Going back to "Student Counsel", the text-based reviewing crowd covered a fair range of assessments. For the second time in recent weeks, MLEEP was unimpressed, something quite notable from this usually sunny reviewer. The Railfan Brony didn't like the ep either. At the other end of the scale, DrakeyC loved it and Present Perfect judged this his favourite episode of S9 thus far. My own review was in the the pack, albeit towards the back of it.
Cuddlepug – fairly positive (graded B; "surprisingly relatable for older audiences [...] the message isn't necessarily encouraging [...] Funny dialogue and strong interactions")
Dark Qiviut – broadly positive ("spends a good amount of time gradually building tension [...] dialogue was also top-notch, adding to both the humor and drama [...] really good lesson [but Silverstream's late admission] all but made Starlight's stress over "not doing her job" pointless and marginalizes the moral")
DrakeyC – very positive ("great from the first scene [...] they actually made [Mudbriar] funny this time [...] great comedy, a good adventure, and a good moral")
Dramamaster829 – positive with reservations ("this is why I enjoy [Starlight and Trixie] as ‘flawed protagonists’ [...] Maud Pie and Mudbriar are definitely enjoyable to watch [but the] lack of communication as to where [Silverstream] was going to go did put not only her counselor in danger, but also her friends")
JDPrime22 – fairly positive (rated 8/10; "DWK is gonna lose his freakin' mind [...] seriously? You're at least not gonna tell anyone where you are, Silverstream?) [...] We got a redemption for the cockatrice... kind of. Yeah, this was a weird one. Maud stole the show, though.")
Lightening McQueen – positive ("quite enjoyable having the focus on Starlight, and the number of secondary characters appearing [...] funny how Smolder cheekily burnt all of the pages in Gallus' book [...] great character development for Starlight")
Louder Yay – mildly positive (rated "just" 3/5; "a slightly odd episode [...] not everything gelled perfectly [... S&T's] characters complement each other so well [...] not sure Silverstream was entirely convincing [...] I never thought I'd say this, but I rather liked Mudbriar")
Mike Cartoon Pony – mixed ("As most of this unveils, it does so rather dully [...] Maud and Mudbriar were the standouts [...] moral of basically balancing your work and personal life doesn't come across with much real nuance [though it did] stick the landing [...] a plentiful selection of good comedy too")
MLEEP Reviews – rather negative (rated 5/10; "Maud's usual brand of deadpan humor [but disliked Starlight] abandoning Silverstream in her time of need in order to attend a Spring Solstice party [and] for the first third of the episode, we have to sit through the same repetitive joke")
Present Perfect – very positive ("I am honestly floored by how much Maud and Mudbriar’s interactions and one-liners enhance the overall excellence of this episode [...] Trixie was perfect as perfect can be, it’s all about balancing life-work whatchamacallit, she just wants to spend time with her girlfriend.")
The Railfan Brony – negative (rated Bad; "nothing new or interesting in regards to the story. The theme isn't new either [...] one of the most boring episodes of the entire show")
TheDragonWarlock – fairly positive (rated 8/10; "another solid Starlight episode [with] its own surprises [...] a rather good moral [...] I really question how time is working here now [...] feels like Silverstream is rather out of character")
I'm quite shocked about MLEEP's reaction. He's not usually this negative over an episode...
ReplyDeletePerhaps he's never been all that warm on Starlight as a character? It certainly seemed like he did not concur with the fandom's current high opinion of her, mostly on grounds of her getting away with all the terrible deeds that she has. That's perfectly fine, of course, if that is the case. I can't be sure, as I've only been reading his reviews as long as I've been contributing to and reading these Text Review Roundups, since Best Gift Ever, and this is the first Starlight-centric episode in that time.
DeleteBut either way, sometimes someone just doesn't feel it. And if you think of most of these reviewers' scores out of ten as ways of rating their enjoyment rather then its actual quality (which I find is a good standpoint to approach them from, myself), that it all falls into place.
Not everyone be on the same page forever. :D Someone you know must hate your episode. ;)
DeleteI love this episode and the like/dislike ratio is overall positive so yay!
I think the phrase I was looking for was "work-life balance". >.<
ReplyDeleteI have seen some comments around that this episode feels like a Season 8 script/idea that wasn't used and got retooled here. In one key aspect, that feels true: this episode is showing Starlight's difficulty in managing her job, and its hard to see her having said struggle this far into it (with two Hearth's Warmings having gone by, to boot!). Had this happened sometime after The Hearth's Warming Club, a bit after that Hearth's Warming (Spring, after all), it might have fit better, still being her first year on the job.
ReplyDeleteNot a big deal, of course. But worth contemplating on all the same.
That's an interesting observation. It might also give a partial explanation for Silverstream's slightly regressive characterisation. Hmm.
DeleteStatistically, this ep is overall positive, even the most negative one didnt go below 5/10. MLEEP and Cuddlepug switch their role nowaday, I expected some over-positive from MLEEP or some D- reviews from Cuddlepug, my expectation has been subverted. :D
ReplyDeleteMy review went below 5/10. Any episode that I rank Bad is either 1, 2 or 3/10. In this case, I ranked this episode a 1/10, my secondary (albeit more specific) rating.
DeleteMind you, my Excellent/Good/Okay/Bad/Terrible/Atrocious rating system is my current and primary way of ranking the episodes, and the number ratings are usually more specific.
You must be The Railfan Brony. Thanks for your clarification. I dont know why i didnt notice your 'bad' rating which is usually below 5/10 no matter what scoring system, my bad. ;d
DeleteWell, i just have to fix my comment a little bit with "Statistically, this ep is overall positive with one below avarage review". Ah that makes the ep a bit less pretty. Cant expect everything be perfect. ;)
@True Blue Are you talking about S6 Starlight or S9 Starlight?
DeleteIf you mean S9 then i think that argument is a bit outdated now. This ep just show how much Starlight character has improved since S6. Starlight is a very flawed individual who made a lot of mistakes, but she's still struggling to become good and look at her right now, dont tell me there is no improvement.
If you mean S6 Starlight need some harsher punishment for her actions then i will agree with you. However, ponies are just too forgiving and Starlight can get away with her bad actions just like some mlp characters throughout the series (Twilight steal the pearl, RD destroy the Rainbow Factory, Whatever Discord did .etc). Characters can get away with their bad mistake is not something new in this show, it's just Starlight get more attentions. Then Starlight pays off ponies's kindness with her heroic acts in S6 finale, being voice of reason in S7, and a helpful student counselor, dont tell me that character arc is meaningless.
If you want a character who can magically turn 100% good after one episode then i can introduce you Sunset Shimmer and Diamond Tiara.
I think i ranted a bit much so i will stop. I dont think i can convince people think otherwise with my argument, some people can explain things better than me.