Launchpad's Civil War
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| DuckTales episode | ||
| "Launchpad's Civil War" | ||
 Launchpad dresses up as his ancestor Rhubarb McQuack. |
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|---|---|---|
| Season | 1 | |
| Episode no. | 60 | |
| Airdate | November 27, 1987 | |
| Writer(s) | Pamela Hickey Dennys McCoy |
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| Director | Steve Clark | |
| Prod. no. | 22 | |
| Guest star(s) | Richard Erdman Alan Oppenheimer |
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| Episode chronology | ||
| ← Previous | Next → | |
| "Master of the Djinni" | "Hero for Hire" | |
| List of DuckTales episodes | ||
"Launchpad's Civil War" is the sixtieth episode of the Disney animated television series DuckTales.
[edit] Synopsis
One day, Launchpad, Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Doofus are fixing up Launchpad’s biplane after his latest crash. Soon a letter arrives for Launchpad. The letter is from the people of Duck Ridge, asking for Launchpad to participate in their annual Civil War re-enactment. The people want Launchpad to play the part of his ancestor; General Rhubarb McQuack, a Civil War hero and Launchpad’s great-great-grandfather. Launchpad was supposed to take the boys on a Junior Woodchucks field trip the next day, which is also the day of the re-enactment, so he decides to bring the boys to the re-enactment for their field trip instead.
Later on, Launchpad flies the boys to town of Duck Ridge in his biplane. Doofus takes a picture of Launchpad for the Junior Woodchuck’s scrapbook, but the flash startles Launchpad, causing him to crash the plane into a henhouse. He is then greeted by Mayor Rufus B. Pinfeathers and Colonel Beauregard DuBark. DuBark’s ancestor General Elijah DuBark fought against Rhubarb in the Battle of Duck Ridge. Though Launchpad feels sorry for DuBark, he is soon given Rhubarb’s old uniform to wear for the parade.
During the parade, the crowd can’t help but laugh at Launchpad, who is seems rather proud of his heritage. After the parade, Launchpad learns that the people portraying his troops are all acting like cowards. Launchpad then learns the truth; because Rhubarb was such a klutz, General DuBark was the one who won the battle, not McQuack. Essentially, while atop Duck Ridge Hill, Rhubarb was unable to draw his sword to lead his soldiers into battle. Rhubarb’s screw-up caused all his soldiers to abandon him, thus losing the battle. Ultimately, Launch can’t win in the re-enactment the next day.
DuBark convinces an unenthusiastic Launchpad to stay for the re-enactment, if only to humiliate him. Launchpad is then introduced to Grace; a horse who is a direct descendant of Rhubarb’s horse, and just as clumsy. Launchpad doesn’t look forward to riding a horse, and accidentally winds up riding Grace backwards. Unable to stop her, Grace takes Launchpad up Duck Ridge Hill, and into a cave, where he stumbles upon some incredibly old soldiers.
Although the soldiers threaten to shoot Launchpad and Grace, they end up mistaking Launchpad for Rhubarb, just as Huey, Dewey, Louie and Doofus show up. Doofus then concludes that they’re really Rhubarb’s very own soldiers, which they reveal to be true. The soldiers have spent their lives living in the cave since the battle, all because they’re too ashamed of Rhubarb’s blundering. Over the years, the soldiers, along with Bugle Boy Billy and Eagle Eye the lookout, survived on what they managed to salvage, including their old patrol boat, the Merriquack (a small ironclad).
When Grace nearly burns her tail by brushing too close against an open fire, she jumps to the ceiling of the cave, breaking a stalactite and triggering a cave in. Everyone flees the cave, bringing with them the Merriquack, while their cavern home gets destroyed. Unable to change what had happened in the battle, Launchpad promises to give the soldiers a second chance, namely by taking advantage of the re-enactment as a second chance, with him leading the charge.
The next day at the re-enactment, Dewey and Louie are prepared for what’s about to happen. Up on the hill, Huey fools the actors portraying Rhubarb’s soldiers into getting knocked out by the real soldiers. Launchpad heads for the top of the hill, and soon the re-enactment begins. When Launchpad says something that isn’t in the mayor’s script, the mayor attempts to correct him, but Louie unplugs the microphone. Soon Launchpad sends his soldiers down the hill, much to everyone else’s surprise. However, Launchpad joins the fray, and gets caught in the ropes of Eagle Eye’s hot air balloon, just like Rhubarb did.
Huey and Doofus are unable to send the Merriquack down the mountain for the second charge, until Launchpad falls from the balloon, hitting the Merriquack’s brake. The Merriquack rolls down the mountain, while the soldier on board fires grits at DuBark and his men. Outmatched by Launchpad’s improved team, DuBark’s men surrender.
Afterwards, the mayor apologizes to the soldiers, explaining that his townsfolk will never exploit them or Rhubarb again, as they were in the actual battle, and they experienced it first hand. With that, the mayor welcomes them all into the community of Duck Ridge, while the crowd cheers. Lastly, Doofus takes a picture of Launchpad with the soldiers, along with Huey, Dewey and Louie, stating that Rhubarb would be proud.
[edit] Trivia
- Scrooge does not appear in this episode.
- The Battle of Duck Ridge is most likely an allusion to The Battle of Pea Ridge.
- The name DuBark may very well be a reference to Lewis DuBois.
