We’ve got another Launchpad McQuack-centered episode to
cover, and one that introduces us to his family. I love a good cartoon that explores a great
character’s background, and since Launchpad’s proven himself as a
likable one, this is one to get excited for.
This particular cartoon lives up to its potential not just for the newly
established background on Launchpad, but as a fun adventurous cartoon in
general. To further elaborate on Launchpad’s
family life, the story centers on him striving to do whatever it takes to
impress them at an upcoming air show.
You see, they’re part of a flying troop called the Flying McQuacks and
they’re all highly skilled at performing air stunts. As you can tell from his established habit of
crashing planes, Launchpad feels inferior to them, making his desire to make
them feel proud of him understandable.
This is especially felt when, at the air show, he successfully pulls off
flying and demonstrating the skills of Scrooge’s new plane, the McX, but then
gets it crashed when the Beagle Boys sabotage one of the engines with bubble
gum unbeknownst to everyone. Now, part
of the reason Launchpad is ashamed to face his family because of his failures
is because he doesn’t stop to listen that they are proud of him for what he
is. True, it seems frustrating that
Launchpad’s conflict partially arises from him not listening to the truth, but
I feel this works because of his established naiveté and he does learn to stop
and listen at the end. Still, for his
sake, Launchpad ultimately gets a moment of self-redemption when he catches the
Beagle Boys using the McX to rob Scrooge’s money bin,
and leads a daring air battle to get the money back which is an awesome climax
with great animated angles and moments for all characters involved to
shine. It’s a pretty cool way to cap off
Launchpad’s arc for the episode. Other aspects
to make this episode shine include the moments with the Flying McQuacks
themselves. It’s great that they love
Launchpad for who he is despite him really not being up to their league in flying
as well as help him however they can as shown in a scene where his sister,
Loopy, gives him tips on how to adjust his own plane while he’s venting. Plus, for much of the second act, we’re
treated to a lot of entertaining bits of Huey, Dewey, and Louie trying to stop
the Beagle Boys from using the McX to carry out their robbery, even getting
some help from the entreatingly flamboyant Benzino Gasolini from “Hotel
Strangeduck” at one point. For its
character development, great moments from all involved in the story, and an
awesome climax, this isn’t just an amazing episode, but “a chip off the old
propeller.” 10/10
The Ranking
- Hotel Strangeduck
- Maid of the Myth
- Hero for Hire
- Top Duck
- Robot Robbers
- Much Ado About Scrooge
- Magica’s Shadow War
- Duckman of Aquatraz
- Armstrong
- Sir Gyro de Gearloose
- Master of the Djinni
- Sphinx for the Memories
- Send in the Clones
- Down and Out in Duckburg
- The Lost Crown of Genghis Kahn
- The Money Vanishes
- Where No Duck Has Gone Before
- Dinosaur Ducks
- Superdoo!
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where Scrooge and the gang go after "The Pearl of Wisdom" against a pair of villains who looks an awful lot like Pete.
If you would like to check out other reviews on this blog, click here for the guide to all the reviews posted so far.
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