The Venture Bros.: Faking Miracles
February 15, 2016 7:06 AM - Season 6, Episode 3 - Subscribe

Doc Venture, Billy Quizboy and Pete White start digging through J.J.'s old files to find some futuristic (and non-militaristic) tech to get VenTech going again, when they come across something that gives Dean a boost, and Hank gets a job at a pizza restaurant. Meanwhile, Dr. Mrs. The Monarch is having a bad night as The Monarch isn't taking a Guild social event seriously, which makes her look bad with her colleagues.
posted by filthy light thief (19 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I loved Serena's ridiculous Brooklyn Italian accent, and that storyline looks like its going to be a lot of fun.

It was neat to see the Blue Morpho story come out of the comic, also that his solo title failed in six issues.

Brock freaking out about Dean being possessed was pretty good, but I'm not 100% sold on Dean's story this season yet, he needs to have some more focus before it becomes a thing. But its always great to get Billy, White and Rusty in a room together, I can get behind any story that has them screwing everything up.
posted by hobgadling at 8:55 AM on February 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


It feels like Dean's story is just starting, probably because Hank has had more hijinks so far. I think Dean's story curve starts off mellow then starts to ramp up here with Robot Water. I don't imagine he's gotten them all out, or their impact on his life are complete. As noted in the title of the A.V. Club review for this episode, "The Venture Bros. begins its table setting for the rest of the season."

I'm looking forward to see how The Monarch comes to terms (or adapts parts of) the past of his father, The Blue Morpho (who can call themselves a lepidopterologist and not know the Blue Morpho? -- OK, today I learned that three morphos are called Blue Morpho, but I'm no butterfly fancier).

I didn't see the ad for this episode, but I did notice a Trump-looking background character in Serena's birthday party.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:07 AM on February 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


Kind of a lot going on with The Monarch, huh?
posted by Sys Rq at 11:34 AM on February 15, 2016


I loved Dean's college entrance essay, especially Brock's comment "turn the gas down Sylvia Plath".
posted by selenized at 11:48 AM on February 15, 2016 [4 favorites]


I am loving this season so far. I don't even know where to start with all that: Hank really fitting in with the whole bizarre boy adventurer life, Brock being back, Dean getting interesting, Rusty picking over JJ's bones with his pals, the Monarch getting played... all so much fun.

I'm looking forward to see how The Monarch comes to terms (or adapts parts of) the past of his father, The Blue Morpho (who can call themselves a lepidopterologist and not know the Blue Morpho? -- OK, today I learned that three morphos are called Blue Morpho, but I'm no butterfly fancier).

In The Monarch's original appearance, it was clear that he's as good at butterflies as anything else he does. By which I mean, he gave a villainous monologue that included a reference to monarch butterflies spinning webs. I found that bit completely in character. :)
posted by mordax at 11:53 AM on February 15, 2016 [3 favorites]


Nice to get a Doctor Orpheus mention.
posted by juiceCake at 6:27 PM on February 15, 2016


God this season just gets better and better. This episode was great. Does the Copycat have his sights on Dr Mrs The Monarch or what exactly is he up to?

There were a lot of incredible one-note jokes in the previous seasons - like how perfect was "Escape to the House of Mummies Part II" as an one-off episode idea - but this season as whole is coming together incredibly.
posted by GuyZero at 7:22 PM on February 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


Also: don't harpoon tase me, bro!
posted by GuyZero at 10:23 PM on February 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


Brock, are candiru native to New York?

This episode gets better on rewatching.
posted by GuyZero at 10:29 PM on February 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


OK, so I randomly watch old episodes and I was watching Spanakopita! and when Dr Venture gets on the boat to go to a party who is already there... it's the goddamned Blue Morpho and his wife.

I have to say, these guys have been setting this up for a while. Wow.
posted by GuyZero at 11:09 PM on February 15, 2016 [6 favorites]


Holy crap GuyZero, thats amazing. I can't wait for more flashbacks to that time, I bet Rusty and The Monarch hung out all the time and Rusty just forgot about it, like he forgot about Hector.
posted by hobgadling at 5:44 AM on February 16, 2016


So per the end-of-season baby Monarch-playing-with-baby-Rusty photo my crazy guess is that there was some crazy swinging going on and The Monarch and Rusty as half-brothers sharing the same mom, the woman in the photo and the boat. I think they're even starting to play up the facial similarities between Rusty & The Monarch.
posted by GuyZero at 9:37 AM on February 16, 2016 [3 favorites]


What a triumph of writing this episode was! At least 10 major characters were given things to do, and half of them were given major plot developments. Another 10 minor characters were given good jokes. Three new major characters were introduced (The Blue Morpho, Copycat, and Serena). I counted 33 speaking roles.* That's incredible. Amazingly, almost all of them happened in the first ten minutes, so nothing felt rushed and so the latter half of the episode could have extended jokes like Dean's possession. That's some outstanding craft. I loved this episode.

* Elder Dr. Venture, Scaramantula, Colonel Gentleman, Action Man, Blue Morpho, 21, The Monarch, Dr. Mrs. The Monarch, Manolo, Brock, Hank, Dean, Serena Song, Tinfoil homeless guy, Rocko, Pirate Captain, Billy, Pete, Hatred, Rusty, Phantom Limb, Wide Wale, left Radical Left, right Radical Left, Dragoon, Red Mantle, Dr. Z, Redusa, Copycat, the Barnacled Butler, Vincenzo, bikini girl on TV, mad professor on TV. Mentioned but not shown were Phineas Phage, Vendata, and L Ron Hubbard. Appearing without a speaking role were Kano, Dante and Torio, and Donald Trump (who was at the party).

Given that PFT voices the Blue Morpho, I'm betting that Paget Brewster will voice his wife.

Wide Wale's suit was corduroy and made swishy sounds as he walked.

My favorite line: "I'm warning you, Monarch. One more jazzy little step...."
posted by painquale at 10:02 AM on February 16, 2016 [4 favorites]


This season is shaping up to be the best so far. And part of what I love is that it sometimes takes me a minute to get it (like Radical Left), and they usually don't GIVE me a minute before they're off somewhere else. I love this show, not least because it really rewards repeat viewings.
posted by biscotti at 1:38 PM on February 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


That's incredible

Speaking of incredible, wasn't the homeless/crazy dude on the running path wearing a shirt with a The Incredibles logo in it?

Makes sense, this The Incredibles and The Venture Bros. have the same 60's futuristic look and feel and lineage.
posted by sideshow at 9:31 PM on February 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yeah, I have this feeling tinfoil hat guy is going to reappear.
posted by GuyZero at 11:10 PM on February 16, 2016


The tinfoil hat guy reminded me of Bulletman.
posted by detachd at 7:57 PM on February 17, 2016


My money, given the Monarch's mother's red hair, is she is Jonas's sister. The Blue Morpho became friends with Jonas, then wound up marrying Jonas's sister, making The Monarch and Rusty first cousins.
posted by fings at 8:29 PM on February 18, 2016


My guess is that they're even more closely related than that.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:51 PM on February 18, 2016 [1 favorite]


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