Honestly, I have SO much to ramble about this episode, and Iāll probably get to it later. But can we talk about Launchpadās relationship with Jim? Itās just something so interesting, and yet so foreboding, to me.
First of all, thereās the knowledge that Jim never had a Gosalyn, or a Launchpad, to keep him grounded like OG Darkwing. Heās been without that kind of moral support for who knows how long. Heās a deadbeat movie star that no one remembers, and it turned him bitter and resentful. Itās what contributed to Jim snapping. All this is his desperate cry for recognition.
Then thereās Launchpad; this guy walks into your life, supposedly your biggest fan. Jim initially takes him for granted, and it doesnāt really click how much he values what Launchpad thinks of him until the episodeās climax. Heās thought of so fondly and heroic, when he knows that, especially after all this mess, that he really isnāt. Heās failed Launchpad; failed to live up to the few set of expectations that he has, which heās been dead set on showing to the world since the episodeās start. Jim screwed up the one thing he didnāt want to.
Jimās complex relationship with Drake means that LP was really the only way of reaching out to him; heās so infuriated because he feels like Drake is replacing him. You can see this bitterness towards hisĀ āreplacementā throughout the episode, and honestly a lot of lines hint at it, and how heās trying to take back the heroic title that used to be his. Heās possessive of it; he is Darkwing Duck. He deserves the limelight. Heās the hero. Except in those moments, he really wasnāt. This aggressive one-sided rivalry between him and Drake meant Launchpad was ALWAYS going to be the one that snapped him out of it.
Itās hard to tell what might have been going through his head in this scene, given the episodeās ending and his Face Heel Turn. But my interpretation of it is that he not only realized he messed up, but in a way, accepted it? Maybe heāll never be anything like Launchpad described ever again; maybe this is the point of no return. Who is he kidding? Heās no champion of right. Is this what the new generation would look up to? Is this what anyone would look up to? To subvert LPās words, heās a villain; heās not a hero. And he knows that better than anyone.
Launchpadās words were meant to be uplifting and motivating, but all they did was make Jim realize he wasnāt cut out for the hero gig anymore. It doesnāt work anymore. He failed. But, maybe there was one last thing he couldnāt mess up. One last thing he could actually succeed at. One last thing he could make up for. Maybe, despite all his screw-ups, there was one last thing he could do before he threw in the towel for good. One last thing he NEEDED to do.
Itās here that Jim Starlingās hero identity died; this was his last good deed as Darkwing Duck. The fact Drakeās hat slips off before they both try to save Launchpad is poetic in a way; the captain goes down with the ship, just like Jim goes down with the hat. In his last moments, he was committed. Heād repaid Launchpad; if there was one last thing he could do before he sullied his biggest fanās idolisation of him any further, it was save him. He went out a hero, something heād been trying to prove this entire time, and this time permanently.
Now, honestly? Thereās no telling where this development will lead. But even after making up to Launchpad for the terrible role model heād been, Jim is still thinking of him. The fact he thinks itās a set-up involving putting his āfanā in danger means it was always going to lead to helping LP. He reminded him of the one trace of humanity and heroism that he had under all that resentfulness and bitterness. He was a hero; thatās what heroes do. Even Launchpad says to ādo it for Jimā; he regards his actions quite fondly. I think Jim most likely has a soft spot for him.
But as Iāve said, Jim isnāt for this gig anymore. It really makes me wonder about the dynamic between these two now. Their relationship is so intriguing to me because of Launchpadās optimistic views of heroism and Jimās cynical change of alignment. Launchpad wanted him to be a hero, but he feels that he canāt be that anymore; heās more suited to take the role of a villain. But thereās one scene in particular that stands out for me.
Launchpad getting through to him could actually be such a critical part of their dynamic; I canāt help but think this wonāt be the first discussion between them, and that when they do meet up again, thereās going to be a lot of emotional turmoil between them both. Launchpad appeals to Jimās better nature. It wouldnāt surprise me if he does so again, if heās the link between Jim and Darkwing being one in the same again. But whether that happens? Whether or not Jim would be too far gone to listen to his fan? Who knows.
This episode was wild and so well written; thereās really too much I want to talk about. But Iām really invested in what the DT crew do with these guys. Iām not ready to have my heart broken, but Iām invested.