Ep 12. Raging Bender

Bender, the irreverent robot that serves as one of the main characters of Futurama, has always been known for his wild streak and his tendency to go completely off the rails at the worst possible times. In season 2 episode 12, entitled "Raging Bender," we see this tendency pushed to a whole new level as Bender takes on the world of robot wrestling.

It all starts when Bender accidentally injures Fry during a routine thunderstorm, causing Fry to have to spend some time in the hospital. Feeling guilty, Bender decides that he needs to find a way to make it up to his friend. In typical Bender fashion, however, he decides that the best way to do this is by becoming a star in the world of robot wrestling.

Bender quickly heads to the robot wrestling arena, a seedy and dangerous place where robots of all shapes and sizes compete in brutal matches that often leave them battered and broken. Introducing himself as "The Masked Unit," Bender quickly rises through the ranks of the wrestling world, earning cheers and adoration from the crowd and becoming more and more obsessed with his newfound fame and glory.

As Bender's popularity grows, however, his behavior begins to spiral out of control. He becomes increasingly arrogant and violent, injuring his fellow wrestlers with no regard for their safety or well-being. In one particularly brutal match, Bender even goes so far as to rip off another robot's arm and use it to bludgeon him repeatedly in front of a horrified audience.

Meanwhile, Fry begins to suspect that something is deeply wrong with his friend. He teams up with Leela and the rest of the Planet Express crew to try to get to the bottom of Bender's strange behavior. Their investigation eventually leads them to the robot wrestling arena, where they are shocked to see Bender in his new role as a villainous and brutal wrestler.

Despite their best efforts, however, Bender remains entrenched in his new world of fame and violence. It isn't until he faces off against his toughest opponent yet - a giant and fearsome robot known as The Crusher - that Bender begins to realize the error of his ways. In a bruising and bloody battle, Bender is nearly destroyed by The Crusher, forcing him to finally confront the darkness within himself and try to make amends for all the damage he has caused.

As with many episodes of Futurama, "Raging Bender" is a mix of hilarious gags, sharp satire, and deeply emotional moments. It's a testament to the skill and creativity of the show's writers and animators that they are able to tackle such weighty themes as fame, violence, and redemption, all while keeping the audience entertained with their trademark wit and humor.

Overall, "Raging Bender" is a standout episode of the second season of Futurama, and a great example of all the things that make this show so beloved by fans around the world. Whether you're a diehard fan or a newcomer to the world of Bender, Fry, and Leela, this episode is sure to entertain and engage you from start to finish.