'Toon Reviews 5: DuckTales Vol 1 Part 19

Top Duck

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

1. Hotel Strangeduck
2. Maid of the Myth
3. Hero for Hire
4. Top Duck
5. Robot Robbers
6. Much Ado About Scrooge
7. Magica’s Shadow War
8. Duckman of Aquatraz
9. Armstrong
10. Sir Gyro de Gearloose
11. Master of the Djinni
12. Sphinx for the Memories
13. Send in the Clones
14. Down and Out in Duckburg
15. The Lost Crown of Genghis Kahn
16. The Money Vanishes
17. Where No Duck Has Gone Before
18. Dinosaur Ducks
19. 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.

'Toon Reviews 5: DuckTales Vol 1 Part 8

Hotel Strangeduck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right at the start, this episode offers a lot of promise for greatness by establishing a plot of Scrooge planning on turning an old abandoned castle, said to be haunted by the ghost of a scientist named Ludwing von Strangeduck, into a hotel.  Ultimately, what we get in this episode really lives up to the potential.  We lead into the plot with a nice collection of gags of every member of Scrooge’s staff adjusting to the hotel environment as well as some enjoyable moments from the guests, the Duchess if Swansylvania for her charming elegance, and Benzino Gasolini for his flamboyant energy livening the scenes he’s in.  Things really start to get going when an invisible figure who claims to be Strangeduck signs into the hotel and spends a lot of his time scarring everyone by pulling off stunts that look like certain objects like books, bedsheets, candles, and cooking utensils are controlling themselves and later on trying to attack everyone.  There’s a strong mystery element present throughout this whole episode with everything that happens constantly making you guess about Strangeduck and his motives.  He has no gravestone, seems to enjoy causing trouble, and often gives an evil laugh, but why is all this the case?  This tone is effectively captured as we spend most of our time watching Huey, Dewey, and Louie investigate the hotel and its surroundings, being quick to point out anything strange happening.  They also point out how the guests may have a role in what’s going on with the Duchess suspiciously snooping around, and Benzino leaning towards being the ghost since he never shows up when it goes haunting.  All these investigations lead to an exciting climax where everything that happens keeps on building up in intensity.  First, Scrooge and the boys discover invisible paint which explains the ghost’s abilities and invisibility.  Then the ghost steals the Duchess’ jewels and fights Duckworth in an attempt to lower the drawbridge.  Then Scrooge finds out and engages in a pretty intense fistfight with the ghost while the boys try to use the invisible paint to help.  So much happens in this climax, and every bit of it is fun and exciting to watch.  The way everything is resolved is satisfying as it answers all lingering Strangeduck questions, subverts what could have been an obvious outcome, gives credibility to the Duchess as a character, and offers a humorous follow-up to Scrooge’s constant claims that ghosts don’t exist.  Once again, this ending bit has a lot to it, and everything just works.  That’s really a good way to describe this episode.  It’s an interesting story with a lot to offer which makes for a great sense of mystery, comedy, and characterization.  Because of all this, I’d say this episode is the strongest work I’ve seen of the show as of now. 10/10

The Ranking

1.      Hotel Strangeduck

2.      Robot Robbers

3.      Magica’s Shadow War

4.      Armstrong

5.      Master of the Djinni

6.      Sphinx for the Memories

7.      Send in the Clones

8.      Where No Duck Has Gone Before

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode as we close Disc 1 of the DVD set with Scrooge and the gang taking part in a race to "The Lost Crown of Genghis Kahn."

If you would like to check out other reviews on this blog, click here for the guide to all the reviews posted so far.