So after Futurama got off to a good second start with "Rebirth", how would things shape up with the first "regular" episode of the revival? A mysterious planet-destroying spaceship (with a suspiciously familiar name) forces Leela and Zapp Brannigan into a very cramped stealth craft to neutralize the offensive vessel. But their mission goes awry, and strange things are afoot "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela", the second episode of the sixth season of Futurama.

Summoned to the Secret White House  ("Mr. President! What the hell?"), Zapp Brannigan has a mission from President Richard Nixon (Billy West) - stop the unidentified death sphere that covers planets in black goo, which is currently heading for Earth. The only person with the know-how of saving the planet is Professor Farnsworth, who reveals his invisible, one-man stealth ship. Some brave soul will have to pilot it into the heart of the death sphere to destroy it before it reaches Earth. Brannigan has no intention of it being him (hiding in a barrel), but changes his mind when Leela volunteers for the mission. As Brannigan points out, it's a one-"man" ship. But when confronted with the truth behind the death sphere's nature, Leela unwittingly gives their position away to the sphere's control center. In the escape, the stealth craft is damaged and crash-lands on a Garden of Eden-like planet. Since the death sphere will continue unimpeded to Earth, it is up to Leela and a suspiciously noble Zapp to start the human race from scratch.

While there was nothing wrong with "Rebirth", "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela" bears no burden of reintroducing the show, or its characters. Freed from restraint, it enjoys simply telling the story, framed by Brannigan's dreams (which all involve Leela throwing herself at him). Being Futurama (being an animated comedy, really), there is a bit of social satire (V-GINY sees no problem with broadcasting Leela and Zapp's copulation across the entire planet), science fiction parody (because every death sphere's got to have a small weakness) and self-referential humor ("The Pimpsons and Assorama"). It's nice to see the relationship between Fry and Leela get advanced a bit - only a peck on the cheek, yes, but it's better than dropping the whole angle in favor of some old unrequited love jokes.

At only 21 minutes, however, the episode does feel very short. Despite doing what it needs to do, the ending comes somewhat abruptly. If anything, it's a credit to the writer Matt Groening, that he leaves us wanting more at the conclusion of the episode, but everything is wrapped up so quickly that it's a bit jarring. It's hard to complain, though, since "In-A-Gadda-Da-Leela" is such a good episode of Futurama. Those who would have doubted that the show could return so strongly after years in the wormhole need only watch Brannigan's agonized confession to Leela about how he set her up, to see that the show is back where it needs to be - on-air and broadcast by idiots. 4.5/5.