#bend her

[just-another-frender-blog]

New question: what are your thoughts on Bend Her, and what makes it infamous? I never thought of it like that before--I just assumed that it was generally liked. But admittedly, the sites that I used to lurk weren't known for being progressive.

This is another great question. I've wanted to do an analysis post on this episode for a while, but it's intimidating to talk about. I want to clarify that I'm not trans first and foremost. I don't speak for any trans Futurama fans, but I will be talking about that aspect in great detail. I've also only watched this episode once, so I pulled up a transcript to verify everything I'd like to say about this episode.

This episode is generally regarded as having aged poorly and being insensitive toward trans individuals. A lot of people even consider it to be the worst episode of Futurama because of this reason. The biggest reason is the concept: Bender wants to win all the medals in the female bending unit Olympics, so he transitions into a fembot to do so. I already knew this when I watched it and was prepared. My girlfriend refused to watch it for this very reason, and I watched because I wanted to watch every single episode of this show.

Right off the bat, this episode has a ton of fat jokes at Hermes' expense, which fucking sucks. They aren't funny at all, and I don't care that this episode came out in 2003, it usually isn't this mean-spirited. Before this episode, Futurama really didn't punch down all that much, especially for an early-2000s cartoon, so this stood out to me. And then we get into to some of the worst this episode has to offer: a bunch of jokes about how women are biologically weaker than men.

Biology is a thing, but of course, Bender shouldn't be able to beat all these trained athletes just because he's a man and they're women. Once again, this episode came out in 2003, but the sexist and transphobic stereotypes are awful anyway. When Bender finally transitions into Coilette, we get a lot of transphobic dialogue from the main characters. Notably Leela and Amy are basically TERFs in this episode, which was... interesting.

[When Bender's about to transition] Fry: I can't watch this 'cause it's creepy and wrong and sick. However, I will watch out of curiosity.

[After Coilette won] Leela: I don't know which I'm more: Enraged or disgusted.

Coilette: I'm just out there making us ladies look good.

Amy: Snuh-uh! You're making us look like jerks in front of the other genders. (Accidentally based)

[About Coilette] Farnsworth: Oh, dear. Her mood swings are getting wilder. She's becoming a slave to her emotions. Just like all women. Particularly you, Leela. (...good lord...)

[After Coilette decides to detransition] Leela: OK, look. If I help you with this do you promise to get out of my gender and stay out?

I think you get the point. This episode has a lot of sexist, transphobic, homophobic dialogue. And a ton of awful stereotypes about queer people in general. The stereotype of the predatory trans woman who'll invade women's spaces, particularly women's sports is an idea that gets people killed, and this episode only reinforces that notion. And yet... I have mixed feelings because I do think there's more to it than that.

Beneath all of this is a genuinely interesting character study of Bender's sexuality. Initially, he does only become a fembot just to spite everyone else and win all the medals. The more he stays a fembot, the more he seems to actually enjoy himself. He likes putting on makeup and dresses. He also enjoys his dates with Calculon, and even though he initially claims to do it to con Calculon, it's heavily implied that he's genuinely fallen in love with him. He does the most un-Bender thing and detransitions so he won't break Calculon's heart.

This episode provides a lot of explicit proof that Bender is queer, though I can't outright say it because it's not exactly confirmed. This is even implied at the end of the episode when he transitions back into a manbot. Once again, it initially seems like he's back to his old self now that he has male robot genitals or whatever. When he's alone, he stares longingly at Calculon on TV, signaling that Bender did enjoy his time as a fembot and did have feelings for Calculon.

As I said earlier, a lot of the main characters are very transphobic toward Bender/Coilette in this episode. They all crack jokes at Coilette's expense. None of them even attempt to take her transition seriously, with Amy and Leela outright refusing to see Coilette as a "real woman." It's hard to say for sure where the writers want you to stand on this, but I personally think that you aren't meant to agree that the way they're treating Bender/Coilette. It seems like you're meant to question their biases, though the episode does a poor job of conveying this.

I also want to get into the time this episode came out, 2003. Little was known about trans issues in the general public, and queer issues in general. According to some old Internet forums I read about the episode, this was the first piece of mainstream media to touch on trans issues. It came out before a lot of really awful, modern-day trans stereotypes were more prevalent. It's possible that the writers meant well when writing this episode and fumbled the bag.

That being said, I have no way to verify this and I don't think they've ever publicly come forward about this episode. It's not exactly clear what type of interpretation the viewer is supposed to take away from this episode. And even if you aren't supposed to agree with the way the PE crew is treating Coilette/Bender, it still hurts to see your favorite characters act transphobic/homophobic. I don't want to see TERF Leela, commentary or not. There's one part where Leela calls Coilette/Bender dating a manbot "a disgrace." I've been in a same-sex relationship for three years, and I remember feeling horrible when she said that.

Good intentions don't matter if the bigots in your audience use these "jokes" as fuel to hurt minorities. I think some people forget that there is a more conservative and bigoted side of the Futurama fanbase. I have to be careful when I engage with certain sides of this fanbase for a reason. I remember watching clips of this episode, going to the comments, and seeing a ton of hate toward trans women. So many people were praising this episode for it's portrayal of trans women and so many of them were using it to justify bigotry toward LGBTQ+ people.

"Bend Her" really does send a lot of mixed messages. I've seen trans people who despise this episode and trans people who really love it. Both sides of the argument are valid and should be heard. I think it's wonderful that queer people can see themselves in Bender (myself included tbh). But that doesn't mean that this episode doesn't do harm. We should criticize it for its harmful aspects, regardless of age and intentions. I love Futurama overall, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to critique it.

Hell, concrit allows these types of shows to improve if they continue, like with the upcoming reboot. Maybe we'll get better queer/trans representation. Maybe they'll do a better job of writing the female characters. And maybe they'll finally let Bender out of the closet rather than queer-coding him. I want to end this by inviting any of my trans followers to add to this message. I identify as cis, and I want to make sure trans Futurama fans can add to the conversation as well.

#futurama #bender #bend her #oh my god #this is so long #i'm sorry! #tw: transphobia #tw: homophobia #tw: misogyny #asks #very long post

[quotent-potables]

I'm so embarrassed. I wish everybody else was dead.

Bender, Futurama, 5x13: “Bend Her”

#quotes #bender #futurama #bender bending rodriguez #5x13 #bend her

[captainfreelance1]

Futurama S4 E13 Bend Her

Never ask Zoidberg for help when picking out your Wedding Cake.

#Futurama #Futurama Season 4 #Bend Her #John Zoidberg #Zoidberg #Why Not Zoidberg #Underrated Zoidberg Moments #Wedding Planning #Wedding Cake #Matt Groening #David X. Cohen #Billy West

[realbabesreblogs]

Submitted by @prettyruskitty

#onlyf@nz #fansli #sexy content #18+ only #sexy tease #so hot 🔥🔥🔥 #onlyfans tease #sexy pose #onlyf #onlyfans model #so fuckable #so fucking sexy #so fucking hot #needy pussy #spank my pussy #perfect butt #big round butt #thicc ass #beautiful back view #big juicy ass #realbabesreblogs #cutie w a bootie #bend me over #round bum #bury my nose in her ass #peachy 🍑 #good ass #sexy ass tease #assfordayss #beautiful ass

[blluespirit]

there are so many amazing and powerful benders in atla but what i love about zuko is that whether or not he can use his bending in that moment has zero (0) bearing on how much he’s going to absolutely kick your ass. no bending? that’s fine - he’s got swords. no swords or bending? that’s fine - he’s literally just going to beat you up. if you’re REALLY unlucky then you get all three. as a treat.

#like he’s surrounded by these amazing benders. #azula who’s a prodigy #the literal avatar #katara who mastered water bending in like -3 days #(literally iconic of her tbh) #and zuko IS a great firebender (his abilities as a firebender improve as his story progresses) #but it just absolutely cracks me up when i remember zuko will just. not use his bending sometimes #anyway zuko alone fight was special bc he really said i will use all three bc ur special 🤭 #zuko #avatar the last airbender #avatar: the last airbender #atla #jack talks #where’s that post that’s like zuko is a prodigy but his special skill is breaking and entering and he can’t tell anyone about that

[hiimcerys-blog]

#nudity #bend me over #girls with tattoos #thick and blonde #curvy blonde #thick blonde #blonde sexy #dyed hair #nude torso #nude self portrait #nudephotography #hot nude #egirl noods #natural body #get naked #her naked home #no clothes #ass tease #ass too fat #girls with curves #curvy af #curvy and cute #hot as fuck #hot curves #onlyf@nz #onlytease #curvy chicks #curvy body

[random-bakwaas]

Athena refused to help Annabeth because she was embarassed by her impertinence.

Poseidon finally agrees to help Percy because he was proud of his.

#i imagine them getting the delivery in the throne room and poseidon just bending over shaking with laughter #making it so much worse for athena and further wounding her dignity #pjo tv show #percy jackson and the olympians

[teaitis]

Faculty Wardrobe!

#jjk #jujutsu kaisen #gojo satoru #jjk trio #yuji #megumi #nobara #utahime #miwa #mai zenin #todo aoi #its so funny how utahime gave us three entire looks! w her little screentime #lookit the jjk trio i love em w my whole heart!! #pretend that todo is bending his knees thank u #art #illustration #artists on tumblr #jjk fanart #animanga

[clarabellexyz]

you’re invited to my pool party ⛱️

#great butt #cutie with a bootie #cutie w a bootie #tight butt #girls who squat #lick my hole #sexy peachy bum 🍑 #bend me over #peachy 🍑 #peach ass #bootiful #spank her ass #peachy butt #cheeks 🍑 #sexy hips #swimwear #bikini babe #bootie peach #thongbutt

[johnskleats]

hey so do you guys remember how zuko was deemed worthy and blessed with the true nature of fire by the guardians of light themselves and became 100x the firebender he was after, with a newfound understanding and oneness with his element

kind of like how katara handled the moon and ocean spirit with her own hands and was blessed with unmatched waterbending power and oneness with her element and also spirit water but get this, also the healing ability to bring someone back from certain death

y'all remember that

#zutara #the parallels never end #i 100% hc that katara was blessed singularly by the spirits and that is why she went from struggling to THRIVING in her mastery #able to bloodbend on her first try ffs #katara and zuko have a degree if spirituality that a@ng ironically does not have. he is religious #but they are spiritual #and take bending seriously as a sacred gift not meant to be raken lightly #unlike someone

[girl-drink-drunk]

shoutout to rebecca romijn for changing the entire trajectory of my life when she just casually lifted john larroquette's entire six-foot-four self on her back

#that made me scream #for context not that it matters her character was helping his character with his hurt back #but yeah she grabs him turns him around and casually just bends over with him on her back #all while delivering lines #it's so hot it's ridiculous #rebecca romijn #john larroquette #the librarians

[pencildragons]

still insanely funny to me that ortus nigenad has canonically written 18 volumes of epic poetry about a bodyguard who was, in fact, Just Some Guy, and regularly quotes himself out loud in conversations on the regular. man had to die at the start of gtn because he was too fucking powerful to live

#ive been sitting here for like. a solid five fucking minutes trying to come up with a good comparison irl and i Cannot #like imagine if your bodyguard wrote what is basically a huge love song to your great great x10 grandparent's bodyguard and then #he just kept quoting himself in conversations #and then in the weird heaven afterlife you're using as the backdrop of a hallucinated memory sequence to justify the brain surgery you gave #yourself so you could forget the most important person in your life bc she killed herself for you #and you Cannot Conceive Of A Universe Without Her In It #and the dude the bodyguard wrote love songs about in question turns up and is like 'well i was kinda average actually #but thanks to the power of YOUR love songs i can now bend the rules of this liminal space to my will and beat this eldritch monster' #like dude what the fuck #ortus nigenad #harrowhark nonagesimus #tlt #tlt spoilers #htn spoilers #the locked tomb #gideon the ninth #harrow the ninth #griddlehark #it wasnt in the post but i had griddlehark Feelings in the tags so #words of wyrm

[dimitrscu]

there are two types of elden ring fan:

the normal one

and then this guy

#the second guy just doesn’t like what he read #obviously fromsoft were lying #just like how they lie about malenia being undefeated or that the fight between her and radahn ended in a stalemate #everything’s a lie when it comes to miquella and malenia apparently #and yet people will bend over backwards and come up with the most elaborate shit #to try and paint certain other characters as mr nice guy who can do no wrong #truly the fandom of all time #bitch my girl did not go through hell and back dragging her wife all the way home just to get slandered like this #cleanrot knight finlay #malenia blade of miquella #elden ring

[angelbaby53]

#tattoed girls #girl butts #lace underwear #cheeks 🍑 #cheeksout #bend me over #bd/sm kink #daddy's good girl #skintight #pink #wet and needy #soft cnc #daddy’s brat #hornyaf #beautiful #choke her #tie me up #spank my pussy #pretty #scenery #dirtygirl #cnc brat

[realbabesreblogs]

Submitted by @heysweetbee

#bend me over #spankher #cutie w a bootie #sexy tease #onlyf@nz #girl butts #onlytease #18+ account #ass shake #ass jiggle #use my ass #pound my pussy #fuck me from behind #slap my ass #fuckmyass #goon fuel #submisive and breedable #hot babygirl #bury my nose in her ass

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

ooo fantasy au Poppy oooo there's so much empty space on this, it's killing me

rambles:

why is there lace? why does she have a neck corset? because she's Gorgeous and I'm the Artist Here. i will always inflict my personal tastes on everyone I draw. pretty bird <3

it's really difficult to put clothes on a bird... stream helped out a bunch with the colors & the leg gear! I imagine that the leather is durable, which is probably the only thing that gets her to traverse less Forgiving terrain. Thornbushes and itchy tallgrass can't hurt her! she's got "boots"! How Does She Secure Them, i hear no one ask. that's what neighbors are for, isn't it? and a skilled beak once she gets the swing of it.

her shawl remains largely the same due to my lack of imagination! i put a lil feather clasp instead of the shawl being tied together to give it a more fantasy-oriented look. i think i succeeded? i like to think so! i imagine that the clasp gives Poppy some stress, though. It's sharp! Ish. it's sharp by her standards!

Poppy's enchanted glasses allow her to "see" injuries and illness, both caused by magical & normal means. this is very helpful in her role as healer, but also extremely stressful - just because she can see issues doesn't mean she automatically knows what they are! to her, a papercut may be misinterpreted by the beginnings of a fatal infection! i like to think that she got tired of needing to hold the glasses in place over her beak and asked if there was a charm to keep them steady. and they confidently had their resident wizard spell them on - oops! the spell was a little too strong! they're now magically superglued on! yeah, those are never coming off.

she also has a magic bag that i imagine was a gift from her family when she left the nest! she'd never directly use it herself - what if she falls in? what if something nasty managed to crawl inside? - but the Neighborhood uses it as collective storage. it can hold a lot! supplies, books, tents, gold, even Julie when she's determined enough!

#'why are her legs broken' Technically! theyre bending the correct way for a bird #i would draw them normally but since this au is uhhhh #mmmm how do i say? theyre Flesh and Bone and Biological Creatures! #so... normal bird legs :]c #its like how everyone gets teeth here! except poppy. cause she's a bird. #and wally. bc home forgot. #but yeah. poppy <3 #i like to imagine her trying to make dinner at a campsite #im now Realizing that part of the appeal of fantasy aus for me is the camping #god i miss camping. take me BACK #but also dont oh my god dont make me go back i dont want to be a kid again it was terrible- #scribble salad #wh fantasy au #poppy really can do it all! #she cooks! she heals! she screams loudly and hides during fights! #she helps frank keep careful track of the party's collective Coin!