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The Impossible Summit of Mt. Neverrest
The creative adventure trend continues with this episode featuring a feat that some would only dream of conquering, climbing Mr. Everest, or in this case, Neverrest. Judging by the play on words in the title, this is an adventure that’s all about stubborn determination. Familiar as this setup is, the episode has a lot of factors to make it stand as something all its own.
For one thing, the actual time this is happening gives a sense of uniqueness to the episode. It takes place on Christmas Eve, yet the holiday is never that important to the plot; it’s basically nothing more than a backdrop for the events. It’s one that makes sense too since pop culture typically associates Christmas as a snowy holiday, making it a good choice for a day to climb Mt. Neverrest.
However, the biggest thing working in the episode’s favor is its use of character. Everyone involved has something notable to do to get something out of the trek. This even goes for the likes of Louie who ditches climbing the mountain because there’s no treasure. He instead spends the episode lounging at the village spa and later helping the naïve Launchpad McQuack who’s conned into buying a lot of useless gear to prevent catching ‘ice fever.’ It’s a very solid subplot built on laughs that makes good use of primary traits of both characters. There’s also a relatable sense of childhood fun when during the voyage up the mountain, Dewey attempts to introduce Webby to the thrill of sledding. There is some relatability to the two of them waiting for the “maximum opportune moment” to take off. Through it all, Webby’s eagerness to do this simple activity after a lifetime of adventures adds a special charm to this portion of the episode only she can provide.
Of course, the most prominent character featured in the episode is Scrooge himself who initiates the adventure up the mountain, considering he has a natural spirit for such things. Making this particular adventure stand out is his insistence on doing this to avoid the title of “Neverrest Ninny” which refers to someone who backs out of the adventure.
As a more personal measure, Scrooge eventually reveals that such a ninny was him. He was travelling up the mountain with a climber known as George Mallardy who not only treated him badly, but mocked him for refusing to give up his protective gear. This resulted in Scrooge being left abandoned while Mallardy pressed on alone, ultimately getting the credit for the first duck to scale Neverrest. With this background, it’s easy to get Scrooge’s determination to prove his worth as an adventurer.
Still, he leads the group to many dangers common with a high mountain from dangerous ledges to foreboding caves. In fact, one of the caves reveals that Mallardy didn’t survive his trek, skeleton and all. Scrooge easily beats Mallardy’s trek with a simple step, but still isn’t satisfied, insisting they go all the way to the top of Neverrest.
Along the way, there’s a creative touch of everyone somehow ending up in the same place multiple times which turn out to be a result of wormholes located along the mountain. Scrooge tries to take advantage of this unique aspect, but can’t figure out how the wormhole work.
Out of this is a showing of the main personality of Huey as a more strategical and rational thinker most devoted to the trusty Junior Woodchucks guidebook. He’s tried to get through to Scrooge that such extreme measures to scale Neverrest aren’t worth it, which is big since he himself is trying to get a topography badge. Scrooge ignores Huey at first, but when his attempts to conquer the wormholes threaten to bring a ledge with the other kids down, he sees a point. There’s a difference between adventurous bravery and foolish recklessness. So, he decides to settle for the trek he did that beat Mallardy and saves everyone while also giving Webby and Dewey the ultimate sledding experience to beat an avalanche. He might not have accomplished exactly what he wanted, but is content with what he did accomplish and kept safe; a mature way to look at adventures. It doesn’t even matter that he doesn’t notice the one wormhole in the middle of the sky that could have given him what he wanted at the end.
In all, this whole adventure is well constructed with interesting details, strong use of character, and mature ideals to ponder.
A+
Series Ranking
1.
The Impossible Summit of
Mt. Neverrest
2.
Daytrip of Doom
3.
Escape To/From Atlantis
4.
Woo-oo
The next review follows Louie in a mad search for Scrooge's lucky dime while Dewey and Webby search for the truth behind the nephews' long lost mother.
Next time is "Spider-Spig" and "Olivia and Yunan" from Amphibia.
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