DuckTales S01E01 Part 1 Review: Life is Like a Hurricane…

It’s been said there are no original ideas in Hollywood. While that phrase may have been in reference to the motion picture industry, the same ideal can be applied to television. It’s hard to find a new series that isn’t a rehash, a reboot or a revival, and animated programs are no exception. Spider-Man has had no fewer than three different animated incarnations in under a decade (and you thought his cinematic reboots were excessive). And yet, it was a shock to many when Disney announced a new DuckTales series last year.

DuckTales? Really?

Thirty years after its premiere, this Disney favorite about the globe-trotting kajillionaire Scrooge McDuck and his three identical grand-nephews has been mostly dormant. Their last canon adventures took place in 1990 with the release of the theatrical DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, followed by a shortened final season that fall. Apart from a quasi-sequel series Quack Pack, featuring teenage versions of Huey, Dewey, and Louie, we’ve seen very little of Scrooge and the gang. Until now.

While the season won’t officially start until September, Disney XD aired the first two DuckTales episodes this weekend. The pilot sets the tone for the series and sets up the type of show we’ll be seeing when it returns next month. Judging by this episode alone, fans of the original will not be disappointed.

In an age where grim and gritty, overly-complicated reboots are commonplace, the new DuckTales keeps the spirit of the original series intact. However, it still allows for new and exciting developments. For one, our young protagonists are not just the same, identical-sounding triplets, distinguishable only by the color of their shirts and hats. They each have their own voice, appearance, and personality: Louis (SNL’s Bobby Moynihan) is laid-back and sarcastic, Huey (Community’s Danny Pudi) is studious and organized, and Dewey (Parks and Rec’s Ben Schwartz) is mischievous and a little arrogant.

One thing they all have in common is their penchant for finding trouble, much to the chagrin of their uncle Donald (yes, THAT Donald). He sends the trio to stay with their estranged relative Scrooge (Doctor Who’s David Tennant, who is every bit as brilliant as you want him to be). Meanwhile, Donald attempts to gain new employment (apparently being a sailor doesn’t quite cut it these days).

When we meet Scrooge, he’s as cantankerous and grouchy as ever, but this time there’s a reason. Whereas the original series presented Scrooge as a reluctant family man (well, mallard really), his main drive was money. Adventure, excitement? A McDuck craves not these things. Scrooge 2.0, however, is a thrill-seeker at heart. He’s already got fame and fortune, and he’s bored to tears as a result. He longs for adventure, and, unbeknownst to him initially, someone with whom to share it.

Apparently, Scrooge and Donald had a falling out years before DuckTales begins. Scrooge couldn’t be less excited about his nephew dropping off these three kids he’s never met. Therefore, he does what any disengaged relative would do: pawns them off on his housekeeper, Mrs. Beakley. She locks them in a dusty old room with a bag of marbles to entertain them.

As fate would have it, the boys’ boredom is short-lived. Beakley’s grand-daughter Webby (Garfunkle & Oates’ Kate Micucci) arrives and breaks them out. Webby takes the boys on a tour of Scrooge’s past adventures, complete with ancient treasures, artifacts and tapestries, as well as several evil spirits thirsting for blood. Exactly the kind of things a rich duck would keep in his garage. I’d love to tell you what happens next, but I suggest you watch it for yourself. I’m serious, DuckTales? It’s so good. SO GOOD.

The animation is crisp and gorgeous. While it’s not as vibrant as other shows, the mostly flat colors really evoke the style of the “Uncle Scrooge” comic books that inspired both this and the original series. It’s done in 3-D animation that looks like the old-school, hand-drawn Disney stuff of yesteryear. This choice really pays off.

And while the characters may differ in a lot of ways from the ones fans remember, the differences are subtle and make for a more enriching experience. Webby, in particular, has benefited the most from this post-Mulan era of Disney characters. Not only does she hold her own as the token female of this new boys’ club, but she’s more than capable of leading them when given the chance. Plus, she has a grappling hook. How can a girl with a grappling hook not be the coolest ever?

Bottom line: whether you’re an old-school fan or you just like well-written stories with fun characters, genuine humor and a lot of heart, DuckTales is the show for you. One episode in, and I can already you, I’m in this one for the long haul. Woo-ooo, indeed! You can watch the full first episode on YouTube here.