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Eds-aggerate
To
me it’s best to tell the truth instead of cover it up with a white lie when
other people set out to investigate. In
that case, they’re sure to find out which will make for even more trouble for
the instigator. Of course, being so
socially misguided, the Eds aren’t well-versed with that virtue, and this
cartoon highlights what comes from them hiding the truth.
While testing another one of their scams,
they end up sending an armchair flying that breaks Kevin’s window. Kevin doesn’t take this well and demands to
know who broke it. Eddy states that this
was the cause of a group of deranged lunatics who live in the construction site
called the Mucky Boys. Now if Kevin just
accepted this and went on with his life, this lie would be
inconsequential. However, once he goes
after the Mucky Boys and later gets other kids of the cul-de-sac involved,
Eddy’s approach to handling this situation is officially a bad idea.
From then on, Eddy leads the rest of his
friends to pose as actual Mucky Boys to continue covering the truth and not
raise any suspicions to Kevin and the others.
Only Double D constantly points out that they should just tell the truth
and the matter will be settled, but being the most logical, it’s not surprising
his points are ignored. Because of
Eddy’s leadership, the Eds have to pull off many extreme complicated stunts to
make the Mucky Boys seem legitimate.
They make funny noises to scare the kids, use a huge pipe as the Mucky Boy
cave, and cover themselves with paint to make convincing cave paintings. It’s all impressive effort to cover the
truth, but it’s still unnecessary hardships to go through when all they really
need to do to resolve this is say what really happened.
Keeping things enjoyable though is the
chemistry between the characters going after the Mucky Boys. Kevin is all set to beat them for destruction
of his window. Rolf acts as the
self-appointed leader with his off-the-wall country customs guiding everyone. Jimmy acts all cowardly and always sticks
with Sarah, who acts as the true brains of the operation. In fact, she points out all the suspicions of
the Eds’ stunts, making it clear that the lie cannot hold up forever.
This is especially apparent in the climax of
the cartoon where the Eds come out as actual Mucky Boys, making total fools of
themselves by making loud noises covered in mud. It’s enough to make the other kids
intimidated and run for cover even though it’s incredibly easy to tell who’s
who under the mud. Sarah turns out to be
the only truly smart one by referring to one of them as Ed, and when he
responds, she hoses all the Eds down, revealing the true Mucky Boys.
The punishment for lying however seems very
extreme even for the Eds who are all encased in a block of cement. They may not be well liked, but this is too
far leaving them in a place that’s impossible to escape. At least the cartoon is merciful enough that
they get out with a hammer Jonny hides in a cake…probably until Ed realizes
it’s stuck to his head after eating the cake.
The predictable outcome of things going wrong because of a lie doesn’t
make this the strongest cartoon. Thankfully, there’s plenty of chaos and good
humor to keep the experience entertaining.
A-
Oath to an
Ed
The
more the first season goes on, the more Rolf seems to become the standout
character of the supporting neighborhood kids.
The show takes his status as an unusual foreigner and mines it for all
creative potential. You can’t always
understand what Rolf means or says, but it’s always a joy to compare common
aspects of life to something wild and take pleasure in very simple things. Such entertainment continues to be prominent
for many seasons to come by the way.
For
this cartoon, a major element to his role in the series is officially
introduced. It happens when the Eds get
new clothes that are ridiculously stiff, and when they try to make them softer
by washing them in the creek, they literally crumble. They soon get ideas
for new clothes when they see Rolf lead a scout troop known as the Urban
Rangers. This group highlights Rolf’s
views on what’s ordinary neighborhood life as noteworthy challenges given what
passes for what members can get a badge for.
There are only a few members, Jonny, Plank, and Jimmy, suggesting the
group isn’t too popular, but the stylish uniforms are all the incentive the Eds
need to try out. It’s also nice that
even with their reputation, Rolf is open to letting them try, showing that not
everyone is too dense.
Like in most
scout troops, the Eds start at the bottom to work their way up to the big
leagues, only given red scarves to mark themselves as Wee Roaches. In accordance with the nature of getting
badges, the things the Eds have to do to get one really aren’t that challenging. The tasks consist of setting up hammocks,
trimming hedges, and helping girls across the street. However, the Eds’ eccentric behaviors make
what’s simple anything but. Sometimes
Ed’s lack of intelligence and desire for fun gets in the way like when he
wrecks the hammock or pulls out an entire root, messing up the hedge. Most of the time though, it’s Eddy’s
overconfidence that’s the group’s undoing.
He succumbs to his infatuation with Nazz and doesn’t notice that he’s
helped Ed cross the street instead of her.
Then when Rolf has the Eds try even easier tasks to earn a badge, Eddy
messes them up too. He speeds up a
burrito cooking in a microwave, causing it to explode, and takes out a toilet
paper holder the wrong way and it flies all over.
Rolf’s frustration is at its most
understandable from the Eds’ constant failures, so it’s meaningful that he’s
willing to give them one last chance afterwards. Eddy has to act as a good neighbor delivering
a pie, but this failure is easy to get.
Posing as the neighbor is Sarah, who instead of being a good neighbor,
is very rude, loud and insensitive. She
even messes up the pie Eddy brings to her.
Even as Eddy tries to stay calm, it makes sense that he ultimately loses
his cool because of her. Because of this
understandable burst of rage, it’s kind of unfair that this is what convinces
Rolf to ban the Eds from even trying to become Urban Rangers anymore. At least the Eds’ punishment for their
constant disgraces is a creative one of being sent down a path of slippery lard
which further showcases Rolf’s interesting customs.
While the Eds’ fate still isn’t entirely
fair, the overall material is insightful in fleshing out the roles of
characters and giving fresh perspective on simple life tasks.
A
The Ranking
1. A Glass of Warm Ed
2. Laugh Ed Laugh
3. Dawn of the Eds
4. Ed-N-Seek
5. Keeping Up With the Eds
6. Flea Bitten Ed
7. Fool on the Ed
8. The Ed-Touchables
9. Vert Ed Go
10. Who What Where Ed
11. Oath to an Ed
12. Read All About Ed
13. Quick Shot Ed
14. Look Into My Eds
15. A Boy and His Ed
16. Eds-aggerate
17. A Pinch to Grow an Ed
18. Pop Goes the Ed
19. An Ed Too Many
20. Sir Ed-a-Lot
21. Over Your Ed
22. It’s Way Ed
23. Nagged to Ed
24. Tag Yer Ed
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the last episode for Season 1 where Eddy has to be translated by Rolf when a fly lodges itself into his voicebox, and the Eds take Jimmy, Jonny, and Plank on an inner tube cruise through the creek.
If you would like to check out other Ed Edd n Eddy reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
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