by Aaron Schweitzer, Editor
Some of my most nostalgic films are easily those in the Mighty Ducks franchise. After recently revisiting them several times, I totally get why I loved those films back in the day, but I also see why I love them in 2021. But what happens to this franchise when it lasts longer, has only one returning character, and takes itself more seriously (which wasn’t a high bar set by the original films)? The bottom line is, I had a really good time with the sequel show, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, and I am really hoping we get to spend more time with these kids!
You know exactly where the show is going from the first moment. It has many faults and one of the most obvious is that there are no surprises. Obviously that character will end up letting power get to their head. Obviously this character will see redemption. Obviously these two are going to start dating. Obviously these two are going to fight but have a heart-to-heart at the end of the show. Obviously this kid is going to build confidence, which will make him a superstar all of a sudden. Obviously at least some of the cast from the original trilogy will come back. The list really goes on and on and on. But at the same time, I had a lot of fun with it!
If you want a show that surprises you, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers is not it. Luckily for the fanbase, that’s not what The Mighty Ducks is about. It has always been about the characters and (their attempt at) hockey. So let’s start there. As someone who watches the NHL regularly, this is not exciting hockey, but it is fun hockey and, very much unlike the original, it really respects the skills and rules of the game. You see the kids learning the basics, learning the specialties, and even learning trick shots of current NHL players. With the ability to tell this story over 10 episodes, it gets the chance to do what the original films never did: pay respect to the sport.
This show lives and dies on the kids, and while it was off to a slow start, I really wound up loving them by the end! There are definitely characters that get thrown to the side, but they still get a moment to shine when they are on screen. We get to grow and learn with these kids, so there is not the classic sports trope of getting a new player and all of a sudden the team is great (the original films were the worst at that). Rather, we get to watch each of the kids develop both individually and as a team. Lastly, while the kids display similar characteristics to the original cast, they are their own people, and it does not feel like a rip-off. Koob isn’t New Goldberg, Nick isn’t New Averman, Evan isn’t New Charlie, Logan isn’t New Banks, et cetera The characters, when given enough screen time, are allowed to become wholly original characters.
There’s a lot more about this show that I don’t think warrants extra discussion, so let’s do a quick speedrun, shall we? That was a rhetorical question. You’re living in my world right now. Nick is the standout; Bombay’s backstory is redundant, but handled well; the return of the OG Ducks is ham-handed, but very welcome; Logan hitting on an older woman to distract her is creepy, but the woman buying into it is WAY creepy; Luke Islam’s magic pipes are used hilariously, and the humor is really solid across the board; Lauren Graham plays her role perfectly, but is a collection of tropes and stereotypes; the finale leaves me wanting more, so that should say something!
If you’re not a fan or have no experience of the original Mighty Ducks, I think you could enjoy this show. Original fans of the franchise should love it, although it’s maybe not quite as much like the original as they were expecting. It may take you until the third episode to start liking this show, but there’s enough heart, character building, and humor here that makes it worth checking out. It’s nothing mind blowing, but Game Changers is a really fun time.
Grade: B+
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