Whatever Happened to Daisy’s Temper?
Answer: It’s there, just repurposed.
Disney has always presented Daisy as the milder of the mad ducks, but her temper rivals, occasionally surpassing, Donald’s.
Usually, this temper is directed at Donald, as some sort of consequence beyond his control, for jokes.
However, instead of having Donald suffering the brunt of Daisy’s temper, Ducktales reworks it that while she has a temper, Daisy doesn’t direct it at anyone, preferring to lash out on inanimate objects when she’s able to.
Until…you hurt someone she cares for.
Gonna point out not even Della has gotten the red flare of doom. Granted, Donald’s anger literally consumes his head in red, but this is pretty notable, knowing Della’s temper is potentially close (if not equal) to Donald’s.
DuckTales keeps Daisy’s temper, one of her most defining traits, and reconstructs it into a force of protection, almost identical to Donald’s. Rather than have her direct her anger at Donald for something he did or did not do, the show redirects her rage at people who have harmed Donald, the man she’s irrefutably fallen for.
Daisy utilizes her rage to protect her loved ones, and that now includes Donald.
This is the moment he falls in love for her. Completely, absolutely in love with Daisy Duck.
I am looking extremely forward to Daisy’s future appearances in this show. I was already in love with Daisy, but I’m even more in love with Daisy. Deeper in love. Crazy in love.
Freaking. Exactly.
That’s what has made iffy about Daisy’s character in past iterations of her characterization being that she’d take her temper out on Donald. There were points where it was obviously justified due to his bad temper making him act out and needing to be dressed down for it, but there are also other scenarios where I just couldn’t comprehend why Donald would still be in a romantic connection with someone that treats him this badly when stuff was out of his control in different cases. I know that Donald’s bad luck is supposed to be a running gag of course, which is why those unfortunate moments happen where Daisy doesn’t give him time to explain something that wasn’t his fault and face unfair consequences for it, but that kind of writing is a hard balancing act to pull off without it feeling mean spirited for the sake of showing Donald has terrible luck.
I’ve never hated Daisy as a character per say, but Minnie I’ve always preferred in the past for how wholesome her romance with Mickey could be in general. Minnie was a very understanding individual, who also had her limits when Mickey would do things she didn’t morally care for either. They’ve been the better romantic couple who’d come out on top in my mind every time I’d compare them to Donald & Daisy’s chemistry, overall. However, this iteration of Daisy’s chemistry with Donald in the reboot has put them on equal footing now.
DuckTales (2017) has balanced out her character in the best way possible, by having Daisy better control this iconic temper where, much like Donald, she doesn’t take it out on decent people, but those who actually really deserve to bring that wrath of her raw anger upon themselves. Daisy does dress him down for the scheme interfering with her own plans, but never goes too far with that. Hell, she even takes time outta her already stressed out day to listen to someone, who technically still plays a part in being the reason why Daisy’s more irritated, attempt to perform in getting their band into Glamour’s party event. That’s what I call a healthy relationship right there and I totally support it.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing what other content they’ll have for Donald and Daisy’s chemistry playing out when they interact more with the other family members of Clan McDuck.
