To Eat or Not to Eat

"To Eat or Not to Eat"
Season/Series:	15
Number in season:	5A
Original Airdate:	October 14, 2011; February 15, 2012; November 18, 2010; October 3, 2010; December 20, 2012;
	Credits
Written by:	Ken Pontac
Storyboard by:	Rob Clark; Karine Charlebois; Guy Lamoureux
	Episodes
Previous; "Buster the Lounge Lizard"	Next; "S.W.E.A.T."
	Read transcript

This article is about To Eat or Not to Eat. You may be looking for To Beat or Not to Beat.

"To Eat or Not to Eat" is the first half of the fifth episode in the fifteenth season of Arthur.

Summary[edit]

A brand new candy bar is in town! But why is it making everyone behave so strangely? And what exactly is this ingredient called Tri-Enzomated Zorn Jelly, anyway?

Plot[edit]

A corridor with a door labeled "Buster Baxter, Private Eye" led to a dimly lit office where Buster sat at his desk, sporting a mustache, trench coat, and hat. As the narrator, Buster introduced Elwood City, a place where anything could happen, and often did. He described a peculiar atmosphere that night, as enticing as a fresh big cherry pie cooling on Grandma's windowsill. A crazy stew was brewing, the ingredients boiling in a pressure cooker like a can of soda, ready to explode. Buster searched through a file cabinet, taking out an apple, as the talk of food made him hungry. Just as he grabbed the apple, an anthropomorphic candy bar dressed like a shady lady from a film noir walked in, causing Buster to gasp and drop his apple as a candy bar urgently requested Buster's help.

On the television screen, Bionic Bunny was bound to a wall, facing an ominous villain reminiscent of Mr. Freeze. The villain's sinister laughter echoed as he threatened to freeze Bionic Bunny's brain with his super-cool lozzle-slush cup-a-tron. The show was abruptly interrupted by a commercial for the Rabid Dog Extreme Big Boss Bar. The announcer touted the bar's incredible energy-boosting properties, promising a mouth-watering experience and a dazzling display of sparks. A boy was shown devouring the bar, stars bursting from his mouth.

Arthur and Buster were watching the commercial in the Reads' living room. Buster, captivated by the advertisement, declared they had witnessed something extraordinary and then left the room in a trance-like state. Arthur, puzzled, asked if Buster wanted to continue watching Bionic Bunny. Buster, consumed by the desire for the Rabid Dog bar, replied that he had to have it.

Buster arrived at the Sugar Bowl, only to find that Binky had already claimed all the Big Boss candy bars. Disappointed, Buster wandered inside and discovered the candy bar display was empty. However, he noticed a child at a table, lost in a dreamy state, with sparks emanating from their mouth. Looking behind the display, Buster spotted a single candy bar. He couldn't resist the temptation, but knowing it was the last one, he hesitated. Should he indulge in the sweet treat immediately or save it for later? As Fern and George ran by, their mouths ablaze with sparks, Buster's decision became even more challenging. Ultimately, he decided to save it for lunch at school.

Buster stood in the school lunch line, facing Mrs. MacGrady's tofu stew offering. More interested in dessert, he held up the mysterious candy bar. Mrs. MacGrady, after examining the ingredients, expressed concern about the unfamiliar and potentially dangerous substances. She advised Buster to stick with the fresh apple she offered.

Meanwhile, Binky sat in the cafeteria, surrounded by his candy bars. George pleaded for a bar, offering to pay back Binky, but Binky refused, stating he’s not a charity and needed to take care of his paying customers. Fern, already wired from previous candy bars, approached Binky for more. After receiving a bar, she took a bite and exclaimed her satisfaction.

Buster watched the scene from a nearby table, growing suspicious of the candy bar. He recalled his earlier conversation with the anthropomorphic candy bar, who claimed to be the victim of lies spread by the Candyman. Buster, determined to uncover the truth, decided to take on the case. As he pursued the Candyman, a car suddenly appeared, racing towards him. Buster narrowly escaped, landing in a puddle of water and losing his fedora. The Candyman had slipped away, leaving Buster with a soggy hat and a burning desire to solve the mystery.

In the school playground, kids were lined up at a table where Binky was selling Big Boss bars. Fern excitedly demanded more sparkles, and Binky handed her a bar. George approached, placing his coins on the table for a bar. Binky counted the coins, ensuring they were all there and Binky handed him a candy bar and George greedily ate the bar, exclaiming his enjoyment. As George ran off, Buster and Brain, sitting on the merry-go-round, doing their investigation of the candy bar. Brain, with his scientific expertise, revealed the impressive array of chemicals within the bar, including radioactive elements. Fern hopped by on a pogo stick, laughing and whooping. Buster, surprised by Brain's findings, asked him to repeat the information about the coloring agent made from bugs. Brain confirmed that the blood-red color came from boiled female cochineal insects. Buster's curiosity was further piqued as he questioned the origin of tri-enzomated zorn jelly. Brain explained that while he was unfamiliar with the substance, the high quantity listed among the ingredients suggested its significance. Buster, overwhelmed by the scientific jargon, realized that old-fashioned detective work would be necessary to solve the case.

Buster, still soaked from the puddle, squeezed his hat in a moment of imagination. Though the Candyman investigation had stalled, he followed the Candy Lady, hoping for a lead. Their journey led them to a seedy part of town, a neighborhood frequented by unsavory ingredients. There, he witnessed the Candy Lady approaching a trio of anthropomorphic ingredients: a pile of fat, a test tube of green fluid, and a red insect. Suddenly, the Candyman emerged from the shadows, and the ingredients followed him into a building. Intrigued and determined to uncover the truth, Buster decided to delve deeper into the mystery. As he walked away, the fantasy ended, leaving him with a newfound curiosity.

Back in the real world, Buster sat alone at a library computer, while George and Fern snoozed at a nearby desk. He began researching tri-enzomated zorn jelly on the Rabid Dog website. The site's howling logo and spinning wheel made Paige Turner shush him. As Buster zoomed in on the tiny ingredient list, he found the jelly entry. Just as he clicked it, the screen went green. Confused, he noticed George and Fern looking pale and dizzy. The candy bar they'd eaten was starting to smell rotten, despite its fancy packaging.

Buster, in a moment of imagination, found himself face-to-face with the Candy Lady sitting on his desk. He confronted her about the trail of misery she left behind, questioning her involvement with a bad crowd. The Candy Lady, though initially defensive, admitted her complexity and unique nature. As Buster noticed a label on her coat that read "Ingredients," he wiped away her tears and discovered a yellow stain that emitted sparks. Intrigued, he tasted it and found it delicious. The Candy Lady offered him more, but Buster, feeling himself drawn in, knew he needed help. He ran out of his office, seeking guidance from Mrs. Baxter. Mrs. Baxter, enjoying a salad, advised against eating the Big Boss bar. Buster, unsure of his desires, expressed a need for more information. Mrs. Baxter, eager to assist, offered him a tour of Rabid Dog corporate headquarters. Surprised by her offer, Buster eagerly agreed, knowing she could help him uncover the truth.

Buster and his mom entered the Rabid Dog headquarters, where a promotional video on a screen in the lobby showcased a molecule forming in front of a rainbow. The video extolled the quality of their ingredients, particularly tri-enzomated zorn jelly, which was lovingly crafted by over 100 scientists. Intrigued, Buster asked about the nature of this special ingredient. Supreme Dog, the company's representative, appeared behind him, offering a cryptic response. Mrs. Baxter, introducing herself as a journalist, asked Supreme Dog about the Big Boss Bar. He boasted about its deliciousness, but Buster was more interested in understanding why his friends couldn't stop eating them. Supreme Dog explained that the tri-enzomated zorn jelly molecules in the candy bar attached to parts of the brain, making people happy. However, once these molecules died, the brain became sad, leading to a desire for more. Mrs. Baxter, alarmed by the suggestion of addiction, questioned Supreme Dog, who denied it. Buster, refusing to consume the candy bar anymore, offered it to Supreme Dog, who declined. As Buster insisted, Supreme Dog's behavior became increasingly erratic, and he eventually fled the building. Mrs. Baxter received a note informing her of Supreme Dog's "personal day" and the end of the interview. She realized the potential headline for her article: "Candy Company Cons Kids!" As they left the building, Buster and his mom were left to ponder the implications of their discovery.

Buster, in a moment of imagination, witnessed a policeman placing handcuffs on the man in the dark coat. The ace reporter had uncovered a new story, but Buster had lost his sweet tooth. He removed the man's sunglasses, revealing Supreme Dog, who was taken away by the police. Buster approached the Candy Lady, apologizing for having to release her. The Candy Lady, feeling betrayed, accused him of being like all the others. Buster explained that the positive feelings she had given him were a result of the tri-enzomated zorn jelly and polytartaric thyglycamine in the candy bar. As the police officer took the Candy Lady away, she cried in despair. The fantasy ended, leaving Buster with a newfound understanding of the dangers of the candy bar.

The Elwood City Times, with the headline "Candy Company Cons Kids" and a picture of Supreme Dog behind bars, was scattered on a street corner where Binky was still trying to sell Big Boss bars. Buster, approaching with an apple in hand, observed Binky's struggles to sell the candy due to the negative publicity. Binky expressed his disappointment and financial loss, but Buster assured him that the candy's high chemical content would ensure its longevity. Binky agreed that the candy was a bad investment, and Buster concurred, emphasizing the negative consequences. As Buster continued his journey, he reflected on the events that had unfolded, leaving behind the lingering effects of the candy bar's deceptive nature.

Characters[edit]

Major[edit]

Minor[edit]

Cameo[edit]

Trivia[edit]

On the commercial for the Rabid Dog Big Boss Bars, when the kid on the advertisement is doing a cartwheel after being energized after eating the Big Boss Bar, the background looks like the sea in SpongeBob SquarePants.
This is the last time in the U.S that the "Buster Arrives on a Spaceship" title card is used.
The picture on the newspaper at the end is recycled from Buster the Myth Maker, only recolored.
Moral: Don't ruin other peoples food fun for the sake of eating healthy foods for your own personal benefit.
Karma: Surpreme Dog sold candy bars only to profit himself, so he got caught by the cops and sent to jail.
4th Wall break:
- Several Big Boss Bar ingredients refer to creators of Arthur:
  - Boudnikovium Oxide - Igor Boudnikov (animation)
  - Benadrihelenecossette - Helene Cossette (storyboard)
  - Butylated Hydroxydumoulin - Natalie Dumoulin (producer)
  - Catatonic Chiaravillarsulfite - Chiara Villar (production coordinator)
  - Chlorophyllum Ivantankushevellose - Ivan Tankushev (storyboard)
  - Cocoylkeithodonnell...cosimine - Keith O’Donnell (animation)
  - Toxi-RobclarkSB-sulfide - Rob Clark (storyboard)
  - XGbaileytriacid and sulfate - Greg Bailey (director)

Cultural references[edit]

The title of this episode is a parody of the line "To be or NOT to be", from the famous Shakespeare play, Hamlet.
- This is the second episode whose title is a parody of that line. The first was "To Beat or Not to Beat."
Buster remarks the Big Boss Bars will last for centuries thanks to all the chemicals in them. This is a reference to the urban legend that Twinkies have so many chemicals, they have an indefinite shelf life.
Cochineal, which is often used as dye, comes from beetles.
Oxylavamonotrine is fictional, but there is a red food dye called carmine that is extracted from cochineals, a kind of bug.
Buster’s fantasies are very similar to Film Noir, a type of crime movie genre popular in the 1940s and 1950s.

Production Notes[edit]

In current American prints, the scene where George buys a Big Boss Bar from Binky in the schoolyard is edited. In the original and international versions, George shoves the entire bar in his mouth without removing the wrapper. In the edited version, George is already chewing the bar when the shot changes. This was likely done to prevent children from trying to imitate eating candy wrappers. Despite the edit, the video description still mentions George eating the bar "with the wrapper on".