Even Batman teamed up sometimes... The enduring popularity of Dora and Diego notwithstanding, television networks have to keep on innovating (or at least iterating) in order to keep their viewers happy. The big change you'll see in Go, Diego, Go!: Diego's Ultimate Rescue League is evident from the title: Diego isn't working alone any longer! Sure, he had his cousin and sister helping him out in the past, but this time around, Diego has stepped into a leadership role. It's like he's the manager of a troupe of junior rescuers in some preschool reality show, all of them competing for a chance to be the next host of Go, Diego, Go!. The analogy breaks down when you realize that aesthetics of the show ensure that fairness and decorum prevail, so don't expect to see anything other than cooperation, kindness, and teamwork from Diego's proteges.

The Ultimate Rescue League adds four new faces to the mix, each of them representing a distinct ethnic group. Diversity is the watchword for this show, and no wonder when at least 20% of people under the age of 20 identify as Latino or Latina. While these kids recognized themselves in the characters of Diego or Dora, any child under the age of 5 will find some connection with this material. Go, Diego, Go! tends to be the more stereotypically boy-focused show, rife with action and flashy vehicles. There's a hint of danger in Diego, as close as one ever really gets on Nick Jr., that will thrill adventurous boys and girls. In one episode within this collection, Diego races an avalanche down a snowy hill while rescuing a baby penguin, guaranteed to put a youngster's heart 'a racing. Other staples of the show that parents will recognize are basic problem-solving like matching shapes, colors, and sounds. A smattering of Spanish language keeps things interesting in bilingual households, and charged songs are a hit across the board.

Diego's Ultimate Rescue League is actually one episode of three contained on this DVD, along with "Ocean Animal Recuer" and "Diego Rescues Prince Vicuna." The actual title is "Diego's International Rescue League." Only one episode features the new group, while the other two revert to the solo adventure we expect from Diego. In "Ocean Animal Rescuer," Diego assists a baby humpback whale and other ocean creatures. The rescue of Prince Vicuna is a bit unusual in that it finds Diego on the hunt for a person, helping the King and Queen recover their son, when he goes missing on an expedition. "International Rescue League" is the high water mark of this collection, which is woefully short on content. Diego at the head of a group is a great concept, because the standard mode of rescuing animals can only hold kids' attention for so long... We hope to see more of the teamwork displayed in this episode, and we only wish there were more packed into this DVD, such as games or special features. A tasty morsel, but a morsel all the same.