Duck Dynasty: The Revival recap – The family heads out for a duck hunt while Willie opens up to Korie

Eight years after the original series left A&E, the Robertson family has returned to television with Duck Dynasty: The Revival, which premiered on June 1. The episode arrived just days after the death of family patriarch Phil Robertson on May 25 at age 79.

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in December 2024, Phil had already stepped back from public life and was not part of the new filming. Still, his presence and legacy were deeply felt throughout the premiere.

The Duck Dynasty: The Revival episode followed CEO Willie Robertson, who reflected on his changing role at Duck Commander, his family’s growing responsibilities, and his father’s absence.

“We’re in that middle place of, like, taking care of aging parents, and taking care of kids and grandkids still. How are you doing with all this?”

Korie Robertson asked her husband in one of the episode’s more emotional moments.

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What happened in the Duck Dynasty: The Revival premiere

The first episode of Duck Dynasty: The Revival picks up in the fall in West Monroe, Louisiana, as Willie Robertson returns to Duck Commander after spending time away. He noted it had been about 18 months since he last went hunting with the group.

Since Duck Dynasty left the air in 2017, the business has expanded into multiple areas, including a gift shop, museum, podcast studio, and publishing projects. At the headquarters, Willie finds his former office transformed into a space for his daughter Sadie Robertson’s Live Original ministry.

During a recording of her podcast “Whoa That’s Good,” Willie makes a surprise appearance as the group is discussing anxiety and mental health. The episode gives viewers a full update on the Robertsons. Willie and Korie are now grandparents to seven children, with an eighth grandchild born later in the episode.

Bella manages the gift shop and museum operations. John Luke runs the coffee company, while Rebecca is preparing for the birth of her third child. Rowdy is away at college, and Will and his wife Abby live in Texas. Sadie and her husband, Christian, have two children. All family members live on the same property except for Will and Rowdy.

Later in Duck Dynasty: The Revival, a staff meeting at Duck Commander includes an announcement from Martin about updated bathroom rules and a schematic to identify designated areas. Willie follows with news of his “fully semi-retired” status and mentions he’s beginning to think about a successor for the business.

As part of the transition, he arranges an early morning duck hunting session with the family to test their skills. The kids arrive late and are split into groups. Will, wearing a white shirt, fails the basic rule of camouflage.

Willie sets up a skeet shooting exercise, allowing only one shell per person. None of the younger Robertsons hit the target, but Willie does, signaling his continued edge and experience.

A key moment in the Duck Dynasty: The Revival episode occurs on October 30, 2024, when Rebecca and her husband John Reed return from the hospital with newborn Xander, Willie’s newest grandson. As the family prepares food, Korie tries to get Willie to express how he’s feeling. She believes the weight of Phil Robertson’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and passing has impacted him deeply.

“I feel like maybe you’re going through a few things right now,”

Korie tells Willie. He briefly gets emotional but quickly hides it by joking that it's the onions causing his eyes to water. Korie adds in a confessional,

“He wouldn’t want to admit it, but I definitely think it’s affected Willie, and I think it’s made him think really hard about his own legacy.”

Willie explains that stepping back from his role doesn’t mean walking away from Duck Commander, but he acknowledges that he has more time and space to reflect.

“Maybe I don’t need to find a new me,” he concludes. “Maybe I’m doing fine.”

The rest of the family agrees that something is different about Willie, and his semi-retirement may lead to more personal exploration.

“Faith, family and ducks in that order,” Korie says, summing up the family's long-standing priorities.

Duck Dynasty: The Revival repeatedly emphasizes both change and continuity within the Robertson clan. Phil Robertson’s legacy looms large, even in his absence. Willie’s announcement of semi-retirement marks a turning point not just for Duck Commander but for the entire family dynamic.

As Korie puts it, the family is at a moment where they are managing the care of older and younger generations simultaneously. The rest of the season promises to explore how the family adapts to this shift in leadership and responsibilities.

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Duck Dynasty: The Revival airs every Sunday at 9 pm EST on A&E.