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| "I am never known to quail at the fury of a gale..." |
S8E21: "A Rockhoof and a Hard Place"
15 Sep 2018
My original rating: ★★★
IMDb score: 7.4
Thoughts: A clunky pun for the episode title. This was the second of three writing credits for Kaita Mpambara, who began with the amusing "Horse Play" earlier in S8. This is one of those frustrating episodes that has a solid, interesting idea – that Rockhoof finds it harder to adapt to the modern world than the other Pillars – but doesn't always quite get the execution right. That shows up particularly from the end of the second act, when Rockhoof asks to be turned to a statue. This should be an extraordinarily powerful scene – it's not quite suicidal, but it's close for a TV-Y show – but the gravity of it doesn't quite hit home. The episode's pacing is uneven, too, with the section featuring the other Pillars dragging. Bits and pieces: it's a bit much Twilight and Applejack telling Rockhoof off for being a hero when "what we need here is a teacher", given their own approach to their School of Friendship commitments! AJ lampshading the weirdness of hippogriffs having ships is funny, but it doesn't really help!¹ I do like Yona a lot in this episode, and the students in general, really. The resolution of having Rockhoof appointed official storyteller also does seem fitting. I think it's probably right on the two/three border for me these days. I'm not that interested in the Pillars, but even with the issues I mention I think it's just about still a three.
¹ Though iisaw did suggest in 2018 that the ships might be for cargo (or cannons!)
Choice quote: Rockhoof: "I'm, uh, your new Theory and Defence of Friendship teacher."
New rating:★★★
Next time, it will be "What Lies Beneath". In some fans' eyes, this is a contender for the best episode of S8, although a certain even later ep tends to steal the limelight. I remember liking it a lot, although I had very mixed feelings about one particular scene, which I'll get to when the time comes.
I recall quite enjoying this episode, though it may have entirely been awe at the audacity of writing a suicide story into a kids' show. Oh, those wild and crazy writers!
ReplyDeleteSeven years ago, I would've called A Rockhoof and a Hard Place one of the best episodes out of season eight. But now? I consider it above average at most.
ReplyDeleteUp until the point where Twilight reluctantly agrees to turn Rockhoof back into stone, the episode was great, and you really sympathize with how he's unable to adjust to modern Equestria. And Yona looking up to him? Try telling me with a straight face that it's not one of the most adorable things the show has ever put out!
But Twilight agreeing to what is basically an assisted suicide? It's another mark to her good name, even after Rockhoof gets over his depression really quickly. I'm almost certain that this is not what happens in real life, and you need time to get over depression.
Shame really, as the episode is otherwise solid for the most part, but now it ends up near the middle of my episode rankings for this season.
I was never really onboard with the way the Pillars reworked the elements/aspects of harmony/friendship, where two of them were genetic-dependent. So, this episode had a bit of an uphill battle to click with me. In the end, I thought is was an excellent idea, poorly executed. A low 3-stars is about right for me too, and one of those stars is purely because of how adorable Yona was.
ReplyDeleteThe Twilight Problem of the later seasons is on full display here. An extremely intelligent and empathic character being written by people who are neither—never works out well.