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| All these years on, this remains one of the show's creepiest scenes |
Written by Chris Savino
25 Feb 2011
My original rating: N/A
IMDB score: 7.5
The one with Opal and her claws.
Thoughts: Savino's second and last FiM episode, probably to Hasbro's relief these days. The CMC get their first starring role together here, and what an adventure they make of it! It's good to see how well they already mesh, though they're noticeably immature here – which is fine for this stage in the series. Fluttershy is absurdly cute if overconfident (yes, Fluttershy) as their babysitter, plus we get to hear her singing, albeit briefly before Sweetie takes over. We also discover The Stare – though at this point, 'Shy can't do it on demand. A nice touch: all the jobs the Crusaders mention start with C: creature catchers, carpenters, coal miners, carpet cleaners... anyway, the cockatrice is a really dangerous animal, and adds back a bit of the Everfree danger removed earlier by Twilight prattling on about going in there to pick up some tea. (I don't like their eventual return so much, but it'll be ages before we get to that.) Flutters is great at protecting the fillies and staring down the cockatrice; even by this stage, you should realise you do not mess with her! Downsides? Well, the "Scootachicken" thing started here, and that's long outstayed its welcome. The ep also wanders about a bit at times; this isn't exactly a laser-focused story. Overall, though, an entertaining episode and one that I still had a good time with.
Choice quote: Apple Bloom: "Maybe that's our special talent... arguing!"
New rating: ★★★
Next up is "The Show Stoppers", another CMC episode but one which the fandom has not really warmed to. I remember rather liking it, but let's see how things go.
It's funny, so many important things happened in this episode, and yet I tend not to remember it easily, despite always having enjoyed it. It was just a really good vehicle for Fluttershy.
ReplyDeleteFor whatever reason, when I watched this and "The Show Stoppers" recently, contrary to most viewers I actually found Show Shoppers better and found this slightly underwhelming. It's a good Fluttershy episode and certainly has its share of memorable (and memeable moments) but the CMC are a bit overbearing here and the story, as you said, is a bit aimless, and it all but abandons any lesson or moral for the CMC, though I found this episode fares better if you think of it as a Fluttershy episode that happens to feature the CMC. I still find it plenty fun, probably more then it deserves; I just can't quite deny it's slightly off, for whatever reason.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to getting to "The Show Stoppers" in a day or two. It's so long since I've seen it, and I remember liking it a lot. I doubt I'll follow you in liking it more than this episode, though. I'm currently expecting another solid three-star rating, but we shall see!
DeleteAs far as this episode goes, what justifies how the CMC are a little childish during this series is that it 'is' the first season and we're only just seeing them as a group in one of the first few times. If their union during their rival's party didn't make it clear, they were determined to get their Cutie Marks by doing 'everything' they can think of (Actually, it was Rainbow Dash's idea that Apple Bloom should 'try everything', but that's beside the point). In any case, this episode offered a chance for Fluttershy to have her moment even though she finds that babysitting foals is more complicated than pet sitting as she'd learn the hard way. I wouldn't say this episode was one of my favorites though it's had a few memorable moments, to this day I slap my forehead when the trio foolish run off into the forest trying to catch a chicken only to run into a fearsome Cockatrice (But to be fair, I'd be just as scared as them). Still, this also shows Fluttershy at her best for when she sees the CMC are in trouble that's when we get to see her assertive side kick in and we get one of many glimpses of her 'Stare' (A feat that's beyond her control, at least at this point).
ReplyDeleteAnd if there's one moment going into this episode that's close to being dark, seeing Twilight Sparkle turned to stone by that monster (Even though we only see the aftermath) that would definitely make any Twilight fan shudder. Overall, while this episode wasn't perfect, it's nevertheless a fun episode and if we wanted proof that Michelle Creber can sing back then, this was the episode to do it.
There isn't a certain blog reader who's going to rant about how cruel it was for the writers to do this to Twilight? No?
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun ep to me, as it introduced a lot of specific interpersonal dynamics that were new to the series at this point. I do wish they'd kept it so that Fluttershy's stare remained involuntary, only to be roused when necessity called for it. Or at least made it that she could eventually produce it on demand because she'd been working at it.
I think this episode sets up some nice character growth for Rarity, though the writers probably didn't intend it that way. In "Suited for Success," she still let herself be intimidated by everyone's demands, and here, she gets flustered when the CMCs won't obey her. Thank goodness Fluttershy is there to take control. For the kind of businessmare she wants to be, passivity wouldn't serve her well, and while she still can get flustered at times (Trenderhoof, the "nom nom nom" ice cream moment), she develops much more of a backbone later. It starts pretty soon, in "Dog and Pony Show," then by "Rarity Takes Manehattan," she's confidently leading the way.
Sweetie's obliviousness to her own singing talent was a nice early-show thing that they sadly didn't ever really run with after this season, but it's an element I love to use in fanfiction.
Agreed on the Stare. My opinion of "Bats!" is (at least for now) more positive than many fans', but that was an aspect of that episode I found disappointing.
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