Especially Zoidberg

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Leela AKA Clobberella: "We have to keep our Secret Identities secret!"
Fry AKA Captain Yesterday: "From everybody?!"

Leela: "Especially from everybody!"
—Futurama

Especially Zoidberg refers to when one character makes an absolute statement, to which another character replies, "Even X?" The inevitable response will be "Especially X."

Sometimes X can be an obvious exception, and sometimes X can be someone of great importance to the character who asks about them. In the second case, it is typically the villain who gloats, "Especially Fred/ Your Mom /Mr. Chuckles."

Compare and contrast My Friends and Zoidberg.

Examples of Especially Zoidberg include:

Anime and Manga

Keroro, drunk on humidity, orders the destruction of all Pekoponians
Giroro: You want to kill them all? Even that shy, awkward boy [Fuyuki]?
Keroro: Especially that shy, awkward boy!
Giroro: But sir! That's not what you said before the commercial break!


Film

Jamie: I didn't want anybody to be weird around me.
Landon: Including me?
Jamie: Especially you!

Saddam Hussein: Before I took over Kuwait in 1990, I meet American ambassador, I say, "You got a problem with this?" She say, "We have no opinion on your Arab-Arab conflicts".
Krishnan Guru-Murthy: Even Kuwait?
Saddam Hussein: Especially Kuwait. They said so specifically. So I invade Kuwait, and Oy Gewalt.

Lew Agry: You don't like this town?
Tom Buchanan: I don't like some of its people.
Lew Agry: Me included?
Tom Buchanan: You especially.

Big Ben Healy: Is there a lesson to be learned from all this? How about don't trust anyone?
Little Ben Healy: Not even your own father?
Big Ben Healy: Especially your own father!

Preacher: Even the church?
The Stranger: Especially the church!

Baxter: You're not going to bring anybody to my apartment.
Sheldrake: I'm not just bringing anybody; I'm bringing Miss Kubelik.
Baxter: Especially not Miss Kubelik.

Annabelle Farrell: Nothing personal, Shane, but I don't date football players.
Shane Falco: I don't blame you. Not even quarterbacks?
Annabelle Farrell: Especially not quarterbacks. You guys are the biggest babies of all.

Thomas Wayne: All creatures feel fear.
Bruce Wayne (age 8): Even the scary ones?
Thomas Wayne: Especially the scary ones.

Drillbit Taylor: You'd be surprised; anything can be turned into a weapon of mayhem or destruction.
Emmit: Even a puppy?
Drillbit Taylor: Especially a puppy.

Dr. Dakota Block: And if anyone comes to the door that isn't me, I want you to shoot them. Okay? I'm not kidding, Tony, you shoot them in the head.
Tony Block: What if it's Dad?
Dr. Dakota Block: Especially if it's your dad.

Captain Miller: We all have orders, and we have to follow 'em. That supersedes everything, including your mothers.
Private Reiben: Even if you think the mission's FUBAR, sir?
Captain Miller: Especially if you think the mission's FUBAR.

De Georgio: Ah, that's one thing about our Harry, doesn't play any favorites! Harry hates everybody: Limeys, Micks, Hebes, Fat Dagos, Niggers, Honkies, Chinks, you name it.
Gonzales: How does he feel about Mexicans?
De Georgio: Ask him.
Harry Callahan: Especially Spics.

Jim: If we go back my father will prosecute.
Kim: His own son?
Jim: Especially his own son.


Literature

  • From Andrew Barlow's "All I Really Need to Know I Learned by Having my Arms Ripped Off by a Polar Bear":

"Share everything. You might be thinking, Really? Even with polar bears? Yes, share especially with polar bears."


Live Action TV

Abed whispers in Shirley's ear why Hawthorne Wipes brand moist towelettes are popular in the gay community.
Shirley: (looks shocked) Oh my! Even Bruce Vilanch?
Jeff: Especially Bruce Vilanch.

Fraser: Don't let anyone go in or out of that door.
Constable Turnbull: Including myself?
Fraser: Especially not yourself.

  • Frasier episode "The Impossible Dream"

Frasier: You refused to take me to see "West Side Story" on my eighth birthday.
Martin: Well, because of the gangs. That's scary for kids.
Frasier: Even gangs that dance?
Martin: Especially gangs that dance!

Marshall: If I die under suspicious circumstances, beware. Trust no one, not even Ted. [pause] Especially Ted.

Carlos: You shouldn't exceed the recommended dose of any medication unless you first consult your physician.
Kathy: Even if I'm just taking them to get high?
Carlos: Especially then.

Geoffrey: We don't want any more irresponsible ill-informed press speculation.
James Hacker: Even if it's accurate.
Geoffrey: Oh, especially if it's accurate.

Jack Donaghy: Well, I forgive you... [glances at her nametag] ...Jessica.
Jessica Speyer: Really? Even for...
Jack Donaghy: Especially for that.

Joey: You were wanting to kiss me all night?
Pacey: Yes.
Joey: Even when you were yelling at me.
Pacey: Especially when I was yelling at you.

Lee Adama: Besides, I never really could say no to anything.
Starbuck: Except me.
Lee Adama: Especially you.

  • Get Smart episode "The Day Smart Turned Chicken"

Maxwell Smart: Now remember, doctor, I want you to wipe everything from your memory.
Dr. Fish: Wipe everything from my memory. Eh... even my $12?
Maxwell Smart: Especially your $12.

Lexie: Wanted by whom?
Archie: By everyone.
Lexie: Including you?
Archie: Especially me.

Petruchio: Well, you're my wife. You agree with everything I say.
Kate: Do I? What, even when you're wrong?
Petruchio: Especially then.

Quark: It's good to want things.
Odo: Even things you can't have?
Quark: Especially things I can't have.

    • Episode "The Wire"

Dr. Bashir: Out of all the stories you told me, which ones were true and which ones weren't?
Garak: My dear Doctor, they're all true.
Dr. Bashir: Even the lies?
Garak: Especially the lies.

Ensign Ro Laren: I really don't know who to trust anymore.
Guinan: Including yourself?
Ensign Ro Laren: Oh...especially myself.

Terri Coverley: Do they all hate it? The Times?
Malcolm Tucker: Especially The Times.

  • Friends: Joey has found an engagement ring in Ross' bag and when Joey picks it up, Rachel thinks he's proposing and says yes. Phoebe knows about the ring and so, when Rachel brings up that she's engaged, she assumes Ross proposed. This leads to this conversation:

Phoebe: Everyone has been waiting for you two to get together.
Rachel: Really? Even Ross?
Phoebe: ...especially Ross!

Buffy: Ah... film club.
Xander: They spend their time deciding that every movie is an existential meditation on Freudian sexuality.
Buffy: Even The Muppets Take Manhattan?
Xander: Especially The Muppets Take Manhattan.

Earl: I'm not going to defend you anymore. And while we're at it, I'm not gonna kiss your boo-boos any more either, that's getting a little awkward.
Randy: Even when we're alone?
Earl: Especially when we're alone.

[Eddie is dressed up as the Grim Reaper]
Eddie: I keep telling you mate. I'm Death, I know everything.
Richie: Everything? What, even about the...?
Eddie: Especially that, you naughty boy.

Sam: Just because you're obsessed with all that Wild West-stuff...
Dean: No I'm not!
Sam: You have a fetish, Dean!
Dean: Shut up, I like old movies...
Sam: You can recite every Clint Eastwood movie ever made! Line for line!
Bobby: Even the monkey-movies?
Sam: Especially the Monkey movies
Dean: His name is Clyde!

  • Castle and his daughter were watching a zombie movie at the start of the episode, but he gets called away on a plot hook. At the end of the episode, he's consoling her over her boy troubles.

Castle: When two people care about each other, really care about each other, anything is possible.
Alexis: (turning on the TV) Even flesh-eating zombies?
Castle: Especially flesh-eating zombies.


Webcomics

Sad Vampire: As a noble vampire, I only suck the blood of unattractive animals.
Rita Sue: Even capybaras?
Sad Vampire: Especially capybaras.

Susan: I HATE THIS STUPID SCHOOL AND EVERYONE IN IT!
Elliot: ...Even us?
Susan: ESPECIALLY YOU!

Lackya: Master Gilgamesh! The baron demands you attend him - now!
Gilgamesh: What?
Lackya: Right now!
Gilgamesh: But-
Lackya: I have never seen him so angry!
Gilgamesh: Um... with me?
Lackya: Especially with you!

Roxane: Even Lolcats?
Kevin: Especially Lolcats.

  • Least I Could Do: In Rayne's Alternate History novel where he kills Hitler and takes over the Third Reich, an assistant tells him that the Jews, Gypsies and mentally handicapped are asking for reparations. He tells the assistant to give each of them a tank.

Assistant: Including the mentally handicapped?
Rayne: [Grinning] Especially the mentally handicapped.

Helen: Don't tell anyone about this.
Artie: What about Mell?
Helen: Especially Mell.
Artie: Dave?
Helen: Let's start over...

"Even his trophy wife?"
"Especially his trophy wife."


Web Original

Melvin: I have doomed you to exist in your own worst nightmare: a world where everyone's breasts are bigger than yours!
Mai Valentine: Even Tristan's?
Melvin: Especially Tristan's.
Tristan: My briz-easts are off the hiz-ouse.

    • Also:

Croquet: Yeah... everyone involved with the production of the Egyptian God Cards was killed.
Pegasus: What? Even Chad from accounting?
[Cut to a man being thrown through a skyscraper window]
Croquet: Especially Chad from accounting.

    • From the "We'll Be There" - Rex & Weevil video;

Rex: Everybody in this music video is a giant slut.
Weevil: Whoa? Really? Even Yugi?
Rex: Especially Yugi.

Harry: "All the horcruxes are gone, I destroyed them all."
Voldemort: "What!? Even my... Zefron poster!?"
Harry: "Especially the Zefron poster!"

  • Dragon Ball Abridged: After Goku arrives to battle the Saiyins, he notices everyone who's already died.

Goku: ...Tienshinhan, Piccolo, Yamcha. Oh wow, especially Yamcha.

Kirk: Scotty, I want you to jettison every crew member wearing a red shirt and any spare parts you can find.
[...]
Scotty: Everything's got to go.
Red Shirt: I know. But... even the cannon?
Scotty: Especially the Cannon!

Western Animation

  • 101 Dalmatians: The Series

Rolly: This was a lot more fun than just sitting around watching TV... even the Gravy Channel!
Cadpig, Lucky and Spot: Especially the Gravy Channel!

Blooregard "Bloo" Q. Kazoo: Can't I even have just one?
Eduardo: No! Especially not Juan! He is my favorite.

General McFarland: The zone riders are your family.
Dirk Courage: Does that include you?
General McFarland: Especially me.

God: Thou shalt taketh two of every creature!
Troy: [writing down] Two creatures...
God: Two of every creature!
Troy: Even stink beetles?
God: Especially stink beetles!

  • Sideshow Bob shows up at the Simpsons' door.

Bob: Madam, your children are no more...than a pair of ill-bred troublemakers.
Homer: Lisa too?
Bob: Especially Lisa! But, especially Bart.

    • And again after Homer gains 61 pounds, gets on disability and has to hijack an ice cream truck to get to the nuclear plant and prevent a disaster.

Homer: "Hey buddy you gotta slow down your car and let me in because I'm a big fat guy and I can't go anywhere 'cause there could be some poison gas, I mean there's really gonna be some poison gas, and everybody's gonna be dead, especially me!!!"

  • Futurama: A hilariously nonsensical and non-Zoidberg example, from "Less than Hero", as seen in the page quote.
    • Bender also did it to himself:

Bender: Look, I love life and its pleasures as much as anyone here, except perhaps you, Hedonism Bot. But we need to be shut off! Especially you, Hedonism Bot.
Hedonism Bot: I apologise for nothing!

  • In one of the Bugs Bunny cartoons, Bugs finds that all the animals are running in terror from the Tasmanian Devil. He looks up "Tasmanian Devil" in an encyclopedia and finds a Long List of all the animals Devils like to eat. Bugs reads through the list, then says "What, no rabbits?" Taz tears off the page to reveal "And ESPECIALLY rabbits!"
  • Earthworm Jim had an exchange between Bob the Goldfish and a Genie. "Destroy the universe!" "What, even the good parts?!" "(annoyed) Especially the good parts!"
  • The Looney Tunes Show, "Besties". Daffy Duck is giving a speech on best friends, and the Goofy Gophers Mac and Tosh join in:

Mac: They support you over all others.
Tosh: Even to the detriment of those others.
Daffy: Especially to the detriment of those others!

Robotnik: With this device, I'll be able to freeze every citizen on Mobius solid!
Scratch: Even the pesky hedgehog?
Robotnik: Especially the pesky hedgehog!

Jack: But we can use ours, right? (The Wu)
Wuya: NO YOU FOOL! You musn't touch them!
Jack: Not even the Monkey Staff?
Wuya: Especially the Monkey Staff!
Jack: Man, being evil is all so complicated.

Chief Rojas: Now while it may seem like Gotham PD has had a run of good fortune, our recent successes are no accident! Part of my new zero tolerance program against all freaks.
Reporter: Including the Dark Knight? I mean, the Batman?
Rojas: Especially the Batman.

We now apologize for making the word "especially" sound really weird.

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