TV: Duck Tales (2017)

"I wish we could just have normal family problems."

Scrooge McDuck (Tennant) is the richest duck in the world, who is known for being "smarter than the smarties and tougher than the toughies". He used to be an adventurer, but now spends his days bored and avoiding his board of directors. All that changes when his estranged nephew Donald Duck (Anselmo) asks him to watch his great nephews Huey (Pudi), Dewey (Schwartz), and Louie (Moynihan).

The boys are fascinated by Scrooge and prod him to return to a life of adventure, despite the protestations of Donald. With help from Scrooge's housekeeper and former secret agent Mrs. Beakley (Olagundoye), her weapons and history expert granddaughter Webby Vanderquack (Micucci), and chauffeur Launchpad McQuack (Bennett), they set out to show the world that family is the best adventure. Can Scrooge, family, and allies keep the world safe?

A reboot of the popular 1987 Disney TV show Duck Tales. Both shows are based on Disney's 1940s Donald Duck and 1950s Scrooge comics.

The Good:

This reboot manages the delicate balance of loving and paying homage to the original, while also forging it's own path.

The show has an updated version of the iconic "Duck Tales" theme song performed by Felicia Barton (written by Mark Mueller, Jeff Pescetto sang the 1987 version).

The characters were updated, but still feature the overall design or color scheme of the original. The triplets have their own voice actors, personalities and looks, while the original had them identical (and all voiced by Russi Taylor). They interact and fight like brothers, but also work well on their own. Huey is the rule-following triplet, wearing red, who often quotes the Jr Woodchuck guidebook and is voiced by Danny Pudi. Dewey is the adventurous, fame-seeking triplet, dressed in blue, who uses his name as a verb "let's Dewey it", and is voiced by Ben Schwartz. Louie is the schemer, in a green hoodie, who is looking for new ways to launch Louie Inc, and is voiced by Bobby Moynihan. Webby is also different from the 1987 version, also voiced by Russi Taylor. She still has the pink bow, but everything else is different. She is obsessed with the McDucks, has an impressive amount of weapons, and loves a good mystery. She is voiced by Kate Micucci. All of the main characters feel well rounded and have unique quirks (Gyro's inventions turn evil, Glomgold's schemes and sharks, etc). David Tennant is a funny Scrooge.

The villains, as a whole, pop up several times and occasionally team up to take on Scrooge. They are equally entertaining and various levels of inept. The voice cast is great.

The Bad:

The final season, specifically the final few episodes feel rushed. The majority of the finale feels earned and delivers, and the final sequence works well... but there are still some parts (and characters) that are forced.

Other Comments:

-The show included chacters from other 1980s-1990s Disney animated shows: Darkwing Duck, Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers, Adventures of the Gummi Bears, TaleSpin, Gargoyles, and Bonkers (all of which had memorable theme songs). It works, feeding the nostalgia of the Millennials who loved the shows, while also fitting into this version of the show naturally. 

-They also go back to the 1944 Disney animated film, The Three Caballeros, which starred Donald Duck. Here they are Donald's "college band".

-Russi Taylor, who voiced the triplets and Webby in the 1987 show, cameos as Young Donald.

- Don Karnage was originally in Disney's TaleSpin, but I love him here. He has a great introduction, singing about himself while his crew steals everything in sight. He is a welcome addition to the villains on the show and subsequent vendetta again Louie is played for laughs. He is voiced by Jaime Camil. 

-I grew up with the original DuckTales, so I was leery of this reboot. However, I was hooked from the first episode. This is how you do a reboot!

-My favorite episode is Season 3 episode 2, Quack Pack. But I enjoy most od the episodes.

Duck Tales (2017-2020)

Creators: Matt Youngberg & Francisco Angones

Starring: David Tennant as Scrooge McDuck

Danny Pudi as Huey Duck

Ben Schwartz as Dewey Duck

Bobby Moynihan as Louie Duck

Kate Micucci as Webby Vanderquack

Beck Bennett as Launchpad McQuack

Toks Olagundoye as Mrs. Beakley

Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck

Paget Brewster as Della Duck

Keith Ferguson as Flintheart Glomgold

Jim Rash as Gyro Gearloose

Kimiko Glenn as Lena

Lin-Manuel Miranda as Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera