Pop Goes the Ed - Ed, Edd, N Eddy Episode 3 Review

Intro

Ed, Edd N Eddy for the longest time has been my personal favorite cartoon. Recently, HBOMax has picked up several cartoons from the late 90s and early 2000s. Unsurprisingly, I went on an immediate nostalgia bender and binged watch the entire series with my lady love. And what better way to celebrate several of my favorite cartoons than by systematically reviewing each episode, starting with the dorks of 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 have 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 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 three of Ed, Edd N' Eddy

Pop Goes The Ed

The title card for the third episode treats us to a picture of a... cat? Maybe? It also could be some sort of white puppet... thing. We also see a hose that is... protruding from the creature's behind and connected to a water pipe. The water is clearly turned on as water is spewing forth from the cat's mouth and it is giving a rather pained expression. I... am not sure what to take from this title card. Certainly abstract. As to what this work of art could mean for the episode? Well, I would make the assumption that the Eds go to some sort of water park and cause some mischief. I would guess that some sort of outdoor water activity goes awry - maybe not necessarily involving a nightmare fueled cat but some sort of misadventure. Other than the horrific implications of the title card, it's not very memorable. It'll stick with me - because a hose in a cat's butt is not something you soon forget, but that isn't necessarily a good thing. It does hint at the possible story of the episode fairly well, as we'll soon see.




The episode opens with one of my favorite "scams" that the Eds have done - The Ed's Hive Bee Gone service. As you can guess from the pun, it is a beehive removal service. Reason why this is so memorable is Ed boys are wearing. Each has on a white jumpsuit with their business name scrawled on it in pen or marker. They also have on a different color football helmet. I've spent segments of my childhood daydreaming about having my own beehive removal service. I even went as far as to act it out in Animal Crossing; coming up with a business venture where I would travel to different towns and remove the three wasp nests that spawn there. I hesitate to call it a scam because, as with the serial toucher episode, the Eds are providing a legitimate service. They aren't tricking anyone out of their money, even if they poorly provide the service. So as far as scams go - it really isn't one. It is still one of my favorite businesses they ever concocted.


Our first shot is of Eddy looking at their target hive through binoculars (which spawn a fantastic meme that I'll post here: ) before signaling to the other Eds that they are going to move in on it. The Eds approach the hive with baseball bats in hand. Eddy initially leads the charge, but the cautious look on his face tells us pretty quickly that he's going to back out at the last minute. He slyly scoots to the back while allowing the much more determined looking Edd and Ed to take out the hive. The two boys wack the hive several times as Eddy grimaces from a safe distance. When he opens his eyes he lets a fear filled scream before taking off. A second later we see Edd and Ed following suit as the chase music picks up. A swarm of angry bees charges after the boys, ready to defend their home.


The angry insects chase the Eds back to Eddy's home. The lead Ed boy reaches the residence first and quickly ducks inside - barring the door behind him. We hear and see several desperate attempts at opening the door by the other Eds before all becomes quiet. Eddy opens the door to check and sees his friends stung all over and their entire bodies swollen. They grimace in pain as Ed asks for the boys to do something else.


It happens to be a particularly hot day in the cal-de-sac today (not unlike my home is currently). The boys are desperate to find some sort of relief to the heat wave. Their first attempt at refuge is to find some shade to hide in. They each dog pile under the shade of a tree but are unable to enjoy the oasis for terribly long, as the sun's harmful rays begins to eat away at the shadow. They each bunch up as close to the tree as they can but it is little to no use. They desperately move from cover to cover, trying to find more shade. During their desperate search, Ed has a suggestion for where they can cool off. Eddy states he is desperate enough to believe Ed and we are treated to a cut away.


We cut to Ed's house, where his sister Sarah is desperately looking for ice to cool off with. She approaches the fridge and takes a look in the freezer only to find the Ed boys frozen in a solid block of ice. The cube slides out of the fridge and are kicked out of the house by Sarah - sending the boys sliding into the horrendous heat. They melt with the ice cube and the scene changes once more.


The boys are desperate for refreshments. They are crawling their way through a desert landscape in dire search of a drink. Eddy finally gives up hope, stating "The fat lady just sang, boys". Ed adds "My life is flashing before my eyes." To which Eddy immediately chimes in with "What life?" The boys stare up at the sun as they prepare for a sweet release before we see Kevin step into frame, blocking out the sun. He questions what the Eds are up to, and we get a cut away to see the Eds are crawling around in a sandbox at a playground. They all respond with a nonchalant "nothing" before Kevin calls them dorks. He then speeds away on his bike, mentioning Nazz is having a sprinkler party.


Eddy decides they are going to crash the party and brings the Ed's back to his room. He begins to search for something important to bring to the party and offers the Eds to relax. Ed immediately dives into the bed and finds some sort of magazine after messing up the covers. Edd gives preference to standing in the corner "like he usually does". We then get a quick peek at Eddy's room, our first time seeing it in the series so far.


Eddy's room is rather large and contains a huge circle shape bed with blue bed coverings. Inside his room is a plethora of 80s memorabilia, including a disco ball, a lava lamp, magic 8 ball, huge speakers, an old fashion lamp and so on. There is also a mix of beauty products, such as hair gel, and a few unlit candles. Eddy eventually finds a key hidden away inside a dresser. He proceeds to open a cupboard saying "Now for the secret of schmoozing, the rapture of rap, the snap, crackle, pop of cool. He pulls out a gold box that contains three speedos, claiming they are the swimsuits of the gods before admitting they are his brother's.


Eddy proceeds to change into the speedo before running some hair gel through his scalp and drawing on a few chest hairs with pencil. The other boys are also wearing the swimsuits - Ed being shirtless while Double D is still wearing his. Edd states how he is uncomfortable with the clothing while Ed begins giggling. Eddy insists that they are looking hot, which prompts Double D to ask Ed if he is feeling hot. We get, possibly, another adult joke as Ed states "Nah, I'm half baked." This may or may not be a reference to drugs - as being "baked" means one is under the influence. Eddy ushers his friends to the party, ready to become the center of attention.


When they arrive, it appears all the kids are present. Eddy craves the attention of a big entrance and forces the other boys along. Eddy bursts into the backyard with his friends behind him. They each make a jump for the pool but miss horribly and end up dogpiling each other. Sarah, Jimmy and Kevin are the first of the kids to notice the intrusion - with Kevin being the first to confront the boys. He begins by rubbing off Eddy's fake chest hair. Eddy responses with a painful wedgie. The two boys are ready to square off but are stopped by Nazz insisting it's a party and they should chill out. The boys literally melt, causing a giggle to escape Nazz before she steps off screen.


We then get a cut away to a buffet table. We see Rolf and Jimmy standing there, with Rolf salivating over a pig's head. Jimmy is grossed out by the decapitated head and asks what it is. Rolf responses with "Stuffed pig's head - a favorite of my country". Jimmy counters with a quiche and presents to Rolf. We get a strange reaction out of Rolf - who is afraid the party is cursed because Jimmy brought that dish. He runs off screaming, causing Jimmy to get emotional. Sarah comforts the boy while Eds begin to gorge themselves on the food - tossing a few bites over to a lounging Eddy. Edd keeps handing Ed burgers before finally giving him the pig's head. Ed tosses the dish directly into Eddy's mouth, causing Double D to laugh at his misfortune. This shows us that the Eds are unafraid of pranking each other and will make one of them the butt of their jokes. Ed, without missing a beat, grabs Edd and throws him at Eddy - launching the boy directly into his stomach. Eddy spits out the Pig's Head and causes it to land directly in Jimmy's quiche.


Eddy then demands the boys stop goofing around and start to mingle. Ed begins to ask some of the kids if they have seen a movie called Attack of the Zombie Brain Munchers. Edd begins to talk about an operation involving new brain extraction techniques. The two boys keep explaining the media they watch - with the two stories coinciding in a perfect way. Jimmy eventually faints as the other kids become more and more terrified of the stories. Eddy facepalms before rushing over to correct his friends' behavior.


We then get a cut away to dance music playing while the kids start to dance and party. We do see that Rolf has returned to the party, despite having run off earlier. Eds try to join in (which creates a wonderful gif) but as soon as they reach the impromptu dance floor, the other kids separate and go back to the food. The boys look at the group confused before Eddy pulls his friends into a huddle, stating that it is time for the big one. Eddy climbs a ladder placed next to a fence while the two boys stand next to the water sprinkler. Eddy reaches the top of the ruinously large fence before manifesting a megaphone. He yells to get the kids' attention but to no success. He states he is about to perform the most daring feat the world has ever seen. The Double-Gaggle, Half-Twist, Hold the Onions, change for a buck - sprinkler leap. A tense silence fills the scene before Eddy jumps off the fence, belly flopping onto the ground. He then charges at the Eds standing by. He then jumps clear over the fence into the Eds arms. The boys all strike a pose - causing their speedos to fly off their bodies.


One flies off into Plank, causing him to smack Johnny in the head. Another flies into Kevin's hot dog, dislodging the weiner and causing him to munch on the fabric. The final one lands into the punch bowl, which Jimmy has the misfortune of drinking. Music begins playing again and the kids go back to dancing.


The Eds are clearly embarrassed and scared. They cover themselves before making a run for the pool . The boys dive in and successfully hide their private bits. Sarah wanders over and demands that it is her and Jimmy's turn in the pool. The Eds are able to fight the kids off, with Jimmy pulling Sarah away. We then have Nazz approach the boys, asking if she can join them. The boys are all nervous before Eddy makes a comment about Ed having three nipples like the bad guy in James Bond - referring to the movie "The Man With The Gold Gun", specifically Francisco Scaramanaga. Nazz laughs and decides to leave the boys alone. Double D then points to a large cake that Rolf brought over, which greatly tempts the Eds to leave the pool. Eddy keeps his friends in the privacy of the water. We get a complaint from Double D, who is upset that he is beginning to prune.


Night falls and we see the kids gathered around a campfire and roasting marshmallows. The Eds are still taking refuge in the pool and have become freezing cold. They are desperate to leave the pool, but Eddy keeps them in its confides. Another transition shows more time has passed and the other kids have all gone to sleep inside. We cut over to the Eds who are still freezing cold and are now swollen from all the water. Edd states the coast is clear and Eddy agrees for them to take off. They attempt to exit the pool but are unable too because of their swollen bodies. They only manage in pulling the skirt up around their bodies like a skirt. They take off running, taking whatever chances they can get. As they flee into the darkness, they slip on the pig's head, which causes them to roll and bounce into a tree. they poke their heads out from the foliage one by one. When Ed pokes his head out it's revealed a beehive has found itself around his noggin. The boys scream as bees begin to defend their home. They run off into the night, trying to escape the stings and embarrassment. The episode then fades to black and the credits roll.

The Breakdown

Visuals


Nothing too noteworthy occurred during this episode We were treated to a few visual gags that still hold up pretty well. We also got a closer look at the fun 80s aesthetic to Eddy's room. Other than those two items - the visuals more less have stayed the same from the previous episode. As you will see with the later episodes, the visual style does not change much. The show holds up visually, but unless something noteworthy occurs the visuals will stay at a score of:

8/10

P. Great

Comedy




The jokes in this episode consisted of more slapstick but sprinkled in a couple of quick one liners from Eddy. There also seemed to be some extra care that was put into the cutaway gags that were prevalent in this episode. While I didn't necessarily find myself busting out laughing, I was entertained all the way through. Overall I'd say the comedy is:

7/10

P. Good

Story




The story in this episode was done fairly well. It had some natural progression of the boys looking something to do only to be hindered by the heat. They later find a way to beat the heat and attempt to fit in as the cool kids. It felt very natural for these young boys to try so hard to act cool around their friends, not knowing that is what is causing most of the problems. The story of this particular episode feels like it belongs in this universe. That being said, while it is a good fit, it also didn't do anything new. This is a story, excluding the Ed, Edd N Eddy twist on the comedy, that we've seen countless times in other cartoons. That being said, I'd say the story is overall:

8/10

P. Great

The Scam




This is a hard one for to score this episode. I absolutely love the Ed's Hive Bee Gone job. I loved the outfits and the idea of the business made me imagine myself performing the role. That being said, it also wasn't the main focus of the episode and it didn't trick anyone out of their money. So, because of the nostalgia, it's only fair that I give it a rating of:

5/10
Aight

With the individual scores set, we ultimately land on a final rating of:

7/10

P. Good

This was a pretty good episode. I enjoyed a lot of the visual gags and the cutaways. The story felt believable and like it belonged in this universe. The visuals held up well, as they usually do. This is an episode I would recommend and I wouldn't mind revisiting in the future. But enough about my opinions, what did you find folks think? You can let me know your thoughts on this episode in the comments in the below OR by joining our mailing list!




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I appreciate you all so much for reading this review and, as always, Good Night and Joy Be With You All!