Was there a Cookie Monster joke in this ep? If not, why not? |
...well, uneven. The episode certainly has its moments, and it's one of those that I've warmed to slightly after a second watch through and reconsideration of a few of my initial complaints. Pinkie Pie is good, for example. On the other hand, I still can't quite get past the fact that Rainbow Dash's characterisation is unsatisfying. She's back in about Season Two mode here in terms of being, frankly, a bit of a jerk. I'd have expected her to be kinder to Fluttershy – if not straight away, then at least after Dash realised she'd badly upset her best friend.
"Big Brother Bear is watching you" |
Not all the jokes work quite so well. I'm sad to see that Friendship is Magic has finally succumbed to the fart joke. I'll give it a point for allowing AJ to lampshade it in-show as a feeble gag, but I didn't even find fart gags funny when I was seven years old. Another prank that doesn't satisfy, for a different reason, is the one with Big Mac and the rock. There is simply no way that Rainbow could have got that rock into the cart – she's not that strong. If only there'd been a one-second cutaway of Maud doing a deadpan wink...
Dash and Pinkie: most of the fandom. Twilight: me |
This isn't a bad episode; this show has very few of those. But I think it passes up the chance to be a great one. For example, imagine if the reason Dash had pranked 'Shy at the start was that Rainbow believed her friend, having undeniably become braver over the seasons, was now tough enough to take a prank. But after going over the top, that was the lesson she learned in the episode – to be a little more subtle and nuanced, even though those aren't things that come naturally to Dash. I'd have found that a wonderfully satisfying plotline.
So, why doesn't Apple Bloom have that tree badge? |
Best quote: Pretty much everypony: "COOKIES!"
Yays
- The CMC as Filly Guides are adorable
- Pinkie has plenty of good stuff to do
- Several very funny scenes
- Another solid moral
- Harry is excellent
- Generally atmospherically lit
- Excellent score and incidental music
- Feels a bit out of place this far into the show's run
- Rainbow's character regression goes a bit too far
- The second half drags quite a bit
- Rarity's repeated use of "Dash" seems a little off
- That rock scene makes no sense (without Maud)
- Fart jokes Are. Not. Funny.
I didn't even find fart gags funny when I was seven years old
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your childhood was dark and cruel. :(
I seem to once again be the only person who liked this without caveat. The worst thing I can say about it is that I'd have rather had it than Mare-Do-Well.
Nah, my childhood was fine. I had Asterix books, and those kick-started my lifelong love of puns. :D
DeleteStick this in Mare Do Well's place and I'd have liked it a lot more, I think.
Fart jokes are more of hit and miss for me.
ReplyDeleteHey there, Mr. Likes to Ignore Me, you didn't seem to mind the fart jokes in Magical Mystery Cure (altered Fluttershy failing to make other ponies laugh) and Testing Testing (the horn).
ReplyDeleteI'd ignore you a little less if you didn't seem to be trying to be rude.
DeleteBut to answer anyway: in "MMC" the whoopie cushion thing was intended as sad rather than funny. In "TT123" the horn was a very minor thing that I didn't even mention in my review here.
You should mention Pinkie in this ep, she's really good in this ep.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fair point! I'll add a mention now.
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