"Prisoner in the dock, you are charged with having excessively cute eyes" |
I think this is my favourite Haber episode yet. It explores questions pretty much every fan has been wondering about since the early days: what happens if a pony doesn't like their cutie mark? What if one of the CMC gets hers before the others? And, perhaps most seriously of all: what if Apple Bloom's isn't apple-related? "Will I have to move out?" as she rather heart-rendingly asks her big sister in the early stages of the episode. Thankfully, Applejack is able to sing her little sister a very cute equivalent to "Hush Now, Quiet Now".
"Come on now, Rarity. No sympathy voting, please" |
...when, in various run-throughs of the dream sequence, we see Apple Bloom rejected by both her best friends (not just once, either!) and by her closest family. Of all the CMC, AB is the one that this sort of thing hits the hardest. Even the amusement of seeing Big Mac's voice come out of Applejack's mouth is tempered: for MLP, this is distinctly black comedy. And even knowing these bad thoughts are caused by AB's own "shadow" (voiced, impressively, by Michelle Creber herself) doesn't make it much easier to watch.
Airbrushing clearly hasn't been invented. Starlight, get on it! |
"Bloom and Gloom" does have a few problems beyond those I've already mentioned, most notably that the question of what happens to a newly-marked CMC with respect to her peers. Okay, they can stay friends, but the end of the episode reiterates that no, they can't be a Crusader any longer. What will happen to the clubhouse in the long run? What will Babs' two friends do? And talking of Babs, it's nice to have her mentioned and in a couple of photos (albeit in a scary scene), but it would be great to see her back for realsies.
This was one of the least frightening parts of the ep |
Best quote: Apple Bloom: "What if it's not an apple? Will I have to move out? Where will I live?!"
Yays
- Interesting exploration of the CMC's fears
- After a slow start, pretty entertaining
- Luna was fairly well used in her brief screen time
- Full of "what the hay?" moments
- Further hints that the CMC will get their marks this season
- Pinkie's amazing chicken-costume cameo
- Applejack's lullaby is adorable
- The Twittermites scene goes on a little too long
- Apple Bloom getting zapped was a bit hard to watch
- A shame we don't see Babs again (except in photos)
- Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon don't really do anything
- Quite a few loose ends are left untied
A half decent episode, but to be honest I think last week's episode was better. Did like the fact we get bit more speaking dialogue from Big Mac even if it was a dream sequence.
ReplyDeleteI suppose they want to keep Peter New from getting too bored!
DeleteThose are some criminally cute eyes...
ReplyDeleteI Am really enjoying season 5. I liked last week's better despite the lack of books for Twilight.
ReplyDeleteThere was lots of unresolved rejection in this episode, from being kicked out of the Clubhouse when you get your cutie mark, No longer being allowed to be part of the CMC's (this was even endorsed at the end of the episode) to even being rejected by your family if you dont have the right cutie mark (I cant help thinking that this has other connotations).
Even though this was revealed to be all Apple Bloom's own fears, I really don't think Luna resolved the problems in a satisfactory way by just showing Apple Bloom that her friends have the same fears. (the episode still ended with the resolution that once you have a cuite mark you can no longer be part of the group)
Other observations.
This seasons themes seems to be jokes about twitter and pancakes (I hope both do not get stale)
Apple Bloom gets Hasbro disease
Big Mac has lines! (finally! even if it was just a dream.)
Applejack's singing was really cute.