Writer: Jackson Publick
Director: Jackson Publick
Previously on "The Venture Brothers":
During an attempt by the supervillain Monstroso to destroy Dr. Venture (James Urbaniak) through legal schemes, the Venture brothers Hank (Christopher McCulloch) and Dean (Michael Sinterniklaas) accidentally discovered that their beloved former bodyguard Brock Sampson (Patrick Warburton) was living on their property in a secret facility run by S.P.H.I.N.X., which included Brock's old O.S.I. teammate Shore Leave and his crazed commanding officer Colonel Hunter Gathers.
When Henchman 21 (Doc Hammer) realized that Monstroso also intended to take down his boss the Monarch, he teamed up with Sampson to defeat Monstroso. Later, after the Venture brothers' memories were wiped of the events, Brock nonchalantly revealed to Hank that he was back.
Story:
Sgt. Hatred, Hank and Dean drive wildly down the road, while the boys' father Dr. Venture lies unconscious in the backseat. 21 leads the Monarch's men in pursuit and drops the murderous Moppets out of the cocoon to finish the Ventures. Sgt. Hatred manages to get the jeep to a Catholic hospital, which causes the Monarch's forces to back off. Elsewhere, the Monarch and Dr. Mrs. The Monarch attend a party to celebrate the release of King Gorilla from prison and they are both taken aback by how badly King Gorilla has been stricken by cancer.
Back at the Venture compound, Sgt. Hatred recounts to the boys that the hospital wouldn't treat Dr. Venture because they don't have insurance. Hank activates a spotlight, which summons Pete White and Billy Quizboy, who rush to the scene in their ten million dollar Conjectu-Cycle. The duo attempt to determine what happened to Dr. Venture and ultimately decide to miniaturize a submarine and send it inside Venture's brain to figure out why he won't wake up. Along the way to pick up the sub, they run into Brock and Shore Leave, who end up going on the mission with the boys, leaving Sgt. Hatred to guard Dr. Venture's body.
Meanwhile at the Monarch's cocoon, 21 tries to get Dr. Mrs. The Monarch to spring for body armor for the other henchmen. While she pleads that they can't afford it, the Monarch flies in on his new "butter-glider," which cost a fortune and instantly alienates the henchmen. The Monarch's love for his new vehicle is so great that he serenades it in the sky and sleeps with it in his bed. Exasperated by his odd behavior, Dr. Mrs. The Monarch encourages 21 to go after Dr. Venture without the Monarch's approval, knowing that it will drive him into a frenzy.
Inside Dr. Venture's brain, Sampson and the crew discover that the blockage was caused by a miniature sub piloted by the seventh clones of Hank and Dean. 21 and the Monarch's men attack before Brock and the boys can get out of his body and shoot Sgt. Hatred with several tranquilizer darts. Sgt. Hatred overdoses on adrenalin to stay awake and fight them off. Dr. Mrs. The Monarch tells her husband that 21 has gone rogue and it has the desired effect on him. Upon reaching the Venture compound, 21 graciously bows to the Monarch's authority. The Monarch then uses the Butter-glider to wrap up Dr. Venture's body and fly away with it. Sgt. Hatred uses Billy's shrink ray in reverse to enlarge Dr. Venture's body to giant size, causing it and the glider to crash.
Later, Venture's body is his normal size again as Billy and Pete communicate with Brock to determine where the ship is in Dr. Venture's body. They ultimately determine that it has landed in his prostrate and breakout the necessary tools to free them: rubber gloves, lotion and an adult magazine.
Breakdown:
After so many months away, it was great to see the Venture brothers back in action.
Oddly enough, Dr. Venture didn't have any lines throughout the entire episode. And while his sardonic wit was missed, the rest of the characters were able to fill the void. The most intriguing aspects of the episode were the continuation of Brock's new career in S.P.H.I.N.X. and 21's continued assent in the Monarch's organization.
When Brock returned, I figured that Sgt. Hatred was going to be shown the door and written out of the show. Instead, the creators of the series seem to be running with the new status quo and working out new ways to keep Brock involved. Brock even proved adept in getting Sgt. Hatred to feel like an important member of the team. I can't see the pre-S.P.H.I.N.X. Brock doing that for anyone outside of the boys. And Hatred actually stepped up and saved the day, sort of...
The biggest laugh out loud moment came with the reveal that Dr. Venture's brain blockage was caused by the missing clones of his dead sons. The show has an extremely subtle way of reminding long-time viewers of previous episodes, like the off-hand remark by the boys that they might find another new uncle in their dad's body as well as the fact that no one spelled out that the current Hank and Dean are also clones.
Brock's reasoning for no longer mindwiping the boys was also hilarious as he explained how loopy it made them: Dean thinks that the day is Sagittarius and Hank thought Brock's tongue was colored a "light Wednesday."
Getting back to 21, it's been fun to watch him go from bit player to essentially the third lead among the antagonists, behind the Monarch and his wife. This also felt like one of the first times that Dr. Mrs. The Monarch has actually seemed very interested in 21, both physically at the bar and earlier when she wanted to hear how his first solo command went. If the rest of the season leads to an affair between the two, it would be extremely amusing and a perfect call back for the way that she left her previous lover for the Monarch.
Another throwaway gag for the episode was the insanely expensive double motorbike used by Peter White and Billy, which seemed to be straight out of vehicle Voltron. Their references to "House," "Innerspace" and "Fantastic Voyage" were also well played.
And while this was far from the best episode of the series, it was still an entertaining return to form.
Crave Online Rating: 8 out of 10.
