#a twist of ed

Sorry for the delay! I have been busy! I had a great vacation to California and then I had a few other little outings. Just a heads up, I’m not sure how much I will be updating in Augst due to work, but I will update whenever I can. For now, enjoy A Twist of Ed!

Edd lowers Ed down on a rope. He’s still testing out Ed as the guinea pig to his operation. Any reason? As implied in Too Smart of His Own Ed, Edd doesn’t think too highly of Ed. Then again, he understands Edd’s theory in his own way.

Edd knows that Eddy won’t go through with it, still having no clue to what is going on.

So, why doesn’t Edd go?

It’s possible that Edd wants to see how the plan falls through with Ed first. Notice how Edd gains more confidence once the Kanker’s have backed off?

I love this subtle moment where Edd has trouble climbing back up into the tree. Edd is stronger then he lets on. He’safraid of his own strength due to the incident that happened in his childhood. 

His behavior, and the way he takes charge in this episode, lead me to believe that he is hiding the inner kid inside him that he wants to release. Only, his parents have trapped him. Although Edd knows that it won’t do any good, he tries everything to get his parents to notice his accomplishments, even joining the football team! 

“I belt you good day, ladies!” Edd greats the Kankers. 

Even the Kankers are caught off guard.

Aside from May having a crush on Ed, Lee and Marie are also fond of Ed. The girls have crushes on each individual Ed. 

The Kanker’s definitely learned a lot from their mother.

While their mother certainly got around as a teenager, I think she is overprotective with her daughters. I had mentioned that she refused to let them roam about the cul-de-sac having found out how much they wandered out of the house in the earlier seasons. Notice how the girls didn’t have that many appearances in season 3?

The girls have abided their mother, especially here. They realize what her words mean and learn to respect her more.

I love this shot or the camera pulling back into the tree with Edd and Eddy. It creates a suspenseful vibe. 

“You better be sure about this or Eds a goner!” Eddy warns Edd. Clearly, he wasn’t all for this plan. Throughout this episode, Edd never asks Eddy for his opinion while across the series Edd always asks Eddy what he thinks of his ideas. 

I love how Eddy is so protective of Ed. Eddy has been friends with Ed much longer than Edd has. 

We’ll get into more behind Edd’s behavior later on. 

Is anyone else reminded of the quicksand scene from BPS because of the way Edd tied the rope around himself?

Edd responds, “Have faith in the science of the mind, Eddy.”

Before the Kanker’s are about to jump Ed, Ed catches May off guard by shouting her name. 

Ed pays close attention to people and his environment. 

I am a big EdMay shipper! Post BPS I think Ed and May will start dating. 

“You look very pretty today!”

Oh, like that doesn’t look anything like… why don’t I just stop talking.

I do like how there a butterflies flying out from May’s hair.

The butterfly represents endurance, change, hope, and life.

May has a significant character change in the latter half of the series. She takes control of her own life instead of being controlled by her sisters. 

Blushing, May is so taken by Edd’s comment. “Jee, you’re makin’ me break out in a rash, Big Ed!”

May is adorable!

I think she is also embarrassed. The Kanker’s are not complimented enough. For most of their life, they’ve been hit with criticism. They’ve grown up differently from everyone else. Did their mother ever tell them what to do if a boy ever complimented them? Did a man, or anyone, ever compliment Mrs. Kanker?

Both Lee and Marie comment that Ed is good looking, while Marie cracks, ‘In a weird kind of way.”

They still don’t know how to act around boys. They haven’t been given a healthy lesson about men.

Suddenly, Ed grabs Lee and Marie around the waists announcing that it is time to mambo.

The girls are perturbed by this touch. Again, I will get into my theory later on.

Smashing them together, Ed forcefully tapes their hands to his hip.

“Slow down, casanova! We ain’t cooked yah dinner yet!”

Clearly, their mother has given them dating advice and told her share of stories. And this has never happened to them before, where the male figure is leading them on. Normally, they’d lead the Eds on.

Where did Ed learn to dance?

Ed’s wish is to become a ballet dancer in the future. He must have a passion to dance.

I love this screenshot!

Ed forcefully dances with them for a few more seconds until Lee and Marie are catapulted offscreen.

And then, getting down on one knee, Ed has a question for May.

“May I have your hand in carriage?”

And Ed tries to eat her hand! What kind of wedding proposals has he watched?

Uncomfortable, May backs away from Ed.

In the next scenes, the girls are beating each other up, or rather just May, fighting for this hairpin. Each Kanker believes that it will impress their man.

So, they actually do have feelings for the Eds. They still like torturing them. Since the girls are hitting puberty and discovering their feelings for themselves, the Kankers unearth what love is seeing if it’s what their mother has told them.

The Kanker’s have a very different lifestyle from everyone else. They were raised by their mother. It’s never fully stated if the girls have three different dads but it is heavily implied that a couple or all of them have walked out. 

Once you really study the girls home lives, the Kankers don’t have much. And they live with that. It’s how they grew up.

I think the Kanker’s want to expand their horizons. Their mother has kept them more grounded. Notice how they roamed the cul-de-sac more in the earlier seasons and then they only remain in the trailer park?

I’ll give another brief analysis of the moment but the girls are trying to prove their mother wrong. Kanker’s behavior raises numerous questions but the girls are trying to be independent to discover their world’s true colors and their own identities. 

Terrific animation! 

Poor May!

Lee matter of factly states that the pin is going in her hair.

Hmm, I have never seen Lee as the type of girl who needs to impress her man. She is happy with herself. Maybe she has hit puberty and is discovering ‘those feelings’.

I wonder how much their mother is around. She has to work a lot. I know the adults are supposed to be around but they’re invisible to viewers eyes, I think that the Kanker’s mother is actually absent. She works late hours to keep a roof over her daughters. 

I have a theory that the Kanker’s mother gave her daughters the talk around May I Have This Ed, or season 6. Notice how the girls have backed away from jumping the Eds? Sure, they get into a whole argument and explode in a jealous rage about the Eds at the dance. 

The Kanker’s are noticeably calmer and would rather defend the Eds then harass them. They’re treated as the heroes rather the antagonists in BPS. 

Stretching out Lee’s hair, Marie is not done defending herself yet. 

From this angle, it looks like Lee has no eyes. 

And Marie shoves Lee right into a tree, making a Lee shaped hole. 

Oddly foreshadows an indent that happens later in the episode. 

One of the best lessons the Kanker’s mother taught them is to never lose to a fight. I love the Kanker’s courage.

Also, Marie’s fear is a rare trait. I have a headcanon that she is hiding her true personality because she fears what others will think about her. 

Excited that he now has a plan to solve their Kanker dilemma, Edd announces his plan to Eddy.

Edd loves whenever he makes Eddy happy. Edd’s fear is upsetting people, especially adults, but mainly his parents. Ed and Eddy are the first people, Edd’s own age, to actually trust and fully support him. That’s why he’d rather be with Ed and Eddy than the kids. 

Edd explains that only a rock can break a rock.

Enraged Eddy is put out that with all the time Edd spent thinking that this was the best plan he came up with.

Even Ed is unsure, too.

Explaining that it is only an analogy, Edd informs them that they will use reverse psychology to solve their Kanker dilemma. 

I like the subtle details that there are other people, especially adults, inhabiting the Eds world. Other people are not important in the Eds memories as the cul-de-sac kids had more of an impact in their childhood. 

Oh, look! It’s the famous Edd meme!

I wouldn’t be surprised if Edd has insomnia on some nights. I have a headcanon that on some nights his parents don’t come home or they’re home very late. Feeling anxious to sleep, he would read. 

Remember in Jumanji when Peter used reverse psychology on Allen to get him to play the game? I wonder if that is also a source to where Edd got this idea. Inspired, Edd got this book and read in on it more. 

Oh, and also, Edd will totally become a mad scientist some day.

Still not understanding, Eddy thinks that the plan is to kit the Kanker’s with the book.

I’m surprised. Eddy would hit a girl? He did remark in season 2 that if Sarah weren’t Ed’s sister that he may have hurt her in some way. Eddy can say that, but I don’t think he’d do it. That’s Bro talking. Eddy would rather settle situations by talking them out. And that’s what helps out from his forced mask in Big Picture Show. Words help. 

Ed declares that the only way he can clear things out is with a demonstration.

Oh, admit it, Edd, you love your friends. No friendship is similar. Being different makes a relationship all the more impactful. You keep learning something new every day. 

“Ed,” Edd starts out sporting his very own Bro chin.

“Listen carefully now, do not eat that dirt!”

I love the direction and angles in this scene. I especially love the way Eddy reacts. 

He is always on guard with the way others treat Ed. Eddy gives Ed more of a chance than anyone. Kevin was seconds from mocking Ed in a season 2 episode and Eddy breaks it up, feeling insulted that someone would actually insult Ed. 

Ed waves it off like it’s nothing.

But it gets to him and he cannot leave it alone.

Ed sits down for a Thanksgiving dirt while Eddy berates Edd questioning why Ed ate the dirt when he was clearly told not to.

Edd’s pose is so cute. 

I love hoe takes charge in this episode. He learned his leadership skills from Eddy.

“That’s reverse psychology!” Edd eagerly explains. “In order to defeat our enemy, we must become our enemy!”

Edd has really gone to the dark side in this episode. He really wants the Kanker’s to leave them alone. It’s the same attitude he has when he glimpses the kids for just a brief second in BPS telling the kids that ‘you’re going to get it’ when they meet Bro for the first time.

Edd truly has a dark side. 

Rolf politely greets Ed, or by calling Ed ‘bunt-cake-for-brain-Ed-Boy’. He then explains that he is using the smaller rock to crush the bigger rock.

Misunderstanding, Ed and Rolf rant off on this whole gimmick on what is actually crushing the rock.

“Bunt cake crushes rock?”

“No, only rock will break rock!”

Hearing this helps Edd figure out an idea.

Ed: "Pizza slice breaks rock?”

Rolf: “Ed-boy! No pizza, ROCK!”

Ed: “Half-eaten pretzel bagel breaks rock?”

“MUST ROLF BEAT SOME SENSE INTO THAT OVERCOOKED NOODLE THAT YOU CALL A HEAD?!”

Before Rolf can actually beat over the head, Edd congratulates Rolf for being a source of inspiration to his new plan.

Unbenknowst to Rolf, Ed takes the rock from him and throws it into the air within passing. Unfortunately, it lands and hits Rolf on the head.

“Rolf, too years the simple life as a noodle head.”

Rolf just wants to be free. He wants to think like Ed. He wants to understand that free feeling the kids all have. I think Rolf feels trapped within his setting and its heavily implied in his scenes in Big Picture Show.

In the next scene, Rolf is destroying a big rock with a smaller rock. There is no context to why he is doing this in the first place. Is it a chore that his family needs him to do?

Rolf has to do all the chores. Ever since they moved to America his dad had to get a real job. It’s never specified if Rolf has any siblings. Seeing how he is the only one who is seen doing chores maybe he is an only sibling. Or based on a line from Rolf that he was the first born male of the family, he could have a couple of sisters.

Women are praised in Rolf’s culture. Do they have to do any of the work?

Keep in mind that Rolf has a big family. His parents, possible siblings, and Grandmother lives with him. Rolf is just doing his duties. He grew up differently from everyone else.

And then Edd wanders into the scene pondering over the rocks as Rolf proudly walks off.

Thinking that Edd has a plan to hit the Kanker’s with a rock Eddy pauses reprimanding himself on why he didn’t think up that idea.

Hollering incessantly again that Edd has disappeared, Eddy is not in a good mood in this episode.

One aspect that turned me off from Eddy’s character was his annoyingly loud voice. He screams a lot in season 4 and 5. And that’s when he’s suffering the most from a mental crisis and the past with his brother.

I have a headcanon that season 4 takes places in August. The trees are changing colors in later episodes. I know we see a July calendar at one point but what if Eddy had switched the calenders much earlier on? The Eds are heading into a new milestone. They’re entering sixth grade. Which means they’re young adults.

Eddy fears growing up. He also fears that he wasted his childhood. He doesn’t understand the relationship he had with Bro or why his parents want to keep them separated.

The school does not help Eddy since teachers are not on his side. Therefore, Eddy is extra stressed out about the looming school year.

Rolf makes his mark.

“EAT SLIME!!”

I think Rolf could defeat Godzilla.

Ed is so lucky that he lives in a cartoon universe. Unphased Ed asks what Rolf is doing with the rocks.

Since Edd has been placed in the position to think of a plan, he retires to the back seat of the van for total peace. 

However, the total peace part isn’t going to happen with Ed and Eddy badgering him to think.

This scene is like me trying to sleep at night while I constantly think about all my stories when I am supposed to be sleeping. 

“THINK! THINK! THINK! THINK! THINK! THINK!….”

I love how Ed just takes one look at Eddy and mirrors his actions in an instant. Ed looks up to Eddy. Edd, too. They’re the only people who he can really trust. And Edd and Eddy see the value in Ed, unlike his home life. 

“THINK! THINK! THINK! THINK! THINK! THINK! THINK!…”

“VERY WELL THEN!!!” Edd screams.

Look at Eddy. He’s not fond of anyone screaming in his face. It triggers bad memories from Bro.

“And it better be good,” Eddy concludes placing his hands against his hips. 

Edd decides to venture outside so he can better. Eddy gives chase.

They’re no longer afraid to walk outside knowing that the Kanker’s could pounce them. When they’re together, the Eds can face challenges together instead of alone. 

Ed trips while getting out of the van. Oh, Ed…

Yay! Analysis is back! My theatre job started up again and I usually have to work quite a few night hours. Still, I love my job! It’s great to be back though! Let’s get this analysis underway.

A panicked Edd runs into the junkyard. Either because Marie Kanker is still after him or he noticed that skull lying in the pile in the corner.

Edd is so distracted that he trips over a tire landing on his face.

Edd is such a trooper! He gets right back up without even complaining about what just happened.

He even steals Eddy’s run for a second!

Finally, here is an appearance by the retro van which we have not seen since season 4! Why didn’t the retro van appear in season 5 or even the movie! The retro van would have made an interesting getaway car. 

This is one of the best moments in A Twist of Ed.

Each Ed runs for the cover of the old retro van for their safety.

Eddy even starts off the conversation with, “What, you too?” It’s a subtle detail that the Eds aren’t always together all the time. As the audience, we don’t know what their time apart looks like. Is there ever a day when the Eds don’t see each other?

For example, did the Eds spend time together during the day in the episode To Sir With Ed? Ed and Edd are having a sleeping over while Eddy was home alone that night. 

As Eddy grumbles about why the Kanker’s can’t just leave them alone, Edd is disgusted by the horrible odor. Not noticing the green stink flames coming from Eddy, Edd immediately blames Ed.

I love this line from Ed! “Not I, Double D. Talk to Mr. Stinkbutt!” Matt Hill’s delivery is priceless.

Even though Ed doesn’t have the best hygiene he still isn’t fond of smelly odors. Which is ironic, seeing how Ed lives in a filthy basement and loves smells like moldy cheese. I guess he has his limits.

“Hey, I had a Kanker hairball stuck in my shower!” Eddy defends himself. 

Immediately, Ed is sorry he mentioned the fact. 

“Calm down, Eddy! I’m sure if we put our 2 ½ heads together…”

Wait… excuse me?

2 ½? Edd, seriously? That is so mean to say! In season 5, Too Smart For Your Own Ed, Edd learns just how wrong he is about Ed’s intelligence. Even though they are close friends Edd still does not understand and is not comfortable with Ed’s unknown disability regarding his behavior. 

Big Picture Show opens up Edd’s world. If that campfire scene were not deleted Edd would have finally understood Ed and how he feels about himself and the world. The beautiful hug they share at the end of the movie really sells how differently Edd views Ed. 

Also, remember the moment where Edd asked for Ed’s opinion on which tie he should wear to meet Eddy’s Brother? You never see that? Edd is including Ed more knowing that there is more to Ed and that he was wrong. 

I love the coming of age journeys in this show. 

“THEN YOU THINK OF SOMETHING SMART GUY!!”

Eddy is not confident about his own ideas. That’s why he makes Edd draw up the plans to further think the ideas out. Think of how his brother would chew him out or insult him. Eddy is just beating himself up inside. Poor kid. 

And then Eddy wakes up at 11.

Oof, don’t want to be caught in the line of that morning breath.

I wonder if Eddy sleeps late every morning. It is summer after all. He is not a morning person as indicated by the school season. Eddy falling asleep during classes should have been a recurring gag.

Eddy goes off to take a shower only for the drain to clog up flooding his whole shower.

Lucky for Eddy that this is a cartoon.

Eddy finally wakes up to notice that something is clogging his drain.

I love Eddy’s reaction as the soap floats by. He acts as if this happens all the time. It could. It’s rare whenever we see the Eds, especially Eddy, alone.

Removing the clog in his drain Eddy’s shower is fixed in an instant.

Or not…

The Kanker’s actions have caused controversy among fans. Lee corners Eddy in the SHOWER. Thankfully they are both fully clothed.

Obviously the girls learned their behavior from their mother. I have made up my own backstory for their mother who is feverishly working day and night to keep a roof over her daughters heads that she does not realize what they are doing.

Notice how the girls back away from the Eds in the later seasons and the movie. I believe that they got a long talk from their mother about their actions. And I think they also learned from the way the Eds treated them in this episode. I will get more in depth on the Kanker’s reactions in later analysis.

“Kanker!”

And Ed, Edd n Eddy can check Titanic reference off the list.

I started working at my theatre job again this past week. I work late into the night sometimes. I will update a couple of times within the week. Thanks for your patience! I cannot wait to analyze more into A Twist of Ed!

The episode cuts to Ed who is pouring himself breakfast. 

There should have been more scenes and episodes that involved Ed. I know writers were writing Ed based episodes for the scrapped season 6. Ed’s birthday would have been a canon episode. Ed is a very unique character especially with how he interacts with the world and other characters. 

It’s rare to see him alone without his friends. If the Eds didn’t know each other they would all have a tough time interacting with the world. 

I would also like to point out that Ed is in his kitchen. He’s almost never in the upstairs part of his own house, especially when he is with Ed and Edd. Since Ed’s parents, or his mother, spoil Sarah they have banished Ed to the basement. Nobody in the family ever visits, except for Sarah. That’s because Ed’s mom doesn’t want anything to do with Ed.

Ed tries a couple of failed attempt to eat his cereal.

I like the buzzer effect in the background until Ed realized what the problem is.

Although Ed is slow he can think for himself. Whether Ed has a disability or not he is a full functioning human being. He doesn’t have the supportive parental figures to help him. And that affects the way Ed thinks of himself. Ed may wear a smile but on the inside, he’s struggling with his own person on how to take charge. 

Big Picture Show is Ed’s growth.

“SPOON PLEASE!”

Ed is so adorable. I could listen to his laugh all day.

Searching through the drawer Ed picks a couple of objects. A buzzer is even heard in the background. I wonder if that’s Ed’s mind.

Unbeknownst to Ed, May Kanker has been inside his drawer in waits. 

How long was she waiting in there for?

Marie and Lee had a plan which lured Edd or Eddy into the trap. 

A subtle character trait that May is not like her sisters and wants to be different. 

I love the background moment where a female voice is heard gasping. It’s like an audience reaction if this were one of those shows recorded in front of a live audience.

This moment cracks me up every time! It still hasn’t registered to Ed that it’s May so he just throws her offscreen like the other utensils.

May’s reaction is priceless! 

Finally, Ed finds what he is looking for. 

“A big hug for my honey!:” Uh-oh!

This is one of the coolest cinematographic shots in all of Ed, Edd n Eddy history!

In a rare occurrence, A Twist of Ed splits up the Eds stories at the very beginning.  

Season 4 was known for showing the characters being independent. I like that. It’s important to be independent. Although it’s important to make friends and be social, we have to spend time to ourselves. By ourselves, we can explore our passions 

Similar to the first episode, Edd is introduced first. He has put himself to work. Obviously, he is following out orders from his parent’s sticky notes. There is a lot to analyze when it comes to Edd’s relationship with his parents. 

Since it is heavily implied that they are ashamed of him they’re only making him do these chores because they know he will obey. And Edd does due to his OCD. Edd also wants to please them hoping they will finally acknowledge him. In the movie, Edd has given up on them altogether. 

In season 5, Edd distances himself from Ed and Eddy thinking that he should get the attention of his parents. He goes so far as to join the football team! 

Edd comments: “Putting one’s shoulder to the works certainly has its rewards.”

Now, why would Edd’s parents want him to repaint the chairs? They even wanted him to wash the phone, triangulate the towels, and sew the curtains.

When Edd says this is he referring to how his parents will acknowledge him or how he feels at the moment?

It’s really sad the way Edd truly thinks about himself. Each Ed. The writers for this show did such a good job with the see-don’t-tell rule. His explosion in Big Picture Show says everything about how he is really feeling. 

Without Ed and Eddy, Edd has nobody.  Ed and Eddy are the only two people who really understand him and what he is going through. Even Edd doesn’t understand his situation until the later seasons. 

Do you remember how different Edd was in season 1? He doesn’t know how to socialize or interact with the world? I have a theory that Edd’s parents had shut him in his him room, homeschooling Edd until fourth grade. By cutting him off from the world and destroying the social skills beyond his age, Edd’s parents brainwashed him, affecting the way Edd thinks about himself. 

Just then Edd spies something peculiar.

“Strange. What could a spare lipstick dispenser be doing in my yard?”

“Oh my….”

I love the expressions in this show. 

Before Edd can even run for safety, Marie pummels Edd to the ground.

Marie Kanker was so underrated!

Nice drawing!

I have to remind myself when drawing these characters is that they can be as zany as ever.  Take risks and don’t hold back. 

Marie ties Edd up with his own hat. 

Marie glosses up her lips with lipstick and tells the viewers to pucker up as she looms in for a big kiss.

It’s interesting to note that Marie attacks Edd while out in the open while Lee and Marie make their attacks in Ed and Eddy’s homes. 

It’s the start of midnight for a new and exciting month! How is it already June so fast?!

That means it is now EENE OTP Appreciation Month!

A Twist of Ed is a really good Kanker centric episode! The Eds get their needed revenge on the girls. It’s a fun episode to watch and I enjoy the interactions between characters.

Fans have a mixed relationship when it comes to the Kanker. They may not be the most appealing characters but they have a lot of backstory and depth among other characters in the show.

I cannot wait to analyze this episode! Sit back and enjoy A Twist of Ed!

Edd and Eddy wander back into the Kanker’s room taunting them. Okay, Edd is really tracking down his inner rebel today. He really wants the Kankers out of his life. 

Does anyone feel that this is out of character or the true character that he is repressing? Edd was obviously a very different person when we first met him in season 1. He was forced to grow up for the sake of his parents. He wants to be a kid for his friend’s sake but then he wants his parents to think of him as a grown-up and forget about the incident.

Right when Ed walks into the room, Lee slams the door, ensnaring them in a trap. Time for a little revenge.

I like Eddy grasping his face in fright.

“Uh, oh. Looks like we’re trapped. Prisoners of love.”

I love Lee. She is never afraid to be herself. 

What are you looking at, Edd?

Now, something seems strange.

Eddy steps his friends aside. He is going to take this one.

This is one of my favorite screenshots. And it describes how Ed and Edd are viewed from Eddy’s perspective and fans. While Eddy does view Ed and Edd as his closest friends they are his lackeys. Ed and Edd always look to Eddy for his opinion. That’s what Eddy has been doing since season 1. 

Fans have deciphered whether Eddy would have been better off without Ed and Edd, especially how they immaturely act at the part in Pop Goes the Ed. They mean more to Eddy because Ed and Edd understand him.

Eddy tries to entice Lee. Lee acts along with the charade begging for Eddy to leave them alone.

I honestly think that Eddy and Lee could make good friends in the future. They have similar personality treats and they are both the leaders of their groups. 

“Glick! Glick!” (I think this is what Ed says)

He’s noting to Eddy that he is doing a good job. Ed relies on Eddy. Since he is the only person that he can look up to, Ed has always looked up to Eddy getting his social cues from him.

I love how Ed has his arm around Edd. Out of context, it looks like they are out on a date somewhere. Or they’re taking a picture together!

Just then May drags Ed over to her hiding spot. Now it is her turn.

“Oops, you found me! Don’t come any closer!”

“You are a sneaky bunny!”

This has become a pet name with Ed and May in my fics about them. They would make a cute couple!

But then, May turns on Ed, pulling him behind the curtains and doing away with him! Alert, Ed yells out, ‘Holy Schmoly!’

Edd is the only one left. What happened? Edd rips through the pages of his psych book trying to find the answers. You can’t believe everything from a book, Edd. 

I notice that Edd starts to go more by his own instincts instead of source material from books. That’s because he is experiencing more of the world. Edd has basically been a prisoner to his own room. Because of being inside, Edd lost his ability to interact with the world. He learned that there is so much more, even paying attention to Eddy’s instincts. 

“Don’t kiss me, Double D!” Marie begs. 

“They’ve turned the tables on us, Eddy! It’s a reverse-reverse psychology!!” 

Good expression, Edd!

Now the Kankers have the Eds trapped going to kiss them. Now, they have the upper hand again. Though, they didn’t seem to understand what was going on at first and were very scared, cowering for their lives. 

I don’t like how fans blame everything on Eddy. He didn’t want to be a part of the plan in the first place! Edd should have just let him be. Would the plan have worked either way? That is up in the air. 

The Kanker’s motivations change in later seasons. It’s not until Eddy stands up to their ruthless behavior in A Fistful of Ed when they start to mellow down. It was also a wake-up call. 

And that was A Twist of Ed!

I am planning to analyze Every Which Way but Ed next. It is one of my favorite season 5 episodes! Again, sorry that I have not been active much. I work some nights at my theater job and I have been busy watching movies at night. I write a lot of movie reviews! For anyone curious, I very much recommend Vocal.media. It is a great site for writers and you can write about anything!

It is midnight! Welcome to EENE Season 4 Appreciation Month! We have a lot to discuss! So, I will finish up this episode analysis and then I am going to stream season 4 episodes on some nights and post theories, facts or questions! I think that will be fun! Right now, let’s enjoy the last of A Twist of Ed!

“I haven’t had this much fun since father let me disassemble his shaver!” An ecstatic Edd exclaims to a quivering Eddy. 

Wait, what? When did Edd’s dad let him disassemble his shaver? That was more fun than all his adventures with Ed and Eddy? Why did his father let Edd disassemble his shaver? Edd could have taken this as a gesture of appreciation while his father might have been trying to get Edd out of his hair.

I love when we get to see Edd’s repressed wild side. So much is trapped. He wants to be the person who we saw having fun with his friends in season 1 but Edd wants so badly to impress his parents. 

BTW, Edd is so cute!

Forcefully pushing Eddy towards the Kankers trying to make him scare them off, Edd is becoming more reminiscent of Eddy’s brother by the second. 

I feel bad for Eddy in this episode. He didn’t want to be a part of this plan to begin with but since he and his friends are considered to be one person, he can’t getaway. I think the plan would have worked if it were just Ed and Edd. The Kanker’s were too scared to notice that Eddy wasn’t contributing. 

Arguably, it’s Edd’s fault. It’s true that Eddy’s influences have rubbed off on him. And he put them to good use trying to make Eddy understand that he is more than just his lackey/smart guy of the group. 

The poor Kanker’s are still cowering in fear. I forget how I felt about them when this episode first aired. Do you feel bad for them or was this what they deserved? Yes, it is a taste of their just desserts but their reactions are offputting. They’re alone. They’re not sure of what is going on. And the girls have had a dark past. 

Very good use of shots in this scene. 

“Go on, Eddy, show them no mercy!” Edd whispers into a fearful shaking Eddy’s ear.

Edd’s expression has Bro written all over it. And I have a feeling that Eddy is experiencing a repressed traumatic memory. Eddy didn’t understand his relationship about Bro until this very summer that the series takes place. The memories have bothered him to the point where he can’t be himself. Remember how laid back Eddy is in the first season and then he gradually becomes angrier and aggressive towards his friends. He is at his worse in the school season.

I have pointed out in theories that Eddy hides under his Bro mask for most of the series. This expression right here is Eddy. My headcanon is that he is a shy boy with low self-esteem who doesn’t know what to believe in.

His entire body shaking Eddy stutters trying to make conversation with the girls.

I like May’s reaction with her tongue sticking out in disgust. 

Sweat drips off his face which is a dead give away to the Kanker’s. 

Or just Lee who has to physically get her sisters to see the droplet of sweat on the ground.

Lee is the oldest. Her mother left her in charge. In a way, she also has to be a mother to Marie and May who look up to her.

What a strange screen-cap.

May’s expression reminds me of an expression that Ed would make.

The jig is up!

Now fully aware of what is really going on the girls run away beginning to set their revenge plan on the Eds.

“Oh, you scare us!”

“You’re so gross!”

“Eek!” That is my favorite of the reactions!

Believing that he actually scared the Kanker’s off, Eddy regains his courage and his Bro mask. Puffing out his chest he gloats about himself and how even he cannot handle his own charm. (Because it’s his brother’s charm).

I love Ed’s celebratory fist in the air. He looks up to Eddy!

Oh, and Edd has a celebratory fist, too! Aw, he’s so proud of Eddy for conquering his fear! I never noticed that! Even though this wasn’t the best episode to highlight the Eds friendship (forcing one to do something they didn’t want to do) the Eds are always supportive of each other.

Ed adds, “You’re Eddy! Babe magnet to the… uh… babes!”

I like how Ed slips up trying to think of the word that is in Eddy’s vocabulary. Has Ed used the word babe before? No, I don’t think so. And he is reminding Eddy that he has all the power. Ed looks up to Eddy. He always follows through with his actions whether right or wrong. If you think about it this way, Ed doesn’t have anyone else to look up to considering that his own family is against him.

Eddy declares that they hit on them again for one final round of torture.

The Kanker’s feel so unsafe that Lee is actually about to call the police!!

They are the only Kanker’s on the show who have threatened to call the police. Twice in season 4, in fact!

As the Eds and the other kids have dealt with their situations on their own, the Kankers are alone. Think about their past.  Since their mother is implied to get around most of the men may have been bad influences including a couple of the dads.

Lee is only doing what she believes their mother would do. And I think she has witnessed or had to call the police, for her mother’s sake. 

Ed has taken over the phone. “Dial me for love!”

Wow, look at Marie’s expression! That’s a similar frightened expression that Edd would make.

The girls react in horror. Someone is trying to kiss them without their consent. Doesn’t that remind them of their own actions?

I love Lee’s frantic hair! Too bad we can’t see her eyes!

Eyes show a lot. I have a headcanon that Lee hides her eyes because she is hiding all the pain that she does not want the world to find out. That and there is the possibility that she may have three eyes due to a frame in Big Picture Show. To me, either theory is possible. Out of the Kanker’s, we know less about Lee.

The girls run for their lives stealing Eddy’s run cycle. 

They fight over who is going to open the door. A subtle, but dark, callback to when they were fighting over who would open the door back in season 1 when they had a visitor.

Edd is at the door picking off pedals to a flower poetically lamenting, “She loves me. She loves me also.”

I still don’t want to know where Edd picked up this behavior from. Although he is on a role, it’s unsettling.

The girls run into Eddy.

Aw, look! Marie is protecting May again! That is so sweet1

Wow, Lee is tall.

I love this screenshot!

The girls run frantically crashing through a wall. What is on the other side of this wall anyway? 

It turns out, Ed was one step ahead of them. I love the outline that Ed created. He also points out how dark it is in this room the Kanker’s have run into. I wonder if this is the Kanker’s mom’s room. She has made a door for herself. 

“Care to snuggle under my blanket of amour?”

I have to wonder if an incident like this has ever happened to the Kanker’s. They are confused about what is going on but it also seems like these events are triggering frightening memories from the past. 

Honestly, I feel bad for the Kanker’s. The Eds don’t know what they have been through. The girls are not who they make themselves out to be. They put on unlikeable masks to keep people away from them so others won’t find out about their secrets. 

The girls finally made it home locking the door behind them.

I really like that shot of Lee locking the door. It’s so suspenseful. And it also makes me fear that the girls have been in this situation before. Tat and they’re realizing how true their mother’s words are. 

And this shot of the Kanker’s is well-directed. It just goes to show you how small the Kankers feel. They don’t want to let anyone in. That’s why they are closed off. 

May shudders. She has no clue what just happened.

Lee barks, “Mom was right. Throw a man a bone and he’ll mess up the carpet!”

Our of all the offscreen parents on Ed, Edd n Eddy the Kankers mother is my favorite. It’s implied that some of the parents are home in the cul-de-sac. Whenever the Kanker’s are home I get an instant vibe that they are alone. Their mother has to work a lot. She is trying to give her daughters the best life. 

Whether or not the Kanker’s are the same in age or they’re a year apart, there have been a couple or a few different birth fathers. My headcanon that one of them (May’s dad) is still around. But he and the Kanker’s mother are not on good terms.

Lee is the oldest. She has witnessed her mother’s actions with men longer than Marie and May. Even though the girls catch on to the Ed’s scheme, I notice that they don’t invade the cul-de-sac as much. 

That’s when Edd appears welcoming his ‘dainty, Douty darlings’ home.

I’m not sure whether I find this Edd face adorable, funny or creepy. It’s a mixture of all three. 

He offers a sock to each Kanker. Actually, he only has two. Whose socks are those? I’ve never seen Edd where any other sock beside his red ones. 

Edd also refers to the Kankers as his contemptuous cupcakes. Is Edd copying his behavior from Eddy? He’s very laid back in this episode and he knows what he is doing.

What if Edd is tracking down his inner kid and aggressive behavior like how it was implied during the dodgeball incident. I also believe that Edd is hiding his true person. He’s trying to escape from his parents who forced him to become an adult too early. 

And Ed has made pancakes with ketchup for the Kanker’s. 

I love Ed’s unique way of spelling.

The Kanker’s are terrified and announce that they are going to hide in their room.

Marie calls out to her sisters to ‘wait up!’

In the very first episode where they are introduced, as the Kankers are running off to the kitchen, Marie playfully tells her sisters to ‘wait for her.’

That is an interesting detail about Marie’s character. She is a loner but does not want to be left behind. She’s always tagging along with one of her sisters.

Meanwhile, Eddy is trying to stay out of this chaos keeping a safe distance. It’s sad how he is dragged into this considering that Bro has dragged him into countless situations that he never wanted to be involved in.

Lee’s pose is my favorite in this screenshot. It’s like she’s saying, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me!’

I wonder who put up the poster of ‘Moby Dick’. It’s very subtle but in one episode of season 5, it was shown in the background that Marie likes to read. However, it’s likely that the poster belongs to May as she is quite the nerd. 

The Kanker’s room is a mixture of all three of the girl’s personalities. This is the only bedroom in the house. I think their mother sleeps on the couch so her daughters can be more comfortable. Though they don’t show it, the sisters are very close. The girls protect each other at all costs. 

Edd has already tampered with their room labeling everything. He even calls the room ‘their love nest’.

While parents aren’t the best example, I wonder where Edd learned this phrase. We have seen Edd’s parents bedroom once. While his parents don’t label everything in the room, they don’t sleep together. Does Edd have a different opinion about love that he wants to invest more into?

Oh, look, there’s a pair of dice hanging around the bed! Eddy has a pair of dice!

Objects in Kanker’s Room

- Two bags of Oats                  - Fan

- Crutch                                   - Plant                        

- Posters                                  - Tree Scent

- Magazines

- Clothes

And then Edd reveals this diagram on how they are going to organize the room in his eyes.

Not going to lie, but this a little unsettling. Edd feels very controlling as a boyfriend/husband. Again, that is due to his parents who have their bedroom set up in a strict diagram and have rules laid out for Edd. Edd isn’t even allowed to go inside their bedroom which is cruel if you ask me. 

YAY! Analysis has returned! I have missed doing these! 

The Kankers become more creeped out as Ed flirts with them. Nobody had ever flirted with them before. Did their mother ever talk about that? Or did she only complain about how worthless men are?

I like how Marie puts her hand against May’s shoulder. That is so sweet! I know there are theories about May and Marie being fraternal twins. The more I have thought about it, it makes sense. The two have a similar facial structure. Lee is the oldest, I think she is around 13 or 14. Since their mother was very poor she couldn’t afford to send the girls, especially Lee to school. So, Lee is one to two grades behind her peer group.

While the girls were terrified in throughout this episode they most definitely got a learning lesson out of all this. They have to read the signs. 

Lee pushes Ed away. Nobody is going to hurt her sisters. 

Lee has to play the mother figure whenever their mother is not around. And I believe that their mother assigned her that role. Due to their upbringing, I don’t think the girls ever experienced childhood. They’re not social so they never had any friends to play with. And it’s likely that they had to move around a lot. 

The Kanker’s don’t care that they’re poor. They’re not searching for help. Knowing that they are different from everyone else is not the reason why they bug people. 

Edd points out that the plan is starting to work.

Eddy can’t even watch anymore. But then, he sports his mask and agrees that Edd’s plan was going to work all along.

This image. This image right here has Bro and little Eddy written all over it. We all know that Eddy’s brother manipulated Eddy thus causing him to have trust issues. Eddy even tries to manipulate others but he pulls back. 

Although he masks his brother Eddy is afraid to become his brother.

I love Edd’s confidence. And he gets that from Eddy. Edd’s parents destroyed all the confidence that he had. Ed and Edd have a lot to thank Eddy for. 

Next, Ed tries to offer the girls candy and mud inside of a hat. And then afterward they can make-out.

The Kankers are repulsed. And this is their technique!

Marie begs for Lee to do something.

Marie and May look up to Lee. 

With quick thinking, Lee uses May as a boat and Marie as the paddle to get them across the stream and through the woods. 

PRECIOUS!

I love when Eddy is physically affectionate! 

Eddy considers that they should go do the reverse psychology on the candy shop to get a free jawbreaker. That would be a nice little end to the episode. The boys are free from the Kankers. And they deserve a jawbreaker.

But Edd has something else in mind.

To ensure that they fully have a Kanker-free history they need to make one more strike. 

I am not sure if I agree with Edd or not. The Kankers appear to understand what just happened and look as if they’ll back off, but maybe not forever.

I think Edd is going a little too far. 

Eddy decides that he’s had enough and he’ll wait for the movie. 

You mean Big Picture Show? That’s not for another six years, Eddy! 

A Twist of Ed was released in 2003 while Big Picture Show came out in 2009.

Insisting that all three of them need to carry out this plan Edd asks Ed to NOT get Eddy.

To which Ed obeys and chases after Eddy who begs for Ed to leave him alone.

Now, this is sad seeing what Eddy had to go through in his past. He obviously doesn’t want to be a part of the matter. Ed and Edd would have been just fine on their own.

Since they’re known as the Eds, everyone thinks that they are one person. Even the Eds do. However, in season 5 they start to spend less time together. While they are on the rocks, that’s okay. It’s healthy for friends to spend time apart to be independent and seek their own passion and ideas. 

Edd is dependent on Eddy. He still isn’t consistent. Notice how he always asks for Eddy’s opinion even in later episodes. Edd was close to leaving in season 5 but he doesn’t know how to fully interact socially with other people.