While this episode isn’t as exciting or creative as a part of
the story arc, it still is a good continuation of what goes on with plenty of
admirable qualities. It features Scrooge
man a salvage vehicle called a Gold Digger to reobtain his money trapped at the
bottom of the Marinara Trench in the previous episode. Much of his underwater voyage consists of him
getting majorly annoyed by the shipmates coming along with him. They include
the Gold Digger’s inventor Gyro Gearloose for praising his inventions and not
pointing out their flaws until too late, Launchpad for his usual incompetence,
and of all characters, Doofus Drake for constantly eating and being distracting
while communicating with dolphins.
Scrooge’s annoyances make for some humorous interactions and reactions
between this interesting set of characters, and how he views how they’re failing
to cooperate with him is clearly identifiable.
With his fortune lost due to circumstances, it must be hard for him to
work with such incompetence even if he can be harsh at times. However, neither Scrooge nor his accomplices
are as bad as the mermen they come across shortly after finding the money. Throughout the episode, they’re constantly
making the air-breathing visitors look bad as they explain how people
constantly dump garbage and toxic waste into their kingdom of Atlantis. They retaliate against the air-breathers with intense labor charges to clear away all garbage from their kingdom for 400
years, including Scrooge’s money. In
addition to the mermen’s behaviors fitting the human-vilifying traits of
annoying, preachy environmental stories, they are some of the most unenjoyable
antagonists this show has had. It’s bad
enough that they’re harsh to all air-breathers thinking that
air-breathers actually enjoy throwing trash down to their city and that they're all like that. Scrooge even says that
some of the trash, his money, belongs to him and is going to take it anyway, but the
mermen still won’t listen to reason. Sadly, we see a lot of this not just from
them pushing the group to work, but also preventing their escape by taking away
their air helmets and sending a sea monster after them when they head towards
the surface making the viewing very frustrating. Through the frustration though, Gyro,
Launchpad, and Doofus get a good shot at redemption when Scrooge is imprisoned,
and they come up with a plan to not only free him, but also raise his fortune
and all of Atlantis. Gyro’s intellect
puts a fizz solution shown earlier to good use, Launchpad spreads it around
Atlantis in exciting chase scene as he rides a dolphin with the mermen in hot
pursuit, and even Doofus’s newfound way of talking to dolphins plays a
significant role. The conclusion is
ultimately satisfying not just because Scrooge’s money is reobtained, but
because he’s left learning that even people who seem incompetent can be useful
at times. The mermen are even grateful
that their actions rids them of all the trash.
Too bad this is their only moment of decency here. Also, doesn’t Atlantis being resurfaced
defeat its established status as a lost city?
Well, it’s no matter because in spite of some annoying density from some
of the characters, this comes off as a highly enjoyable rescue mission with a
poignant message on trust. 8/10
The Ranking:
1. The Treasure of the Golden Suns Part 5: Too Much of a Gold Thing
2. Catch as Cash Can Part 2: A Whale of a Bad Time
3. Catch as Cash Can Part 1: A Drain on the Economy
4. Back to the Klondike
5. The Treasure of the Golden Suns Part 2: Wronguay in Ronguay
6. The Treasure of the Golden Suns Part 4: Cold Duck
7. The Treasure of the Golden Suns Part 1: Don’t Give up the Ship
8. The Treasure of the Golden Suns Part 3: Three Ducks of the Condor
9. Catch as Cash Can Part 3: Aqua Ducks
10. Scrooge’s Pet
11. Horse Scents
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the conclusion of the "Catch as Cash Can" arc when the moment of truth comes with the weighing of Scrooge and Flintheart's fortunes for the firefly fruit in "Working for Scales."
If you would like to check out other DuckTales reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
