There’s an interesting direction taken with this cartoon where the Eds actually plan to get money in ethical ways. However, given their eccentric approaches to life, even the right ways lead to off-the-wall occurrences, though they also present not so pleasing sides of certain characters.
Their cause for desperation for money is made more specific too with a jawbreaker sale going on, and they can’t afford any of them. Something that would usually be a bargain for most kids isn’t even obtainable for this group. Shortly after the sale is established, there comes a way for the Eds to get in on it. Eddy discovers that Rolf is looking to hire a farmhand to help him out. Of course, Eddy isn’t one to put in much if any actual labor, but is instead quick to recommend Ed for the job while he collects the pay. Through an interview, which is actually an analysis of his physical structure akin to the nature of his foreign customs, Rolf is convinced that Ed is eligible for the job.
From there, Ed working an actual job is given different perspectives from each of the Eds. Double D pushes for clean and appropriate work behavior, even in jobs as simple as farm work; Eddy goes along with the prideful demeanor of Ed going into the work world even though it’s clear he only cares about the money; and Ed treats the whole affair like an act for him to perform like he’s going to work as a businessman or talking to his friends like he’s a dad and they're his kids. There’s even a hilarious moment where Ed starts a car to get to work while Double D freaks out that he’s too young to drive.
Then Ed starts the actual job where the tone starts getting more abrasive, mainly because of Rolf. It isn’t enough that he’s stripped of his nice business attire into dirty work clothes; that’s more appropriate for this work and Ed seems like he genuinely likes it. His actual work is incredibly grueling by having to peel mountains of potatoes in a short amount of time which is physically impossible. Not only that, but Rolf even has the audacity to immediately deduct Ed’s pay for the most menial of offences like not using the right entrance and following the wrong dress code. How could he have known how things go if this is his first day on the job? Along with the fact that Ed will be fired if he doesn’t finish the potato job, this really isn’t a fair work environment. Luckily, because of his lack of intelligence, Ed isn’t too fazed by the implications, so the audience isn’t expected to be either. Eddy and Double D are fazed though, so they step in to help Ed’s job go faster. They build an impressive invention out of random objects lying around that peels all the potatoes quickly, but even if it gets the job done, Rolf deducts no pay for Ed having visitors. If all this was to help his chores go faster, shouldn’t he be grateful that the work is done?
Such unfairness eventually leads Eddy to start a protest complete with a catchy slogan. The other kids are unmoved, though it does get a logical explanation from Nazz of all people. During his protesting, there is a sound resolution when Double D proposes just talking with Rolf. In the end, compromises are met with Ed generously being paid with a jawbreaker, and his friends being promised some by working for Rolf too. Eddy naturally struggles with having to work himself, but it is nice to see Ed go up in the ranks by taking charge alongside Rolf.
The characters can be harsh parts of a job hierarchy at times, but it
all works out with events leading to solid entertainment and satisfying
conclusions.
A-
Ed, Ed, and
Away
Because they’re kids, the reasons behind the Eds’ antics tend to be very simplistic and driven by special interests. This should be clear from how part of their drive for money is for their interest in jawbreakers. However, as this cartoon shows, those simple interests are very prominent to the point where the formula can get monotonous. The beginning has them attract Kevin with a custom made bike impressively made from kitchenware. Kevin is taken in by how great the bike looks, but when he takes it for a spin, cool tricks and top speed don’t last long as it soon falls apart. Another failure of a scam prompts Double D to give Eddy a good rant of how they always do the same thing everyday and reach the same results.
In a smart directing move, this is followed by a change in pace for the Eds’ role for this cartoon. Their attention is redirected to a small red balloon floating innocently through the sky, and the Eds follow it for the entire run time. That’s basically all there is to this setup. The Eds just follow that balloon without anything big to gain from it and get up to hijinks along the way. As you can tell, there isn’t really a focus on telling a story as much as it is building upon the basic outline of a scenario and seeing what fun can be had with it. In that regard, the entertainment is as solid as it needs to be.
For one thing, each of the Eds have a different perspective on the whole balloon chase. Ed mostly follows it for fun and sees it as a new friend; Double D is driven to monologue about its simplistic beauty; and Eddy is the rough and aggressive type for wanting to straight up pop the balloon for fun. In addition, even if there’s no reason for why they have to follow the balloon, there’s a constant fast-paced energy to keep things exciting. After all, balloons tend to float aimlessly so you never know where they’ll float to. From running in circles to running through the lane and playground, this pursuit takes the Eds all over the cul-de-sac, and make it feel bigger than it really is. There are also amusing ways the other kids get involved with the chase. The Eds cause Rolf’s farm animals to topple over while Rolf is immediately ready for injury as a cow is seconds away from falling on him. When Ed starts throwing things up at the balloon, Nazz is randomly roped into this without any knowledge of what they’re doing.
Finally, after a cute visual gag of Eddy’s hair made to work like helicopter propellers to be close to grabbing the balloon, other kids actually get involved in the balloon pursuit. Constantly being interrupted from their pretend airplane flight, Sarah and Jimmy barge their way into the Eds’ balloon pursuit. Just to spite Eddy, they decide to try and pop it before he can, as you’d often expect brats to do. The ensuing scuffle doesn’t lead to any gags or humorous bits that stand out, but there are some things worth discussing in what it leads to. Eddy gets the balloon, but it pops on its own, and each of the Eds treat it differently. Eddy goes on a tirade of how he didn’t get to pop it; Ed mourns it like the loss of a loved one; and Double D insists on keeping its memory alive. Then it turns out that the balloon was just to distract them so Kevin could get his revenge on what happened with the bike as he sets off another one, inciting the chase to start again. The twist was kind of given away with an earlier scene of him snickering at the Eds in secret, but it still works.
You won’t find a meaningful
story with this cartoon, but certainly a reminder of the power of childhood
interests.
A
Series Ranking
1. One
+ One = Ed
2. A Glass of Warm
Ed
3.
It Came from Outer Ed
4. Rent-A-Ed
5.
Once Upon an Ed
6. Fa
La La La Ed
7. Urban
Ed
8.
Laugh Ed Laugh
9.
Dawn of the Eds
10.
Wish You Were Ed
11.
Dueling Eds
12. Mirror,
Mirror On the Ed
13. Ed-N-Seek
14. Keeping
Up With the Eds
15. Who
Let the Ed In
16. Avast
Ye Eds
17. Flea
Bitten Ed
18. Fool
on the Ed
19. Ready
Set Ed
20. The
Ed-Touchables
21. Who
What Where Ed
22. Dear
Ed
23.
Momma’s Little Ed
24. Hot
Buttered Ed
25. Stop
Look and Ed
26. Shoo
Ed
27. Ed
in a Halfshell
28. Scrambled
Ed
29. Vert
Ed Go
30. Oath
to an Ed
31. Ed, Ed, and Away
32. Button
Yer Ed
33. Read
All About Ed
34. Rambling
Ed
35. Home
Cooked Ed
36. Honor
Thy Ed
37. Floss
Your Ed
38. Quick
Shot Ed
39. Look
Into My Eds
40. Knock,
Knock Who’s Ed
41. A
Boy and His Ed
42. Eds-Aggerate
43.
Three Squares and an Ed
44. Will Work for Ed
45. High
Heeled Ed
46. Know-it-All
Ed
47.
For Your Ed Only
48.
Dim Lit Eds
49. Cry
Ed
50. Eeny
Meeny Miney Ed
51. A
Pinch to Grow an Ed
52. Pop
Goes the Ed
53. Hands
Across Ed
54. An
Ed Too Many
55. Sir
Ed-a-Lot
56. Over
Your Ed
57. A
Key to My Ed
58. It’s
Way Ed
59. In
Like Ed
60. To
Sir With Ed
61. Nagged
to Ed
62. Tag
Yer Ed
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