[7.5/10] This is an episode that had a lot going on, but which managed to find that balance between off-the-wall fun and down-to-earth sadness that characterize the best of The Venture Bros. tone. I love the conceit of all the council members having to do one final arch. It forces each to take care of some unfinished business and reflect on where they are vs. where they’ve been. That manages to lead both to comedy and pathos.
The comedy is fun throughout. Radical Left’s archenemy being his own other half (dubbed “Right Wing”), whom he “arches” by playing Clue against is amusingly bonkers. Phantom Limb arching Hunter Gathers with a literal dick-measuring contest fits the show’s vibe. And Red Mantle and Dragoon fearing who their final arch will be, satiating themselves with dinner, Downton Abby, and dreams of fighting Al from Home Improvement, only to find out, to their relief, that they’ve outlived all their enemies, is inspired. Heck, Team Venture is kind of shuffled to the background here, but Rusty’s efforts to woo a black widow without succumbing to her killer ways was hilarious each time we checked in.
But the more serious stuff worked really well too. It may be too much to call Red Menace arching a Daredevil-knockoff named Blind Rage serious, but it’s legitimately scary and intense. Red Menace has been a great addition to the show’s regulars, and his train track-side reflection on the age of the “Gentleman Villain,” and the care and extra touches that make villainy something special were poetic enough that you’d buy them in a movie or show playing them straight.
Dr. Mrs. The Monarch teaming up with Gary to take out her enemy from back when she was Lady Au Pair was a good concept. It fits with the thread of reflection in this episode, where by committing to the counsel she’s closing the book on an old part of her life, on someone else she could have been, and seeing someone else living that alternate life is a lot for her to take. The show continues to take advantage of the great dynamic between her and Gary as characters, and the fact that she swiped Novia’s wallet to complete the “arch” is a great button to put on things. Plus, I always enjoy the little clockwork twists like that Novia turns out to be both Dr. Mrs.’s foe and Rusty Venture’s date.
Last but not least, man, there was something strangely affecting about Dr. Z and Johnny Quest. I have to admit, I barely ever saw the original Johnny Quest, so I don’t have much of a particular affection or conception of the characters apart from this show. But still, having Dr. Z be free of animosity for his former foe, to instead be reminiscing about the times they shared together, even talking about Johnny moving in is that melancholy sort of sweet this show specializes in. I mean, good lord, the conversation Dr. Z has at the hospital with an in recovery Johnny was impressively real even in the bounds of the fractured universe of the show. There was something believably awkward about their interactions, and the joy Dr. Z took in chasing Johnny around one last time was unexpectedly cute from a bald weirdo with extreme eyebrow styling.
Overall, this episode feels like a bit of a breather. It’s a little rambling and ambling, but in a pleasant way, that lets the show have its villains have a handful of mini-vignettes rather than putting together one big story. It’s a cool change of pace.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2018-09-26T22:41:40Z
[7.5/10] This is an episode that had a lot going on, but which managed to find that balance between off-the-wall fun and down-to-earth sadness that characterize the best of The Venture Bros. tone. I love the conceit of all the council members having to do one final arch. It forces each to take care of some unfinished business and reflect on where they are vs. where they’ve been. That manages to lead both to comedy and pathos.
The comedy is fun throughout. Radical Left’s archenemy being his own other half (dubbed “Right Wing”), whom he “arches” by playing Clue against is amusingly bonkers. Phantom Limb arching Hunter Gathers with a literal dick-measuring contest fits the show’s vibe. And Red Mantle and Dragoon fearing who their final arch will be, satiating themselves with dinner, Downton Abby, and dreams of fighting Al from Home Improvement, only to find out, to their relief, that they’ve outlived all their enemies, is inspired. Heck, Team Venture is kind of shuffled to the background here, but Rusty’s efforts to woo a black widow without succumbing to her killer ways was hilarious each time we checked in.
But the more serious stuff worked really well too. It may be too much to call Red Menace arching a Daredevil-knockoff named Blind Rage serious, but it’s legitimately scary and intense. Red Menace has been a great addition to the show’s regulars, and his train track-side reflection on the age of the “Gentleman Villain,” and the care and extra touches that make villainy something special were poetic enough that you’d buy them in a movie or show playing them straight.
Dr. Mrs. The Monarch teaming up with Gary to take out her enemy from back when she was Lady Au Pair was a good concept. It fits with the thread of reflection in this episode, where by committing to the counsel she’s closing the book on an old part of her life, on someone else she could have been, and seeing someone else living that alternate life is a lot for her to take. The show continues to take advantage of the great dynamic between her and Gary as characters, and the fact that she swiped Novia’s wallet to complete the “arch” is a great button to put on things. Plus, I always enjoy the little clockwork twists like that Novia turns out to be both Dr. Mrs.’s foe and Rusty Venture’s date.
Last but not least, man, there was something strangely affecting about Dr. Z and Johnny Quest. I have to admit, I barely ever saw the original Johnny Quest, so I don’t have much of a particular affection or conception of the characters apart from this show. But still, having Dr. Z be free of animosity for his former foe, to instead be reminiscing about the times they shared together, even talking about Johnny moving in is that melancholy sort of sweet this show specializes in. I mean, good lord, the conversation Dr. Z has at the hospital with an in recovery Johnny was impressively real even in the bounds of the fractured universe of the show. There was something believably awkward about their interactions, and the joy Dr. Z took in chasing Johnny around one last time was unexpectedly cute from a bald weirdo with extreme eyebrow styling.
Overall, this episode feels like a bit of a breather. It’s a little rambling and ambling, but in a pleasant way, that lets the show have its villains have a handful of mini-vignettes rather than putting together one big story. It’s a cool change of pace.