'DuckTales' will always be a show remembered with immense fondness by me. Loved it as a child, still love it as a young adult and actually even more so with getting more out of the writing, getting the jokes and references more and generally finding the show funnier. It helped me through tough times when growing up, and re-watching it has also been one of the things that has made me just about cope.
"Time is Money" is the first of two five part story arcs that made up the second season, the other being "Super Ducktales". Both are enjoyable, with "Super Ducktales" being the better of the two due to having supporting characters that appeal to me more than the ones in "Time is Money", but neither shows 'Ducktales' at its best. "Marking Time" is the first of the "Time is Money" arc, and is one of the better parts of the five comprising it. Classic 'Ducktales' it is not, but it is very enjoyable and a promising start to this arc. With enough of the elements that makes the show such a great one.
"Marking Time" does have a continuity inconsistency regarding the time machine, ignoring or forgettting the fact that Gyro already had the time tub which could have been used just as effectively. Did like the creativity of this time machine though.
It is also notable for introducing Bubba. It will be admitted that Bubba is cute and amusing here with some very endearing bonding with the other characters, plus this is an episode where he actually serves a purpose to the plot and is particularly helpful. But there have always been supporting characters with more compelling and generally endearing personalities. Ones that were also better used and didn't come over as ones to be taken in small doses, though "Marking Time" was before Bubba became over-used and increasingly one-note.
Have never had an issue with the animation quality though and that's still the case here. It is very vibrant, fluidly drawn and the attention to detail in the backgrounds is also note-worthy. Can say nothing wrong about the music, the score is dynamic, beautifully orchestrated, never jarring with the action and full of energy. Just as animated shows of this kind should be. It is impossible to resist or forget the theme song, one of the catchiest in animation and ever.
Writing is funny and smart, with a particularly nice references to 'Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope' which was more obvious through adult eyes than as a child. There are enough thrills and entertainment to the story, starting more than promisingly with the fortune hunt and some inspired deal-making from Scrooge (one of the more genius moments of the show where a fortune is made out of nothing). The characters have lost none of their appeal, though am somewhat mixed on Bubba. The voice acting is terrific, especially Alan Young's Scrooge.
Summarising, very enjoyable. 8/10
