The Missing Links of Moorshire - (DuckTales 2017 Season 1 Episode 13) - 'Toon Reviews 51

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The Missing Links of Moorshire

Going into this episode, one can easily find a good number of major traits of this reboot at its core.  It’s driven by another instance of the Scrooge and Flintheart Glomgold rivalry and an imaginative globetrotting adventure everyone gets involved in.  However, it’s the specific creative elements to the adventure as well as the interesting character dynamics this reboot has let itself be known for that truly stand out.  

This time, the two billionaire ducks are off on a golf tournament for the intent of one-upping each other.  This is all standard setup for an episode focusing on this rivalry, and it’s entertaining enough, but all other characters joining in have something entertaining to offer.  Huey provides sportscaster-like commentary on everything happening with bumbling Launchpad as assistant; Louie is completely uninterested in the game, but is convinced to go along as he gets paid to be Flintheart’s caddie; Webby is her usual Scrooge fangirl through the whole game; and Dewey, who’s usually impulsive and reckless in everything he does, serves as Scrooge’s teammate and his performance ends up being very surprising.  

In addition, there’s a creative aspect to this golf game when the group reaches a stone pillar circle, and with a mystical glow, they’re trapped in the course. The only way they can exit and go home is if they finish the golf game much to all feelings ranging from annoyance to competitiveness among other feelings.  Aiding in the creative appeal is the presence of two mystical creatures serving as guides.  On first glance, they’re innocent looking ponies that fit such an aesthetic right down to being voiced by Tara Strong and Andrea Libman.  However, there’s a clever subversion to expectations when upon investigation, they’re actually kelpies using suggestions to go swimming as lures to drown everyone.  The comedy comes from everyone clearly wise to their ruses and bluntly turning the offers down, and the kelpies still acting innocent and only begrudgingly say they’re no fun.  

Going back to the game itself, a lot can be said about the performance of Dewey.  Regarding how surprising he ends up being, that’s because of how well he plays; in fact, he turns out to get more balls into holes than Scrooge.  He’s often told by Scrooge to take his time with his swings and not be reckless, but it turns out that Dewey’s recklessness is what works to his advantage.  Scrooge’s methods are what seem to do no good as he turns out a shockingly shoddy performance.  After a while, he naturally can’t take being one-upped by someone, especially an overall novice, and lashes out, ultimately taking the fun out of the game for everyone.  This, while typical behavior for this type of story and expected from someone as accomplished as Scrooge, is not a pleasing direction.  It makes Scrooge look very petty and not a likable character to follow, and that’s disappointing when the much less mature Flintheart Glomgold is along for this adventure.  As the latter is incredibly temperamental and naturally keeps making a fool of himself, having Scrooge stoop close to his low makes him not much different.  

However, the overall resolution to the episode does this direction solid favors overall.  When everyone reaches the last hole, attention is drawn to a bunch of golfer statues along the way and a mist closing in on the area.  These two different aspects turn out to go well together because, in another bit of worldbuilding, this mist turns people into stone.  With that, the stakes are risen majorly when the game must be completed in order to reverse the mist’s power.  It even intensifies more as much of the group becomes stone, but at this point, there’s a notable turning point for Scrooge.  For how much he held onto his pride, he has enough sense to see Dewey is clearly the superior golfer, so he puts his trust in him to make the last hole.  Turns out, for all of Dewey’s unconventional mannerisms and the difficulty for Scrooge to admit it, this really is the right call.  Dewey makes the move to finish the game, everyone is returned to normal, family connections are strengthened, and the characters here for comedy’s sake get in a few laughs.  

Overall, this episode is a clear sign of this show settling into its core elements, and with a good sense of wit, imagination, and care for characters, it knows how to make everything work.

A

Series Ranking

1.     The House of the Lucky Gander

2.     The Beagle Birthday Breakout

3.     The Impossible Summit of Mt. Neverrest

4.     Terror of the Terra-Firmians

5.     The Missing Links of Moorshire

6.     McMystery at McDuck McManor

7.     The Living Mummies of Toth-Ra

8.     Daytrip of Doom

9.     The Great Dime Chase

10.  Escape To/From Atlantis

11.  Woo-oo

12.  The Infernal Internship of Mark Beaks

The next episode takes the group to Ithaquack to reveal Donald's relationship with a god, and develop the mystery of his sister Della and the Spear of Selene.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews is an episode of 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.

A Case of Mistaken Identity ( DuckTales Vol 4 Part 10) - 'Toon Reviews 50

If you like this review and want to stay updated for what else I have in store, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter. Now on with today's review:

A Case of Mistaken Identity

When stories involve superheroes, a common thing for them to deal with is their secret identity, mainly making sure it stays secret for the protection of themselves and others.  Sometimes, the matter exists for the purposes of drama in their relationship with loved ones or to create a personal drama in simply how hard it is to keep it secret.  In the case of this episode, the matter of the secret identity of this featured superhero, Gizmoduck, is central to a story about jealousy of someone else mistaken to be him.  Ultimately, the execution is mixed. 

With how popular Gizmoduck has become at this point, Huey, Dewey, and Louie become curious as to who he really is.  Through an investigation, there's a chance encounter with Scrooge and Launchpad, the latter of whom they come to believe is definitely Gizmoduck.  Fenton Crackshell also happens to be there, and despite being cool with keeping his status as Gizmoduck secret before, he becomes visibly upset at this assumption.  Scrooge tries to assure him that it’s better the nephews think Launchpad is Gizmoduck to protect his identity, but to no avail.  

It’s at this point where the plot of the episode is established with Fenton setting out to prove that Launchpad is not Gizmoduck, and the results have a good deal of frustration and contrivance.  The frustration comes from how it’s already well established to the audience that Launchpad isn’t Gizmoduck. To have the world around Fenton stick to believing falsehoods doesn’t sit right.  

Following Fenton putting up with ridiculous reasons for the nephews’ claims such as a piece of metal at Launchpad’s allegedly being part of Gizmoduck, there’s a Gizmoduck party.  It seems like an easy place for Fenton to show up as Gizmoduck while Launchpad appears as himself, all set to disprove the theory.  However, as Gizmoduck, Fenton has to put up with all sorts of ineptness from people thinking that he’s wearing a costume.  Some fans who are also wearing a Gizmoduck costume even have quirks that seem to be more impressive than that of the real hero which is kind of sad.  Then there’s an incident with fireworks where Fenton rushes to dispatch a box of them when they’re accidentally lit while everyone else, including Launchpad, runs away.  Fenton finishes the job, but everyone still believes Launchpad is Gizmoduck when he comes back all banged up.  Is that really enough to be so sure? How do they know that this outcome is definitely what happened?  

Because of this setup, Launchpad is then constantly bombarded with people who are more convinced than ever that he’s Gizmoduck, something he’s desperate to deny.  In that regard, it’s interesting that both he and Fenton are on the same page to prove that’s not the case despite the latter’s jealousy.  It seems like they have a chance when Launchpad is captured by the Beagle Boys, and Fenton comes to rescue him as Gizmoduck.  However, since he and Launchpad weren’t both there when Gizmoduck got the Beagle Boys arrested, this does nothing to break the belief.  Also, since a lie detector used on the Beagle Boys says they’re telling the truth, now this false belief is 100% confirmed, dragging things out even more.  

It’s at this point where the episode becomes very monotonous with its story where just when it seems to be getting somewhere, something always keeps it going.  It would be appropriate for the audience to just want it to get to a resolution.  Thankfully, that turns out to be well-handled.  Launchpad, in an interview where the crowds expect official confirmation that he is Gizmoduck, ends up saying the password to get the Gizmoduck suit on himself.  His inexperience on how to actually work the suit leads into several mishaps and eventually a spectacle of a runaway through the series.  The most standout element though is Fenton’s role in this circumstance.  Even though he’s not the one with the power, it’s nice to see Fenton’s natural wits be what saves Launchpad from every mishap his mishandling of the suit causes.  Then, after much ineptness from the public, there’s something rewarding with them noticing Fenton’s heroic efforts in addition to finally realizing Launchpad can’t be Gizmoduck.  There’s even some solid humor with Huey, Dewey, and Louie now considering Fenton a likely candidate albeit shockingly placed below Mrs. Beakley of all characters.  While a good laugh to end the episode on, it’s perplexing to see how Fenton is upset about people not knowing his identity, a mark against this story as a whole.  

This secret identity story has a fair share of things to hold it back from the long time everyone believes a fallacy, and contrivances to keep it going.  Still, it’s entertaining, and a solid number of moments have good heart, humor, and character, so while it’s far from great, it’s certainly not bad.

B

The Ranking

1.     My Mother the Psychic

2.     Allowance Day

3.     The Big Flub

4.     The Land of Trala La

5.     The Good Muddahs

6.     Dough Ray Me

7.     A Case of Mistaken Identity

8.     Bubba’s Big Brainstorm

9.     Metal Attraction

10.  Bubbeo and Juliet

The next review steers us to the reboot where Scrooge goes missing during his birthday party.

If you would like to check out other DuckTales reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

Terror of the Terra-Fermians-(DuckTales 2017 Season 1 Episode 9)-'Toon Reviews 51

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Terror of the Terra-Firmians

The best way to describe this episode of the reboot is that it’s an effective mix of honoring the original series and doing its own unique thing.  Both approaches in writing make for a memorable escapade of callbacks to legacy and how it allows development for much of the characters present.  

The driving force of the story mostly comes from elements exclusive to the reboot with the group hanging out with Webby’s new friend Lena.  Following a trip to the movies, Lena’s attitude leads to mixed reactions.  While the kids enjoy her laid back and rebellious ways well enough with Webby being absolutely ecstatic, their caretaker Mrs. Beakley is understandably suspicious.  Naturally protective of the kids, especially her granddaughter, it’s easy to think that Lena could be a bad influence to those she’s around.  Even the audience has a reason to believe this with her established association with Magica de Spell.  There’s a good show of these traits with the other inciting incident for the story that also serves as a tie to the original series.  

The movie the group saw gets Webby talking about a variety of creatures, particularly a group of creatures known as terra-firmians.  The portrayal of these creatures is a respectful homage with its own fresh additions.  Like in the original series, the terra-firmians are round colorful ball-like creatures who compete in games involving rolling into things that end up causing earthquakes for the surface world.  However, while the original depictions of these characters had them merely as cheerful creatures oblivious to the havoc they cause, the reboot goes for more interesting background.  They’re actually a race of different tribes who chaotically compete in games as part of a war where they fight for the throne following the death of the original king.  Also, unlike the center of the earth in the original series, they reside in an old abandoned subway tunnel below Duckburg.  

As that tunnel is just nearby, Lena seizes opportunity and leads Webby and Huey down to investigate, and are later joined by Mrs. Beakley, Dewey, Louie, and Launchpad.  The group is eventually separated which makes for equal focus on different subplots going on.  Starting with the least impactful subplot, that involves Launchpad being assigned to get an abandoned subway train moving with Dewey joining him for backup.  The catch is that Launchpad is very paranoid about the people he knows being mole monsters after seeing the earlier movie.  Through the process, Dewey tries to talk sense into him with Launchpad coming to the conclusion that if everyone is a mole monster, he must be too.  It’s a solid comedic side plot which reveals Launchpad’s ways sourcing from a lack of intelligence, but it does show a start of him and Dewey as a notable pair for the series.  

Now, the other two subplots have more to talk about.  Webby and Huey have a conflict involving the true existence of the terra-firmians.  Webby, with a huge passion for adventure, is a firm believer in the creatures and is eager to meet them.  All the while, there’s a notable showing of Huey’s individual character, further demonstrating the reboot’s welcome distinction of the three nephews.  In Huey’s case, he’s very detail oriented and dependent on his prized book, the Junior Woodchucks Guidebook, a very notable nod to the original series.  He stubbornly believes that if certain phenomena isn’t in the book, it isn’t real, and terra-firmians are not in the book.  Whenever they come across a sign of the creatures, Webby and Huey have differing reasons for believing if it truly is them or not, getting tense and argumentative.  

This conflicting atmosphere is also felt with Lena and Mrs. Beakley whose differing mannerisms bring their lack of trust in each other to the forefront.  It’s especially felt when during their trek to free the train from a cave-in, Mrs. Beakley forbids Lena from ever seeing Webby again after all this.  This is distressing to Lena, showing that her friendship with Webby is indeed genuine and really doesn’t want to lose her.  Her feelings are really put to the test when the train finally gets moving, but strange creatures also start attacking.  It’s a major climactic moment to bring several turning points for characters.  As Huey witnesses the creature that clearly appears to be a terra-firmian, his view and dependence on his guidebook is undoubtably challenges.  He’s forced to come to terms with his worldview being challenged, and doing so in such a tense climax makes the moment stand out even more.  However, the most shining character moment belongs to Lena.  During the ambush, Mrs. Beakley is caught under a coach of the subway train.  Lena is driven to help, but her loyalty is truly put to the test when Magica de Spell appears in her shadow again, trying to push Lena to just leave Mrs. Beakley.  There’s suspense over what choice she’ll make, but ultimately, Lena makes the right choice and saves Mrs. Beakley, defying her aunt.  This cements Lena as a character worth supporting where in spite of her rebellious nonconformist ways, she does believe in doing what’s right.  

As for the terra-firmians, when everything’s settled, there’s a compromise for the views of Huey and Webby.  The creatures prove to be real, but nothing is said about their history.  If anything, the one who encountered the group practically mirrors Huey in terms of perspective of different beings.  Honestly, this brief encounter with the terra-firmians here and how they approach outsiders makes them more interesting than the whole episode they had in the original series.  That said, it is unfortunate that they never show up again throughout this reboot.  One thing that is further seen going forward though is Lena’s character arc.  The episode ends with her gaining Mrs. Beakley’s trust, and when she hears Magica berate her, she brushes it off choosing to follow the rules to keep her new friendship.  This in turn leaves the audience with a character worth getting behind with lots of future potential.  

Having said that, the main appeal of this episode comes from the many interesting character dynamics and the compelling growth and ideals that result from them.

A

Series Ranking

1.     The House of the Lucky Gander

2.     The Beagle Birthday Breakout

3.     The Impossible Summit of Mt. Neverrest

4.     Terror of the Terra-Firmians

5.     The Living Mummies of Toth-Ra

6.     Daytrip of Doom

7.     The Great Dime Chase

8.     Escape To/From Atlantis

9.     Woo-oo

10.  The Infernal Internship of Mark Beaks

The next review follows a mystery with Scrooge going missing during a party he doesn't even want.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews, we return to Ed Edd n Eddy  Season 4 with "Robbin' Ed" and "A Case of Ed."

If you would like to check out other DuckTales reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

The Impossible Summit of Mt. Neverrest - (DuckTales 2017 Season 1 Episode 3) - 'Toon Reviews 51

If you like this review and want to stay updated for what else I have in store, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter. Now on with today's review:

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.

If you would like to check out other DuckTales reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

The Uncrashable Hindentanic (DuckTales Vol 3 Part 6) - 'Toon Reviews 25

If you like this review and want to stay updated for what else I have in store, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter. Now on with today's review:

The Uncrashable Hindentanic

History has lots of disasters involving travel. This show has an episode modeled after one of those disasters, the Hindenburg blimp crash of 1937 in which a German dirigible using hydrogen gas crashed while trying to land, killing 36 people.  While there are no deaths here since it’s from a show with a light-hearted tone, it has a disaster tone to it with anything that can go wrong on a blimp going wrong. 

Scrooge, having made a profit on everything his rival Flintheart Glomgold challenges him to sell, is tasked to make a profit on a notorious dirigible, the Uncrashable Hindentanic.  Its reputation alone threatens Scrooge’s chances of the investment being successful, but he pushes on despite what’s against him. 

He and his staff attract a lot of attention to the dirigible. The many passengers with their own quirks and side plots emulate the feel of transportation used to fit the needs of various passengers.  There’s an old-age movie star striving for her big comeback despite her acting not being good. A patient awaits a beak transplant. An astronomer who spots “billions and billions” of anything. A scientist transports bees for the Queen of England. A director films the entire trip.  These passengers are all distinctive who each liven things up and make the environment of the Hindentanic fresh and alive with different things to follow.  They’re one of the reasons what happens is so exciting to watch.

Another reason for this involves the different ways things go wrong.  Some are a result of Scrooge’s attempts to be cheap and safe like getting a scatterbrained captain as the pilot. He happens to be the same crazy captain who took him through the Bermuda Triangle.  It turns out to be a problem when he’s easily fooled by Flintheart to abandon his post with the steering wheel. Flintheart can now wreak havoc any way he can to ensure Scrooge doesn’t make a profit.  Thanks to him, the propellers are cut, the ship sales into a meteor shower, and those bees fly loose. 

While a lot of disastrous things unfold, it actually keeps everything interesting.  They shake up the setting and the way others interact in it, making you wonder how the protagonists will solve the problems.  It honestly wouldn’t be as exciting if mostly good things happened during the trip.  Sure enough as Scrooge and the others scramble to set everything right, things are kept exciting. The dirigible is flipped, a fire rages in the lobby, Launchpad tries to fix the propeller from the outside, and the dirigible crashes onto an iceberg when all attempts fall flat. 

Scrooge ultimately loses his blimp, yet he amazingly still wins his bet with Flintheart since the footage of the disaster caught on film can make a great movie when put together.  It may seem a little too convenient for the disaster to turn out this well.  Admittedly though, it's not as convenient as that same captain suddenly appearing at the iceberg with a ship back to Duckburg.  I suppose you can chalk this up as a fascinating way for Scrooge to find sales benefits in anything, including disasters, even if it was somewhat of a lucky outcome. 

As it stands, this episode is one of the show’s most exciting. It's a creative premise based on a noteworthy travel disaster with a variety of characters and challenges keeping audiences entertained throughout the ride.

One thing though: since both Duckworth and Mrs. Beakley are part of the Hindentanic staff, where was Webby during all this and who was looking after her?

A

The Ranking

1. Duck in the Iron Mask
2. The Uncrashable Hindentanic
3. Dime Enough for Luck
4. Duck to the Future
5. Launchpad’s First Crash
6. Jungle Duck

The next DuckTales review follows Scrooge try to get into a high class club despite the fact that he outranks it.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews is the third Hilda episode, "The Bird Parade."

If you would like to check out other DuckTales reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.