bender’s best moments in this absurdist animated series. Join us as we relive some notoriously funny moments, from when Bender sold his body for quick cash to his turn as a god to a microscopic civilization to becoming a were-car.
10) Who Needs a Body? Not Bender
Although he’s a bending unit, in the episode A Head in the Polls, Bender is left as just a head. After the titanium prices increase, he sells his entire body for quick cash. At first, he enjoys his new lifestyle until meeting Richard Nixon’s head. Bender’s guilt-ridden dreams convince him to retrieve his body, now in Nixon’s possession.
Being hilarious at times and with a cunning plan, Bender recovers his body, but Nixon becomes President using it. The episode ends hilariously with Nixon rampaging as a war robot through D.C. due to a single-vote victory. Bender’s eccentricity, witty one-liners, and the absurdity of the situation make it one of the best Bender moments in Futurama.
9) I Am Old, I M Not Obsolete, Bender Edition
In the episode Obsoletely Fabulous, Bender’s fear of becoming obsolete gets the best of him. When a new helpful, advanced robot is introduced, Robot 1-X, Bender’s insecurities are triggered, and he resists a compatibility upgrade. He then flees the upgrade center and ends up on an island inhabited by an odd group of obsolete robots.
Embracing their anti-technology lifestyle, Bender undergoes a hilarious downgrade process, resulting in an absurd wooden chassis. With his new robot companions, he leads a raid against modern technology, aiming to crush it wherever they find it. However, his attempts cause nothing but chaos.
Nevertheless, in a clever twist, it is revealed that Bender’s entire adventure on the island and the raid on technology were all figments of his wild imagination during the upgrade process. Once he realizes this, Bender humorously concludes that “reality is what you make of it.”
The episode exploits Bender’s vivid imagination and humorous take on dealing with his fears, which cause several funny exchanges that deserve a spot on the list of Bender’s best moments.
8) Where Do Bad Robots Go?
The episode Hell is Other Robots brings many absurdist situations that deserve a spot in the list of best Bender moments.
The story begins with Bender getting addicted to electricity. This then leads to several desperate and hilarious attempts to satisfy his newfound craving. Realizing he needs help, Bender turns to religion, joining the Temple of Robotology and seeking redemption.
However, the newly reformed Bender becomes tedious to his friends, prompting them to reintroduce him to his old vices. Unaware of the consequences, Bender’s sins lead to a trip to Robot Hell for eternity, courtesy of the Robot Devil. The fiddle contest for Bender’s soul adds a touch of absurd hilarity to the episode, with the Robot Devil getting involved in a musical showdown, which is yet another laugh-out-loud moment in this popular animated comedy.
7) Death to All Humans
Another side-splitting episode of Futurama, Fear of Bot Planet, sends Bender on a delivery mission to Chapek 9 planet. However, this is where robots kill humans on sight, and Bender tries to dodge work by inventing the robot-religious holiday, Robanukah. Nevertheless, his cunning plan fails, and he gets sent on a dangerous mission. On the other hand, Fry and Leela disguise themselves as robots to rescue Bender, only to discover he’s using the locals’ fear of humans to his advantage, claiming he’s a deadly human killer. As hell breaks loose, the beloved trio finds themself in a comedic showdown in which Bender gives the robots what they desire, though without any intention to do so.
6) Spooky Bender Transformation
In the episode, The Honking, Bender’s misadventures take a spooky turn when he inherits a haunted castle from his deceased uncle, Vladimir. However, to claim his inheritance, Bender must spend one night within the eerie castle walls. This leads to some comedic situations filled with horror that includes moving paintings, holographic ghosts, and a creepy car with a sinister secret.
As the episode unfolds, Bender becomes cursed with transforming into a were-car every night. He has only one mission: to seek out and murder his best friend, Fry. Filled with bizarre situations, the fact that Benders turns into a were-car makes this one of the most iconic episodes.
Throughout the episode, the Planet Express crew attempts to unravel the mystery behind the were-car curse, leading them on a wild goose chase from the North Pole to Hollywood. The introduction of the evil Project Satan adds even more comedy to the plot.
5) Love Is in the AI-r
In Love and Rocket, Bender’s romantic escapades with the Planet Express Ship take center stage, making it a hilarious addition to the best Bender moments list. The fun begins when Bender playfully argues with the ship over art, leading to a comical head-snapping incident.
Planet Express plans a romantic contract with Romanticorp, sparking humorous attempts by Fry to woo Leela. Meanwhile, Bender finds himself strangely attracted to the ship after her voice changes to female.
As the ship’s feelings are shattered by Bender’s inability to be in a monogamous relationship, a quirky adventure ensues to prevent her from merging with Bender and flying into a quasar. Oh, and did we mention the attack by the Omicronians that adds even more hilarity to the entire plot?
4) Doppelganger Bender
As if one Bender was not enough, the episode The Lesser of Two Evils involves Bender’s encounter with his doppelganger, Flexo. As the Past-o-Rama event kick-off, Fry accidentally runs over Flexo, a robot who bears an uncanny resemblance to Bender.
Amidst their seemingly friendly interactions, Fry becomes convinced that Flexo is evil. He is given away by his constant insults followed by a half-hearted “just kidding.” The comedy continues to fly as Bender and Flexo clash during their job to guard a precious atom. As both of them are terrible at the task, this will eventually lead to a wild search for the missing atom.
The peak of comedy is when Fry mistakenly identifies Bender as Flexo. As they dive into the Miss Universe Pageant to retrieve the atom, chaos ensues with Leela, Bob Barker, and chandelier ornaments all getting involved.
3) Rusty Bender Sobriety Saga
One of the earliest episodes of Futurama covered in this feature is I, Roommate. In the episode, Bender’s sobriety woes and his hilarious bond with Fry take center stage, securing it a spot on the list of best Bender moments in Futurama. As Fry’s disruptive living habits cause chaos at Planet Express, he moves in with Bender, hoping for a good roommate experience.
However, the cramped quarters lead to an entertaining search for a suitable living space, they finally find an apartment. However, Bender’s antenna wreaks havoc on the building’s televisions, forcing him to move back to his old residence.
The separation takes a toll on Bender, who spirals into a self-destructive sobriety binge. In a quirky twist, he cuts off his own antenna to reunite with Fry. Leela, concerned for Bender, implores him to have some malt liquor for the sake of those who love him. The episode hilariously showcases Bender’s sobriety struggles and deep friendship with Fry.
2) Bender, the Accidental God
In the episode Godfellas, after being accidentally launched into interstellar space, Bender hosts a civilization of tiny humanoids that grow from asteroid debris on his body, the Shrimpkins, who worship him as a deity. He enjoys the attention at first, with his followers brewing Lordweiser beer for their divine Bender.
However, chaos ensues as Bender tries to heed the Shrimpkins’ prayers, causing humorous mishaps and turning some of them into atheists. Amidst his micro-civilization dilemma, Bender encounters a cosmic entity that can communicate in binary—a sophisticated cosmic computer resembling a galaxy. The God Entity advises Bender on using deitylike powers with a light touch.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, Fry and Leela go on a desperate and hilarious quest to find a way to contact Bender. After some amusing encounters, they eventually aim a telescope at the God Entity, who hears Fry’s heartfelt wish for Bender’s return. As a result, the God Entity throws Bender back to Earth with a parachute and a casual farewell.
1. Bender’s Rise to Robo-Stardom
In the episode, Bendin’ in the Wind, Bender takes center stage once again. However, this time, it is a real stage. After Fry brings a vintage Volkswagen van to the future, Bender gets caught in a magnet accident and ends up paralyzed with slices cut into his torso. He then meets musician Beck, who gives him extra robotic arms to play his stomach as a washboard during his concert tour. Bender becomes an instant sensation, and his ego simply soars. The Planet Express crew follows him on the road, hoping to cash in on his newfound stardom, creating hilarious money-making schemes, such as selling Zoidberg’s colorful pebbles that he barfs up as Love Beads. Moreover, Bender’s antics as a musician make this one of the best Bender moments in Futurama, alongside his inflated ego.
With this, we conclude the list of best Bender moments in Futurama as we celebrate the return of the classic animated show on Hulu.
