Sons of Anarchy (FX) Sept. 7
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Vampire Diaries (CW) Sept. 9
Venture Bros. (AS) Sept. 12
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) Sept. 16
The League (FX) Sept. 16
Boardwalk Empire (HBO) Sept. 19
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Event (NBC) Sept. 20
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Undercovers (NBC) Sept. 22
Community (NBC) Sept. 23
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Office (NBC) Sept. 23
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No Ordinary Family (ABC) Sept. 28
Sanctuary (Syfy) Sept. 28
Stargate Universe (Syfy) Sept. 28
Human Target (Fox) Oct. 1
Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (IFC) Oct. 1
Walking Dead (AMC) Oct. 31

Back to form with the second episode of the third season of The Venture Brothers, this Jackson Publick penned story returns the Venture family to the forefront of the show and manages not only to give us plenty of good laughs, but maybe – just maybe – it forces us all to look deeper inside ourselves.

Okay, probably not that last part, but we did get some good character moments for Dr. Venture as he was forced to examine himself. And his father’s huge dong.

Ever since The Monarch went legit and stopped arching Rusty, morale has been surprisingly worse around the Venture Compound. He may have not been able to live up to the legend of his father, and he may not even be a quarter the super scientist his recently reborn (previously Fetu in Fetus) twin brother Dr. Jonas Venture Jr., but at least there had been someone that deemed him important enough to devote his archship to. As irritating as life had been with The Monarch constantly after him, their relationship provided Rusty with a sense of importance in this world. Since that relationship has evaporated he is simply a failed scientist living in the shadows of the success of his father and brother.

If the Monarch was C-List, the latest crops of villain wannabe’s that have taken to menacing Dr. V are probably F’s. Take these two for example.

Not the kind of villains to impress a big shot army general, that’s for sure. But Rusty is determined to get Venture Industries up and running again, with him at its helm. To rev up the revenue he invites over General Manhowers and crafts an elaborate ruse to create the illusion of success, hoping to drum up army business. This sets up some fantastic moments with one of my favorite characters Dr. Orpheus setting the scene to make Rusty look like he’s actually doing something with Venture Industries. But ultimately, he’s got nothing new to show the General and ends up feeling worthless as he drives away.

Enter Dr. Henry Killinger; Freelance Business Consultant and Executive Motivational Coach. And maybe – just maybe – THE DEVIL HIMSELF!

Dr. Killinger works on reestablishing Venture Industries – getting production back up and running thanks to the newly employed “Venchmen” – but more importantly getting to the root of why Dr. Venture is such a failure. “Now that we have repaired your business structure, vee must get to work on repairing your SOUL. You will never be able to reach your full potential until you first confront your deep seeded fear of success.” Though show creators Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick had sworn they wouldn’t be making any Star Wars references this season, they let one slip through delivered by Killinger.

“Get into zee bag.”

“What’s in it?”

“Only what you take with you.”

I’ll let it slide. Because it’s so great.

Anyhoo, the scene where we are shown when Rusty’s first feelings of inadequacies manifested themselves may be one of the funniest moments I’ve seen on the show. Here, let me ruin it for you if you haven’t seen it yet!

By the end of the episode Rusty realizes that Dr. Killinger is not just doing some pro bono freelance business consulting and executive motivational coaching, but grooming him to become a supervillain for The Guild of Calamitous Intent – with none other than his brother as his arch nemesis.

Dr. Orpheus was on to his evil as soon as they met and with the help of his former teammate The Alchemist and Brock Samson they break into the Venture Compound to save Rusty. Though it seems Rusty didn’t need to be saved as is no villain. He ultimately wants to be a good person and instead of signing on with the Guild, he takes Killinger’s severance package.

This episode is packed with a ton of laughs and dozens of cameos from characters we’ve seen throughout the series. Those little easter eggs make it such a pleasure to watch and always invite repeat viewings. I’m sure the Bible dig before the credits will be responsible for more than a few giggles.

I hope I haven’t developed a bias, but I’m going to give this episode yet another FIVE OUT OF FIVE BAWLS. DELICIOUS BLUE BAWLS.

Go Team Venture!