Mighty Ducks Review

“What you’ve said has moved me, I will be your wall.” - Koob. Unironically, the show on Disney Plus called The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers was a very moving show about motivation and believing in growth. This show debuted on March 26, 2021, as a reboot of a classic movie from Disney called The Mighty Ducks. Though the plot of the show isn't the same as the movie, the spirit of it remains the same, undeniably courageous. The first season of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers was great and left the viewers wanting more, but what was presented in Season 2 wasn't what it was expected to be.

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' first season was meant to present a story to break barriers and established a can-do attitude. It displays the story of a kid named Evan who loves hockey. But when his overprotective mom gets him kicked off an elite team, Evan and his mom don’t know what to do. Eventually, a plan comes and that is to create a hockey team of people who weren't well experienced in hockey. In their debut as a team, they became the “Don’t Bother’s”. And with many trials and obstacles, they prevailed and win the state game eventually. However, the season left off with so much friend and relationship drama that it became nail-biting to try and figure out what would happen next.

Unfortunately for us, we will never know. This is because when the show comes back, so much has changed, and not for the better. The plot is now lifeless because of the huge loss of characters. See, the loss of characters, therefore, lead to the loss of the sense of community that was displayed in Season 1. Even, the icon, Gordan Bombay is not displayed in Season 2 when in Season 1 he was the main inspiration and second coach to the kids. As of now in Season 2, Bombay is written off by his business got burned down.

Continuing on that note, the Mighty Ducks have now lost their practice place, so they instead decide to go to a hockey camp in which they were accidentally invited and end up staying. With most of the old team being gone, there is less to focus on. So the show stays with the same subplots every episode: the instructor of the camp doing a somewhat dangerous hockey practice thing and Evan’s mom bickering with the instructor, Evan being a little selfish in his actions just because he wants to, and the instructor’s son lashing out because he is dealing with some issues. Overall, the goal and plot for this team this season is to get to top in this hockey camp, but individually, not as team.

So there isn't much focus on the other characters and if there is it almost always points back to how it affects Evan.

Now, the dialogue has also lost its charm. Most of it came from the characters in Season 1. But in Season 2, Koob carries the show, since most of the humor and personality now continuously falls on Koob, who wasn't even much of a speaking character last season. Still, Koob does a great job. In contrast to this is the constant repetition of the bickering from the instructor and Evan’s mom and it doesn't seem to give a direction to anywhere unlike the bickering between her and the old coach Gordan Bombay. Which result in getting Gordan Bombay to coach the kids and help them win. Not to mention, the dialouge has strayed away from giving any character any development in this season unless it is Sofi (a team member), Jace (instructor’s son), and Evan (main character). For the Sofi and Jace, it is a interesting to their character change. Sadly, I cant say the same for Evan, he isnt moving forward. Evan is the same person as last season, only doing things that are beneficial to him and not caring too much on how it affects others. Moving forward, I hope the script works more with the other characters.

Speaking of characters, the way they were presented through the acting this season was a mixture of both good and bad. My first issue was that Evans mom felt less like a mom and more like a person who just had a single goal to argue. To go against that acting, Koob added some much to his character and enhanced the watching experience. Now Sam (team member) seemed less outgoing and bold than he was in Season 1, and I believe that is because he had less energy from characters now than he did before. But Sofi, has really stood her ground in her character speaking up more and giving good solid presence in the show. In all, the dynamic in the acting in the show has switched dramatically. Hopefully for the better.

To conclude this, the second season has so far given a product quality of 2.5 out of 5. There is just too many changes and confusing directions taken that it makes it hard to want to stay with the end goal. This season isnt a lost hope, there is still so many ways that it provides an entertain to watch. And fortunately, the uprise of the second season will have to be determined by the next episodes. I have high hopes for this show and I believe it will improve. So I will bother to stay tuned.