The Venture Bros. has a habit of jumping between characters rather drastically, understandable given the show's short running time and extensive roster of peripherals. Whereas last week's "The Diving Bell Vs. The Butter-Glider" dealt mostly with the Monarch and his minions, "Pomp & Circuitry" focuses instead on the other, more washed-out villains that occupy the Venture-Verse; namely Phantom Limb, Baron Underbheit (who hasn't been seen since season two) and even Professor Impossible.
One of the reasons the show succeeds where others grow stale in their later seasons is its willingness to let certain plots simmer over time, while keeping aware of growing and changing contuinity. Baron Underbheit may not have much impact on the plot, but we appreciate his return appearance, nicely complementing the re-rise of Phantom Limb as a credible threat.
Short of his bizarre and fruitless plot in "The Revenge Society," earlier this season, Phantom Limb hasn't had any real worth since his prior defeat. Something James Urbaniak (whose voice went entirely unheard last week) clearly relishes in his dual role as both the costumed villain and the titular Venture patriarch.
Similarly, we've long known that the boys receive their education in their sleep thanks to a bizarre and dated bed-learning machine, but the joke gains some substance when Billy Quizboy astutely points out that despite their theoretical intellect, the boys have no real preparation for the outside world. Taking a one-note gag or reference and fleshing it out lends serious depth to an other-wise abstract and irreverent series. It's doubtful we'd ever see the plot-line carried through to the point of Dean actually going to college, or Hank being taken seriously as a member of S.P.H.I.N.X., but we appreciate the effort to recognize the passage of time.
As mentioned, this latter half of the fourth season hasn't disappointed thus far in moving the overall plot along, a welcome relief from the dawdling of the third season. Whether or not Phantom Limb's re-integration and alliance with Impossible and Underbheit will play into any kind of finale endgame remains to be seen, but the pieces fall nicely into place.
As usual for The Venture Bros., long-time viewers will get the most out of "Pomp & Circuitry," which doesn't let plot-development get in the way of irreverent humor or exciting action.
Two for two, boys.
And Another Thing...
- We'd be remiss if we didn't point out Bill Hader's stellar appearance as both Phage and the latest voice to take over Professor Impossible after Stephen Colbert's unceremonious exit.
- So Phantom Limb can detach and remotely control his limbs, even using his machine to re-grow them? Does that mean the limbs he lost in "Showdown At Cremation Creek" could still be active?
- Vatican Karate Gorillas. That is all.
- So much for Hank's bitchin' hair. At least they took the time to address it.
- Speaking of Hank, it's of interest to note that as unseriously as Hunter and Shore Leave took him, the elder Venture proved rather competent at all their tests.
- Any guess on Brock's mysteriously covered new partner? My money's on Pete White, from the frame and footage seen in the trailers.
- Emo Professor Impossible...Incorrigible. Awesome.
