Jokey Smurf would prove to be one of the most popular Smurfs throughout the course of the Hanna-Barbera era of the franchise. To help set the stage for his character and love of playing practical jokes, some of which weren't really that funny, a character sketch of the young Smurf was played out in "Jokey's Medicine."
It's another typical day in the Smurf Village, where various Smurfs are relaxing, getting work done and so forth. And if it's a typical day in the Smurf Village, it means that Jokey Smurf is ready to pull some pranks. This means giving one of his fellow Smurfs one of his joke boxes.
"Hey, I've got a present for ya! It's a surprise!" Jokey tells his victim-to-be ... the first one being Greedy Smurf. Greedy naively takes the box and pulls on the ribbon, and what awaits is an explosion. A harmless explosion, but nonetheless one that annoys his fellow Smurfs. Jokey laughs as Greedy rants about being a victim yet again.
More pranks ensue, including one that is a bit more serious. Greedy and Lazy are doing some work and carrying a piece of lumber to repair a house, when Jokey saws the wood in half and directs a sleepwalking Lazy to Papa Smurf's laboratory. An angry Papa, unaware of what actually happened, screams at Lazy that he disturbed his work and kicks him out. Jokey then sets up Greedy for the second half of his prank, having him sit on a piece of wood while snacking on Smurfberries, and then — after dropping a pumpkin on the other half of the wood, catapulting Greedy into flight.
Later, while Greedy, Lazy and Smurfette are around a campfire, a large pumpkin-like creature (similar to the ones seen on the old Scooby-Doo cartoons), emerges from the forest, growling and threatening to capture the Smurfs. The other Smurfs cower in fear, but then they realize it's Jokey.
Smurfette says she's had it with Jokey and all his pranks and, with help from Greedy and Lazy, decide to get even. They lure Jokey into an underground mole tunnel, where they use hand shadows to make Jokey think there is a monster waiting to get him. Jokey gulps in fear before everything goes dark ... and then the other Smurfs admit they were behind it all. Jokey complains that that wasn't funny, but the other Smurfs try to help him realize that turnabout is fair play.
But it could be the last thing they ever do.
Azrael is out hunting while Gargamel is out looking for herbs for his latest (hoped-for) Smurf stew. Azrael sees the Smurfs and sneaks up behind them, and only Jokey knows the real imminent danger his fellow Smurfs are in. Smurfette and the others try to laugh Jokey off, until they hear hissing and realize Jokey isn't joking.
Jokey runs off in one direction while the others escape and are able to enter a pipe where Azrael can't get to them. The pipe, however, leads to Gargamel's hovel, but before the Smurfs realize they'd better run before Gargamel returns ... Gargamel returns. And the wizard decides this is the time to create that Smurf soup he's always wanted.
However, Jokey rides to his fellow Smurfs' rescue. After being captured, Jokey decides to give Gargamel a present. The evil wizard sets it aside and drops Jokey into the stew pot. Gargamel wants to ignore the present, but his curiosity is a weak spot and he and Azrael, certain there's gold or toys or something inside ... open it to reveal an explosion. The Smurfs use this opportunity to make their getaway.
In the end, Gargamel — just after taking the first explosion — sees another joke box and, flattered that he has another present, opens it ... only to take another explosion. He takes several more as he begins cursing the Smurfs and how he'll succeed if that's the last thing he ever does!
Tropes seen in this episode:
- Animation Bump: Kenneth Muse's animation is easy to spot in this episode, notably on the scenes with Gargamel and Azrael.
- Crying Wolf: When Jokey tries to alert the other Smurfs that Azrael is about to pounce on them for a free meal, they think he's bluffing ... until they turn around to see a hissing, hungry and hateful cat behind them.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: As this was part of the debut episode, the animation was still coming to form. The stock intro of an ordinary day in the Smurf Village is another tipoff. And later on, Jokey's jokes would be toned down.
- Get Out!: Papa Smurf kicks Lazy out of his laboratory after berating him for interrupting his work.
- Idiot Ball:
- The writers establish that many of the Smurfs have fallen for his joke boxes before, but even though they should know what awaits inside as they open them, they still fall for the present.
- Gargamel, just seconds after taking the first explosion, opens the other gift, thinking it's gold or another gift inside.
- Out of Focus: Save for a few lines in the episode, Papa Smurf is considered this (as he is unaware of Jokey saving his fellow Smurfs from Gargamel and Azrael).
- Stock Footage: The stock intro of an ordinary day at Smurf Village is considered this.
- A Taste of Their Own Medicine: Jokey being scared by the other Smurfs' hand shadow of a wolf-like creature while in the underground tunnel.
