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The Duck Knight Returns's fandom commentary

Dark Qiviut

Entry posted by Dark Qiviut

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The Duck Knight Returns is perhaps the best episode of the new DuckTales. Of the many reasons why, the brilliant commentary on fandom's one of the most creative. It's able to comment about fandom without being mean, narcissistic, or retaliatory to criticism. It knows how to shape this commentary into the canon with nuance and care. There are five specific points that really shape up this commentary.

  1. Launchpad (representing the older fans) had a valid argument against the Darkwing Duck movie. The trailer hinted that DWD knowingly hurt people, even though he was a hero in the TV series. LP realized how out of character Movie!DWD was and justifiably criticized it. The episode never mocked him for complaining or took his opinions as a joke.
     
  2. When Launchpad wanted to show how good the original DWD is, Jim Starling manipulated him into doing something that contradicts his morale: trap the "replacement" in his trailer. Recall this line.
    Quote

    "Help! I'm trapped in a prison of guilt!"

    He understands what he's doing isn't right. A contradiction of everything he knows and loves of DWD. But Starling successfully tapped into that "irrational fan" in him and make him believe that he must trap and hurt the "replacement" in order to truly capture his glory.

  3. All throughout the fight, his conscience outwardly battled him. As well as believing he had to fight the actor, he really didn't want to. Every time he tried to fight him or fling him, he was immediately apologetic. When he was so close to damaging rare DWD collectibles, he stopped.

  4. Once the brief, hilarious fight ended, the actor and LP weren't foes anymore. They became friends. The actor is a lot like the crew working on DuckTales or any other creation today. Darkwing Duck's a cashcow (and like what another reviewer said, all products that make money are technically cashcows), but some lack that soul than others.

    For the DuckTales crew, this is their dream becoming reality. They're big fans of DWD, DT, and probably many other Disney Afternoon properties (they wouldn't sneak in TaleSpin and Goof Troop Easter Eggs for no reason). The original DT is an inspirational classic a representation of a fan's dream becoming reality, and now they use their vision to inspire future generations of animators, fans, and storytellers. The actor represents that same role; yes, the movie's not good, but he's as big a DWD fan as anyone, and hopes to someday inspire future generations too.

  5. The path to friendship between LP and the new actor is very symbolic to this show and the cartoon medium at large to date.

    1. How CN's reboots of Teen Titans, PPG, and Ben 10 understandably made many people wary of the DT reboot.

    2. How updates of the new DT, Woo-oo!, and future episodes excited people and gave them hope.

    3. How many DT and DWD fans were very disappointed when DWD was a TV show within the new canon. Well, after this episode, nobody was questioning them now.

    4. Through great writing, creative ideas, and brilliant execution, fans who grew up with the old, fans who are now professionals working on the new, and fans inspired by the new can unite and enjoy a product together.

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Sparklefan1234

In my opinion, "The Duck Knight Returns" is "Fame and Misfortune" done in a more respectful way. 

I know that's probably *way* off but that's how I see it.

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Dark Qiviut
13 minutes ago, Sparklefan1234 said:

In my opinion, "The Duck Knight Returns" is "Fame and Misfortune" done in a more respectful way. 

I know that's probably *way* off but that's how I see it.

I thought exactly the same, and then some. Not just more tastefully, but just much better. ('Twas very tempting to diss it. :P)

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JonasDarkmane

The Duck Knight Returns is my favorite episode of the DuckTales series so far. 

Gotta love how they brought about Negaduck back~

 

Image result for negaduck

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Sparklefan1234
Quote

 

How many DT and DWD fans were very disappointed when DWD was a TV show within the new canon. Well, after this episode, nobody was questioning them now.

 

A brilliant "joke" that was built upon over time as a way to introduce new fans to Darkwing Duck.

 

*Copy/pasting stuff people might have missed from your status update*

 

It's awesome that 

 

they found a way for Tad Stones (Darkwing Duck's "father".) to make a cameo in this episode.

 

https://ducktales.fandom.com/wiki/Tad

 

I also loved the references to Batman: The Animated Series/The Nolan Trilogy &

 

"Drake Mallard" being the name of movie DW's actor. 

 

Launchpad being Darkwing Duck's biggest fan 

 

was also is a callback to the two part series premier of the original Darkwing Duck series "Darkly Dawns the Duck"

 

an episode that also happens to be my favorite pilot/Darkwing Duck episode ever! 

Edited by Sparklefan1234
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Randimaxis

I loved the new Duck Tales from episode one, because I saw the LOVE for the original material & the fans of it.  It gave me hope after actually SEEING a couple of episodes of some of the above-mentioned CW Titles... and trust me, I DID shed an actual tear over those.

But there's so much about the Disney Afternoon that lives on in this amalgamated universe, and even though I was 13 when it all originally started, I was an avid fan through almost the entire run of the original shows - especially Darkwing Duck.  'The Terror That Flaps In The Night'?  That was AWESOME to me - a meek little kid who had few friends and numerous bullies.  I may not have done as our esteemed actor did in DT, but it did steel me against giving up, giving in or giving out.

I even had a Darkwing figure.  Wish I still did, honestly.

All the same, when I got a glimpse of him as a 'TV Show' fave of Launchpad's, I squee'd like a little girl being given a boxful of floofy kittens.  It was juuuuuuuuuust a mention or two, and barely a five minute presence... but I still got misty eyed, all the same.  Nostalgia hits you hard, bro...

But when I saw 'The Duck Knight Returns'... I cried.  Eeyup - bawled like a baby with Thrush.  Especially seeing the origins of Negaduck, a villain I always enjoyed in the original series... and who better to play the part, eh?  Oh, I dunno, how about JIM FREAKING CUMMINGS out of nowhere as Starling, hence Negs as well - as it damn well originally was!  Hell, the voice of Darkwing/Negaduck, to me, is as distinct as the voice of Optimus Prime (Transformers being another show I grew up loving).

This... ALL of this, the whole kit-n-kaboodle of the new Duck Tales... THIS is what it should be.  This is what happens when generations young AND old work together, unified to create something wonderful, respectful and highly entertaining, regardless of what "age category" they're statistically aiming for...

Sorta like a certain show about pastel-colored ponies I've herd of.  ;)

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