Top 10 My Little Pony Characters That Were DOA

Well, 2017 has been an interesting year, to say the least. No, I haven't finished up my season seven overview cause I'm pretty much struggling to find anything I could say that I haven't yet. Suffice it to say it'll be delayed for at least a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, to fill the gap, here's another collaborative post I did with The Super Mario Brony.

A couple of notes here; bold text is said by yours truly, and that italicized text is said by Tyler. Also, it was written prior to December, so forgive us if information is dated.

Remember the post earlier this year where Tyler and I listed potential ways that 2017 could salvage or sink MLP? Well, one of the kills for MLP was that they brought back characters that were unlikable from the get-go.

Now that all of Season 7 has aired (not to mention anything recent in the EG spinoff franchise), we'll be looking at those characters that could've gained themselves likability or potential within them, but in the end, didn't end up getting what they could've gotten.

Like many of our previous character lists, any character from both Friendship is Magic and Equestria Girls is fair game.

And these characters we'll be mentioning make the cut, mainly due to poor writing and poor characterization. Therefore, we're not including characters that weren't trying to gain a cult following from many of us in the fandom, nor any characters that purposefully meant to be unlikable by our standards. (i.e. Svengallop)

Okay, I realize this choice to kick off our list is a bit contentious, to say the least. But really, it was all we could think of to avoid a Top 9. That, and if we included a certain green-haired jackass that shall remain nameless, it would've been too obvious. Anyway, Derpy Hooves.

Everyone has often adored her for her many background appearances, and her shining roles in Slice of Life and Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?. (Even if her role in The Last Roundup strangely came out as controversial amongst disabled people) But quick question: "For a show that actually develops many of its characters, do minor characters like Derpy deserve so much love JUST CAUSE she makes 'interesting' background appearances throughout so many episodes?"

And this is pretty much a spoiler for the rest of the list, but I'll comment on it anyway; to fully care about a character, they need to be made relatable to the audience. They don't necessarily need complex backstories for us to care; just enough character to feel relatable. Derpy... hmm, how do I put this politely? ...kind of doesn't.

And yes, we get that background characters aren't meant to develop themselves, but do they really deserve some attention when they're not playing major roles? The answer to that... is a big fat NO.

To best sum these characters up, they have about as much wasted potential as a group of baddies in The Muppets movie (of 2011) known specifically as (for those of you who've seen and know what we're talking about) The Moopets.

Based off the trailers of Friendship Games, it looked as if they were going to be the Anti-Human Five (we'll come to the former sixth member later). Seems like a cool idea, right?

Ha-ha! ...nope.

Yeah, it have been somewhat nice to see them shine with at least SOME decent quality in Dance Magic, but what about their parts in Friendship Games?

They contributed literally nothing, their personalities were as interesting as a brick wall, and all they did was just stand there and looked pretty. Sorry, but good looks don't make good characters. As for why they aren't higher? Like I said, they had potential, but it wasn't utilized within the 72 minute time frame; there's no excuse for not trying.

Admittedly, we don't think Sunburst is necessarily a "bad" character per se... BUT, we did say characters who tried gaining a cult following amongst the fandom that had poorly executed characterization or writing overtime (or just hardly ANY of the two said qualities for that matter), right? And unlike his childhood friend Starlight (who earned TONS of it in a good way during Season 7 surprisingly), Sunburst suffered both of those qualities for various reasons.

It isn't helped that whilst Starlight had some interesting qualities in The Cutie Map, Sunburst had none from the get go.

If you want a pony who's really great with magic, you have Twilight, Starlight and Sunset, and the latter's basically an EG-exclusive character. If you want somepony that's a foalhood friend to a major character, you've got Moon Dancer. If you want an introvert character, you've got Fluttershy who's gained some great development, as well as Coco Pommel and Maud Pie.

And you might make the argument that he gained some in Uncommon Bond to an extent, but the way we both see it, it's kind of a part of one of our kills on 'Making Plots and Character Development More Random than Original'.

Does Sunburst have any chance of gaining any character in season eight or nine? (And yes, a ninth season has been confirmed.) I don't know, but if that were the case, it won't take away the fact he went through two seasons without any real character. You have 26 episodes to work with.

We've made it pretty clear over the years that we HATE Starlight's partner-in-crime, Trixie.

When she started off in Boast Busters as a selfish showoff who was just trying to gain the attention of literally everypony in Ponyville, she was just unbearable that we wished she would just never come back for another episode (much like other entries we're discussing on the countdown). But when she learned a lesson after Twilight saved her, she got her comeuppance in admitting it aloud. In Magic Duel (which was rather good no matter how much we still loathe her), she was a real threatening villain what with that Alicorn Amulet possessing her, where it was the amulet that made her worse than usual, but not where she wanted every evil thing to be the way she made it entirely.

But when Season 6 started off with No Second Prances, then that's where not only a protagonist like Twilight was derailed, but also where her bloody irritating persona became TEN TIMES WORSE! Her showoff attitude and constant bragging about how better she was than a lot of other characters in Boast Busters was already annoyingly terrible enough, but an episode where she tries to plot against Twilight through the use of her new "friend" that is Starlight? Unacceptable! And her role in To Where and Back Again makes no difference as she deserves more development for herself to justify her past transgressions just as Starlight has now done.

In Season 7, she was no different as she was still the same annoying pony she was back then, even when All Bottled Up had the right to characterize her into learning yet another lesson. But what about her role in To Change a Changeling? Well it's rather enjoyable seeing Starlight being her voice of reason, rather than for her to try and portray herself as somepony new (which there was no change in her character at all when the episode came around). (And I didn't mention the season premiere that is Celestial Advice since it focused more on Starlight and Celestia than her, even though awarding her, Starlight, Discord, and Thorax medals was one small point of the plot to start the season off)

So yeah, she might be Starlight's friend, and had a good role in Magic Duel, but you know what? We can look past her on being Starlight's friend, but not her irritating persona as she is still THE most annoying pony in MLP history. As for any last hopes she has? Yeah, I got nothing...

Speaking of one-note characters, does anybody even remember Plaid Stripes? ... No? Then you've pretty much figured out the problem we have with her; she's annoying at worst, and forgettable at best.

And what about her own father, Mr. Stripes?

Well, Mr. Stripes seems obviously biased about his daughter having a job.

And yeah, there's no point as to bringing them back, since one's nonsensical while the other loathsome in every manner of a character. So what else is there to say, other than if they attempt to come back, we doubt they'd do something redeemable?

Even after he made amends with Pinkie in Ponyville and with other ponies in Season 5's Party Pooped, Prince Rutherford still stands out as a detestable character who's easy to loathe.

The fact that he was a stubborn jerk in Not Asking for Trouble makes it worse. I suppose I get the message they were trying to go for, but the way it was presented makes the episode one of season seven's weakest.

How you'd approve of him even after he makes amends with other characters throughout the series besides Pinkie Pie and the rest of the Mane Six is beyond us, but these stereotypical jerks have to be characters who literally have no hope for themselves whatsoever. And to give off a little FYI to any writer who's gonna TRY to impress us with them and their current characterization; Pfft. Yeah, good luck! 😠

Timtin Sprieber could've been a contender on the countdown, but because he didn't try to gain that much of a cult following during Everfail, we have to give that dishonor to his sister, Gloriosa Daisy (or, as I like to call her based on how bankrupt she and her villainous motives are; Maleficent Daisy).

There's not a whole lot I could say about her that I haven't. Stupid motivations, not thinking clearly, and practically getting away with terrorizing the campers make Gloriosa rank very high on the list. Seriously, Camp Everfree is run by incompetent counselors who can't row a boat to save their lives.

And if we need to make our selves very clear; just because we didn't mind a similar villain being done before her, doesn't mean we want that particular villain recycled through another character... like her! Cause literally, Maleficent Daisy does it the wrong way. So give us more ideal villains than just the same one over and over again after Sunset's original evil self, Hasbro!

Yep, you saw her coming. And she's only at #3 on the list. The short version is that she is NOT who Twilight is supposed to be. The long version? Twilight is supposed to be a brave, confident, wise character. Sci-Twi is none of these things.

And we've summed up her whiny, crybaby-ish persona more than once, but what about any last hopes she has?

Well, they could do what they should've done from the start by pairing her with Flash, but... nope. They do nothing for the poor guy (yes, nothing - don't even bring up a "shipping" that was also DOA) and replace him a character that's everything fans complained about, except ten times worse. She's a lost cause by this point.

And besides, sometimes even good characters can add charm to bad ones in some way, shape, or form. (At least most of the time)

So you gotta imagine Hasbro would have better ideas for EG characters, but, unfortunately they haven't in recent times because Juniper Montage was in the EG specials that became a thing right after the spinoff went downhill - especially what with Legendary Everfail. We also like to think of this brat as the Arianna Grande of MLP characters.

I've already done an analysis post on the bespectacled brat, but to sum it up, Juniper might've been a good character if A) she wasn't a cliched villain, and B) she actually brought something new to the table. Juniper did neither, and it says a lot when fans can make better characters than her.

And since the spinoff has just died completely after the specials, there's really no point at making anymore nonsense out of it, cause literally other than Sunset and Flash (to an extent), there are no other characters worth bringing to the table since they're all just unbearably derailed for the worst.

I've yet to compile a list of my Top 10 worst characters of MLP. Whilst Thorax would undeniably be on the list, he also receives the "honor" of having the biggest amount of wasted potential.

Thorax also earns our top spot for his characterization and lack of development he has earned overtime. In fact, here's a brief list if you all will of the characters who seriously put his story arc to absolute shame: Sunset Shimmer, Discord, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Spike, Star Swirl the Bearded, the CMCs, the Wonderbolts, Lord Tirek, Pharynx, Trixie Lulamoon, Cadence, Shining Armor, Cheese Sandwich, Pear Butter & Bright Mac, Grand Pear, Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, Moon Dancer, Vapor Trail & Sky Stinger, Celestia, Colortrua, Maud Pie, the Dazzlings, Coco Pommel, Daring Do, Trouble Shoes, Gilda, Babs Seed, Rockhoof, Mistmane, Flash Magnus, Somnambula, Mage Meadowbrook, Princess Luna, the Rich family, the Pie family, Queen Chrysalis, King Sombra, the Hooffields and McColts, Stygian/Pony of Shadows, Twilight Velvet & Night Light, Sunburst, Our Town ponies, the yaks, the breezies, Silver Shill.

Yeah. Even Starlight's story arc is better than Thorax's story arc.

We could go on for ages as to why they all work (in most cases), but, to make a long story short, Thorax's story arc was a flop from start to... whenever it ends. He couldn't even stand up for himself in his debut and when he next appeared in the season six finale, his changes were just handed to him on a silver platter.

And yes, To Change a Changeling may have been surprisingly good to us while anything else where Thorax plays a major role in is either average (Triple Threat) or just... well, bad (The Times They Are A Changeling), but his messed up arc was also one of those causes of TCaC's imperfection.

All that said, if Thorax had been assertive in standing up for himself in his debut, he could've been an interesting character, but... nope. This has been Zack Wanzer, and Tyler Smith, and we'll see you in the new year 2018!

MLP Season 7 Finale: Shadow Play

So, the last two episodes were either horrendously cruel or painfully dull, and given Josh Haber's reputation with two-part episodes, this episode left me feeling both eager and nervous (but mostly nervous). So... could Shadow Play end the season on a high?

This post contains spoilers for My Little Pony: The Movie, as well as Disney/Pixar's Coco. Reader discretion is advised.

It would be safe to say that a lot could've worked against the finale, given what I've covered in the past two years. Starlight, once again, could've ended up being the creator's pet and saved the day single-hoofedly. We could've been given yet another bad guy redemption that ends up ruining an otherwise good story. Heck, we could also have ended up with a story that had been hyped up and we were left in disappointment because it wasn't what we expected...!

And yet... the episode still managed to pull it off. And the negatives I mentioned were, actually, not too bad.

I'm gonna start with Starlight Glimmer. I was particularly hard on her throughout season six, but really, I was doing it cause I was sure she could be a good character if given the proper chance. Thankfully, beginning with All Bottled Up, she showed signs of improvement (unless you consider Mirror Magic, but more on that later) and I feel that if season eight continues this development, she may end up back in my favorites. Fingers crossed...!

A lot of people were saying they made her "the big hero" of the story, and you know what? I call that a load of rubbish. If she was "the big hero", she could've found all the artifacts herself, she could've saved Stygian by herself, and she could've done all the research on her own.

The point I'm making is that Starlight wasn't the only pony involved. Everypony had their own part to play; the Mane Six (barring Twilight, who already had Star Swirl's journal) and Spike found the rest of the artifacts, and the Pillars were involved in Stygian becoming the bad guy (which I'll get to in a bit). So yes; everypony had their part... except Sunburst, who felt pretty useless. Yeah, he got the journal, but so could've Twilight and/or Starlight.

Then there's the villain redemption arc; how it appears to work is that the supposed bad guy's reasoning for being the way they were is either non-existent or flat out stupid (Mirror Magic, again, was the nadir for that cliche). Here? Stygian became the Pony of Shadows because he wanted to be respected by the Pillars; he was the guy who brought them together, damn it! Where's his respect?

However, after they saved a village from the sirens (again, more on that later), Stygian felt ignored; to the village ponies, he was just another face in the crowd. So he stole the Pillars' respective artifacts - at least, it's what they thought at first - just so he wanted to create copies and join them in battle, but he was misguided and ended up becoming one with the Pony of Shadows. Because of this turn of events, Star Swirl led the others to believe that Stygian was the one in the wrong... except they were also in the wrong without realizing it.

Is Star Swirl a mean-spirited pony with a good reputation? Not really; he does not have the best judgement, and can be rather stubborn and stuck in his own ways. We've all known at least a few people like that, I'm sure, but he does acknowledge in the end how foolish and petty he was, opening up the chance of redemption for him. In a way, Star Swirl was the subtle (unintentional) antagonist of the story... though I don't know if that's what they went for or it's just how I'm interpreting it.

I know I kind of sound repetitive at this point, but the themes for Shadow Play are really good; there are two sides in every story (especially with Star Swirl and Stygian), your idols may not be who you think they are (Ernesto de la Cruz will show you why; heck, this episode contains a lot of similarities to Coco), don't let your anger cloud your judgement (for Star Swirl), and nobody's perfect (yeah, any show could say that as well, but still). Those are perhaps some of the best themes Josh Haber has displayed as of yet, though it could be because he got help from Nicole Dubuc.

But of course, the script isn't perfect. What got fans excited was the presence of the Dazzlings (in their siren forms) in the Pillars' story. I was surprised to see them too... but at the same time, rather annoyed. Lately, it feels as if Hasbro, DHX, the writers, or a combination of the three believe Equestria Girls can stand up on its own without relying on Friendship is Magic. Based on what I have seen thus far, it clearly cannot, even with the same writers.

What makes it more baffling is that they brought in Flash Sentry's pony counterpart to cameo in a couple of season four episodes (Three's a Crowd, the first part of Twilight's Kingdom), and yet Sunset Shimmer - the staple of Equestria Girls - is not referred to or even mentioned once by Twilight in episodes? Heck, there isn't even an implication if the likes of the Shadowbolts, Cinch, etc. have pony counterparts, especially if several background ponies are given human counterparts!

My point is, all three parties need to make a decision; either Equestria Girls is part of the same universe as Friendship is Magic, or they are separate entities altogether. You can't have it both ways! Trying to do so is just going to make things confusing for your audience!

Back to Shadow Play; perhaps the biggest issue I personally have isn't within the episode, but it's more of an annoyance with the fact that it came out three weeks after My Little Pony: The Movie. They actually have similar themes if you think about it, especially with Tempest Shadow. The bad guy redemption cliche, as I mentioned earlier, is getting tiresome, but having two within the same month feels extremely overkill.

To be fair, however, My Little Pony: The Movie was actually being produced as far back as 2014 (maybe earlier), and films take months, sometimes years, to produce (unless it's a crapshack like The Emoji Movie), so none of us had any idea as to what would happen in seasons five through seven at the time. Most likely this was a freak occurrence, though the film being set after season seven does raise questions in regards to Twilight's role...

I haven't yet talked about how unexpected the story was, and it was in a good way. I mean, I don't think any one of us would've predicted all five of the pony legends being allied with Star Swirl, nor that they're actually still alive; they were just in limbo for over a millennia. It really feels a like a genuine surprise... or it would be if it wasn't leaked three weeks before its proper airdate.

Yeah, this will be my last rant for the review; some fans have leaked information about season eight, and I don't know why they did it, nor do I care. I won't get bogged down about how stupid that is, but this is my message to the "fans" for leaking this information; shame on you for potentially ruining income for both Hasbro and DHX, as well as spoiling unfinished episodes for everyone to see! I don't think you people deserve to be called "fans" if you're posting bootlegged animation on YouTube and spreading it across the internet! Actually wait like everybody else (you know, people who have better things to do than steal from companies) and watch the episodes when they properly air! How can those people wait if you outright post an episode before said airdates?!

Final Thoughts

Well... that went on longer than I figured! And it was a tricky review to write up as well. It could be down to how the year was personally exhausting for me; moving to a new house, the news about the changes to Thomas and Friends, the recent season eight leaks, writer's block, or simply disinterest in writing twenty-five reviews. Either way, I was very much emotionally drained, but I pulled through as best as I could to get my thoughts down for all of season seven.

Getting onto my final thoughts on Shadow Play; has Josh Haber gotten the hang of writing a two-parter? Honestly, it's hard to say right now, but it is better than his previous three efforts, and one of them was a co-write with Mike Vogel, and I've seen Vogel mess up on occasion. With Nicole Dubuc, I hear she will be writing for season eight, so it'll be interesting to see how well she can write an episode on her own.

The episode on its own merit is great. There's the right mix of comedy and drama, the storytelling is really strong, and the characters all felt genuine. Plus, the fact that Haber called back to his very first script - Castle Mane-ia - was a nice touch. Sure, the Pony of Shadows may not have gotten as much screentime as people would've liked, but I suppose, like Sombra before him, it's what makes him a mysterious character. Onwards and upwards to season eight, we go... spoiler-free, that is!

Rating: 10 out of 10

MLP Episode 724: Uncommon Bond

Well, here we go with the season's penultimate episode. Honestly, I didn't care much for it before it came out because I find Sunburst to be a boring, uninteresting character. He always felt like he was just there to give Starlight some sort of backstory. Can Uncommon Bond change my views on him?

Well... no. I mean, I'm not saying they didn't try, but Sunburst's character was so flat and uninteresting beforehand that it was difficult for me to even get a feel for him. Sure, Flash Sentry may not have gotten the best reception in the first Equestria Girls film, but Flash had more impact in that film than Sunburst ever did in two seasons. (Okay, three seasons if you include the flashback in The Cutie Re-Mark, but still.)

Not only that, Sunburst is in an episode with Twilight, Trixie, and Maud Pie, and all three of them - even separately - have far more character and charisma (not so much in Trixie's case, but still more than Sunburst ever had), meaning that Sunburst is constantly overshadowed.

Sure, Starlight feels relatable for those who feel like they're being left out, but the montages drag on for too long. Sure, they try giving Sunburst character, but he's as appealing as a scrap of cardboard - if you put them side by side, can you see any difference? Sure, the theme is good, but it's become incredibly stock by this point and the story is so thin you could shoot peas through it.

Also, what reason do I need to care for Starlight and Sunburst's friendship? All I've gotten thus far is that they were foalhood friends and when they were apart, they've had diverging interests, and... that's very much it. There needed to be more development given to Sunburst's character prior to this episode, but instead, he feels like an afterthought of a character.

Final Thoughts

I'm sorry that the review is incredibly short, but there was very little I could come up with. I could watch this episode ten times over and still have little to say. As a story, it offered nothing in terms of originality, and as a result, it came off as painfully dull; heck, even the humor in the episode didn't really make me laugh. If it wasn't for the foreshadowing of the next episode, I would probably dismiss Uncommon Bond as a filler episode...

Rating: 2 out of 10

MLP Episode 723: Secrets and Pies

Twenty-two down, three to go. And now we're coming to one of the more... interesting episodes of season seven. Let's take a look at how I feel about Secrets and Pies.

Talk about a recipe for disaster. Did nobody, whilst proofreading, realize that the solution to this conflict was way too simple? Hell, it was obvious that Rainbow Dash was lying to Pinkie Pie even before the first act came to an end!

The first obvious sign that the episode is bad is the flashbacks; they are supposed to be in Pinkie's perspective, and yet we clearly see Rainbow Dash throwing the pies to the side. And not once does Pinkie become suspicious! She doesn't even ask if she ate the pans as well. I know Pinkie isn't the brightest bulb on a Hearth's Warming tree, but she is not this stupid and oblivious, and it's especially when you can see Rainbow Dash telling Pinkie to look away before throwing the pies away!

What makes it worse is that when Pinkie finally gets a clue, she constantly stalks and harasses Rainbow Dash to at least try one of her pies. So yeah; both characters are horribly unlikable, and it's the third to last episode of the season! Pinkie because she's a creepy, desperate stalker, and Rainbow Dash because she's an insensitive jerk!

And you know that makes Rainbow Dash even worse in this episode? She gives the pies to her pet tortoise and the class hamster (yeah, the latter was indirectly, but still), and it comes off as animal abuse! Does Equestria have no equivalent to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)? Apparently not, which is another unfortunate implication in an episode already loaded with them!

But do you know the most insulting part of the episode? It's the ending where Rainbow Dash tries to eat a pie so rancid that not even a hobo would want it! Yeah, Pinkie stops her, but it turns out that Rainbow Dash, rather than tell us why she doesn't like pies, admits that she did this to spare Pinkie Pie's feelings and... she forgives her friend... just like that?!

So, apparently, the moral seems to be, "You can lie about enjoying what your friend makes, and if they find out you were doing this to spare their feelings, it will all be okay in the end." That... is right up there with No Second Prances, Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep, 28 Pranks Later, and Fame and Misfortune in having some of the worst themes this show has ever displayed! And it all could've been avoided if Rainbow Dash was honest with Pinkie from the get-go!

If there was anything worth salvaging in this disgusting excuse for an episode, it's that Applejack and Twilight are actually likable here, more so than the episode's main stars.

Final Thoughts

This episode is just awful, plain and simple. I don't know why anybody would even want to watch this episode; the main characters are unlikable and unsympathetic, the solution was too obvious, and the morals are terrible. I would not recommend this to anybody at all. It's got no reason to exist, and is a complete insult to the show's general theme.

Rating: -5 out of 10

MLP Episode 722: Once Upon a Zeppelin

We're on the home stretch! Only three more regular episodes of season seven to go, and then we can move onto the season finale. Let's kick off with Once Upon a Zeppelin!

What a... weird one. Yes, I know the titular zeppelin doesn't look like an actual zeppelin, but hey; it's a cartoon, it's not supposed to be 100% accurate. Let's leave that aside because that's the least of my issues with this episode.

This episode, after seven seasons, finally gives Twilight's parents some screentime. And they were pretty entertaining characters, especially when Mrs. Sparkle gets excited. It's also a nice showcase of family relationships; they tease each other, but they still care for one another at the end.

Something that's worth noting is that they got voice changes; instead of being voiced by Tara Strong and Andrew Francis, they're voiced by Patricia Drake and Charlie Demers, respectively. Honestly? I don't care for the new voices. Much as I don't care about The Crystalling, their voices in that episode seemed rather fitting and sounded like an older variant of their kids, so... why the change? At least with Rumble, there's the possibility that as he got older, his voice deepened.

Other funny moments with the family included the gag of Shining Armor getting airsick (how'd he become Captain of the Royal Guard with such a weakness, I'd like to know?), and the bit near the end with Flurry Heart and the ice cream. Seriously, how'd such a cutie like her become so charismatic at her age?

Oh, and Spike forcing Twilight to take a vacation and his reaction to her asking if she's to make a schedule for said vacation? Definitely deserves its own mention. It's little things that can be so entertaining at times, and even the mention of him being part of the family was really sweet. So... what kind of problems does Once Upon a Zeppelin raise?

Well, I think the biggest issue with the episode is that the plot is rather thin, and needed to rely on strong characters to see through it. And it works. Mostly...

Remember Iron Will from Putting Your Hoof Down? Well, he's very much a total prick in this episode; in his debut, he was very much seen as the antagonist when it was Fluttershy who brought her own behavior upon herself. Here, Iron Will very much ruins Twilight's vacation - I'm not even kidding - and even makes away with the cruise ponies' money. Yeah, he makes Rainbow Dash look like Fluttershy in comparison.

The other bothersome character was that cruise pony whose name I don't care to remember. I hate him. He serves no point to the story, and only serves to come off as a nuisance to Twilight; in fact, I felt more for her when she stamped on his hoof.

Also, why does he not apologize for bugging Twilight, and yet she apologizes for hurting him (something he actually deserved)? I don't know about everyone else, but that presents a slightly toxic theme for the episode. Yes, I know; it doesn't affect the rest of it, but still. That cruise pony could be cut from the episode, and nothing would change.

Speaking of cruise ponies, they do obsess over Twilight and Cadance (mostly the former), which gave me vibes of Fame and Misfortune, but unlike said episode, however, they at least realized they'd been tricked and rightly turned on Iron Will. Plus, they had the intelligence and decency to give Twilight and her family some privacy.

Final Thoughts

In a lot of ways, this is better than Fame and Misfortune, but still suffers by bringing in the worst new character of season seven, having a rather thin plot, and Twilight's parents having a voice change because... reasons. Despite the issues, it's still a pretty decent episode for the most part, and the ending was full of charm. Although, can poor Shining Armor catch a break next time he appears? Surely, he's a more competent Captain than we're seeing...?

Rating: 7 out of 10

MLP Episode 721: Marks and Recreation

So, the second half of this season turned out to be better than I thought! After the disaster that was Fame and Misfortune, the episode quality got back on the horse (ha!) and has given us some of the season's most memorable episodes and character moments. As of this point, we've been given three straight 10s in a row, each being better than the previous. Can Marks and Recreation continue this trend?

Honestly? It didn't. But did that make the episode bad? As if!

Though, there is an elephant in the room I want to get out of the way; the Crusaders, even if they young adults by this point, should have a grown up adult in helping the young fillies and colts trying different things, and to try and keep them from rebelling. On the latter point, I kind of understand why the writers wouldn't go that direction if they thought it destroyed the story, but couldn't they have added to it by having, let's say, Applejack try to bring them under control to minimal success? Not only that, it feels like Rumble's behavior was kind of glossed over entirely. There's no excuse to not include adults.

Another missed opportunity, believe it or not, is to bring Starlight into the story. She's never interacted with the Crusaders for a whole episode (maybe for a scene in a past episode, I kinda forget), and if they didn't want to bring in Applejack or have Starlight partnered up with her, why not have Starlight tell Rumble she understands what he's going through? Yes, I know, it would seem repetitive, but it would show a bit of growth in terms of character by passing on something she's learned to the next generation.

Okay, that aside, the rest of the episode is actually fairly solid. And akin to the likes of Fluttershy and Discord, it's great to see the Crusaders' respective characters develop. Heck, not just within the show, you can actually hear them growing up as well. I mean, Michelle, Claire, and Madeleine have had their voices deepen slightly in the past six years, so it's nice to see them growing up being implemented in-universe.

Even Rumble works in the role he has... sort of. It's not saying much since my favorite Vincent Tong character is Flash Sentry, someone who barely gets any character and is instead treated like a joke, but Rumble might be the most complex character Vincent's voiced to date. He's got a fair reason to why he doesn't want a cutie mark; he doesn't want to do one thing for the rest of his life, but as Thunderlane proves to him (as well as being what you'd expect from a big brother by being supportive), he's got nothing to worry about.

But of course, that's probably the issue with Rumble's motives - they're exactly the same as Starlight's! However, he is a colt and not a mare holding onto a grudge since fillyhood which weakened her justification, but even then, Rumble could've gotten a consequence for his behavior. Maybe being forced to clean up after the other foals for a week or something like that?

The song he sings is alright, but it's not as memorable as the one from The Perfect Pear. Actually, that is a problem which has been recurring for season seven; it's home to some of the worst music of the entire series. Yes, there are good bits here and there, but for the most part, the music this season is just... generic. I don't know if it's because of Daniel Ingram's work on My Little Pony: The Movie, but it feels like he put little effort into season seven. It says a lot that season six had more memorable tunes than this season.

The themes about growing up, trying new things, and finding yourself are still really good, especially when May Chan's last episode had a theme that either confused or non-existent. It was also great to see Thunderlane have a role, and Kettle Corn and her circle-drawing deserves a mention.

Final Thoughts

It was a step down from the previous three episodes, but Marks and Recreation is still a really good episode. Rumble's a surprisingly relatable character and the themes relating to him are great, but he should've gotten a punishment for his actions. And along with the missed opportunities and the plot hole about the lack of adult interaction (besides Thunderlane), it can't be one of the best overall episodes of the series. Not bad, though, don't get me wrong.

Rating: 8 out of 10

MLP Episode 720: A Health of Information

Following Fluttershy Leans In, I was really pleased with how far the yellow Pegasus has come in terms of character development. Would my expectations for A Health of Information be met?

Yes, they were. And then some.

This is quite possibly Fluttershy's best starring role since Keep Calm and Flutter On. The fact that she was so determined in helping Zecora when the zebra ended up catching Swamp Fever really shows how far Fluttershy has come in seven seasons. If this was during the first three, she probably would've hid in fear from the Flash Bees, but season seven was the right time to show this episode.

Speaking of the bees, it's really interesting that Fluttershy finally managed to find a creature (besides Discord, who was faking it) that is immune to to her infamous Stare. Who knows if it'd work on dinosaurs?

And then there's our fifth legend within five episodes this season (Rockhoof, Mistmane, and Flash Magnus were all in Campfire Tales, making this the third legend episode). Mage Meadowbrooke here has taken influence from the Cajuns of New Orleans, and a bit like Daring Done?, her story plays into the episode's theme nicely - don't give up in a bad situation.

That's further emphasized by the fact that Zecora could potentially die from Swamp Fever. No, that's not just my interpretation, this is what the doctor was implying. And... there's not a whole lot I can say, really. There's funny bits to be found like Fluttershy rhyming in the cold open, and the brick joke with the doctor catching Swamp Fever - how ironic!

Final Thoughts

Like I've said, it's one of Fluttershy's best episodes yet. Her character has reached its peak, the themes are among the show's best (how many times have I said it for this season alone?), and... it's just amazing, really; what more can I ask for? There's only one rating this episode can get, marking three in a row.

Rating: 10 out of 10

MLP Episode 719: It Isn't the Mane Thing About You

I feel like I'm running out of intros for my reviews, but here's my thoughts on It Isn't the Mane Thing About You - that's a mouthful of a title!

Was anyone expecting Josh Haber to return to MLP after season six? Personally, before this episode, I wouldn't have been bothered if he didn't return as a lot of the writing decisions in that season were on him. And then this episode came around.

I'm gonna say it now; this is Haber's best solo episode since Simple Ways from season four. (I exclude Stranger Than Fan Fiction since it was a co-write with Mike Vogel, for the record.) I guess it's possible that because it's a Rarity episode and that you can rarely go wrong with her that this episode was great.

Sure, the plot isn't the most original by MLP standards (Lesson Zero and Discordant Harmony, for example, have similar themes), but there's enough in this episode to make it stand up on its own merits that I can forgive the reused plot. The fact that there's humor abound makes it better.

I really like how the scenes with the flower ponies, Mr. Breezy, and Davenport (that pony selling couches) play out in the story. First time round, Rarity gives them suggestions for improvement. Second time round, she sees the impact they've made but nopony recognizes her (though wouldn't they have done so by her voice?) Third time round, she works with the situation she's in and makes tweaks to her previous suggestions.

On the whole, I can relate to the frustration Rarity went through, though in my case, it was the uploading of my Journey Beyond Sodor video review on YouTube. I re-uploaded it three times due to a copyright minefield with Mattel, editing the footage to skim past the censors (where is the Fair Use, damn it?!), but I got it up in the end!

Really, this quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail sums up my situation nicely:

"I built [a castle on the swamp] all the same, just to show [the other kings]. It sank into the swamp, so... I built a second one. That sank into the swamp. So I built a third one. That burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp, but the fourth one... stayed up!"

Okay, maybe the third one is a slight exaggeration, but I think you get my point.

Though, there are a couple of nitpicks I have with the episode. One; who has a sneeze-iversary? Two; I feel there was a missed opportunity to have Rarity's punk haircut carry over onto a couple more episodes. Yes, the narrative said her hair grew back, but it still would've been nice to see more of her punk look in a few unrelated episodes, especially when this one featured Grand Pear working with Granny Smith and Big Macintosh hanging out with Sugar Belle.

Final Thoughts

Josh Haber might be inconsistent as far as writing is concerned, but this was a brilliant comeback for him, and the best part was that it was a Rarity episode. The theme was one of the best of the show (even if it is a bit overused) and it suited Rarity's character brilliantly. There's not a whole lot I can complain about, really. Fingers crossed this carries over onto season eight...!

Rating: 10 out of 10

MLP Episode 718: Daring Done?

After a brief stumble, season seven's gotten back on the high horse (no pun intended), so let's see if it can continue this streak with Daring Done?.

Despite the criticism some fans have given her, I think Gillian Berrow is a great addition to the writing staff, although I don't feel that writing for Equestria Girls: Better Together is doing her much favors. I'm not here to talk about that (nor do I ever want to on this blog). No, I am here to talk about the latest Daring Do episode, darn it!

The cold opening was a good set-up to the episode; it was really funny how Pinkie mentioned a Cloudsdale election and when Rainbow Dash freaked out, it turned out to be the article about "A.K. Yearling" retiring that was previously mentioned instead. That said, it's a rather... uncannily accurate portrayal about how both Thomas and MLP fans would rather react to politics; ignoring the issue and focusing on something insignificant instead. (For the record, I feel there are more important things to worry about than a stupid petition regarding Flash Sentry, but that's a post for another day.)

Like Campfire Tales, Daring Done? takes influence from real-world folklore. This time, from Egypt! The story of Somnambula and how she outsmarted the Sphinx and saved the Pharaoh was a brilliant tie-in to the episode's theme about hope.

And honestly, I felt for Daring Do here. There have been lots of times I felt like giving up right here and then, but then I remember that there's friends and company (in this case, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash) that have my back, and it motivates me to continue doing what I love most.

That being said, there's a point of contention that Rainbow Dash was too easily captured. I agree... but I also disagree. Yes, she could've probably flown away and alerted Daring Do and Pinkie...

...but the disagreement comes when you consider what Dr. Cabelleron said to her. Basically, he tried to crush Rainbow Dash's spirit and because she was distraught by what she'd (unintentionally) done, she couldn't think properly, let alone consider an escape. You could be the bravest person on the planet, but you're not immune to people wanting to tear you down. (I mean, take a look at Batman.) Though I will admit that it was obviously Cabelleron underneath the cloak; why didn't he think of shaving beforehand? Does he not have the time for personal looks?

Final Thoughts

I didn't have too much to say on the episode, so forgive me if the review is short. Despite this, I think it's another great addition to the season, and if you're a Daring Do fan - or at least, a fan of Rainbow Dash - you might enjoy this episode as well. And the theme may definitely be one for those who've felt like giving up at some point in their lives.

Rating: 10 out of 10

MLP Episode 717: To Change a Changeling

Given my strong dislike for Thorax as a character, I felt I would not like this episode at all, but could To Change a Changeling actually turn out to be really good?

The answer is... yes, surprisingly!

Put simply, it's Thorax's best episode to date. Although, given how adequate Triple Threat was, how awful The Times They Are A Changeling was, and that I'm rethinking my views on To Where and Back Again, there isn't much of a contest to begin with. Of course, it does stem from how I feel Thorax is the most disappointing character of the entire show.

Anyway, the episode proper. I liked Pharynx as a character, and his introduction was entertaining to watch, as was (even if I'm not a fan of his brother) his relationship with Thorax. Pharynx isn't very fond of his brother's differing views to the rest of the swarm (and later, his leadership over the reformed swarm), but he does care for him all the same.

Though it does lead to something I find confusing. It's been implied that Chrysalis was the mother to all Changelings. By this logic, shouldn't all Changelings be brothers and sisters to each other? Does it mean that hatchling Changelings are- You know what? Never mind; we're not going there.

Starlight's role in the episode was fairly serviceable, though, again, kind of odd that she and Trixie didn't invite Spike to join them since he's friends with Thorax. Then again, he may have other matters to deal with, and if that were the case, I can understand. That being said, Starlight making a comment about Trixie being "second best" is really funny; can we have more of Snark-light, please? That would be entertaining to watch on its own!

Oh yeah, and I can't review the episode without mentioning Starlight being the voice of reason to Trixie's impulsiveness, and telling off the Changelings for not helping until...

The battle against the Dread Maulwurf. It gives Pharynx his sense of purpose in the hive, and it explains to the audience (and the hive) why he's necessary to the group. Though it does lead me, awkwardly, onto the episode's theme about change. It's better handled than how it was in Thorax's debut, which I thought was going to be about not judging people before you know them, but instead came off as muddled because of that damned song.

Final Thoughts

I may have had some beef with past episodes that this episode references, but To Change a Changeling is one you cannot overlook. It's fairly entertaining, Pharynx was an interesting character (and more charismatic than Thorax has ever been), and the theme was a useful one for kids to learn. It was something I didn't expect myself.

Rating: 8 out of 10

MLP Episode 716: Campfire Tales

Before I get into the review, I'm gonna say this right out of the gate; I don't bother with fan-made animations of MLP. There may be a few good ones here and there, but for the most part, I prefer to watch and review the actual canon show. It's a personal unwritten rule for me not to review fanmade works (unless I was directly addressing the creator of said work). Okay, that out of the way, let's listen to some Campfire Tales for this review.

Unless there's a two-part premiere or finale, MLP episodes are typically split into three acts. The first act is used to set up the plot, the second act features the rising tension, and the third act is supposed to be the climax or resolution. But this episode?

Whilst there is a cold open and a conflict right off the bat, the rest of the episode is spent telling a trilogy of self-contained myth stories, almost like the Treehouse of Horror episodes from The Simpsons. A roughly similar formula was used for older Disney Channel shows like Lilo and Stitch and The Emperor's New School; there's a shorter story taking up one whole act, and there's a longer story (but still short compared to the three-act formula) taking up two acts. Isn't it time MLP had an episode (or episodes) like the latter formula?

I'm getting sidetracked here; you want me to talk about the episode itself, and it's a really good one at that. I know continuity should be a standard for MLP by now, but it's still nice that it follows from Sleepless in Ponyville from four years previous. That said, Scootaloo felt... a bit too cowardly for my liking. Isn't she supposed to be confident despite not being able to fly?

All three stories were really good in their own right; Rockhoof's story appears to take from Greek mythology and has the theme about willpower and proving yourself to those who doubt who. Mistmane is influenced from Asian folklore and her theme is about beauty coming from within, something certain groups of people need to acknowledge...!

But the best of them, for me at least, was Flash Magnus. The Roman influence aside, the idea that one Pegasus is able to rescue his comrades and fight off against a horde of dragons all with the help of a shield that is resistant to fire is a story I find hard to resist myself. Seriously, is it any wonder that Rainbow Dash looks up to him? Oh, and is that Torch in the flashback?

The only other issue I have with the episode is that the bug bites on the Crusaders and their sisters (or sister figure, in Scoots' case) disappear fairly quickly, as do the bites Rainbow Dash suffered getting the campfire in the cave. Most likely this was done to avoid creeping out the audience when they're not focused on the lore stories.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes, the best episodes are those that give us little to talk about, and Campfire Tales is definitely one of them. At first, it feels like just another episode, but, as we'll see later on, it was actually a build up (and a rather quiet one at that) to something much bigger...

Rating: 9 out of 10

MLP Episode 715: Triple Threat

I'm really torn on this one, but let's see how Triple Threat fares, shall we?

The first question in regards to this episode; is it better than Fame and Misfortune? Yes. But is it a huge improvement? Not necessarily. I mean, I don't think Triple Threat is as great as A Royal Problem or The Perfect Pear, but it isn't that heinously terrible either. It's just... okay.

My initial bugbear (not literally, of course) with the episode as well as To Change a Changeling (which I'll cover soon enough) was Thorax himself. Excluding the EG characters, he's very much the worst character of the franchise. And it all boiled down to how his introduction was handled; very poorly and the theme of standing up for yourself makes him a coward! I'm not even kidding; he relied entirely on Spike to show he was a good Changeling. Not only that, the theme just comes off as too idealistic ignoring the harsh realities of the world. What can you do when your friends aren't there for you?

Look at Rainbow Dash in Sonic Rainboom; because she was being mocked by ponies from her foalhood, it messed with her confidence in the Best Young Flyer Competition. It was only when Rarity and a few Wonderbolts were in danger that she had to save them from being killed and simultaneously pull off what she was trying to achieve (and had already done so in foalhood) earlier in the episode.

A similar case was made for Fluttershy and Spike in Hurricane Fluttershy and Equestria Games, respectively. Both were letting their fears and anxieties get the better of them and they needed to rely on their inner strength - as well as ponies needing help in Fluttershy's case - to save the day. And if you bring all three episodes into consideration, what does it say for Thorax, a character we've just met? It destroys any chance he has of becoming a likable, sympathetic character... if I had any for him to begin with...

I bring those episodes up because the theme makes Thorax a bigger wuss than I'm viewing him, and heck, even To Where and Back Again puts his character to shame! No, not his redesign. I'm talking about Starlight's role here. She was facing anxiety as a leader, and she managed to save the day by relying not only on her teammates' strategies, but her own inner strength as well. Seriously, if Starlight at her worst has more confidence than you, then you really need to seek help.

...what was I talking about again? Oh yeah, Triple Threat. Like I said, it's not the best episode of the season, but it's far from atrocious. The main issue I got with it is that it borders on predictability. Considering Spike's competence during season six - as well as what he'd seen Twilight freak out over - you'd think he'd have gotten over that issue by now. Then again, it should've been abandoned after season four... or is it five?

That being said, I think the episode really shines with Ember; for the screentime she's given, she's displayed more charisma than Thorax in his season six starring roles, and her reactions to how friendship is handled in Ponyville are really fun to watch. The highlight was probably her eating Twilight's castle walls, which is funny yet... strange. Spike lives there 24/7; how does he manage to avoid the temptations of a midnight snack?

Another oddity is Spike being connected to the Cutie Map, and that sends some really odd implications; does that mean every creature in Equestria is connected to it somehow? At least with Starlight in A Royal Problem, she had fiddled with the map prior to said episode, so her connection to it made sense... sort of.

I will say this, though; the gag where Ember confuses her with Twilight is actually a pretty funny meta joke, and unlike the "jokes" in Fame and Misfortune, it didn't feel out of place at all. And it's actually relevant! I was a bit worried, I admit, that there would be a racist implication that "all ponies looked alike", but fortunately, that wasn't the case, and it's rightly dismissed before it becomes a serious issue.

For a plot that comes off as predictable at best and muddled at worst (especially since Spike would've known Thorax and Ember wouldn't kill each other upon first meeting), the theme is probably the best Josh Hamilton has displayed so far in regards to Thorax and Ember - nobody's a perfect leader. The same also applies to all cultures being different, unlike in Not Asking for Trouble, which was a real time-waster.

Final Thoughts

This episode just barely avoids mediocrity. I still find Thorax to be unlikable and unsympathetic, the plot comes off as confusing, and Spike kind of backpedals when it comes to character development. But... Ember comes off as a strong character, the themes are really good, and there's a few funny jokes here and there, so I can't be too harsh. Out of the episodes I've given a 6/10, however, this one is probably the weakest, and it might've gotten a worse rating if it wasn't for the themes.

Rating: 6 out of 10

MLP Episode 714: Fame and Misfortune

So now we're finally onto the second half of season seven. The first half was pretty good for the most part; the only episodes I didn't like there were All Bottled Up and Not Asking for Trouble, and Parental Glideance was okay at best. Every other episode, however, ranged from pretty good to outright amazing, two episodes especially, making them a tough act to follow. Can Fame and Misfortune be a good start to the second half?

If I'm going to be blunt about it, absolutely not. Seriously, this episode is downright awful and has one of the worst themes the show has ever displayed! But where do I start with the problems?

I'm gonna say this outright; M. A. Larson is the most overrated writer of the entire show. I'm sure he's a nice guy in real life, but his writing for the show leaves a lot to be desired. Granted, he's written some solid gems like Amending Fences, The Return of Harmony, and Magical Mystery Cure, but then there's stinkers like Luna Eclipsed, The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000, Ponyville Confidential, Swarm of the Century, and of course, Slice of Life. And Fame and Misfortune can be added to that pile; it's the culmination of Larson's writing weaknesses jammed into a 22-minute episode.

The first item on that list is the premise; the initial idea was that it would've featured Pinkie Pie as the lead character and the towns ponies would've learned that they shouldn't be attacking the author of a work (yeah, I'm looking right at those who attack Sharon Miller for S13-16; she wasn't the only person who was writing in those seasons, you know!) I have to say, that is a much better premise than what Hasbro came up with.

Yeah, this episode is a straight-up satire of fans who have had complaints about the show for the last few years and it's handled with the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the crotch. It begins with Twilight deciding to have the Friendship Journal published after resolving a conflict between two fillies, but the publication of the Journal leads to disastrous results upon the Mane Six. Basically, they pull a Teen Titans Go! by coming up with an extremely flawed counterargument completely missing the point of the criticisms. Criticisms, I should point out, that aren't all that destructive.

Not only that, but a lot of the "jokes" - if you could call them that - are outdated. Rarity has gained a bigger fanbase since the show first debuted, Twilight has been an alicorn (within the show, at least) longer than she's been a unicorn, and the criticisms about Fluttershy constantly learning the same lesson (with subtle differences, I should note!) feel out of place post-season five. And since this episode was intended to be part of season five, why could they not bother editing the "jokes" to fit the Mane Six as they are now?

Speaking of season five, and to give this episode a tiny bit of credit, Starlight's role was fine, but she doesn't really display much character beyond being defensive of her friends. She very much said and did nothing Spike couldn't have done, and is absence is noticeable especially since he also wrote in the Journal!

Also, did anyone notice any contrivances with the townsponies? They have known the Mane Six for at least years (Lemon Hearts feels especially out of character since she's Twilight's friend), and you would think they would show more gratitude towards them since they've saved their stupid, sorry flanks multiple times! And how the hell did nopony notice that Daring Do and A. K. Yearling are the same pony?!

The third act is obviously the worst. On top of the outdated jokes, that newspony was stupid enough to think that the Mane Six don't line up with real life; it's like he tried putting two and two together and ended up with 22 instead of four!

And then there's the song and the moral it tries to teach, and that's my biggest bugbear with Larson and how he writes his morals. At best, they're shoved down your throat to the point you think the story was based upon it (Slice of Life). At worst, they go against what the episode was trying to teach, and he ends up sending mixed messages to the audience (The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000). The "song" is awful (it sounds like something you'd hear from Equestria Girls) and is just a convenience to teach the episode's "moral". Not only that, nobody being perfect is a lesson that comes naturally to most people! You don't need a Ph.D. in the Bloody Obvious to know this!

But the worst thing about the message is how insulting it comes off as. The two fillies Twilight met earlier were the only ones to take the Mane Six's lessons seriously, and whilst it's fine, it feels like a middle finger to the adult fans of the show (that, and it makes the entire scenario pointless). An episode of a kids' show should not just be written with the target audience in mind!

If you want a prime example as to why it can't just be for kids, take a look at the Thomas and Friends episode The Way She Does It. To a child's mind, they could simply see the episode either as amusing or bordering on annoying. An adult would look beyond the humor - it depends on how they view it - and look at the ending when Daisy gives up her vanity for the sake of the children by using side window as an impromptu stage. A child would see this as cute and funny, but an adult would think, "Wow, I never could've thought that myself! That's a good bit of critical thinking there."

The only characters that felt likable were the Mane Six (especially given the crap piled upon them), the Crusaders (it was also a nice build-up to Marks and Recreation, even if it was half-flanked), the two fillies having friendship issues (and from G3, no doubt!), and Starlight. Even if she was interchangeable with Spike.

Final Thoughts

If you want this type of plot done right, watch either Stranger Than Fan Fiction or Daisy's Perfect Christmas. The former contains humor that's actually really funny and has a stronger, if not understated, message; the latter is a very subtle reflection on the current state of the Thomas fandom, and it never talks down to the audience like they're stupid.

Fame and Misfortune is a complete disgrace to the series, and has literally no reason to exist at all. It's the worst episode of season seven, and it's also Larson's worst script, and the tragic part is that it didn't have to be! If they went with what he intended, it would've been fine, but it feels like Hasbro wanted to go for a not-so-subtle approach towards attacking people who have genuine criticisms toward the show by portraying them all as over-the-top negative jerks. And considering this came after the much beloved Perfect Pear, and that the adult fandom is the main reason the show is popular, that's a total insult.

Rating: -3 out of 10

MLP Episode 713: The Perfect Pear

And now we finally come to the episode that many fans have been waiting for; Applejack's parents. And it's got not one, but two guest stars as well! Would The Perfect Pear live up to its promise?

Yes. That's the long and short of it, really. I could link to other reviews that could do a better job than I could've done, but I'll see what I can come up with.

Right of the bat, I'm gonna say that there's a lot of similarities to Romeo and Juliet. MLP is no stranger to adapting classic stories - A Hearth's Warming Tail, for example, was an okay if slightly forgettable take on A Christmas Carol. With Romeo and Juliet, it is seen as a tragedy but alternates with the usage of comedy. Some adaptations, however, are straight up comedic.

With The Perfect Pear? Whilst it's an episode from what's generally a comedy show, this plays the Romeo and Juliet tropes a little more seriously than what you'd normally expect. Whilst there are little comedic moments like Applejack's reaction to the pear jam and Goldie Delicious' entrance (...or was it an exit? You decide.), for the most part, the flashbacks are taken seriously and they hit the right emotions, especially in the third act.

Pear Butter - er, sorry, Buttercup - has been given the bombshell that the Pears are moving to Van Hoover, but she doesn't want to leave Bright Mac. He makes the decision, with the help of the mayor, to marry Buttercup, regardless of the feud. You feel sorry for Buttercup at the thought of never seeing any of the Apples, much less Bright Mac, ever again, and you appreciate how determined he is to make sure they're never apart.

Much to the disgruntlement of their respective parents. One can imagine how long it took for Mother Smith (I doubt she'd have been called "Granny" back then) to get used to having Buttercup around. And the reason Grand Pear returns to Ponyville is because he feels remorse for falling out with his daughter, but it's too late as she's already died along with his son-in-law.

Bringing me onto the episode's theme - holding onto grudges for a long time isn't healthy. You never know what may happen to those you've hurt in the past, and if they die without you knowing, it may end up haunting you for the rest of your days. But even then, there's the possibility they may have been willing to forgive you and would want you to be happy - the past is in the past.

Though, this is the only negative I have with the episode; they don't explain how the parents died. Granted, this is a children's show and death is an intense subject, but I think it's better than Bright Mac and Buttercup revealed to be alive in the end. If that were the case, fans would be in a rage...!

Back to the positives; the continuity is perhaps at its strongest in the flashbacks, from Luna's face on the moon, to the Mayor having pink hair and keeping track of the records of Ponyville, to an implication that, if Hard to Say Anything is... well, anything to go by, Big Mac seems to take after his pa when it comes to being around the mare he loves. Same with Applejack taking on her dad's honesty and Apple Bloom her mom's helpfulness. And, no pun intended, this is almost what they mean by the apple not falling far from the tree.

For how small their roles are, the other characters like Burnt Oak and Mrs. Cake (a.k.a. Chiffon Swirl) are serviceable for the story, the latter in particular. Don't ya just love when minor characters get some backstory to them? I mean it seriously, by the way.

And you can't talk about the episode without mentioning the performances of William Shatner and Felicia Day. Only Shatner could've fit the role of Grand Pear and pull off a phenomenal performance. The same goes for Felicia Day as Buttercup; oh, and the song she performs is season seven's best - though given the other songs this season, there isn't much of a contest, is there? - and I swear that tears welled up in my eyes listening to it. I don't usually bring up voice acting, music, or animation in these reviews anymore since A) there's so long you can praise them before it gets old, and B) they're more or less standards in making an episode or movie great.

The other time tears welled up in my eyes was the ending. Just... the ending itself is bittersweet. In fact, I dare you to go watch this episode and say you weren't close to crying.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco, I think they were the right people to act as script editors for season seven. When Josh Haber was editor for season six, it didn't really work out. The two ladies are far more natural replacements for Meghan McCarthy, though it would be a shame if she didn't return to the show following the movie given her current duties.

As for the episode? Well, sometimes, I do actually agree with the general consensus; this is one of the best episodes of the show, let alone this season. Does it beat A Royal Problem? No, but it's still in my Top 5.

I also want to extend my thanks to Joanna and Kristine; they didn't have to write this episode, let alone act as script editors for the season. They could've let someone else take the reigns and chances are that someone may have screwed them up. So thank you, ladies, for bringing us a wonderful episode. Keep up the good work, and I know you'll make even the lamest ideas work, so please don't let the fans, young and old, down.

Rating: 10 out of 10

MLP Episode 712: Discordant Harmony

The Magical Movie Night trilogy might be behind us, but now, I'm gonna get back into reviewing the remaining fourteen episodes of season seven so I can make that Emotions' Corner episode on the Top 10 Best of My Little Pony Season 7. (That, and my solo overview on the season as well.) So let's kick things off with Discordant Harmony, shall we?

In the Dance Magic review, I said it was possible to take a simple idea work as long as there was great humor, strong characterization, a good moral, and that the pacing was strong. This episode proves my point.

So much of the humor is derived from Discord; whenever he's literally speaking to himself, using his fingers to eat (and scolding one of them for burping), his initial indifference to fading away (it's like Bender from Futurama operating for a long time without beer), and the irony on how being normal isn't... well, normal for him.

Every other character is brilliant; the aforementioned Disclones (my personal name for them), Pinkie  giving Discord advice for his tea party (every episode he's played a major role in thus far has had Fluttershy featured), the old mare's confusion, and the clerks ponies questioning his friendship with Fluttershy.

But once again, Fluttershy is the standout character; for the last four years since Keep Calm and Flutter On, she knows Discord inside and out (please don't take this the wrong way), and her confusion over his Mr. Rogers-esque persona is great to see. And that leads me onto the themes.

Yeah, I've got some issues with the "be yourself" moral being overdone, but it makes sense for Discord to learn it. The same goes for the theme about differences. People will judge others for being different from their friends, but those who are different - like Discord - shouldn't let those words get to them. The fact that the clerks ponies questioned him and Fluttershy being friends further added to that message.

Final Thoughts

There's not a whole lot I can say in regards to the episode; it feels like the Discord take on Fluttershy Leans In and On Your Marks, as well as bits from Futurama's Hell is Other Robots. It's fun to watch, has some really good themes, and continues the development to Fluttershy and Discord (as long as you ignore Scare Master and What About Discord).

Rating: 9 out of 10