Psychological Problems is the second episode of the second season of Code Monkeys. It is preceded by The Story of 420 and is followed by My Pal Jodie.
Plot[]
After a roll call, Larrity opens up for new game pitches in the boardroom.
Dave is first, but is too sick to even start, though Larrity is impressed by his "real world experience" represented by his vomit. He then calls Todd, who brings in a statue of a mysterious monster. His idea, titled "Cock Goblin", is a fantasy game about a heroic rooster/goblin hybrid demibeast. Dave gives Todd his full support and everyone else follows suit, only because they have found a lot of mileage in hilarity out of the title alone, which Todd is oblivious of. Larrity approves, equally oblivious, and orders Todd to focus on creating the game. Dave and Jerry suggest adding allies like "Sword Polisher" and "Ass Handler", while Black Steve suggests adding a larger "Big Black Cock Goblin".
Later that day, Larrity meets an insurance agent who says that GameAVision has suffered so many liability incidents in the past year, they won't be qualified for having their policy renewed. What's more, because Sunnyvale can not afford to keep an uninsured company of this magnitude, they may be forced to close it down. The agent decides to bring in a psychiatrist to evaluate the staff and determine the best course of action.
The insurance company's head of evaluation, Doreen Masterson, proceeds to interview each member of the staff. Black Steve (whose real name is revealed to not be "Steve" at all) is unhinged and capable of attacking anyone acting black or attaching black stereotypes to him. Benny is annoying and candy-crazed, as well as neglected in confined spaces. Clare is an airhead who thinks about shoes. Mary has repressed rage towards her entire staff and has imagined killing them all; a dream she had about 847 times. Dean is a... special case, teetering between "Brain Damaged" and "Retarded" (Masterson assumed Dean had suffered head trauma). Dave is a sex-crazed drug addict who attempted to hit on her. Jerry is extremely weak-willed, and cries for hours. Larrity has talk of murder and arson.
Masterson takes a break and talks about how, despite what she found, none of them are the type of "crazy" she is looking for. She then calls for Todd, who is wearing a mascot-style costume made by Dave.
She is astonished by everything Todd unloads during his session, including talk of his unhealthy obsessive relationship with his mother, all of which he considers "normal". Things spiral out of control when Todd fully embraces his Cock Goblin character, attacking and chasing Masterson all over the building before the programmer attacks himself into unconsciousness. With everyone gathered, Masterson furiously concludes that GameAVision is filled with "horrible, self-absorbed jerks" and are better off dead. However, she offers to renew the company's insurance policy in exchange for taking Todd for further research, as his mental state can be key to her getting a better job, write a bestselling book, and even have his possible disease named after her. Everyone agrees to get rid of him without hesitation.
Some time passes at a psychiatric ward and Todd finally realizes, after intense shock therapy, that his co-workers' support was actually ceaseless mockery at his expense. Now officially checked out, he returns to GameAVision for revenge but discovers that it's closed that Sunday. He decides to wait for the next day, planning to bide his time.. with a little "Cock Goblin".
It was only then and there that he finally understands the innuendo behind his visionary game title and reacts in disgust.
Video Game References[]
- The select episode screen is a parody of the Super Mario Bros/Duck Hunt/World Class Track Meet game select screens, containing titles for this, and the following two episodes.
- Black Steve is dressed as a Contra character in the polariods.
- Benny gains Star Power from Super Mario Bros.
Movie/TV References[]
- Black Steve refers to Theo Huxtable of The Cosby Show.
- Luke's green lightsaber from Return of the Jedi is hanging on Todd's wall.
Other References[]
- Captain O is a mail order catalog found in the back mad magazine.