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The Living Mummies of Toth-Ra
The category this episode falls under is the kind of adventure that isn’t directly referencing anything from the original series but definitely feels like it was written in that same spirit. It’s a globetrotting adventure with an intent to find treasure with creative twists from both the setting and the characters experiencing everything.
Specifically, the adventure this time sees Scrooge and the group at an Egyptian pyramid where their goal is to uncover the treasure of a Pharaoh king named Toth-Ra. After springing a trap, the group is separated and wind up in different areas of the temple. Scrooge, Huey, Dewey, and Launchpad find a whole community people who wear mummy bandages out of worship for Toth-Ra himself. As they live in a dark secluded temple for all their lives, the people believe that it’s Toth-Ra who grants them things like sunlight to help them survive, even if it’s a bit of it. Otherwise, they put up with poor conditions like having to eat sand or having garbage areas so close to their living quarters.
Clearly, this is oppression and Scrooge becomes inspired to lead everyone to experience freedom. In an interesting direction, the people don’t seem to understand the concept of freedom no matter how Scrooge and the nephews explain it. As they’ve lived under Toth-Ra’s rule for so long, they’re more incline to naturally do what he says, as if they’re unable to experience true independence. Through the usual direction of DuckTales though, it takes the simplistic and innocent ways of Launchpad to get anywhere; in this case it’s his fascination with burritos. Just the promise of them and practice of making them is all it takes for Toth-Ra’s followers to rise up it seems. But no one is aware that Toth-Ra is not what he seems.
In another part of the temple, Louie and Webby discover the treasure of the old Pharaoh which makes for an interesting clash of perspectives. Further demonstrating how he stands out from the rest of the nephews, Louie is simply ecstatic to be among riches having taken the easy way to get them. Webby also shows off how much she’s evolved from her older iteration with a far more adventurous spirit, right down to being ready to meet her demise as only the temple can offer.
It’s this clash of perspectives that brings about a breakthrough. With his talents of uncovering scams, Louie discovers that Toth-Ra himself is actually nothing more than a corpse with someone operating mechanisms to move and speak for him. A temple guard mans the system and it’s said that he and his ancestors have been assigned to control the body of Toth-Ra until the pharaoh awoke himself. That’s never happened of course and having uncovered the scam, Louie seizes opportunity and controls the corpse of Toth-Ra himself. This seems like an easy end to the scheme especially as it quickly crosses paths with Scrooge and the others, but to fit the true adventurous spirit, it doesn’t stop there.
In Louie’s messing about, Toth-Ra’s corpse ends up crossing an image of the sun on the floor. Bringing closure to an earlier scene of Webby’s adventurous nature of interpreting hieroglyphics, this action is what ultimately awakens Toth-Ra himself. The presence of such a figure brings interesting twists and tonal shifts; whereas the Pharaoh has been described in a fairly light-hearted manner, he’s very seriously threatening to Scrooge and the others. Even ridiculous claims like him having laser eyes and getting information from scarab beetles turn out to be shockingly true.
As a result, facing Toth-Ra makes for an effective climax with notable standout moments. The living mummies finally understand the concept of freedom through looking at burritos in a metaphorical sense and put up a productive fight. However, the real victors are Louie and Webby; as Louie, in what’s slowly becoming his thing, has to accept humility after greedy cockiness, he seems willing to have Toth-Ra take his life. This move turns out to be a good diversion for Webby really coming full circle with her intrigue for adventure. By offering Toth-Ra a golden reward of the sun and a sword from the treasury Louie’s been coveting this whole time reflecting the light, Toth-Ra passes the sun image again. This leaves him powerless as he’s trapped in nothing else but a burrito by the living mummies who place him back where they come from. The episode then ends with morals obtained for the main heroes and freedom achieved for the living mummies who start off their freedom by ordering a bunch of burritos.
Ultimately, there's further proof of this show’s great status as a reboot as it honors its roots by crafting a fresh adventure with its own lore and character development.
A
Series Ranking
1. The House of the Lucky
Gander
2. The Beagle Birthday
Breakout
3. The Impossible Summit of
Mt. Neverrest
4.
The Living Mummies of
Toth-Ra
5. Daytrip of Doom
6. The Great Dime Chase
7. Escape To/From Atlantis
8. Woo-oo
9. The Infernal Internship
of Mark Beaks
The next episode returns Lena to the spotlight and introduces the reboot's take on terra-firmians.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews is "Thick As an Ed" and "Sorry Wrong Ed" from Ed Edd n Eddy.
If you would like to check out other DuckTales reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
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