There's No Bismuth Like Show Bismuth
Fry is upset that his only living relative, Professor Farnsworth, takes him for granted and misses a big night for him. He goes to visit the Professor's parents, who are in retirement on the Near Death Star. After accidentally awakening them from their simulation and busting them out, Fry bonds with his "grandparents". Hubert in the meantime is resentful because he believes his parents never loved him.
Tropes for this episode:
- Ascended Fridge Horror: The professor's parents reveal that Hubert had a younger brother named Floyd, whom they encouraged to get a doctorate in rodeo clown studies because they believed that science messed up Hubert's sanity. In fact, they mistake him for Floyd because they thought Hubert was still committed. Bender mentions offhand that several years ago a homeless rodeo clown came to the office claiming to be-
- Calling the Old Man Out: Hubert does this to his parents, believing that they never loved him. They admit that their relationship has been rocky.
- Continuity Nod: In the flashback, Hubert has a poster on the wall of Braino, one of his idols in The Duh-Vinci Code.
- Daddy Didn't Show: Farnsworth being Fry's nephew aside, his failing to show up at the awards' ceremony plays out like this trope.
- Hates Their Parent: After Amy suggests being honest about his feelings, Hubert yells at his parents that he hates them before running off to the streets.
- Inelegant Blubbering:
- Hubert as a child when his parents refused to let him go to MIT.
- Hubert as an adult when yelling at his parents, thinking they didn't love him.
- Ivy League for Everyone: Hubert got accepted into MIT at the age of fourteen, but his parents wouldn't let him go because they thought he wasn't emotionally mature enough.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Hubert isn't wrong in getting mad at his parents for not seeing the importance of his work, since he has become a notable scientist and his brother Floyd is a homeless rodeo clown that hasn't been seen since. Subverted in that they thought Hubert was Floyd and were disappointed he apparently didn't follow through on his plans to be a rodeo clown after what science did to Hubert.
- Mistaken Identity: Hubert's parents mistake him for the younger brother Floyd because they thought that Hubert was still institutionalized.
- Mix-and-Match Critters: Young Hubert attaches a mouse head to a frog body, creating a pet for himself. It's snatched away by a hawk shortly after the Farnsworths move to the farm. A virtual "Squeakers" appears in the revised virtual-reality he creates for his parents at the end.
- Not Now, Kiddo: Towards the end of the episode Bender tries to awkwardly bring up that someone who was most likely Floyd Farnsworth showed up at the office a few years ago. Fry cuts him off before he can finish what he's saying.
- Parents as People: As people who have an ill child and don't know how to help him.
- Poor Communication Kills: Farnsworth's parents never explained to him that they thought he wasn't emotionally mature enough because of the night terrors, because they were too tired in the morning. Once Hubert realizes they would stay up with him night after night, he realizes that they really do love him.
- Sure, Let's Go with That: Unable to make his relatives realize that he is actually Hubert's uncle, Fry says, "Yes, I'm your grandson."
- Take That!: The usage of humans as batteries from The Matrix is mercilessly mocked as being completely nonsensical since humans consume far more energy than they produce. To the point even Fry can see the problems with this concept.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Hubert reprograms his parents' retirement simulation so that they are young again and at the farm, and they're all able to play one last time.
- You're Not My Father: And Mother. Hubert cut off ties with his parents after they sent him to the countryside (and off to the institution) due to thinking they didn't care for him or appreciate his scientific brilliance. He reconciles with them upon learning they stayed up with him every night to tend to him and his night terrors.
