The Sting (Futurama)

"The Sting" is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of the animated television series Futurama. It first aired on June 8, 2003. The episode centers around Leela's obsession with Fry after he seemingly sacrifices himself to kill a giant space bee.

The plot involves the Planet Express crew being hired to harvest space honey from a giant space bee hive. During the mission, a Queen Bee stings Fry, and he is thrown from the hive into space. Leela manages to kill the Queen Bee, but at the cost of Fry's life, as she believes.

Following Fry's apparent death, Leela is plagued by vivid, waking dreams that blur the line between reality and hallucination. These dreams are filled with Fry's presence, often mocking or confusing her. She becomes increasingly unstable and obsessed with finding a way to reconnect with him.

Eventually, it's revealed that Fry isn't actually dead. The "sting" he received from the Queen Bee was a neurotoxin that put him into a deep coma, and Leela's dreams are a result of the toxin causing a shared dream state between them. She is, in fact, being stung repeatedly by the Queen Bee's offspring, hatched inside Fry's body. The space honey contains an antidote to the poison, and she risks her life to collect enough to save Fry, ultimately waking him from his coma.

"The Sting" is notable for its exploration of Leela's deep feelings for Fry, often subtly hinted at in previous episodes. The episode delves into her grief and guilt, highlighting the emotional bond between the two characters. It is considered by many fans to be one of the most emotional and well-written episodes of the series.