After getting into an argument with Launchpad about his sidekick position, Darkwing agrees to act as the sidekick on their next adventure — responding to a distress call that just arrived from Oilrabia.
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Aesop Amnesia: Darkwing learns to treat Launchpad as a hero, only to demote him back to sidekick two seconds later by having him carry the luggage back to the plane.
- Arab Oil Sheikh: The Princess of Oilrabia is a combination of an oil sheikh and the High Queen. She wears Arabian clothing, runs a country with an oil-based economy, and allies with the heroes to keep the villains from robbing her people's source of income.
- Captain Obvious: Launchpad finally catch up that Steelbeak is behind the scheme when they are captured.
- Damsel in Distress: The Princess of Oil-rabia sends out a call for help because she and her country are being harassed by Steelbeak.
- Deadly Dust Storm: Steelbeak is in Oil-rabia with a Weather-Control Machine which he uses to unleash a large sandstorm on our heroes, leaving everyone to think they were killed. It doesn't, but it does leave them stranded in the desert.
- Glass Smack and Slide: Darkwing, propelled by a sandstorm, smacks against the windshield of Launchpad's car.
- Headphones Equal Isolation: Launchpad somehow fails to notice the approaching sandstorm because he's listening to music, leading Darkwing to go after him.
- The High Queen: While she's actually called a princess, the ruler of Oilrabia has a calm, polite demeanor and clearly doesn't think her position gives her the right to think only about herself (for instance, when she protests Darkwing's plan to "give" Steelbeak the oil, she says, "my people's oil" not "my oil").
- Never Say "Die":
- The guards reporting to the princess say that Launchpad has been "lost" in the sandstorm, even though they clearly think he and Darkwing were killed by it.
- Steelbeak says that "Darkwing Dodo is out there having dinner with Davy Jones" when he thinks the hero has drowned.
- Pet the Dog: Darkwing interrupts Launchpad as he's about to tell the princess that he's actually Darkwing's sidekick so that he can have the glory for once. The duck knight even declares that he is "the luckiest sidekick in the world." Given that it's Darkwing, this is a friendly little moment.
- Pop-Culture Pun Episode Title: The episode title alludes to What a Way to Go!.
- Princesses Rule: The ruler of Oilrabia is referred to as a princess, even though she's a queen for all intents and purposes.
- Rescue Reversal: Played with. Darkwing runs after Launchpad when his carrier blows away in a sandstorm, only to be blown away himself and have Launchpad chase after him. Neither saved the other; they were just fortunate enough to turn up near the villain's compound.
- Suddenly Always Knew That: Subverted; Launchpad shows the ability to ride a surfboard when Steelbeak floods the desert, which he has never done before, but viewers who have also seen DuckTales (1987) will remember that Launchpad showed the ability to do it there.note
- You're Insane!: When Darkwing comes up with the idea of dealing with Steelbeak by giving him the land's oil (enough to create a flood), the princess asks him if he's crazy.Darkwing: Well, maybe a little manic-depressive on weekends. But I'm sane enough to know that a couple of heroes like us can overcome the likes of F.O.W.L. Come on, Launchpad, let's get dangerous!
