Castle Sweet Castle review, reminding you that Twilight’s library was blown to bits. · 10:20am Apr 12th, 2015
Be Stronger by panyang-panyang
My choice in cover picture is usually a struggle between one that references the previous episode or one that could relate to the current episode I'm reviewing. The latter can be tricky to do though given the episode usually has only just finished airing when I start writing up the review. Luckily, this artwork has been around for quite some time, and was so appropriate I decided to include it.
Anything New?
I'm late enough with uploading this episode review as it is, and am unfortunately a little behind on having rendered videos ready to upload to my YouTube channel. As such, I won't be commenting on much here this time.
Other Episode Reviews of The Cutie Map
I like to try and refer people to other episode reviews so they can get as wide a variety of opinions as possible. So here are a few to read if you wish to.
NintendoGal55
Thejboy88
Strebiskunk
Episode Review of Castle Sweet Castle
I like to be able to watch and review these episodes as quick as can be. It annoys me when I cannot get these first impression reviews out as quick as can be, and I’m always in a state of worry when a livestream I’m watching starts to freak out. Luckily, it was only the song that had problems, and I was able to quickly watch the Make This Castle A Home song before writing up this here review.
As for the events of this episode, they begin off with Twilight helping Fluttershy bathe animals. Twilight is rather persistent in prolonging the task, and is apprehensive about returning to her castle. It is only the following morning that Twilight’s friends (easier than saying each name individually) find out why Twilight has been avoiding her castle, it doesn’t feel like home to her. Ragged from avoiding her castle via keeping herself busy helping her friends, Spike takes Twilight to the spa whilst the rest of the Mane 6 set about making the castle more homely for Twilight. When differences emerge in how about they make Twilight’s castle homely, Twilight’s friends are stuck trying to figure out how to make the castle more homely before Twilight gets back, whilst Spike has to stall Twilight for as long as possible.
First things first, there is plenty of humour to be found in this episode. Castle Sweet Castle has both hilarious scenes and hilariously delivered lines, I'd say just about every character has a moment of comdey. From hidden party canons to effectively presented scenes of comical awkwardness (a hard thing to manage), along with Spike's bluntness, had me laughing most of the time through this episode. A huge grin appeared on my face in particular towards a scene wherein Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash relay various events concerning Twilight's over-eagerness to help.
Speaking of Spike's bluntness, a character trait that comes into play twice during this episode, it is put to great use in one scene in particular. Said scene involves an interaction between Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy, that is both comical and reflective of their friendship. I’ve talked of the former quality in this review, but as per the latter, character interactions are fantastic in this episode. They come in two forms for most of this episode, the interactions between the Mane 6, bar Twilight, and the interactions of Twilight and Spike. Of the former, disagreements emerge between each of them in regards to the design of the castle, and yet the way the characters argue within this episode does a brilliant job of representing their friendship. The characters go from avoiding criticising each other, to passively aggressing complaining, yet never once do they get genuinely angry. Much like with how the season premier promoted the concept of being friends even with different opinions, this episode continues that theme through the character interactions. Spike and Twilight’s character interactions meanwhile are sweet, considerate, humorous, and also a source of feels within this episode. Every scene with the two of them in was a good one, albeit for differing reasons.
One other neat little positive was the way in which this episode referenced past episodes. The ending in particular goes about referencing them, but before that the episode delivers references to Sonic Rainboom and Look Before You Sleep.
As for the negatives of this episode, I’ll admit, there aren’t really many to list. You could say that another positive to this episode is the seemingly lack of negatives. The song that features in this episode, Make This Castle A Home feels off in a manner that I can’t quite describe, but even that had a comical moment from Rainbow Dash and a better, albeit short, reprised version sung later on.
Really, there is only one negative I’d point out, and yet it’s a rather key one. The mistake that the Mane 6, bar Twilight, make within this episode is very stupid. This will be a slight spoiler, but before Twilight leaves with Spike to allow her friends to redecorate the castle, Twilight comments that her friends know her better than anyone else. So for some reason, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy proceed to redecorate the castle with themselves in mind. Sure, they realise something is wrong immediately afterwards but are unwilling to admit it to each other, but they don’t get to the main reason why it went wrong until later on in the episode.
I feel the episode could have gone in a… smarter direction as it were. Instead of the Mane 6 focusing on decorating the castle for themselves, it would have made more sense for them to have tried to decorate the castle with Twilight in mind but feel that something is missing each time. They could have even included both ideas, if they had allow the Mane 6 to realise why their decorating went wrong much quicker. As a result of the direction they did take with this episode, whilst it is funny, it lacks a touch of intelligence and emotional depth… for most of the episode.
This episode is funny, looks wonderful, and has each character’s personality on full display. It’s greatest strength comes in the form of its emotional moments towards the end, both with Twilight and Spike mourning the loss of the Golden Oaks Library, as well as Twilight’s friends figuring out what was needed to truly give the castle the homely touch it needed for Twilight. The message it delivers is important and delivered effectively, and all in all, very touching. The song didn’t do much for me, and the episode progressed in a way I wasn’t too fond of, but the humour along the way as well as the end destination makes it an enjoyable experience. I rank Castle Sweet Castle a Good episode, and award it a 7.5 out of 10.
You know, the part at the beginning of the episode where Twilight dried Angel Bunny off after bathing him reminded me of a scene from your story 'Magnetism'.