Platform: Disney+
Episodes: 23
Runtime: 22 minutes
Voice Cast: David Tennant (Scrooge McDuck), Danny Pudi (Huey Duck), Ben Schwartz (Dewey Duck), Bobby Moynihan (Louie Duck), Kate Micucci (Webby Vanderquack), Beck Bennet (Launchpad Mc Quack), Toks Olagundove (Mrs Beakley), and Tony Anselmo (Donald Duck).
Rating: 4.1/5
Wow! Where do I begin with DuckTales – I was kind of put off by the designs at first, but I slowly came around to it as the story drew me in. What really hooked me on this series was the story arc and the mystery of Della Duck, as well as the long running threat of Magica De Spell. And the nephews have different personalities! I know they do in other shows, but it’s the first time I’ve been able to differentiate them.
DuckTales (2017) is a reboot of the classic action comedy animated series featuring Disney’s anthropomorphic ducks. It follows the escapades of the richest duck in the world, Uncle Scrooge, and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, as they traverse the world on grand adventures for rare and precious treasures, even as they encounter race cars, lasers, and aeroplanes. In the process, they solve mysteries and sometimes rewrite history.
The stronger characterization of all the characters on the show led to more interesting stories, because you knew how they’d behave and react to situations. Mrs Beakley and Gyro Gearloose were some of my favourites in this reboot, because they were reimagined with a bit more sass and edge, without being overly pretentious. Then there’s the nephews and Webby, plus her blossoming friendship with Lena. I was genuinely sad that she lost her best friend in the finale, because that relationship had grown on me as the series progressed.
Mark Beaks was also, oddly, an interesting new addition to the cast that I enjoyed watching. I guess his insertion doesn’t make the series feel so dated, and his rivalry with Gizmoduck made for some fun scenes. Also, I like how Beaks is a mashup of all those tech titans, down to the big W for the Waddle logo.
The revelation of Della Duck and the toll that her disappearing had on Scrooge was an absolute gut punch. It was only a montage, and there were no words – but to see Scrooge’s dwindling pile of money, that he had to be forcibly dragged away, that family truly meant more to him than money did… that was heart wrenching. I cried before watching the penultimate episode, because it felt like such a tragedy that the ducks were torn apart because of this accident.
Unfortunately, the art style really wasn’t something I liked. I know it’s a homage to Carl Barks and the comic stylisations, but I miss the softer, rounded shapes of the original DuckTales characters. Maybe it’s also because I feel the red costume for Scrooge is a bit loud on screen – I miss the blue one.
The story could also be a little draggy at times – like you know this is a spotlight on a character but the plot is so obvious from the outset. Why can’t we just follow through on that gigantic spotlight instead of pretending we don’t know what’ll happen next?
Ultimately, I liked DuckTales because it made me cry. I could see how Scrooge struggled against caring for others, simply because it hurt him so once before. And I think that’s what everyone can identify with right? I feel that DuckTales appeals to fans both old, and young — because it appeals to both sides of me.
Ducktales Season 1 is streaming now on Disney+.
Image Credit: FanCaps.Net
This is an original article on marcusgohmarcusgoh.com
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I’m an independent scriptwriter who’s written for popular shows like Lion Mums, Crimewatch, Police & Thief, and Incredible Tales. I’m also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find me on social media as Optimarcus and on my site.
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