darkwing santa
Open Threads

It’s a Wonderful Leaf (Day Thread, 12/23/2019)

It’s a Wonderful Leaf is the 41st episode of Darkwing Duck, first broadcast on December 23, 1991. So it is officially 28 years old as of today!1 Incidentally, it is also the episode from which my Christmas avatar hails — thank you muchly, Nukafanta.

It revolves around greenery-themed villain Bushroot becoming dismayed with Christmas after he’s hounded by crowds during his last-minute shopping2. As is a common theme with him, there are a few minutes in his arc which serve to make him more sympathetic, though after the prologue, he sticks to his villainous persona.

Meanwhile, the Darkwing household is preparing for ChristmasI. Gosalyn does not have the patience to wait until Christmas morning to open her gifts, which results in some shenanigans and one excellent quoteII.

The main plot of the episodes revolves around Operation Christmas Cheer and Operation Bah, Humbug!, which is Bushroot taking over Saint Canard with an army of sentient Christmas trees3 and ruining Christmas by stealing everybody’s presents.

Obviously, I have to Darkwing has to stop him. And naturally, I do he does. The villain is vanquishedIII (thanks to a water hydrant4 and the freezing cold), and all Christmas presents are returned to their families. Well, all except those of Honker because they got lost. But fear not, Gosalyn gives up her presents for him and all is wellIV. And to make sure she’s not left without any presents, the real Santa gifts her a new sled.

Stray Notes

  1. Since the 90s will forever be “ten years ago” for me, of course my brain first went with “It can officially vote as of today!”
  2. A customer who beats up Bushroot sarcastically says “Happy Holidays!” instead of “Merry Christmas!”.
  3. Darkwing restrains a sentient Christmas tree by shooting Christmas decorations out of his gun.
  4. Of course there is a moment of Darkwing getting his beak frozen to something. Specifically, the above-mentioned fire hydrant.

Quotes

  1. Darkwing: “Let’s get … decorative!”, before decorating the Christmas tree.
  2. Gosalyn: “I am the terror that unwraps at night.” Now there’s a quote which reads very different outside of its context.
  3. Darkwing: “Put up your roots before I fumigate you.” I do love the threats in this show.
  4. Gosalyn, about Honker’s lost presents: “You can’t be poor, if you have friends.”D’aw! <3

 

Now then: Let’s. Get. Decorative!

suck tinsel