DuckTales is back! And luckily it’s pretty great. I’ll be taking over reviews for the series, after Nick’s coverage of the premiere. I’m a big fan of the original series, and even watched the sort-of-a-reboot, Quack Pack, that came out in the mid-90s. So let’s dive in! This week’s episodes didn’t have another epic adventure like the premiere, but did provide a great character focus on both Webby Vanderquack, and Dewey Duck.
1. Style and substance!
I didn’t know how I felt first about the choice to use two different styles for the backgrounds and main animation. But after three episodes, I’ve come to love it. The contrast between the sketchy lines on construction paper coloring of the backgrounds, against the clean lines of the main animation, really adds character to the show. It provides a unique touch, which I haven’t seen used in other current animation.
2. A new Scrooge McDuck!
Not hearing Alan Young voicing Scrooge was also an adjustment. (He voiced the character for over 30 years.) But David Tennant is really owning his role as the new Scrooge. He imbues the character with indignant pride, grandfatherly heart, and curmudgeonly crabbiness all at once. And he’s just one among many great actors on the show! Having voice actors that mostly do live-action can really hinder an animated show’s flow, but DuckTales manages to pull it off. The writing on the show really helps as well. There are a ton of fun one-liners and quick gags that don’t come off as super cheesy, like other shows aimed at children. “Uke and Puke” is my new favorite imaginary video game.
3. “This is no safe zone. This is a tomb!”
Of all the updated characters, Webby has to be my favorite. They kept the social awkwardness of the original character, but made her a smart, acrobatic conspiracy theorist, complete with her own conspiracy string board. Webby is also another excuse to bring up the stellar cast, because Kate Micucci really nails the characterization. The way she nonchalantly spouts off every bit of information on random artifacts found in Scrooge’s garage, or unconvincingly tries to charm a server into getting free fruit punch is perfect. Micucci juggles the various aspects of the character so well.
4. There’s only been three episodes?!
The show already feels like it’s been on for years. With the exception of maybe Huey (the red triplet), they have done an amazing job establishing all the main characters’ personalities and motivations in a very short time. One of my favorite character elements is Donald being a skilled adventurer, while being completely unable to function in the real world. The visual gags of him stapling himself in a rage to a wall, or needing to park his houseboat in Scrooge’s pool had me chuckling pretty good. There are even interpersonal dynamics that already feel like parts of long running relationships, like Louie’s continual attempts to get Webby to not always tell the absolute truth. Even though we’ve only seen it happen on screen a couple times, it feels like something that has been going on for much longer.
5. Foreshadowing!
DuckTales may have all the episodic trappings of a kids show, but there is definitely more nuance here. First off, it’s a full half hour, as opposed to a lot of animated shows that do 15 minutes. There’s a lot more room to flesh out a story. And everything isn’t just contained in that half hour either. Each episode so far has seeded in elements that come into play in the subsequent episodes. Mrs. Beakley’s inevitable spy backstory can’t come soon enough, and Gyro is already much more complex than the superhero scientist of the original series. I’m also looking forward to finding out what happened to Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s mother over the course of the series.
