Latest News
"Spanakopita!" Discussion
Shirt Club: This week's shirt is out as well. Spanakopita!
This episode wasn't perfect, but it was very, very good. It's always fun to see the original Team Venture in action, and it was especially great to see them battling L. Ron in his robot suit. My favorite moments on first watch:
1. Hank lounging on the couch, still in his Destiny "strength suit";
2. St. Cloud as a claymation kraken;
3. The continued exploration of St. Cloud's memorabilia (e.g., Gert Frobe's loungewear from "Goldfinger," the classic TIE fighter, the fertility idol and accompanying set from "Raiders," Bubo the owl, etc.); and
4. The island's unusually blonde, mulleted children. Jun. 24, 2013, 2:00am
1. Hank lounging on the couch, still in his Destiny "strength suit";
2. St. Cloud as a claymation kraken;
3. The continued exploration of St. Cloud's memorabilia (e.g., Gert Frobe's loungewear from "Goldfinger," the classic TIE fighter, the fertility idol and accompanying set from "Raiders," Bubo the owl, etc.); and
4. The island's unusually blonde, mulleted children. Jun. 24, 2013, 2:00am
- by cpc65
- by Mike
Like I said, great episode. My favorite of the season so far. It's nice to have a breather every once in while, and I enjoy seeing the original Team Venture. Besides, doesn't Rusty deserve a little happiness every once in a while. One thing that bothers me though- who was that long-haired person in the OSI lunchroom. I can identify everyone else.
Jun. 24, 2013, 3:05am
About it being a breather - Although this was nice (my favorite episode since the premiere, even!), I gotta admit that I'm starting to ache for a good old Doc-in-a-wall plot.
The Halloween special was the perfect "everybody talking" episode, so it's a bit of a shame it was aired out of order. Jun. 24, 2013, 5:11am
The Halloween special was the perfect "everybody talking" episode, so it's a bit of a shame it was aired out of order. Jun. 24, 2013, 5:11am
- by cpc65
So why would Jonas Jr.--a man who collected all sorts of Jonas Sr. and "The Rusty Venture Show" memorabilia and turned Spider Skull Island into a Jonas Sr.-themed museum--sell the X-2 to St. Cloud?
Obviously, St. Cloud would have offered Jonas Jr. a great deal of money for the boat, but it seems odd that Jonas Jr. would part with it at any price. Does this suggest that Jonas Jr. is having money troubles? Maybe the construction of Gargantua II is draining his resources? Jun. 24, 2013, 9:02am
Obviously, St. Cloud would have offered Jonas Jr. a great deal of money for the boat, but it seems odd that Jonas Jr. would part with it at any price. Does this suggest that Jonas Jr. is having money troubles? Maybe the construction of Gargantua II is draining his resources? Jun. 24, 2013, 9:02am
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that happened in The Silent Partners. St. Cloud could have restored the boat after buying it though. And who says JJ sold it- maybe Pirate Captain sold it to buy some of that dart juice? Gargantua-2's been taking so much time and attention, JJ'd never notice his boat was missing.
Jun. 24, 2013, 7:51pm
- by Mike
I said this same thing on the Adult Swim boards and was met with disagreement.
I think we might be seeing the first hints that Jonas Jr. is...like all other Ventures...a failure. Here's how I figure it:
Jonas Venture Sr. was at first thought to be the model of success and has been slowly revealed to have been a bad father, as well as a bad friend, bad caretaker, and occasional failure at science (leaving Dr. Entmann and the orphans stranded when M.U.T.H.E.R. malfunctions in "What Goes Down Must Come Up").
I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that Jonas Jr. is also going to be revealed as not all he's cracked up to be.
It was shown in "Now Museum, Now You Don't" that things don't always go exactly according to plan for JJ: some of his guests weren't cooperating with his vision, his belittling of the pirate crew nearly got them all killed, and he and Sally appeared to be hitting a rough patch.
In "The Silent Partners", when SPHINX shows up to Spider-Skull Island, the only person they encounter is the Pirate Captain...no Sally, no Ned, no pirate crew...I even think the Captain says he's all alone.
And we don't see Sally on board Gargantua 2 with JJ in "What Color is Your Cleansuit?" (there's a nameless woman serving him a drink). Sure, this could be reading a bit much into little details, but I think it could be important that Sally doesn't seem to be around.
In "Venture Libre" the jPad malfunctioned when Hank tried to use the cherry bomb app. Another possible hint that not everything JJ touches turns to gold.
Publick and Hammer have laid it on pretty thick that Doc, Dean, and Hank can't escape their destiny (to fail) as Ventures. So I'm thinking that we'll be seeing Jonas failing in some way, shape, or form soon. Jun. 25, 2013, 12:14am
I think we might be seeing the first hints that Jonas Jr. is...like all other Ventures...a failure. Here's how I figure it:
Jonas Venture Sr. was at first thought to be the model of success and has been slowly revealed to have been a bad father, as well as a bad friend, bad caretaker, and occasional failure at science (leaving Dr. Entmann and the orphans stranded when M.U.T.H.E.R. malfunctions in "What Goes Down Must Come Up").
I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that Jonas Jr. is also going to be revealed as not all he's cracked up to be.
It was shown in "Now Museum, Now You Don't" that things don't always go exactly according to plan for JJ: some of his guests weren't cooperating with his vision, his belittling of the pirate crew nearly got them all killed, and he and Sally appeared to be hitting a rough patch.
In "The Silent Partners", when SPHINX shows up to Spider-Skull Island, the only person they encounter is the Pirate Captain...no Sally, no Ned, no pirate crew...I even think the Captain says he's all alone.
And we don't see Sally on board Gargantua 2 with JJ in "What Color is Your Cleansuit?" (there's a nameless woman serving him a drink). Sure, this could be reading a bit much into little details, but I think it could be important that Sally doesn't seem to be around.
In "Venture Libre" the jPad malfunctioned when Hank tried to use the cherry bomb app. Another possible hint that not everything JJ touches turns to gold.
Publick and Hammer have laid it on pretty thick that Doc, Dean, and Hank can't escape their destiny (to fail) as Ventures. So I'm thinking that we'll be seeing Jonas failing in some way, shape, or form soon. Jun. 25, 2013, 12:14am
Was anyone else a little sad for the blonde boys on the island? I always thought of Brock as a stand-up guy, stand-up guys don't impregnate and ignore it ever happened.
Doc is completely oblivious to the fact that no one is doing these 'traditional activities' except him over the last 20 years. It seems so sad. I also think it's almost creepy to see Doc joyful, it's such an unnatural state for him to be in. Jun. 24, 2013, 9:33am
Doc is completely oblivious to the fact that no one is doing these 'traditional activities' except him over the last 20 years. It seems so sad. I also think it's almost creepy to see Doc joyful, it's such an unnatural state for him to be in. Jun. 24, 2013, 9:33am
- by Anthropomorphic Cow Named Stan
- (unregistered id: D882C43681)
I was too, but I also found it to be an interesting kink in Brock's Herculean armor. Brock seemed to be one of the only characters in this show without some hidden skeletons in his closet. but it also kind of shines a light on how much Brock has evolved as a person over the seasons. I could see Season 1 Brock doing something like this considering how aloof he was about everything.
Also, wasn't it stated in an earlier episode that Brock's father abandoned him and his mother when he was a child? Jun. 24, 2013, 7:15pm
Also, wasn't it stated in an earlier episode that Brock's father abandoned him and his mother when he was a child? Jun. 24, 2013, 7:15pm
- by beb
- (unregistered id: A678E20E7F)
Brock may be a stand-up kind of guy, but onlyl towards other guys. His attitude towards woman has always seemed to be love 'em and leave 'em. Even his relations with Molotov seems to be a mixture of 'kill the secret agent' and 'fuck the pussy.' There was nothing health about it.
From the first episode we've known that Brock will have sex with about anything that's female.* Stand-up kind of guys don't have indiscriminate sex. But Brock does so he's not so much a stand-up kind of guy.
As for the woman with mulleted babies. I think that's an inconsistence. Brock's reaction to seeing hisa kids on the communicator was pretty desperate. He ran away. I can't imagine he would knowingly go to Spanikos (the island) knowing that he had fathered children there. Yet nothing kept him away before. Obnly because he was working for SPHYNX/OSI now kept him from going, So he must have been using protection previously. So why not the last time? Jun. 25, 2013, 2:14pm
From the first episode we've known that Brock will have sex with about anything that's female.* Stand-up kind of guys don't have indiscriminate sex. But Brock does so he's not so much a stand-up kind of guy.
As for the woman with mulleted babies. I think that's an inconsistence. Brock's reaction to seeing hisa kids on the communicator was pretty desperate. He ran away. I can't imagine he would knowingly go to Spanikos (the island) knowing that he had fathered children there. Yet nothing kept him away before. Obnly because he was working for SPHYNX/OSI now kept him from going, So he must have been using protection previously. So why not the last time? Jun. 25, 2013, 2:14pm
obviously there is lots happening this season. gotta have a breather episode. otherwise, the pacing is too much. if you've watched previous seasons, you'll know they do this a couple times a season. this one was great. more build up to bigger arcs while also being a fun stand alone adventure
Jun. 24, 2013, 10:09am
Sorry you didn't like the episode, but I found it to be quite good. Jackson frequently sets his stories in exotic locales and loves to explore the history of Jonas Sr. and the original Team Venture. He did both in this episode, and I think did it well.
As for the point of the episode, it didn't feature any soap opera-style, earth-shattering reveals (the presence of several blonde, mulleted kids on the island didn't advance the season's larger plot in any way), but it gave us a further glimpse into the nightmare that was Doc's childhood. I actually felt for little Rusty in this one. His scenes with H.E.L.P.eR. showed that Doc wasn't always such a disaster; Rusty was actually a smart, well-read, creative little kid.
Finally, I can understand why you're sick of St. Cloud. He's essentially a Bond villain (hence the scene with him in Gert Frobe's poolside outfit). If you don't share Jackson's love of Connery-era Bond films, you probably won't like him. I've liked the St. Cloud storylines this season. I do find his voice extremely annoying, though. Honestly, I wish they guys had gotten James Urbaniak to reprise his season one voice, or found someone else to do it. Jun. 24, 2013, 11:17am
As for the point of the episode, it didn't feature any soap opera-style, earth-shattering reveals (the presence of several blonde, mulleted kids on the island didn't advance the season's larger plot in any way), but it gave us a further glimpse into the nightmare that was Doc's childhood. I actually felt for little Rusty in this one. His scenes with H.E.L.P.eR. showed that Doc wasn't always such a disaster; Rusty was actually a smart, well-read, creative little kid.
Finally, I can understand why you're sick of St. Cloud. He's essentially a Bond villain (hence the scene with him in Gert Frobe's poolside outfit). If you don't share Jackson's love of Connery-era Bond films, you probably won't like him. I've liked the St. Cloud storylines this season. I do find his voice extremely annoying, though. Honestly, I wish they guys had gotten James Urbaniak to reprise his season one voice, or found someone else to do it. Jun. 24, 2013, 11:17am
- by cpc65
- by policegirl01
- by Mike
Correct. The order for season 5 (and 6) was '10 half-hours'. The Halloween special is one, and the premiere is two more. That makes this season really only eight episodes. Shirt Club subscribers get 10 shirts, which is two for the first episode bringing the total to 9, plus the subscriber shirt.
Jun. 24, 2013, 1:51pm
- by Captain V Bro.
- (unregistered id: 3DF4EC94CF)
I say when they release the episodes on DVD, they should release "Gravy" and "Halloween" as normal episodes on the disc and just call it a ten episode set and be done with it.
8 episodes and 2 specials equals ten anyway!
See, season four was actually 17 episodes, but nobody said anything about the hr. long finale being counted as two.
Yet now in season V an hour long episode is 2 eps!
WTF.
Also release "A Very Venture Cleansuit", both the Halloween show and "Cleansuit" edited together properly into one big shiny bonus episode on the extras! Jun. 24, 2013, 4:40pm
8 episodes and 2 specials equals ten anyway!
See, season four was actually 17 episodes, but nobody said anything about the hr. long finale being counted as two.
Yet now in season V an hour long episode is 2 eps!
WTF.
Also release "A Very Venture Cleansuit", both the Halloween show and "Cleansuit" edited together properly into one big shiny bonus episode on the extras! Jun. 24, 2013, 4:40pm
After a re-watch, some other things I loved:
1. The John Barry-esque music that opens the episode. It perfectly invokes the 60s-era James Bond scores without directly copying them.
2. St. Cloud's eBay-related put-downs: "This is as close as you'll get to the real thing outside a picture on a VF lunchbox"; and "That's as debatable as your eBay "Top Seller" rating, which I fully intend to destroy . . . ."
3. BILLY: "St. Cloud, you poisonous snake. That belongs in a museum!"
4. Rusty's running outfit.
5. Billy and White sneaking around again in their black sweats and sock hats. Evidently, they brought them along for their vacation to a sunny Greek island!
6. St. Cloud, with air-brushed "300" abs, knocks out Billy and White with darts fired from the old "Raiders" set. Jun. 24, 2013, 12:40pm
1. The John Barry-esque music that opens the episode. It perfectly invokes the 60s-era James Bond scores without directly copying them.
2. St. Cloud's eBay-related put-downs: "This is as close as you'll get to the real thing outside a picture on a VF lunchbox"; and "That's as debatable as your eBay "Top Seller" rating, which I fully intend to destroy . . . ."
3. BILLY: "St. Cloud, you poisonous snake. That belongs in a museum!"
4. Rusty's running outfit.
5. Billy and White sneaking around again in their black sweats and sock hats. Evidently, they brought them along for their vacation to a sunny Greek island!
6. St. Cloud, with air-brushed "300" abs, knocks out Billy and White with darts fired from the old "Raiders" set. Jun. 24, 2013, 12:40pm
- by Mike
- by Ron
- (unregistered id: 3DF4EC94CF)
No offense to Shirt Club, but I'd rather have a Guardo shirt, or that DEAN in brown lettering shirt the guys joked about!
This Spankopita shirt is kinda lame, and not in the good way!
They should have made the shirt feature St. Cloud, nude diving Dr. Venture, L. Ron, or the original team Venture. Jun. 24, 2013, 4:50pm
This Spankopita shirt is kinda lame, and not in the good way!
They should have made the shirt feature St. Cloud, nude diving Dr. Venture, L. Ron, or the original team Venture. Jun. 24, 2013, 4:50pm
- by Mike
Sorry you don't like it. I actually think it's one of the more hilarious ones. It's a lot more subtle than (for example) the Destiny one from last week. It just looks like a really weird shirt that people who don't watch the show probably won't understand. It's pretty much just a shirt to show my enthusiasm for Greek pastries.
Jun. 24, 2013, 5:20pm
This is actually the first shirt I've ordered. I'm with Dave and the Mysterious H in that I love the take on those classic, Greek diner coffee cups AND the little pictures of sword-wielding Rusty. It's a very insider-y shirt, to be sure, but they've all been a little insider-y this time around.
I would've ordered the "In Glorious Extra Color" shirt, too, but it was exclusive to full-season subscribers. I can only hope that someone sells a men's medium on eBay! Jun. 25, 2013, 4:45pm
I would've ordered the "In Glorious Extra Color" shirt, too, but it was exclusive to full-season subscribers. I can only hope that someone sells a men's medium on eBay! Jun. 25, 2013, 4:45pm
The HankCo shirts looked decent, too. My only issue with them--not really an issue at all--was that they were white. For some reason, almost all of the print t-shirts in my current rotation are white. I just wanted something different.
And as someone with Greek ancestry, how could you not own one of the Spanakopita shirts? One of my friends from law school is a proud second-generation Greek-American, and I'm sure he'd love the shirt, too. I should probably get him one before the offer expires. Jun. 27, 2013, 12:41am
And as someone with Greek ancestry, how could you not own one of the Spanakopita shirts? One of my friends from law school is a proud second-generation Greek-American, and I'm sure he'd love the shirt, too. I should probably get him one before the offer expires. Jun. 27, 2013, 12:41am
- by V-Time
- (unregistered id: 703D826635)
Extremly nice episode, my favorite scene was the the fight against Super-Villian L.Ron -
perfect in every detail like...
the uniform of the "Sea-Org"-Henchman
http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2008/08/23/sea_org_members.jpg
the "implant"-ray-gun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implant_%28Scientology%29
and the mothership oft the L-ron-bot and the other historical backround!
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/11/l_ron_hubbard_c.php
Go Team Venture! Jun. 24, 2013, 5:31pm
perfect in every detail like...
the uniform of the "Sea-Org"-Henchman
http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2008/08/23/sea_org_members.jpg
the "implant"-ray-gun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implant_%28Scientology%29
and the mothership oft the L-ron-bot and the other historical backround!
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/11/l_ron_hubbard_c.php
Go Team Venture! Jun. 24, 2013, 5:31pm
- by Blixa Barfgold & Homeless Travel Pillow Patsy
- (unregistered id: CD09A46750)
"We have discovered exactly who has been shooting at Scientology for 18 years and know all the names. They are a small group with international ambitions, founded by a madman, taken over by a politically ambitious few. "
L. Ron has been taking a few lessons from the seriously damaged Phantom Limb. These links are full throttle INSANITY! Love this ep even more now. Spanishcopyta! Jun. 24, 2013, 5:38pm
L. Ron has been taking a few lessons from the seriously damaged Phantom Limb. These links are full throttle INSANITY! Love this ep even more now. Spanishcopyta! Jun. 24, 2013, 5:38pm
- by beb
- (unregistered id: A678E20E7F)
Obvously it's a lot easier to beat up someone who has done something to harm you than beat up yourself because your carelessness and indifference was what allowed the other thing to happen.
The twenty years of wining Spanakopita fits in with the timelime of Rusty returning there after his father died. But I think it was one of Rusty's fondest memories and not anything to do with remembering his dad. The irony is that Rusty's fondest memory was about a hideous kidnapping. Jun. 25, 2013, 1:57pm
The twenty years of wining Spanakopita fits in with the timelime of Rusty returning there after his father died. But I think it was one of Rusty's fondest memories and not anything to do with remembering his dad. The irony is that Rusty's fondest memory was about a hideous kidnapping. Jun. 25, 2013, 1:57pm
- by Phil
- by Mike
He did. Or at least that was Kimson Albert's fake nickname in the credits, and it's usually a line from the show. I haven't had a chance to rewatch the episode yet but 'slim jim foetus' sounds like a really bad name for a drink. Doc might make gross drinks but he doesn't usually give them gross names.
Jun. 25, 2013, 1:01pm
- by Kuiosikle
Watched this with my 11-year old nephew. I got tired answering all the questions he had about who was who and what was going on, so I suggested we go back and watch the series from the beginning. What a joy! Not that I'd need an excuse to start the adventure all over again, am I right?
Jun. 26, 2013, 6:59pm
- by Grott Gimpirella, Mistress of Chimpblood
- (unregistered id: CD09A46750)
So! Ran this episode past my Greek pal who laughed at the ladies in black tackling Hatred "Ha ha, them!" & then at the end said he was impressed by the perfect pronunciation except for "phyllo" pronounced Feel-Oh not File-Oh. Then we rump sexed our Hun slave. You make a the Greek a happy!
Jun. 26, 2013, 8:15pm
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!