Watch The Venture Bros.
- TV-14
- 2003
- 7 Seasons
-
8.6 (26,690)
The Venture Bros. is an animated science-fiction comedy that aired on Adult Swim from 2003 up to 2018, and became one of the network's most beloved and longest-running series. Created by Christopher McCulloch, who goes by the pseudonym "Jackson Publick," the show follows the eccentric lives and antics of the titular Venture family, as well as their arch-nemeses, and a host of colorful characters who populate their strange, fantastic world. The Venture Bros. takes place in a warped, alternate version of the United States, where superheroes, villains, and mad scientists live and compete against each other. The series mainly focuses on the titular family, consisting of Professor Thaddeus "Rusty" Venture, a former boy adventurer-turned-scientist, his twin sons Hank and Dean, and their bodyguard, Brock Samson, a superhuman agent who is as skilled at killing as he is at protecting. The show is notable for its strange, offbeat sense of humor and clever references to classic science fiction, comic books, and popular culture. It also features a complex and richly detailed history and mythology, which reveal themselves gradually over the show's many seasons. As such, it's both a parody and an homage to the geek culture it draws from, and it is not uncommon for fans to become fascinated with the world-building and character development that the series provides. The Venture Bros. is also known for its deep and intricate storyline that spans across seven seasons, taking the audience deep into the lives of its many characters, their motivations, and the strange desires that motivate them. Each episode is a self-contained story in its own right, but the overarching plot grows more complex and intriguing with every passing installment. It cleverly turns the tropes of superhero stories on their heads, and creates a dense, interconnected universe of its own making. Part of what makes the show so relatable and engaging is its cast of dynamic, multi-dimensional characters. Hank and Dean Venture, the show's primary duo, are both hapless and bumbling, but are earnest and loyal to a fault. Brock Samson, their bodyguard, is a fearsome, ultra-competent fighter who is saddled with the task of keeping the Ventures alive despite their own recklessness. Then there is the family patriarch, Rusty Venture, who is at once pathetic and arrogant, a man-child who struggles to break free from the shadow of his own father and his past as a boy adventurer. In addition to the Ventures, the show is laden with a rich rogues gallery of villains, each with their own quirks and motivations that make them unique and fascinating. From The Monarch, the Ventures' most persistent foe who is obsessed with butterflies and arching his nemesis, to Doctor Thaddeus "Rusty" Venture's own grotesque creations, such as the mutated, zombie-like "moppets," the show brings to life some of the most memorable and entertaining villains ever seen on television. The Venture Bros. also features a cast of recurring supporting characters, who add to its rich tapestry of personalities and motivations, such as Baron Underbheit, a European nobleman with a metal jaw who seeks vengeance on the Ventures for his terrible facial injury; Pete and Billy, two washed-up former boy adventurers who frequently cross paths with the Ventures, and Doctor Jonas Venture Jr., Rusty's long-dead brother, who is revealed to have created many of the amazing technology and creatures that populate this warped universe. Overall, The Venture Bros. is a witty, inventive, and entertaining series that never quite fit into any one box, making it difficult to summarize in a few short paragraphs. Equal parts parody, satire, and homage, it has a unique voice and point of view that make it one of the most beloved animated series of all time. Behind the comedy and the chaos, the series is suffused with heart, insight, and genuine emotion, making it a must-watch for anyone who wants to experience a bit of the weird and wonderful world of The Venture Bros.
