Futurama (TV Series) Jurassic Bark (2002) User Reviews

Great, but sad episode

[allknowingbroad · 10/10 · 14 September 2006]

This is one of the best episodes of Futurama. It's also SO depressing. The unconditional love that Seymour has for Fry is so real. Just like most of our dogs have for us. I kept hoping that in another episode Fry would somehow be able to see back in time and realize Seymour didn't move on to another owner. Unfortunately this didn't happen and Fry never brings his dog back to life.

The end song, as others have pointed out, is perfect. I'm not sure which is sadder. Seymour waiting his life out for Fry to return or the poor dog knowing where Fry was and Fry's parents not figuring it out despite being in the room Fry was frozen in. The dog was SO happy to see Fry in the capsule.

crying thinking about it

[krystalnjoeysmom · 10/10 · 10 December 2007]

I watched this episode last night. I am still crying thinking of the ending. This is, by far, one of the saddest things I have ever watched, and I don't think I could watch it again. Whoever wrote this is both a genius, and crazy. The whole episode I was so happy that Frye was going to get his friend back, and then he misinterprets everything. The last montage with the song was just terrible. It was moving in a way that I couldn't believe, and powerful. I never thought an animated show could have the power to yank at my heart and twist it in such a way. I couldn't fall asleep afterwards. It was not what I expected to watch. I had just finished watching Cold Case, which also tears me up, and wanted to watch something light and funny. I picked the wrong thing. But it will in fact go down as one of my favorite episodes, even though it was so sad.

Stunningly sad

[nyomozoo · 10/10 · 7 December 2006]

I love this episode. This episode needs time. While I watched it I thought I would give an 8, after finishing it I though it's a 9. Now more than two hours has passed and I think it worth a 10. It's not really funny, although there are some very good comical scenes. Like the episode 'The Luck of the Fryrish' it has a deeper message. This episode is about friendship. This episode is about the relationship between Fry and his dog Seymour. I reckon that the ones who can really appreciate this episode are the ones who has/had a dog. The last two minutes is the saddest I've seen in a cartoon since the death scene in Lion King. Futurama is a comedy show, but sometimes a serious episode makes it more interesting.

The second time I ever cried in Futurama

[InCole · 10/10 · 15 October 2017]

I bought a box set with all Futurama and have been watching them in order as had not had opportunity to do so in the past.

The first time I cried in Futurama was Season 3 episode 10 with the lucky clover. That was just beautifully done and it really hit hard on the emotions.

And this is the second episode I have cried on in all of Futurama. It is worth noting that for Jurassic Bark, the story is inspired by Hachiko but it still is beautifully done and obviously a unique take on it. Some very great writing and a good balance of the usual Futurama comedy but then the rare glimpse of deeper emotions that Futurama sometimes portrays on their show.

Saved my Life

[deadparrotisnomore · 10/10 · 13 January 2022]

I'm not lying. This episode literally saved my life. I was considering suicide, but when I saw the ending, I knew I had to live for my dog. She would be heartbroken if she had never seen me again. This episode literally saved my life.

Impossible to maintain manly facade while recounting this episode's plot

[awall-487-437951 · 10/10 · 13 December 2012]

I am not a man given to tears. I have cried approximately 10 times in my life. However, I have discovered that I cannot recount the plot to this Futurama episode without tearing up and developing a catch in my throat. "Jurassic Bark" is, simply put, the best executed piece of emotional manipulation I have ever encountered. It's the perfect storm. And it isn't just the last scene. While this scene is central, and it's sights and sounds are what fill my mind when I break down, the build up to that scene is also very significant. It builds me up to put me down. I'm not sure if I would call this art, but there is nothing else in the canon of film and television which effects so deeply, even as a distant memory.

Our friend forever...

[Foreverisacastironmess123 · 10/10 · 15 December 2012]

Like quite a few others this episode can make me cry pretty much every time I see it because it painfully reminds me of my own beloved lost dog, a dear friend, whom I can never replace. To fully appreciate and take in this episode you haven't had to have, I don't want to say "just" lost a pet, but just experienced some kind of loss in general, I believe. I don't agree at all that the episode is only sad at the end. There is a very powerful running theme of loss and improbable hope that begins to build right from the start. And the emotionally-charged atmosphere somehow heightens the comedy, with even the lamest of jokes breaking the tension. The impossible dream of Fry's dog coming back to life was all I could focus on when I first watched this. Not even the rather striking spectacle of a scantily clad Leela and Amy wrestling together could distract me! Anyway, the possibility of Seymour's resurrection strings along the emotions of the viewer, just mercilessly. At one point Fry actually says: "come back to life." Oh my, isn't that just what everyone aches for in the most insane horrible moments of grief? I'm not saying it isn't brilliant, but it is shamelessly emotionally-manipulative. On my first viewing I was already upset even before I knew how the story ended, because I think a part of me knew where everything was heading. I'm actually glad the dog didn't magically get brought back from the dead. I know it's not "real" but if they had done that I think it would have crossed some kind of line and spoiled something. Although it would have doubtless been a supremely joyful moment, it wouldn't have been sensitive and respectful to the deep themes and emotions involved. Because, as we all terribly know, things die and know matter how much we may wish it, they don't ever come back. So I believe it was the correct way to proceed in having Seymour stay gone. It's far more meaningful that way, if you think about it. It could hopefully make a person appreciate whatever time they may still have, and it reminded me that precious memories are a gift. So, although it is indeed extremely upsetting and heartbreaking to see, I praise them for ending it the way they did, for me it was the right and most honest way they could have concluded the bittersweet story. Never again would Futurama reach such lofty emotional heights. The high vote rating is extremely well deserved, this is among the very best that the show has to offer. In honour of anyone who ever lost the best little furry friend they ever had.

Get your handkerchiefs ready

[nukhetagar · 10/10 · 3 March 2021]

This is my first time watching futurama. Today, I had to drop my dog off to the vet for a minor surgery. It was going to take a few hours. So, when I came home to wait for the surgery to be done, I decided to take my mind off it by watching a couple episodes of futurama. By some cosmic joke, this episode was the next one on my list. I start watching it, thinking I am going to see a cute story about a dog. And for the most part, yeah, I did. But that ending.... oh, that ending. It caught me off guard. All of a sudden, I found myself crying my eyes out... no tv episode made me cry like that.

Ps. My moment of crying is when the vet decided to call with an update. It was an emotional call to say the least

Pps. My dog is completely fine. She is sleeping it off as we speak.

a bittersweet note

[firnthoronwen · 9/10 · 26 July 2006]

Futurama is of course a great comic series. But this episode shows more than any other how it can strike a bittersweet, serious note as well with its spin on the familiar flashback of Fry's last day in the 20th century. This time, instead of seeing that Fry's coming to the future was not entirely as it appeared in the first episode, ("The Why of Fry" season 4) we get to see another aspect of his life that was left behind--his faithful dog Seymour. As the episode unfolds we learn what happened to Seymour after Fry was frozen...and what Fry decides to do when his fossilized remains are recovered in the future.

I think the song that's played in the last scene is perfectly chosen--and I came to IMDb to find out who sings it. I couldn't find that information here, but in case anybody else is wondering I found it on Wikipedia--"'I Will Wait For You' from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg as sung by Connie Francis, which writer Eric Kaplan's parents played and sang on the piano while he was a child."

The saddest thing I've ever seen...

[super_bob320 · 10/10 · 6 August 2008]

Jurassic Bark is certainly the best Futurama episode ever. I know that this has been said a million times, but this episode is also the saddest... I'm not a BIG animal lover, but it's impossible not to cry at the end, or at least be REALLY REALLY sad.I've been able to watch it completely only 1 time. There's not much to say without revealing anything, but all contribute to the unique atmosphere not present in any other episode. I can't believe that futurama didn't won the Emmy for the best animated program in 2003 by presenting "Jurassic Bark". It is a hundred time better than "Roswell that ends well".

10/10 You must watch it even if you're a big Futurama hater !

like so many others said: great episode

[tomsan84 · 10/10 · 18 February 2009]

I like animated comedy, its comedy for 'our' generation. Sitcoms just don't do it anymore and implement way to many morals into the storyline.

Futurama differentiates itself enough from the other popular animated comedy series to be interesting. Animated comedy is, maybe silently, stigmatized for being to superficial. Indeed the stories don't go to deep most of the time and that is the appealing part of it, but now and then people have a need for extra emotions besides humor.

Bringing drama with a laugh, to me sounds impossible. obviously it can be done, but it almost always negates or even nullifies the drama part.

This episode was regular for almost the entire length, but it was build up to the end so ingeniously and unnoticeable that the end indeed made such an impact.

I think that if you compare this scene with the saddest scene from friends (in context) futurama wins by a land slide in sadness.

Greyfriars Bobby

[mosheberlin · 9 December 2007]

Jurassic Bark is one of my favorite Futurama episodes too. It reminds me of the true story of "Greyfriar's Bobby", a terrier who lived in Edinburgh, Scotland in the 1850s. Here's a web site that tells the story: www.greyfriarsbobby.co.uk. The story tells that he belonged to John Grey, one of the town's cops. When the man died, the dog made his home by the graveside. He became famous in the town, and the townspeople continued to care for the dog. When he eventually died years later, they erected a monument to the little dog's loyalty. PS: I saw a bumper sticker once - "Lord, help me to become the kind of person my dog thinks I am."

Fry had a dog

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 3 April 2022]

"Jurassic Bark" is the second episode from the fifth season of Futurama and this is one for the dog lovers. Fry is at the center of this episode and we find out that back in the year 2000 he became friends with a dog briefly before his "time travel" began. Through coincidence, he comes across this dog again in the "now" when this series is set and develops a plan to bring it back to life with the help of cloning. Professor is of course the right guy for the job, even if nobody listens to his warnings in the end. Bender, on the other hand, is not happy at all and we see how he is really jealous. When he shows up with a robot dog, it was kinda funny and the moment he sinks all of Fry's hopes to ever see his dog again was typical Bender, only to immediately afterwards become some super robot and make up for it again and his words when he says he should have known that it is possible to have deep feelings for low creatures were also typical Bender. By the way, his eyes are also easily interchangeable as we find out. My favorite moment from this episode also had to do with Bender, who is himself just a tool there, namely the moment when Fry destroys the showcase to free his dog. Very brief, but very funny I felt. In general, it was the small moments from this episode that felt the best. Being a pizza delivery boy was clearly a difficult job back then. That much is safe. I mean just look at the pizza box and what is written on it. Straight-up bullying, even if today it could maybe inspire people to tip the pizza boy really generously.

These over 20 minutes were also a solid tribute to music for once. You don't see that too often with comedy, especially with animation, that it is about one specific song as some kind of running gag. Here it would be Walking on Sunshine. (Not Sturgill Simpson's "Sam". That one wasn't out yet back when this episode was made.) I like the song and have it on my MP3 player, so it was fine and I disagree with Bender's evaluation of the song towards the end. The ending was a bit heartbreaking. I mean Fry had totally forgotten about the dog before, so of course he would easily manage to do it again in the tradition of the episode must story-wise end the way it started. But seeing the dog out there aging and still waiting for Fry to come back was touching and there I was close to giving the episode another two stars at that point. In the end, it was not enough though, but I am still positive that this is one of my favorite Futurama episodes from season five. A lot done right here. Those who love flashbacks to Fry's life back in 2000 will have a good time too, especially with Fry's parents and now we know why he is the way he is. Go watch and I hope the level stays that way with the following episodes. We shall see. The title is a nice little play on words too, even if the episode is of course never about dinosaurs. I am one of the people who think Futurama does not deliver too many real emotions and that it is almost always completely about the comedy, so this episode made for a nice change. Grab your dog and check it out.

Boring

[Somdra · 1/10 · 30 March 2020]

It was a boring story. I just couldn't understand why this is so highly rated.

Worth watching even if you aren't a Futurama fan

[Tito-8 · 9/10 · 7 January 2017]

I've never been a fan of the show Futurama -- I doubt I've watched even four full episodes. But a close friend of mine (who happens to also love dogs) wanted me to see this episode, and I finally got around to watching it just last night. And now I understand why she wanted me to see it.

The story is beautifully executed. Seymour's excitement whenever he sees Fry is made obvious, but it's not over the top or in your face. Bender's jealousy gets the better of him, but he redeems himself. And, of course, Fry's well-meaning but ultimately regrettable change of heart about cloning Seymour leads to the heartbreaking ending scene.

Everyone seems to rave about the closing scene, and justifiably so, but I was rather enjoying the episode even before the emotionally charged final minutes. But that final scene, with Seymour hoping to see Fry again, and that wish never being granted, deserves all the praise it has received.

I wouldn't call myself a "fan" of the show now, but I definitely have an appreciation for Futurama that I never had before. And thanks to my friend for bringing this beautiful episode to my attention.

Even thinking about it ruins me

[mickbundy · 10/10 · 12 May 2020]

Every time man. Why do I do this to myself? The saddest ending to a TV episode I've ever watched.

My Favorite Episode Of Any Animated Series Ever

[catapultrk · 10/10 · 20 March 2009]

Although I enjoy South Park, Simpsons, Drawn Together, Family Guy and American Dad more in general than Futurama... this one episode is possibly my favorite half hour of animated television of all time. Even if you have never owned a pet, if you don't cry at the end... see a doctor to get your tear ducts checked. The way they built the relationship between Fry and his dog gradually was moving and surprisingly realistic. The change of heart Bender shows towards the dog after he realizes just how much Fry loved it was inspirational. Does the fact that seeing the women wrestle in spandex turned me on more than a little bit make me disturbed? Even if you hate the show, watch this episode ASAP!!!

Think about it

[Thiim-Thim · 9/10 · 21 June 2017]

yeah, it is a tough one to watch. The second time and beyond, you know it's going to hurt. Can get sad just thinking about watching it....

And then think about the fact that originally the idea was to have Frys' mother play the part of the dog! Wow! They actually abandoned that idea, because they felt it was too sad. I wonder what mails they would have gotten, if they had aired that one

You will cry for ever and ever

[mfloresclubalmagro · 10/10 · 28 March 2020]

Reading most of the reviews here shows exactly the same colective feeling: once you've seen this episode you can't ever watch it again and just the memory of it will instantly make you burst into tears. I agree with someone who said it is the sadest thing ever in the world. It's just like that. I've not seen any other piece of film (live action or animated) that will make my heart brake completely and then throw it on the floor and step on it again and again. Forget Bamby's mom, forget Lion King, forget Titanic or Artificial Intelligence's ending (Well that last one can be the only match actually). Anyway, if you're a dog lover, or a human lover, or a human with human feelings, watch at your own discretion. Be advised. Thanks Matt Groening for the first 10 ir 12 seasons of The Simpsons and for this great show.

Really sad but touching episode

[AGKandvideomaker2000 · 10/10 · 24 December 2014]

This is futurama at it's best, this episode is just awesome but sad and touching.

In this episode Fry finds out that his dog Seymour is being featured in a museum and after finally getting his dog back so he can revive him which causes that Bender get jealous.

This episode does a great job having an interesting story but not only story, a backstory of Fry and Seymour, since the day they met to the day that Fry was frozen, the characters are well done and of course Bender is likable (even if he is a jerk).

also that ending where Seymour waits that fry returns with him (Which never happens) is so sad that it makes me cry ;_;

Of course this episode is beautiful :')

My 2nd favorite episode of the entire series

Best animated episode

[twixee-laimona · 10/10 · 7 May 2020]

I am a big Futurama fan. I have rewatched it 5 or more times. And this episode always makes me cry even when I know what will happen. Sometimes I think to skip it because I don't want to cry. But I never skip because I know it's so beautiful and pure. This is a masterpiece.

The One With Fry's Dead Dog...

[taylorkingston · 10/10 · 31 October 2014]

I really love this episode. It's one of my all-time favorite episodes. It makes me happy and makes me want to cry.

In this episode, we see that Fry's old work, Panucci's Pizza, has been dug up, has been preserved and has been put on display as a museum exhibit. We find out that Fry had a dog, Seymour back in 1999, but only after Fry finds his fossilised remains. How sad? Tears are coming already. He demands to take the remains home with him. How sweet and creepy is that? Professor Farnsworth thinks he may be able to make a clone of Seymour and inject him with all the old memories of Seymour. How cool would that be? Fry could have his puppy again. But Bender, who has been practicing a magic act with Fry, gets mad when all of his attention goes to Seymour. We see how Seymour actually died. He waited outside the pizza shop for Fry to come home. How loyal and sad? I want to cry so bad right now.

Overall, I give this episode a 10 out of 10.

The Saddest Thing In the World

[syllavus · 4 December 2006]

I gave this episode a 5, because it is both excellent, AND awful. The last minute of this episode, is without a doubt, the saddest thing ever written, or put to film, in the entire world. This makes it both brilliantly good, and terribly upsetting at the same time. Hours after seeing this episode, I found myself sobbing over it. It doesn't just tug at your heart-strings, it wrenches them out, like a dentist pulling out an abscessed tooth. Even now, just thinking about this episode is enough to make me tear up almost instantly. I can't imagine what state of mind the writer was in, to write such an agonizingly sad piece. Do not watch this episode if you are at all soft-hearted, or especially if you are a dog lover.

Fry and Bender are really big jerks to each other in this episode

[celiawatsonanime · 7/10 · 7 February 2022]

This is enjoyable but, not really good in my opinion.

It does not make sense that the museum cares about the fossil of Fry's dog.

Bender should have let Fry resurrect that dog, Bender is acting really selfish in this episode.

This definitely is emotional.

It doesn't make sense how that dog got preserved for a thousand or so years in the first place.

They stole the original story of Hitachi.

[d-38363 · 1/10 · 20 February 2017]

Hitachi was a dog who greeted his master at a train station every day. His master died, never returning to Hitachi who would still wait for him every day. People saw his picture on the newspaper. They would give him treats and food. They would constantly do that for Hitachi until he finally died. The episode is not a bad episode, it's amazing. What makes it get a 1 is the amount of attention it gets when it really wasn't super original.