Despite loving 'Ducktales' as a show and have said so many times (though one may not think so from my more critical reviews of some of the later episodes), there were some episodes that didn't do it for me when younger and "Ducky Mountain High" was one of them. Before my first re-watch when in my late teens, the premise also didn't appeal. It didn't sound very entertaining or even particularly tasteful.
Surprisingly though (after honestly expecting it to fare worse, having been more critical while still being as fair as possible over-time), "Ducky Mountain High" is one of the late 'Ducktales' episodes to fare much better than expected on first viewing and actually quite liked it while not being bowled over. Re-watching it a few more times to make sure that my opinion stood up, "Ducky Mountain High" is one of the show's episodes to get better with each viewing.
It's not a perfect episode certainly. Scrooge's willingness and eagerness in cheating Goldie was not really buyable in my view, even though a miserly and money-obsessed character it just didn't really seem like something that Scrooge would do as willingly as that.
Although it is one of the best episodes to feature Bubba, he is actually a weak link in "Ducky Mountain High". He never was really a compelling character, and not only is he forgettable but he also irritates (that running theme with him gets old fast) and he serves very little point here.
Thankfully, everything else works really well. The episode's story is elevated by its very clever and not easily foreseeable twist, which floored me on first viewing of the episode and still has that factor. Goldie is amusing and alluring, her appeal is understandable and her scheming has intrigue. There is great chemistry between her and ever compelling Scrooge, in one of his better late episode appearances. Glomgold is as cunning and entertaining as always.
Furthermore, "Ducky Mountain High" has some sharply funny and smart dialogue and an absorbing, robustly paced story, that has the right amount of suspense and adventure elevated by the twist. The animation is bright and colourful, the music dynamic and Alan Young, Hal Smith and Joan Gerber bring a lot of energy and character to their roles.
Very well done episode on the whole. 8/10
Surprisingly though (after honestly expecting it to fare worse, having been more critical while still being as fair as possible over-time), "Ducky Mountain High" is one of the late 'Ducktales' episodes to fare much better than expected on first viewing and actually quite liked it while not being bowled over. Re-watching it a few more times to make sure that my opinion stood up, "Ducky Mountain High" is one of the show's episodes to get better with each viewing.
It's not a perfect episode certainly. Scrooge's willingness and eagerness in cheating Goldie was not really buyable in my view, even though a miserly and money-obsessed character it just didn't really seem like something that Scrooge would do as willingly as that.
Although it is one of the best episodes to feature Bubba, he is actually a weak link in "Ducky Mountain High". He never was really a compelling character, and not only is he forgettable but he also irritates (that running theme with him gets old fast) and he serves very little point here.
Thankfully, everything else works really well. The episode's story is elevated by its very clever and not easily foreseeable twist, which floored me on first viewing of the episode and still has that factor. Goldie is amusing and alluring, her appeal is understandable and her scheming has intrigue. There is great chemistry between her and ever compelling Scrooge, in one of his better late episode appearances. Glomgold is as cunning and entertaining as always.
Furthermore, "Ducky Mountain High" has some sharply funny and smart dialogue and an absorbing, robustly paced story, that has the right amount of suspense and adventure elevated by the twist. The animation is bright and colourful, the music dynamic and Alan Young, Hal Smith and Joan Gerber bring a lot of energy and character to their roles.
Very well done episode on the whole. 8/10
