The revisiting of season one continues!
Look Before You Sleep
Written by Charlotte Fullerton
And it's back to mediocrity we go...
Out of the Mane Six, Applejack and Rarity bring out the worst in each other, more so than the former against Rainbow Dash. And yet it's somehow become one of the most popular of the Mane Six pairs, but for completely stupid reasons. Tell me this; how would a cowpony and a pony interested fashion make things work out between themselves? Too many sacrifices would just lead to misery from both parties any way you slice it.
The episode itself it just... strange. Mostly it comes down to Twilight's characterization, and the issue is two-fold. First off, why is it her, and not Pinkie Pie, who's enthusiastic about slumber parties? Yes, I know it's early in the show, but it's very off-putting compared to her character before and after this episode.
Speaking of, that leads me onto the second issue; how did she not stop Applejack and Rarity from fighting earlier? Doing nothing just makes her look stupid, and again, it's where Pinkie could've worked better. Not helping is that the episode is set in one location, and it makes the episode a real slog to sit through. Some bottle episodes are interesting, but Look Before You Sleep is, sadly, not one of them. It's pretty weak overall.
Rating: Okay (4/10)
Bridle Gossip
Written by Amy Keating Rogers
At least here, in this episode, Twilight felt more like... Twilight, but it's another of those "strange" episodes of season one. No, not the ponies being afraid of Zecora. I can understand it... mostly if we consider the actions of creatures in later episodes. But it's strange in the sense that prior to Apple Bloom, nopony even bothered to try finding out who Zecora truly was. Even stranger is that Spike, a baby dragon, is with Twilight and no one bats an eyelid in his presence. Maybe it's due to his association with Twilight? Or is it cause of the events of Dragonshy?
That being said, Apple Bloom, in her first major supporting role, was pretty good, and she fit the role she was given. She doesn't know about Zecora as well as the other ponies do, and her getting frustrated with Applejack was very relatable, especially if you have an overprotective family member.
On the whole, it's a little better than the previous episode, though not by a whole lot. Pinkie's Enchantress Song was really bad, though Flutterguy's take on it was funny, but it's still fairly watchable and the ending message was pretty good.
That being said, Apple Bloom, in her first major supporting role, was pretty good, and she fit the role she was given. She doesn't know about Zecora as well as the other ponies do, and her getting frustrated with Applejack was very relatable, especially if you have an overprotective family member.
On the whole, it's a little better than the previous episode, though not by a whole lot. Pinkie's Enchantress Song was really bad, though Flutterguy's take on it was funny, but it's still fairly watchable and the ending message was pretty good.
Rating: Okay (5/10)
Swarm of the Century
Written by M. A. Larson
I've made it no secret that I think M. A. Larson is an inconsistent writer. For every gem attached to his name, there's another episode that is, at best, not as great as it could've been or, at worst, utterly terrible (looking at you, Fame and Misfortune).
The episode starts decently enough with Fluttershy first encountering a parasprite and making it feel wanted in her mane, and with Twilight making sure Celestia's visit to Ponyville goes well. But the moment Pinkie notices the parasprites, that's when things start to fall into confusing chaos. How does she even know what they are, let alone how to get rid of them with instruments? I know Pinkie can be absurd at times, but this is too absurd by her own standards. And again, this is in season one!
I feel like this episode tries too hard to be funny and... nothing else. It has a lot of ideas going on at once and doesn't do a very good job of tying them up that well. You could watch this episode a hundred times and you still couldn't grasp it. What's the point of Zecora's cameo? Why does Twilight accept the parasprites without analyzing them properly? How does Celestia not know what a parasprite is? How do you manage to screw up your storytelling with a 22 minute timeframe to work with?!
This episode's all over the place with too many questions and too few answers to the point it just... ends. A bad episode through and through.
The episode starts decently enough with Fluttershy first encountering a parasprite and making it feel wanted in her mane, and with Twilight making sure Celestia's visit to Ponyville goes well. But the moment Pinkie notices the parasprites, that's when things start to fall into confusing chaos. How does she even know what they are, let alone how to get rid of them with instruments? I know Pinkie can be absurd at times, but this is too absurd by her own standards. And again, this is in season one!
I feel like this episode tries too hard to be funny and... nothing else. It has a lot of ideas going on at once and doesn't do a very good job of tying them up that well. You could watch this episode a hundred times and you still couldn't grasp it. What's the point of Zecora's cameo? Why does Twilight accept the parasprites without analyzing them properly? How does Celestia not know what a parasprite is? How do you manage to screw up your storytelling with a 22 minute timeframe to work with?!
This episode's all over the place with too many questions and too few answers to the point it just... ends. A bad episode through and through.
Rating: Terrible (0/10)
Winter Wrap Up
Written by Cindy Morrow
After a three-episode run of mediocre at best stories, we're finally back in good episode territory.
Admit it; that song is pretty darn catchy. It does a great job explaining every task involved during Winter Wrap Up, and it also shows how desperate Twilight is to fit in. And her not being able to be part of the weather team is heartwarming since... we'll come to that soon enough. Her struggling in ice scoring was the funniest part, topped by Spike's comment on her being a natural disaster.
There... isn't really much else to say, really. The plot's a bit slow paced, but it's spread out evenly enough for you to be invested, and the message about teamwork and organization was great. Maybe more relevant than it's ever been since it aired eight years ago.
Admit it; that song is pretty darn catchy. It does a great job explaining every task involved during Winter Wrap Up, and it also shows how desperate Twilight is to fit in. And her not being able to be part of the weather team is heartwarming since... we'll come to that soon enough. Her struggling in ice scoring was the funniest part, topped by Spike's comment on her being a natural disaster.
There... isn't really much else to say, really. The plot's a bit slow paced, but it's spread out evenly enough for you to be invested, and the message about teamwork and organization was great. Maybe more relevant than it's ever been since it aired eight years ago.
Rating: Good (8/10)
Call of the Cutie
Written by Meghan McCarthy
Meghan's back! And all is right with the world.
Although, out of her episodes, this is probably one of the least noticed compared to what she later wrote down the road. But don't just dismiss it purely because it's not exactly Twilight's Kingdom; it's actually one of this season's most important episodes, much less of the entire show.
Apple Bloom's plight about not having her own cutie mark is very relatable and sympathetic. A lot of people around you will have the latest gadgets and gizmos, and you may have something that's outdated or, worse, nothing.
Because she's afraid of being mocked for not having a cutie mark, Apple Bloom resorts to desperate measures to try and gain it quickly. It never feels like it drags on too much, and when her last ditch attempt fails, you feel even worse for her since she's pretty much given up...
...except it turns out she isn't alone when Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stand up for her and bring Diamond Tiara down a few pegs, at her own cute-cenera. It's very satisfying to see the little pink brat brought down to size, and even more so that with the two blank flanks being there for Apple Bloom, it gives off the message that even if you feel like you're alone, your friends will be there to back you up.
Overall, it's Meghan McCarthy's most undervalued episode, but hopefully one day, it'll get the recognition it rightly deserves. I didn't think much of it before revisiting it, but now I feel it's one of season one's best episodes.
Although, out of her episodes, this is probably one of the least noticed compared to what she later wrote down the road. But don't just dismiss it purely because it's not exactly Twilight's Kingdom; it's actually one of this season's most important episodes, much less of the entire show.
Apple Bloom's plight about not having her own cutie mark is very relatable and sympathetic. A lot of people around you will have the latest gadgets and gizmos, and you may have something that's outdated or, worse, nothing.
Because she's afraid of being mocked for not having a cutie mark, Apple Bloom resorts to desperate measures to try and gain it quickly. It never feels like it drags on too much, and when her last ditch attempt fails, you feel even worse for her since she's pretty much given up...
...except it turns out she isn't alone when Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stand up for her and bring Diamond Tiara down a few pegs, at her own cute-cenera. It's very satisfying to see the little pink brat brought down to size, and even more so that with the two blank flanks being there for Apple Bloom, it gives off the message that even if you feel like you're alone, your friends will be there to back you up.
Overall, it's Meghan McCarthy's most undervalued episode, but hopefully one day, it'll get the recognition it rightly deserves. I didn't think much of it before revisiting it, but now I feel it's one of season one's best episodes.
Rating: Excellent (10/10)
Fall Weather Friends
Written by Amy Keating Rogers
Remember back in my Non-Compete Clause review where I called it out for being this episode done horribly wrong? As well as years too late? Well, here, I'm going to talk about where Fall Weather Friends succeeds.
First of all, Rainbow and Applejack's reasoning for their rivalry is to see who's the best athletic pony. Some might consider it petty, but at least it isn't about being teacher of the month, and nor do they potentially put the Young Six in danger. If anything, the biggest danger to the two mares is themselves and their egos, especially when Applejack accuses Rainbow Dash of cheating for using her wings.
Secondly, not only do the two mares get punished for their petty rivalry, they also get punished for mocking Twilight's participation in the Running of the Leaves by losing to her; she came in fifth, and both Rainbow and Applejack were tied for last. A very fitting punishment indeed, especially when they resorted to dirty cheating to try and best the other.
The third and final point is the episode's message. In Non-Compete Clause, they argued once again about who was at fault, which sends mixed messages to an impressionable audience. Here, they don't treat the message as if it's a joke, and Rainbow Dash and Applejack both agreed that winning doesn't matter as long as you try your best... something that they should've learned seven seasons down the road, but still.
Out of season one's episodes, Fall Weather Friends holds up now like it did then. Sure, the message is kind of degraded since Rainbow and Applejack continue to hold their rivalry in later episodes, but it's still a solid episode overall. Oh yeah, and Pinkie and Spike's commentating on the race is funny.
First of all, Rainbow and Applejack's reasoning for their rivalry is to see who's the best athletic pony. Some might consider it petty, but at least it isn't about being teacher of the month, and nor do they potentially put the Young Six in danger. If anything, the biggest danger to the two mares is themselves and their egos, especially when Applejack accuses Rainbow Dash of cheating for using her wings.
Secondly, not only do the two mares get punished for their petty rivalry, they also get punished for mocking Twilight's participation in the Running of the Leaves by losing to her; she came in fifth, and both Rainbow and Applejack were tied for last. A very fitting punishment indeed, especially when they resorted to dirty cheating to try and best the other.
The third and final point is the episode's message. In Non-Compete Clause, they argued once again about who was at fault, which sends mixed messages to an impressionable audience. Here, they don't treat the message as if it's a joke, and Rainbow Dash and Applejack both agreed that winning doesn't matter as long as you try your best... something that they should've learned seven seasons down the road, but still.
Out of season one's episodes, Fall Weather Friends holds up now like it did then. Sure, the message is kind of degraded since Rainbow and Applejack continue to hold their rivalry in later episodes, but it's still a solid episode overall. Oh yeah, and Pinkie and Spike's commentating on the race is funny.
Rating: Excellent (9/10)
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