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A Case Of Mistaken Secret Identity
Reviewed: 02/05/2012
More Like A Case of Airhead Syndrome Striking Again...
Now that Gizmo Duck has had some time to gel; we have to have the episode where certain characters who are not in the know want to know who Gizmo Duck really is. And all signs point to...Launchpad? Yeah; it's dumb, but we need a Launchpad focused episode and this is as good as any. So how does this episode do?! So let's rant on shall we..?!
This episode is written by Alan Burnett.
We begin this one at the trailer park as we head to a television screen with the announcer introducing us to Oprah Webfeet again. I just realize the irony of calling yourself Webfeet as a last name despite being a clear chicken hawk with no webfeet. This is a case of doing a pun for no reason other than it sounds cool. Then again; Oprah Windbag wouldn't have passed muster with BS&P and...Oh wait; it did with Darkwing Duck. The writers are clueless, my mistake. Today's hot topic is Gizmo Duck as they want to know who Gizmo Duck is. Mrs. Crackshell clearly changes the channel on the remote as it's Geralduck Rivera as we get a Jerry Springer-equse fight right in the middle of his spiel. Wow; just wow guys. Not just because of all the heat Jerry Springer gets everytime he does that trashy show; but also that it implies that what Jerry Springer did was unoriginal. Ma turns off the television and complains about being all Gizmo Duck all the time. I guess she's still upset that no one but me sees her as over. We see Fenton polishing his suit on an ironing board and cutting a full of himself promo as Ma gleefully blows it off for me because she wants to say “there goes my son into battle” and can't without blowing his cover. You already did right there Mrs. Crackshell. Fenton at least understands the point as we cut to the mansion and the nephews are in the living room writing something. At first I thought it was a revenge list; then a list of things to do; apparently, it's a list of people they think are Gizmo Duck. Mrs. Beakly comes in asking what they are doing. The nephews claim that they know who Gizmo Duck is and Mrs. Beakly asks how they could know over everyone else. The nephews claim that it's close to the family as they go to a conveniently placed closet and dress up into detective gear complete with magnifying glass; thus assuring that I'll never be able to tell them apart for a while. Apparently; he's been at the mansion so much he leaves skid marks on the welcome mat. Oooookkkkkaaayyyyy.
So we head to Duckberg airport as we see Fenton waiting for an airplane owned by Scrooge while the nephews practice the fine art of not being seen behind his back. Considering the plot device; this is a neat way to play misdirection with the fanbase, even though it's pointless since they already know who Gizmo Duck is to begin with. Fenton wonders why they are an hour late and we cut to Scrooge's plane as Scrooge has the Gruffi pose on and Launchpad is flying the plane again so Launchpad is in fatalism mode again. Yes; he's flying the plane backwards because the forward gear is sticky. HEE HEE! Fenton turns around, cuts his OH MY GOD promo and then the plane crashes into the oil barrels causing about $10 million of damages. Launchpad and Scrooge walk from the carnage with googly eyes. Methinks both may have a concussion; although with Launchpad; that's difficult to tell. Strangely; only one of the nephews suffers one as they pop up after Fenton consoles Scrooge, which Scrooge claims that his life was passing by backwards. If only Scrooge; if only. Scrooge notices the nephews and asks them why they are here. The nephews claim that they are investigating the ultimate secret of the past 100 years. Which is what makes people think Nintendo is always doomed? Oh wait, no. Oh yeah; who Gizmo Duck is. Fenton is panicky as the nephews point to what Fenton thinks is him and Fenton denies it like a goldbricker. Scrooge blows him off because they are pointing at Launchpad. Okay; here's a big problem with this: Launchpad's beak shape is different than Gizmo Duck's. Height isn't an issue because of the suit and their builds are somewhat similar so it isn't like Double Darkwings; but the beaks...OH the beaks are going to cause problems. What's funny is that the nephews run down all the similaries and Fenton's ego almost blows his cover everytime; including showing a picture of their faces and beaks; forcing Scrooge to hook cane him to shut him up. HAHA! Nice to see Alan Burnett notice that one tiny flaw in logic.
Scrooge pulls Fenton over and wants to tell them; but Scrooge blows him off because only Scrooge and Mrs. Crackshell are supposed to know about this. Launchpad is amused; but he proclaims that he is not Gizmo Duck. The nephews are so not buying what he is selling and they tell him that he'll slip up and they'll have their proof that Launchpad is Gizmo Duck as they walk off. Scrooge then sees this as a good thing as Launchpad being Gizmo Duck would take the heat off the real Gizmo Duck and give Fenton a chance to do his job in both aspects. Scrooge tells Launchpad to play dumb and even Launchpad cannot screw this one up. Fenton does the Gruffi pose and is not amused by this. I see Fenton has the jealousy bug of Drake Mallard too. So we head back to the mansion as Scrooge is using a computer while Fenton is pacing around blowing off the nephews for thinking that he's not Gizmo Duck. I know people are shocked that Scrooge is using a computer; but I'm not. Anyone who is a toughie needs to learn technology at some point. Scrooge prints off something, using green paper. Yes folks; that was what printer paper looked like in ancient Egypt. Fenton takes it as we hear that there is a Gala being done in Gizmo Duck's honor on behalf of the mayor. Fenton reads the list and is pissed off that he's not on the list. Scrooge gleefully blows him off because Fenton is supposed to arrive as Gizmo Duck see. Fenton walks out looking full of himself and closes the door as he likes this. Then the nephews come out and show “evidence #1” to Fenton that Launchpad is Gizmo Duck. What is that “evidence” you ask? Well; it's a 90 degree elbow which is mistaken for Gizmo Duck's. Fenton takes it and tosses it in the trash because the nephews have zero clue who Gizmo Duck really is. So the nephews play dare on Fenton and Fenton stammers like an idiot. HAHA! The nephews keep daring him and Fenton keeps making me laugh by sweating and doing melodramatics on the stairs. Fenton should just bail now and he does as he runs into the closet and “swears” like a sailor complete with dust. He walks out relieved as Louie is still waiting for an answer and Fenton admits that he doesn't know; but he knows it's not Launchpad. The nephews aren't exactly buying this because they are going to the Gala to expose him see. The nephews run off admitting that LP and Gizmo Duck are going to be there too. Fenton shows this as evidence that the nephews are wrong.
So we head to the GALA OF DOOM AFTER HAPPY HOUR (after dark) as we pan over with all the limos driving in towards the sports arena with the inflatable Gizmo Duck hanging off the rafters. HAHA! The main reporter for this event is maybe the second last appearance of Webra Walters (IMDB claims it's Webwa Walters for some reason) as she sees Launchpad in formal gear and interviews him. Webra doesn't look all that well today. Launchpad claims that he gets choked up on free eats. I don't blame him; we all know Launchpad almost never get anything to eat even in Darkwing Duck. Anyhow; we head to field level as there are table, pump tents and lots of people dressed up as Gizmo Duck. Launchpad notices this and Scrooge admits that this wasn't supposed to be a costume party; but everyone loves Gizmo Duck. Actually; this does a good buildup for Up, Up & Awry for Darkwing Duck; but the writers screwed that up later on sadly. The nephews run in and keep implying that Launchpad is Gizmo Duck. Launchpad blushes and claims you never know. We then cut back to Webra noticing Gizmo Duck entering via his Go Go Gadget Copter and interviews him. Webra blows him off as a pretender. Yeah; because you saw a Gizmo Duck imposter use the copter helmet earlier. That's not very good logic there Alan. We head inside as two worker bring in the fireworks. OH MY GOD! We have another scene where someone smokes; and it's a lit cigar no less. Scrooge tells them to put it in the far side of the field. The workers figures that out and walks out towards that area as Gizmo Duck wheels in. Scrooge has no idea who it is and Gizmo Duck asks if Webra is paying him to say that as a joke. Fenton has to up the visor to show him as Scrooge finally notices that the real Gizmo Duck is here. See; he's having trouble noticing who is who with the costume freaks dressing like him. Even though none of them look anywhere close to being Gizmo Duck.
So Gizmo Duck notices Launchpad and the nephews at catering (well; mostly it's Launchpad eating) as Gizmo Duck wheels over and greets the nephews. The nephew ask who it is and Gizmo Duck is red hot with the CHEAP HEAT OF LAUGHS that he's nearly frying his circuits. Oh come on nephews; you're not even trying anymore. Gizmo Duck is pissed off as he points out his name on the poster which has a rubber ducky on it. HAHA! He then does his “shoot international objects out his suit” as evidence that he's Gizmo Duck. Sadly; at least two Gizmo Duck imposters (who look absolutely nothing like the real one) do the same thing; only with less funny objects like cuckoo blue birds and pink flowers. The pig Gizmo Duck imposter does at least impress by having a home entertainment system built in. The nephews follow Launchpad as Fenton does an impression asking if we can believe this. Answer: no Fenton; we cannot. So we cut to the two workers as the non-smoker's name is Charlie as they drop the fireworks down on the ground and the cigar smoking worker in the green t-shirt sits down on the fireworks and takes out his cigar as it slips out of his hand and into the fireworks. And folks; this is why it's a bad idea to smoke right there. Everyone is forced to bail; and I do mean everyone as Launchpad ushers the nephews stage left; while he runs off stage right and gets MURDERED by the fireworks going out. Gizmo Duck grabs the box of fireworks and races out of the arena and into a safe spot out of sight and out of mind as the explosion of fireworks occurs off-screen. We do see that the Gizmo Duck suit is damaged and Fenton is punch drunk of course. Well; they don't call this “hazard pay” for nothing. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Gizmo Duck wheels around slowly as we cut back to the arena as Scrooge is on stage trying to calm everyone down. Gizmo Duck has saved them again as the nephews wonder where Launchpad is and he returns punch drunk as he wants the number of that missile. Close; but no banana Alan. Should be firecracker.
The nephews go to him claiming that he's been blasted and therefore this is proof that Launchpad is Gizmo Duck. Despite the fact that it was clear that Launchpad wasn't even wearing any pieces of the damn Gizmo Duck suit. How can anyone over six years old buy that Launchpad is Gizmo Duck? Seriously nephews; what is wrong with your deduction reasoning here? Everyone gives Launchpad the football celebration spot and cheer as we pan left to Webra Walters completing her reporting while one of the Gizmo Duck imposters mugs for the camera for my amusement. That ends the segment 11 and a half minutes in. This is a fine episode; but man the nephews are turning into morons the more this series winds down as well.
After the commercial break; we do a pan shot of Geralduck Rivera walking up with a cameraman proclaiming that the “Launchpad is Gizmo Duck” story is just a rumor still. He's of course doing it for ratings. Sadly; he doesn't bring his plant audience with him so they can fight around in the background when the interview takes place. Too bad; because that would be hilarious as Rivera wants ratings, knocks on the door and Launchpad comes out to answer it. Launchpad invites them in as Geralduck notices a bunch of rocker ladies with crazy hairstyles sitting on the table and apparently he have met them before on a previous episode. Launchpad introduces his Gizmoettes, and look; Hildagarde from Maid Of The Myth has made a cameo appearance! How about that?! They giggle and Geralduck takes this as evidence that Launchpad is Gizmo Duck. Launchpad claims that he never said he was (I believe you Launchpad...); but Rivera keeps the heat up asking if he denies that he's Gizmo Duck. Launchpad never said that either; as Rivera is confusing him and us all into hell. Rivera in this gig equals the 1980's version of Glenn Beck; only with slightly more creditability. We then head to Scrooge's office as Fenton is not liking this at all because LP is basically incriminating himself as Gizmo Duck. Scrooge agrees that this has gone too far now and it's time for Launchpad to stop playing dumb. Fenton decides to do this job and runs out because Launchpad is a glory hog. BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Projection much there Fenton Crackshell?!
We then head to the Beagle Boy's hideout as Big Time, Burger and Baggy are watching television. Burger is eating hamburgers of course just to amuse me and make GeoX hate him even more. Big Time thinks Launchpad is Gizmo Duck; but Burger thinks Geralduck is Gizmo Duck. If only Burger, if only. Big Time blows him off of course because it's Launchpad. Big Time wants the van prepared because he's going to get the Money Bin for sure now. Keep dreaming Big Time; keep dreaming. So we head back to Launchpad's house as Fenton storms in all full of himself of course. Launchpad grabs Fenton and wants him to stop blowing him off because he finally got the ladies. Now wait a second; I thought LP was already a chick magnet? Hildagrade is questioning Launchpad's honesty and Launchpad assures her and the Gizmoettes that he is Gizmo Duck. UH OH! Looks like Scrooge's plan is backfiring. Then there is a knock on the door and Launchpad goes to answer it and the Beagle Boys apparently don't even try to disguise themselves or their voices and Launchpad gets grabbed and kidnapped. Fenton is shocked as he see the truck with Launchpad in the back scoot away. Well; at least this time, the writers realizes that disguising the Beagle Boys would make everyone look dumb and gullible; so this was probably for the best.
So we head to the Beagle Boy's hideout as Launchpad is tied up to a chair in the room as Big Time taunts him while Burger eats burgers of course. And they even remember to tie Launchpad's knees up too! This is a special day! Now if they had done that to Huey in Send In The Clones; they probably would have won against Scrooge. Launchpad claims that he is not Gizmo Duck and Burger agrees with him because he won't be as long as he's tied up. The heels walk into the next room and slam the door shut. So we cut to the street as Gizmo Duck wheels in with his PURPLE NURPLE TIRE TRACKER LIGHT OF DOOM as he finds the truck and the hideout. And because they are heels; it's illegally parked too. Geez; what a shock that is? So we cut to Launchpad still tied to the chair as Gizmo Duck cuts through the wall and then replaces the wall on the opposite end. HA! Launchpad is glad to see him as we cut to the next room as Big Time is showing a diagram with the Money Bin and finishes explaining the plan. He asks for further questions and Burger annoys him so much; Big Time is jumpy. Burger just wants to connect the dots on the diagram. HAHA! I cannot argue with eliminating confusion there Burger. Sadly; Big Time is a complex man and hates simpletons like you Burger and does the worst whacking on the head of Burger this side of Bubba's Big Brainstorm with what looks like a cordless phone antenna. Bad, bad form there Wang Films. Then the heels hear noises and magically the wooden door is broken and there is Gizmo Duck in the flesh. Now does he sounds anything like Launchpad guys? I think not.
Gizmo Duck blows off Big Time for whacking his fatass brother and Baggy is wondering how he got the suit. Burger doesn't care and they all bail; but Gizmo invokes the CARPET OF DEATH and wraps them all up easily. Launchpad enters the room throwing the rest of the ropes away. He's glad to see the real Gizmo Duck as Gizmo asks if he learned his lesson and Launchpad has as he's still a clueless airhead. HAHA! Gizmo Duck doesn't want anyone encouraging them that Launchpad is Gizmo Duck. Launchpad gives the victory sign and promises never to do it again. Gizmo Duck claims that there are other ways to be popular with the girls; like ballroom dancing. Or just being himself since LP is supposed to be a ladies man on his own anyway. Stupid BS&P RULEZ~! Anyhow; this should be the end of the episode right there; but we are barely 15 minutes into this this; that means it's time for some real padding just to annoy me. So we head back inside Fenton's trailer as Ma is watching television as per in her contract. Fenton walks in proclaiming that his troubles are over and no one will think LP is GD. Ma blows it off and tells him to watch more television as Fenton is in shock. We see in the television that Geralduck (with a bandage on his forehead for goodness knows what reason) is at the police station reporting of the capture of the Beagle Boys as they get unwrapped and the Beagle Boys claim that Launchpad is Gizmo Duck. They submit themselves to a polygraph test and they surprisely pass the test easily as one of the female pigs claims that this is the first time the Beagle Boys have willfully told the truth. One problem with this: Why hasn't Launchpad submit to a polygraph? Polygraphs are not good sources of truth or fiction anyway; but if Launchpad fails the polygraph then you can submit more evidence that he's Gizmo Duck. Problem is; Launchpad would pass and therefore the Beagle Boys would be fibbing; although in this case, not intentionally. Geralduck claims that this is enough to prove that he is Gizmo Duck. Fenton is appalled as he wonders if Cluck Kent had days like this. Answer: Yes, like I'm having a cold right now. This ends the segment sixteen minutes in.
After the commercial break; we head to the airplane hangers of Launchpad Unlimited as the entire fangirl base of Gizmo Duck (which is about 40 females) are swamping the outside of the house. Launchpad is barricading the door as he is calling the police for help and they blow him off because he can take care of himself. Oh sure officers; that's what average police officers do in this situation right? I think they like Launchpad doing fatalism even when Launchpad is not trying to do it at all. We see Scrooge and Fenton climbing down in the fireplace from the chimney coughing like crazy of course. Launchpad is glad to see them; but Fenton blows him off. Scrooge agrees that this is absurd; but Launchpad doesn't know what to do since they won't listen to him anymore. Scrooge points out that he needs to make them listen and he knows how to pull that off. So we head to the Money Bin as the stage is set in front of the vault with the cameras rolling. Fenton is behind the curtain as we are going to have a public confession according to Scrooge. The nephews (who are really the ones at fault for starting this nonsense in the first place mind you) run in and asks sarcastically about Gizmo Duck. Launchpad claims that it's about Gizmo Duck and he's going to bare his soul on television. The nephews wonder if you can do that on television. Answer: YES. The crowd is getting restless as they want Gizmo Duck now. Launchpad is worried; but Fenton assures him that everything will be fine since Gizmo Duck will be on guard duty.
So Launchpad goes to the stage on the podium to a big pop as we head to Ma's trailer as Mrs. Crackshell watches the speech via television. Sadly; Launchpad cuts Fenton's OH MY GOD promo and the suit in the trailer turns on and wheels out and manages to whirlwind Fenton in the process as Fenton was going for the suit. UH OH! Fenton does not like this at all as we cut back to Launchpad on the podium proclaiming that in conclusion that he is not Gizmo Duck. Sadly; the suit wheels in on it's own and it attaches to Launchpad. The crowd is shocked to see that happen. Launchpad claims that he has been wrong before; and the nephews cheer anyway. Yeah; because now they can cover their asses for causing this confusion to begin with. Fenton climbs on stage and throws a Grade B Christian sooky baby routine calling this unfair. Life is unfair Fenton; ask Kit Cloudkicker about it. Launchpad seems more interested in getting out of the damn suit; but he has no clue how to as he pushes buttons like mad releasing all sort of international objects and blue birds from his head. Crowd cheers anyway as Launchpad pushes another button which Fenton pleads for him not to. But his run in is a telegraph for Launchpad to fly backwards and slam Fenton against the suit. We ride into the city backwards for a while and crash into the building and do the usual “chaos in the building causing acute destruction” spot that we are tired of. They ride into the park as Launchpad uses a button on the arm and he stops on a dime and Fenton gets shook off (and somehow got in front in all this) and dropped on the ground.
Now we continue on with the Go Go Gadget Leg Drill (Robot Rotor according to Fenton) as Launch Gizmo Duck Pad drills underground. Launchpad tries another button and we have a red rocket out of the ground and yes; this episode is getting silly now. The rocket launches into the dam and the dam crumbles and we have the tidal wave of death as it swamps everyone at the Money Bin. Fenton helps Launchpad out as LP wants some water and as I expected; they get swamped. Launchpad gets swept away and of course he still cannot swim; although in this case it's understandable. Fenton gets on the construction site steel walls and runs up to the elevator as he wants to get to the crane on the top floor. Launchpad claims he feels like a canned tuna as Fenton gets to the top and then does nothing but see Launchpad get caught in the undertow and goes underwater. That's when Fenton climbs into the crane and pushes the levers (WRONG LEVERS!) as the crane is a fishing rod now and it fishes up Launchpad like a catfish as he's upside down and spinning around like he's in a spin cycle. Fenton comes down admiring his catch of the day and the denizens watch from the windows and they realize that he saved Gizmo Duck and praise Fenton with camera flashes. Which shows that it doesn't take much to convince them as we head back to Scrooge's office as he and Scrooge are reading the newspaper. Fenton is full of himself because he's a hero now and no one believes Launchpad is Gizmo Duck. Scrooge agrees since Gizmo Duck caused so much damage. Wait; considering who Launchpad is; doesn't this prove Launchpad is Gizmo Duck even more? Never mind as Scrooge asks about the suit and Fenton hopes Launchpad gives it to him so he can fix the damage it caused and air dry the carpets in Duckberg. The nephews run in (nice continuity to show that the mansion floor was flooded earlier; although pointless since we never saw the tidal wave swamp the mansion) as they have a new list and Fenton reads it and is happy since he's #2 on the list of suspect, behind...Mrs. Beakly. Oy vey nephews; you are getting dumber. This is not a good sign for Yuppy Ducks as Fenton is not happy about this as the episode ends at 21:17. Another very good episode involving Fenton; but I am starting to not like the nephews now as they are getting stupider by the moment. The logic breaks and some bad animation spots didn't help; but Fenton at least is doing his part to make these episodes fun now; so I cannot hate him at all. *** ¾ (75%).
THE REVIEW LINE
Fenton is getting on a roll here after the slow start he had in Allowance Day and The Land Of Tra-la-la isn't he? This is another very good episode that Fenton carried well and the story was fine. However; this is far from flawless as the nephews' stupidity in trying to make us believe that Launchpad was Gizmo Duck; even though he was clearly not wearing any pieces of Gizmo Duck's suit to begin with. There were also a few animation mistakes and the ending didn't make sense since the destruction doesn't really prove that Launchpad is not Gizmo Duck. And the nephews are slowly becoming hell's poison now as they are getting stupider as the show progress. Mrs. Beakly? Really? Still; Fenton and Launchpad were funny as usual and Burger still continues to amuse me; so this was an entertaining, flawed episode. I cannot hate them for that at least. So we go to the next two episodes; one which is a template for Old Man & The SeaDuck, and the other one features the Beagle Boys being awesome singers. Oh; I cannot wait for that last one. So.....
Thumbs in the middle pointing up for this episode and I'll see you next time.