| The Venture Bros. episode | |||||||
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| Pinstripes & Poltergeists | |||||||
| Season 4 | |||||||
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| Orig. Airdate | Dec 13, 2009 | ||||||
| Writer(s) | Doc Hammer | ||||||
| Director | Jackson Publick | ||||||
| Co-Director | John Schnepp | ||||||
| Production # | 4-47 | ||||||
| Create Quote Page | Create Transcript | ||||||
| Forum Episode Discussion | |||||||
| Episode Guide | |||||||
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Contents |
[edit] Overview
The Monarch makes his move on Dr. Venture, just as he's distracted by problems with zoning regulations. But how does Monstroso play in and what are his ultimate plans? And how does it all relate to Brock Samson and the mystery of SPHINX?
[edit] Rundown
- The Monarch, in hopes of finally taking down Dr. Venture, allies himself with Monstroso, a super-villain lawyer - a combination which Dr. Girlfriend likens to "a shark with grenade launchers attached to its head."
- Due to Monstroso's meddling, Dr. Venture needs to dedicate 75% of his compound to "do-good-ing" or lose the compound to Monstroso's company, the Mammoth Corporation.
- In an attempt to lease a section of the compound to Billy and Pete, Dr. Venture stumbles upon SPHINX's base in his own backyard.
- It is revealed that Shore Leave, Mile High, Brock, Hunter and the rest of SPHINX were disillusioned by the "hot bureaucracy" the OSI "poured in [their] laps." In order to make a difference, they took up the mantles of their former nemeses, SPHINX, who had been obliterated in the "Pyramid Wars of '87." The new SPHINX takes on the villains the OSI won't, e.g. those who refuse the costumed life and the rules that go with it.
- 21 gets his wish and takes on Brock in an epic fistfight, revealing that his training over the prior year has been astonishingly effective. Even Brock is impressed by his skills.
- Bonus - Speedy makes a cameo appearance for the first time since S01E01.
- Bonus - according to #24 a human soul doesn't manifest until the being is one year old, or maybe six months.
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Fun Facts
- This episode contains the first on screen appearance of Henchman 24 since his death in Season 3 (other than his skull). Henchman 21 is the only one who can see him; whether this is because he is a ghost or a figment of 21's imagination is unclear.
- This is the first on screen appearance of Monstroso. He was last mentioned in Showdown at Cremation Creek (Part 1).
- When Henchman 21 and the Monarch arrive at Monstroso's office to sign some paper work, Monstroso repeatedly offers a cigar to the Monarch in reference to the progressive rock song Have a Cigar, by Pink Floyd.
- Shore Leave affectionately calls Brock by a number of pun nicknames-
- Brock Ness Monster, referring to the Loch Ness Monster;
- Brock Lobster, referring to Rock Lobster, a 1978 song by the B-52's.
- Brock and Shore Leave are shown taking a bath is a red liquid near the episode's start; it's briefly referenced that they're bathing in tomato juice, an old home remedy for getting rid of skunk smell.
- The dialogue at the start of 21 and Brock's fight has a number of call backs to their first (onscreen) meeting in Tag-Sale -- You're it! : "Brock Samson, at last we meet", "Do I know you?", "Boo."
- The booming voice of the giant SPHINX statue is a possible homage to Olmec from the early nineties show, "Legends of the Hidden Temple".
- At the beginning of the episode, when the Monarch catches twenty-one talking to the skull (of the ghost of twenty-four), (@noon fifteen), the Monarch says,"21, You got to knock this, "Alas poor Yorick" crap off". This is the second reference this season, to William Shakespeare's Hamlet. (See Perchance to Dean for the first.) In said play, while holding up the skull of Yorick, Hamlet states, "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath bore me on his back a thousand times, and now how abhorr'd in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it." Hamlet Act 5, scene 1, 179–188.
[edit]
Voice Talent
