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| #RaiseThisHouse |
18 Apr 2015
My original rating: ★★★
IMDb score: 8.2
Thoughts: Those Twittermites! Not pleasant stuff for a TV-Y show, when you think about it, even allowing for them not being real. Anyway, the third and final of the loose "Luna in a Crusader's dreams" collection follows the other two in having some quite disturbing aspects, though this one may be the most so. At the time quite a few of us in the fandom wondered whether all the messing with cutie marks in dreams might be the then-absent Starlight's doing – but by the time Glimmy arrives again, we'll have had the massive show-stopping moment quietly foreshadowed at times here anyway. (Michelle Creber did the voice of AB's "shadow" too.) FiM never really decided to be consistent about the "destiny" aspect of cutie marks, but here in S5 may be where it was the treated as the biggest deal. The whole "you can't be in the CMC without a mark" thing was sensibly dropped later, though it was a real shame we never saw Babs again.* Luna was pretty nice in her short appearance in this episode, while there was dark amusement from Big Mac's expanded speaking role and much warmer stuff top-and-tailing the main story with Applejack's gentle, loving lullaby. I think this one can keep the high three I gave to it six years ago.
* Well, not in a speaking role. Even if they'd needed to find a new VA, it would still have been nice
Choice quote: Luna: "It's been a busy night for us all."
New rating: ★★★
Next up is "Tanks for the Memories", which I'm looking forward to as it sees Cindy Morrow writing Fluttershy and Rainbow interacting, something I like to see.
Ooh, I got a lot to say about this one! n.n
ReplyDeleteAgreed on the high three (possibly a low four for me), though I'm not particularly bothered by whether it's "grim" or leans too much on the ongoing cutie mark role confusion. For me, the fascination lies largely with Apple Bloom's drama.
Apple Bloom has been the most consistently obsessed with her cutie mark. That's how this whole subplot started back in Season One, that's why she's the unhappiest in "The Cutie Pox" when it initially doesn't work out, that's why she will suffer the most come "On Your Marks", and that's why - alone of the trio, who otherwise focused more on their relationships with their sister figures - Apple Bloom's dream episode goes right back to her cutie mark.
Seems a bit reductive, maybe, and I think it does err towards the shallow/one-note a bit as a result, but within that framework lies actually quite a few more layers, each touch upon per dream.
There's Apple Bloom's actual cutie mark and its social function (the first dream). There's her relationship with the other CMC's (probably the weakest section, I think, as they have to act the most blatantly OOC, but bear with me). There's her family relationships, which have been the most consistent and arguably deepest among the cast. And then there's her relationship with herself and her self-image, which is the root of the problem (consistent with the other CMC dream episodes, too!) and the one therefore that Luna takes the most active role in. It errs a bit towards the "checklist" approach, but I think that's more a consequence of trying to cram so many angles into one episode rather than (as I'd have preferred) playing them out over multiple. But it is effective.
Simultaneously the most delightful yet the most frustrating thing about this episode is that it touches upon the likely coming-of-age drama of a child going through this universe's equivalent of puberty and growing up to settle down into a societal role/responsibility. I actually prefer the semi-realistic sneak previews we get here over the treacly nonsense that actually goes down in "Crusaders of the Lost Mark", which I think fell back on the most inane and tired story shortcuts imaginable AND denied the same subtle maturity that kicked off the subplot in "Call of the Cutie".
But back to this current ep...
Basically, I really feel for Apple Bloom here.
DeleteAs much as it's ridiculous she never once considered these drawbacks in prior seasons as this episode maintains, now she IS considering them, her mind goes into overdrive trying to foresee all the coming problems. Condensed as it is, this is exactly the sort of fear and worry I'd expect Apple Bloom to have, and I'm glad so many angles are explored as a result, however quickly.
The dream structure means - since none of this is really happening - this turns into a more introspective and symbolic episode (something the other two CMC dream eps do as well, just not so thoroughly), which feels like a good fit for Apple Bloom and her self-obsessed insecurities. Yet it doesn't come across as selfish: just an exaggeration of natural worries anyone that age might feel. Apple Bloom in some respects has always seemed to me the most "real" (if that's the word?) among the CMCs, the most rounded and fleshed-out despite (or, in this case remarkably, BECAUSE) of her single-minded obsession. That's quite a neat trick to pull, if you think about it: a one-track focus, yet multi-dimensional too.
In short, I really like this episode. And yes, that does indeed include some of the gimmicky stuff, like the Twittermites, which is probably my favourite "We're Still Relevant, Damnit!" in-joke in the series. The surreal imagery definitely makes a cool contrast to Apple Bloom's mundane issues, a neat interplay of fantasy and realism I always like (favourite is the Apple family switching voices and becoming increasingly deranged). Also, the exterminator pony I wish had been a real character. He was fun, heh!
Like I said, the main thing holding it back is that it crams so much juicy drama into one ep, consigns it to a dream sequence, and then the arc never capitalizes on this goldmine again. Which is a real shame in context, and in my eyes it doesn't do the content the justice it deserves. But I suppose it's a backhanded criticism: must be doing something right if you want MORE of this stuff!
Wow, Imp has a lot to say about this episode, while I've always found it hard to remember it exists. I look at it this way.
ReplyDeletePrincess Luna visiting Scootaloo's dreams to help her with her fears was a stroke of genius that made good use of the characters and produced a classic episode.
Then the writers one day said, hey, you know how Luna helped Scootaloo that one time? Maybe she could help Sweetie Belle, too! And we got a classic episode.
And then they were like, well, okay, we had a Luna episode with Scootaloo and one with Sweetie, we should probably have one with Apple Bloom too. And they wrote an episode where Princess Luna visits Apple Bloom in her dreams. And it's easily the worst of the three, though solely by checking off a list. Not a horrible episode, but completely forgettable in every way.
Kind of like Apple Bloom herself. :V
Yeah... the "dumb hick" stereotype is strong with this one. While I realize that characters need flaws to be interesting, that doesn't mean that any flaw will make a character interesting, and "profoundly obsessive and dumb" is on the list to avoid for me.
DeleteI find myself lying somewhere between Impossible Numbers and Present Perfect here. I like all of the layers as regards Apple Bloom's cutie mark obsession, and the layers IN notes do all work. I don't have much to add there, frankly, though I think the checklist-y nature of much of the episode leaves it feeling repetitive and padded even when it actually isn't (the opening minutes until Apple Bloom gets her first dream, and the last four once Luna arrives, seem to just race by, compared to the bulk of what we get here).
ReplyDeleteYet… I cannot dispute this one being forgotten far more easily then the other two Dream CMC/Luna episodes, which are deservedly classics. There's just something lacking from the execution, not the right spark, a certain rote feeling to the proceedings. Perhaps it's kind of fitting for Apple Bloom, who of all the CMC has been the most inconsistent through the show, getting excellent showcases (hello, "Call of the Cutie") and many characters aspects (as IN notes), but often having them sidelined or clumsily executed in many of her episodes. It doesn't help that this one feels like its doing the Dream CMC/Luna thing to complete the trilogy (making it all the weirder how late Luna shows up), hence the checklist feeling Present Perfect notes.
I wouldn't want to take away from its fair share of fun moments - the exterminator pony, many of the dream visuals, the shadow, the Twittermites, Applejack's lullaby, these are all neat and great. It just doesn't end up being all that memorable in the end. I like this episode, and admire much of what it brings to the table. But I can't say I enjoy watching it more than moderately.
"Bloom and Gloom" – Production Changes
ReplyDeletePREMISE
While the Premise is thematically similar and shares some beats, its plot is quite different, so a full recap is necessary.
The CMC are excited about the upcoming Field Day (it is noted that any other Ponyville-wide event which DHX already has designs for will do), where the town’s ponies celebrate all manner of activities. As a day where ponies do what they excel at, the CMC are eager to try everything to get their Cutie Marks. Diamond Tiara tells them not to bother, as she and Silver Spoon have won Best All Around Ponies three years running, and have a lock again this year with a jewelry-making booth. When Scootaloo insists the CMCs will win as soon as they figure out what to do, DT sarcastically suggests the sack race, and the CMC concur to spite her. Meanwhile, Mayor Mare is worried the Apples have taken on too much, but Applejack assures her it’ll be fine, as they’ve even got out-of-town Apples pitching in.
Apple Bloom is very excited as she’ll be manning the cider booth alone and Babs is pitching in. However, a letter arrives - Babs took some beauty classes and got her Mark, but Mane & Tail Academy enrollment starts right away, so she can’t come. Applejack is surprised her Mark isn’t Apple-related - maybe her not coming is for the best. When Applejack thinks the workload is too much now, Apple Bloom insists that, even with the sack race, she can run the cider booth alone. Proud of her Apple determination, Applejack allows this as long as Apple Bloom doesn’t make a liar out of her.
At the fair, Apple Bloom gives the jewelry-making booth a try, and she’s a natural - even DT and SS are stunned. At this point, Apple Bloom’s Cutie Mark appeas - a jeweler’s tweezers holding a gem. However, Applejack is disappointed since the mark isn’t Apple-related. Now Applejack will have to run the cider stand herself since apparently Apple Bloom isn’t a real Apple.
Apple Bloom wakes up terrified. It was all a dream. Too scared to face her family, she skips the cider stand for sack race practise. Again, she’s a natural and gets a Mark of a sack of apples. However, she’s so good now her friends can’t keep up. At the race, they send a letter stating they aren’t coming because they feel they’ll hold Apple Bloom back. All alone, Apple Bloom wakes up - yet another dream.
This time, she tells the CMC she can’t do the race because she has to run the cider stand. When she doesn’t show up there either, Applejack and the CMCs confront her. She says she can’t bear to have them all reject her, running off. She only stops running on reaching the fair, but it’s deserted. Just as she thinks no one can reject her now, she sees the fair behind an infinite wall of glass, everything going great. She knocks, but no one hears her.
Desperate, she charges and it shatters, but as she runs through the fair, no one reacts to her. Luna appears, telling Apple Bloom they can’t hear her because she was never there. Luna shows what would happen - Applejack has to disappoint the Mayor and closes the cider stand, and DT/SS mock the other CMCs who can’t compete in the race without a full team. Apple Bloom realises she’s terrified of getting the wrong mark, worried others might reject her. Luna tells her that everypony she cares about care about her just as much - they’d only reject her if she wasn’t there for them.
Apple Bloom wakes up for real, knowing what to do. She runs the cider stand fine, getting much thanks from the family. Next the CMCs win the sack race easily. Apple Bloom tells her friends it’s okay they didn’t win Best All Around Pony or get their Marks, what matters is they’re always here for each other. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon don’t win either - Best All Around Ponies goes to Snips and Snails. Under Fluttershy’s tutelage, they raised the smartest pig in Equestria.
[outline below]
[continued from above]
DeleteOUTLINE
The outline is generally very accurate and close already, something seen in “Castle Mane-ia” and “Simple Ways”, cut content notwithstanding. Sensing a pattern with Haber’s work here, one that may have contributed to him getting the Story Editor gig.
A lot of the notable differences are just events being more padded: the 2nd dream of the CMCs splitting has the other two setting up a new clubhouse in Rarity’s boutique, saying they can’t really use Apple Bloom’s any more; and after Luna shows up, there’s a padded Scooby-Doo chase scene (again, Haber?) of Apple Bloom fleeing from a cutie mark tornado that burst when the hooded pony (not a shadow here) was revealed to be her, with Marks from the tornado occasionally latching on and forcing her to do their talents. Eventually, Apple Bloom stops as Luna is suggesting, and digests Luna’s advice enough for the tornado to morph back into a shape of her. Finally, the dream ends with Apple Bloom being reassured - instead, the CMCs have a meeting at the episode’s final scene, covering all the same content in the dream in the final episode, just without seeing the dreams of the other two.
By and large, these changes are all wise, condensing events or shuffling them around for better story structure.
SCRIPT
The script evolution for this episode is really quite unremarkable. Once one omits incidental dialogue changes not worthy of interest, it's mostly visual revisions, which are themselves only so interesting since they got revised further at the storyboard stage.
* In the 1st script, the first half of the scene of Applejack putting Apple Bloom to bed was in their bathroom with Apple Bloom brushing her teeth. Scripts often cut bathroom scenes - maybe Hasbro has a reason against them? It was unnecessary visual baggage anyway.
* In the 1st script, the Pest Control Pony has a name, Bugsy Mapone. He lists off two other types of bugs before Twittermites: Sledbugs, bugs that skate, only a problem in winter. And Flicks, which cause Rhyme Disease, something Zecora has covered due to being able to pass on zebras' natural immunity (yes, the joke is that Zecora isn't immune or does it by choice…)
* How the pest control devices work changes with each draft. It was a bulky treadmill thing at first that spouted smoke to make the Twittermites scatter. The 2nd draft had the gun shooting a net and selling the bugs in, which ended up trapping Apple Bloom when she tried to use it after losing her Mark.
* Until the Polish draft, the final dream before Luna shows up, of Apple Bloom's mark continuously changing, involved a Hall of Mirrors where each reflection sported a different mark. Possibly revised to be less expensive to animate?
* Scootaloo rattling off bad things about apples, added in the 2nd draft originally had cutaway gags to each thing in question. This was cut by the next script.
* In the first two drafts, Applejack's lullaby, and its subsequent appearances, were reprises of Apples to the Core, from "Pinkie Apple Pie". This was changed to the original lullaby in the Polish draft, only requiring one line change next draft to match what we got.
[animatic & final thoughts below]
[continued from above]
DeleteANIMATIC & OTHER CHANGES
Based on the final script, the trimming was almost fully tiny dialogue cuts not worth recounting. Only one notable cut!
* At the end of the final dream, when the CMC decide to make a care package for Babs, they start to assemble a care package, but the gathered objects all change into other wacky things. Then, like in the episode, Apple Bloom suggests they wait until they wake up.
But, a lot of the dream visuals were different. Notable revisions include.
* The Twittermite gun doesn’t suck them up - Apple Bloom’s voice makes them go up it of their own volition (which better explains why she doesn’t suck them up later when her mark is gone, that function was added in storyboard).
* Pinkie Pie in her Nightmare Night rooster costume floating by the window wasn’t in the script, and seems to have been just a giant rooster in the initial animatic too.
* When Apple Bloom’s family throws her out, the script doesn’t specify that their voices come out of each other’s bodies - that was a DHX addition! Perfectly creepy in a way that works for a TV-Y show.
* Apple Bloom turning back and forth and her Mark changing every time we see it again was originally done with her opening and closing a door that had a mirror on the inside. She also runs through it like a ripple to get to the forest, instead of just running offscreen and cutting to it.
* Sweetie Belle’s nightmare had her in a weird whack-a-mole game, rather than failing a singing audition.
* Scootaloo runs up the wall and stands on the ceiling rather than flying around during the final clubhouse dream. Great additions, of course she’d want to fly!
Animatic feedback was very unremarkable - three visual tweaks, praise for some killer gags or additions, and concern that Luna sounded sweeter than usual. DHX said they’d check for alternate takes or get pickups if needed.
And, as has been said by Jim Miller publically, Ashleigh Ball sang the lullaby to her own tune, not a provided one, with William Anderson composing music to match in post later.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
The Premise had a lot of differences, but the rest of the documents echo most past Haber episodes in being very close from the get-go, with mostly just tiny dialogue and visual tweaks. Even the animatic cuts are very unremarkable, with mostly just tiny word and line cuts, though a fair few dream visuals were altered.
As for those Premise changes? It does read as being maybe too much to fit into 21 minutes, and refocusing the start to be more about the dilemma of getting a bad Mark makes structural and thematic sense, especially for the target audience. And it is a tad unfocused. That said, the final episode seems weirdly padded (and unnecessarily so - we coil have easily gotten more great Luna content that justified itself rather than holding her back until the last 4 minutes). Ultimately, overhauling the episode to be less expansive (and less expensive to animate!) makes sense. Perhaps some of the conceits from the Premise could have been neat to see, though.
NOTE: This is the last episode where I documented production changes comprehensively. To facilitate getting through these quicker in the future, future episodes will only note as much as can fit in two comments here (or less if there isn't even that much, as we'll see next week). This will mean omitting more than before. I will do my best to make these more of a highlights reel going forward, focusing on the most interesting parts. Maybe less will be more!
"Best All Around Ponies"? XD What the hell were they thinking? Especially if it's something DT & SS can win one year, and Snips and Snails can win the next.
DeleteMan, the triumphant return of Babs Seed to the actual show would have been something worth remembering, good episode or not. Too bad that still wouldn't have happened!
And not to be a broken record, but reading that initial treatment, I thought it was a completely different episode! I remember literally nothing of this beyond the Twittermites, the dream monster being AB, and the lullaby. Which I also thought came from a different episode.
I agree this was the worst of the "Luna helps a CMC" episodes, but I still think it's a good one. The repetition that she can't wake up from is a nice distraction, and just as it could start to become old, it gets creepier. I'm not sure the moral itself is that great, and while I'd say it's also something that should have been pretty self-explanatory to her, this is also a world where they need a school to teach them "be nice to each other," so... YMMV. I do like the idea of someone getting a cutie mark they didn't like, which is something I've always been curious about. For that matter, take Dr. Caballeron's. Maybe they couldn't know what it'd mean when he first got it, but some of his henchponies sure seem to have ones that would foretell the life of a goon. I guess their parents didn't care? Starlight needs to start up a cutie mark rehabilitation program to treat ponies destined for badness.
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