Ren Seeks Help
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Ren Seeks Help is an episode of Ren & Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon, directed by John K., animation directed by Bob Jaques, story by John K. and Richard D. Pursel, storyboard by Steve Steranelli, Helder Mendonca, Jeff Amey, Derek Bond, Tavis Silbernagel and John K..
[edit] Synopsis
"Ren Seeks Help" is decidedly the psychodrama of the series. There are troubled water(work)s at the very beginning as we see Stimpy bawling his heart out. Ren has apparently done something so horrible that even Stimpy cannot take it anymore and breaks down. We never learn what exactly it was that that happened, but it has upset Stimpy deeply as Ren is beside himself with shame at what he's done.
With that, he decides to seek counsel in hopes of discovering the origin of his cruelty.
Leaving his crying friend behind, and sadly walking off, he trudges past varying scenes of urban cities, dark alleys and cows with some bizarrely-misshapen udders. Finally he enters the office of Mr.Dr.Horse whose easygoing, a indifferent demeanor prompts Ren to retell his entire childhood. He flashes back to his birth, being brought out from a "dark, stinky place" into the light where a "horrible man" slaps him and dunks him in cleaning solution which Ren describes as a "burning sensation of pain". It is this early experience of pain that sets off a series of sadistic events as he grows up. From pulling legs off of catipillars to tormenting bettles. Ren eventually settles on a new torture victim in the form of a little green frog, voiced by radio host Tom Hay. The Frog pleads with Ren to end the pain, and begs that Ren finish him off. Ren however, finds a sick amusement in refusing to grant the Frog's request of death.
Upon returning to his home, He is eventually found out by his parents, where the frog is waiting, apparently having told Ren parents the entire story. His father tells him to put the frog out of his misery. Chainsaw in hand, the Frog and Stimpy proceed to the backyard. However, he still decides to let the frog continue to live in pain once more, and tosses him into a trashcan, never to be seen again.
Back in the present, Ren talks about meeting Stimpy and how no matter how many times he had slapped him, he always managed to stay on his feet. Mr. Horse has become uneasy of Ren's twistedness and pulls out a pistol for protection. He tries to get Ren to tell him what he said to Stimpy.
Ren finally tells Mr.Horse what happened with satistic glee, sending Mr. Horse into a fit of rage explaining "Do I look like a psychologist! I'm a horse!"
Feeling betrayed by Horse's promise to "beat the living hell" out of him, Ren goes into a violent fury and pistol whips Mr. Horse to death with his own gun. Ren is carried away by two orderlies, but not before biting one's hand off and devouring it. After a foaming and raving Ren is taken away, the frog enters the scene, dragging himself towards the gun left behind and pulls the trigger on himself.
The whole thing ends with a bizarre, Looney Tunes-esque "That's all, folks!" end title card.
[edit] Notes and Trivia
- Young Ren's father is voiced by John's own real-life dad, Michael Kricfalusi
- Even though Spike TV originally wanted a more adult Ren and Stimpy cartoon series, they still had a problem with airing a pistol whipping murder scene.
- The Mangled Frog is voiced by radio host and childhood friend of John K, Tom Hay.
- The close up shot of the mangled frog craw is actually a live action shot of Tom Hay's real hand, which was disfigured in an accident in his younger years. However, special effects and a bit of latex was added to give it a green, frog-like appearance.
- Mr. Horse doesn't use his famous line, "No sir, I don't like it", in this episode at all.
- Considered by some Ren and Stimpy fans to be the best APC episode.
- While Ren was walking sadly in the streets, some classic cartoons spin offs watch him in the background.
