Impressed with Darwing Duck's fighting abilities, J. Gander Hooter recruits him to train four likely S.H.U.S.H. agents in his own brand of crimefighting, forming the Darkwing Squad. Disgusted by this, Gryzlikoff resigns and ends up recruited by Steelbeak to assist him in stealing a priceless giant pearl from the St. Canard Aquarium. But Darkwing soon gets a rude awakening when his own squad turn out to be just as vainglorious and reckless as he is, which causes more problems than it solves.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Awesomeness by Analysis: After Gryzlikoff rescues the Darkwing Squad and they revert back to being true S.H.U.S.H agents, they use a series of calculations to find the best way to take out Steelbeak and his Eggmen, which they do handily.
- Batman Gambit: At the end of the episode, it turns out the entirety of the Darkwing Squad idea was one of these. J. Gander had never wanted Darkwing to coach agents and Gryzlikoff had never resigned or betrayed S.H.U.S.H. They'd plotted the whole thing from the start in order to catch Steelbeak off-guard.
- Be the Ball: A running gag throughout the episode is an angry Gryzlikoff squashing Darkwing into a ball. This pays off during their big confrontation when he then kicks Darkwing into the CCTV observing the fight, smashing it so he can reveal that his Heel–Face Turn was a ruse.Gryzlikoff: Sorry, Darkwing. I hope I didn't hurt you... much.D.W. (pulls his head free) Are you kiddin'? Ya... ya barely touched me.
- Gone Horribly Right: Darkwing trains the four S.H.U.S.H. agents to think and act as he does to make them better crimefighters. This works so well that they even end up inheriting his personality flaws - his vanity, egotism and recklessness, which ends up causing trouble when they fall for Steelbeak's ploy and end up getting trapped.
- Heel–Face Turn: Gryzlikoff joins F.O.W.L. when Steelbeak promises him revenge against Darkwing. This turns out to be a ruse to help Gryzlikoff work undercover.
- Hypocritical Humor: Darkwing ends up calling his own students "a bunch of vain, self-centered glory-seekers who are only concerned with promoting themselves", despite the fact that they're basically emulating him.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Of all the reasons to have a moment of this, Gryzlikoff has one when he smashes his S.H.U.S.H. mug in a fit of anger. Then again, it was his favourite mug.
- Pass the Popcorn: While watching Gryzlikoff's Curb-Stomp Battle against Darkwing, Steelbeak can be seen munching on a bowl of the stuff.Steelbeak: I do so love watching someone enjoy his work!
- Resign in Protest: Gryzlikoff is so upset by J. Gander's approval of the Darkwing Squad that he quits. Except he never did - the whole thing was a ruse, plotted by J. Gander and Gryzlikoff both from the start to catch Steelbeak.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Gryzlikoff chews our Darkwing for letting the Darkwing Squad run off half-cocked and right into Steelbeak's trap. When D.W. tries to pin the blame on his students, Launchpad is quick to remind him of whom they learned it from.Darkwing: Those adolescent showoffs are completely unruly, undisciplined, unpredictable, un- un-!Launchpad: Gee, why does that sound so familiar?
