Ep 2. The Emperor's New Joe / Schnit-Heads

Rocko's Modern Life is a popular animated television series that takes viewers through the life of a wallaby named Rocko in his quirky town called O-Town. In season 3, episode 2 we see the escapades of Rocko and his friends in two separate storylines. The episodes titled, The Emperor's New Joe / Schnit-Heads takes an interesting look at how the absurd becomes reality.

In the first part of the episode “The Emperor's New Joe”, Rocko and his friend Heffer Wolfe are looking for a good cup of coffee. This search leads them to a new coffee shop sensation called Conglom-O. When they walk in, they notice that the coffee shop crew is fixated on serving their new drink - a supposedly amazing coffee known as Emperor's New Joe. Rocko and Heffer are ecstatic to taste this new popular drink and quickly order it. But the coffee shop crew informs them that the Emperor's New Joe is invisible and they don't actually serve it. Confused, Rocko and Heffer try to ask for an explanation but the crew only responds with “you wouldn't understand”.

The Emperor’s New Joe storyline in Rocko's Modern Life is a parody of a classic children's story, “The Emperor's New Clothes” by Hans Christian Andersen. In the story, two con artists trick an emperor into believing he is wearing the finest of clothes that only intelligent people can see. In the coffee shop, the crew is using the same tactic to lure in unsuspecting customers for a profit. The episode tackles the idea of consumers blindly buying whatever is popular without questioning what they are actually buying.

In the second part of the episode “Schnit-Heads”, Rocko's neighbor, Mr. Bighead, who is in the meat packaging industry, persuades Rocko to go with him to a sausage-making plant to see how they make Schnitzel on a stick. But once they arrive, they find that the factory is a grotesque place where the sausage is made by using any piece of meat they can find to stuff into the casing, including hair and teeth. The Schnit-heads factory is disgusting, but the theme of the episode is about the corruption of the meatpacking industry.

The episode "Schnit-Heads" shows how the greed for profits in the meat packing industry can lead to the production of unhygienic and unsafe food products. The disgusted Rocko takes action by reporting the factory to the health inspector. The episode highlights the need for regulation in the food industry and advocates for responsible business practices.

In conclusion, the Rocko's Modern Life season 3 episode 2, The Emperor's New Joe / Schnit-Heads, is two separate episodes that address the issue of blind consumerism and corruption in the food industry. The episode adds a satirical twist to these real-world issues, making it a fun and engaging watch for all ages. Overall, the combination of clever writing, interesting characters and engaging themes in this episode keep Rocko's Modern Life as one of the most enjoyable animated series of all time.