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DuckTales Season 3, Episode 19 Review

It’s a new year, and that means new episodes DuckTales, that beautiful, beautiful reboot of the classic cartoon that managed to surpass its predecessor. This time, however, the new episodes taste bittersweet, as it was announced that Season 3 will be the show’s last. I’ve followed the show since the start and loved every minute of it, but I’m not going to be sad. I’m going to spend the show’s last month celebrating what makes it so special: the amazing characters, like good old Fenton Crackshell Cabrera.

When I first met this version of Fenton, I didn’t think much of him. But now, he’s yet another stellar member of an already amazing cast that I’ve grown to love. It’s only fitting that one of the final episodes focuses on him finding a sense of happiness and accomplishment in life in the new episode “Beaks in the Shell”.

Fenton+Gandra Dee =Infinity

Do you guys remember Gandra Dee? That morally dubious grunge scientist that Fenton developed a crush on, only for it turn out that she’s working for F.O.W.L. ? Well…..they’re kind of dating.

I know they’re supposed to be on opposite sides of the fight between F.O.W.L. and the Duck family, but I can’t help it. I SHIP THEM SOOOOO MUCH!!! They have an undeniable chemistry, work great together, and are genuinely happy with each other. So well, in fact, that Gandra’s planning on quitting F.O.W.L.; but first, the two are using the crime syndicate’s resources to create a VR world where they conduct experiments without the worry of collateral damage.

I am a big champion of the use of VR to better people’s lives, so I am genuinely impressed with this concept from a technical standpoint. From a storytelling point, though, this VR sandbox dubbed the “Gizmocloud” (it’s a working title) also helps to humanize Gandra, and confirm what I already suspected. Gandra’s not evil; she’s just struggling to get people to understand her genius, which only leaves F.O.W.L. as a viable backer. Plus, it proves that she genuinely like Fenton. And that lovable dork deserves a chance at happiness.

Too bad Mark Beaks shows up to ruin things.

Mark Beaks Stinks

After careful deliberation, I’ve concluded that Mark Beaks is my least favorite villain on the show. All he does is steal other people’s ideas and pass them off as his own, and now not even that’s good enough. Yep, Mark Beaks’ company is going under, and since he’s so inept at coming up with his own ideas, he resorts to trying to steal the Gizmoduck suit. For the umpteenth time. But then he finds the Gizmocloud and decides to use that to steal everyone else’s ideas.

Like I said, Mark Beaks might be my least favorite villain in the show. The guy’s basically a rip on Mark Zuckerberg, only more of a jerk. Still, when he’s a threat, he’s a threat. And he ends up forcing Fenton, Gabby, Huey, Gearloose, and Fenton’s mom into teaming up to defeat him. Oh, and they all get cool, Big Hero 6-esque suits, which is awesome!

A F.O.W.L. Obstacle

Alas, while it seems that Gandra’s ready to defect to the good guys, F.O.W.L. is not having any of it. Buzzard has Gandra imprisoned in something called the “Lost Library”.

What is “the Lost Library?” Is it some sort of place where F.O.W.L. keeps everything they’ve stolen? If that’s the case, then that’s got to be where they’re holding the Missing Mysteries. In other words, this is going to be play a role in the grand finale coming up.

So, DuckTales moves to its endgame, wraps up an ongoing arc with Fenton Cabrera, and builds us to the climax of the show, all in its first episode back. I can only say one thing after this episode: if you’re not watching DuckTales, then get on that bandwagon now. It’s going to be worth the ride!

I Give “Beaks in the Shell” A 4/5

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Ducktales, “The Dangerous Chemistry of Gandra Dee!” Review

We live in a world where superheroes reign supreme in pop culture, and at the moment, Disney seems to own the majority of them. Even Ducktales has its own superhero in the form of Fenton Cabrera, AKA Gizmoduck.

Past episodes have shown that Fenton loves being Gizmoduck, but being a superhero is a hard job. He’s working so hard helping others that can’t even get his own life together. That may have changed in this episode, though.

While out looking for materials for an experiment, Fenton runs into this super-cool scientist named Gandra Dee. And despite him trying to downplay it, Huey uses the Junior Woodchuck Guide to point out that he’s interested in her. So when Fenton invites her to his lab to talk shop, he and Webby team up to play matchmaker.

It’s as hilarious as it sounds. Fenton has no idea what he’s doing, which is sweet. But once he just starts being himself, he and Gandra do end up bonding over their shared love of science. Also, Gandra used nanites to upgrade her body to generate electricity and turn her eyes into a wireless camera.

So yeah, the date’s going great. Except it turns out Gandra’s working for Ducktales equivalent of Mark Zuckerberg, Mark Beaks. He uses Gandra to get the password to the Gizmoduck suit out of Fenton, drinks and incredibly dangerous amount of Gandra’s nanite serum to Hulk out and kidnap Webby and Huey.

It’s actually a pretty awesome superhero fight, and while Gandra makes it clear she’s only looking out for herself, she does end up help Fenton take down the newly minted Mega-Beaks. Using his weakness for social media against him is brilliant!

But alas, Gandra flies the coop before Fenton can thank her. Though she does leave behind a gift: the equation to help with that project he created.

So, what did I think of this episode? I liked it. It had all the hallmarks of a classic superhero story: mild-mannered hero who’s overwhelmed by his double life, potential love interest with gray morality, and a comic book ending. It may seem cliche, but it’s a tried and true formula in superhero stories. And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

I Give “The Dangerous Chemistry of Gandra Dee” a 4.5/5

Plus, it makes sense that they do a Gizmoduck episode now, because tomorrow’s episode is going to involve this 90s Disney icon:

LET’S GET DANGEROUS!

Stray Observations

• This is the second episode in a row where we haven’t seen Scrooge McDuck.
• Did you guys notice how many weird things that Launchpad has dated over the years
• Fenton keeps a list of all the people who know he’s Gizmoduck. Not so good at keeping a secret identity, huh?

• I just realized that Dr. Atmozphere looks just like Doofenshmirtz!