"DuckTales" Nothing to Fear (TV Episode 1987) Poster

(TV Series)

(1987)

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10/10
A duck's biggest fear
TheLittleSongbird15 October 2018
As said many, many times, love animation to bits, always have. Not just Disney, Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, Tex Avery and Hanna Barbera, but getting older it also broadened to include Pixar, Studio Ghibli, Soyuzmultfilm and Fleischer. It has always been a huge part of my life and helped me through all the tough times in school, with a broader knowledge actually appreciate it even more now.

Very like as has been said with 'Darkwing Duck' and 'Talespin' in individual episodes of them, 'DuckTales' is a show dear to my heart. While not quite one of the all-time greats in animation and ever it is a personal favourite and one of my favourite shows from Disney. Felt that way as a child, still do. One of those personal favourites from a young age that has held up very well (not all my childhood favourites have), and like many favourites seen recently as a young adult 'DuckTales' is even more entertaining through adult eyes from appreciating the writing and stories even more.

Although all the episodes up to this point were decent to classic, "Nothing to Fear" to me is the best since "Armstrong", which had the daunting task of following on from one of the best starts of any animated show in the five parter that started 'Ducktales' off.

The animation in "Nothing to Fear" looks very pleasing on the eyes, nothing shoddy about it. Instead it is very vibrant, fluidly drawn and the attention to detail in the backgrounds is also note-worthy. Can say nothing wrong about the music, the score is dynamic, beautifully orchestrated, never jarring with the action and full of energy. Just as animated shows of this kind should be. It is impossible to resist or forget the theme song, one of the catchiest in animation and ever.

"Nothing to Fear's" writing is even smarter, even more intelligent and even funnier as an adult. Part of this is due to understanding and appreciating the references, which came over as very funny and brilliantly timed when a child but easier to get and notice as an adult. Have found the same experience re-visiting other favourites like 'Animaniacs', 'Pinky and the Brain' and 'Tiny Toon Adventures'. The dialogue is hilarious, quotable and surprisingly fresh by today's standards, also surprisingly thought-provoking and educational.

Similarly great in "Nothing to Fear" is the storytelling. It is a thrilling and remarkably inventive story that is not predictable or repetitive, also not taking too long to get started or to the point. It is immensely entertaining to watch, has thrills and energy aplenty, is never dull and has emotional investment while the conflict has tension.

Have always loved the characters. Scrooge is one of those characters that does live up to his name at first, a notable example actually of the show being here, but the character grows and goes on a journey. It is wonderful to see Huey, Duey and Louie be given distinct personalities and it is much easier to tell them apart as a result than before when partnered with their uncle Donald Duck. Magica is one of my favourite recurring characters of the show.

In "Nothing to Fear", the voice acting is faultless. Cannot imagine anybody else as the character of Scrooge than Alan Young, he is a big reason why Scrooge works so well as a character. June Foray, one of the all-time greats in voice-acting, casts a spell as Magica.

To conclude, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox
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10/10
Cloud of Fear
hellraiser711 July 2019
This is one of my favorite episodes of the show and one of my favorite Halloween episodes. This episode sort of predates "Event Horizon" as it uncannily has the same premise at psychological horror, fears coming to life and turning against the person.

This episode is kind of funny but for once there are few laughs, I'll admit when I was a kid, I found this episode a little scary. Like that banana creature in a scene, I know it's absurd, but it actually does look kind of scary with those shark like teeth, twisting tongue, and crazy eyes sort of similar to the vampire in the graphic comic series "30 Days of Night".

I really like the amount of mystery at the begining everyone is seeing things, but we don't know what or why it's even happening. But I like how it really plays with our perception of reality as we see each of the characters are seeing things but then they're not and then they are; we're all in the same boat as the Ducktales family we're wondering what the frak is going on. It's a little funny at first from the absurd like that Banana and Limo monster. However, those are small fry as things escalate from danger to extreme danger.

Things do get really series and even sad, like the boys seeing a false version of Scrooge whom is just extremely angry and abusive; I'll admit that scene alone made I and my friends just completely silent. And of course, Scrooge seeing a false version of the boys, whom act like a street gang, go so far as to almost beat him up and rob him, but worst of all display no love for him at all.

Both these scenes really made my heart sink a little but really like how both scene really get at deep psychological fears that both kids and parents carry within, for the kids it's abuse and abandonment of a parental figure and for Scrooge it's failure as a parent witnessing their children going the wrong path.

The theme of the show is about facing and conquering your fears. Fear by its nature is really an illusion, it can never really hurt us nor has power over us unless we give in to it. The final confrontation is really gratifying just showing that we always must power to conquer our fears and fear truly is powerless against us.

Rating: 4 stars
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