Ghost in the Machines

Plot

At the annual city Parade Day, Fry saves a human from being crushed instead of a robot, angering Bender, who believes Fry values human life over robot life. Bender goes to a suicide booth, but the booth is his ex-girlfriend Lynn, who murders him for dumping her. Bender becomes a ghost stuck in robot limbo, where his software operates on the global wireless network. The Robot Devil, angry at Fry for a past incident, offers to return Bender to his body if Bender scares Fry to death.

Bender discovers he can possess machines and attacks Fry at home and work. After an unsuccessful séance with Gypsy-Bot, Hermes calls Reverend Preacherbot to perform an exorcism, giving Fry a sacramental firewall. Bender possesses the firewall and frightens Fry, causing a heart attack. Bender returns to Robot Hell for his body, but the Robot Devil says Fry survived.

At the hospital, Bender prepares to kill Fry but stops when Fry tearfully says Bender's death taught him the value of a robot's life. Fry moves to the Amish Homeworld, where no machinery is allowed, and Bender follows him, unable to interact.

Production

Patric M. Verrone wrote the episode, with Ray Claffey directing. Comedy Central Insider, the network's news outlet, shared previews from May 15 to 19, including a storyboard, stills, and concept art. On June 15, co-creator David X. Cohen confirmed Dan Castellaneta would return as the Robot Devil. Two days before the episode aired, on June 28, a two-minute clip showing Bender's death was released.

Cultural references

The title references Gilbert Ryle's concept of the "ghost in the machine" from his book The Concept of Mind. A scene with Reverend Preacherbot in front of Planet Express at night references the 1973 horror film The Exorcist. The Robot Devil reads a magazine called Life in Hell, referencing Matt Groening's comic strip. The Robot Devil shows a Wikipedia article revealing Fry survived a heart attack, prompting Bender to shout "Damn you, Obamacare!"—a reference to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Fry says "winter is coming!" referencing Game of Thrones. Fry attempts to call the Ghostbusters. The concept of machines coming to life echoes Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive, and a scene with a pineapple machine mimics that film's possessed vending machine. The Robot Devil says Fry will become "fully Buckminstered," referencing architect Buckminster Fuller.

Broadcast and reception

The episode aired on Comedy Central on June 30, 2011, and was viewed by an estimated 1.921 million households with a 0.91 rating in the 18–49 demographic, down from the previous week. Critics gave mixed to positive reviews. Zack Handlen of The A.V. Club graded it B+, calling it a "solid double" but finding parts rushed and predictable. Sean Gandert of Paste gave it an 8.3/10, praising background gags and continuity. Matt Fowler of IGN gave it an 8/10, calling it solid but basic, and weaker than the previous week's episodes.