My Most Nostalgic Show (Ed, Edd N Eddy Episode 1 Review)

For the longest time, if you asked me what my favorite cartoon of all time was - I'd undoubtably answer with Ed, Edd N' Eddy. Now I don't believe this early 2000s show holds that position anymore; it still remains in a special place in my heart and gives me an incredible feeling of nostalgia anytime I think of the Ed boys.

Recently, HBO Max had picked up a good chunk, if not all, the Boomerang aired cartoons. (If you know what Boomerang is/was before reading this I have infinite brownie points for you.) And with Netflix raising their subscription costs again, I decided to switch services for the sole purpose of watching these 90s/00s cartoons. And what better way to celebrate the shows of my childhood than by reviewing them episode by episode, starting with the dorks from Peach Creek.

To keep things simple and to help me keep my sanity, allow me to break down how I plan on scoring these episodes:

Each will be given a rating out of 10. To help solidify what those numbers mean, I have adopted a system similar to Angry Joe's rating system. To explain further:

10- Big Boi Lovings. Any issues are minor enough that they do not affect the score.

9- P. Awesome. Nearly flawless, has a few issues that are bad enough.

8- P. Great. The media is great. Not perfect but better than most.

7- P. Good. Above average with some rough issues.

6- Hard Enjoy. I want to be a huge fan of it, but it's rough.

5- Aight. Average, just okay.

4- Unoffensive. I didn't enjoy it, but I certainly don't hate it.

3- Bad. Has enough issues to make me angry or regret consuming it.

2- Poopie Bad Stuff. Terrible. No enjoyment, but it didn't cause me to rant.

1- Dupid. I hate it. Enough to get angry any time I think about it.

Furthermore, key points I'll judge an episode on are:

Visual - Whether they be character, backgrounds or accessories.

Comedy - This is a haha funny show, so it needs decent comedy.

Story - The plot of the episode. The narrative attempting to be told.

The Scam - The ploy the Eds develop to get the money from the other kids.

Normally I would also talk about music and acting for visual media - and I'll definitely still touch upon it - but since it's a cartoon, most of the music and sound effects will be repeated throughout the series, so I would be repeating myself a lot. As far as voice acting goes, I'll also touch upon it -but wouldn't want it to affect the score, unless it's either extremely bad or extremely good.

With the formalities out of the way, let's dive into episode one of Ed, Edd N' Eddy - The Ed-touchables.

The episodes of Ed, Edd N Eddy followed the same format most 90s/00s shows followed - a 24 minute long block with two 12 minutes episodes filling it up. Every episode starts with an iconic whistle, followed by the Eds saying their names, and a whistled song accompanied by percussion and brass instruments. Any kid who watched this show growing up would be able to whistle this song from memory. (Unless you are a tragic, lost soul like me who never learned how to whistle). The song is catchy, instantly recognizable, and memorable - all qualities of a fantastic opening number.

The intro also provides us with our first look at the Eds and a glimpse at what their character types may be. Each Ed states their own name during the first couple seconds of the intro. The characters pop their heads in from the top of the screen as they announce themselves. Text pops up at the bottom of the screen, serving as both our title card and easy identification of the characters we see. The trio then falls from the top of the screen, crashing into the title and sending the letters flying - which could point towards their destructive nature and their nasty habit of breaking things.

Eddy then moves the camera, putting himself and the boys into frame. One of my favorite things about this show, and I could be mistaken by saying it was the first / one of the only shows to do it, is how self-referential it is. The characters constantly reference that they are part of a show or break the fourth wall - occasionally making entire episodes centered around this idea. If I remember correctly, not many shows were doing that kind of thing, giving some of the jokes a different feel than other cartoons of the time. Over the next ten seconds we are given key character traits about each Ed boy.

Eddy bounces his eyebrows, sticks his tongue out, performs a... tongue... stand, and then nonchalantly rubs his chest. These simple actions show that he is arrogant, a troublemaker, and a showoff. He stands closest to the camera, which conveys his need to be the center of attention and his actions show he wants to be seen as the cool kid on the block. This is also where we get our first looks at the full character designs of our titular cast. Eddy is the shortest and wears a simple mustard colored polo shirt, a pair of blue jeans with what appears to be a belt buckle hanging from the side (in the first frame it initially looks like some sort looped string) and red shoes. He also has three long strands of hair poking out of his otherwise bald head.

Behind Eddy is both Eddward (later we learn his nickname of Double D) and Ed. Double D is wearing a plain red shirt, purple shorts, red knee length socks and an iconic black beanie - which also gives him the nickname of sock head. He is middle in height, compared to the other Eds, and stands awkwardly at the edge of the frame, unsure of what he should be doing with a camera pointed at him. This, of course, conveys Double D's constantly unconfident, timid and shy nature. He tends to be the complete opposite of Eddy, in terms of outward social interactions. Double D dislikes being the center of attention, isn't overbearing (about most things) and has generally a quiet nature.

Standing next to him and waving his arm back and forth behind his head is Ed. Tallest of the Eds, his goofy smile and lackadaisical wave shows his carefree nature. With his monobrow, mouth hanging open, and baggy clothes - we can assume Ed to be the dimwitted but kind natured Ed boy. He wears an oversized green jacket that reaches down to his knees, a red and white striped shirt, and super baggy purple jeans. Ed's actions in this first shot don't necessarily convey him as the dumb and funny character, but a later moment in the title sequence does.

As Eddy is performing his physical feet of... supporting his own body with just his abnormally long tongue, Double D slowly shimmies off screen, with Ed noticing and following after him. Eddy notices last, coming to the slow realization he no longer has an audience - lets out a shout that is conveyed by one of the jazzy instruments blaring. The music then picks up as Eddy forces the camera to pan to the left, showing Ed now carrying Double D. This shows that Ed has incredible strength, since he is effortlessly carrying a boy of the same age. The show uses Ed's incredible strength in many slap stick situations. Ed plops Double D down as Eddy slides himself next to the boys. Double D is visually trembling before Eddy elbow bumps him - trying to get his buddy to relax and take part ( a common interaction the two have). This pushes Edd into Ed, who pushes back and sends the two boys off screen - with minimal effort. He looks shocked and apologetic, and this won't be the only time we see Ed accidentally cause harm to his friends, before rushing forward and dragging the camera over once again, leaving the frame at a skewed Dutch angle.

We are now treated to a view of Eddy and Double D in a dog pile. Eddy gets enraged by Ed's antics and begins chasing after him. Eddward straightens himself out before reaching forward and leveling the camera - showing that Double D has a neat and orderly manner about him. Ed then makes a break for the foreground, running not out of fear of Eddy - as evident by his continuous goofy grin - but instead seeing it as a game. Eddy makes a dive for Ed, knocking into Double D and sending the group forward and into the screen.

The lava lamp aesthetic of the background, which is consistent with the 70s/80s theme the show has to its set pieces, glitches out before we see the familiar look of TV static. This serves as the second instance of fourth wall breaking and cements that the show knows it's a cartoon and refuses to take itself too seriously. The title appears again as each Ed states their name before Double D faints, presumably after realizing the boys broke the background and/or their reality.

As far as introductions for shows go, this is one of the best ones. We get immediate character introduction, including both names and personality traits, as well as hints to what the comedy is gonna be like - a mix bag of slap stick and self-referential humor. All over the course of just 30 seconds. To rate the intro alone - I would absolutely give it Big Boi Lovings - 10/10.

The screen fades to black and then opens on an episode title card. Each episode has its own unique title card. The painted art that we see is a strange mix of abstract and realism - with some of them being particularly strange looking. This is also where we see the title for the episode and the first instance of the title schemes. Each episode name finds a way to force "Ed" into it. For example, Episode 1 is "The Ed-touchables" which of course is meant to be "The Untouchables." The title card shows a person staring at an alarm clock with a magnifying glass while the sun rises through a window in the background. A gentle breeze pushes the curtains and we're left with making the only assumption that this episode MAY have a mystery or detective theme. The title cards, while visually interesting, don't always convey what the episode might be about, which could be a product of how surreal each one is.

The episode opens outside Double D's house. We are treated to a minimalistic view of his home. The basic shapes are there that make up the house, and it is overshadowed with a soft blue color. For the first episode, the backgrounds have this soft and ambiguous look to them. They are under detailed but in a way that doesn't necessarily harm it visually. We then switch to an interior shot of the house and see a room labeled Edd, all the while whimsical music plays. We then switch inside and get our first look at Double D's room. We see a neat and orderly bed with a human diagram above it. We also see that most of the items in the room are labeled. We see various science related objects - such as a mobile that is a diagram of the solar system, an ant farm, and an alchemy set. Everything in Double D's room conveys the character's intelligence as well as his obsession for keeping things neat and orderly - hence why our first shot of the boy is him labeling things in his room. Things are labeled to the point of being nonsensical - such as the doorknob or the floor.

When we first hear Double D speak, he has a scratchy and quiet voice - almost as though the voice actor was hesitant in how to voice the character. It's never done poorly, mind you - but it is noticeably different once we enter the second season. His first lines of dialogue are him counting his ant farm, which has numbers in the thousands, while also using an abacus. The fact that he owns an abacus tells you that he is an intelligent character - although, we are taking place in a world before smartphones, so it may not be so out of place for him to own the device.

Double D's ritual is interrupted by the doorbell ringing. The Edd goes to answer the door and we get our first look at the neighborhood. The entire story takes place in a small, suburban cal-de-sac. To be more accurate - the show affectionately calls their small setting THE cal-de-sac and I can't help but think of this show every time I think of that word. The exterior is similar to the first shot of the show, minimal details with cool, soft colors. No one is at the door so Double D naturally heads back to his duties. The bell rings again and Edd races down the stairs to answer the door again, only to find no one behind the door. He tests the doorbell for himself before turning inside once more. Catching onto someone having fun at his expense, he now opens the door, prepared to confront someone. A water bucket falls on his head, a giant fish smacks him in the face until finally he opens the door to see Eddy standing there.

We as an audience immediately know that Eddy was the one doorbell ditching Double D (Is that a term zoomers understand? Is... is that a thing kids still do? Am I old?), however Edd doesn't accuse him - which I wouldn't say is a comment on his intelligence but rather a demonstration (since I should stop saying convey) of how he can be a push over and is often the butt of the joke. Now this isn't to say he doesn't have morals or integrity that he is willing to fight for, as we will see later in the series.

Eddy of course denies anything related to the doorbell before being let inside. Double D forces him to wear slippers instead of his shoes - cementing his almost OCD level of needing things clean and orderly. Begrudgingly, Eddy puts them on. Eddy immediately jumps on Double D's bed, messing up the covers. Edd rushes over and cleans it, muttering one of his catchphrases, "Messy, messy, messy." Eddy then proceeds to disrupt Edd's labels - further showing that Eddy is mischievous and has little to no concern for the rules and procedure. Throughout the time, Eddy's voice actor plays him as loud and obnoxiously, which perfectly suits the bratty character.

Eddy then asks Double D if he is ready to go hang out with the third member of the EEE Crew, Ed. Eddward first has to finish labeling things, specifically his magnifying glass - which happens to be missing. Double D becomes distraught and emotionally compromised. Eddy is, for once, the voice of reason and suggests that maybe he misplaced it. Not a chance, Double D retorts - which, given the state of his room, the audience is compelled to agree. Double D has somewhat of a mental breakdown, showing that he likely has some form of anxiety. A moment of slap stick, Eddy smashing the bed over Double D's head breaks him out of it, and Eddy begins to console his friend. He tells him how it's not right that someone was touching his things. He then immediately disregards Edd's plight and moves on to go get Ed. It's in Eddy's nature to not care about things that don't directly affect him.

The boys then take off, racing towards Ed's place. As far as first character introductions, the show nails it pretty flawlessly. We know what the two Eds are like, how their friendship dynamic works, and what their core personalities are.

We are then given our first glimpse of Ed and his home. We see that he lives in a messy and disorganized basement. He is sitting in front of a tv, watching some black and white monster movie. All over his room are posters and toys, further identifying that Ed has an obsession with movies and tv, specifically horror and monsters. The two boys sneak into the bedroom and attempt to dog pile the third Ed, who very easily wrestles the boys and gets them into a chokehold. Other than his viewing preferences, Ed's introduction solidifies that he is much stronger than the other two boys. This is also our first time we hear the nickname "Double D".

We then hear a girl scream Ed's name before stomping on the stairs. Enter Sarah, Ed's younger sister. She yells at Ed, wondering where "she" is. Ed is of course clueless. Sarah explains it's one of her dolls before ripping up Ed's lazy boy couch... using her teeth before hanging from Ed's model rocket ships on his ceiling.

At this point, it would be a good time to bring up just how wacky and iconic the sound effects are in this show. You've probably heard the sounds before, as a lot of people tend to use them in YouTube videos. While Sarah is on a rampage, we hear a shrieking cat noise. The sound effects and the accompanying music are so unique to this show - I don't think any other show has rivaled its zaniness.

Back to Sarah's introduction. She jumps on Ed's head and starts to pummel him a little - showing her key characteristics. Sarah can be called a girly girl - a young girl who enjoys dress up, dolls, playing pretend so on. More so, we see how bratty she can be. Sarah believes she is the boss and most certainly acts like it. She demands and then turns violent when she doesn't receive. A comment from Eddy clues the audience in to her being Ed's younger sister. She is clearly the younger sister since she is much smaller than the Eds, including Eddy. She has wavy red hair and wears a plain pink tank top and jeans. She also has red lips, presumably from makeup, and earrings - showing that she may have some care for fashion.

Since we are four characters in now, I feel it's significant to mention the art of this show. The characters all have black outlines, as is common in cartoons, but these lines have a constant vibration to them. The specific name for these lines is "boiling lines", which gives the characters the illusion of movement and breathing, even while standing still. I also want to point out that the characters have a... liquid feeling to them, especially in their faces. Their expressions are defined, and their facial features tend to scrunch and ooze with each animation. It certainly takes a little getting used to and I feel becomes more refined in later seasons.

Ed circles the room while Sarah beats on his head - the boys are still in Ed's chokehold, so they spin as well. The four of them end up falling into a heap on the floor, with Eddy's nose buried deep in Ed's armpit. He makes the comment that lumpy smells, further pointing to his messy and unhygienic nature. Double D ends up on the floor, his face inches from Sarah. We then weirdly get hints that Edd has a crush on Sarah, as he sympathizes with her things going missing. As he talks, we see hearts replace his pupils. What is bizarre about this is that it's the only time we see Double D have any interest in a girl on the show, other than Nazz - the neighborhood beauty. Later in the series we easily get the impression that Double D has trouble talking with girls, but only rarely has issues with Sarah.

There is then a weird jump cut from the floor to a standing position. Eddy suggests that there is a pattern of things going missing and proposes that they warn the other kids of the... Serial Toucher - which is strangely altruistic for Eddy. Ed asks how and we see Eddy gets an idea, one that makes dollar signs replace his hair.

We get a scene transition and Eddy is yelling into a traffic cone, warning everyone of the Serial Toucher. Sarah then calls out that the "Dirty Toucher" took her dolly. This is the first instance of some of the off color and adult jokes the show has. There certainly aren't many of them, but every now and then one gets snuck in. We also get a weak introduction to some of the other characters of the cal-de-sac, none of which are called by named. We get unofficial intros for Rolf, Nazz, and Jimmy - which mostly consists of them just acting concern for what's happening in their neighborhood.

We get a slightly more official intro for the show's main bully / jock character - Kevin. He asks what these "dorks" are going to do about it. The first time the word dorks is uttered but certainly not the last - as the Ed boys are often called this named throughout the series. Eddy then shoves his makeshift blowhorn in Kevin's face, showing that he will defend himself whenever someone challenges him. We also saw him push Sarah away in an earlier scene, making it known that Eddy doesn't take kind to bullies. Kevin's intro shows that he doesn't trust the Eds and that he will be one of the main antagonistic forces the Eds will face. Kevin claims that he would pay money to see the Eds catch the one responsible and the other kids agree. The Eds then leave to work out a plan.

The next scene shows Eddy planning their next moves, showing that he is a planner and schemer. He is often the one coming up with the scams that they try to pull on the other children. They end up settling on putting a sign on Ed that says “Don''t Touch” and waiting for someone to show up. We then get introduced to Johnny and Plank.

Johnny and Plank are an inseparable pair. Plank is the more interesting of the characters, since he is literally a Plank of wood that Johnny can hear speak. Now, this could point to Johnny having mental challenges but since we aren't a third-rate theory channel on YouTube, we will simply chalk it up to Johnny having a very strong imagination. Since Johnny is the last character introduction for this episode, I would like to now commend the show for having such unique character designs. Each one falls into a separate archetype and is easily identifiable.

Johnny then compliments Ed on his hair and hears that Plank wants to touch it. He reaches the board up and rubs it against Ed's head. The other two boys then jump into action, pulling a string that sets off various alarms, continuing the trend of every action in this show having some sort of sound effect. The boys jump out from behind bushes, and accuse Johnny of being "Dr. Toucher". Johnny is frightened and runs off with the Eds chasing him through the suburbs.

Now I am be looking too deeply into things here, but I'm a writer so it is my right to do so. The way the boys run after Johnny, and how they run in general also conveys each Eds character type. Eddy runs with his arms outstretched, like he is reaching for something. This could show that Eddy is always ambitious and also thinking with a "gimmie" mindset. Double D runs with his back straight and his arms cocked to his sides, showing that he cares about his posture and being orderly. Ed runs with his arms wildly flapping behind him, giving him a carefree vibe. Even how they navigate a closed fence gate can point towards who they are as characters. Eddy jumps over the fence, showing that the prefers to go around obstacles, rather than take them head on. Double D does the sensible thing and opens and closes the gate, showing his love for procedure and how he will tackle hardships the intended way. Ed jumps through a tiny hole in the fence, showing that he handles obstacles head on and with brute force - rather than navigating them in their intended way, he shows complete disregard for the intended way but only because he doesn't consider it.

The kids eventually cut Johnny off, hiding behind a lamp post and tripping him as he runs by. As he lays on the ground, talking weakly, he gives Plank a hearty throw so that his best friend may be able to get away. This, as you can deduce, shows Johnny's loyalty to Plank and – more drastically – how much he prioritizes Plank's well being over his own. Johnny, unfortunately, doesn't have the best arm and Plank lands only a few feet away from where he lays. The Eds then apprehend Johnny and Plank and take him to a secret location where they'll perform an interrogation.

We get a scene transition to the interrogation room and see Ed act extremely out of character. Since it's the pilot episode, and his character hasn't been fully established yet, it doesn't detract too much from the episode itself. However, Ed is never a mean spirited character, even towards those who have wronged him. His actions towards Johnny here are really out of place. He shines a light in Johnny's face, not dissimilar to the cliche police questioning, and taunts him with a home brewed lie detector that Double D has set up. The lie detector is the first of many inventions that Double D creates, once again showing his big brain energy and how he enjoys being a tinkerer / inventor. Ed threatens Johnny by telling him to watch what he says as Edd drops a piece of toast into a toaster.

The inventions that Double D ends up creating always involve typical household items being transformed into new and interesting ways. For example, a lie detector that consists of a toaster, some wires attached to Johnny and a light bulb. Eddy then steps out of the shadows and orders Johnny to tell them where everyone's stuff is. He claims to not knowing anything and they look to Edd to see if he's telling the truth. Double D smells some smoke coming from the toaster and says it's inconclusive. Eddy then decides to switch focus to Plank, questioning him where the things are. This is also a bit of an odd interaction, since later on in the series the other kids all see Plank as a literal hunk of wood, not expecting anything from him. Eddy smacks Plank around and gets several splinters. The toast then pops up and Double D rushes to analyze it at a computer near by. The computer tells him that Plank is lying, so the Eds move on to more drastic measures. Eddy draws a water gun and starts dripping drops onto Plank – in a manner not unlike Dripping Machine torture.

After a few seconds, Johnny can't take it anymore and admits to taking everything – but only because the dripping water makes him have to pee. The Eds accept his confession, shove him into a tire as punishment and collect their pay from the other kids. We then learn of the Eds addiction to jawbreakers, as they excitedly plan to spend all the money on the sugar orbs. As they get ready to leave, they are confronted by Sarah and Jimmy. The two kids, along with Double D, admit to having found their missing items – clearly having misplaced them, rather than them being stolen. Eddy shows little concern for the truth and keeps the money the kids paid them, showing that he values money over most other things.

We get a final scene transition of Sarah and Jimmy talking to Johnny, telling the boy that they believe him to be innocent. Strangely, the bandages that were on Jimmy's nose were moved up to his head, showing a possible off screen injury. This could foreshadow Jimmy's fragile and clumsy nature, as throughout the series he tends to be accident prone. The two young kids roll Johnny to a hill before pushing him over, sending him rolling down the hill towards the candy store, where the Ed boys are sitting and enjoying their sweets. Double D questions if they should feel guilty, showing that he has much more of a conscience than his counterparts. Eddy, obviously has no regrets, making a comment about childhood trauma building character. Johnny crashes into the boys and knocks the oversize jawbreakers free and tumbling down the road. They all desperately chase after them before the episode fades to black.

Thus ends our first episode of Ed, Edd N Eddy. As far as pilots go, The Edtouchables does a great job of character introduction. We learn enough about each character to know their archetypes and their specific relationship dynamics. So to break it down into the four category's I mentioned at the start:

Visual – As far as character designs go, the show does a tremendous job of making each character unique in look. A good way to test character design is asking “Can I identify these characters as just silhouettes?” And you absolutely can with this cast. Each one also has a distinct style in terms of clothing, hair styles and just general stature. The backgrounds are in an interesting minimalist style. Basic shapes and soft colors. While the backgrounds aren't bad, per say, they absolutely get much better in the later seasons when they take time to fully detail everything. And, of course, the wacky props are always a delight to see in this show. Whether it be Edd's invention or the missing items the kids lost – everything feels like it belongs in the world this show takes place. Overall – I'd say the visuals are

                                                                               8/10

They are P. Great. The show would've benefited from more detailed backgrounds and the liquid feel to the character designs does take a moment to get used to.

Comedy – Most of the comedy in the first episode consists of some slap stick moments and a few situational jokes. We see Eddy smack Double D with a bed, Ed running head first into a lamp post his friends are hiding behind and Eddy smacking Plank and getting splinters as a result. We also have the situational comedy of Johnny confessing just because he has to use the bathroom after Eddy drips water on Plank for long enough. The only dialogue joke we kinda get is the “Serial Toucher” and “Dirty Toucher” comments the kids make. And while I am an adult with a brain that permanently resides in the gutter, the joke doesn't really make me bust out laughing. Overall – I'd say the comedy is

                                                                               5/10

Pretty average for a show of this style. The jokes and potential are definitely there, but none of them are ones I'd quote or reference later on.

Story – The plot of this episode is easy to follow and does have a nice mystery element to it. Since this episode had to spend a good chunk of time introducing the main cast, there was only so much time they could spend on the story itself. The plot is still engaging, as the audience wants to know who was touching everyone's stuff and how the Eds plan to uncover the culprit. However, it certainly doesn't do anything particularly new or exciting. This episode is absolutely not going to be anyone's favorite. Overall- I'd say the story is

                                                                            7/10

It's P. Good. Again, the character introductions are incredible and this episode had to spend a decent amount of time setting that up. The plot is engaging and makes the audience want to watch until its conclusion.

The Scam – Can this even be called a scam? The boys essentially offered to find the culprit for a fee. It doesn't really feel like the kids are being tricked. The Eds also don't come up with any funny or creative ideas. It's a mystery story through and through. Overall – I'd say the scam is

                                                                                   2/10

The scam of this episode is kinda Poopie Bad Stuff. Again, it's hard to call it a scam in this episode, since the kids didn't come up with a strange attraction or wacky invention.

So what are my opinions of The Edtouchables in summary? The introduction of our characters is some of the best I've ever seen in a cartoon. The story is engaging and the comedy has a few jokes that a younger audience may enjoy. However, there really isn't a scam to speak of in this episode – which is unfortunate considering how important scams become later in the series. The voice acting and characters can also be a little bit strange in this episode, but that's absolutely forgivable. The actors and the writers were still learning the characters, so it's normal for them to have a few issues that need ironed out. Overall, I'd give the episode “The Edtouchables”

6/10

The episode is a Hard Enjoy. The comedy could've been a bit better, as the show absolutely knows how to make some unforgettable jokes later on. The backgrounds could've benefited from more details, and the scam / story is just okay. However, in terms of introducing a main cast and different character personalities and dynamics – this first episode knocks it out of the park. A pretty decent start to an incredible cartoon that forever holds a place in my heart.

And while I just wrote over 5000 words for a review of Ed, Edd N Eddy – I would love to hear what you kind folks think of both the series and this pilot episode. Do you love this cartoon as much as I do? Feel free to let me know in the comments on this post. I appreciate you reading my ramblings and, as I always say, Good Night and Joy Be With You All.