DuckTales – A Between Season Discussion

With DuckTales not coming back until September with new episodes, we decided to take some time to talk about some things from the current episodes and delve a bit into our thoughts of some of the new announcements. Both Ella and myself are fans of the original series and the current DuckTales series so it makes for a fun conversation.

Damon: So how do you feel about all the guest characters coming to the new DuckTales? We just saw that, if the poster is to be believed that we are going to get Daisy Duck, Goofy, Gadget, Chip, Dale, Monterey Jack, an adult Kit and Molly from TaleSpin, and Gosalyn Mallard. This is going way overboard for me, as I have already stated that the show is diluted enough with characters, especially based on the fact we don’t see enough of LaunchPad in my opinion. You know out of all of these characters though, Goofy seems like that one that does not make any sense at all. What they are doing is pulling me out of the DuckTales universe and making my head go in all other directions, it will be nice to see Gosalyn because we have already had a great story of Darkwing Duck and I get it with TaleSpin because we have seen Don Karnage. The only hope that I have here is that these are just introductions for spin-offs, that would actually make some sense. Daisy Duck though is going to really change the dynamic of the show, especially with Della involved. Just a lot of characters to work through when we are trying to see the development of the main characters on the show.

Ella: I think it is because how it was announced at once it can make it seem overwhelming. But the team basically make it clear since the start that this was a goal. Recapturing the Disney Afternoon and bringing it together. And fans have been awaiting this. Ducktales is the meaning of the labor of love. This is what it means to reboot something and putting all of your heart in it. I have total faith in them.

I love the classic Ducktales, but the character development was always secondary to the grand adventure. Personally I feel we have seen more development for our core cast in this version’s one and a half season than before. Again, love Launchpad and naturally I want to see more of him. I feel like once we get Darkwing going we will see more of him. Plus I think the Flying McQuacks are supposed to turn up.

Ah Daisy, I feel like this is going to be hilarious.

Since you mentioned Darkwing…I know you were disappointed with Beware the BUDDY system.

Damon:I was disappointed by that specific episode but I loved the way they wrapped up the Darkwing Duck storyline. I can only hope it means a spin off with a Darkwing Duck show. I just think they are taking it too far I mean Goofy? I mean we even had the Gummi Bears. Focus on the main characters. Plus the introduction of Violet is just another character that just doesn’t need to exist for me.

I do love the overall stories we are getting each part of the seasons though. Looking forward to some more Magica. I get the feeling of bringing back the Disney Afternoon just not all in one show. With Disney+ I feel like they could have done those series there. Hoping to see some more villains from the original series rebooted

Ella: This is what makes this funny for me personally, I was told I was likely to be disappointed. And that there was a twist. The fact I have faith in this, coupled with that didn’t leave me with disappointment, but anticipation.

I would love a Darkwing series. I think in the long term, we have a real chance at reboots for these series. The potential is there and they have always interconnected. Marvel has this massive shared universe, why not the Disney Afternoon?

I like how Violet fits in with the kids. It helps with that dynamic and leads to some new narrative options. You could say Gos would be a good fit, but she will likely be over in Saint Canard so that limits her.

I feel like this is only the starting line. In reality, because how the series is Ducktales can go on for as long as the writers want to. Della retuning might have been endgame, but it was only the start.

Damon:True but let me take a different approach to both of those points. Della being an endgame of sorts means what for her going forward? Does this mean that we continue to have characters introduced to crowd up the show. The things with villains being introduced is once defeated we can tuck them away to never be seen again if that is how the writers play it. Also this Duckverse seems less real when we start bringing in other anthropomorphic animal types. For me it gives it a disconnect when we had the air pirates. That all being said I am excited to see Kit and Molly once again.

Turning to something new though…New Webby vs. Old Webby… thoughts? With Disney+ announcing they will show all of the old episodes everyone should get a taste of both characters portrayals.

Ella: It was said that season one was the story of a family that fell apart and came back together. In many ways Della was the driving force in that season. Likely before they knew they would have another season. There was no way she was going to stay on the moon. From where we are, she is still settling in. We have yet to see how with her the dynamics will work.

If you look at the season half trailer, there is going to be a League of Villains style team up coming. I would rather have characters step back and come back into light as things come into motion than just linger in the background. I feel like there is some foreshadowing that we are not really aware of.

When you think about other Disney series, even with like The House of Mouse; we seen all types of beings collide and coexist. It makes things more of a melding pot, like art imitating life.

Oh wow, ah. I actually have only really compared the two on narrative levels. Not characters to characters. I did grow up with the original, so a lot of it has stuck with me. Yet this never came to light really. But I do love both versions, as Webby was who she needed to be for the story.

With Webby especially, I feel like a big thing is realizing the times. The 80s where vastly different from now. In classic, Webby was younger and even physically smaller than the boys. There also some level of social norms there too and what a “typical” girl was. Plus her granny, Beakly, was just a normal housekeeper. Her first introduction to adventure was at the start of the series. Yes, Webby loved tea parties, but she had that desire to be like the nephews. And she aimed for that.

Webby now reminds me of Kim Possible and Mira Nova. And really, we need strong characters like her now and even then.
This really shows how changing a character’s upbringing has such an impact

Damon: I’ll take webby first, I do like the new Webby and all of her strength and charm but miss some of the innocence of the original. Love that they had the original Webby look for the doll that Magica turned her into.

It will be interesting on how the handle the villains going forward. Who would you say has been your favorite villain so far ? Mark Beaks has been mine as his character fits perfectly with our current society and he doesn’t scream evil and dark villain up front. I’m not sold on the new version of Glomgold and enjoyed the original version more.

Ella: It is nice seeing the classic villains, I.e Magica and the Beagle Boys. But do agree about Mark Beaks. What really stands out is that he is more focused on Gizmoduck and cares less about the dime.

Glomgold feels more like a comedic rival than villain.

Stay tuned for part 2 coming before the new season.