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The Masked Mallard
Reviewed: 03/04/2012
Gizmo Duck Has Competition...Or Maybe Not...
Well kiddies; it's time to return to rant on the final pre-Disney Afternoon era episode of Ducktales at last. We had eighteen episodes of whiplash and we have to end with Scrooge becoming a super hero. Yeah; I'm not joking on that one either. And yes; this is the episode where the nephews finally get their asses kicked too; so you know this is a special kind of episode. So how does this episode do?! So let's rant on shall we..?!
This episode is written by Len Uhley and story edited by Ken Koonce and David Weimers. You know; after watching A Ducktales Valentine, you wouldn't know that Len Uhley wrote part three of Plunder and Lightning, or From Here To Machinery; or War of the Weirds for TaleSpin. It's amazing how taking real pride in your own work (instead of just writing for a pay check) can seriously affect the quality of an episode.
We begin this one at a stage with a green background as Scrooge is on stage with a pig furry with a top hat (I'm guessing that this is the mayor du jour in Duckberg since he's wearing a Duckberg gold ribbon on his gray coat) at the podium addressing the crowd with a model of a new shopping center in Duckberg which will create many jobs. It's called the Scrooge McMall. The press cheers on cue which is a sign that Scrooge bought them as plants; or they really like shopping in a more convenient spot. I'm taking the later here; Nightflight would take the former. The usual press guys are here; including Webwa Walters in maybe her final appearance in the series speaking wise as she would like some comments for the press and then some duck with an orange suit and a green spotted tie with brown hair barges in and talks like a loudmouth. Yes folks; this is Lawrence Loudmouth, the Morton Downy Junior of Ducktales. And you are going to hate this guy really quickly I might add since he blows off Webwa with a veil sexist comment barely ten seconds into his tirade. Scrooge is not amused by this either and really who can blame him. Lawrence today would remind me way too much of Glenn Beck; except Glenn Beck is an even bigger coward and even more religious than this loser. Evidence #1: Call Scrooge's venture a scam and make up a conspiracy theory about oil being under the shopping center property. Evidence #2: Don't let Scrooge answer the questions. Evidence #3: Ask the non-sequitur (What? Open Office doesn't see it as a word? FOR SHAME!) question which is "Where were you on the night of the 14th?". Lawrence then poisons the well by claiming a half truth that Scrooge is lining his pockets at the customers expense. Umm; that's how businesses work Lawrence: selling something to have then pay money. So Lawrence; you hate capitalism? If so; then why do you run a television show which is based on selling news? Isn't that capitalism? It's called the "monkey wrench" question. Watch them squirm after that; it's hilarious. Scrooge claims that he has no facts to back him up and Lawrence basically admits that he doesn't; but since the public doesn't have a clue what logical fallacies are and television is awesome, Lawrence wins as he walks out and the press starts harassing Scrooge. So much for honest journalism because Mr. Loudmouth is just a loud mouth.
So we see Scrooge walk out and man; he got roughed up although the model of his shopping center got the worst of it. I'm guessing Scrooge used it to defend himself; which is not good for him because it looked like a really good model of a shopping center. Scrooge throws it away (bastard!) and sees Lawrence in the passenger side of the van admiring his hair. Yeah; such a top notch journalism this Lawrence Loudmouth fellow is. Scrooge blows him off and demands to know why Lawrence is out to smear him. Lawrence answers honestly that it's all for ratings. Ah; the old Easy E type of business; which is ultimately fatal since I bet his buyrates aren't so good as his television ratings. Scrooge is angry as hell as the van drives away. Scrooge is so mad that he punches his top hat out and threatens certain violence on Lawrence. That is not a smart way to deal with a liar Scroogie. So we head to the Money Bin as the kids are stalking Gizmo Duck now as he is signing autographs and giving out pictures of himself. HEE HEE! He continues signing until Scrooge arrives looking beat down as Gizmo Duck introduces him addressing him as his boss. And the kids start attacking Scrooge instantly because they saw Lawrence Loudmouth and Scrooge apparently steals candy from babies. When even cartoon writers admit that television negatively influences kids; then it's time to bring in the Children's Television Act. At least that was reasonable compared to the alternative: make it another illegal drug for the government to have an excuse to arrest people. The kids claim that if it's on television it's true. Ah; the joys of media illiteracy, it always leads to Scrooge getting pelted by fruit. Sadly; it's not as funny as Milo pelting Hank with fruit; of Peter's son pelting Peter Griffin with apples in Family Guy. Gizmo Duck grabs him and it's Go Go Gadget Legs as Scrooge wants him to carry him home and Gizmo drives away without further incident. Which is fitting since television does make people lazy sometimes.
So we cut to a television screen featuring a pig pirate known as Don Gilisco as he thoughts his prisoner is boiled in oil. Then in comes Zorro dogsperson in for the sword fight because it's from the frying pan into the fire. We zoom out to notice the nephews watching television and it's nice that they aren't watching Lawrence. Now that isn't the amazing bit of this scene. The nephews cheer and I see the first logic break of the episode right there. I'll explain it when we get to the point. So Scrooge barges into his office (where the nephews are watching television) and he's pissed as Duckworth is sweeping up debris left when Scrooge walks down the steps in a cute bit. Scrooge goes over and he changes the channel to Lawrence Loudmouth as Lawrence is on the air continuing his trash talking of Scrooge. Apparently; Scrooge is now an Elvis imposter and an alien from...
Stacy:
Don't say it!
Bradley: Uranus!
Stacy: Real mature
Bradley...
Okay; maybe not. Scrooge is pissed off and turns off the television. And now the logic break comes into effect: In the first shot of the nephews when we see their faces; they are perfectly fine. But this shot; they look like they were beat down and have black eyes. That's right folks; the nephews got their asses kicked. I have been waiting for years to see them take a beating. Remember Idol Rich when Kit got his head handed to him by the street pirates? Well; here you go; proof that I was wrong all along and Disney does not protect the nephews. Although when it comes to tickling; they are still protected. Scrooge paces around and Huey points out that they don't look good and Scrooge looks to his left and is surprised at the condition of the nephews. The nephews admit that they tried to stand up for him; but they got into a fight with the kids at school. Scrooge thanks them for being the voices of reasons; but fighting with fists is bad and you need to use your head. The nephews then take off their caps and they have them wrapped up too. OUCH! The nephews ask if they can watch the movie and Scrooge sezs it saying whatever. Wow; I didn't expect Scrooge to speak in pop-culture type speak. Lawrence has clearly infected his brain now. Scrooge ponders what to do and then turns to the television and notices the pirate rank and file slapping skin and doing the football spot on the hero which Louie points out is the Scarlet Briggadoon. He wears a mask and saves people; but he's just a fictional character in a movie. Scrooge claims that he is; but maybe not.
So we head into a museum in B&W as the Beagle Boys in full color practice the fine art of not being seen. It's Big Time/Burger/Bouncer combination this time as there is an emerald under glass. Although it's green; they call it a Nue Diamond. It's a hunk of glass indeed; since it gets smaller on the far shots. Big Time puts on the gloves which is funny considering that he's wearing gloves already; the applicator and the most toxic substance in Ducktales; Ma's favorite chili which Burger gets all happy about because he can take Ma's chili. Why doesn't that surprise me? Big Time squirts the CHILI OF DEATH on the bottom of the glass and it seems to be victory for the heels. Until the ALKALINE SQUIRTER ARM OF DOOM counters that and kills the chili. We then hear Alan Young's voice so it's clearly Scrooge behind this as we cut to the ceiling and it's Scrooge dressed up in a purple suit and cape wearing a mask with a thunderbolt on top. Now I know a lot of people claim that this is what inspired Darkwing Duck; but this suit is even goofier than anyway Drake Mallard would wear, so I doubt that it was an inspiration, outside of the color. He's wearing yellow trim and boot as he swings down to ground level using the cane. Which gives Scrooge away right from the start? Scrooge is now the Masked Mallard (hence the title) and the Beagle Boys are under arrest. Big Time calls the Masked Mallard a raving loon; which is partially true, but that blame is at Lawrence's bloody hands so there you go. Bouncer gets the honors as the heels bail and Bouncer blitzes Scrooge; so Scrooge brings out the oil can and squirts oil onto the floor. Bouncer; who has less smarts than Dumptruck, doesn't even bother to stop or slow down, but realized his fate at how cruel and unfair life is; he oversells slipping on the oil and does a MAN-SIZED bump WITH CHEESE AND BACON into the wall.
Scrooge snaps his fingers; but his cape is grabbed by Burger who is smarter than Dumptruck at least. Big Time comes up and blows him off for believing it's Halloween, which Scrooge counters that it's April Fool's Day. Big Time goes for the belt; but it's electrified and Big Time gets zapped with Wii blue waves for fun. Big Time oversells by bouncing off the walls onto his belly for fun. So Burger proclaims that he's going to get whomped and Scrooge nods. Burger doesn't like this at all as we head outside the building set as the police car arrives and out comes two dogsperson officers with their guns set to profits, demanding that the Beagle Boys come out now. The Beagle Boys run out and run into the police car wanting to be arrested. HA! The police officers are confused until they notice the Masked Mallard on top of a poster sign on top of the building claiming that he convinced them to give up. Masked Mallard swings away like Spiderman; almost in perfect sync with the 1960's version of the series actually. He goes out of sight as the officer wonder who that guy was and Burger states his name and Big Time wants to go to jail; or do they have to break themselves in. So we head to Gyro's house AFTER HAPPY HOUR (after dark) and we head to Gyro's lab as he is making something that involves Wii blue flashing lights. The doorbell rings and Gyro tells him that the door is open. The door opens and in comes the Masked Mallard as he walks in and takes off the mask. Oh come on guys; is it really a surprise? He uses a freakin cane as a weapon for goodness sakes. I've seen enough Ducktales to know that. Gyro is in on the conspiracy and has put a computer chip into the cane to have Scrooge use it as a laser just by whistling. Scrooge also has nuclear tweezers as well; which seems like overkill for some reason. Gyro even demonstrates it; but it completely backfires on them with a red beam. Red and blue never go together and that cane laser needs work. This actually becomes a film segue...
...to another comic background sequence as the paperboy from The Bride Wore Stripes has a newspaper that reads about the new hero as biker gangs are tied up and Webwa Walter interviews the Beagle Boys in jail about the Masked Mallard. Big Time calls the Masked Mallard a dirty, rotten do gooder. Burger proclaims that at least he's polite. I love real comments that aren't supposed to be real comments. Webwa claims that even heels are fans of him (Riiiigggghhhhhhhtttt Webwa); as we cut to the studio with Lawrence Loudmouth blowing off the Masked Mallard as being as threatening as Scrooge McDuck. Geez; how much of a shoot can that be? Scrooge is in his office in his red robe blowing off Lawrence as usual as we get a news break from a green suit news reporter that city council is being held hostage. Scrooge walks to his book shelf and pushes a button to open a book shelf leading to a secret passageway (ala Batman) and we head to city hall as the denizens are outside watching on as we see a bunch of terrorists with black masks and green suits showing a rigged television which turns on and apparently they want to force everyone to watch re-runs of the Fruiti Bunch which is a kids cartoon featuring puppets as everyone is shocked and horrified. Yeah; these terrorists are so absurd that we cannot help but chuckle even just a little. The blond curly haired female in a peach dress face palm herself and looks to faint. But we cut away quickly to Mask Scooge using the bat-rang tied to a rope.
Scrooge:
That's Mask Scrooge you airhead.
Gregory: Whatever.
So Scrooge swings down and shoots a laser gun that is basically a tractor beam to bring to the television to him and then it throws it into the fountain where it short circuits. Scrooge swings down to ground level and proclaims that it's futile to fight him and he calls his belt the Futilaty Belt. Okay; that was a neat pun; but it does make him into a Star Trek heel though. He basically wants the television terrorists to surrender and they sell; including the city council who are tied up. Oh lord; that was a logic break if I ever saw one because there arms were in the ropes to begin with so it shouldn't have worked or they should have escaped easily. They DON'T HAVE GUNS YOU NUMBSKULLS~! Scrooge blows them off thankfully; and they repent and the denizens cheer the Masked Mallard. The police handcuff the TV terrorists and that is that. So we head back to Scrooge's office as Scrooge (in his costume) walks in from the book shelf and admits that he forgot to change out of the costume while taking the mask off. And wouldn't you know it; the nephews (sans hats) are at the staircase watching him the entire. Oh; that wasn't contrived in the very least, no siree Scrooge. Scrooge sits down and the nephews help pull his yellow boots off as Scrooge reveals that he was doing it to do good deeds without people noticing him. Louie jumps for joy on this because they have a legit superhero in the house. Scrooge agrees; but only until tomorrow because he is going to call a press conference and reveal the Masked Mallard as him to prove that Scrooge is a good egg. I don't know Scroogie; I would continue this for another couple of months before revealing myself since Duckberg is clearly so fickle at the moment.
So we head to a sky shot of the press gallery as the press is awaiting for Scrooge to get on stage and he does make it to the green table and tests the steel microphone. So Scrooge addresses the crowd as the flash blubs go off and he wants to talk about the Masked Mallard. And of course here comes Lawrence Loudmouth. Geez; Les Kinsolving must be in the wrong world because if Lawrence was in the real world; he would get kicked out of the building the moment he showed up. Scrooge demands answers to this outrage; so Lawrence shows a newspaper showing that the "Masked Mallard" robbed a bank in Duckberg and thus is proof that the Masked Mallard has turned to a life of crime. Scrooge stutters like crazy as Lawrence points to the camera and tells everyone to stay tuned as we end the segment 11 and a half minutes in. There's one obvious problem with this: the picture clearly shows that this Masked Mallard is clearly fatter than Scrooge; but he's has the same build as Lawrence. Hmmm; do I smell a criminal and projector?! Stay tuned as Lawrence would say...
After the commercial break; we head to a ball room in city hall AFTER HAPPY HOUR (I believe the outside shot is the exact same shot for Rescue Rangers on several episodes already. No wonder people supported Tiny Toon Adventures soon after this. Maybe supporting TaleSpin fully rather than bashing Looney Tunes was the correct decision Michael Eisner...) as we see the elite talking about what a heel the Masked Mallard is as Scrooge is not happy to hear about this while having a glass of wine. Then we hear Fenton's voice as he walks towards Scrooge wearing the silliest red suit I have ever seen (complete with black shoes and a black tie), as he is apparently part of the catering service now. It certainly violates the FASHION POLICE OF LAW without question. Fenton is here for culture and free food as he elbows Scrooge on the Masked Mallard and Scrooge throws down the wine glass and storms off stage left. Fenton blows him off as rude and then we cut to the pig mayor in a barricade square with Lady De Lardo (with a different color hairstyle and different colored green dress) as they unveil a new object to be displayed at the Duckberg Art Museum. And we find out that her new name is Buffy Parfitnew (Okay; I can live with that) and she is the one who donated this new object under the cloth. We unveil the object as it's a...gold plated popcorn bowl. A WHAT?! I'm not going to dignify the name of the guy they attached this object to; it's not worth it. And naturally like Jonas Brothers fans; it taking nothing to make these snobs clap and cheer. It's clear that everyone in the room was in The Status Seekers at one point; so I'm going to guess that Scrooge is in the ASS again which begs the question: How? Last time I checked they blew him off because he liked his non-snobish family more than they do and then swam in the dirty harbor looking for a really hideous mask.
Anyhow; Buffy proclaims that it's better to give than to get; and then the Fat Masked Mallard shows up swinging from a rope blowing her off. And he doesn't even try to mask the Lawrence Loudmouth voice so it's clear that the heel version of this superhero is Lawrence Loudmouth. Here's a word of advice: If he were the real Masked Mallard; he would be polite and sound like Alan Young. That would have convinced a reasonable person a lot more than this. Which shows that Lawrence Loudmouth is the prototype Glenn Beck: His speaking is smart; but his brain is dumber than a box of defective hammers. Oh; and the Masked Lawrence steals the popcorn bowl of course allowing Buffy The Food Slayer to panic and get kissed in that order. So Masked Lawrence swings to the catwalk and bails as the ASS and Scrooge follow him. Scrooge knew that this one was an imposter. NO?! REALLY?! We head outside as everyone looks on and notices Masked Lawrence on the roof as Lawrence claims that the Masked Mallard has two L's. Okay; so deal with this: Gizmo Duck is here to kick your fat imposter ass. And he cuts an awesome full of himself promo promising to give him a what four and a what five. Masked Lawrence is naturally too dumb to quit of course and invokes the JOKEY SURPRISE OF DOOM and gives it to Gizmo Duck. Gizmo Duck is of course REALLY STUPID and opens it and it's a firework rocket as he get thrown into the air by it. He goes into a tailspin (BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! and drops with a MAN-SIZED bump off-screen. ML fares a farewell to the suckers and swings away.
Scrooge runs and finds Gizmo Duck flatten like a teacup and he cuts the little teacup song before getting knocked out. HAHA! So we head back to Scrooge's office in the dark (and some really good mature lighting to boot) as Scrooge in his purple robes and the nephews are watching television. They are watching Lawrence Loudmouth and the whole set contains a lot of flaming torches that violate fire codes everywhere and a picture of himself with his mouth open. Yeap; Morton Downy Junior. Considering that this episode aired months after Wrestlemania 5; I hope the finish involves Lawrence getting sprayed with a fire extinguisher. Funny how Lawrence keeps referencing Scrooge McDuck in all this and wanting him to get out of town; even though the reporter has nothing to do with Scrooge. Well; not completely anyway. Scrooge is pissed off now and turns off the television as it circle fades out. Scrooge proclaims that it's time for the real Masked Mallard to return and kick ass and take names. Louie isn't so sure about this; but Scrooge claims that it's the only way to clear his name. He pushes on the button and opens the book shelf door and walks in claiming that he's going to drag the imposter right on the set of Lawrence Loudmouth and prove that the real Mask Mallard is not a criminal. Like that is going to stop Lawrence from hating you Scrooge. Oh wait; I just remembered...Never mind.
So we do some more comic book B&W sequences with Masked Scrooge on a chimney as we have basically become Bullethead Baloo. So we jump down and bounce with the weirdest sound effects imaginable through town and leap onto a tall building; just to dead ring Superman. This goes on for a while and then we scene change to Masked Scrooge snoring on a statue of a dragon at a building. So we see Masked Scrooge wake up and he looks around and then he notices Masked Lawrence on the side of the building with a dollar sign sack of money. Ah; so he's going to try to frame Scrooge McDuck all in one blow. Scrooge goes for his bat-rang and then Gizmo Duck wheels in and grabs his arm. HAHA! Here's the obvious problem with this plan Scrooge: Gizmo Duck clearly wants revenge for looking bad; and it would have been better served to lay low and let Gizmo Duck unmask the Masked Lawrence and you win easily. By doing it yourself; you incriminate yourself even more now and risk Lawrence linking you to all the crimes that Lawrence DID. Airhead Syndrome: It always makes for amusing stupidity. Still better than Cartoon Duck Syndrome though. So we struggle and do some really sissy slapping before both babyfaces free fall off the statue and Gizmo does the Go Go Gadget lawn chair. Seriously; that made me laugh. I guess the umbrella is now copyrighted for Inspector Gadget. Moot point now anyway as we get the MAN-SIZED bump WITH CHEESE AND BACON again just to amuse me as Gizmo Duck is on bottom. He should only be so lucky. AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ZAP! OUCH! Ummmmm...
So Scrooge tries to run away stage left complete with Hanna Barbara running sound and looping effects; but Gizmo Duck grabs him by the cape and unmasks him right in front of the denizens of Duckberg as Scrooge struggles and pleads. Yeap; it's Scrooge McDuck as everyone is in shock and Fenton releases that his Christmas bonus is dead on arrival. I think you are in more trouble than that considering that "Scrooge" got a 30 year sentence just for "stealing" his own painting. Wink! Wink! Nudge! Nudge! That ends the segment almost sixteen minutes in. See Scroogie; you seriously need to tell Launchpad to cure his fatalism airhead. It's really catching like wildfire now. This has been a fun episode; but the whole comic book backgrounds are kind of silly at this point.
After the commercial break; we see Gizmo Duck on the sky shot with Unmasked Scrooge in disbelief that Scrooge is a criminal and cuts another full of himself promo. At least this makes sense in the context of this episode as Scrooge blows him off and wants him to turn around. Gizmo Duck does and it's daylight as Masked Lawrence is gone like the wind. So Scrooge reminds him that he was Scrooge in the art museum when Masked Lawrence was there together. Gizmo Duck remember that; but he admits that it doesn't give him a clue. HAHA! To GeoX: The reason that it was written that way is because Gizmo Duck is Darkwing Duck Zero: full of himself and REALLY STUPID. That's GD's character. That is why it works as comedy. Scrooge blows him off as GD thinks he dived into his money bin one too many times. Except that we know Scrooge is immune to the LAW OF HEAVY METALS; so GD is full of himself again. GD claims that he must take him in since Scrooge is the Masked Mallard and therefore a criminal. I realize that this is silly because it's clear that the criminal MM has a different voice and build; but this is Duckberg, USA and everyone believes what they see and hear instead of using their brains. It's a perfectly average commentary on half of America quite frankly. Scrooge grabs his cane and pushes the button on it and turns into a rocket pogo stick and flies away stage right; sooting Gizmo Duck's visor. Oh; THIS MEANS WAR SCROOGIE~! NO ONE MESSES WITH GD'S VISOR~!
So we head to AFTER HAPPY HOUR in the wrong part of town as it's raining and pouring. No one is snoring sadly as the police car is looking for Scrooge. It passes the alleyway as Scrooge pops up and sulks. He walks towards a caged store with one television on as we hear more smearing from Lawrence Loudmouth as we see photos of Masked Lawrence committing crimes including stealing candy from a baby. Which is a huge tip off since it was Lawrence who accused Scrooge of that BEFORE he became the Masked Mallard. Scrooge admits that he should have left this alone; but since Lawrence gets these exclusive photos; there is something fishy. Scrooge leaves and we head to Lawrence's apartment as it is decked out really nicely for an apartment room. Scrooge takes this as odd; as he goes to the closet and see the fatass suit of the Masked Mallard thus proving Lawrence's guilt right from the start. At this point; I would not being cutting a promo; I would be taking pictures of the place with my camera. Sadly; Lawrence comes up from behind and MURDERS Scrooge right in the head with a vase. HOLY CRAP! It's funny that Toon Disney had a huge problem with guns; and yet smashing a vase on someone's head is much easier to access and much easier to mimic successfully than shooting someone. Even if you believe that America is soaked with guns; you have to admit that smashing someone in the head with a hard object is much worse; and after the studies of concussions; even more so. And Toon Disney leaves it in completely.
Okay; moving right along...we segue to another comic book sequence with Scrooge tied up to a vertical flag pole (and Loudmouth does a great job of this. Beagle Boys; take notes..Oh wait; I forgot about Launchpad, never mind.) . The wind wakes Scrooge up; and he panics as he notices Masked Lawrence warning him that if he squirms; he's dead basically. Scrooge asks him why; and ML talks about ratings and one more heist and he's off to Rio De Bunario; or something, while Scrooge gets the charges trumped up against him. Here's the problem with this: If he goes away, then his show loses the ratings because his smear victim is in prison and thus is persona non-grata. I personally would have booked it differently and have him admitted that ratings were actually second to him. He did it for the money and revenge because he wanted to be rich like Scrooge McDuck; but couldn't cut it as a business man after Scrooge out competed him in shopping center building, thus giving us a payoff to the whole beginning of the episode; and giving us a surprise motive into why he wanted to smear Scrooge. It wouldn't have given him any sympathy; but it would have made a lot more sense. ML bails into the building as Scrooge admits that there is nothing he can do; because if he squirms out he is street pizza. I never understood the point of saying that since dead is allowed to be said on this show and that would give it a bit more suspense.
So we cut to a window as it opens and out comes ML with gold bricks. ML thinks he has won; but here comes Gizmo Duck and he still thinks it's Scrooge in the outfit. Yeah; because apparently, builds don't matter in this world. So we get the most contrived fight scene ever as none of the shots make contact and it's mostly off-screen for the shots that do as fire and beams shoot to the ground. The television crew truck drive in and come out to set up cameras and stuff. MS is watching all this from a television Lawrence kept on in his apartment; just to rub it in. Scrooge squirms in a cute spot; but no dice. However; Scrooge notices that ML forgot to switch out canes despite swapping belts. So Scrooge squirms enough to get on top of the pole with his back (and thus prevent himself from falling). Then he whistle and the cane inside shoots laser and messes up the place while shooting the ropes off. Sadly; it also cuts through the flag pole allowing Scrooge to swing directly into the window of Lawrence's apartment. Scrooge gets free and grabs his mask and cane. He's coming to help Gizmo Duck and kick ML's ass basically.
So we head to a dark junkyard (IT'S UNCENSORED BABEE!) as the most muted fight in the pre Quack Pack era commences. At least considering who is the babyface; this is good comedy. Gizmo backs up as ML invokes the bomb (to indicate his ratings to come in the next few minutes) and knocks GD down onto the ground on his back. Gizmo is pleading for mercy as he gets the old electric magnet machine as Gizmo calls it a fatal attraction to magnets. HAHA! ML is in the control room as he proclaims that he has someone that has a crush on him. And it's the old car crusher (later lifted for a Mathnet episode for Square One Television; and even later became a WCW booking device for a junkyard match; hence my stupid puns for the junkyard being involved.) of course as the car gets crushed of course. ML tries to push the lever (WRONG LEVER!); but that is countered by the rope whip of doom. Scrooge proclaims that it's time for ML to say goodbye, and MS to say hello. So Beetles of you Scrooge. Gizmo Duck is as confused as I am as Masked Scrooge jumps down and we finally have the fight we have been waiting for. And we have our cane sword fight; which means Masked Lawrence is screwed to hell. After Duck In The Iron Mask; do you think it's wise to fight Scrooge with a cane? Unless you are Don Karnage of course.
The police helicopters are in as ML somehow gains the advantage and backs MS into the steel pillar. That makes little sense since ML is not supposed to be better than Scrooge in sword fighting. ML should be cheating like nuts to get to this point. MS dodges and ML sticks the cane into one of the holes (Nice one Scroogie!) and MS switches places with ML. ML tries to get the cane out; so MS taps ML with the cane and ML turns around and begs for mercy. How convenient of him to do so after all this nonsense. So Masked Scrooge throws the cane; ML grabs it and he slips and falls and crashes into some trash, and gets arrested by the police on the ground as they run in. HA! Scrooge jumps down and unmasks himself blowing off Lawrence. Heh. So we head to Scrooge's office as Scrooge has his dollar shredder on full blast as they shred the Masked Mallard suit for good as Scrooge proclaims that his reputation is restored and his shopping center has been approved by the council. Wait; so Scrooge had the opening press conference for the mall BEFORE it got approved? How stupid is that?! So Lawrence did have a case against Scrooge; and if he wanted to be a journalist; he could have asked why the council didn't yet approve of the project? Dammit; they were doing just fine until the finish. So Fenton and Scrooge wrap it up as Lawrence is in prison doing weather and sports. Scrooge proclaims that he doesn't need a superhero costume to be a hero since it only got in the way and Fenton agrees with him on that since he can relate. So true Fenton; so true. Scrooge opens the door and hopes that this is the last of it; but in runs in the nephews dressed up at matching color costumes (no yellow boots) as they are now called the Titainum Trio. I see that they are prepping up for Quack Pack already even though that is still seven years away. Scrooge panics and runs out of the room thus showing that Scrooge realizes that the Ducktales remake has been invaded by the Toby Shelton hate wagon. The nephews slap skin claiming to be working (you don't know the half of it dudes) and that ends the episode and Season two of Ducktales (sort of since I ranted on this after the season two finale A Ducktales Valentine) at 21:06. Well; a good template to Bullethead Baloo; but the Double Darkwings part was still too obvious. The finish and ending didn't help either; but it was entertaining and Gizmo Duck was his usual stupid self. **** (80%).
THE REVIEW LINE
Well; this is the final pre-Disney Afternoon episode to rant on and we end on a really high note. The story was good, Gizmo Duck was awesome as usual, Lawrence was the scummy heel that I expected him to be and Scrooge was really good as the Masked Mallard. However; like a lot of the season two episodes this wasn't without a certain amount of flaws. I personally did not like the way the finish was booked with Lawrence. He still rants on ratings and at this point; why should he care about ratings now that he's going to be a rich leech? I would have booked it to at first be about ratings; and then have Lawrence admit that the money and ratings were only secondary to revenge since Scrooge butted him our of his dream to build a shopping center. That would have given him a huge amount of heat and give him a more plausible motive to smear Scrooge. This just made him into a slightly less religious version of Glenn Beck. Also; a couple of logic breaks, including one that made no sense since they off hand during the ending say that council approved of his project after he announced it. So why didn't Lawrence just point that out from the start? That would have really helped his loud mouth character and put Scrooge on the defensive at least. Also; Wang Films animation background are really bland; but the comic books one were pointless as the only awesome shot they did was the one where Scrooge was tied to the flag pole. Other than that; this was a really good episode. Not great; but it did contain the nephews getting their asses kicked by kids at school; so I go home a happy ranter.
So that ends Season Two of Ducktales. Not counting the multi-parters (which I did when I ranted this on DVD) we have seven thumbs up, seven thumbs in the middle and four thumbs down (including one negative star episode) for a grand total of 42 thumbs up. 43 thumbs in the middle and 10 thumbs down after 94 episodes out of 101 plus the cinema movie. This is pretty much in line with the rest of the series in general. Anyhow; we are now down to the final seven episodes of the series. Soon you will see the return of Goldie and Scrooge taking on Flint and the redneck Beagles. Seriously. Then the nephews and Webby screw with Gizmo Duck's suit. Then Gizmo Duck goes into cyberspace with Scrooge to save his money after having a Bearly Alive moment. Then finally there is the debut of Dijon in three episodes; one involving metal termites and then the finale which involves a Golden Goose and the end of the world including a scene where the nephews die. Oh; didn't I strike a nerve didn't I? So how will these seven episodes turn out. Stay tuned. So.....
Thumbs up for this episode and I'll see you next time.