RJ Writing Ink

ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE. LISTEN UP! If you’ve been on Twitter over the last few hours, then you might have heard the news about #DuckTales2017 and that it’s been cancelled. The story was broken on Twitter yesterday by Drew Taylor, an associate editor for Collider with this tweet.

Later posts by Drew on Collider itself, corroborated by official statements from Disney, have confirmed this. DuckTales! will be ending with its Third Season.

Am I upset by this? Yes. The 2017 reboot of DuckTales! is one of the best things Disney’s given us in years. It not only brings back the classic 80s cartoon for a new generation, it improved on it. Not to mention the stellar cast, animators, and others who worked on it. However, here’s the thing: I had a feeling going into Season Three that it was going to be the last one.

Think about it. Della Duck came back, they fought the Moonlanders, and now they’re fighting F.O.W.L., which will likely be their biggest adventure ever. The writing’s all there: #DuckTales2017 was gearing up for a big finale.

However, just because the show’s ending doesn’t mean it’s cancelled.

Cancelled vs. Ending

I’ve seen people use the words “ending” and “cancelled” interchangably when talking about TV shows. Regrettably, they’re doing the same thing with #DuckTales. So to get it off my chest, I want to remind everyone the difference.

When a show’s cancelled, that’s when the network pulls the plug on it before it can reach its proper conclusion. #InvaderZim was one such example. When a show’s ending, that means it’s reached the point where the network, creators, and cast all agree they want to conclude the story. Shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Gravity Falls, Adventure Time. #DuckTales is going to be one such show.

So, to clarify, #DuckTales isn’t cancelled. Disney will likely release the remaining episodes in 2021, followed by the series finale. THERE’S A FREAKING DIFFERENCE PEOPLE! GET IT RIGHT!!!

I’m sorry. I had to say that.

The Future

I’d also like to remind people of this obvious fact: DuckTales! has already opened to door for a revived Disney Afternoon-iverse. The show’s included multiple cameos, easter eggs, and references to the other shows of the Disney Afternoon block decades ago. Season Three has only seen the references intensify. Hell, I already said that the #DarkwingDuck special was a backdoor pilot for a spin-off. And I was right: it’s getting a reboot on Disney+. Most likely, it will pick up where the special left off, meaning it will be in the same universe as DuckTales! In other words, there’s a chance that we’ll still see the Duck Family in the future.

If this is where the show’s creators want to bow out, then I will respect their decision. However, I don’t want to see people panicking over the misconception that #DuckTales2017 is being cancelled. It’s ending. THERE’S A DIFFERENCE. LOOK IT UP PEOPLE!!

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DuckTales! Season 3, Darkwing Duck Special Review

Last year, I said that the debut of the DuckTales! reboot’s version of Darkwing Duck could end up leading to a reboot/spin-off. Then a few months ago, I said DuckTales! was leading us to a Disney Afternoon-iverse. As of tonight, with the hour-long Darkwing Duck special, “Let’s Get Dangerous,” and this SYFY interview with the show’s creators, I feel all but vindicated in my belief. To paraphrase Nick Fury at the end of Iron Man, DuckTales! is now part of a larger universe.

Now, let’s get dangerous!

Flashpoint at St. Canard

The special starts off with Scrooge, Launchpad, and the boys traveling to St. Canard for two reasons. Firstly, Scrooge’s meeting with scientist Taurus Bulba at his St. Canard lab. He claims to have invented a machine, the Ramrod, that can create anything from seemingly nothing. Of course, Huey’s quickly convinced that it’s too cool to be true. Meanwhile, LP and Dewey want to hang with Darkwing as he fights crime. Only problem: crime’s all but eradicated in St. Canard!

While these two plots start off seperate, they soon begin to interweave in order to create a larger narrative. As Darkwing learns from Gosalyn, the granddaughter of the man she claims really invented the Ramrod, there’s more to Taurus then meets the eye. And as Huey learns, the Ramrod has a hidden connection to the Missing Mysteries that the Duck Family (and F.O.W.L.) have been hunting all season.

For lack of a better term, the events of “Let’s Get Dangerous” are, in essence, a flashpoint. Plot threads that have been running since the show’s beginning come together to form a narrative far larger than would be possible otherwise. And when the dust has settled, there are going to be massive ramifcations going forward.

F.O.W.L. Reveals Itself

The audience has known since the start of the season that F.O.W.L. has been working against the Duck Family in the shadows to find the Missing Mysteries first. Aside from a brief moment of lucidity by Launchpad, the heroes have remained unaware of the looming danger. After the events in St. Canard, that’s no longer the case.

Without spoiling things, the Ramrod’s connected to the Missing Mysteries. Therfore, F.O.W.L. gets involved in building it. Due to the actions of Taurus Bulba, though, they end up blowing their cover in front of the Duck Family. Even Scrooge is shocked by this. And when Scrooge is surprised by something, then its time to worry!

What this means going forward is that the the search for the Missing Mysteries now has serious stakes. The Duck Family has to find them before F.O.W.L. does, or else who knows what could happen

Backdoor Pilot for Darkwing Duck

The more immediate consequence to this special is the fact that it essentially serves as a backdoor pilot for a reboot of Darkwing Duck. Besides tying into the overarching plot of the season and upping the ante, “Let’s Get Dangerous” is a retelling of the pilot of the original Darkwing Duck. All the hallmarks are there:

• Taurus Bulba is the main antagonist
• Darkwing first meets Gosalyn, who becomes his partner and adopted daughter
• Launchpad decides to officially team up with Darkwing, splitting his time with Scrooge and DW

I, for one, have been wanting to see a reboot of Darkwing Duck since the DuckTales! reboot came out. With Darkwing, Launchpad, and Gosalyn now committed to being a team of superheroes, we have everything we need for a spin-off. And I’m reading what the creators of the show said to SYFY, then that may be coming in the near future.

In the meantime, though, something tells me that Darkwing Duck and Gosalyn still have a role to play in the rest of this season. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get dangerous!

I Give “Let’s Get Dangerous!” a 4.5/5. Loses points because end credits didn’t have the Darkwing Duck Theme Song

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Ducktales, “The Duck Knight Rises” Review

When there’s trouble, you call DW! DARKWING DUCK! I may not have been alive when the show came out, but that doesn’t diminish the fact that I am a fan of Darkwing Duck! It also helps that he’s voiced by Jim Cummings, a man with a thousand voices. I ended up watching the show years later online, and I fell in love with it almost right away. So when I heard that DW was going to make an appearance in Ducktales, I was over the moon! No offense to Della!

After watching the new episode of Ducktales, and then rewatching it at least half a dozen times, I conclude that this episode was a love letter to Darkwing Duck. The thing that stood out the most to me, though, was the conflict that I saw between the different aspects f Darkwing Duck’s fandom. I’ve seen how these conflicts can tear a long-lasting fan base apart, and it’s not pretty.

First, we have the old guard, the original generation of fans and actors personified by Launchpad and Jim Starling. Launchpad has always been Darkwing’s biggest fan, be it the reboot or the original. So when he hears they’re rebooting the show as a film, he’s esctatic beyond belief. The same goes for Jim Starling (played by Jim Cummings). They’re overjoyed, but for different reasons. And when they discover that they hate the movie, it’s also for different reasons.

In Launchpad’s case, he’s mad because the director’s idea of Darkwing’s channeling the worst aspects of the DCEU’s Batman. He’s worried that what he loved will be tarnished. Jim, whose channeling the worst apsects of the classic DW (his giant ego), is only made because he’s lost his one chance at winning back his fame. So they team up to save the movie.

Then we have the writers and directors and the people who have to make sure the film sticks the landing. None of them see all that cut out for it, though. The director’s a copy of Francis Ford Coppola, because he’s overbudget, wants to make this a psychological look “at the inhumanity in humanity” or whatever, and the trailer he made is pure nonsense. And Scrooge (who owns the studio) is of no help, for once. He’s the old guy who has no clue about what the film’s based on and only cares about money. He insists that the villain has a mustache! And there’s Dewey, who doesn’t get what the director’s trying to do and wants to add in things that he thinks are cool, but has no idea what he’s doing. He’s the problem with trying to make a film appeal to the youngest target audience when they don’t know what makes a good movie! It’s a recipe for disaster that almost always angers fans.

Then, we have our third party, the new guy who’s playing Darkwing Duck, played by Chris Diamntopoulous . While some people may only take the role for the fame or money, his reasons are more altruistic. He’s a true fanboy of the show, and most important, he took the lessons of the show to heart. He got bullied a lot as a kid, but it was seeing Darkwing that taught him to always get back up and keep fighting. He truly loves the role he’s gotten, and he wants to pass that love and inspiration to the next generation. Make it his own while respecting where it came from.

When Launchpad how much the young actor cares about the role, he realizes that he’s the best person to take up the role. I see this as a reconciliation between the two generations of fans, united by a common love for something. It doesn’t have to be the same thing in each iteration. Look at Batman or Doctor Who. Countless people have played them over the years. The fans may not always like them, but they still love the character.

Jim Starling… doesn’t see it like that. He ends up going crazy with jealousy and starts a fire on the set.

That’s when the new Darkwing appears to save the day from the original. The fight between these two was by far the best part of the episode. And the Chris Darkwing proves to everyone that he owns the role, matching the Jim Cummings Darkwing in hamminess, determination, and ability to handle slapstick. It was EPIC! And then that tragic explosion that seemingly claims the life of Jim Starling.
Fed up, Scrooge pulls the plug on the film, and it seems like Darkwing’s days are done. But in a meta twist, Launchpad inspires the young actor to become Darkwing Duck in real life. To be a hero. This could either lead to a spin-off, or at least more episodes featuring the new Darkwing Duck fighting crime. My brain’s already thinking up fanfiction where he teams up with Gizmoduck and the Duck Family.

In the second meta twist, we finally learn the actor’s name: Drake Mallard, Darkwing Duck’s alter ego. He was truly born to be the Duck.

Then, in the episode’s final moments, we get the biggest twist possible. Jim Starling survived the explosion, but the man he once was is gone. His bitterness over losing his rule and the explosion have driven him insane, and as we see him in the sewers, his costume’s take on a color scheme that any Darkwing Duck fan should know.

I clapped so hard at this moment. The original Negaduck was an evil twin from a parralel universe, but having him be the original Darkwing Duck!?!?!? That’s so brilliant!!

Now that fanboying is over, it should be apparent that I think this was one of the best episodes in the entire show. Am I saying because I’m partial to superheroes and Disney? Maybe. Or is this because I’m acknowledge the fact that the show’s writers remained faithful to the original show while telling a new and exciting story? Without a doubt. This episode opens up new doorways for story in Ducktales, and I hope the writers are smart enough to capitalize on them.
Sadly, we have to wait until September when the new episodes come out. And now I have nothing to distract me from the fact that another hit Disney show, Star vs. The Forces of Evil, is clocking out (until they make a movie or something. I’m hopeful). Or that Game of Thrones is ending.

If there’s one thing this decade has taught me, it’s that good cartoons are never confined to one generation. That’s why I keep watching them, and why I want to make sure future generations can see that as well.

I Give “The Duck Knight Rises” a 5 Purple Hats out of 5.

Stray Observations

• Did you guys notice the model of the Thunderquack in Drake Mallard’s trailer?
• What is it with Scrooge and twirly mustaches? None of his enemies have mustaches.
• Did you guys notice the fat guy in the parking lot? His shirt had the same design that Saitama from “One Punch Man” has on his shirt. The “Oppai” one, but censored.
• I just realized that those electric tower things were Powerline from A Goofy Movie
• “I added chainsaw jugglers. You’re welcome”.
• I really should have gotten Jim Cumming’s autograph when I had the chance.
• Darkwing’s hatred of Gizmoduck is universal!
• They made the opening credits purple!

Ducktales, “Friendship Hates Magic” Review

What’s a good way to help a reboot stand out from the original? By adding a well-written, never-before-seen character. Enter Lena De Spell, Magica’s shadow turned sentient “niece” who became Webby’s best friend. At the end of last season, Lena sacrificed herself to save Webby, but she survived as Webby’s shadow.

I thought that was the end to Lena’s story for the foreseeable future, but in this episode of Ducktales, we get to see the return of Lena. Also, the title’s a clear reference to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Two of the greatest cartoons of the decade for the price of one!

Ever since the Shadow War, Webby’s been researching a way to bring back Lena, who’s been following her around ever since, and making unheard but sassy remarks about her routine. When she runs into this other girl named Violet Sabrewing and strikes up a friendship, she ends up inviting her to McDuck Manor for a sleepover. Lena doesn’t take it very well.

What I like most about this episode is that it really gives Lena a chance to show off her character development. When we first met her, she only befriended Webby so she could get in with Scrooge, but then she actually became her friend. And in this episode, she proves how possessive she is of Webby.

If there’s one thing that I have learned, it’s that jealousy in cartoons can lead to disaster. I think we can all understand where Lena’s coming from, though: she doesn’t want the one person who cares about her to forget her in the end, and she sees a lot of her old self in Violet. At least, that’s what she thinks.

Turns out, Violet wasn’t trying to do anything wrong; she just wanted to satisfy her curiosity about the supernatural. I liked that the writers decided to go with the simple, straightforward route. Giving her ulterior motives would have just been a repeat of Lena, which would have been uninteresting. Instead, Lena ends up being the cause of the problems, as her negative emotions release dark shadows called Tulpas.

By the end of the episode, Webby, Lena, and Violet combine their powers to banish the darkness, and through the magic of friendship/plot convenience, the friendship bracelet Lena made for Webby restores her to the physical world.

Great, now they have to make sure that they continue to use Lena and Violet. If done right, they could be a great addition to the show’s cast.

Also, I really like the sub-plot involving Mrs. Beakley and Launchpad bonding over their shared love of heroes. And that means… DARKWING DUCK!!! That show has been teased time and again since Ducktales started, and if you missed the news, Darkwing Duck will get its own episode this Friday!

So, this episode, while a little bit creepy at times, turned out to be a heartwarming experience for all, and proof of why Ducktales is one of Disney’s flagship shows right now. When Star vs. The Forces of Evil ends this Sunday, Ducktales will be the most suited to take its place. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I give “Friendship Hates Magic” a 4/5.