Last night on the Venture Bros, Sphinx got real, OSI came back and there were probably more laughs to be had than either of the previous two episodes combined. Lets talk about it.
1. Never a Bad Time for More Gary
21 was always my favorite in earlier seasons of Venture Bros, so last season when he finally stood up for himself and became the ultimate henchman I was thrilled. When he finally emancipated himself from the Monarch I figured the stories would get even better — and you know what? I was right. They did.
Gary offers a very important perspective to the events of the show in that he, more so than any other character, is essentially us. Everyone on the show is a nerd, but when it comes down to it 21 (and 24) always seemed to embody the perspective of the audience; the goofy references, the self-deprecating humor and ultimately the general sense of not belonging within the fantastical events of the show. It’s something that disappeared a bit in the last season, but Gary/21 had already been endeared to us so much that it didn’t matter — and when he broke down, it was a lot easier to relate to him than anyone else (who we usually just view as abjectly vain).
So a whole episode somewhat dedicated to New Gary, Sphinx Commander? Hell yes.
2. So That’s Where OSI/Sphinx Went
After “Operation PROM,” I know I’m not alone in wondering what OSI (under the guise of Sphinx) had gotten to, let alone the real Sphinx. The GI Joe parody was one of Venture Bros best, because while on one level Sphinx was sort of relegated to always being Cobra, OSI got to function as multiple parodies and its own organization.
Bringing both back was the highlight of the episode, from the Long Division con to the final destruction of all things Sphinx. If the show understands one thing implicitly, its to not over-do a gag — they make leave things in the background to fester over a long period of time and they may even do a good number of callbacks, but for the most part the stories often times have specific resolutions. From the very first time we got a GI Joe parody to now has been one solid background arc for the adventures of Sphinx, and to play it up in such a grandiose style was side-splittingly hilarious.
Honestly, I don’t even like GI Joe and Sphinx Commander may be my new favorite Venture Bros one-off parody.
3. Scooby Dooby Doo Magic Masks
Gary is my favorite, but you know what my second favorite aspect of Venture Bros is? All of the “behind the scenes” moments with Monarch and Dr. Mrs. the Monarch. The Monarch is so insanely self-involved that he’s basically the Ventureverse’s Kanye, but Dr. Mrs. The Monarch always adds a helping of levity and sense, even if there are things that go over her head (Khal Drogo).
That’s why, when the two of them don their Scooby Doo Magic Masks and infiltrate the Venture compound as beaver inspectors (“I think that shirt means… vagina“), talking about beaver larvae and whatnot … honestly, it’s just too funny. That’s not a very strong critical analysis or anything, but dammit, it is just too funny.
This episode packed on the pounds in terms of laughs like nobody’s business, and its because they picked all the right characters to take the spotlight. At the very least, all the right characters for me.
4. Destiny
Speaking of packing on the laughs, the role of Destiny may be one of Hank’s best yet. It’s one of their least subtle executions — from the moment that Hank comes out in the Countess’ suit, you know exactly where that story is going in just about every way. Yet even if your brain tries to spoil your expectations, the execution of it is so ridiculous and just so Hank (as in, the type of story that could only happen to him) that it’s hard not to laugh as he ninjas about and makes Hatred and the Sphinx Commander feel confused.
Add to that the double entendre misheard by Hatred and Dr. Venture and the secondary Destiny plot is perhaps some of the most Larry David-ian this show has ever been, an absolute perfect case of how well this show can be executed despite spinning just about every plate in the kitchen.
Continued belowI’d lamented the season premiere’s runtime as not really “getting” the heightened pace that Venture Bros usually has and utilizes, but this episode is the proof: it never slows down, it shoots out the jokes and plot points at a rapid fire pace and when it all wraps up in the end we’re given a satisfying meal that is filling and something you pretty much want to instantly rewatch, even if it is 12:30 AM and you have to write and work the next.
Either way, this is turning out to be Hank’s season. Dean may have been the one to become a new world leader, but Hank became Batman and a sexy ninja queen. Beat that!
5. Bringing Out The History
This is the smallest point of note I want to make, but Venture Bros is both bad and good about dealing with its history. On the one hand, the show is horribly convoluted; there is so much going on at any one time both in the past and the present — specifically in how the past informs the present — that it can be hard to follow. On the other hand, the show always manages to handle its continuity very well, and who knows? This could pan out to be a very interesting story indeed.
This seemed to me to be a bit of a nod to the Spider-Man franchise, though — at least the Ultimate version. The history of the Monarch and Dr. Venture always seemed rooted in Fantastic Four with how the heroes and villains met at college, but with the photo the Monarch found I can’t help but be reminded of the Venom storyline in “Ultimate Spider-Man,” where Peter found photos of his parents and himself with the Brock family, leading Peter to look up Eddie in college. The movie took nods from this too, albeit only slightly.
I’m probably over-thinking it. Lets see how it pans out. It wouldn’t be the first time that heroes and villains found that they had a lot in common, on this show or any other.
