8.8/10. I'm beginning to realize that I'm a sucker for story structure, because even with its usual Venture Bros.-esque detours, this was one of the most focused episodes of the show I've seen, and I loved it. [Note for posterity: watching in "DVD" order rather than airing order.] The simple progression of the plot--the Venture team crashed in Underland, Dean gets separated as an unlikely bride for the Baron, and the rest of the gang tries to escape and runs into the Underland Underground--really gave the episode momentum and even a bit excitement when the two stories the show kept moving along fed back into one another at the end of the episode.
More than that, it was also really damn funny! Recurring gags about cutting your tongue on the slit of mask is the kind of Seinfeldian/Comic Book mix that makes this show so uniquely laughworthy, and Hank's idiot's bravado about not even understanding who "Dawn Venture is" (his later realization was quietly hilarious) and his grand speech to Brock and Dr. Venture about how he would save the day which revealed a deeply flawed but endearing misunderstanding of the stakes of the situation were a major highlight. Hell, Brock finding a lump in a henchman's junk while he's torturing is the kind of darkly humorous detour that should bring the episode to a screeching halt; instead, it's just this awkward bit of realism that, contrasted with the ridiculousness of the events at the Baron's castle, can't help but bring the funny.
The comedy isn't perfect. Though it's all meant to be very weightless, there's something a bit uncomfortable about Baron Underbheit's forcing his affections on Dean (though the mix of his controlling fascist leader bent and schoolgirl crush helps it to land), and the sassy eunuchs helping Dean are a bit much on that front as well. Still, the culmination of the story, with the Underground (who up til now have only played lame pranks on the Baron) deposing their leader on the basis of same sex marriage, is so out there but elegant in terms of the storytelling that it works, and the finish with the free Underlanders making Girl Hitler their new president, replete with Hank and Dean's enthusiasm, ties everything together perfectly and hilariously.
Overall, it was the best episode of the show since the visit to Brisbyland, which also featured a more focused story, an underground resistance, and heap of colorful characters to liven the proceedings. I may be detecting a pattern for my enjoyment of the show here.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2016-05-05T17:04:20Z
8.8/10. I'm beginning to realize that I'm a sucker for story structure, because even with its usual Venture Bros.-esque detours, this was one of the most focused episodes of the show I've seen, and I loved it. [Note for posterity: watching in "DVD" order rather than airing order.] The simple progression of the plot--the Venture team crashed in Underland, Dean gets separated as an unlikely bride for the Baron, and the rest of the gang tries to escape and runs into the Underland Underground--really gave the episode momentum and even a bit excitement when the two stories the show kept moving along fed back into one another at the end of the episode.
More than that, it was also really damn funny! Recurring gags about cutting your tongue on the slit of mask is the kind of Seinfeldian/Comic Book mix that makes this show so uniquely laughworthy, and Hank's idiot's bravado about not even understanding who "Dawn Venture is" (his later realization was quietly hilarious) and his grand speech to Brock and Dr. Venture about how he would save the day which revealed a deeply flawed but endearing misunderstanding of the stakes of the situation were a major highlight. Hell, Brock finding a lump in a henchman's junk while he's torturing is the kind of darkly humorous detour that should bring the episode to a screeching halt; instead, it's just this awkward bit of realism that, contrasted with the ridiculousness of the events at the Baron's castle, can't help but bring the funny.
The comedy isn't perfect. Though it's all meant to be very weightless, there's something a bit uncomfortable about Baron Underbheit's forcing his affections on Dean (though the mix of his controlling fascist leader bent and schoolgirl crush helps it to land), and the sassy eunuchs helping Dean are a bit much on that front as well. Still, the culmination of the story, with the Underground (who up til now have only played lame pranks on the Baron) deposing their leader on the basis of same sex marriage, is so out there but elegant in terms of the storytelling that it works, and the finish with the free Underlanders making Girl Hitler their new president, replete with Hank and Dean's enthusiasm, ties everything together perfectly and hilariously.
Overall, it was the best episode of the show since the visit to Brisbyland, which also featured a more focused story, an underground resistance, and heap of colorful characters to liven the proceedings. I may be detecting a pattern for my enjoyment of the show here.