 |
| The contrasting expressions on Dash and Shutterfly's faces really make this shot |
Written by Meghan McCarthy
23 Nov 2013
My original rating: 8.5/10 (=★★★★) [for the entire two-parter]
IMDb score: 8.6
The one with Spike checklisting in his sleep
Thoughts: We'd had a long wait for this: over nine months, broken only by the first Equestria Girls film. There was a lot of anxiousness about what the show would be like now Twilight had ascended – but this first episode went a fair way towards allaying the fears, for now at least. It helped that it was visually very attractive, a step up from S3 which was itself a step up from S2; some lovely lighting and shade effects in particular. As for the actual story, it was quite solid, even if the Plunder Vines were mildly dull – no actual villain here, though Discord was highly watchable in his few minutes, with it really not clear whether Fluttershy was right to trust in his reformation. (Mind you, I still laugh at him singing "Winter Wrap Up" in the bath.) It's always good to see Zecora, even if her appearance and potion are overly convenient. The last couple of minutes are the best, though, with a can't-take-your-eyes-off-it flashback sequence to Luna's transformation to Nightmare Moon. That was a huge deal among fans at the time, since it was the first real expansion to that backstory since the S1 premiere. I wish we hadn't gone straight on to part 2, since this was a great cliffhanger. Finally, a mildly changed title sequence for S4, with quite a few more ponies in the photo and Discord appearing in Fluttershy's window. A sign of things to come there! Add to that the nice balance between fun and sympathy when depicting Twilight's uncertainty as a new princess and I think four stars is still right. A good start to a generally good season.
Choice quote: Rainbow: "Oh yeah. Just like old times!"
New rating: ★★★★
Next up is "Princess Twilight Sparkle, part 2". You astound me, Holmes. Part 2 is very important to the future of the series, more so than most of us realised at the time. I'm expecting to enjoy it at least as much as part 1, though.
Upon rewatch, this episode was better than I remember. Given more then a few early episodes, especially in Season 3, had problems more evident upon a rewatch, it was nice to see an episode be better then I recollected. Granted, I mostly remembered these two as “fine, but padded and bland”. Well, that still holds true, just slightly kinder on both fronts. Really, it's kind of one of those arc setters that is very important but mostly for plot, so not one to revisit much. Still kind of true, but there’s plenty of worse ways to spend one’s time.
ReplyDeleteThe elephant in the room - unlike just about every other two-parter under the sun, this one is not squashed, but padded. The obvious candidate is the very fanservice-y flashback to exactly how Celestia banished Nightmare Moon, which serves no function other then as a red herring to make us think Luna is behind this and reverting (to the point that the initial script had a scene of the vines ensuring Luna after they took Celestia, which was later cut to heighten the "mystery"). Sure, it works as a cliffhanger, but it actually doesn’t make any sense to have witnessed in-universe, has no effect and is not brought up again after it happens (poor episodic writing!). Really, it’s the stilted way much of the sequence plays out, and while it was an obvious hoot for fans at the time, and a true exemplar of how the show's visuals had gradually but significantly improved over time, it’s pure padding. Plus, the lore of Nightmare Moon’s banishment was muddled enough, and it does no favours to reveal she was defeated this quickly.
Really, the episode didn’t even need that as a cliffhanger, because right after that is another prime opportunity for one - the screen time used for the scene of Discord’s petrification perfectly fits into the Nightmare Moon flashback bit used here. And if other parts of this first episode were trimmed, it could instead end on the Tree of Harmony's reveal. An even better cliffhanger, ending on a crucial new piece of lore!
I mentioned other padding, didn’t I? There's a fair shake of moments that just go on longer then they really should, hammering home Twilight’s perceived loneliness from her friends early on, and then most of every moment of ponies resisting the plunder vines. Do a little trimming here and there, axe the Nightmare Moon flashback altogether, and boom! You can end on the reveal of the Tree instead.
Getting past those two points (and contrivances like Zecora' convenient alicorn-only flashback potion), the episode acquits itself well. Post-reformation Discord is a real hoot here, with basically no complaints in this first episode (some tiny ones to come). Some fun moments for Pinkie, and the gags with Rarity and Sweetie Belle's magic were great. Spike is treated a little unfairly here, backing out of the hug when the others board the train, and bowing towards Celestia which he's never done before or since (and not even get asked to get back up like Twilight!), but that's nothing new, and I recognise it's a sore spot for me.
It's hard to talk about the plot much until the next episode, but even though this two-parter isn't what I would have done, and it doesn't relate to "Magical Mystery Cure" more then superficially as Meghan McCarty stated (probably a good thing), it's a solid tone setter for both the next episode and Season 4. Does little spectacular, but does basically nothing wrong either.
[NOTE: A lot of my thoughts as to both episodes are being saved for next time.]
I tend to agree with that, although I'm kinder in my overall assessment than you are -- mine is closer to that of IMDb voters, who ranked only four or five episodes this season higher (depending how you count the finale).
DeleteMaybe it is a little padded, but I think I rather like the room to breathe that gives it. I've always had a fairly high (though not unlimited) tolerance for talkiness in fics, for example, and I don't mind time that's basically just spent getting used to being with the ponies again. I suppose this might have been a top-end three if I needed something snappier, but no lower.
[NOTE: A lot of my thoughts as to both episodes are being saved for next time.]
DeleteWell, as long as you don't make it into a half-dozen-post thread or something (at that length I think it really would start to get in the way of other readers' enjoyment) I will be more than interested to read that! :)
I'm largely in agreement with Mike Cartoon Pony, especially considering the implications of "Magical Mystery Cure". The single best thing this episode does is settle down from all the madcap chaos of last time and actually look at where Twilight is now, warts and all.
ReplyDeleteBecause the two generally most reliable parts of this season's two-parters are Twilight and Discord. It's hard to overstate how much to the two-parter's benefit this is: Twilight's modesty is back in full force as a welcome counterbalance to the overwrought celebrations of last time, and it does a lot to make the change palatable to me.
Namely, that Twilight is definitely not comfortable with being treated like elite glass, has no more greater understanding of her new status than we the audience do, and (to her greatest credit) isn't particularly happy about the way her friends are reacting either.
Couple that with Twilight's emotional sincerity over these two-parters, and she is fantastic, easy to root for and sympathize with. That at least was one major concern put to rest, in my case.
There's also her ongoing talking point with Applejack (about them all being connected via the elements), and her talk with Celestia (whose brief dip into grief over Luna is easily one of the episode's emotional highlights). To say nothing of the fantastic passive-aggressive turn of Discord, who if not exactly the knockout villain he used to be, is definitely entertaining enough as a sort of harsh meta critic on events and an amusing, impish jerk.
Contra you, I thought the Plundervines worked terrifically well as a different kind of silent but mysterious enemy. Much like Sombra last time, they sacrifice depth for dark style. Combined with the sun and the moon being out of alignment, the disappearance of the Royal Sisters, the chaotic effects on magic and the weather, and Discord protesting his innocence, and they are excellent at their job of creating a sense of impending apocalypse.
In short, this episode is extremely good at setting up a plotline that raises questions and keeps us coming back to find out more...
...but it's not without its problems either.
The trend of two-parters turning the Main Five into glorified extras is well in force (doubly annoying in Pinkie's case, as now she's written to be nothing but a tagalong idiot). Zecora is exactly the plot device Mike pointed out. The Nightmare Moon flashback amounts to nothing but flashy, ill-advised fanservice that tells us nothing we didn't already know. And for as good as the mystery element is, this episode definitely feels a tad slow-going, not helped by the fact that large chunks of it are just characters standing around talking.
It's never going down as the best opening to a two-parter, but it's amazing how much this represented damage control after the problems I had with Season Three.
Mike Cartoon Karma, sorry, not Pony.
DeleteYes, Twilight not instantly being some perfect pony princess was definitely a plus. If I'd had a little more space I'd have touched on that more, but I just didn't have the room -- I'm determined that these rewatch "Thoughts" do not become full-length reviews. They're not supposed to be.
DeleteI remember being a little irritated with Applejack in part 2 of this premiere, but I'll save that for next time (if it's still my feeling now). No complaints there in this opener. Interesting that you mention Pinkie, though: browsing through my original reviews of this season, I more than once complain about Pinkie's characterisation.
large chunks of it are just characters standing around talking.
Well, yes, but then so is Yes, Minister (okay, sitting around talking) and that's one of my favourite shows of all time. As I said to Mike, I have a fairly high tolerance for talky scenes.
Zecora is exactly the plot device Mike pointed out.
*cough* I did mention Zecora's convenience in my review. Mike makes a lot of fine points, but he wasn't first with that one! :P
Aheh, sorry about that.
DeleteI think it's more the context of all that talking. Compared to other two-parters, which cover a lot of ground in each introductory episode, not much happens here beyond "we found a threat! who do we blame?" It gives the episode a certain slow-paced feel, at times, like not much is happening.
"Padded and bland" definitely sums up this two-parter, for all that Numbers is right about how they handled the immediate aftermath of Twilight's ascension.
ReplyDeleteI maintain that this is nevertheless post-reformation Discord's best outing. Other than the D&D episode and maybe the one where he almost died, it's all downhill from here. It really seemed like they were setting him up to a devil on Twilight's shoulder, that's what he does here, goading her into greatness because he recognizes her potential and doesn't people well. But that just gets flanderized into out-and-out insurrection in the series finale, and the rest of the time, he's too busy being a jerk to be a helpful jerk.
And yeah, the plunder vines are really boring and half the flashbacks are pointless. And this might be more of a part 2 complaint, but even though it was stupid of me to have expected canon to give us the epic clash between world-shattering powers that fanfic provides time and again, I still remain unfathomably disappointed in the portrayal of Nightmare Moon's defeat. :|
I must admit, I'm a little surprised at the general lack of enthusiasm for this episode. I had a very good time with it, certainly better than more than two or three episodes of S3. I'd say I enjoyed it a lot -- and foreknowledge of what happens with Discord in the finale doesn't bother me at this point. This is a bit odd, because I know I will be annoyed when we get to S9 and "Grogar" appears, but I'll see how that goes (much) further down the line.
DeleteIt's no Crystal Empire, but I've always counted this premiere as one of the less interesting of the show's run.
DeleteI am fairly sure which premiere I will be the least whelmed by, and, well, we haven't had it yet. :P
DeleteI just found this whole thing, both parts, quite dull. The vines never seemed like that serious a threat, and they just came out of nowhere. The whole theme of it is Twilight settling into her new role then being force to take full responsibility for something, but it never really felt like that to me. Even the title suggests this is a big turning point for her, but it's just another case of her having to personally save Equestria from another threat, which is nothing new to her. I did appreciate the historical look at Nightmare Moon, but otherwise, this has always been the definition of a forgettable episode to me. I'd rate it a high two or low three.
ReplyDeleteLooking back, I think I was pleased the Everfree Forest actually seemed like a real threat again after having been so badly diluted ever since S1 (timberwolves aside). True, that angle turned out not to be relevant for the vines, but still.
DeleteAs for ratings, looking at the general tone of comments here and contrasting them with the IMDb rating (admittedly weighted towards opinion at the time) it seems that in this particular episode's case, I'm with hoi polloi. :P
Well count me in with the hoi polloi then because I rewatched this episode a couple of days ago and enjoyed it very much indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt felt at the time, and still does feel, like a mission statement, righting the ship after the slightly bumpy landing at the end of Season 3 and putting us on an even keel going forward (to mix my metaphors slightly). After "Magical Mystery Cure" a slow paced story that has plenty of room to breath and just enjoy spending time with the characters is very much appreciated. And the show has never looked or sounded better- the lighting in the stained glass window scene is unforgettable, and the instrumental score is perhaps the best it's ever been.
There's too much plot clunkiness and contrivance for this to ever be a top tier classic, but there's no major missteps, there's some very nice care and attention to detail and it really does set a high standard for the rest of the season going forward.
Indeed, even now in 2021 I was startled by just how lovely the scene in the window room looked. Up until now, even in S3, it still looked a bit "early-series" -- but this was just plain lovely.
Delete