Season Four Overall Review · 12:45am May 29th, 2014
Before we begin, let me say that all existing parts of Mezza Voce have been fixed, meaning Chapters 1, 2 and 3 are finished with revisions. Although Chapter 1 has been posted, the others will not be until chapter 4 (and maybe a chapter 5) have been completed as well. However, as it has taken me a long time to do the revisions in between life things, I am a bit rusty at writing new things. So, I will probably do a short one-off to get back into the game, but it may take a while since I only have weekends with my editor. Regardless, I want to thank you all sincerely for your patience and I hope the wait will be worth it and I'll have made the story better.
Without further ado, let's move on to this.
Season reviews, like Movie reviews, are different from a standard Episode review. They are not as long as movies, thankfully, but they do take a bit more time than an episode. Usually, they will follow the format where I talk about any season arcs and sub-arcs, music, comedy(or drama), and memorable events. I will then rate the season at the end based on the average of all of my arbitrary episode ratings, to conceive one giant arbitrary and not applicable at all number! Isn't that fun? Depending on reactions, I may do retrospectives for previous seasons as well, but that might be time I'd be better off spending writing and life things. Up to you. *Shrugs*
*Gasp* It's a wild Apple Jack!
Episodic series such as My Little Pony don't really have much of an arc to review, in most cases. Thankfully, this season has a solid backbone for me to flesh out: The Keys. Sub-arcs include The Equestria Games and the continuation of Discord's Reformation. While he may have been 'reformed' in season 3's Keep Calm and Flutter On it became clear in this season's opener that sentiments were not exactly mutual, but we'll save that for later.
Arguably eight episodes of the twenty-six episode season (~31%) has been spent on the Rainbow Power Box and finding the Keys of Harmony that unlocked it, giving us the new Magic Macguffin and a new playset, er, castle, for Twilight to live in. First introduced in Princess Twilight Sparkle (PT2), the box remained a mystery with no hits as to the promised season-long story arc until episode 8, Rarity Takes Manehattan where our favourite marshmallow gained her key from Coco Pommel in the form of a spool of (rainbow) yarn. After that, they keys seemed to flood in as the mane six had their elements challenged and, when they did so, inspired another to take up that aspect for themselves. Rainbow got her pin from Spitfre in Rainbow Falls, Pinkie received Boneless form Cheese Sandwich and we got a Weird Al Yankovic cameo in Pinkie Pride, Fluttershy earned a flower from Seabreeze the breezie in It Ain't Easy Being Breezies, Applejack was gifted a single bit from Silver Shill in Leap of Faith and, naturally, Twilight got hers in the finale from Discord.
This arc represents an interesting turn that the show is likely going to follow into come Season 5. The girls have already learned all about friendship for themselves, as Twilight did last season. Now, they are going to spread friendship together across the entire country. Hopefully, they'll actually give them all something to do instead of shaft Twilight for most of the season. In most cases, this arc was done reasonably well and did not come off as too ham-fisted given the nature of the thing the staff had to deal with. It also shows that despite the episodic layout, it is possible to weave a grand narrative; it just can't be too grand, sadly.
"All in one, one in all: that's the key!"
Next, we have the build up to the Equestria Games. Depending on your expectations and opinion of the titular episode at the end of the arc, this was either a hit, or a miss for you. Technically, the arc began back in season 3 with the symbiotic episodes Just for Sidekicks and Games Ponies Play. This arc also ties into the main season arc through Rainbow Falls, but also had the memorable and well-executed moral from Flight to the Finish. After the first half of the season, the arc goes silent to give way more to the other two until the payoff in Equestria Games. Personally speaking, I liked both the storyline and the final episode of this, even if many people say it's pointless. I've already said my piece in the episode review, so please go there for further comment..
*Knockoff Olympic Anthem plays*
Discord and his reformation began way back in mid-season 3 with Keep Calm and Flutter On. In the opener of this season, the finale and in Three's a Crowd we deal with seeing what life is like for the Draconequus and the mane six. The answer is pretty clear: Discord only cares for Fluttershy because she was the only one to give him a chance. When she goes, so too does any restraint or decorum he has; going to great lengths just to spoil a pony's day (or at least try to). This is made even more evident in the climax of the arc during Twilight's Kingdom when he willingly betrays them all, even Fluttershy, only to be slapped like a b(yay)tch by Lord T-Rex and realize what a jerk he's been and that Twilight, while she may not have liked him, is still willing to give him a chance. Will this arc continue next season? Or is Discord fully reformed once and for all? Only time can tell.
I always thought he got stoned mid-song. =/
The music this season has been stellar, as usual. There have been a couple of misses, but as usual, the more I listen to them, the more I tend to like them. For example, You'll Play Your Part from the finale is now a little better in my mind than Let the Rainbow Remind You, even if the choreography was stupid. But it's not just the numbers that is impressive; the background music and sound effects deserve a nod of the head too. Many times, they really help carry the scene, even if there is a lack of music or ambient sound (as demonstrated in Princess Twilight Sparkle (PT2)). Over all, the songs of this season are really well done and raise the bar once more. Now then, you might be asking what my favourites are. Well, here is my Top Four of Season Four!
(Keep in mind this is totally subjective. No reasons will be given either, so tough.)
4) Stop the Bats
[youtube=IRZrwei1RD4]
3) Find the Music
[youtube=Y-YsNL9YMe8]
2) Apples to the Core
[youtube=mtbdIjm6vC0]
1) Party Planner Pinkie Pie
[youtube=-slrm7JSvSQ]
"Got the moves, got the mojo: no harder working ponies around."
Comedy in a series like this is important to keep the audience invested. Thankfully, like every season before it, this one fails to disappoint as it keeps all involved engaged and entertained all throughout (unless it's something like Spike singing, which is GOLD in retrospect, but oh so cringe worthy on the first view.) But when you team up Pinkie Pie with the Ponyverse avatar of Weird Al Yankovic and things get really wild really quickly, what with live-action cuts done in an animator's basement of a balloon rubber chicken or looped stock footage of a baby alligator. It's like something out of one of his Polka remixes, I swear. That said, although the much anticipated cameo was a season highlight, it does not overshadow the rest of the season on the humour scene.
Cheese Sandwich commiting copyright infringement. *Gasp!*
We also received a ton of memorable moments and memes from this season, such as Twicane, the box, Scootaloo facing the fact that she may never fly, and Twilight eating like a pig with wings. For me, I'd say my favourite moment of the season would have to be when Pinkie's sister launches to her rescue faster than Rainbow Dash through the obstacle course and beats the ever-loving s(yay)it out of a boulder to save her in Maude Pie. Crouching pony, hidden bad-ass indeed. I'd also say when all of the girls are wearing the different Wonderbolt outfits in Testing Testing, 1, 2, 3 and Twilight is wearing an outfit like General Patton (I think. I'm not American). Oh, and Rarity's epic meltdown in Rarity Takes Manehatten! What was your most memorable moment from this season? Please, feel free to share them!
Watch out, Applejack. Somepony's out for your 'silly pony' title.
Before I give the seasonal score, let's list some things I like to keep track of.
Vinyl Scratch Appearance: Check +2 (That's an academy record!)
New Hearts Needed for Season 4: 3
New Hearts Needed (total): 12
Duck Faces: 4
Now then, on to the hard part. If you were to do all the stuff I said previously to me just to get a rating out of me, I would have to say that I rate this season a very well-deserved 813/1000!
Next time, I will be doing the Retrospective Review for the season 2 opener: The Return of Harmony! Until then, this is Ciroton saying, "Stay frosty."
... And in that moment, all of the Apple Dash shippers cried out in rejoice!
Psh! The Rarijack shippers still have AJ flirting with Rarity in the Crystal Kingdom, and their whole little old-married-couple spat at the trading bazaar!
My personal favourite thing is the fact that they decided to let someone
appear again. She's never going to speak or be given a name but at least she's not been banished or Chuck Cunninghammed.
Weird about the music this season. I'd honesty had a hard time recalling any of the songs except for Apples to the Core.
I did like the overarching plot points, though. It's this type of storytelling that keeps viewers involved and wanting to come back.
Not sure what we have to look forward to with season 5, but I'll be there to watch it nonetheless!