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Hands
Across Ed
When it comes to the Eds, there are scams that have
noticeable effort and impressive creativity to them, and there are those that
make one question just what they’re trying to accomplish. I’d say that the one driving this cartoon is sort
of a middle ground to both types of scams.
For that, the experience is fun and enjoyable, but you can’t really deny
how much of a mess the scam ends up becoming.
Following an attempt at getting kids’ money with a magnet that backfires
and prompts them to get chased down, the Eds wander into the junkyard. While
hiding, Ed winds up in a top hat and holds an umbrella. This leads to a believable inspiration for a
new scam idea where Ed dancing around in this getup brings an impression that
he could be on TV. Such a notion has
Eddy come up with an idea to set up a telethon in the cul-de-sac starring the
neighborhood kids giving performances and the Eds getting money off of
pledges.
They easily win over the kids
too rolling in on a runaway red rug, promising fame and making them believe
they’re being captured live with their simple handheld camera. The potential for a great performance builds
up from there. The kids, excited at the
prospect of being TV stars, are attracted to audition with their own brand of
acts. Some of them have performances
that are hard to understand like Jonny and Plank's comedy. Rolf’s act gets cut short before he has a
chance to go in depth. Nazz and her
talents at playing the tuba, or lack thereof, are chosen out of
attraction. There’s also room for
character drama as Jimmy is caught between being a solo star or staying with
the friend he cherishes above everyone else, Sarah. With goading from Eddy and having a
significant minute or so to think, he chooses stardom.
Then comes the big show itself where
everything falls apart, in and out of context.
Only when the audience attends does Eddy fabricate a cause for the show
which is to pay for an eyebrow operation for Ed and it’s very unconvincing that
he needs one. The telethon itself
doesn’t even have a lot to it, only consisting of two kids performing. There’s Nazz giving one big blow from her
tuba and nothing more, and then Jimmy comes on to do magic tricks. Jimmy is also the main focus of the show, and
he totally embarrasses himself with one blunder after another. It ends up bringing the telethon down a lot,
and backed by relentless heckling from Kevin, it’s hard to enjoy its backfiring
from an audience perspective. This is
mainly because what the Eds are trying to do seems very directionless. With few acts, neither of which are any good,
and a fabricated cause clearly made up right on the spot, this is one of their
disappointing scams. Even so, after the
build-up to something great, it’s hard not to feel for them when Kevin and Rolf
put on a show about Rolf’s hairless otter story and get paid handsomely. Stinging even more is how the cartoon ends
with the magnet plan backfiring again by sending the Eds into a dumpster.
Their performance and telethon direction may
stink, but I wouldn’t say the cartoon does on a whole. In spite of a lame scam execution, the showy
atmosphere and a few good character moments keep the fun.
B+
Floss Your
Ed
Watching this show at an older age can really take you back
to some of the most memorable parts of childhood. I bet one of them has to do with the idea of
losing teeth and the prospect of getting money for it. With the emphasis on childhood challenges as
well as cartoonish antics, this show really delivers such a plot the way no
other show can.
First, there’s a very
creative way that gets the plot started.
The Eds put together a very imaginative scam of a sea ranch that gives
Jonny and Plank a ride on Ed dressed as a barnacle and then sucked out of a
water dispenser. Just the presentation
of this can make you wish that this was fun in real life. While Jonny doesn’t have cash to pay for it,
he instead gives the Eds coconuts. When
told that coconuts are to be eaten instead of shaved, Ed does so by biting down
on one, which really hurts his tooth, and he spends much of the cartoon in
pain. As Double D investigates, Ed
biting down on that coconut has made his last baby tooth become loose. To the Eds, that means the Tooth Fairy will
be paying him a visit soon, and more importantly to Eddy, this means free
cash. He pulls out a vast multitude of
stunts to get Ed’s tooth out right away.
Through it all, there’s a major bit of character evolution for Double
D. For the majority of the first season,
and even a few moments in this one, he’s seemed to easily go along with Eddy’s
stunts without much objection. However,
his status as the often ignored voice of reason has grown significantly in
parts as well. This time is probably
amongst his most significant terms of growth as of now. He doesn’t approve of Eddy trying to rush Ed
losing that tooth and spends the cartoon admonishing Eddy’s efforts at any
given moment.
Still, Eddy doesn’t listen
and gets crazier with his stunts, even if it means appointing other kids to
help provided he gives them a share of the Tooth Fairy’s profit. This in turn leads to even more creative
stunts. Rolf churns Ed’s mouth with a
simple plunger like butter. Sarah and
Jimmy play to Ed’s gullibility by making him think a nylon rope is soothing for
his tooth, only to hang the tooth from atop a tree. For Eddy’s sake, they get frustrated enough
to not help them so he won’t have to share any profits. The same isn’t true for Kevin and Rolf as
they and Eddy get caught in an elaborate fishing scene where they attract Ed
with butter toast on a fishing pole and try to reel him in. It’s really a sight to see.
Its outcome is also surprising as it somehow
leads to an impact that gets Eddy to lose his own tooth. That’s an effective loophole in the plan as
now Eddy can keep all the money. However,
it’s after this when Double D’s warnings of impatience become meaningful. It’s said that the Tooth Fairy only comes at
night when kids are asleep, but Eddy believes that they’ll easily attract her
if someone sleeps right away. A whole
airfield is set up on the roof just to attract her. Such misguidedness and impatience leads to
all the Eds falling off the roof while Eddy’s tooth, as well as Ed’s gets stuck
in the gutter. Then they’re left with no
teeth when Ed sucks them and the gutter grime and swallows it all, leaving Eddy
without anything to exploit for profit.
It’s a disappointing ending after all the efforts, but with solid
character moments and elaborate stunts, I can say the cartoon works as a
cautionary tale on patience.
A
The Ranking
1. One + One = Ed
2. Ready Set Ed
3. Dear Ed
4. Floss Your Ed
5. Knock, Knock Who’s Ed
6. Know-it-All Ed
7. Eeny Meeny Miney Ed
8. Hands Across Ed
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where the Eds thinking the kids are spies results in a ruined birthday party, and we experience the awesomeness of Ed's imaginary friend Jib.
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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