I'm going to say that I actually disagree with how the Pinkie Rap is entertaining to watch. You'll hopefully find out why I say that if you get the chance to watch Joshua Burner's analysis video on the episode from the website FOB Equestria, since his views on the episode are similar to mine. I say that you should definitely check that out.
Uh, so what? Even if you didn’t like it, it was a scene that didn’t really take anything out of the episode. It was just another of the different ways her friends were trying to help Rainbow that obviously didn’t work.
And I don’t mean to beat a dead horse. Or strike a beehive with no protection because of different views on the subject. But AKR having Pinkie Rap was far better then Pinkie’s attempts to “help” in Filli Vanilli. Which was Amy Keating Rodger’s previous episode.
TESTING, TESTING, 1, 2, 3 THOUGHTS
Woooo that was a pretty cute episode ^^
This episode is probably one of those that are really worth a rematch since on a 2nd watch you’ll get to hear more on the Wonderbolts history. It’s awesome when an episode makes it worth it to rematch to catch some pretty juicy details that you couldn’t get by just watching the episode once. Actually besides the history, on my 2nd watch I realized there was a subtle reference to events of the Crystal Empire when Rainbow said that Twilight does complete arias about freaking out over a test. In reference to the Failure song in Crystal Empire. Oh and there was also some foreshadowing for Dash’s ability to pinpoint details while flying casually at the beginning of the episode. Really smart thinking was done in this episode.
The conventional study moments at the beginning were pretty funny to see Rainbow Dash getting bored of Twilight’s methods. Pinkie Pie rapping, Angel and Opal as Celestia and Luna were also entertaining bits.
Though on just those two alone I wasn’t so sure how this was going to end and it felt like this one was only going to be only only a little above average like last week’s episode was. But then we got a pretty cool ending where we learn that while Rainbow Dash doesn’t learn the same way most ponies do. She somehow absorbs details without actually thinking about them when doing what she loves to do the most: Flying. It was incredibly cool to see Twilight and Rainbow just talk out like normal, and the reveal of what was going on at the ground while they were talking. This was a great episode for both Rainbow Dash and Twilight as they both learned a great lesson.
My only complaint may be that why is Applejack offering to help with the history of Apples when that had nothing to do with what Rainbow was preparing for. It’s not really that amusing in the show if Applejack’s answer for everything is “Apples!” unless this was a parody.
But that doesn’t outweigh what came out good from this episode. This was probably the first proper Twilight & Rainbow Dash combo episode. As the other ones also had a bit of focus on Daring Do. Daring Don’t especially more so. And that’s really great to see. If the April Fools thing last Tuesday wasn’t any indication, I’m a bit of a closet TwiDash shipper. And because of that, I really love we got a scene where Twilight and Rainbow are just flying side-by-side in a completely normal conversation. Now I’m not saying that the relationship is canon, as in reality I’d like any long-lasting relationships regarding main characters stay far away as possible with a show like this (Especially regarding a certain you-know-who from Equestria Girls…). But this is one of those scenes… no this is one of this episodes you can really see the dynamic between the two characters. People love episodes focused on two ponies because that’s the most potential for character interaction. And in this episode, there was tons more interaction between Twilight and Rainbow then in all of Read It and Weep & Daring Don’t. For all of intents and purposes, we finally have our “TwiDash” episode when we’ve had AppleDash (Fall Weather Friends, RariJack (Simple Ways), and AppleShy (Bats!) episodes in the series.
Whenever I’m asked what I love most about this series, it’s the characterization. And the many combinations of interactions that come between the Mane 6 who are all vastly different. There’s no other show out there that makes me want to see how the ponies react to situations, even if it’s an episode that’s been done a million times before in other shows because I love each and every one of the Mane 6’s personalities. Every new episode, I’m waiting for the chance that the Mane 6 will do something that will make me laugh, smile, or even feel sympathy for when they’re not in the best position during the episode. So while I may not want TwiDash to actually hook up in the show, I feel like Twilight & Rainbow is one of the most potentially interesting combinations to watch. And that’s why I enjoy this episode a great amount possibly more then most episodes other then of course this season’s Masterpieces (That would be the Opener & Pinkie Pride). It’s a dynamic that I’ve wanted to see heavily since Season 3 ended, although I kinda hoped it’d be more about Flying Lessons for Twilight instead of this. But that’s not to say this wasn’t a welcomed idea for the two to explore.
Oh and I can say that we now have a 21st episode of a season that’s pretty good. While not as famous as the “Episode 8 Curse” since there’s only two episodes to go by. Over a Barrel might of not been too bad, but it’s usually hit with the usual Season 1 Dave Polsky political controversy banter. And Dragon Quest was just a missed opportunity on a lot of things. In Season 4, both episodes 8 and 21 are generally good episodes and brings this season much closer to becoming my new favorite.
It looks like we get of a longer break between episodes though. As the next episode isn’t until the saturday after this one. We’re only 5 episodes and 4 total weeks from the end of the season (Since the Finale was confirmed to be just like with Canterlot Wedding, Crystal Empire, and Princess Twilight Sparkle all in one day.)
Ok I've dropped by this point, so I'm going to talk about something else. I would say that in my opinion, the episodes that are considered the worst in the series, I can actually forgive, because despite some problems that I'll acknowledge they have, I still say are funny and entertaining.
Yeah generally the thing is. When we’re talking about bad episodes. We mean as in bad in terms of Friendship is Magic standards.
Some of the bad or even just ok episodes of the show would be considered good or at least average in other shows. (Like say if Mare-Do-Well was in a show solely based on Superheroes as opposed to Friendship is Magic)
For me at least, Somepony to Watch Over Me on the other hand, I can never forgive the episode in my opinion, because the new writer had to have it end up with sending such an offensive and destructive message to kids. Including with how Applejack, despite disobeying Granny Smith's orders, and how her overprotectiveness is what drove Apple Bloom to do something so reckless in the first place, yet her sister does not call her out on it, not even towards herself, is allowed to get out scot-free.
I think it’s best we either drop this or move on to something else. We both explained to eachother why we think Rainbow Falls and Somepony to Watch Over Me are the worst episode of Season 4 so far from me and you respectively. I will admit StWOM was not really the greatest episode but it just never bothered me the way Rainbow Falls have had. Somepony to Watch Over Me isn’t even the first supposedly bad episode I enjoy regardless.
Examples: Bridle Gossip hasn’t aged well. I used to think it was around the Top 5 in Season 1. But it’s dropped down a few pegs as of recent. I still think some of the comedy like Twilight’s sarcasm at the beginning and the Poison Joke effects on the Mane 6 save it from dropping too low.
The Show Stoppers is another episode I often see upon worst lists. And maybe it’s just because I have a bit of a special connection with the episode since it was the first one I watched on Live TV. (I had marathoned the first 17 episodes prior to it) but I find it a tad underrated. It does get kinda stupid though when it seems this episode revealed what the CMC’s talents are but not one of them have their Cutie Marks still.
While I do say Owl’s Well That Ends Well is a bad episode so it’s less of a bad episode I enjoyed more then most. It’s the ending of the episode that I really love, and it’s what got me into thinking about Twilight being like Spike’s Mom which if you’ve seen my ask blog. Has escalated to the point where I made a pretty long arc where Spike and Twilight decide they’d officially be Mother and Son to eachother. So if nothing else, the last few minutes of the episode has a special thing between them that not even the few good Spike episodes tend to have. And save it from being close to the bottom of the barrel like say… Spike at your Service.
Do you appreciate even the bad episodes like "Rainbow Falls" for the positive things they have? Such as the return of our beloved Derpy?
I do, yeah. It was great to see Derpy have an appearance not only for just a few seconds like in Magical Mystery Cure but actually a few scenes to herself reminiscent of some of her parts in Season 2 (Ex: Derpy bobbing for apples inside the tub in Luna Eclipsed).
And for what it’s worth. Even Mare-Do-Well had this kinda touching scene where Rainbow Dash is sad about being alone on a cloud.
That's fine, it's just since I do have very close ties to my family, I feel that the one thing I couldn't stand the most for me in the episode was the message, which as least for myself, really can't stand, and feel that it sends such a destructive message to the show's target audience, especially when compared to the supposed "controversial" moral that Feeling Pinkie Keen had. If you don't view it the same way, possibly due to family issues not of any importance to you, I can understand that.
Oh no, I definitely view Family issues as important. Some of the best episodes of FiM were something involving Family (Sisterhooves Social, Pinkie Apple Pie, Maud Pie, For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils, etc.).
It’s just I’m all “meh” about the Moral for the episode when I enjoyed the many entertaining bits in both the comedy and the Chimera scenes.
Bridle Gossip didn’t have that good of a moral execution either, but I still remember the episode most for bringing us fun things like Flutterguy.
Maybe you'll have a better understanding on why Rainbow Falls isn't the worst episode of Season 4, while Somepony to Watch Over Me is the worst, by watching both of Joshua Burner's (aka Commander Firebrand) video analyses for both episodes on YouTube or on the FOB Equestria website. Since his views on both episodes are similar to mine as well, you'll see that there's a difference between the way they presented a moral in both Somepony to Watch Over Me and Feeling Pinkie Keen.
I appreciate requesting me to see a particular reviewers thoughts of an episode to explain your reasoning. But I could really do the same the other way around. Like Mr. Enter’s review of Rainbow Falls where he’s even harsher on the episode then I was, or ANYPony’s Top 5 Yay and Neigh list for Somepony to Watch Over Me. Although ANYPony had an initial negative reaction to the episode and still put the main problems with the episode at the top of his neigh list. He admits that the episode was better then what he was thinking in his first impressions thanks to the things he found good within the episode on another watch. We’d just be linking eachother videos from reviewers we generally agree with and the other doesn’t.
From this point on, it might be best to just agree to disagree at this point. If Somepony to Watch Over me is what you think is the worst episode of Season 4. Fine. What I think we should be able to both agree though, is there’s at least one stinker in Season 4 out of 20. Which isn’t such a bad stat when you think about it. Not even the first two seasons could say they have only 1-2 bad episodes through 20 episodes. It’s a testament to how great this Season has been. ^^
I feel that Somepony to Watch Over Me is the worst, because despite how it had introduced a few creative and interesting ideas (namely with the Chimera), that and a few other entertaining and funny scenes, I could not let the episode slide for having the worst moral in the entire show. That it's okay for a family member to risk their life, and disobey your family's orders, just to show that you can look after yourself, and being proud of him/her for it?! I'm sorry, WHAT.
Anonymous
Again this is why I compared it to Feeling Pinkie Keen. FPK is regarded as one of the worst morals of the series because many misinterpreted as “Accept that religion exists”. Once again, Scott is being Season 1 Dave Polsky here. And yeah looking back at the said moral it is a bit forced after this episode.
But er, about Rainbow Falls explicit moral…
“Oh, I can’t deny it. I love to win! But if I ever have to choose between winning and my friends, I’m always gonna choose my friends. ‘Cause as much as I love winning, I love them waaaaay more.”
Was this not something we knew about Rainbow Dash from as far back as the pilot episodes? With the Shadowbolts? A large part of Rainbow Falls was Rainbow making a decision that she made in 5 seconds back in the pilot. Or heck if you want another example look no further then Wonderbolt Academy where Rainbow nearly quit her dream of being a Wonderbolt after it seemed like they were catering to assholes who nearly killed all of Rainbow’s best friends and held no remorse afterward.
You know what I still don't feel that Rainbow Falls is considered as the worst episode of the season. Because it was at least entertaining, an interesting and relatable conflict (even though it did have a pretty weak execution), and overall moral that works as good character development for Rainbow. I would actually say that the only episode I consider bad in the entire season so far would be Somepony to Watch Over Me.
Anonymous
I don’t really agree there. The main problems I hear about Somepony to Watch Over Me was that it overexaggerated Applejack’s overexaggeration. And while I definitely think that is true, there are some other things that I enjoyed. Although, Scott Sonneborn did get AJ a bit wrong, what he did wrong for Applejack he made up for in writing the CMC. All three of the CMC were pretty good. Maybe part of the reason this episode gets flack is it makes the kids smarter then the adults as a result of this. But regardless stuff like the canceled song and “How does she (Applebloom) sleep?” “Like she does everything! With sass!” were wonderful bits of comedy.
There was also the pretty awesome action sequence at the end. I really wasn’t expecting alot from this episode to begin with, it’s definitely the lesser of the three sister related stories that we got in a row it seems (Somepony to Watch Over Me -> Maud Pie -> For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils). But honestly I feel it was just a pretty average overprotective sister episode with a few noteworthy laughs for the first half, and then a sudden new location, new monster, and excellent action in the 2nd half. Maybe this was because my expectations for this episode were a bit low to begin with. But honestly thanks to the 2nd half it was a little better then I expected it to be.
Granted I wouldn’t say it’s one of the best of the Season it’s definitely one of the weaker episodes and probably will be somewhere in the Top 5 least favorite episodes of the Season by the end. But I think some people are overreacting to this episode as if Scoot Sonneborn just did another Mare-Do-Well. I’ve already seen people expecting to hate his next episode next season simply because they heard he wrote it. And I don’t quite understand their pessimistic view just because of Somepony to Watch Over Me, as if he’s the new Merriwether Williams. Heck with how I said the episode was funny, If anything I’d say Scott Sonneborn is more like the new Season 1 Dave Polsky right about now. As Feeling Pinkie Keen is often stated as a guilty pleasure just for the comedy alone. Maybe to some like me, Somepony to Watch Over Me is exactly that as well.
Other then Derpy’s reappearence. And Some of Rainbow and Twilight’s characterization. I can’t say the same for Rainbow Falls. And believe it or not, I’m been a bit kinder to Rainbow Falls then some others. I don’t think it’s the worst episode of the series, but I definitely feel it sticks out like a sore thumb when we’ve had plenty of consistently good or at least decent quality episodes so far.
Also, I didn't feel that Equestria Girls was all that bad either. I mean yeah it had a bad climax, a villain that had the potential to be interesting but missed that opportunity, and a romantic subplot that's completely pointless, uninteresting, and out-of-nowhere. Yet I actually thought it was a decent film just because of how hilarious it was overall, such as their take on alternate-world Celestia by having her as the no-nonsense deadpan somewhat snarky authority figure unlike her counterpart.
I thought Equestria Girls was just ok. It wasn’t completely terrible, but not exactly what I’d call good either. Megan McCarthy might be my 2nd favorite writer of the show, but I know she kinda dropped the ball on this movie.
Here’s a few things I liked: Spike. Oh Spike was awesome in the movie, it was like we had Spike from Lesson Zero back where he’s there as Twilight’s back. Although I initially hated the fact they seem to have demoted Spike to a dog, he turned out to be one of the best parts of the film. I also liked the first few minutes before the opening credits which has the funniest part of the entire movie…yes I just said I liked the part where it’s still based around the ponies :P Oh and I guess I have to admit that “Help Twilight Sparkle Win the Crown” was too catchy to leave off the good lists. And I also admit I enjoyed many of the fanservicey jokes like Trixie getting Peanut Butter Crackers or the CMC checking Youtube.
But other then that… yeah… the story just isn’t very strong. Like you said Sunset had potential as a good villain but she just wasn’t done very well. The whole thing with Flash Sentry should not have happened at all, and a bit of a bizarre climax.
I really see Equestria Girls as more something that’d be a guilty pleasure for those who like it. It’s overall as a whole better then some of the worst episodes of the show but it’s about as good as an average episode and that’s kinda the problem with the movie since generally a Movie should aim for something that the show can’t offer. There are many episodes of Friendship is Magic that I could feel satisfied throughout all 22 minutes then at any moment in the entire Equestria Girls movie.
I will give Equestria Girls 2 a chance when that comes out online. And I personally hope there’s a few things that are different with this one. I kinda hope the movie is filled with just fun moments like that Vinyl Scratch short we got. Even though that was confirmed not to be part of the actual film, if the movie is chock full of fun moments for us the fans to enjoy, I could see this being alot better then the first movie. Don’t try to pull us in with a story to try to take seriously when the concept of the movie was “Pony travels to an alternate dimension to attend high school”.
