Latest News
Blood of the Father, Heart of Steel Discussion
Welcome back! As with season two and three I'll be putting up a discussion thread the night an episode premieres. Feel free to talk, speculate, whatever about the episode or the show in general. Things are slightly different this season since episodes don't premiere online on Friday, so these articles will go up a bit before midnight eastern time. As always, THE COMMENTS CONTAIN SPOILERS, so if you haven't seen the episode and don't want to be spoiled, stay out! After you've watched it feel free to vote for it on the capsule page.
10/19 @ 12:34pm EST - The episode is up on Adult Swim video for those of you on the west coast who got an unfortunate broadcast. If you don't want to watch it online, AS will also be rebroadcasting the proper version at 12:30am Monday through Thursday this week.
10/19 @ 12:34pm EST - The episode is up on Adult Swim video for those of you on the west coast who got an unfortunate broadcast. If you don't want to watch it online, AS will also be rebroadcasting the proper version at 12:30am Monday through Thursday this week.
- by RetroWarbird
- (unregistered id: C61F850BB2)
Pretty cool intro to set up the new status quo.
I like the "comicy-ness" of taking all the different elements of spy stuff Brock has dealt with and turning it all, cliche, into "one big conspiracy".
But since Sphinx is just the Venture-version of G.I. Joe's Cobra, and it's now made up of ex-OSI (ex-G.I. Joes) ... they're all terrorists now?
It took me a second to figure out the CGC rating flashback narrative structure, but once the punchline came at the end it was pretty funny. But here's hoping episodes from now on go A-to-B rather than Z-to-D-to-A-to-Y-to-wherever-the-fuck. Because the new status quo looks like it's going to kick ass. No more saftey net so the boys will grow up. Hank takes after Brock. Dean takes after Venture. 21 mourns. Orpheus slays Nazis. Sgt. Hatred tries to cure his temptation of little boys by being bodyguard for two of them.
And of course, the preview for the next episode - that super-hero Monarch talked so much shit about coming back and beating his ass! - too funny.
I like the "comicy-ness" of taking all the different elements of spy stuff Brock has dealt with and turning it all, cliche, into "one big conspiracy".
But since Sphinx is just the Venture-version of G.I. Joe's Cobra, and it's now made up of ex-OSI (ex-G.I. Joes) ... they're all terrorists now?
It took me a second to figure out the CGC rating flashback narrative structure, but once the punchline came at the end it was pretty funny. But here's hoping episodes from now on go A-to-B rather than Z-to-D-to-A-to-Y-to-wherever-the-fuck. Because the new status quo looks like it's going to kick ass. No more saftey net so the boys will grow up. Hank takes after Brock. Dean takes after Venture. 21 mourns. Orpheus slays Nazis. Sgt. Hatred tries to cure his temptation of little boys by being bodyguard for two of them.
And of course, the preview for the next episode - that super-hero Monarch talked so much shit about coming back and beating his ass! - too funny.
- by The Mysterious 'H'
- (unregistered id: 7254E3C98E)
It was good, Took me a little while to figure out what was going on. I get the feeling this is part 1 in an 8 part episode. A bit too frantic for me though, like they were trying to cram everything in. Very different from the more relaxed episode structure they normally have. Overall, I'm looking forward to next week and Captain Sunshine.
Also, glad to see Doc found a use for the Walking Eye, even if it is creepy beyond all belief.
Also, glad to see Doc found a use for the Walking Eye, even if it is creepy beyond all belief.
- by JOK
- (unregistered id: 225121824C)
I agree completely. Too frantic and too crammed. Every character had their own plotline, but none of them got that much focus. I feel like this whole episode could ahve been made into several episodes with each getting more time to flesh out.
It was still good when it was over and done though (since by then I knew what the hell I just watched). It'll probably be even better the second time around.
It was still good when it was over and done though (since by then I knew what the hell I just watched). It'll probably be even better the second time around.
- by Col. Aldus Valor
- (unregistered id: 44E41FA4A0)
Out of all my predictions, I only got one right, I knew Colonel Gathers would never throw Brock to the wolves. They have a bond of sorts that's very unshakable.
I, like everyone else also assumed SPHINX had been defunct since the 80's so that one blindsided me.
Overall, the episode was perfection. I could tell quickly that it was jumping around, so it was only a matter of lining up the pieces, but it was the right way to go with such a complex storyline, overcomplicated! Loved it! I'm staying up for the encore.
I, like everyone else also assumed SPHINX had been defunct since the 80's so that one blindsided me.
Overall, the episode was perfection. I could tell quickly that it was jumping around, so it was only a matter of lining up the pieces, but it was the right way to go with such a complex storyline, overcomplicated! Loved it! I'm staying up for the encore.
- by Crawling Brain
- (unregistered id: 01F9928F2E)
I am blown away. Doc and Jackson have always had their fair share of clever pop culture references, but they really outdid themselves with this one.
The titles that they showed before every seen are the titles of the short stories contained in Marvel Comics magazine #1... in the order they appeared in print! At first I was confused by the non-linear story telling, and then it all clicked. BRILLIANT.
The titles that they showed before every seen are the titles of the short stories contained in Marvel Comics magazine #1... in the order they appeared in print! At first I was confused by the non-linear story telling, and then it all clicked. BRILLIANT.
- by Tartarus Rex
- (unregistered id: 14D6DD6B94)
More than a year of waiting was worth it, this episode was so fantastic I watched it twice(HD is the way to go), and got teared up at the end of the credits both times.
@Crawling Brain: I had no idea idea what was going on with those marvel chapter markers either time, now I'm informed.Thanks and I agree BRILLIANT
@Crawling Brain: I had no idea idea what was going on with those marvel chapter markers either time, now I'm informed.Thanks and I agree BRILLIANT
- by Sid the Skitch
- (unregistered id: 4EE8F2E23C)
I was PISSED OFF!! But I downloaded it from iTunes with a season pass. Amazing. I really like Hatred this season. He is sweet. And I LOVE the idea of Brock as an outside force watching over them. For me, Sphinx being around changes so much from the last couple seasons. And I like Hunter again. Such a great charecter. And an obvious parody of General Hawk! Most bad ass dude in kid-military type shows!
- by Mike
- (unregistered id: D548A83739)
Weird, I'm on the west coast and the broadcasts went fine, though now that I think about it Cartoon Network HD here seems to be on an east coast schedule because the show aired at 9pm (which is midnight EST), so maybe if I had watched the SD version I'd be super pissed with the rest of you guys. That really sucks. If it's any consolation the episode will be up on AS.com tomorrow.
- by Joe
- (unregistered id: BE901E337F)
Excellent episode, but I agree with the comments that it was rather jarring to jump all over the place like that....on the other hand, it's an incredibly fresh approach, so hats off to Jackson and Doc...Go Team Venture!
Question about iTunes: If I download a VB ep, do I get an honest-to-Ford mp4 file that i can move around my computer, copy to another hard drive etc?
Question about iTunes: If I download a VB ep, do I get an honest-to-Ford mp4 file that i can move around my computer, copy to another hard drive etc?
- by Hardy
- (unregistered id: FFF530337A)
It bothers me that like 4 people have commented that the episode "jump all over the place"....it was clear to me when I watched the first time that the episode is telling one story: starting at BOTH the beginning and end and the 2 stories chronologically converged toward a climatic middle of the story.
That isn't jumping randomly at all.
That isn't jumping randomly at all.
- by The Mysterious 'H'
- (unregistered id: 7254E3C98E)
Two differents time periods, my friend. The Wikipedia article on the episode has it pretty well organized. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_of_the_Father,_Heart_of_Steel
Also, I recommend watching the episode again on Adult Swim video. It's a lot easier to catch everything if you move at your own pace.
Also, I recommend watching the episode again on Adult Swim video. It's a lot easier to catch everything if you move at your own pace.
- by Jay
- (unregistered id: 89E9C94D4C)
Jackson and Doc's use of the two plot lines, one moving forward, the other backward, reminds me of the 2000 film Memento. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_%28film%29
- by Doctor X
- (unregistered id: A87B9D4923)
Awesome. Actually, waiting, hoping, for them to get the West Coast correct allowed me to "get" what was going on with the first half. I sat in the wee hours hoping they resolved some of it--particularly Brock being a fat Hemmingway clone.
Really enjoyed it. Made to be watched a number of times.
Really enjoyed it. Made to be watched a number of times.
- by Sparky
- (unregistered id: 751882AA0C)
- by Steve
- (unregistered id: 31B838F9EC)
I'm going to make a prediction. Phantom Limb is in charge of Sphinx. We know from what Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer have already said in interviews that there will be some kind of resolution with Phantom Limb this season, and David Bowie/The Sovereign will also be back. Maybe OSI heard that Limb was reforming Sphinx, and they decided to get some ex-agents to infiltrate them.
Of course, you can never get a truly accurate guess as to what they're going to do with the show. That unpredictability is what keeps me watching!
Of course, you can never get a truly accurate guess as to what they're going to do with the show. That unpredictability is what keeps me watching!
- by Grethiwha
- (unregistered id: E22C4F2CF3)
(Arrgh Mantiseye I wrote this fucking long post and lost it because of the "Flagged potential spammer" message I keep encountering for no apparent reason. Rewriting from memory now...)
Okay. I love this episode. It took me a few views, but finally, I love it. First of all, the music is excellent and stands out from previous seasons for me. The scene where Sgt. Hatred makes Hank shoot him is fantastic, and in large part due to the music. And the ending when Hank meets Brock is beautiful.
I wasn't sure at first about the direction this season was going in. From some of the scenes in the Season 4 preview, out of context, to me it seemed like they were just going completely crazy with the plot, and watching this episode for the first time backed that up, because, the way it's set up, the whole episode is still out of context until the end.
But after a second viewing, the plot makes sense to me, and I really really like where they're going with it.
Also, for, I think, the first time ever, I actually connected emotionally with Hank. Crazy! Now that they don't have the clones safety net, and they're actually growing up and maturing a bit, the Venture brothers are actually starting to become an interesting part of the Venture Bros. again.
Anyway. Beautiful episode. It's easily the craziest, most convoluted episode ever I'd say, and it took a couple views for me to really get it, but still, great episode. Can not wait for next week.
Okay. I love this episode. It took me a few views, but finally, I love it. First of all, the music is excellent and stands out from previous seasons for me. The scene where Sgt. Hatred makes Hank shoot him is fantastic, and in large part due to the music. And the ending when Hank meets Brock is beautiful.
I wasn't sure at first about the direction this season was going in. From some of the scenes in the Season 4 preview, out of context, to me it seemed like they were just going completely crazy with the plot, and watching this episode for the first time backed that up, because, the way it's set up, the whole episode is still out of context until the end.
But after a second viewing, the plot makes sense to me, and I really really like where they're going with it.
Also, for, I think, the first time ever, I actually connected emotionally with Hank. Crazy! Now that they don't have the clones safety net, and they're actually growing up and maturing a bit, the Venture brothers are actually starting to become an interesting part of the Venture Bros. again.
Anyway. Beautiful episode. It's easily the craziest, most convoluted episode ever I'd say, and it took a couple views for me to really get it, but still, great episode. Can not wait for next week.
- by Doctor X
- (unregistered id: 06E4B87FEE)
If you have Firefox, get Lazarus add-on. It will preserve posts so you can recover them even after a crash.
From the commentary in Season III, Doc and J imply they try to leave a lot of things open to allow room writing. They also write out of order which allows them to foreshadow things. That given, this episode really brought a lot of things together. The boys are aging as they should. Okay . . . Dean is still kind of repressed, but give him time.
Sgt Hatred leaving OSI then coming back makes sense. I never understood Hunter leaving OSI for the reason given to Brock. Granted, much of Hunter is in Brock's memory, so maybe he embellished him, but . . . still . . . run away from the job? Then returns as a "Blackheart?" The idea of him doing this undercover makes more sense.
Also, Brock's "real" mission was the ORB--keep Rusty from [CENSORED--Ed.] the world with it. Once it was clear Rusty would not activate it . . . Brock's mission was over in a sense. So Hunter could use him as part of his plot. The "termination" did not make as much sense to me--though I think it was a fun joke on Doc and J's part--sort of like hitting the wrong key sequence--that they then expanded.
Anyways, the fact they do not answer too much gives fans the ability to speculate!
--J.D.
From the commentary in Season III, Doc and J imply they try to leave a lot of things open to allow room writing. They also write out of order which allows them to foreshadow things. That given, this episode really brought a lot of things together. The boys are aging as they should. Okay . . . Dean is still kind of repressed, but give him time.
Sgt Hatred leaving OSI then coming back makes sense. I never understood Hunter leaving OSI for the reason given to Brock. Granted, much of Hunter is in Brock's memory, so maybe he embellished him, but . . . still . . . run away from the job? Then returns as a "Blackheart?" The idea of him doing this undercover makes more sense.
Also, Brock's "real" mission was the ORB--keep Rusty from [CENSORED--Ed.] the world with it. Once it was clear Rusty would not activate it . . . Brock's mission was over in a sense. So Hunter could use him as part of his plot. The "termination" did not make as much sense to me--though I think it was a fun joke on Doc and J's part--sort of like hitting the wrong key sequence--that they then expanded.
Anyways, the fact they do not answer too much gives fans the ability to speculate!
--J.D.
- by Mike
- (unregistered id: D548A83739)
That line wasn't really invented by Brockback Mountain, it was just made famous by it. It could be a reference all the same, but Brock has had that jacket for a while. He wore it in ORB most recently I think: http://mantiseye.com/img/caps/29/shot13.jpg
- by Mike
- (unregistered id: D548A83739)
Oh, here you go. This is from Ice Station Impossible which aired a year before Brockback Mountain was in theaters: http://mantiseye.com/img/caps/109/scr12.jpg
Trying to vote on a comment, eh? You need an account to do that! You should totally get one! You'll get your own username and can participate in community stuff. It's awesome! Already have an account? Log in above!