After three seasons of solving mysteries and rewriting history, Ducktales (2017 – 2021) has reached its action-packed ending. And boy, what an ending it is! To say this finale, aptly titled “The Last Adventure” sticks the landing is putting it mildly. The series has been consistently well-written since the first episode, full of exciting storylines, hilarious characters, and a strong focus on family – not just the one you’re born into but the one you make.

The main story-arc of this season found our intrepid heroes facing off against F.O.W.L, Duckburg’s own version of the Legion of Doom, as both teams traveled around the world and back in search of long-lost mystical artifacts. While each one holds incredible power, their ultimate purpose has remained a mystery until now and may ultimately prove to be Scrooge’s undoing. Everything comes to a head during a final confrontation between Scrooge and his former CEO Bradford Buzzard, a calculating vulture in more ways than one. Before the dust clears, secrets will be revealed and nothing may ever be the same. Sound intense? Please, this is business as usual for Scrooge and the rest.

Despite its premature cancellation, the showrunners were able to tie several plot threads together and deliver a finale that feels like a proper ending to what has been an incredible series, which is no small feat. This deluxe episode features appearances by nearly every single character; I could count on one hand the number of folks I didn’t see. Despite the enormous cast, the writers wisely keep the focus on our main cast, along with fan-favorites Darkwing Duck and GizmoDuck. From estranged siblings Donald and Della having their biggest conflict to-date to Huey, Dewey, and Louie gaining some honest-to-goodness character development, every character has their moment to shine. At the forefront of this episode is Webby, a character who has played a major role since the beginning. Since her frenetic first appearance, Webby has long-since been considered a member of the family, despite not being a direct relation, a point that serves the story in some very unexpected ways.

Of anyone in the main cast, Webby is probably the closest to a definitive main character, so it’s only fitting that she receives the biggest spotlight. She also benefits from a pretty big plot twist regarding her own backstory that keen-eyed fans might see coming but still comes off as a bit of a shock. While it may seem a bit weird at first, it pays off in a heartfelt and exciting way, which is how so many of the quirkier plots have ended up over the last few years. The theme of family does feel a bit heavy-handed at times, especially since it’s been rather repetitive this season, but it’s a small flaw in an otherwise excellent finale.

The truth is this series could have gone on for several more years, as the world of cartoonist Carl Banks would continue to grow and expand. Not unlike Gravity Falls, another gone-before-its-time series, Ducktales was able to achieve a consistent tone for its duration and stick the landing, giving fans everything they want but still leave them wanting more. Thanks to its passionate showrunners, hardworking crew, and an incredible voice cast, Ducktales went from just another reboot of a children’s classic to a modern classic in its own right and is superior in so many ways. While I hope this isn’t the last time we see these characters, “The Last Adventure” is a perfect send-off and one that fans will remember for a long time to come.

Ducktales: The Last Adventure

Plot

10.0/10

Humor

10.0/10

Action

10.0/10

Performances

10.0/10

Satisfying conclusion

10.0/10

Credits

Writers: Francisco Angones, Madison Bateman, Ben Siemon, Christian Magalhaes, Bob Snow
Directors: Matt Youngberg, Jason Zurek, Tanner Johnson, Matthew Humphreys
Studio: Disney Television Animation