Ep 1. Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny
- TV14
- June 1, 2008
- 23 min
-
8.7 (262)
The Venture Bros. season 3 episode 1, titled "Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny," begins with our favorite dysfunctional family, the Ventures, attending a funeral for Brock Samson's former partner and OSI agent, who has died under mysterious circumstances. While there, Dr. Venture meets a beautiful woman named Ginnie who seems to take a liking to him, much to the distaste of his bodyguard, Brock. Meanwhile, Hank and Dean are fighting over a magic wand they received as a gift from their father, and their squabble results in them being sent to a Russian gulag by the OSI.
In the gulag, Hank and Dean meet an eclectic group of inmates, including a cyborg, a bear, and a man who believes he is Batman. They quickly learn that they need to work together to escape, but things go awry when they encounter a villain called "Shadowman 9." Back at home, Dr. Venture tries to impress Ginnie by showing her his laboratory, but things take a turn for the worst when one of his experiments goes wrong, and he accidentally releases a swarm of flies that start to reproduce at an alarming rate.
As the episode progresses, we see the various plotlines converge, with the true identity of Shadowman 9 finally being revealed. Meanwhile, Dr. Venture enlists the help of his son, Rusty, to contain the fly infestation, leading to a comical sequence of events that involves Rusty dressing up in a hazmat suit and wielding a flamethrower. In the end, the Ventures all come together to face a common enemy, with each character getting their chance to shine in their own way.
Overall, "Shadowman 9: In the Cradle of Destiny" is a fast-paced and action-packed episode that showcases the unique quirks and flaws of each character in the show. The writing is clever and humorous, and the animation is top-notch, with each scene beautifully rendered and detailed. Fans of the show will undoubtedly enjoy this episode, but newcomers may want to start with the first season to fully appreciate the relationships and dynamics between the characters.
