New Ducktales, Season One, Episode Eleven: "Beware the B.U.D.D.Y. System"

Well, I definitely didn't expect it to start by being an episode of Darkwing Duck, so points for that, I guess, with Quackerjack, Megavolt, and the water one whose name I don't remember because he was never much of a character robbing a bank. It's a bit jarring that the character designs aren't updated to match the outside show, but maybe that's supposed to be the point. Hard to say. Then, metaphysical tomfoolery as it turns out it's just a show Dewey's watching, and apparently in this world Darkwing is a character played by "Jim Starling." Very...something. Well, it's fine. I'm sure this will all be elaborated upon in the future. And if you thought "goodness, I wonder when they'll try to give Launchpad depth and also introduce Fenton and also bring back Mark Beaks cause why not I guess" then it's definitely the episode for you. Anyway, Launchpad has to race against Beaks' robot so as not to get replaced, and the robot, whose name I cannot be arsed to go back and look up but BUDDY is the acronym, turns evil and only Gizmoduck can save the day. WHOO HOO.

Yeah. The Launchpad stuff, where he wants to be appreciated and not fired and replaced with a robot, is all right, I guess. A bit too reminiscent of that bad original-ducktales space episode, but they steer clear of egregious dumbness in this one. Also, I really like Fenton and the way the two of them bond, although I must say, Lin-Manuel Miranda doesn't make much of an impact. I mean, he's not bad or anything, but nor does it feel like there was any real reason for this stunt-casting. I like Hamilton fine, but I never would've known it was him if I weren't told. Also, I'm all for diversity and I don't object to the character having a Hispanic last name, but it does feel a bit arbitrary. Welp, let's hope they're able to use the character well in the future. He had some of the best episodes in the original show, so don't let us down!

What else? Gyro is, I guess, less objectionable than he was in his first appearance, though still not in any way similar to his original character. Mark Beaks is WHATEVER. The episode as whole was fine; I definitely liked it a lot better than the last one, even if my socks remain definitively in the on position.