The Trickening!

"The Trickening!" is the fifty-ninth episode of DuckTales. It premiered on October 5, 2020 and is the tenth episode of the third season.

Plot[]

It is Halloween night, as Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby get ready to go out and collect candy for the night. Scrooge says that they have to leave the mansion as he never hands out candy. Instead, he leaves an empty bowl that says "take one" on it; implying to treaters that they have already run out. Scrooge will head out to collect candy for himself, much to Donald and Della's dismay. Della is further annoyed when Donald tells her that they will head over to Launchpad's house instead, as she wanted to scare trick or treaters and thinks that Launchpad is too soft.

Despite Huey's intricate planning on where to go for the night, Louie insists that they head to Hazel House instead, a haunted house that rests outside Duckburg. Louie believes that it holds a lifetime supply of candy so that they will not have to trick or treat ever again. While Huey is against this, the kids all agree to head there. Donald and Della arrive at Launchpad's house and discover it is heavily fortified. Not only that, but Launchpad is convinced that he is being attacked by little monsters (trick or treaters). Donald and Della are confused by his behavior and ask for an explanation.

At the Hazel House, the kids enter and find a trail of candy wrappers. They go deeper and find a room full of creepy toys, four of which resemble wooden dummy versions of themselves. The kids are attacked by a larger dummy and flee where they encounter a clown and tentacles and arms coming out of doors. The kids make it to the door at the end of a hall, but end up outside in a graveyard. Louie insists on going back inside for the candy, but gets into a fight with Huey. When Louie looks at the map, he learns that Huey knew about the house in advance, but did not want to go there, angering him.

Dewey spots a creepy well girl coming out and the monsters quickly approach them, during which, the kids yell out that they do not have any candy. The monsters suddenly stop and reveal themselves as classic monsters (the clown is a Wereduck, the puppet is Nosferatu, the well girl is Witch Hazel and the limbs belong to Frankenstein's Monster). The monsters reveal that they just wanted candy and dress up as "modern monsters" which they find humiliating and offensive. They have been scaring kids into dropping their candy so that they can claim it for themselves. When Huey learns that Halloween has ended already, Louie realizes that he messed up trying to take Huey's time away from him and putting his brothers in danger, and apologizes for not listening to him.

Launchpad claims that when he was a boy, he found a creepy house (Hazel House) and that he entered it and discovered a "piece of parchment" (candy wrapper). Upon reading the "inscription" (the ingredients), he noticed the little monsters and believed that he cursed Duckburg so that every October 31st monsters come out and he has to protect himself. Della is excited that Launchpad is taking the holiday seriously in a scary way, but Donald feels that they need to explain it to him. Scrooge then makes Launchpad's house as his next stop for trick-or-treating, but Launchpad fights him, thinking he's a monster, and then runs down the street with a saw blade to "finish" what he started. Donald and Della give chase with Scrooge also following behind.

Since, the kids do not have any candy, the monster plan to devour them. Just as the monsters gang up on the kids, Launchpad arrives and ends up scaring the monsters. They soon spot Donald and Della in their outfits and believe they are "creepy twins' and flee. Launchpad catches up with them and sees a dummy looks like Dewey. Believing him to be real and was killed by the monsters, Launchpad flies into a rage and starts furiously chasing monsters around the house. Scrooge catches up and scares the monsters. Launchpad finds the candy wrapper and reads from it to "end the curse", but the monsters find it amusing and congratulate him on scaring them. Launchpad is confused by the events and Huey and Louie decide to explain Halloween to him.

Scrooge opens his mansion for the trick or treaters, though he charges them. He further decides to leave it open all through the night like a "24 hour candy store", based on a pitch Dewey made throughout the episode. The monsters themselves also learn that the kids love their "costumes" and everyone finds a newfound appreciation for Halloween while Launchpad happily embraces the holiday. The final shot is of a black and white photo in the Hazel House that depicts everyone happily posing for Halloween.

Cast[]

• David Tennant as Scrooge McDuck
• Danny Pudi as Huey Duck
• Ben Schwartz as Dewey Duck
• Bobby Moynihan as Louie Duck
• Kate Micucci as Webby Vanderquack
• Beck Bennett as Launchpad McQuack
• Paget Brewster as Della Duck
• Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck
• Toks Olagundoye as Mrs. Beakley
• Doug Jones as Wereduck
• Clancy Brown as Frankenstein's Monster
• Selma Blair as Witch Hazel
• James Marsters as Dracula
• Abby Ryder Fortson as Kid
• Noah Baird as Kid

Trivia[]

• The title is a reference to the horror film The Shining.
• The intro features a Halloween themed version of the theme song.
• The monsters are initially introduced dressed up as Pennywise (the clown from Stephen King's 1988 novel It and its subsequent adaptations), Sadako Yamamura (aka Samara Morgan, the "well girl" from the 2002 movie The Ring), and Billy the Puppet (the main antagonist of the Saw movies).
• On Twitter, Francisco Angones stated that this episode was inspired by "Ducky Horror Picture Show".
• Though credited, Mrs. Beakley has no lines (she only appears at the end of the episode in a small cameo).
• During Launchpad's flashback, kids wearing costumes of Quasimodo, Mickey Mouse's The Sorcerer's Apprentice outfit, and Captain Hook can be seen.
• The characters' costumes:
  • Huey - Gizmoduck
    • This was based on the 1990 episode "New Gizmo-Kids on the Block".
  • Dewey - "A pirate on vacation"
  • Louie - Huey
  • Webby - Balor, Demon King of the Evil Eye
  • Scrooge - Skeleton
    • His mask is similar in design to Jack Skellington's head, which like Scrooge's costume is also skeleton-themed.
  • Donald - Angel
    • Based on the Donald Duck shorts "Donald's Better Self" and "Soup's On".
  • Della - Devil
    • Based on the Donald Duck short "Donald's Better Self".
  • Launchpad - "Evil mechanic"
  • Mrs. Beakley - Darkwing Duck
    • She previously wore this costume in the episode "Friendship Hates Magic!"
• In one shot, a female duck in the background is dressed in what is clearly meant to resemble the Bride of Frankenstein. However, the coloring of her outfit makes her look more like Morgana Macawber.
• This episode has a couple of references to the Donald Duck short, Trick or Treat by featuring a 2017 version of the character of Witch Hazel and having the haunted house of the episode being named after her.
• Launchpad's costume resembles Jason Voorhees. In one scene, he sacks Scrooge McDuck and bashes him around similarly to when Jason killed a camper in her sleeping bag in Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood.
  • His duck-themed mask however, is more similar in design to the one used as the team logo in the film The Mighty Ducks and its sequels, as well as its animated series spin-off, most notably Wildwing Flashblade.
  • His saw seems to be based on Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
• Scrooge breaks through the front door of the house similarly to Jack Torrance in The Shining.
• The final scene also references The Shining when the characters are seen in a gray photo in the haunted house.
• Selma Blair and Doug Jones starred together in the Hellboy movies from the 2000s.
• James Marsters voicing Dracula is a reference to his role as the vampire Spike in the TV series Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and its spinoff, Angel.
• Clancy Brown previously played Frankenstein's Monster in the movie The Bride.
• The dance Scrooge makes while leaving his mansion is the same dance from the Silly Symphonies short "The Skeleton Dance".
• This episode features the Universal Monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster and the Wolf Man). Doug Jones played the Creature from the Black Lagoon, a Universal Monster, in the movie The Shape of Water.
• Wereduck is an unusual name for the character, as he is meant to be the Wolf Man. His name should be Duckwolf or Wolf Duck as "Were" means "Man".
• Launchpad not knowing what Halloween makes no sense. Surely even his parents would have told him about the holiday. On the other hand, he is oblivious enough to have never noticed holiday decorations as a kid.
• Dewey's complaint about a 24-hour candy store has little logic, as even if general stores aren't open late, pharmacies and gas stations typically stay open 24/7.

International Premieres[]

• March 19, 2021 (United Kingdom) (Premiere on Disney+)
• October 2, 2021 (Japan)
• October 13, 2021 (Italy) (Premiere on Disney+)
• October 26, 2021 (Portugal)

Gallery[]

References[]

v - e - d

Media Shows/Movies: 1987 series (videography) • 2017 series • Walt Disney's World on Ice: Double Feature... Live! • Raw Toonage • DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp • Chibi Tiny Tales • This Duckburg Life Video Games: Video game (HD remake/Soundtrack) • DuckTales 2 • The Quest for Gold • Scrooge's Loot • Disney Heroes: Battle Mode • Disney All-Star Racers • Disney All-Star Party Comics: Comic Books (IDW) Books: The Secret City Under the Sea • Sphinx for the Memories and Sir Gyro Gearloose • Scrooge's Treasure Hunt • Christmas at the North Pole • Webby Saves the Day • The Art of DuckTales Disney Parks DuckTales World Showcase Adventure • PLAY! • Donald's Duck Pond Characters 1987 series: Scrooge McDuck • Huey, Dewey, and Louie • Launchpad McQuack • Webby Vanderquack • Bentina Beakley • Duckworth • Chief O'Hara • Shedlock Jones • Gyro Gearloose • Little Helper • Yardarm • Doofus Drake • Fenton Crackshell • Donald Duck • Ludwig Von Drake • Gladstone Gander • Bubba the Cave Duck • Abominable Snowwoman • Tootsie the Triceratops • Skittles • Blackjack • Poupon • Gene the Genie • Glittering Goldie • Mad Dog McGurk • Feathers Galore • Burt Quackarach • Major Courage • Micro Ducks • Admiral Grimmitz • King Homer • Queen Ariel • Shawebizad • Gandra Dee • McPapa • McMama • Robotica • Beagle Boys • Ma Beagle • Pete • Flintheart Glomgold • Phantom Blot • Dijon • Argus McSwine • Magica De Spell • Minima De Spell • Poe De Spell • El Capitan • Joaquin Slowly • Merlock the Magician • Cinnamon Teal • Dracula Duck • Dr. NoGood • Millionara Vanderbucks • Fritter O'Way • Lawrence Loudmouth • Armstrong • The Sirens • Circe • Harpies • Yuckalinda • Queen Griselda • Djinni • Terra-Firmie King • Overlord Bulovan • Solego • GICU-2 • Magica's Shadow • The Fear Demons • Vacation Van Honk 2017 series: Della Duck • Lena • Bradford Buzzard • Bentley and Buford Buzzard • Captain Peghook • Manny the Headless Man-Horse • Pixiu • Gabby McStabberson • Hack and Slash Smashnikov • Roxanne Featherly • Toad Liu Hai • Mark Beaks • Falcon Graves • Amunet • Sabaf • Toth-Ra • Zeus • Selene • Storkules • Charybdis • Briar and Bramble • Darkwing Duck • Gosalyn Mallard • Megavolt • Don Karnage • Quackerjack • Liquidator • Black Heron • Zan Owlson • Fisher • Mann • Drosera occidendum • José Carioca • Panchito Pistoles • Fethry Duck • John D. Rockerduck • Jeeves • Gavin • Grandpappy Beagle • Violet Sabrewing • Unicorn • Percival P. Peppington • Nightmare Beast • Paddywhack • Bushroot • Negaduck • Daisy Duck • Goofy • Chip and Dale • Monterey Jack • Zipper • Gadget Hackwrench • Kit Cloudkicker • Taurus Bulba • Molly Cunningham • Lieutenant Penumbra • General Lunaris • Moonlanders • Moon Mites • Gilded Man • Neighbor Jones • Steelbeak • Isabella Finch • Indy and Ty Sabrewing • Tri-Crested Tittertwill • Aletheia • Vero • King Honestus • Emma Glamour • Inspector Tezuka • Akita • Strongbeard • Hecka • Jormungandr • Ponce de Leon • Matilda McDuck • Emutilda Episodes 1987 series Season One: "The Treasure of the Golden Suns" • "Send in the Clones" • "Sphinx for the Memories" • "Where No Duck Has Gone Before" • "Armstrong" • "Robot Robbers" • "Magica's Shadow War" • "Master of the Djinni" • "Hotel Strangeduck" • "Lost Crown of Genghis Khan" • "Duckman of Aquatraz" • "The Money Vanishes" • "Sir Gyro de Gearloose" • "Dinosaur Ducks" • "Hero for Hire" • "Superdoo!" • "Maid of the Myth" • "Down and Out in Duckburg" • "Much Ado About Scrooge" • "Top Duck" • "Pearl of Wisdom" • "The Curse of Castle McDuck" �� "Launchpad's Civil War" • "Sweet Duck of Youth" • "Earth Quack" • "Home Sweet Homer" • "Bermuda Triangle Tangle" • "Micro Ducks from Outer Space" • "Back to the Klondike" • "Horse Scents" • "Scrooge's Pet" • "Catch as Cash Can" • "Merit-Time Adventure" • "The Golden Fleecing" • "Ducks of the West" • "Time Teasers" • "Back Out in the Outback" • "Raiders of the Lost Harp" • "The Right Duck" • "Scroogerello" • "Double-O-Duck" • "Luck o' the Ducks" • "Duckworth's Revolt" • "Magica's Magic Mirror"/"Take Me Out of the Ballgame" • "Duck to the Future" • "Jungle Duck" • "Launchpad's First Crash" • "Dime Enough for Luck" • "Duck in the Iron Mask" • "The Uncrashable Hindentanic" • "The Status Seekers" • "Nothing to Fear" • "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. McDuck" • "Once Upon a Dime" • "Spies in Their Eyes" • "All Ducks on Deck" • "Ducky Horror Picture Show" • "Till Nephews Do Us Part" Season Two: "Time is Money" • "Super DuckTales" Season Three: "The Land of Trala La" • "Allowance Day" • "Bubbeo & Juliet" • "The Good Muddahs" • "My Mother the Psychic" • "Metal Attraction" • "Dough Ray Me" • "Bubba's Big Brainstorm" • "The Big Flub" • "A Case of Mistaken Secret Identity" • "Blue Collar Scrooge" • "Beaglemania" • "Yuppy Ducks" • "The Bride Wore Stripes" • "The Unbreakable Bin" • "Attack of the Fifty-Foot Webby" • "The Masked Mallard" • "A DuckTales Valentine" Season Four: "Ducky Mountain High" • "Attack of the Metal Mites" • "The Duck Who Knew Too Much" • "New Gizmo-Kids on the Block" • "Scrooge's Last Adventure" • "The Golden Goose" 2017 series Season One: "Woo-oo!" • "Daytrip of Doom!" • "The Great Dime Chase!" • "The Beagle Birthday Massacre!" • "Terror of the Terra-firmians!" • "The House of the Lucky Gander!" • "The Infernal Internship of Mark Beaks!" • "The Living Mummies of Toth-Ra!" • "The Impossible Summit of Mt. Neverrest!" • "The Spear of Selene!" • "Beware the B.U.D.D.Y. System!" • "The Missing Links of Moorshire!" • "McMystery at McDuck McManor!" • "JAW$!" • "The Golden Lagoon of White Agony Plains!" • "Day of the Only Child!" • "From the Confidential Casefiles of Agent 22!" • "Who is Gizmoduck?!" • "The Other Bin of Scrooge McDuck!" • "Sky Pirates...in the Sky!" • "The Secret(s) of Castle McDuck!" • "The Last Crash of the Sunchaser!" • "The Shadow War!" Season Two: "The Most Dangerous Game...Night!" • "The Depths of Cousin Fethry!" • "The Ballad of Duke Baloney!" • "The Town Where Everyone Was Nice!" • "Storkules in Duckburg!" • "Last Christmas!" • "What Ever Happened to Della Duck?!" • "Treasure of the Found Lamp!" • "The Outlaw Scrooge McDuck!" • "The 87 Cent Solution!" • "The Golden Spear!" • "Nothing Can Stop Della Duck!" • "Raiders of the Doomsday Vault!" • "Friendship Hates Magic!" • "The Dangerous Chemistry of Gandra Dee!" • "The Duck Knight Returns!" • "What Ever Happened to Donald Duck?!" • "Happy Birthday, Doofus Drake!" • "A Nightmare on Killmotor Hill!" • "The Golden Armory of Cornelius Coot!" • "Timephoon!" • "GlomTales!" • "The Richest Duck in the World!" • "Moonvasion!" Season Three "Challenge of the Senior Junior Woodchucks!" • "Quack Pack!" • "Double-O-Duck in You Only Crash Twice!" • "The Lost Harp of Mervana!" • "Louie's Eleven!" • "Astro B.O.Y.D.!" • "The Rumble for Ragnarok!" • "The Phantom and the Sorceress!" • "They Put a Moonlander on the Earth!" • "The Trickening!" • "The Forbidden Fountain of the Foreverglades!" • "Let's Get Dangerous!" • "Escape from the ImpossiBin!" • "The Split Sword of Swanstantine!" • "New Gods on the Block!" • "The First Adventure!" • "The Fight for Castle McDuck!" • "How Santa Stole Christmas!" • "Beaks in the Shell!" • "The Lost Cargo of Kit Cloudkicker!" • "The Life And Crimes of Scrooge McDuck!" • "The Last Adventure!" Locations Duckburg • Atlantis • The Money Bin • McDuck Manor • Castle McDuck • Fountain of Youth • Scotland • Notre Duck • Valley of the Golden Suns • St. Canard • Cape Suzette Organizations Air Pirates • F.O.W.L. • Junior Woodchucks • S.H.U.S.H. Objects Number One Dime • Junior Woodchucks Guidebook • Gizmosuit • Gene's Lamp • Merlock's Talisman • Sun Coin • Sun Chaser • Harp of Troy • Millennium Shortcut • Gyro's Helicopter • Molecular Manipulator • Golden Goose • Webby's Quacky Patch Doll • Hindentanic • Magic Medallion • Ratcatcher • Jewel of Atlantis • Pep! • Gummiberry Juice • Iron Vulture • Pirate Fighters • Spear of Selene • Sea Duck • Ranger Plane Songs DuckTales Theme • Three Cheers for Bubba Duck • Boogie Beagle Blues • Moon Stage Theme • Sky Pirates • The Three Caballeros • Hear My Voice See also Carl Barks • The Disney Afternoon • Darkwing Duck • Quack Pack • Disney XD (Netherlands) • Let's Go to Disneyland Paris