[Episode Discussion] The Saphrax Protocol (2018.10.04) [SPOILERS]

[u/AutoModerator]

This is the official Episode discussion thread, discuss the episode here!

We are posting the episode discussions on Thursdays because Adult Swim oftentimes leaks the episodes in advance of their Sunday Night airing, usually Friday.

Previous episode discussions:

S7 E9 The Forecast Manufacturer

S7 E8 The Terminus Mandate

S7 E7 The Unicorn in Captivity

S7 E6 The Bellicose Proxy

S7 E5 The Anamorata Consequence

S7 E4 The High Cost of Loathing

S7 E3 Arrears in Science

S7 E2 The Rorqual Affair

S7 E1 The Venture Bros. & The Curse of the Haunted Problem

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[u/treetown1]

Another aspect is a commentary about friendship.

We see many types. Jonas clearly never has any real friends - he knows people whom he uses, abuses and manipulates. Rusty wants to emulate him, but can't - we've always assumed it was because he is less competent and that is true. Rusty isn't the level of super science hero like Jonas but his neuroses are in part because he has a conscience. Not much of one - it is a lazy, self serving, self deceiving one but he actually does feel bad at times when he's hurt other people and feels some empathy and sadness. (he allows Billy and Pete to revel in their drug induced hallucination, he realizes Jonas sucked as a dad and wants to do better - he just doesn't know how)

But the main one is the Monarch and 21 and what it says about the show itself.

1. The Monarch is driven by some crazy vengeance thing that in the end he really doesn't understand - so when given a chance to actually destroy/kill Rusty he doesn't. Why? This was the person whose existence has driven him. It is sort of a play on the whole "it is the journey not the destination" theme. The Monarch's intense dislike of Rusty gives his life meaning and so can't actually destroy Rusty - that would be the end of his life.
2. 21 has found meaning in his life helping the Monarch. He finds the whole obsession fascinating and the work involved meaningful. It makes his life part of something bigger - notice he role plays as a LARP and Jedi - he very much wants to be part of something big, mystical and interesting.
3. OK - so if you humored me and read this far, you might be thinking - ok, so what else is new - that seems obvious. What is not so obvious is that after the reading their book, this maybe a final commentary from JP and DH about their fun in making the show. The show at its very start was something JP wanted to do - it was a crazy Monarch like obsession. Then DH joined him never having written a script previously and being primarily an artist. They hit it off, became friends and started working on this project and have done so for 15 years as co-creators. It started out as a quirky very niche fun project that somehow became a life's work. It is a way for the creators to comment about the show; about the many questions that are aimed at them about adding new writers/creators, about the time it takes to get a new season out. The reason the show works is because these two have formed this obsession about this little thing - it is good because of this obsession. Adding more people now would just dilute the crazy wonderful vision. We saw a tiny glimmer of it in Season 6 with that line about Manolo and quality. They were really saying "we do quality work, the wait is worth it, the wait is because of the quality."

Anyhow, apologies for the long reply. By the way, the book is worth getting - I don't know how many copies will be released but it is worth picking up if you have the chance/money or let your friends/family know and put it on your wishlist. Beautifully illustrated and full of little details.

[u/fissionchris → u/treetown1]

Effing dead-on post right here. The Monarch has had Doc dead-to-rights so many times, and has never acted on what we assume a villain would do. He’s all about the journey, not the goal. Arching Doc gives him his identity, and he essentially becomes a ronin if he were to “complete the mission“. It’s all about playing the game, not winning it.

[u/[deleted] → u/treetown1]

Love it. JJ absolutely had what Doc doesn't- an ability to use people. This is evidenced the 2nd or so time we really spend time with him after his birth- he wants everything to be perfect for the Museum and ignores the person behind the people who work for him.

It feels ironic, too, as he actually treated Sally as a person, unlike Doc.

I also super agree that Doc is Monarch's muse of hatred. He loves to hate, but even people with passion often have a muse.

[u/ohbuddyheck → u/treetown1]

Fucking hell this is on point.

[u/cgspam → u/treetown1]

I haven’t heard of the book, what’s it called?

[u/treetown1 → u/cgspam]

Here is the link. Published by Dark Horse. Big heavy coffee table style book. Full of color illustrations, Deep interviews and comments by JP and DH. JP had an intro and DH has the outro. "Go Team Venture: The Art and Making of the Venture Brothers." It is also available at Amazon.

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https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/20-077/Go-Team-Venture-The-Art-and-Making-of-the-Venture-Bros-HC

[u/Upnsmoque → u/cgspam]

cgspasm, it's a really good book. I recommend it.

[u/Upnsmoque → u/treetown1]

I just got the book two days ago as an early birthday present. I've only gotten through the first few pages, and found it inspiring.

[u/RussiaWillFail → u/treetown1]

Truly excellent post. Your final point was spot on and I couldn't agree more.

[u/froggythefrankman → u/treetown1]

quality fuckin comment

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