Dawn of the Eds: Ed, Edd, n' Eddy Episode Seven Review

 

Foreword

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) Inoffensive. 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 six of Ed, Edd N' Eddy:

Dawn of the Eds

The title card is one of the more tamed ones. We are treated to a scary space theme, consisting of many sci-fi elements. There is a UFO firing some yellowish-green beam into a Frankensteined robot. The robot, the most prominent visual in the card, rides around on wheels with these odd tubes that resemble the heat exhaust on a dryer. He has two bug eyes and a body that looks like a heater or radiator. The whole scene is brought together by a close up of a screaming mouth in the bottom corner, hence the horror vibes. Judging by the title, which is clearly a play on Dawn of the Dead, I'd assume we would get some kind of alien invasion type episode.

The episode opens on the Eds in the alleyway. We see Eddy attempting to tie a rope around Ed, who keeps giggling and bouncing around. A quick scolding from Eddy gets him to stay still long enough to get tied off. We also see Double D walking into frame, laughing at this friends' hi-jinks. Double D then helps with the preparations and wraps Ed in cling wrap, hoping to protect him from "any disgusting or unsavory life form". Edd finishes the PPE with the addition of goggles, a scuba diving mouth piece and a pair of flippers.

The two boys then hoist Ed into the air via a homemade pulley system. With a lot of effort, they raise Ed high into the air and above a dumpster that he'd soon be diving into. Once the diving Ed is high up enough, Eddy leaves Double D to make sure that their friend will indeed land in the dumpster. Double D, not being strong enough to hold all of Ed's weight alone, gets flung into the air while Ed plummets into the trash.

Ed swims about while Eddy excitedly waits for their friend to find treasure. After a few quiet moments, Eddy shows legitimate concern and wonders how long Ed would be able to stay down there for. It bears repeating that this shows us Eddy's true character. He isn't some mindless, greedy monster. When his friends may be in danger, he grows concern for them. Double D begins to explain some sort of science mumbo jumbo but is cut off by Ed pulling on the rope, smacking the brainy Ed's head off the tree limb. Eddy recognizes it as the signal that Ed found something and quickly goes to help pull him out of the waste.

Once Ed emerges, he shows off his find of glass bottles, one attached to each finger. Double D and Eddy rejoice, chanting coins for jawbreakers. The plan, or scam as it were, is that the Eds plan on recycling the bottles for money. I am unsure if this is a practice that still goes on or if it has become a state-by-state decision - but, at the risk of sounding old, back in my day you would bring old cans or glass to... I guess a recycling plant? This is something that I've never personally done, and they would give you some change in exchange. Usually, you would only receive something like a dime or a quarter, but that is clearly enough for the boys to buy their desired orbs.

The Eds walk through the alley way, Ed still donned in his scuba gear and glass fingers still attached. Eddy and Double D discuss how much money they are going to receive, with Eddy being optimistic and Double D arguing that with current exchange rates they won't be swimming in jawbreakers. The discussion is cut short once the boys notice Ed is no longer following them. They back track a little way and notice that he is distracted by a movie poster.

"Robot Rebel Ranch" - a sci-fi movie about a group of astronauts marooned on a distant planet. The poster has a steel theme as a robot cowboy holds a flaming branding iron. We see a green planet that resembles Saturn in the back drop and the words "No escape" and "visitors from the void" (which is just exactly what my cat is) sprawled out in speech bubbles. All three boys become intrigued by the movie until Ed reads that the film is "Adults Only". He shouts "it's not fair" and slumps over in defeat. Man, those were the days - unable to see certain movies because of your age. I'm old.

Double D attempts to console their friend, saying that it'll be on TV within a year. Ed continues to sulk knowing that they will cut out all the good stuff. Eddy is convinced that they could scam their way into the movie. His first plan of action is for them to cash in the bottles for ticket money. This is also interesting for Eddy's character. Is he willing to give up on Jawbreakers for Ed's sake? Or is this simply the kind of movie that Eddy would also enjoy? He doesn't seem turned away from monster and horror flicks, as we certainly see in a future episode. Though it still feels a little strange that Eddy would be willing to do so much just because Ed was disappointed. It's a nice change of pace from the typical mean-spirited character that always acts like a brat. It gives this particular brat some much appreciated depth.

Having successfully cashed in the bottles, the kids are now riding a single bike through the neighborhood. Eddy rides on the handle bars while Ed and Double D share the seat. Ed also has the job of pedaling and steering. The boys discuss the plan further, with Eddy claiming he should walk in first since he is the most mature looking. He then tells Double D to play the role of his wife (oh no, creators, what have you done? Don't you know how people ship it?). Double D is grossed out by the idea and begins to use Ed's height as a counter argument.

Ed cuts off both boys and begins to explain the movie's plot. We are treated to a fun, quick animation and art style change while he talks. 3 space outlaws crash land on a robot planet. The outlaws have to fight off the robots and escape back to Earth before the robots can grind their bones to bits. When the spacemen lose control of their ship and hurtle themselves into a field of asteroids that almost crush them into space dust. They're sucked into a dimensional time portal and transported to the robot planet. The heroes find their ship destroyed and themselves trapped on the planet.

All the while Ed explains the plot, since he was the one steering, the boys ride through some ironic scenery such as a construction zone (wrecking ball serving as an asteroid) and through a pipe (the dimensional time portal) that deposits them at the dump. The fall destroyed the bike, marooning the boys here. With their imaginations running wild, the boys get frightened by a car being crushed and take off running, believing they are trapped on the robot planet.

We find our heroes hiding out in a broken-down convertible with Eddy proclaiming that they have to get out of here. Double D has a stroke of genius and fashions a spring from the seat into a headset. Using the radio, he attempts to contact Earth and receives no response. Eddy becomes slightly hysterical at the idea of being stranded. Ed, keeping a calm head, explains that there is not much time for them to find suitable shelter. He warns that the cold robot planet nights could squeeze the life out of them.

Desperate and alone, the boys search for shelter, the boys allowing Ed to take the lead. Fatigue is taking over Eddy and Double D and all three boys seem considerably less frightened now. Ed suggests finding a cave, as the space outlaws had done. Eddy mocks Ed's dramatic tone and claims how they will never find shelter before nightfall. That is, until he spots THE Van. For fans of the series, you would recognize the purple van with red flames from anywhere. The dump, and as a result this van, becomes a repeat location for the show. The Van in particular becomes a kind of safe haven the boys repeatedly return to. The boys investigate the van and find it has genuine, orange shag carpeting and a water bed. Eddy blares the horn and "La Cucaracha" loudly plays.

Satisfied with their new central command, we get a scene transition and see the boys all wearing homemade space suits from various pieces of trash they found. The boys are playing a form of tag, trying to capture Eddy. Eddy stops running at one point and produces fuzzy dice nun-chucks. His weapon is no match for the laser weapons that the other boys have constructed. The boys enter a mock battle that is interrupted by Ed noticing the Kanker sisters over the hill. The girls have Kevin strapped to a large tractor tire and keep spinning him, as some torturous game show. Kevin remains defiant, to which the girls respond with by making kissy faces? This would suggest the girls have similar infatuations with Kevin, though it could also just be how they terrorize the cal-de-sac as a whole.

Ed urges caution, saying that "hideous life sucking aliens have a captured a fellow space outlaw", which is a diss that will burn for centuries. Ed volunteers to rush down and save his fellow outlaw. The other boys attempt to stop him but end up falling down the hill in the process. Ed's shouting and large form scares off the sisters. There is a shot that is worth mentioning as Ed reaches the bottom of the hill. The sky is a nice orange, due to the setting sun. As such, we get some really neat shadows off Ed's body. The skewed camera angle is also an unusual one. The whole shot is different from the rest of the show in a very nice way. It has a real sense of action and urgency about it.

Ed reaches Kevin and begins to untie him, telling him not to panic. Kev falls to the ground, with some really nice and fluid animation that I didn't notice the first-time viewing. Kevin questions Ed's outfit, calls him a space dork, and peels off on his bike. Before Ed can respond, his fellow outlaws tumble into him, sending all three of them into a heap. The boys discuss Kevin quickly before they hear a T-Rex like screech. The boys cower behind Ed, asking what in the world could have made that noise. Ed answers with "Robot Bounty Hunters" before the screech causes the screen to fade to black.

When we fade back in we see the Ed searching for something. He hears a hissing and whirring noise and rushes into cover. He then hears the roar once more and sees an approaching shadow. He physically shakes off his fear and rounds the corner, shouting "Prepare to be terminated, Solar Scum!" We see the shadow grow large and tower over Ed. It has two wrenches for hands and a gaping, jagged maw. We, however, never see the monster. Instead, we see a close up of Ed's fear filled eyes before the scene fades - which is all delightfully creepy.

We cut to Eddy nervously pacing. He hears Ed shouting in the distant and becomes increasingly worried, though does nothing to find his troubled friend. I suppose his altruism couldn't last the whole episode, after all. Eddy frantically shakes Double D, asking if he is aware of how close the screams were getting. He then quickly shifts focus to a rocket ship that Double D had been attempting to repair, asking if the vessel is ready. As Double D is explaining his progress and how it's not ready yet, Eddy climbs into the single seat in the rocket ship and completely ignores his friend. He then notices that "there's only one seat in this thing." and feels the need to ask Edd "Why'd you just put in one seat, Double D?" Which this line does not fail to make me laugh.

Double D frustratingly explains that the ship is a prototype once more and that it requires testing. He assures the real one would be nicer and have more seats but Eddy doesn't care to listen and demands lift off. Double D begrudgingly agrees but not before slapping a protective cauldron on his head. Using a hair stylist pedal pump... thing... he angles Eddy and the rocket before pulling a lever to send him airborne. The rocket crumbles and falls apart, leaving Eddy with just the seat. Edd, nonchalantly decides to test the parachute and is satisfied that at least works. With a careless throw of the remote, the parachute deploys and then is cut from the chair, causing Eddy to plummet right onto Double D. Excellent slap stick.

The moment is interrupted by Ed sprinting as fast as he can pass the boys, shouting that the robots are coming. They look at their friend bewildered before seeing the massing hulks of metal lumbering towards them. The boys retreat back to The Van, having set up tires as makeshift cover. Ed monologues while the space outlaws await the coming battle. Ed counts down the boys before announcing their counter attack.

Eddy throws vaporizing cyber-grenades and they fire quasi-neuro lasers and subatomic blasters. We see the robots take damage as gaping holes in their metal are blown open. Ed continues the charge, commanding that his fellow outlaws hit them hard. We pan over, seeing the large shadows that turn out to be nothing more than Sarah and Jimmy. They repeatedly flinch and groan as harmless tin cans fly through the air at them.

Sarah finally yells, getting Ed's attention and breaking the immersion. Sarah growls as the boys cower from her. She questions what they've been doing before informing them that Ed has to come home for dinner. Eddy and Double D agree that dinner sounds like a good idea and seem to completely forget that they were invested in this make-believe scenario. We cut to a view of just Ed, once again narrating how all was lost and wondering if the lone outlaw could possibly escape this. The other boys impatiently wait for him before dragging him off, bringing the episode to a close.

The Story

This particular episode is cemented as one of my favorites and is a legitimate contender for the top spot. All of that comes from the imaginative story that plays before us. This episode perfectly captures what it means to be a kid and playing with your friends in the neighborhood. I can't tell you how many times my brother and I worked as spies dropping bombs while we biked away or using bats as light sabers. Or how I played with the other kids of the cal-de-sac as we engaged in secret espionage missions. Or how my best friend in elementary school, Geno, and I would dream of being these epic warriors fighting against impossible odds.

The premise of this story fits so close to home for me. The way the story unfolds and is shot leads us to believe these events and become immersed along with the Eds. It's the type of imaginative story telling that I still try to hold with me and sprinkle into my fiction or even video commentary. I loved how Ed fully embodied the little kid telling his parents, somewhat incoherently, about his imagination. Everything I love about this story and I challenge you to point out flaws in the narrative. An easy

10/10

Big Boi Lovings

The Comedy

There were certainly some great, laughable moments in this episode. Great slapstick moments, especially with Eddy and Double D. A few quick witted lines also managed to get some good laughs out of me, which is really I can ask for whenever present with this show's comedy. That being said, none of the jokes in this line are particularly quotable to me. I love the “why only one seat” line, but it wasn't one that was instantly memorable to me. If I'm being honest, if it wasn't for this rewatch of the series, and taking particular note of the episode's content – I wouldn't have thought about this line when quoting this show.

That being said – I still enjoyed the jokes this episode did have an believe it is well deserving of a

7/10

P. Good

The Visuals

Phenomenal. Creative designs and ideas combined into a wonderful visual spectacle. To start, I loved the designs of the robots. Although simple, they fit the horror edge this episode was trying to exude. Tall and menacing, especially whenever we only see their long reaching shadows. The episode does a great job of keeping the monster hidden, as many horror medias do. We don't see the actual threat until it is launching it's attack.

Some noteworthy costumes as well, seeing both the Eds in their space craft often, as well as seeing their safe haven of The Van. I loved seeing what the Eds saw in their imagination, both with the fearsome robots and the weapons they were using. I always wanted one of the Ed's laser weapons.

And of course I have to bring up the wonderfully fluid animation of Kevin falling to the ground and the unique angle and style of Ed running down the hill. All the elements of this episode combined into a visual affair that easily earns a

9/10

P. Awesome

The Scam

Well... there really isn't a scam in this episode. The Eds dumpster diving and planning to recycle the glass bottles doesn't really count, does it? No one is being tricked out of their money or given a half-baked service. The only kind of scam the Eds spoke of us was the brief conversation of how they would sneak into the movie theater. The scheming is cut short, however, and we never really hear another word of it. Can't really say there is a scam in this episode and therefore it only earns a

3/10

Bad

Total

If you were add up all the numbers, you would quite obviously get a

10/10

Big Boi Lovings

Yes. The math does line up. No. Don't question me. But to defend my position, this episode is one of the most creative and imaginative in the entire series, let alone the entire season. I had so much fun watching this episode and would highly recommend it to anyone who has never seen the show. It is one that deserves to be on my regular watch rotation. So far, it is the best rated episode I've reviewed so far and is currently sitting at the top of my episode rankings.

Backword

There you have it, folks! One of my favorite episodes of one of my favorite cartoons. Do you agree with my assessment? Would you have reviewed this episode as highly as I have? Please share your thoughts in either the comments, somewhere on social media or by emailing us at ragdollgamers.business@gmail.com!

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