DuckTales Season 3 Episode 1 Review: Challenge of the Senior Junior Woodchucks!

This DuckTales review contains spoilers

This DuckTales episode feels pretty small for a season premiere. It’s a simple story about Huey getting too wrapped up in his own quest to be the best. Not bad of course (this is DuckTales after all) but you’d expect something bigger. Of course, this is exactly what I said about the season 2 premiere so it seems DuckTales likes to keep things low key when starting a season off.

The episode isn’t a game changer by any means, even its final scene is just set up for the future, but there is still some gold to be found. Even though this is firmly a Huey episode I’m glad to see Violet becoming a bigger and bigger part of the supporting cast. She’s even developing a friendship with Lena, who gives her the best running gag of the episode. Violet’s attempts at smack talk. What a joy this was, especially with Violet’s not quite on point delivery.

Huey though still gets most of the focus and he learns that all his guidebook reading doesn’t account for being a good person when the chips are down. I like that even though Huey makes the gigantic mistake of not helping Violet he isn’t completely condemned for it. He’s simply told,

“Work harder. Make yourself better. And try again.”

That’s a great lesson for anyone watching. Just because you mess up doesn’t mean you can’t make yourself better. Failure isn’t something to hidden away or ashamed of, the Junior Woodchucks gives out badges for it. Of which Launchpad has many because of course he does. I love that DuckTales is celebrating failure. That it’s okay to mess up and that, as long as you’re willing to make yourself better, your friends and family will be there for you.

The B-plot of the episode didn’t do as much for me. While I enjoy seeing Della as just a regular part of the family, seeing them all chase after that bird just wasn’t all that engaging. There was a good message in there about Scrooge needing to head his own advice and getting too wrapped up in his singular goal but it just wasn’t given enough time to play out. Same for Huey’s plot as well. Both could have been great if they had been given their own episodes with smaller B stories instead of fighting for time.

Even so, the ending does promise a new hook for this season. The Missing Mysteries sound great and having an evil organization racing to beat the family at there own game? I can’t wait to see where that goes.

All in all this episode isn’t one of DuckTales most memorable outings but the smaller details still brought a small to my face. Violet’s attempts at smack talk, Donald’s PARTY FOWL fanny pack, and Violet’s dads wearing shirts that clearly identify them as such. That last one especially stands out since gay representation, even in small instances like this, is always welcome in entertainment aimed at kids.

It should also be said that the animation was gorgeous. Huey walking across that rope especially was stellar and the people who boarded/animated that sequence deserve all the kudos.

DuckTales Quotes To Make Your Life Better

-“ Who needs a big book of rules, am I right?”
“Huey! Huey needs a big book of rules!”

– “Cue story about Scrooge as a lad in 3, 2, 1….”

– “Do you mind? I’m speechifying!”

– “Was this good smack? Were you appropriately razzed?”

– “Was it because of my razzing? Curse my flawless slams.”

– “Oh I’m so mad I can’t even alliterate!”