8 Times Zoidberg Experienced (Tragically Temporary) Moments Of Pure Happines
There are a lot of words that can be used to describe Dr. John A. Zoidberg: Decapodian, Earthling, physician, savior, scapegoat, genius, moron. No matter what hat he wears, Dr. Zoidberg on Futurama never fails to add to the chaos of Planet Express. Whenever we least expect it, Zoidberg always manages to surprise us, whether it's with a bizarre anecdote about his past, his surprising aggressive tendencies when backed into a corner, or the revelation of another organ or appendage no one knew he had.
The exploits of the beloved (by fans, not so much his colleagues) yet supremely underqualified crustacean doctor during his travels with the Planet Express delivery crew never fail to provide a laugh. Here are the best Zoidberg moments on Futurama.
- 164 VOTESPhoto: 20th Television
After a botched date with his online girlfriend of four years, the smelly Zoidberg returns to the Khaleesi of flower maidens, Marianne, for a refund on the flowers he bought. In a wild turn of events, the two find themselves attracted to one another, but the doctor harbors heavy doubts due to the fact that Marianne was born without a sense of smell. He knows that if she ever smells his horrific stench, their relationship will be over.
As the episode unfolds, their relationship blossoms and Zoidberg faces a moral dilemma: should he tell Marianne that he can give her a nose transplant that will allow her to smell or should he keep the surgery a secret so their relationship can continue? After Marianne tells Zoidberg that all she's ever wanted to do is smell the flowers she sells, he tells her about the surgery and agrees to give her a nose transplant. After the operation, Zoidberg is ready to say goodbye, only to learn that Marianne finds his odor beautiful and the two remain together. This is not only one of the few occasions where Zoidberg doesn’t mess up a medical operation, but it’s the moment that all hardcore Zoidberg fans have been waiting for: a long-awaited, well-deserved shot at true happiness.
- 241 VOTES
Roswell That Ends Well
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The members of the Planet Express delivery crew find themselves hurled back into the 1940s after a mingling of supernova energy and poorly followed microwave instructions causes spontaneous time travel. While Fry is off figuring out the origins of his grandfather and grandmother’s union, Zoidberg winds up getting snagged by the government and unwittingly becomes the first alien to be autopsied at Area 51.
There’s one thing that’s made certain, no matter the era: no one is ready for Zoidberg. While researchers are busy studying him, the crustacean clown can be seen wolfing down an entire table of free food in a horrific fashion, making playful chit-chat while being opened up, and paying no real heed to his disposable organs being thrown everywhere.
- 336 VOTESVideo: YouTube
Perhaps our earliest introduction to The Purge, “A Taste of Freedom” takes place on Zoidberg’s favorite Earth holiday: Freedom Day. For one day, everyone on Earth is allowed to do whatever they want without suffering any repercussions - that is, until Zoidberg, getting caught up in the excitement, eats an Earth flag in front of everyone. Led by the outraged head of President Nixon, Zoidberg is ostracized by the citizens of Earth and chased into the Decapodian embassy, where he is provided shelter. One Supreme Court hearing later, Zoidberg is sentenced to death.
The sentencing incurs the wrath of his brethren, and after the Earth’s refusal to stand down from the embassy, the Decapods unleash their war machines and quickly enslave the Earth and all its citizens. Zoidberg ultimately feels remorse after seeing his friends enslaved, and with the help of a burning Earth flag, directs a heat-seeking missile into the Decapods's giant crab-walking fortress and frees humanity from its crustacean clutches.
- 441 VOTESVideo: YouTube
After one unusual dismissal too many, the crew of Planet Express is finally sick and tired of having Zoidberg as their doctor. Everyone dons their best angry mob face and tries to oust him - everyone, that is, except Professor Farnsworth. The professor may be known to be borderline senile, but carries some sensibility. So why did he allow Zoidberg to stick around all this time?
It’s revealed that in their younger years, Zoidberg and Farnsworth were tasked by the megalomaniacal Mom to hunt down a Tritonian Yeti. The expedition resulted in Farnsworth being exposed to the Methane Swamp, a common cause of hyper-malaria, which can either kill you instantly or remain dormant inside you for an indefinite number of years… and then kill you instantly. Zoidberg makes a pact with Farnsworth where, if the latter were to ever exhibit any symptoms of hyper-malaria down the line, the former will mercy kill him.
In a turn of impeccably timed events, Farnsworth is stricken with a dormant affliction of Yetiism. Zoidberg, who notoriously fails every medical procedure he tackles, is surprisingly able to cure the professor with a Tritonian Yeti’s pineal gland. The crew celebrates the successful surgery with a visit to a tanning salon - and even Zoidberg gets to tag along.
- 550 VOTESVideo: YouTube
Until this episode, Dr. Zoidberg was commonly known for being meek, submissive, and lacking any competitive qualities. That all changes once mating season for Decapod 10 gets underway; the doctor goes from a doughy Curly to getting his alpha on, complete with a randomly appearing fin atop his scalp.
This was also our first look into Decapod 10, complete with sunny beaches all day, errday, a thriving civilization, and, of course, crab cars. Unfortunately, this was also a confirmation that even on his own planet, Zoidberg is considered an outcast - the women of his species would rather die than mate with Zoidberg (which is literally what happens), seemingly leaving him as the last remaining adult Decapodian on the planet.
Not all is lost, however; we also learn that he has the potential to practically kill off every member of the Planet Express when he performs his gladiator throwdown against Fry, resulting in the latter losing his arms almost immediately against the claws of alpha-Zoidberg.
- 620 VOTESPhoto: 20th Television / Futurama
It's Xmas in the year 3000 and Robot Santa Claus is terrorizing the Planet Express staff with his plethora of killing tools. See, back in 2801, The Friendly Robot Company made a robot Santa, which was supposed to be a cute way of bringing Santa to life, but his programming for determining who is naughty and who is nice was set to judge people far too harshly, and now he thinks basically everyone is evil and they should be murdered for their misdeeds. In an interesting turn of events, Santa gifts Zoidberg with a pogo stick, stating that he is the only person on his Good List. No idea on how that was possible!
Unfortunately for Robot Santa, he unwittingly gave Zoidberg the instrument of his defeat. Although oblivious with joy, Zoidberg seems to be a crustacean possessed as he bounces around the killing grounds before accidentally cutting one of the Christmas lights and frying Robot Santa. Again, Zoidberg makes off as the team’s savior - perhaps that's why he made it to the Good List?
- 718 VOTESVideo: YouTube
The Planet Express staff travels to Atlanta, which has been submerged in water and, with the help of the local cola factory, its inhabitants mutated into Southern mermaids. Fry finds himself in love with Umbriel, a mermaid, and it’s touch-and-go as to whether or not he will be continuing his tenure with the crew.
But who cares about that? Zoidberg got a house for free! While out foraging for food, he finds an empty conch shell and moves in. In rapid succession, he asks Bender to help move the couch and finds himself tending to a garden. At long last, dumpster crashing is no longer the only option for the articulate arthropod! If only Zoidberg was able to take it all with him - unfortunately, Bender burns it down with a cigar, leaving his dreams of not living in the trash unrealized.
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Who would’ve thought that Zoidberg’s original goal in life was to become a comedian instead of a doctor?
After a huge flop at the comedy house, Zoidberg reaches out to his Hollywood comedian uncle Harold Zoid for pointers but inevitably ends up being taken on a wild ride helping his uncle direct a movie. However, both Zoids aren’t aware that the other isn’t as he seems; one is a failing, penniless doctor and the other is a has-been hack.
One thing leads to another and Zoidberg ends up trying to sabotage the Oscars to save his uncle from certain death at the hands of a livid Calculon, who became involved in their film only to be made a fool of by the pair. Zoidberg has always been known for being an oblivious and selfish shellfish, as exemplified in lying to his uncle about being a successful doctor, but he redeems himself during the ceremony. While posing as an award-giver, he is struck with genuine sympathy for his uncle who has been living as a Hollywood relic. Passing over Calculon, he instead gives the award to his uncle and grants him his long overdue recognition.
