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| I mean, it looks more in keeping than the real one... |
S7E21: "Marks and Recreation"
30 Sep 2017
My original rating: ★★★ ("just")
IMDb score: 7.3
Thoughts: The second of May Chan's two series writing credits, this is a bit more interesting than "Not Asking for Trouble" was. It isn't amazing, though, and it suffers from late-era FiM's confusion about how cutie marks actually work. The CMC, now marked, using "blank flanks" as a neutral term still seems mildly off, too. I do quite appreciate the use of Rumble as a central character, even if his older brother Thunderlane is less interesting. (This makes me wonder why nopony mentions Rainbow's status – in a Scootaloo-heavy episode, at that.) The song is pretty well done, and it's in a pleasingly different style to most MLP music. The assorted foals were fairly nicely chosen, with talents such as, er, painting circles, though Pip is a bit irritating.¹ I see from my old review that I noted Diamond Tiara's continuing absence. That one never stops grating, Hasbro. In the end, "Marks and Recreation" has some nice parts (Sweetie's annoyance with Rumble is another) but they don't quite gel together into a coherent whole. As such, a slight downgrade to a top-end two. Still not too bad for a clear filler episode.
¹ No actual British person in all of history has said, "You're cracking great," I suspect.
Choice quote: Apple Bloom: "Granny always says, some ponies have to find their own hay."
New rating: ★★
The next "My Little Repeats" won't be an episode at all! Instead, it will at long last be my rewatch of the G4 movie. I give fair warning that it may take a few weeks for me to have the time to do this one, not least because of my forthcoming hospital appointment – but fret not, it will be coming when I've managed that. I enjoyed it rather a lot in 2017, despite some grumbles (and yes, Mike, I absolutely will be mentioning Fluttershy! ;) ) and so I hope that will be the case again.
I won't lie, this one did underwhelm me a bit on the rewatch. Partly that's because I, like many, had headcannoned it as one of the less problematic Season Seven episodes. That holds true, and after a really rough stretch in the season's third-quarter (in the last seven episodes, only "A Health of Information" works better than this), that the episode has interesting ideas and doesn't make any boneheaded plot decisions counts for a lot.
ReplyDeleteCertainly, the role reversal of Rumble saying being a blank flank offers more potential – exactly the thing Sweetie Belle warded Diamond Tiara off Apple Bloom during her introduction in "Call of the Cutie" – is really clever and satisfying. Even if likely (okay, given the people running the show now, definitely) wasn't intended that way. And Rumble being more of an idealogical opposition to the CMCs, like the kind of one-off antagonists their older sisters face (as opposed to self-doubt or outside bullies), is another way they show them growing up too. Rumble himself could have easily felt like an annoying, grating brat, but even before we know what he's worried about, they manage to keep him just on the right side of that line.
So, a lot that's neat here, but like many Season Seven episodes, it punts a bit on figuring out things to do with or say about its given topic beyond the basics. The circular, spell-it-out approach to dialogue in the show now doesn't help, but it's mostly that the episode's narrative skeleton doesn't feel natural or coherent all that much, if in a subtle way, more "the plot makes sense, but I dunno, the move from A to B isn't clicking…" And while the core idea as regards cutie marks is interesting, the little bits and details are throwing darts at a wall. Especially as regards Kettle Corn getting a mark in haiku out of nowhere, and the other colt who taught her not having one.
I also remember Thunderlane being more interesting here, though I only really remembered the final scene with him. Didn't realise how much he appeared in this one, and yeah, they kinda ran out of personality for him halfway through this one. Which kinda speaks to how a lot of the individual jokes and beats here are just "meh". The song is neat, but other than that and a few choice moments, it's only fitfully amusing, and sometimes boring.
I will say, the structure and pacing is less lopsided than many such episode this season – it doesn't take an age to get going, and the climax isn't a contracted summary either. In many ways, this feels like a weak Season Four episode – interesting ideas and satisfying in outline form, but a bit perfunctory and just "there" to actually watch. Alack for the show's standards having lowered enough for that to easily put it in the top half this season!
This makes me wonder why nopony mentions Rainbow's status – in a Scootaloo-heavy episode, at that.
I mean… they kinda do (I just watched this last night like yourself). When all the foals are fawning over Thunderlane when he drops Rumble off to camp first time because Rumble's brother is a Wonderbolt, Scootaloo pipes up "Rainbow Dash is basically my sister, and she's a wonderbolt!" Crickets as the other foals look at her unimpressively, then they return to fawning over Thunderlane.
No actual British person in all of history has said, "You're cracking great," I suspect.
"Cracking cheese, Gromit!", though, they've said that! More seriously, this does show how easily Americans can misuse British vernacular when just plucking it out and slotting it into their phrases.
I've come to realise Pip is rather like Fancy Pants, being a British-accented character rather poorly done beyond his intro episode. Pip did succeed again in "Crusaders of the Lost Mark", but otherwise, he's felt off in both voice and writing since.
Er, wot 'e said, guv.
DeleteMy only addition is that I'd place this episode higher for simple enjoyment (I've rewatched it multiple times), at a comfortable three. I really like the ironic contrast in the CMCs finding themselves on the other side of the cutie mark debate (even if their uncomprehending confusion is a bit overblown), and this feels like the only post-"Crusaders of the Lost Mark" ep to find something interesting to do with the kids beyond their overplayed gimmick. Plus, Thunderlane was at least likable and Rumble entertaining enough as an irrational rebel.
Kettle Corn is cute. Haiku ponies for the win. A very nice ep!
So yeah, up there with "Honest Apple" and even "Discordant Harmony" as a rare S7 delight for me ("The Perfect Pear" is untouchable).
not so cracking great, is it? :V
ReplyDelete"cracking great"
ReplyDeleteWhat the Dickens!?
I don't think he used it, either. :P
DeleteJolly good show, guvnor.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this was just nothing great, nothing terrible. Not much to remember it by. Yet another I don't think I watched more than twice.
At least that one is reasonably well known, even if silly!
DeleteAnd so the streak of improvement following Fame and Misfortune comes to a halt. Marks and Recreation is not a bad episode, but not what I'd consider Top 10 material either. Why are there no adults helping the foals in figuring out what they're good at? I mean, a camp can't be run with just three fillies, which could've prevented Rumble from leading a rebellion against the idea of being put into a box. Then again, we'd have no story, so... yeah.
ReplyDeleteAside from that, this episode was just fine. Since this is the last episode this season that features a song, I will say that the music for season seven is underwhelming, probably the worst in the show (except for "You're in My Head Like a Catchy Song"; that one was really good). I don't know if this was because Daniel Ingram was working on the music for The Movie, it was something forced upon him by Hasbro or a decision he made himself. Sure, MLP isn't always known for its music, but you'd think they'd put a little more effort into making the music memorable.
I'm largely with you on the episode, and largely not with you on S7 music. :D
Delete