Episode review: S7E05: "Fluttershy Leans In"

"An episode starring me and you write a short review? Why, I oughta..."

I've realised that I can't really keep up with doing two full episode reviews per week, so I'm going to have to cut them down a bit. It's a shame, but the only alternative would be to delay them and I don't want to do that. This one, being a Fluttersode, is still reasonably long, but others won't be. They still won't be as short as the mini-reviews I write about other stuff, but until the broadcast schedule slows down a bit I just won't have time to do a rambly piece each time. Sorry.

Anyway, G. M. Berrow made a return to writing duties for episode 5. The only previous ep she'd written was "The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows", which I thought was fairly enjoyable without being world-shaking in any way. This episode starred Fluttershy, though, so I was both nervous and excited about it. If only somepony had come up with a word for that... past the break for (a bit) more!

This episode turns out to be just about what you'd expect from Berrow: pleasant and cute, with a mildly amusing cast of supporting guest characters, but not exactly deep. Fluttershy herself is reasonably well characterised, although I would have liked to have seen a little more self-doubt after her assertive comments to the various "experts". I think this was done well in "Flutter Brutter" with 'Shy's conversations with Rainbow Dash.

"Also, can you write a 100,000-word story about chipmunks for me by Tuesday?"

Fluttershy's life goal does come rather out of nowhere. We've known since the early days that Rainbow wanted to be a Wonderbolt and that Rarity wanted to open a boutique in Canterlot – but has Flutters ever mentioned a large-scale animal sanctuary before? I don't think so. I'm not saying it's out of character for her, but it's less satisfactory than if it had been gradually built up over the seasons as the other ponies' ambitions have been.

Those supporting characters, then: it's nice to see Dr Fauna the vet again, but they're clearly mostly there to give Fluttershy somepony to stand up to. The Mane Six too, really. This she does quite effectively, although as some people have pointed out there is an (I'm sure unintentional) overtone of "Don't listen to experts, your dream is all that matters!" here. Yes, Fluttershy is the undisputed animal caretaking expert, but that doesn't mean her vague "I want this dream made real" approach is enough.

All in all, a rather meandering, quiet episode, and if I weren't such a huge Flutterfan I might even have found it a little too quiet. I'm all for the idea that not every ep needs to have some Equestria-threatening disaster or monster, but when the unexpected return of Big Daddy McColt is the thing most people are talking about, perhaps you've gone a little far the other way. "Fluttershy Leans In" is a slight disappointment, and scrapes a three-star rating largely because of my personal bias.

I may be in a small minority as someone who didn't like seeing Angel injured

Best quote: Pinkie: "Oh, goody! Is your dream to make a bouncy castle shaped like a gigantic bundt cake? ... Just me then."

Yays

• There's a lot of Fluttershy in it...
• ...and she does have a point about her expertise
• Angel is fun early on
• Supporting characters are mildly amusing

Neighs

• There's really not much new here
• 'Shy's assertiveness is a bit one-note
• Not much memorable dialogue
• Little actually happens

★★★