"The House of the Lucky Gander!" is the sixth episode of the Disney XD animated series DuckTales. It premiered on October 14, 2017.
Synopsis[]
The kids, Scrooge, and Donald visiting his cousin, Gladstone Gander, the most luckiest duck in the world, but they found out something was different about this hotel of Macaw.
Plot[]
The Duck family travels to the eastern city of Macaw to see the fabled Golden Cricket and visit Donald's cousin Gladstone Gander, the world's luckiest duck. While Scrooge McDuck is keen on seeing the cricket, the kids are excited to visit Gladstone; Scrooge and Donald, however are not, as both dislike Gladstone for his dependence on supernatural luck. The group find Gladstone is residing at the House of Fortune, a massive hotel/casino. While Scrooge and the others visit the casino, Launchpad stays behind to attend to personal matters.
Inside the casino, Gladstone welcomes his family, impressing the kids much to Donald's dismay. When Gladstone asks them to stay for a bit, Scrooge decides to leave with Huey, Dewey, and Webby, but Louie and a reluctant Donald decide to spend time with Gladstone. Gladstone uses his luck to earn winnings as Louie becomes more and more fascinated by Gladstone's ability. As Louie enjoys the prizes Gladstone earns, Donald gets the short end of the stick with his bad luck, becoming increasingly downtrodden over how Louie admires Gladstone as the favorite uncle. Meanwhile, Scrooge's group is greeted by Toad Liu Hai, the casino's owner. Liu Hai encourages the group to stay and enjoy the casino; Scrooge declines at first, but ends up spending time there when the kids get enticed by the casino's luxuries. Scrooge continues to search for the exit, but somehow they keep moving in circles.
Eventually, Scrooge gives in and agrees to check in the casino. Liu Hai leads them to the front desk to reserve a room, but it turns out that Scrooge tricked him to leading the group to the exit, which is nearby. Before they can leave, Donald gets fed up with the praise Gladstone receives from Louie and decides to leave the casino with them. Gladstone tries to stop him, and it is revealed that Gladstone has been mystically imprisoned by Liu Hai. Liu Hai then reveals his true nature: he is a spirit of fortune and the entire casino is an illusion, a trap to lure the greedy.
Gladstone admits that because of his luck, Liu Hai imprisoned him to feed on his fortune and grow stronger. He called Scrooge and Donald to rescue him in the first place, but couldn't tell them to hide suspicion from Liu Hai. Liu Hai then proposes that Scrooge take Gladstone's place, as the richest duck in the world is more valuable than someone who just happens to be lucky. Instead, Scrooge challenges Liu Hai to a game for their freedom, which an intrigued Liu Hai accepts; however, Gladstone is chosen as Liu Hai's champion with Donald to represent the Duck family, and the game is a race to the finish line. Gladstone is able to avoid the race's obstacles with ease, while Donald continuously faces the traps and strays behind. When Donald is about to give up, his family cheers him to keep going; motivated by their support and remembering his tenacity, Donald is able to make it ahead and crosses before Gladstone (who ironically was distracted by a twenty dollar bill in front of him).
Although Donald won, Scrooge convinces Liu Hai to take Donald as his prisoner instead of Gladstone. The group is released, but the kids, including Gladstone, are furious at Scrooge; however, Scrooge reveals that he knew Donald Duck's bad luck would severely malnourish Liu Hai. Thus, Donald is released as Liu Hai and the casino fade from existence. The kids congratulate Donald, and the group heads back to Launchpad. Gladstone has an epiphany about his luck and almost decides to turn himself around; at that moment, a woman offers a large golden boat to him for twenty dollars, so Gladstone resumes his luck-based lifestyle.
The gang return to Launchpad, who is seen in full samurai armor, an eyepatch and a panda cub, fully exhausted, though he passes the whole thing off as merely tourist stuff. Before leaving he says goodbye to his girlfriend, wherever she may be.
At the temple, the Duck family find the Golden Cricket, although it turns out to be an ordinary cricket. The family gets bored and tired, while a dissatisfied Scrooge agrees they can leave.
Cast[]
- David Tennant as Scrooge McDuck
- Danny Pudi as Huey
- Ben Schwartz as Dewey
- Bobby Moynihan as Louie
- Kate Micucci as Webby Vanderquack
- Beck Bennett as Launchpad McQuack
- Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck
- Paul F. Tompkins as Gladstone Gander
- BD Wong as Toad Liu Hai
Goofs[]
- During the flashback where Gladstone apprehended Burger Beagle, Donald is wearing his black sailor suit even though he's suppose to be wearing his blue one. However, it's possible that this flashback occurred around the time he was still adventuring with Scrooge.
- When Gladstone's ball and chain appears, the chain links are of a different style than in the rest of the episode.
- Donald is also wearing his sailor suit instead of the tuxedo shirt he bought earlier. He doesn't revert to his sailor suit until Liu Hai reveals his true self.
- Even though Gladstone is Huey, Dewey, and Louie's first cousin once removed, Louie and Donald both refer to him as the triplets' uncle, not cousin.
- Gladstone also calls Scrooge "Uncle" twice, even though Scrooge is not his uncle (Scrooge is Donald's uncle on his mother's side while Gladstone is Donald's cousin on his father's side).
Trivia[]
- This episode was originally scheduled to premiere on October 21, 2017, but it was moved up a week early.
- Macaw is the show's counterpart to the real-life Macau.
- Huey snarking at the floor show is probably a reference to how people tend to remark how Disney Theme Parks tend to waste water for their water shows, which are not even considered interesting.
Gallery[]
