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Darkwing Duck on DVD: Volume 1 Volume 2
Darkwing Duck: Volume 2 DVD Review
By Kelvin Cedeno The early 1990s brought forth what many consider to be the pinnacle of Disney television animation. This was culminated in a two-hour block known as The Disney Afternoon (later shortened to TDA). TDA debuted in 1990 and contained four series in its block: "Adventures of the Gummi Bears," "DuckTales," "Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers," and "TaleSpin." Of these, only "TaleSpin" had been created specifically for TDA; the other shows were already in syndication. Another series was being worked on for this lineup, however: "Darkwing Duck". It's interesting to note that the character was actually featured in the Disney Afternoon opening theme a full year before his show even debuted. The second season of TDA (1991-92) was where the public was formally introduced to this masked crime-fighter. "Darkwing Duck" follows the escapades of the titular character (also known as Drake Mallard in secret identity form) as well as his sidekick pilot Launchpad McQuack and adopted daughter Gosalyn. The trio face off with a myriad of colorful and quirky villains whose goals vary from the mundane (robbing a bank) to the unique (altering history via time travel). Gosalyn's nerdy and congested best friend Honker occasionally joins in against his will. Every episode essentially features the same story structure: a supervillain is out doing dastardly deeds, and Darkwing must stop him. Some sort of everyday household problem arises (usually thanks to Gosalyn), and this thread becomes crucial in stopping the villain during the episode's finale. With such a formula being used repeatedly, a show like "Darkwing Duck" can quickly grow stale. Thankfully, it has much more to offer than what its storylines indicate.
This is a series where what's being said isn't as much a focus as how it's being said. This is easily the most tongue-in-cheek animated series Disney had done up to that point. Comic book and superhero lore are lovingly lampooned, with the show sharing much in common with Batman. This is most notable in the fact that despite being a superhero, Darkwing has no powers. Instead, he uses all sorts of gadgets and trickery to save the day. The only real problem with a show like "Darkwing Duck" is that it's best taken in small doses. When one watches many episodes in succession, flaws become more apparent. Several gags are used and re-used in different episodes to the point where eventually one can predict the payoff before it happens. The show also features lots of slapstick to counterbalance the cheeky script. Physical gags (which every installment contains in abundance) become tiresome after several episodes. Also, because of the brief running times, plots are kept to a bare minimum. As mentioned earlier, the witty dialogue coupled with the memorable characters help mask this, but the rushed nature of the storylines become evident after extended concentrated viewing. This isn't so much a fault with the show as it is with its genre. Most animated series can (and do) have slim plots, yet feel fulfilling. With a show like "Darkwing Duck," however, there's so much adventure and extravagant set pieces that half an hour with commercials doesn't seem enough to let the stories unfold and for the audience to truly revel in them. Despite such shortcomings, "Darkwing Duck" still proves to be a winner. It's creative and fun, offering something for everyone. It simply is a show that is best taken in the way it was intended - one episode at a time rather than many put together. This series has a legion of fans that have been eager for a Volume 2 DVD release. Just shy of one full year the first volume was issued, Disney has followed up with a second 3-disc collection, consisting of episodes 28 through 54. Like the first volume, Volume 2 presents the episodes in airdate order rather than production order. While on one hand this can be commended for preserving the show the way viewers first experienced it, it causes some problems. Characters suddenly appear for several episodes and then are later given a proper introduction and origin (such as the Liquidator). Other characters seem to randomly change their motivations when viewed in this order, such as Morgana going from evil to reformed without a second thought. The best option would've been to present both orders as playing lists for the viewer's choice. As it is, a series of this sort isn't wildly affected by lack of chronology thanks to the stand-alone nature of each episode. A star () indicates ten standout episodes from this Volume 2 collection.
DISC 1 28. All's Fahrenheit in Love and War (22:44) (Originally aired October 14, 1991)
29. Whiffle While You Work (22:41) (Originally aired October 15, 1991)
30. Ghoul of My Dreams (22:46) (Originally aired October 16, 1991)
31. Adopt-a-Con (22:44) (Originally aired October 21, 1991)
32. Toys Czar Us (22:42) (Originally aired October 22, 1991)
33. The Secret Origins of Darkwing Duck (22:43) (Originally aired October 23, 1991)
34. Up, Up, and Awry (22:45) (Originally aired October 24, 1991)
35. Life, the Negaverse, and Everything (22:41) (Originally aired October 25, 1991)
36. Dry Hard (22:42) (Originally aired October 28, 1991)
DISC 2 37. Heavy Mental (22:46) (Originally aired October 29, 1991)
38. Disguise the Limit (22:42) (Originally aired October 30, 1991)
39. Planet of the Capes (22:38) (Originally aired October 31, 1991)
40. Darkwing Doubloon (22:41) (Originally aired November 1, 1991)
41. It's a Wonderful Leaf (22:44) (Originally aired November 4, 1991)
42. Twitching Channels (22:41) (Originally aired November 5, 1991)
43. Dances with Bigfoot (22:37) (Originally created November 6, 1991)
44. Twin Beaks (22:42) (Originally aired November 7, 1991)
45. The Incredible Bulk (22:44) (Originally aired November 8, 1991)
Buy Darkwing Duck: Volume Two on DVD / Buy Darkwing Duck: Volume One on DVD
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Related Reviews:
Darkwing Duck: Volume 1 (1991) The Tick vs. Season One (1994-95) The Tick vs. Season Two (1995-96)
DuckTales: Volume 1 (1987) DuckTales: Volume 2 (1987) Goof Troop: Volume 1 (1992) Quack Pack: Volume 1 (1996)
TaleSpin: Volume 1 (1990) Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers: Volume 1 (1989) Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers: Volume 2 (1989-90)
Gargoyles: The Complete First Season (1994-95) Gargoyles: Season 2, Volume 1 (1995-96) Spider-Man: The Venom Saga (1995-96)
Fantastic Four: The Complete 1994-95 Animated Television Series Space Ghost & Dino Boy: The Complete Series (1966-67)
Dinosaurs: The Complete First and Second Seasons (1991-92) Home Improvement: The Complete First Season (1991-92)
Tales From Avonlea: The "Complete" First Season (1990) Beauty and the Beast (1991) The Rocketeer (1991)
The Muppet Christmas Carol: Kermit's 50th Anniversary Edition (1992) Newsies (1992) Aladdin: Platinum Edition (1992)
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins The Muppet Show: Season 2 (1976-77)
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Reviewed August 17, 2007.