Ed, Edd et Eddy

Though young people might enjoy this show, it can only be fully appreciated by older adults. EEnE takes us back to the carefree days of our pre-teen years. No matter which decade in which you were 12, this timeless show will resonate with you. The Eds and their friends are on perpetual summer vacation, back in the days before the internet and cable TV. They while away the aimless days creating misadventures and pre-teen power struggles. Jawbreakers really were the ultimate delicacy to strive for. Each episode recalls some aspect of those old summer vacations we had forgotten about until now. This surreal view of pre-pubescence hits home in a timeless, powerful way.

I have been watching "The Eds" since they first came to Cartoon Network. After recently reading a review of this show, I decided to make a comment. Many people complain about the animation quality of the show. However, I would like to point out that this is a CARTOON. This isn't real life, nor does it claim to portray real life. Therefore, it may be forgiven that the art isn't up to the quality of classic cartoons (Loony Tunes, Tom and Jerry, etc.). In truth, I really appreciate the animation of this show. It adds to the energy that the show has. A constant liveliness runs in every episode, just as kids are in real life.

The characters seem so familiar to me (after all, I'm 19, and childhood wasn't too long ago). Each one is exaggerated, but they each seem more realistic the more that they are pushed to extremes. The girly guy (Jimmy), the tomboy girl (Sarah) - reminiscent of some of my friends. The hot girl everyone wants (Naz), the jerk who of course has the best "chance" with her (Kevin) - who hasn't known those two? The guy who lives outside of reality (Johnny), and the guy who works too hard (Rolf) - yep, been there too. Of course, those are gross simplifications, as there is quite a bit to everyone in the show.

Creativity - the show is full of it. The show's premise - three guys whose life lives around making money - is surprisingly fresh. Generally, characters in a kids' show deal just with growing up (As Told By Ginger and Hey Arnold come to mind). Those shows tend to bog down sometimes. I personally found Hey Arnold to be too serious for me. The Eds, though? Comedy in its truest form. It never bogs down, becomes sentimental, depressing, or anything of the sort. Instead, it gives us constant humour and action. The characters live in a constant summer, so to speak. It is never schooltime, it is never winter. There are no parents, no responsibilities. Only desire. Perhaps even, if one was to truly be devoted to the show, one could argue that The Eds could be a study on the psychological aspects of each character type. But I'm not going to go that far.

Stock episodes tend to be the worst ones for shows. By stock episodes, I mean Christmas, Halloween, etc. The standard episodes that every show does to show its diversity and have something to be played at a certain time of year. There have been few to do these well (Rugrats, sorry but your Passover special is much better than your Christmas). The Eds treat it differently - they all get the Christmas spirit in July. How wonderful is that? As I said, perpetual summer. Halloween is done in a unique way - it's not really Halloween. Instead they do a sort of "scary" mystery episode. Very nice, with a great ending.

But what about the lack of parents or any other adults? Adults would detract from the cartoon. While adults worked for a show like Rugrats, bringing adult humour to an otherwise children's cartoon, the humour in the Eds is already mature enough to be enjoyed by adults as well as kids. Ed's slapstick humour is purely in fun, reminding one of Harpo Marx, though slightly exaggerated and dumbed down, of course. But his slapstick is so oustandingly unrealistic that adults can appreciate it. Edd provides the verbal wit that allows for humour that can be a bit more mature. And let's face it, the older you get, the more you appreciate verbal humour over "kick in the groin" style of humour. So why would you need adults in this show? It would only detract from that fantasy "perpetual summer" that I mentioned earlier.

Before judging the show to be a piece of rubbish passed off as a show (as I have heard all-too often from people who've just seen the drawing), you should try watching a few episodes. Don't Rain On My Ed is my favorite, showing off the classic Murphy's Law and how everyone reacts to it. Another is their delving into the cartoon world, One + It even ends with a slightly religious connotation (which makes that ending so much better if you think of it like that). If you watch these two episodes and find yourself disliking it still, then don't watch it. However, you should find the humour quite appealing.

I'm really not a huge cartoon fan, I really didn't even want to watch Ed,Edd,and Eddy. But, one day my younger brother sat me down and told me to watch it. I was so surprised that the show had made me laugh out loud so many times. Honestly though, there is only one character that keeps me watching it whenever I see it on, Ed. Come on people, I don't know anyone who hasn't sat down and not laughed at Ed. He's stupid and he usually speaks in some sort of jumbled up riddle. Just today I walked in on an episode where he said "What can you do if you live in a shoe and you ain't got no soul." As I have listed above. The other characters are great, the plot lines are usually a little weak, but I don't expect much more from a cartoon. Don't be so skeptical of it because its a cartoon, or maybe you think your too old. Just watch it, you'll see.

Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy has made me laugh time and time again. There is also something appealing about the universe which the characters inhabit with no adult supervision, at least not visible to the audience. If I was a parent to these kids I would send them to a nut house (that goes for all the characters.

Here's a rough sketch of each: 1) Ed, the dimwit who is totally controlled by his impulses. 2) Edd (Double D): The geek who would like to be a saint but can't help but be influenced by Ed and Eddy because it might give him some laughs and the ultimate prize - the jawbreaker. 3) Eddy: Totally controlled by his greed and ego but also has inferiority complexes regarding his height and communicating with girls (Nazz). 4) Kevin: The jock who thinks everybody are more lame than himself including his best friend Rolf. He hates Eddy the most but still he can't live without him because where would he go to boost his own ego. He also has a major crush on Nazz. 5) Sarah: Has a nasty temper but also a childish need to be the center of attention not unlike Eddy. 6) Jimmy: A girl in boy drag who also schemes to get revenge on Eddy who has scammed him time and time again. 7) Jonny 2*4: Friendly on the outside but when someone tries to take advantage of his pal Plank (with who he has some kind of ESP like connection) he turns into a homicidal maniac. 8) Rolf: A burly guy from an undisclosed foreign country who is also friendly on the outside but when he gets mad - watch out because he has superhuman strength. 9) Nazz: The airhead pretty girl but also the one who tolerate the Eds and even joins Eddy in his scams a few times. 10) And last but not least the Kanker sisters: Totally insane girls who behave like hicks who visit the big city and are hungry for love but haven't a clue on how to attract the opposite sex.

The first two seasons were moderately entertaining but the characters weren't really fleshed out yet. Nazz, for example hardly seemed to exist at all. Later, they started to develop. In later seasons which are my favorites Eddy becomes more shrill and Double D more whining. Ed actually had more to do in the first two seasons because his obsession with old horror movies was more a basis for his character. Gradually, he just becomes an oath although a lovable oath. The Ed universe becomes more of a staple where the locations gets wider - we actually see the candy store and the nearby lake in later episodes. Still no adults if you don't count Ed's nightmare where his mother turns out to be Jonny.

I also love the way the creators tampers with cartoon conventions. In one such instance Eddy actually says to Double D: We don't wanna hurt those badly drawn fingers and Ed references earlier episodes in the time capsule episode. So all I really have to say what a magnificent thought out premise. I hear that new shows are in development where we finally see the Eds in school. That I'm looking forward to because I think Eddy would collapse in that situation.

Even if it did lose its way later on, this show is hilarious and very endearing.

The visual style is quite unique, it isn't the most beautiful-looking of all cartoons but the characters move well and the backgrounds are nice to look at.

The music is pretty irresistible, the theme tune especially will have you whistling for a while afterwards.

The stories are admittedly daft and off-the-wall but they are fun as well, and the dialogue verges on the hysterical side of things.

The characters are likable. Ed is an idiotic goof ball but we love him for it, and I love Edd for the fact he is smart and intelligent and Eddy because while he is small his mouth more than makes up for it.

Sarah is every brother's worst nightmare, bratty, selfish and ungrateful, while Jimmy has his annoying moments but he is cute. Johnny and his plank are nice additions and the Kanker sisters while flirtatious are positively revolting.

Overall, despite meandering over recent years, it is a hilarious show that is easy to like. 8/10 Bethany Cox