#also trying to be a bit more creative and draw things that isn��t a character ref facing one direction

[fanresearcher-blog]

My Criticism of Planet Puto

You know, just in case HC never finds about my criticism...

“Hello HC! My original criticism was lost…unfortunately but I`m determined to get my message to you. I wrote it on Word first before posting it in your submit. If you managed to get my old submission, then I`m glad that it worked, but if it didn`t then that`s why I have this. So HC, I wanted to do this for a long time but I needed to be composed of my thoughts first. Now I`m ready.

In this submission, I want to talk about the character development of your personification characters and character design. I`ll also talk a little bit of the lore by the end of the post. It is not intended for hate, it is just criticism. I am also aware that Planet Puto is more like random posts instead of comics or something. The reason I feel like giving criticism is for HC`s improvement in some stuff and to voice my concerns. Before I write my criticism, I would like to praise HC for her/his dedication to creating that group of Actor AU (I don`t know their names but it`s the Aswang lady and her Spanish-y husband and they had twins). I love your work since it has good art but mostly it`s because you post so often. Reading your posts become a part of my everyday routine.

So before we get to the specific criticism and tips, I`ll talk about my general problems with the personification characters. It appears to be, that the characters are used for meaningless fanservice. When I`m scrolling through the Planet Puto archives, once in a while I will see characters drawn with sexy poses or they have ship tease with someone. If it is part of their character, then that would make sense. So is everybody…smutty? It seems like whenever there is a major foreign country, they would be shipped with Elena or Emilio. There are entire pages filled with random pick-up lines from Emilio and all the art of Elena with the guys.

I`m not saying that shipping is bad. I think it is perfectly fine for some countries to be attracted to Emilio or Elena. What I don`t understand is…why? Why do those countries find Emilio or Elena attractive? What do they see in them? Please don`t say, that they love the Phils because Emilio is pogi and Elena is maganda. If that is the reason, why they love those twins, then that is not real love at all. Also…they can`t just be compatible because of politics! It is like shipping someone with another person just because they had a good business deal. It also makes me wonder if a country can even decide who to love instead of who they are told to by their bosses. It`s sad no?  

It would be best that you create the character before the ship. If you create the ship before the character, they may end up not being their own person. Also pair the ones, who are naturally compatible. It`s like food combos, there are basics like cheese and tomato go so well but when you experiment you will also find out that green mango tastes great with bagoong. Relationships, like food combinations, should be compatible. When people talk about food combos, you hear “The tomato`s freshness balances out the saltiness of salted egg” or “A bit of chili actually brings out the flavor of vinegar”, so characters should be like “He has a great mind but sometimes he can be really tough. She quite emotional but she can be the best friend you can ever have. Together, his heart softens and he learns how to get along with other people. She learns how to keep cool and keep things together now.” Characters by themselves are great, like peanut butter bread and jelly bread, but when you put them together, they are even better.

Be careful of red flags! If the relationship is starting to break boundaries, border on abuse, and toxic behaviors, please stop. It will just give the wrong message to the audience if you ship something like that. After all, in a food combo, if one of the ingredients are rotten it would make you sick. The pair should not be toxic to each other. You can still portray abusive relationships, but please don`t romanticize or encourage it because it`s not okay. It will never be okay.

 You must develop them first, though. After you got their character, then you can start thinking about shipping. They must care about each other. That is the bare minimum for a good ship. In psychology, people are more likely to be attracted to someone they have in common with but not too much in common. The thing they have in common could be anything like background, motivation, interests, etc… After that, be careful not to make them too similar or too different. To add special garnish, if the work has a theme, then it would be best if that ship reflects opposite or different sides of the theme. That would make everything really juicy. Remember to not force it, if they can`t match no matter how hard you try, then they weren`t meant to be. Move on. The best ships will just come into place.

Summary for writing ships:

-They must care for each other

-It must be natural

-They must have something in common but different enough

-Experiment

-Avoid Red Flags

My other general problem is random sadness. I`m okay with sadness, but the sadness in Planet Puto is very random. Everything is happy then boom! Sadness. I don`t understand what it is supposed to mean, what am I supposed to know here? There is a pattern of using historical events for angst. It would be much better if the angst was more built up and more meaningful if the characters had character.

Let`s start with the protagonist, Emilio. Of all of the characters, he is the one I have problems with the most. I find it hard to discern a characteristic to him other than a pabebe, a flirt, and a pushover. I`m sorry if that is insulting, but that is my own impression. He may not be like that, but the way he is portrayed gave me that vibes. So what makes a protagonist likable and memorable? They should:

Struggle: Hmm…does Emilio struggle? I have been searching all the pages with Emilio in them to know. None of those posts indicate really big things. I try to dig deeper like a Language Teacher but it is hard for me to see the meaningful struggle. All I see is meaningless angst. The problems that Emilio faces are politics, love life, and history. Politics, I understand that it is hard to live with such a corrupt government. What I need to know is…how does this affect Emilio personally? Normally, citizens of this country will not feel affected by politics. Sometimes they will be affected, but most of the time they would live most of their lives without worrying about this. It would be best to show how it affects Emilio on a personal level, so I can feel why.

Love life, it is now a more human problem. I wonder why personifications aren`t marrying each other by now. So many feelings and ship tease! Are they forbidden? If that is so, then that would be impractical. There are so many countries in the world, so at least one government permits a country to marry another country. I also wonder why Emilio only dated Brunei. I remember you said it is because of the union of the Kingdom of Tondo and something Brunei. So does that mean, whenever a country is joined by political alliance or merging of kingdoms, are they are automatically in love or dating? Heartbreak happens, it is a human thing but I hope it isn`t too much of a problem. There is such a thing as move on, right?

 History, now that could have a lot of potential. I think there is a lot of creative potential with this. The problem is…how do you portray it properly? The best thing to do is to look in history books and determine what he would be doing at a place in time. Give him a backstory based on the things taught in history. I know you are doing that, but I think it is unrealistic that Emilio is everywhere at once. How is he in a lot of historical events!?! There has to be an explanation. I think it could be answered by knowing his occupation exactly. What is his skills? What are his abilities? Does he have powers to help out? What does being a personification mean? These things could really help me understand how the plot works.

 (Out of topic: What is being a personification? How immortal is he? What if we cut off a personification`s head? Would they die? What if we chopped off their fingers? Would they be crippled or would their limbs grow back eventually? In your WWII drawing, Elena asks Japan to finish off her useless brother, so are you saying he can die? What if no one saved Emilio?

Do personifications get paid for being personifications? Can they resign? Do they have insurance or vacation days? Do they get a bonus? Do they get senior citizen`s discount, after all, they are older than our grandparents? Why do countries have a girl and boy version? Let`s say Emilio resigns from being Phil, would Elena have another twin?

What jobs do personifications do? Are they immediately conscripted to be a soldier, kind of Captain America? Captain America is a super soldier and also used for propaganda. Do they go in missions assigned to them by their presidents? I remember your Brunei and Phil post, that countries might be super spies by their governments. Is it really something like that? Are countries allowed to have other jobs? I remembered a post, I asked if personifications can have jobs. Emilio answered that he wanted to be a general, so he is not allowed to? He is the amang bayan after all, can he use his influence to get the job that he dreams of. Why can`t he be a general? I also heard your answer that being a personification means that you help people, how do they help people? Do they work in social services? Military? Education? Counseling? Psychology? NGO?

Can they have superpowers or are they as strong as an average person?

PLEASE ANSWER THIS, EVEN IF IT TAKES TIME. I CAN WAIT. You don`t have to make a drawing for it. Just type or draw if you like, I just really need to know. What if you randomly gave the characters abilities out of thin air? That would be really confusing. You might risk yourself with plot holes. We would be left out with the information needed to know what their life is like. If they have more detail what is their job exactly, then I would feel like they are more relatable because they actually have a life of their own other than being a mascot.)

Not whine: Back to one of the general problems, random sadness. Emilio is the one with the most random sad posts, so he has that main problem. I don`t know about you but if you put it in real life. It would sound like whining (I`m sorry). What is whining? It is a negative connotation of complaint. Complain is to express grief, pain, or discontent. It is okay to show strong emotion possibly even required but it would be weird to hugot it a lot.

 I already talked about the struggle part, not whining is the combo for struggle. Why? When someone suffers and they whine, suffer, whine, suffer, then more whining, then it would feel like handling an annoying baby. I know that they have pain but I would not respect them if they whine. They would be just like an average person to me, “That sucks, but the way you reacted made me not like you.”

Struggle makes the audience root out for the protagonist because it is natural human behavior to root out for the underdogs and struggle is what everyone goes through so it`s relatable. Not whining is what makes the protagonist respectable. Who has more virtue, a person that complains whenever there is something inconvenient vs someone who endures it instead?

A protagonist should be relatable hence, struggle, but they should also have something admirable because if they are so painstakingly average it is not any more interesting. We did not ask for reality to be displayed, we already live with that every day. What we want is to be entertained, learn, or feel something. A protagonist is someone we should admire, respect, and relate to.

In my opinion, Emilio in the Yandere!Adam event actually shows a bit of character and for the first time, I find myself surprised to actually care about a fictional character even if it is a little bit. What I am talking about, are the normal posts before that.

Be active: This is what makes an ordinary protagonist, entertaining. An active protagonist is a protagonist that shapes the plot while a passive protagonist is pushed by the plot. Why I believe that Emilio, isn`t an active protagonist, he is controlled by events. I have never seen an event that Emilio started because of his actions. For example, Yandere!Adam event, Yandere!Adam is the one that sets the events in motion, while Emilio just watches. I can understand since it is a Yandere!Adam event, it has to focus on Yandere!Adam. I just wish that there is an event of Emilio`s own doing.

(Out of topic: I feel like Emilio and Elena`s relationship isn`t that strong when I looked at the Yandere!Adam event. Letting your own twin die?! It affects me a little bit personally because I have a twin of my own. I would never imagine killing my own twin or letting that happen. According to research, boy-girl twins are even closer than same-sex twins, so they should be closer but they are not. Maybe it is because they were separated for so long, so that is why they aren`t that close.)

So in totality, I think Emilio needs a lot of work in his character.

IN SUMMARY:

-Please elaborate in his struggles

-Tone down the hugot

-Have an event focused on Emilio

-Add more to his backstory

-Tell us more about him

  So that is all with Emilio. The other main characters like Elena, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Manila, Cebu, and Davao don`t get enough characterization. They feel like caricatures and stereotypes sometimes. I don`t get who they are supposed to be like. Cebu as INTJ really? As a fan and deep researcher of MBTI, it is hard to see why Cebu will be that. In a nutshell, my impression of them are:

Elena: Oh I`m going to help Emilio, get shipped with so many dudes, and do most of the country work.

Luzon: I`m Miss Serious who is kind of like Manila by design. I`m also the boss and hate insubordination.

Visayas: I`m the guy that has such a peaceful life and brown streak of hair. (Apparently, I also betrayed my countrymen by siding with Spain.)

Mindanao: ….

Manila: I hate probinsyanos! Especially Cebu. I`m swimming in the trash and I have problems…with Cavite. #ampalaya #lifesucks #dacapital

Cebu: I hate Manila! (Hehe I speak Bisaya so he can`t understand) I also don`t get along with Iloilo.

Davao: Yay! (Anime hair).

(Out of topic: I get confused with the glasses on capitals. You said that it was a sign of progress and you put the capitals of other nations with it. It feels quite the opposite. People need glasses to see, so when someone becomes a capital do they become visually impaired? Or they don`t really need it. Does that mean that glasses on capitals are like crowns on royalty? It gets quite confusing to theorize over simple stuff like that. It seems to be too much of a coincidence.)

I`ll talk more about character design later which involves the main characters.

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While writing this, I realized that foreign personifications were more developed than the main characters. They show more personality in a page than Emilio or Elena can show in 10 pages. For Adam, I thought his character design immediately gave me the vibes of someone who would be America. He tries to keep his reputation so he hides his brown eye with contacts and he hides issues to show that he is strong. When it came to struggling, I feel like that is implied. He seems admirable at some aspect and he sets the story forward as a colonizer.

His character design also gives an implication of his character. He has blonde hair and blue eyes (something that is associated with America), he has a blue business suit, red tie, and white underneath. That is the colors of the American flag! Colors like that are usually associated with heroes. I immediately saw a developed character in him. I wonder why that can`t be the same for Emilio or Elena.

Emilio`s outfit is a Filipino barong, he has sun-kissed brown hair, tan skin, and really, really light brown eyes. He is basically brown all the way through. While Elena has similar eyes, black hair, and light tan skin. Their outfits are traditional Filipino clothing. Luzon has a yellow tie and female business suit. Visayas has a red shirt and brown pants. Mindanao has a white robe with blue highlights. It seems like the island groups are wearing the colors of the Philippine flag.

 Their character designs are okay enough. It could possibly do better but it`s okay. When I mean to do better, I think you should modify it a little bit so it can look better. Like add detail to the clothes, use a different shade of color perhaps (the current colors aren`t bad on its own but I think it is best to experiment), and I think that is basically it. I get that you gave them really unusual eyes, to give them an anime feel (Personally I don`t like it, but I would not criticize that. It is your own personal aesthetic decision.). Maybe give Emilio and Elena an alternate casual outfit, the traditional clothing makes them seem like they can`t move on from the past (unless that is what you are going for).

The provinces are what I have a problem with. I can see that you tried, but some of them need work. They look unique but not unique enough. Sorry but, I think they look like branded food from the grocery sometimes. The Mindanaoan personifications are the most unique, Visayan personifications vary in quality but mostly unique, and the Luzones personifications have the most problems. I think you should do a bit more work in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, a bit in Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Ilocos Region:

Pangasinan. Despite being part of Ilocos Region, he isn`t exactly Ilocano. He is Pangasinense. That means he has a different ethnicity than the rest of his fellow region mates. His economy and some of the way he acts is a bit different from the Ilocos. In all means, he is different from the other members. So he should look a little bit different. His fashion sense isn`t that good either. Come on! That collar shirt looks too long and does nothing to improve the figure. The hair is all levels baduy.

Ilocos Twins. They seem too similar to each other. It seems like the only difference is how they tuck their shirts and belts, and that Ilocos Norte is wearing a fake mustache. The minuscule detail is that Ilocos Norte has his pants tucked in more neatly while Ilocos Sur has slightly loose pants. You can differentiate them a bit unless you like it that way.

In general, they are kind of plain. It would be best to add more variety and fashion sense. (Unless you intended it that way)

Cagayan Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, MIMAROPA, and Western Visayas:

Make them a bit more varied.

Central Luzon:

Pampanga. My DEAR province would never wear something like that! It`s like he didn`t move on from the past. Bro, it is the modern days not revolution. Besides, Pampanga would wear a uniform during that period of time. In reality, Kapampangans like to dress well to the point it is a stereotype. Whenever there is an event or casual life, we always like to dress up. I think it would be best if he has a more fashionable outfit or you add something to the outfit to make it more fashionable. The most fashionable ones always seem to be the Metro Manilenos. It would be good if there are provinces that are really, really fashionable. Fashion is a really big deal.

What feeling are you trying to invoke when you made him?

 Bulacan. Really baduy. This outfit is something I imagined to be in a cheap fantasy project. The upturned collar according to historical events was a trend because it was “preppy”, so okay then I guess since it indicates character. The shirt is really plain and does not catch the eye. It feels like it was cheaply done. The color of mint green or light green used for the shirt does not add to his character. Light green is used to indicate the more positive aspects of green like growth or healing. Quite ironic, since his eyes were turned grey due to fireworks.

The outfit is even worse than Pampanga`s, at least Pampanga`s outfit is something that someone would wear but that is something I don`t see in a traditional outfit or normal clothes.

Others. Bataan`s outfit is also baduy as well as Nueva Ecija. Why do the girls always have to wear traditional clothing? What is Zambales ordinary outfit? He does not dive all day, you know.

CALABARZON:

I have fewer problems with these guys but...does Cavite have to always wear the uniform. I`ve seen him in a different outfit before. I wonder what his signature normal outfit would look like. Laguna wearing a baro`t saya…a classic for Planet Puto women. What does Quezon have that is different from QC? They are pretty similar.

 GENERAL CHARACTER DESIGN

Character design is of utmost importance because it can determine first impressions and show personality. What I`m looking for in character design is Personality, Color Scheme, and Symbolism. Personality is displayed by the little details like a business suit to indicate the character`s work-like personality or a suspenders to indicate a person`s old-fashioned/gangsta/a cop/compliments the figure of a muscular body. Colors have multiple symbolisms, blue can indicate dependability but can also give a depressing feeling. Light blue has more positive connotations but dark blue indicates the darker aspects. Little things like the wear the clothes are worn can indicate if someone is a slob or a neat person. Clothing can also indicate the standard of living, fashion style, personal preferences, and attitude. After all, you are what you wear.

Of course, character design is not just clothing it could also be a hairstyle, how the body is built, and stuff like gesture can add a push of characterization. Do they wear their hair in a neat manner or they have long hair? Things like that can indicate the beliefs of the person or attitude. Are they muscular? It might indicate that they workout, part of the military, or some physically demanding work. Are they thin? It could indicate that they don`t eat much, but why? See, that adds more character.

IN SUMMARY:

-BE FASHIONABLE (unless it is part of their character not to)

-MAKE THEM STAND OUT

-ASK “Why would they wear this?”

-COLOR IS IMPORTANT (research their meanings)

-COLOR SCHEME IS ALSO IMPORTANT (make it still look good, unless it is part of the character to clash)

Optional:

-Give each character a signature color that fits their personality

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Thank you for listening to my character design and characterization criticism. The lore is really difficult to get into. The only lore I can theorize perhaps is the Yandere!Adam with his eyes. That is basically it. I want to know where personifications come from, how immortal are they, and their origins. How was Emilio made? Did he have parents? Or he just appeared into existence? How are Elena and Emilio twins? How are they related to Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon? You know, questions like that.

I`m sorry if I was offensive or anything. I really mean the best.”

[fly-pow-bye]

DuckTales 2017 - “The Impossible Summit of Mt. Neverrest!”

Story by: Franscisco Angones, Madison Bateman, Colleen Evanson, Christian Magalhaes, Bob Snow, Noelle Stevenson, Matt Youngberg

Written by: Franscisco Angones, Noelle Stevenson

Directed by: Tom Owens, Matt Youngberg

Storyboard by: Mark Garcia, Dalton E. Grant Jr., Kalvin Lee, Calvin Suggs

I've seen the top of the mountain, and it is good.

The episode starts with some exposition on the titular Mount Neverrest Summit. Like the real life mountain it is partially named after, it’s the highest peak in the world. It has claimed many explorers' lives, but Scrooge McDuck is about to take it on alongside his nephews, Webby, and Launchpad. No Donald or Mrs. Beakley; seems like it's been a while since we've seen the latter.

Louie isn't too thrilled, because he wants to be back at the mansion waiting for Santa Claus, because it's Christmas. Scrooge reveals that he doesn’t want that jolly old elf inside his home because of "what he did". That’s pretty much it for the Christmas special portion of this episode. That's the end of the Christmas portion of the episode, unless just having snow counts.

The one very interesting change that 2017 did was give the nephews their own personalities, so it makes sense to have episodes focused on each one. While Dewey and Louie have had an episode or two, this is the first episode that really focuses on Huey. That Terra-Firmians episode was the closest before this, but that was more Webby than Huey.

While Scrooge McDuck wants to climb the summit to its highest point, Huey wants to draw a picture of it! Specifically, he wants to earn his Junior Woodchuck Cartography Badge by drawing a map of the uncharted mountain. He then shows off this badge that he has apparently yet to earn. It's not the only inconsistency, either, as Huey explains from his encyclopedic knowledge of the mountain.

Huey: The mountain summit has been shrouded in mystery! Nobody has ever seen the top!

Except for that guy who managed to photograph it for that exposition book, apparently. What he actually means is that nobody has ever been to the top to see what landmarks are on it. After “landing” in the usual Launchpad way, they see the majesty of the highest peak they can land on. Scrooge McDuck is glad to show the majesty of this peak, with no people at all!

Well, except for this tourist trap, which I guess was put up recently enough for him to be surprised to see. Scrooge does seem like the kind of duck who would only get his info from old books. Even Huey, who tried to bring modern technology with him only to be shut down by Scrooge, is taken aback either; he's been told that it's all uncharted territory. This town doesn't have much in the way of advertisement.

He even finds maps of the mountain, but it only shows a map of the resort along with some creative liberties. He points out to a very disinterested Louie that mountain goats are not native to this region, and even the decorative sun is not beyond his criticism. Sounds like a certain bowed individual. Not sure which one.

Huey: ...and why is the sun wearing sunglasses? Is he looking at a brighter sun?

He really likes to nitpick minor things throughout this episode; he'd do well writing for Fly Pow Bye. He takes his map so he can mark a real map in red marker. Scrooge shows up to tell him to ignore all of this tourism, as they're real explorers. Huey, with his knowledge, brings up one of the explorers: the late, great George Mallardy.

To make a long story short, George Mallardy set the record on the highest climb on this summit 75 years ago until his persumed death, and he became a legend around the resort for it. He's shown here carrying a quitter known as the Neverrest Ninny. Scrooge completely scoffs at this legend, only calling it a gimmick to sell t-shirts...and then right after saying that Mallardy's record will be beaten. He continues to talk as if this supposedly fictional event actually happened to the point where Huey asks him why, because, in his words:

Scrooge: Just because it’s a myth doesn’t mean it’s not true!

Considering the Terra-Firmians and all of those amazing things in Scrooge's garage, Scrooge has a point here. At least, when it comes to this series. There's obviously a much different reason.

What are the other ducks to do besides follow Scrooge around? They do find roles for them, in two different subplots. The first involves Webby wanting to go sledding. She buys a sled, goes down about two feet before stopping, and immediately crosses it off her list. Dewey tells her not to give up until she reaches the "maximum opportune moment", and he gives Webby the idea to sled off the top of Mount Neverrest.

Throughout the episode, Webby tries to get on her sled, only for Dewey to stop her. This even comes to Webby trying to, only for Dewey to kick the sled away so Webby can hand right on her face. It becomes a running gag, and like most good running gags, it has a payoff.

We also get a plot with Launchpad and "Ice Fever". Easily seeing Launchpad as someone who isn't too bright, a peddler gives Launchpad a spiel about Ice Fever, and that he should buy a bunch of expensive items in order to prevent it.

With Launchpad bringing half of the equipment, including his new very expensive anti-Ice Fever equipment he's not-really quick to clarify he bought with Scrooge's credit card, they’re all ready to set foot past the gate between the tourist trap and “certain death”. One would think this would be roped off or have some sort of protection against people dying, but that would hinder the plot.

Not everyone gets to join in. Louie immediately goes off to have hot cocoa the second he's told there's no treasure involved, something fitting with his character. As for Launchpad, a combination of a too high backpack, a too low passageway, and elastic straps causes him to be flung back into the summit resort so he can participate in wacky Ice Fever antics.

Huey gets to do his part, naming notable areas along the way, such as “Murder Bridge” and the “Chasm of Despair”. Something tells me we missed some more danger between commercial breaks.

Huey: And I’ll call this one Bunny Rock!

(The snow around said rock falls.)

Huey: Hmm...I’m still going to call it Bunny Rock.

One of the gags is that they keep coming across this rock even if they seemingly “gain a lot of altitude.” At least, it seems like a running gag at first. Good running gags tend to have a payoff, and this is no exception, but the payoff leads to the actual twist of the episode.

While Scrooge and the kids are climbing the mountain, Launchpad is bumbling around the sauna, thinking he's still on the summit. His goggles fog up, and he assumes that it’s the Ice Fever setting in. It's sort of a retread of the mole people joke from Terra-Firmians, right down to Launchpad confusing a regular person for a monster.

Back at the mountain, they stop at a huge cliff. It ends up with Scrooge climbing the mountain holding onto a rope carrying the rest of the kids in a slightly familiar way. Scrooge continues to say that they only need wits, so they have to drop most of their supplies. Huey questions his uncle's actions thanks to his knowledge of the book, hinting at what is to come between them in this episode.

Lost, they go into a cave, armed with only various forms of lighting, that Scrooge happened to know about...even though this mountain is uncharted. What seems to be the writers pointing out their own flaws in the plot is actually a hint of one of the other twists that will be revealed in a minute. It’s also hinted with that myth line, but, as said before, that line could apply to this whole show.

They see markings, presumably made by explorers that didn’t make it, showing them a bunch of explorers without their heads. They outright show the main twist of the episode here, but the correct way to interpret this image may be missed. Of course, that's not the only discovery in this cave.

The skeleton of Geroge Mallardy, complete with a “I didn’t survive Mount Neverrest“ shirt. Unless they were selling shirts back then, which would contradict something slightly later, the only way this could have happened is that someone managed to get up to this point, went up to a dead body, and put that shirt on him. As Scrooge McDuck, Webby uses her glowstick to reveal some writing right next to him.

Curse you, McDuck!

Scrooge tries his best to cover for himself by saying that he's a household name for cursing, but we get our first twist of the episode: he was still an adult making at least a million 75 years ago. Oh, and he happened to be the Neverrest Ninny. I'm sure one of those is more important.

We get to see more of Scrooge McDuck’s past, specifically, the time when he made his first million. To mark the occasion, he decided to hire George Mallardy to go on top of the mountain. This eventually leads to Mallardy doing the folklore causing climbing the rope. After Scrooge didn't want to get rid of his gear, and sizeable money belt, he cuts the rope, causing the Ninny to fall down. He survives, because he's Scrooge McDuck.

One may notice the similarity between this and the earlier scene a few paragraphs ago. This does not go unnoticed. Scrooge does become sort of the bad guy in this episode, though he has a believable motivation.

While pretty much everyone seems to have a role in this episode, the main conflict is between Huey and Scrooge. It builds up during most of the episode. Shouting at each other, probably not a good idea in a heavily snowy area high in the sky.

The main twist of the mountain is accidently discovered by Dewey and Webby, who are still trying to find the best spot to start their sledding. It explains all of the weird location things going on. Let's just say: Aperture Science may have some explaining to do. I already gave away one twist, I might as well keep the other slightly obscure.

The Scrooge and Huey plot. It's all build up for a pretty good action scene, where the villain is actually the odd environment that surrounds them. It's an interesting idea that hasn't been done in the reboot until this episode. It should be no surprise that the sledding subplot has a neat payoff as well. This is all cut up with that wacky "Ice Fever" plot with Louie and Launchpad, and I could at least say it ends well, too.

I don't want to spoil anything more, but it's not a spoiler to say that they all live, right? I mean, there's a Della Duck mystery to solve. I did see one part of the very final shot a mile away, though it's still a very satisfying image. Whether anyone will find out in-universe...may never be said.

How does it stack up?

Sometimes I feel like I'm coming across as saying that modern day cartoons need to have ongoing plots, especially when I'm talking about continuity. Like The House of Lucky Gander, this is an episode that's its own story, and it's a good one. and even some building of Scrooge's past.

DuckTales 2017 is going back on hiatus alongside every other cartoon for Generic Tree Lighting Day, so who knows what’s next. In fact, there’s no new episodes of DT 2017 in January, either. Will we ever find out what Santa Claus did?

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