“Futurama” has done several straightforward Christmas (or as it’s called in the 31st century, Xmas) episodes — many of them starring a murderous robot Santa. To close out season 7 (the show’s first on Comedy Central), the show did something different, using an anthology format to highlight three holidays: XMax, Hanukkah (well, Robanukah), and Kwanzaa. Each episode has an environmental message too, though not an uplifting one.
“The Futurama Holiday Spectacular” may be set during times of celebration, but it’s the most mean-spirited of the episodes on this list. In each segment, the cast brutally dies. In Xmas, the crew saves Earth’s pine tree population from extinction but boosts oxygen levels so high that Bender’s cigar ignites the atmosphere. In Robanukah, the crew (Bender excluded) dies while drilling for ceremonial oil. During Kwanzaa, attempts to find some beeswax for ceremonial candles end with the crew being turned into candles.
“Treehouse of Horror” often feels like “The Simpsons” writers not just experimenting or homaging, but letting loose their sadistic impulses on the characters. “The Futurama Holiday Spectacular” is cut from that same cloth.