Disney+'s Best Sports Show: Big Shot Vs. The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers
Many fans of Disney's most prominent properties have been eagerly anticipating a time when the streaming service has a Marvel show and a Star Wars show airing on the same week. However, for a good chunk of the 2021 spring season, it was actually sports shows that Disney+ was airing concurrently on a weekly basis.
The Don't Bothers of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers and the Westbrook Sirens of Big Shot took center stage for the streamer. Both featured enriching character arcs which developed on an episode-by-episode basis and showcased a "nobody believes in us, but we'll prevail" theme. Both also have a claim for being Disney's best streaming sports show so far. Here's how they compare.
10 Big Shot: Interesting Real World Commentary
Big Shot skews towards a slightly higher age demographic, which means it's more inclined and equipped to tackle some interesting commentary on societal and personal problems. In the show, the high school students are enduring a period of transitional upheaval in their lives.
This show deals with questions of growing up and discusses financial problems, social media toxicity, and issues of familial hardships. With David E. Kelley, Dean Lorey, and Brad Garrett at the helm, Big Shot has handled these moments with aplomb.
9 Mighty Ducks: Inclusive
One of the best things about the new Mighty Ducks series is the inclusivity on the show. It's not that the original trilogy was necessarily lacking in diversity, but it could have done a whole lot more. Now, this new show has taken the chance to truly diversify its characters.
The show is much more reflective of the world around it, and that's not just limited to the players. Many of the parents are also more open-minded, worldly, and diverse, which helps the show reach a more inclusive and celebratory point.
8 Big Shot: A New Turn For John Stamos
John Stamos is far beyond "television icon" status at this point. But his role as Marvyn Korn on Big Shot is a bit of new territory for him.
Yes, he's dazzled with dramatic moments before, and he's obviously been in the role of a mentor before. But Marvyn Korn is a character with a real, mapped-out arc that takes him from abrasive, petulant, and sleazy to a character that is as worth rooting for as Stamos himself. He's really rising to the occasion in this role!
7 Mighty Ducks: Lauren Graham's Lane
While Stamos is showcasing a new element of his acting credentials with Marvyn Korn, Lauren Graham's Alex Morrow character on Game Changers could very easily be the twin sister of Lorelai Gilmore. This is definitely not a bad thing.
Game Changers is thankfully letting Graham do what she does best, but with more self-awareness. She shone on Parenthood and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, but neither was the best use of her talents. Her turn on the hockey rink allows her to stay in a lane that's comfortable for her while also redefining her take on being a mother and differentiating herself enough from her Gilmore Girls role. It's a tough balance, but she handles it superbly.
6 Big Shot: Sports Choreography
Sometimes, the way hockey is played outside of the trick shots on Mighty Ducks can be a bit stilted and unrealistic. On Big Shot, though, there definitely seems to be quality attention paid to ensuring that the game's choreography is authentic and believable for the high school level.
Players seem to be consistent with their skill levels. Louise can nail any shot when she's in the zone. Mouse can set the tempo on the floor when orchestrating a comeback. And the competition from opponents tends to be staunch. It's an underrated aspect of a sports show that does not always land.
5 Mighty Ducks: Nostalgia Shots
There are plenty of stellar slapshots on Mighty Ducks, but it's the nostalgia shots that make up a ton of the series's fun. It never relies too deeply on nostalgia, but it still manages to pay quality homage to the stories of Ducks of yore.
Whether that's in the form of Emilio Estevez's recreation of iconic Gordon Bombay lines, Marguerite Moreau reprising her role and bonding with younger players on the team, or the re-introduction of the famous flying V, Game Changers doles out nostalgia in a welcome, earned manner.
4 Big Shot: Dramatic Moments
There are occasional moments of drama on Mighty Ducks, but it's still largely a comedy. Big Shot, however, is quite comfortable in dramatic grooves and even built an entire arc around Korn's grief for the loss of his own father.
It's, of course, not ground-breaking for the medium, but it does show a willingness for the series to dabble in more serious moments. And what works best about this is how the characters connect with one another and genuinely change their worldviews due to the emotions they feel. It's a welcome addition to the original fray of Disney+.
3 Mighty Ducks: Believable Chemistry
A strong selling point for the new Mighty Ducks endeavor has been the chemistry among the players on the team. Yes, there's a bit of a spark between Gordon and Alex, but the teammates help sell the emotional high points of the show because it really does feel like they care for and support one another.
Part of that comes from the television format, which allows for the time needed to dive into these relationships and their development. Part of it is just the sound casting work on the series. It's believable that Evan could have two best friends (Nick and Sofi). It's believable that Koob could find a home within this group. It's believable that Logan and Sam could confide in their new friends. It's believable that Lauren and Maya could find a genuine connection with one another.
2 Big Shot: Arcs Without Korn
An underrated aspect of Big Shot is that character arcs still unfold regardless of the characters' connections to Marvyn Korn, the series's main protagonist.
Character arcs like Holly recognizing her own leadership capabilities and Olive putting her friends first can exist without Korn. He may be there to guide them, but their stories are not always predicated on him, which is abundantly refreshing.
1 Mighty Ducks: Underdog Moments
On The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, it's hard to imagine any way the Don't Bothers could have been more of an underdog team. Most of the team had never even played hockey before! It just helps to make those stunning moments all the sweeter, though.
Plus, when the coach of the Ducks stoops to some truly disgusting lows to knock off the Don't Bothers, it makes those underdog moments even better. It's awesome to see a team go all the way in a tournament by prioritizing fun and collaboration over pure discipline and talent.