The Root of Evil (The Smurfs, 1981)

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"The Root of Evil (The Smurfs, 1981)"
The Curtain of Cruelty of the 1980's, but worse.
Part of Season: 6
Episode Number: 31b
Air Date: October 25, 1986
Writer: Kevin Hopps (story)
John Bonaccorsi (teleplay)
Previous episode: Dr. Evil and Mr. Nice
Next episode: Tattle-Tail Smurfs


"The Root of Evil" is a Season 6 episode from the 1980s Smurfs cartoon show.

Synopsis

Chlorhydris seeds a plant that makes everyone who touches it evil, and the effect can only be reversed by Baby Smurf's magic touch.

Why it's Evil

  1. The characters in this episode are unlikable and violent due to the Root of evil, and are at their absolute worst.
  2. It's an extreme torture episode for the smurfs, even if for the most parts they're unlikable, since they always fight for no reasons, being evil because of the plant when they didn't wanted to.
  4. Chlorhydris' flanderization has been turned up to 11 in this episode, since she want to ruin the smurfs life by making them evil, which was the reason why they are unlikable in this episode.
  5. It isn't explained why Baby Smurfs isn't turning evil despite being hit by the plant, although it might be because of the fact that he's just a baby.
  6. Disturbing scenes like Homnibus threatening to kill Papa Smurf and Mother Nature sending a stormcloud to the smurfs, which is extremely mean-spirited.
  7. The pacing is shockingly terrible compared to most episodes, this is mostly because it only focus on the plant that touch the smurfs to make them evil.
  8. Animation errors like when Farmer and Miner are having a tug-of-war over a carrot, Farmer's eyes are white instead of red. In the next shot, his eyes are red.

Redeeming Qualities

  1. The first four minutes we're alright as it feel like a normal decent Smurfs episode, until they got turned evil.
  2. Good animation and voice acting as usual.
  3. Baby Smurf is the only likable character and saved Papa Smurf from being evil, and thus they both saved the smurfs from it.
  4. The lines "OF COURSE, AFTER I DO GET TIRED OF LOSING TO A LITTLE BLUE PUMPKIN" and "I NEED MY BOOKS BACK, MUSCLEHEADS!"
  5. Good Ending: The Smurfs we're saved from being evil and then started to beat Chlorhydris with tomatos, which was of course deserved.

Reception

This episode was panned by fans and is often considered to be one of the worst episode of the series, if not the worst.

Trivia

  • This is one of the two episodes where the Smurfs are seen with red eyes, The second is "Chlorhydris' Lost Love".
  • The title of the episode is based on 1st Timothy 6:10, which reads, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.".
  • Though the mention of Slouchy confirms that the Smurflings were in the village at the time of this episode, it is unknown if they were affected by the root (this may also go for Smurfette and Puppy).
  • This episode uses a plot that is similar to other episodes from other animated shows, including:

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