"The Venture Bros.," which is currently Adult Swim’s longest-running show, will return for its sixth season Feb. 7.
Although it’s been two years since the show aired its fifth season — and eight months since a stand-alone hour-long special — "Venture Bros." fans have had no problem being patient. After all, since the show ran its first season in 2004, fans have been forced to wait years between seasons.
Despite being a comedy in the vein of callback-centric shows like "Arrested Development," "The Venture Bros." has been described by some as "The Sopranos" for the beta male. With a sprawling cast of characters defined by failure, tragic pasts and grim futures, the show takes the most beloved characters of our youth — our James Bonds, our Supermans and our Jonny Quests — and imagines if they had to contend with the neuroses and ennui that come with living in the 21st century.
In spite of the depressing description, it is a hilarious show, with much of its humor rooted deeply in geek culture and obscure, near-useless pop-culture detritus.
The show’s entire five-season run can be found on Hulu, and select episodes are hosted on Adult Swim’s website.
- Brock alludes to his love for Led Zeppelin and John Bonham
- Billy Quizboy tries to get a high-five
- Something horrible happens to H.E.L.P.eR., the family robot
- Dr. Orpheus pontificates about nothing as stirring, overdramatic music plays in the background
- There’s a David Bowie reference, or David Bowie himself appears
- A traumatic story from Dr. Venture’s childhood is told
- An awkward detail is filled in on The Monarch and Dr. Mrs. The Monarch’s sex life
- Every time a major story arc is wrapped up in a somewhat haphazard and rushed fashion
- When an offscreen character who was casually mentioned three seasons earlier gets a major role
- Every time an allusion is made to Dr. Venture’s awful taste in alcohol or his disgusting cocktail recipes
