Board 8 > The Venture Bros. is a show, and I am watching it.

(+) Yeah! (+)

After being reminded the show existed earlier today in discord, I decided that now was the time to experience this Adult Swim show I've long overlooked. I knew it was some kind of Johnny Quest spoof and I've enjoyed the other shows that have paid homage to the older Hanna-Barbera shows, but apparently this show starts with that and evolves into something more.

I am told, in fact, that it is a show that keeps on expanding, becoming better and better with each season.

I am three episodes deep right now, and so far so good. The animation would be amazing if it were judged by Hanna-Barbera standards, but for more modern times is a bit under par.

The first episode set the stage and introduced me to the cast. Dr. Venture gives me a few Rick Sanchez vibes which makes him awesome by default. There is a robot helper which is never a bad inclusion. There are two kids who just kind of...exist. And there is the bodyguard Brock, who didn't really do much for me here...particularly of note, I can't stop thinking about Joe from Family Guy because it is the same VA. On the baddie side of things, there is The Monarch, who is a bit goofy, but I kinda liked him...he seems to have a competence level of The Ice King, but it works well here.

The second episode shoves these characters into space for the hell of it...apparently Dr. Venture had quite the dad! I particularly liked this little exchange:

Rusty: Oh my god, why can't you take the responsibility of your failure?
Jonas: Because Gargantua-1 is perfect. The problem has to be your fault.
Rusty: My fault? "Gargantua-1" It's like the worst name for a space station.
Jonas: I thought it cool.
Rusty: No, I thought you thought it was cool. Ahhhh. [Pointing at Jonas.]
Jonas: Ok crazy, then by your logic you think you broke my space station.

Third episode saw the introduction of more villains, the notable one being Baron Ünderbheit (who was mentioned in the first episode, no less). Loved the two rival factions clashing and the scorpion/spider battle that instigated it. The underlings are alright folks, just happen to be caught up in a bad situation. This episode got me liking Brock a bit more too, hinting at there being layers beyond just being the muscle.

I am hype for all the goodness to come, so felt it would be nice to have a topic to pen down some of my thoughts as I go through this. Don't know if I'll write up thoughts for every episode, or just when something notable happens, which should be every episode, but you never know. I only ask that this be treated like any other watchthrough topic...no discussing spoilers unless they're marked, and it is probably best to leave marked spoilers to a minimum.
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I will tag this

GO TEAM VENTURE

( ^.^)/ \(^.^ )
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When's next season? I want to see more Red Death. Red Death is objectively best character
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I'm in
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Episode 4: The Incredible Mr. Brisby

Adventures in Not-Disneyland! Of course the Walt Disney analog wants cloning tech. Of course Dr. Venture's dad might have had it.

Ted: We're not terrorists. We're normal folks, men and women with jobs and homes and families.

Ted is the one wearing the giant orange helmet as he is saying this. Visual comedy!

Meanwhile, Brock introduces us to an old friend of his....

Aaaand...we've gone a bit far off the deep end here in the climax...Orange County terrorists invading a bee theme'd lair...just what? Also everything is exploding.

Everything resolves in the span of a minute and all is normal again, except for maybe Dr. Venture's arm. I'm sure he'll pull through.

There were so many little moments packed into this episode too, if this is gonna be the status quo, it is gonna be practically impossible to hit all the highlights without just posting the transcripts, and even that wouldn't be enough because of all the visual context needed for some of it.

edit: like what the heck was even up with the truth serum part?
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Super run away!
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SovietOmega posted...

edit: like what the heck was even up with the truth serum part?

a joke about how rusty is on so many drugs already that the truth syrum had no effect on him
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Episode 5: Eeney, Meeney, Miney... Magic!

The opening scene has like, a machinegun, but instead of bullets it is firing common mystic tropes everywhere. Will this be real magic, or magic-as-science, or some other twist? Perhaps Dr. not-Strange will have the answers once the title ends.

Not particular to this episode, but I have to note it somewhere, but the kids sure love their not-Spiderman and not-Aquaman outfits. They've worn those now on several occasions. Also on the subject of outfits, it hasn't escaped my notice that Hank is essentially Fred from scooby-doo. This leads me to believe that Dean is some kind of cosplay too, but nothing comes to mind.

Also, can I just say that my favorite part of the intro has to be the spider mech homage to the old JQ intro, complete with there being stylized images of soldiers?

Orpheus: Orpheus. I am known to men as Dr. Orpheus. And mine is to perceive and control the delicate arrangement of the cosmos.
Rusty: They give out Ph.D.s for that?
Orpheus: Junior college upstate. Communications major, minor in women's studies. But I assure you sir, the "doctor" title was bestowed on me by a higher power than a mere college professor.
Rusty: Oh of course. But this is a lab right? When I file my taxes I can call this a lab? I mean you and I have the same definition for laboratory right?

This Orpheus fellow is a bit over the top, and given everything that's come before, that's saying something. He's like, Dramatic Hamster but stuck on loop, there's just no downtime!

Dean: See Dad? I told you he was in our house.

...and Orpheus has a kid who is a female who is now giving Dean some much needed character development, bonding over tales of people getting slain while eating cereal. You know, normal teenager things.

Pairing Hank up with Brock is proving to be a good move too.

...and then Brock steps into that machine....wut.

Orpheus: Yes, a capital idea, but before we depart there is one thing I must do. [Orpheus' eyes glow and the top half of a skull on his desk opens up. He puts his finger inside it. The skull's eyes blink green.] Greetings Pumpkin. I am at Mr. Venture's lab to right that which is wrong and to repair the torn curtain of time itself. There are four puddings in the fridge. You may enjoy the contents of one of them. Dinner at 6:00.

Alright, I think I got this guy figured out, his schtick is to insert melodrama into otherwise normal moments. I can dig it.

Dean: No I just got up too fast. Total head rush. Plus, that guy's not even a Dracula. He's a necromancer. And he's pretty cool. Plus he has a daughter named Triana. Triana. Isn't that a cool name?
Hank: Dean that's great and I can't wait to hear all about her. Only Brock's stuck in Dad's thing that makes people happy. But it's all evil.
Dean: I dare you to make less sense.

OPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN *everything else but the Joy Can opens*

Honestly, I feel like I can quote just about every other line here, this episode in particular has been great like that. Orpheus and Rusty play well off each other, it is a joy to watch.
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orpheus is one of my favorite characters and a huge part of that is just solely the work of the voice actor. he can make almost any line delivered sound completely hilarious.
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Episode 6: Ghosts of the Sargasso

Dr. Venture: Journal entry 29: I am about to switch on the meta-sonic locator, a device of my own design, that generates experimental hypersonic sound waves so extra-special, they not only vibrate the water, they vibrate time. Ingenious, I know.

Calling it now, Rusty's gonna be right, and they're gonna be their own ufo.

Cute little homage to scooby-doo..

Dean: Your scheme was very clever, very clever indeed, but he's no ghost.
[Dean steps away from the Pirate Captain and removes the mask from the Ghost Pirate.]
Pirate Captain: Oh, you think, genius? What tipped you off? Was it the huge zipper? Maybe the rubber mask?

Good to see Hank and Brock get more bonding time! Grab the handle, push the button!

Dr. Venture: Mobility hindered, morale low, no radio contact. Oh, yeah. I lost my locator. And yes, I realize the irony of that.

So he finds the saucer, and then three seconds later....yoink!

Brock leaps into action and it turns out that ghosts are weak to punching, who knew? Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that ghosts are weak to Brock. Then again, what isn't?

So...everything wraps up nice and neat, no time shenanigans happened, I was apparently wrong about that. For now...

Pirate Captain: [sighs] I'm really, really sorry about this whole mess, and, you know, the whole pirate thing is behind me now, and plus, you kind of killed Steve and burnt my ship. So if you could give us a lift out of here, I figure we'd just call it squaresies.
Brock: All right.
Hank and Dean: Go, Team Venture!
Brock: I don't know, they just do that.

What a bunch of dorks...
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Orpheus is also my favorite.
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The animation is much more polished after the first season. They didn't have much of a budget at first, because no one had any idea if the show would do well enough for a second season. Its a pretty unusual show after all.
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Yes.

And yeah, Brock's VA is in everything and he always has the same voice.
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SovietOmega posted...

I am told, in fact, that it is a show that keeps on expanding, becoming better and better with each season.

That was true until the latest season. It took a step back
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Venture Bros. is fucking incredible. I ignored it for years because it's hard to get into seeing just random episodes here and there. Watching it in order you get to see how well made it is. Have fun!

DeepsPraw posted...

SovietOmega posted...

I am told, in fact, that it is a show that keeps on expanding, becoming better and better with each season.

That was true until the latest season. It took a step back

I would say S5 was the turning point. S6 felt much more like a return to form.
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I disagree completely. S5 had some really great episodes, and it's probably the most consistent in quality. Actually, S6 is more consistent, just consistently mediocre

"step back" is the wrong word of phrase. It's a step in the wrong direction. I guess if you really love the Monarch, you love this season. I sure don't.
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loving pretty much all the quotes you're posting. it's good to see just from the ones you choose to share that you're really into the sense of wit this show has. losing his locator is a great example.
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Kronk from Emperor's New Groove too...it is a little distracting, but I imagine as I watch more that I will grow to accept it as a Brock voice through sheer weight of volume.

Episode 7: Ice Station – Impossible!

Not only do we get a cameo from the JQ team, but now we get the Fantastic Four. Or one of them, at least. The one that could pretty much instantly cure cancer and/or everything else but doesn't because...comic books.

I am pleased to see they are taking the 'Reed RIchards is a dick' route to this variant of him. Poor Sus..Sally.

Awww....Race died :(

Interesting that Richards Impossible seems to have gotten the full range of his counterpart's powers, but the rest of the team are not so lucky. Sally is the not-quite-invisible woman, The Human Torch is affected by his own powers, and The Thing seems to have rocks for brains.

hank: ...hey, brock?
brock: (sigh) yes, hank?
hank: how would you do it?
brock: in your sleep, quick jerk of the neck, never feel a thing.
hank: you've thought about this.
brock: yes i have.

All in the delivery on that one. Amazing how just a few lines can establish so much.

The actual plot resolution was a bit weak....though literally everyone failing, the day is saved. I hear failure is a theme of the show though, so maybe secretly strong?
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Episode 8: Mid-Life Chrysalis

I am almost tempted to count the fetishes on display in this episode...almost.

Besides, sexy time isn't the important thing here, rather, it is the realization that time marches on for us all.

...but there are so many all at once it is hard to resist!

Rusty: And what would be wrong with that if I was? The boys need a new mommy. Rusty needs a new mommy.
Hank: We don't even know who our old mommy was.
Rusty: Oh, that's right. I've never really told you about her.

I find the idea that Brock needs any kind of training implausible at best, but hey, at least it gives him more bonding time...although there HAS been a good amount of that already.

Rusty: [From underneath his bed sheets.] I have something to show you all. Those of you with weak stomachs should leave now. [Dean leaves.] What you're about to see is a nightmare inexplicably torn from the pages of Kafka. [Rusty drops the bed sheets revealing that he has become a giant caterpillar.]

I just love how Dean immediately left.

Rusty: OK Hank, you are taking this way too well.
Hank: Well gee Dad, we've seen a lot of strange stuff over the years. Last week we were fighting a giant dinosaur.
Rusty: Granted, but I wasn't the dinosaur. Can't you see where this is maybe different? Where's Brock? Where's Dean?

Brock's testing goes about as expected...times have changed since his days, but there's always a need for folk like him.

Shame Rusty wasn't able to complete his transformation, he'd have made a wonderful butterfly I am sure!
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SovietOmega posted...

Those of you with weak stomachs should leave now. [Dean leaves.]

excellent visual comedy
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Episode 9: Are You There, God It's Me, Dean

Hostage situation redux, this time it is Brock and Dean, the classic double blond pair. The suspiciously both blond pair...are Dean and Hank really brothers?

That will have to wait for a future episode to possibly discuss, right now Hank has some problems in his naughty bits. I agree with the eyepatch doc, it could be just about anything given their day to day routine.

I just wanna point out that the title of this episode shares a very similar name with an episode of supernatural, and it is making transcript locating a bit more difficult than usual.

The just normal guys henchmen are in full force this episode too, always fun to see them do their thing.

"World domination, I'll leave that to the religious nuts and the republicans thank you" still relevant in 2017...

"SMURFS DON'T LAY EGGS!" These are words that were uttered.

The panic as Rusty calls The Monarch was a good touch. "Get these dead bodies out of here!"

All ends well though, and the ending is just like the beginning, with a new twist (literally).

And with the post credit scene, I feel much more informed about this most serious of issues!
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1x9 is a great episode because it introduces the mundane bureaucracy of the heroes vs villains world -- loopholes and all. plus we get a taste of how things can actually be boring around the bad guys lair when there's nothing to do, and with brock vs monarch you also see how a lot of this is just for fun and they all sort of... like each other.... to some extent maybe. brock and monarch playing pretend hero vs villain is dramatic and exciting. this is juxtaposed against dean who is in serious medical danger but lands himself in a more mundane plotline. and when it's all resolved everyone just calmly goes back to their positions of being tied up above the river without even putting up a fight. brilliant.
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Episode 10: Tag Sale – You're It!

Extreme agent presence for...a yard sale? Surely a bit much, no? Sure, Dr. Venture is a man of SCIENCE! (it is like normal science but more awesome), but even he wouldn't sink so low as to toss away unsafe junk on the masses would he?

...and by masses, I apparently mean all the crazy characters we know as well as some we don't. Yes, this is definitely a wise idea that will not backfire in any way.

Yeah...most of this episode kinda fell flat for me. Still had moments, somehow Henchman 21 was the highlight.

Well, that and the crushing weight of ennui The Monarch is feeling.

Post credit scene was gold too....grapples are so often seen as an auto escape, cute to have those expectations subverted.
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SovietOmega posted...

somehow Henchman 21 was the highlight

that's because 21 is an incredible character, like most of the cast
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Episode 11: Past Tense

With a title like that, I am expecting some time shenanigans!

...maybe not quite the time shenanigans I was expecting, but there's definitely some past that is tensing here. Laugh track is an amazing feature.

So I am being lead to believe that the cast basically all grew up in the same orphanage...I generally don't care for this sort of trope, but maybe it'll turn out ok here. Hank's thankfully being a voice of reason here by pointing this out. I'm growing to like Hank more and more.

...and then the rocket coffin kidnapping happened. Did not see that one coming <3

My money is on it being the 'dead' guy for some silly reason or another, probably getting picked on by everyone.

Meanwhile, Hank and Dean convince a gaggle of old people to assemble.

Dr. Venture in friends were kidnapped by sexy robots, so I am feeling pretty confident about my bet.

...yup. Not that it could have been anyone else, really. Who else would do gadgets like that?

Old Team Venture all have some pretty nice quirks about them too...origami, racism, mormonism...they're alright, and I bet we'll be see a fair amount more of them in the episodes to come.

.........alright, seriously digging the past/present fight scene mesh. Brock is basically a universal constant. This is the kind of episode that I would have to watch multiple times to really absorb everything that happened. So very much happened real fast there, like the tooth just for starters.

"Ah, so he really did die."

Think this might be my favorite episode yet. So dense, and even when it is predictable it manages to exceed expectations. If there's more like this to come, I'll be most pleased!

edit: and for the record, it would be exceptionally unlikely for a wizard, let alone ANY class to have a charisma of 25. And you would not roll a skill check with a d12! Clearly these punk kids no NOTHING about REAL DnD!
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SovietOmega posted...

.........alright, seriously digging the past/present fight scene mesh. Brock is basically a universal constant. This is the kind of episode that I would have to watch multiple times to really absorb everything that happened. So very much happened real fast there, like the tooth just for starters.

definitely the best part of the episode. it's really cool how they do the fight scenes in both timelines at once. that kind of thing is always cool. the only similar example I can think of is Arrow season 2, and some movie uhh.... I think it's called Frequency.
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Episode 12: The Trial of the Monarch

I hope this is as lawyertastic as it sounds! A more tribal interpretation would be fine too.

"Mecha-Shiva! Mecha-Shiva! Mecha-Shiva! Mecha-Shiva! Mecha-Shiva! Mecha-Shiva! Mecha-Shiva!" Those kids can be such dorks sometimes <3

Quite the story that is unfolding in this 'trial'. At the rate it is going, it might end up on par with the average AA case.

Crazy love high jinks, magic, everyone is weird...yeah, that's the stuff.

...although final act guild business came out of seeming nowhere. Taking Tiny Attorney was whatever, but these hypnotic suggestions seem like they might pop up again down the line.

"I hope they find me a girl villain. A redhead." Dr. O has A+ taste!

So The Monarch is in jail now. I am sure this is the last we will ever see of him. Now someone else will have to fill in the void for a bit.
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SovietOmega posted...

"I hope they find me a girl villain. A redhead." Dr. O has A+ taste!

he's been reading the top 100 fetishes topic
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I mean, I gotta watch the last episode of this season now don't I? Then I can start with a fresh new season after I sleep and be awed and amazed at whatever insanity awaits.

Episode 13: Return to Spider-Skull Island

With a name like that, it sounds like quite the adventure awaits. Also, I am highly confidant that spiders do not have skulls, that would be weird. Or maybe it is just your average skull island but just happens to be owned by spiders.

Or maybe everyone can be cross-dressers and Dr. Venture can be pregnant, what do I know?

THE MONARCH: Have you destroyed the giant cocoon headquarters?
FAT HENCHMAN: Not yet.
THE MONARCH: Have you sent the charred remains of Wonder-boy to his beloved Captain Sunshine?
FAT HENCHMAN: Yes.
THE MONARCH: Rewound and returned the directors cut of Working Girl!
SKINNY HENCHMAN: We tried, but-
THE MONARCH: Unleashed the herpes-smeared sex-bots among the traitorous members of the Guild?
FAT HENCHMAN: Yeah.
THE MONARCH: Filled Phantom Limb's garage with clingy static-charged styrofoam packing peanuts?
SKINNY HENCHMAN: No.
THE MONARCH: Sent apology letters to each of my sponsored Ugandan foster-children?
FAT HENCHMAN: Check!
THE MONARCH: Have you... killed the Venture brothers?

What follows is a Dr. Orpheus scene that even if I could find the quotes would not do it justice, Dr. Orpheus just doesn't translate to mere mortal text very well. But never has TV watching been more engaging.

HANK: Dude! If we stay here that means we'll be Dr. Orpheus' kids. And that means Triana will be your sister. And that means you two will have extra-retard babies.

So team...brothers go out to explore the world, go to a diner, all pretty normal life sanctioned teen stuff really. Covert Dr. Orpheus doesn't fail to be great.

Back at home base, Dr. Venture is being violently introduced to his...twin? That...explains a few images seen throughout the season. I mean, it offers a reason for them...to say it is explained is a step too far. Regardless, his twin-that-had-been-living-inside-him-but-not-anymore is now in a mech suit partially built from an oven. Gnarly!

Monarch gives quiiite the prison speech, the wrinkle at the end is magical.

THE MONARCH: What the fuck are you boys doing in the big house?
DEAN: Well, our dad had a baby, so we ran away.
HANK: And then we got arrested for not speeding enough.

So absurd, yet so literal.

DR. VENTURE:Fine whatever, I'll give you the old Venture compound on Spider-Skull Island. Just please, stop calling me Rusty, I haven't been called that since I was out of college. Wait a minute, what do I call you?
JONAS: Jonas. Jonas Venture, Jr.

And the realization hits that I forgot entirely about the title, but can you blame me after what happened?

DR. ORPHEUS:Hellooo? My apologies, Dr. Venture, I'm loathed to intrude while you're entertaining [he looks at JONAS] uhhhhhwuhhhh- guests. But there's a matter that needs your urgent attention. What is-
BROCK: That's Doc's deformed twin brother he absorbed in the womb who's come back for revenge but now they made up, so...
DR. ORPHEUS: 'Kay.

So absurd, yet so literal.

....and then the ending happens. Wut.
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So, that is how the first season ends. It has my mind thinking of a number of ways it could be resolved. With the way this universe is set up, just about nothing can be discarded. They could say the corpses are monkey robots from a parallel reality surgically altered to look like Dean and Hank and I'd be forced to consider it at least viable.

The first season did a solid job establishing the characters and the world they reside in. It was a bit much in some places, a bit lacking in others, but it worked for the most part. Brock surprised me by being a much more nuanced character than his initial appearance lead me to believe. Dean and Hank also gradually split over the course of the season from being 'the boys' to being separate entities with their own personalities and desires. Hank could very easily end up following in Brock's footsteps, while Dean is currently leaning more towards Rusty as a primary influence. Dr. Venture himself seemed to cool off a bit after the first episode, still a grouch at times, but it is much more apparent he's mostly all bark and no bite.

The villains get a good bit of love too. The Monarch ended up with several nice moments, but his minions weren't left in the dust either, and rather than just be faceless mooks actually ended up with not only dialogue, but some equally grand moments. I can't say I care much for Dr. Girlfriend, I think it is the voice that does it, because most of the rest of what she does is fine.

And then there are characters like Dr. Orpheus who pretty much have their own tier. He started out great and only got better from there. There is probably nothing he could do that wouldn't make me have a stupid grin on my face. He does words good, and it is impossible to capture that here.

So yeah, I am all the hype for season 2. Unlike anyone else who watched it as it aired, I have the luxury of diving right in, which I shall now take advantage of.
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Tag, really awesome reactions so far! This is an insanely good series and I can't wait to see you react to some of the stuff coming down the road. >_>
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yeah I love this series and your topics have not disappointed. you give really good thoughts on the show. and even though you don't seem to love it as much as I do you're still liking it a lot and even your complaints and criticisms come across as valid. good job so far! hope you continue watching through to the end and you can wait in misery like the rest of us for new episodes once a decade.
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Season 2 Episode 1: Powerless in the Face of Death

Opening is missing a few characters. Guess that's that then.

Turns out the venture bros are now Rusty and his twin baby Jonas. It would be hilarious if it stays like this, but I get a feeling that there will be more change and this is just a fakeout.

Either way, it is kinda creepy how the baby thing not only was accepted, but has risen up to primary status in the span of not even an episode. Even has a robot arm. It reminds me of times playing dnd where something the DM didn't account for happens, but rather than nix it, opts to roll with it and see where it goes. I approve!

Lawl, I see Rusty had a Venture Bros back in the day that was a bit...hispanic. Doesn't remember him. I was wondering if a hadji analog would show up at some point. Doesn't seem to matter much cuz he's soon given the boot.

Rusty then proceeds to have a transporter accident.

Dr. Orpheus then proceeds to be Dr. Orpheus.

Brock manages to be the level headed one of the bunch.

There was also a fun little henchmen help group meeting too. 'learn how to hench for ourselves'

Ah, it was clones. They've not only died once, but like...14 times. That's...kind of messed up. How old are they even really? This raises more than a few disturbing questions. And they are laughing at the memories. Yowza.

I almost feel sorry for Monarch. Guild business is serious business it seems. Phantom Limb is far and away the most competent of the cast. The ability to do one's job is quite the force to be reckoned with in this universe.

So now I know what Dean and Hank are. Questions were answered but...at what cost? Easily the most disturbing episode so far.
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SovietOmega posted...

hank: ...hey, brock?
brock: (sigh) yes, hank?
hank: how would you do it?
brock: in your sleep, quick jerk of the neck, never feel a thing.
hank: you've thought about this.
brock: yes i have.

All in the delivery on that one. Amazing how just a few lines can establish so much.

I was waiting for this moment to spring this one on ya, but recall what happened in that death montage. In most of them, both brothers died, but there were a few where only one died. Well, letting the other one live would clue them in on being clones and ruin the whole thing. So........ I mean........ someone probably had to get rid of the other one so both clones could be let loose simultaneously........
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IGNORE ME!

caps
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What an amazing show. I need to go back and finish it one day.

PrivateBiscuit1 posted...

IGNORE ME!

so waiting for this
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MrSmartGuy posted...

SovietOmega posted...

hank: ...hey, brock?
brock: (sigh) yes, hank?
hank: how would you do it?
brock: in your sleep, quick jerk of the neck, never feel a thing.
hank: you've thought about this.
brock: yes i have.

All in the delivery on that one. Amazing how just a few lines can establish so much.

I was waiting for this moment to spring this one on ya, but recall what happened in that death montage. In most of them, both brothers died, but there were a few where only one died. Well, letting the other one live would clue them in on being clones and ruin the whole thing. So........ I mean........ someone probably had to get rid of the other one so both clones could be let loose simultaneously........

That's..pretty amazing. Definitely casts some new light on why things are the way they are.
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Season 2 Episode 2: Hate Floats

Monarch sure has seen better days. His two loyal minions are almost as adorkable as Hank and Dean are. The dog at the end was a beautiful touch.

Bold Predix: Denying this batch of boys knowledge of the hoover dam is gonna bite Rusty in the butt down the line somehow. I am wise to your antics now show!

Henchman 21 and 24 continue to be amazing with their streetside recruitment performance.

...the floating cocoon sure is made operational far too easily! It was just exploded for pete's sake, super science should not be like lego blocks! Or maybe it should!

The juxtaposition of normalcy and the larger than life world of Dr. Venture/Monarch continues to be a thing as Dean gets a fitted speedsuit and Monarch tries to win Dr. Girlfriend back.

...and then Dr. Venture gets an eye thwacked out of socket. Now that kid clones have happened, we're not going back to good times anytime soon, are we?

Dr. Venture gets kidnapped, Dr. Girlfriend gets (almost) kidnapped, Brock is in a pool of blood, Hank was shot in the junk, and this is just the halfway point.

Some great dialogue with Brock and Phantom Limb, of note is the use of 'level 5 offensive weapons for a level 1 threat'. Aka Monarch's street recruits are using actual guns as opposed to cutesy normal supervillain stuff, and this is such an issue in this society that there are sanctified weapon tiers to begin with. The implications are quite amusing...this means that superhero/villain minions are, by design, less threatening than the your average thug. As if their whole world is more like a glorified daycare than an actual take-over-the-world new world order in the making.

"Wait a minute, are you our mommy?" Given this series, this is entirely plausible. I mean, this is practically audience confirmation packaged as innocent kid dialogue.

Unlikely pairing ups, further blurring the line between good and evil. Really, given all the regulations involved, it is almost like a play performance, kinda like how Mario and Bowser often act, particularly in SMB3.

Also, for what it's worth, we've basically hit peak dialogue where I am having to fight the urge to quote literally everything said. There is far too much goodness packed into these few minutes it is unreal.

Little hasty of a wrapup, but there was frankly no way it could have been otherwise given how much was packed into the episode.
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recruiting the inner city henchmen is probably one of my favorite gags the show has done

SovietOmega posted...

Some great dialogue with Brock and Phantom Limb, of note is the use of 'level 5 offensive weapons for a level 1 threat'. Aka Monarch's street recruits are using actual guns as opposed to cutesy normal supervillain stuff, and this is such an issue in this society that there are sanctified weapon tiers to begin with. The implications are quite amusing...this means that superhero/villain minions are, by design, less threatening than the your average thug. As if their whole world is more like a glorified daycare than an actual take-over-the-world new world order in the making.

yeah this is all good stuff
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Season 2 Episode 3: Assassinanny 911

Brock's first day on the job...quite the character his boss is.

'Manaconda' excuse me...'Womanaconda' not only does it follow up on Brock stating that this family gets into odd situations, but it is a lovely joke name for this sort of beast.

As far as Molotov filling in for Brock, I have my doubts. Thus far I haven't really cared much for her character, although some of that is less her personality and more in her proportions combined with the animation style. She just doesn't do anything for me. That said, her only actual competition on this show is Nurse Manvoice and Goth Jailbait.

Brock's target is...Hunter. Seems like a classic enough setup, I am left wondering how they'll spin it (or opt not to). The double jump out into ocean into sub into past transition was a great sequence...Brock not even batting an eye sold it.

"I forgot this was a leap year, and well, Apaches didn't have those" Says Dr. Orpheus while dealing with ghost indians after Dean was brutally stabbed in the foot by a pencil.

Throughout the scenes with Molotov, and soon after in conversation with Dean, it was quite apparent how Hank was feeling with regard to their nanny. But her age is measured in years, while his is measured in days, it is a love that could never work out!

"The president's not the president anyway, you know that" *jots this line down for future reference*

Well I'll be, Triana has a friend who seems to be on the self aware side, calling Hank 'the scooby-doo kid'. Good to know that was an intentional design choice and not just me seeing things that aren't there.

"Kill pop, kill pop, kill pop" Yeah Hank, just go ahead and listen to the hallucinatory talking Hank head breasts. Man, even their puberty is weird. Is nothing sacred?

Brock locates Hunter only to discover that he is now...Huntress? "Had to be sure" Yup, this is a thing that happened.

Hank manages to not be dead considering everything that happened. He's a bit depressed though, which is almost like being dead.
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Season 2 Episode 4: Escape to the House of Mummies Part II

"What are you gonna do about it?"
"But I'm about to kill your sons."
"Join the club."

Now that we know that the boys are expendable, I expect there will be many a joke at their expense.

"Boy adventurers, what do you need? A road map? It's simple! Don't get shot by the enemy, stumble on the robot factory pull up a couple of rubber masks, and crawl through holes!"

Leave it to Rusty, pro boy adventurer to distill decades of adventure shows into a single sentence.

"Orpheus, it's your landlord. We're trapped in a cliche" 10/10 line, would listen to again.

Just about every second of this situation is a treat. They are milking these spikes hard!

TIL: Voile is a real thing that exists.

Digging the science v magic lover's spat Rusty and Orpheus are having. Even leads Dr. Venture to do some old fashioned robbery, with only token success.

I'd probably wear the same shirt every day too if I were afraid of a hell closet.

Dr. Orpheus's master...took me a bit to place the voice, but I is indeed the voice of Sterling Archer. Another fine animated series that rubs up against some of what Venture Bros does.

D'aww, every kid wanted to be Rusty. What a touching way to end the episode. What an odd thing to merchandise. Makes one wonder if all the adventuring was for noble reasons or profit.
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Season 2 Episode 5: Twenty Years to Midnight

Aliens, some humanizing of Rusty's larger than life father, and a quest to find some pieces of a thing.

We also get to see Spider-Skull island! Which quickly transitions into touching base with some of the secondary cast, of which it seems Jonas Jr. is included. He had started so strong too, but Dean and Hank just haaaad to be clones...

JONAS JR.: Three. You take the X-1. The captain and I'll take the X-2. The boys can pick up the fourth piece in the X-X-1.

So many X's...

Everything proceeds to get real weird real fast. Pirate guy and Jonas's piece seems to be in the hands of...Johnny Quest, who has seen better days. Dr. Venture makes note of a crazy dream and still has that alien robot thing tagging along. The boys have the most normal situation, merely having to deal with an old guy who died.

Two pieces gotten in quick succession, and half an episode to go. Richards and his building are the final obstacle for the last piece.

I almost feel sorry for Sally being used like this, but her powers make her hideous! Beauty isn't skin deep, it is skin! Keep your skin on girl!


RUSTY: Oh, now he's bossing my robot around. You see this?! Wait, you have a radio in your collar?
JONAS JR.: Of course! What kind of an idiot would strap his only means of emergency communication to his wrist? They always tie you up.

One of the things I appreciate most about this show is how it is not afraid to poke fun at itself as well as narrative conventions.

SALLY: What could be more important than your family, Richard?
PROF. IMPOSSIBLE: SSSS..((hesitating)) Science?

The hesitation makes that line! <3

....huh. That sure was an ending. Aliens. Yup.

That's really gonna make any potential stakes raising weird with that kind of casual 'yeah, we're here and looking out for you lesser beings' thing the one had going on. Raises all kinds of questions, really. I'll just have to wait and see on this one.

On a more human level, I can get behind a Jonas Jr. and Sally ship.
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PrivateBiscuit1 posted...

IGNORE ME!

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Season 2 Episode 6: Victor. Echo. November.

A date with the Venture Bros, Phantom Limb being more accountant than evil (probably the secret to his competency), and now beatboxing minions. This show has increasingly seemed to put more irons in the first at once, stirring occasionally. Only so much can be expected to be packed into one episode!

Everyone is going on dates. Dean is with Triana, Hank is with Kim (who oddly asks about how Hank dresses despite commenting on it in a previous episode). The Monarch is with whatever. Phantom Limb is with Dr. Girlfriend. Dr. Venture is at home watching a movie.

"The machine worked so well that every molecule in his extremities was accelerated beyond the speed of light! There were two side effects. One, he can mess up a guy just by touching him. And two, he became a humorless ***!"

Great line by The Monarch, also the entire Venture family will be dead in an hour. The boys are clones, so how is Rusty gonna survive?

"It feels like somebody with a fever is yelling at my pants!"

Somehow...the boys are the ones coming out the most OK in all of this?

"My pants are on fire! Dean! Dean! My pants are on fire! Don't! Dude, stop wailing on my junk! Throw water on it!" "No way! That's what started this!"

"Can't believe it's hard to kill these two"

The plots might be quickly diving off into absurdsville, but the character interactions have only improved now that we know where each of them stands. Like Brock diving into a bathroom naked with nothing but a knife in his teeth, and then approaching the boys and each stall one by one. Each encounter expertly fitting with the involved parties and the narrative at large.

"I'm gonna be a supervillain" "I'm gonna be Batman" Why do I get the feeling that both of these are going to happen?
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Season 2 Episode 7: Love-Bheits

We just had a love episode, title! Come on!

"The Impossible family made a really convincing Fantastic Four!" Bwahahaha

The family cosplay raises enough questions, but if the clones are prone to death, how do they have yearly memories of messing past cosplay up, or is that just an invented fiction? And while I presumed Hank was gonna be batman at some point, I was not quite prepared for it being the next episode.

Didn't mention her last time she was seen, but apparently Girl Hitler is alive.

And either there are things about the baron that we don't know, or he's simply making a classic mistake.

...letter suggests that it is the latter. Meh.

Hey look, 8 ball guy is alive too <3

"Will I have a boy?" "As I see it, yes" Yuuuup

And it turns out the resistance is a step away from being a literal joke. I...was expecting something a bit more serious, honestly.

At least Batman, Chewbacca, and a useless nerd are brave enough to save the day. Sick beats on the way to the wedding.

Same sex marriage in Underland? Illegal. Underage marriage in Underland? Who knows?
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Season 2 Episode 8: Fallen Arches

Guild stuff!

"Just look at these numbers" and while there are no numbers, there is a pie chart. Fraternity of Torment, The Peril Partnership, and a sizable chunk of Unlicensed Villains.

Walking eye! Best character on screen right now. No longer content to be constrained by the title, he is here in the flesh!

Walking eye! What does it do? Walking eye! It is right there! Walking eye!

Aquaman!

Henchmen with aspirations of grandeur!

Sex!

The polar bear from Lost! Probably makes more sense here than there!

Walking Eye! Please do not rub your nipples on it like that Dr. Venture! Walking Eye!

Torrid Zone!

Get out of my kitchen!
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Fallen Arches has a bunch of great scenes and quotes. Rusty trying to give "the talk" to Dean. Everything about the Walking Eye. Especially when he's washing it on the lawn and trying to get the villains to pay attention to him. When Torrid goes in for his interview, revealing that he has already kidnapped Orpheus' daughter. Balls! Brass balls!

I've always been partial to Victor. Echo. November.

The memories of the Venture Bros are recorded by their beds while they are sleeping, stored in a computer, and implanted into the new clones. This is why they have the past memories from their previous bodies. The only setback is the time it takes. This is why when Rusty gives Hank/Dean their new ID for their 16th birthday, Hank notices that the year doesn't match. If they died 14 times and lost 4 months each time, they would be around 56 months off. So their listed birth year is 4-5 years earlier than it should be if they were really 16.

^ can't remember if this has happened yet at the point you're at, but it is a fairly minor detail. spoil hidden anyway. it relates to the boys 16th birthday, if that was mentioned yet.
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Season 2 Episode 9: Guess Who's Coming to State Dinner

Dates, interviews, dinner...i'm sure this dinner will be anything but normal, but there's a strong running theme here of putting normal situations around abnormal characters.

Politics in 2006. Such innocent times...

And boy has miniaturization come a long way since then too! You wouldn't be caught dead with a secret mind control chip of that size nowadays!

The president here seems like a collection of Bill Clinton and Dubya traits. A likable fellow who runs a presidency that anyone today would pine for.

"IT'S THE GHOST OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN!"
"Who?"

"Yeah, didn't you learn anything in bed?" Context!

'stuck in force field' 'call the army' 'and a scientist' I wasn't sure what to think about this secret service dude who knew Brock in Vietnam, but he's got a sharp mind, instantly going for the obvious solution to the communication problem.

I don't care for ghosts much, but I like the condition that they can only interact with things that have their likeness.

Plot resolves in lightning quick fashion, as most of these tend to do. I guess Lincoln-bill-covered Ghost Lincoln is gonna be a recurring character now. Hard to think what he'd even do beyond this, they've already used all the standard Lincoln jokes.
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Season 2 Episode 10: I Know Why the Caged Bird Kills

I can make approx. zero predictions from a title like that.

THE MASTER: Orpheus you're gonna love this, check me out. Huh? I'm Catherine the Great's horse. To teach you a lesson about biting off more than you can chew. My partially lovely assistant, Mrs. Manyface, will be playing the part of Catherine.

This episode's normalcy seems to be driver's ed and/or management. I wonder if half the reason Monarch likes the new guy is the depth of his voice.

Approaching the halfway mark, I think I see what the killer bird is meaning. If this woman is to be believed, she is the boys' mom. Because this is the Ventureverse or whatever you want to call it, she's crazy.

"Not in all your 19 years!"
"Um, we're 16"

Oh dear, cat's potentially out of the bag here...or would be if this lass wasn't so loony.

Dr. Girlfriend's got some wicked moves. Certainly compared to anyone else in Monarch's employ at least.

Turns out Henry Killinger was just one big Mary Poppins. Hah.

"You don't remember because you're cl....cl....cl" *Rusty joins in the cl'ing*

Almost...they'll learn for sure though, eventually.
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