Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Marvel's Spider-Man Secret Lair promotional image

    Get a Look At the Secret Lair x Marvel’s Spider-Man Superdrop

    09/08/2025
    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions gameplay still

    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Is All About Adventure (with Friends)

    09/08/2025
    Chord in Persona 5 The Phantom X

    Now Is The Perfect Time To Jump Back In ‘Persona 5: The Phantom X’

    09/05/2025
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » TV » REVIEW: ‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’ Episode 5 — “Cherry Picker”

REVIEW: ‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’ Episode 5 — “Cherry Picker”

Jason FlattBy Jason Flatt04/25/20213 Mins ReadUpdated:06/29/2025
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Episode 5
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers is a Disney+ Original show based on the classic movie series. Lauren Graham, Emilio Estévez, and a team of young actors star in this wholesome hockey show. In The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Episode 5, Evan’s (Brady Noon) dad is in town on a gig, Lauren (Bella Higginbotham) and Maya (Taegen Burns) are going through it, and Alex (Graham) and Gordon (Estévez) need to go through it.

Ah, the classic “dad who is never around is in town and he promises to come to my game” episode. As I’ve said plenty of times, this show is the epitome of corny, but it’s also so wholesome I don’t even care. I’ve also said though that if the show doesn’t start bending some expectations, it’s going to run the risk of growing stale. Thankfully, this episode delivers. I think it’s always been there, but this episode makes it abundantly clear: Gordon is a certified Good Guy.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Typically, in this type of story, the new love interest and the dad get into a row, the dad sulks off in shame, and the new guy comes out looking amazing. In The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Episode 5, though, Gordon totally goes out of his way to get along with Evens’ dad in a way that feels nothing but genuine. The whole scenario bucked my expectations completely and left me just more endeared by him and rooting for he and Alex even harder.

The kids learn lessons in friendship in The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Episode 5.

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Episode 5

Meanwhile, in pre-teen land, Lauren and Maya are subverting some tropes of their own. The episode starts with Maya scorning Lauren by recording a TikTok, promising to post it, and then not out of embarrassment. But ultimately, it turns out that Maya is just as embarrassed about being friends with Maya as Maya is.

It’s this neat chance to flip expectations while never for a second painting Lauren and her nerdy friends as weird or less than any other group of kids. The path through this relationship in this episode is really aspirational and I’d frankly use it with students I teach as an example of how to not only accept but include people who you wouldn’t think you’d be friends with.

Of course, Nick (Maxwell Simkins) also gets a chance in the middle of this scenario to deliver another several absolutely killer lines and a great inspirational speech. I only wish that the other team members got to have lines this episode. I got exactly my wish from the last episode of having a chance to meet more of the team, but at least the others were just absent.

In The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Episode 5, they are just standing there stoically or nodding their heads. Disney, I think you can cough up the money to pay these kids to at least have lines if they’re going to appear in episodes. It was just a bit awkward seeing them on the bench or at the lunch table not saying a word.

Nonetheless, the episode is strong and has the series swinging in a fun direction as it continues to take on classic sports show tropes, but wringing the misogyny, homophobia, and other gross stuff that has so often come as part of the package. The small twists on cheesy moments this episode had me hooting and adoring every minute.

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Episode 5 is no longer available to stream.

Previous Episode | Next Episode
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Episode 5 — "Cherry Picker"
  • 9/10
    Rating - 9/10
9/10

TL;DR

Nonetheless, the episode is strong and has the series swinging in a fun direction as it continues to take on classic sports show tropes, but wringing the misogyny, homophobia, and other gross stuff that has so often come as part of the package. The small twists on cheesy moments this episode had me hooting and adoring every minute.

  • Watch Now On Disney+

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide,’ Volume 1
Next Article REVIEW: ‘My Hero Academia,’ Episode 93 – “Operation New Improv Moves”
Jason Flatt
  • X (Twitter)

Jason is the Sr. Editor at But Why Tho? and producer of the But Why Tho? Podcast. He's usually writing about foreign films, Jewish media, and summer camp.

Related Posts

Helluva Boss Season 2 But Why Tho
9.5

REVIEW: ‘Helluva Boss’ Season 2 Is A Deeper Dive Into Love And Power

09/11/2025
Helluva Boss Season 1 Episode 7 But Why Tho
9.0

REVIEW: ‘Helluva Boss’ Season 1 Is Full Of Violence, Chaos, And Heart

09/11/2025
Sandra Yi Sencindiver stars as Yutani in Alien Earth Episode 6
9.0

REVIEW: ‘Alien: Earth’ Episode 6 — “The Fly”

09/10/2025
Task promotional key art featuring Mark Ruffalo from HBO
7.0

REVIEW: ‘Task’ Episode 1 — “Crossings”

09/08/2025
Aneesha Malik in Invasion Season 3 Episode 3
9.0

RECAP: ‘Invasion’ Season 3 Episode 3 — “Infinitas”

09/07/2025
Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 3
9.0

RECAP: ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Episode 3 — “Another Rick Up My Sleeve”

09/06/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
The Long Walk (2025) film review promotional image
9.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ Is The Most Heartfelt And Heartbreaking Stephen King Adaptation

By Kate Sánchez09/11/2025Updated:09/11/2025

The Long Walk is a brutal watch. Equally heartfelt and heartbreaking, it’s one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.

EA Sports FC Icons Match promotional image from Nexon News

2025 Icons Match Returns With Football Legends Bridging The Pitch And Video Games

By Kate Sánchez09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

NEXON has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11
8.5
Anime

REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 11 – “Hey, It’s a Kaiju”

By Allyson Johnson09/11/2025

The ragtag group faces down the mysterious kaiju in the thrilling and beautifully animated DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here