Mane Attraction Review · 6:22pm Nov 21st, 2015
Well, Season 5 is winding down, and with the penultimate episode of the season, we have Amy Keating Rogers' swan song. This season, she has given us "The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone" our first PinkieDash episode since Season 1, which also redeemed Gilda, "Canterlot Boutique" which furthered Rarity's character arc and introduced us to Sassy Saddles, and the mind blowing musical that was "Crusaders of The Lost Mark" which redeemed Diamond Tiara and gave the CMC their cutie marks. She has come a long way from the drama surrounding "Filli Vanilli".
So, did Amy Keating Rogers leave on a high note, or did she somehow slide back down? Well, let's find out.
We begin with Applejack organizing a concert for the "Helping Hooves Festival", and the show finally refereneces one of G. M. Berrow's tie in chapter books, specifically "Pinkie Pie and the Rocking Ponypalooza Party" (which is a good book that's definitely worth picking up).
Suddenly, Pinkie Pie comes bursting onto the scene, revealing that she was able to book the ultimate pony musical celebrity, Countess Coloratura. But Applejack doesn't know who that is. It turns out that she remembers a filly from friendship camp by the name of RaRa, who had a passion and talent for singing, particularly a song called "Equestria, My Home". But last she heard, said filly moved to Manehattan to make it big. It takes seeing a picture of the Countess' cutie mark for Applejack to realize RaRa and Countess Coloratura are one and the same. And we all know that Coloratura is voiced by Lena Hall, making her the fourth celebrity voice actor on the show behind John De Lancie as Discord, Ellen Kennedy as The Mane-iac, and Weird Al Yankovic as Cheese Sandwich and let's not forget that Cheese Sandwich was in one of Amy's episodes.
The Countess is managed by a pony named Svengallop who is incredibly petty, probably just as petty as Wind Ryder. I wonder if Amy is trying to top Spoiled Rich for the most hated pony, considering she was the one who created Spoiled Rich in the first place. And we all know how nasty she was.
Svengallop makes all these ludcrious demands, and refuses to let Coloratura show her face if it's not concealed by a veil, and controls her appearance. When Coloratura puts on a techno pop performance in "The Spectacle" which is obviously autotuned, Applejack is not impressed, and believes Svengallop doesn't have Coloratura's best interests at heart. Her concerns are proven true when, during a charity event with the school kids of Ponyville (in which Amy makes use of the new status quo she established for the CMC in her last episode) to decide who will have the honor of singing on stage with the Countess, he places even more absurd demands on Pinkie Pie, threatening to pull Countess from the concert if Pinkie Pie doesn't comply. Completely ignoring the fact that withdrawing from a chairty concert would make his client look really bad.
Applejack storms off to tell Coloratura about this, but she doesn't believe Applejack and just thinks her old friend is jealous. Rather than confront Svengallop about this, however, Coloratura continues to get ready for the opening night of the concert. Fortunately, Applejack has an idea, she whispers a plan into Coloratura's ears and instructs her to trust her. Later, during a meeting with Svengallop, Coloratura tells him she wants to cancel the school kids portion of the event, and Svengallop is overjoyed. He then goes off with Pinkie Pie to make even more demands, but thanks to Twilight, he is exposed in front of the entire audience, and Coloratura fires him.
By nightfall Coloratura is rather nervous, even though Rarity is helping her to prepare. But Applejack ressaures Coloratura that everything will be fine. Then, we get to the scene teased a year and a half ago at Comic Con in "I'm Just A Pony". A fully blown orchestral song that everyone loves. In order to thank Applejack for freeing her from Svengallop's overbearing ways, she invites the CMC onstage to perform "Equestria, My Home".
And that's the story, so what do I think of the episode? Well, it's pretty good. Lena Hall turns in a wonderful celebrity performance, and her character is quite nice. Applejack gets a chance to shine on her own for once, and all of the mane six are in character. But the CMC are just kind of there, for lack of a better way to describe their role. And much like with Wind Ryder, Svengallop's petiness makes him feel flat as a villan, even more so than Wind Ryder because his actions could damage his client's reputation. I understand that are some people in real life who are really petty, vain, and believe the whole world revolves around them, but with most people it's not so black and white. Villans like Trixie and Lightning Dust were enjoyable because of that. But it's only a minor nitpick for a wonderful farewell from Amy Keating Rogers, so I give it an A+, putting it above "Make New Friens But Keep Discord" which had an ending that felt sort of "Been there, done that", but below "Slice of Life" which was a bit more enjoyable throughout. Definitely a good return to form after the last couple of episodes. Goodbye, Amy, I hope Disney treats you well.
Next week, it's finale time! Starlight Glimmer returns and sends Twilight and Spike back in time so that they can't be around to stop her in the present, but in the process Equestria is changed completely, and it's up to Twilight to stop Starlight and make everything right. Let's hope the finale is as good and unexpected as the premiere!
Nightmare Moon returns!
Interesting. I would like to acquire it as well.
I've never heard of that vocalist prior to that episode. But god what a voice that woman has, totally suitable for her portrayed character. And, of course, I think of three essential Apple Family members (Applejack, Apple Bloom and Babs Seed) in the same manner as Countess Coloratura, so it makes sense that AJ would hang around with CC.
Very very nasty. She sort of sounded like a Sister Koch.
In the first place, I don't listen to Techno Pop music or music that is autotuned. My father and I prefer old-fashioned, soft, croony music...music that is much more on the mellow side, you might say. Yesterday, I took a listen to a true masterpiece that I placed on the stereo phonograph: Jerry Vale's rendition of the Fiddler on the Roof number "Sunrise, Sunset". Now THAT is what my father and I call music:
(Courtesy of Columbia Records by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing)
In the second place, what Svengallop did with her is just not right. That would constitute an actual sin against God; He requires Us to be very charitable.
The event in which SvenGallop was forcing Pinkie Pie to give in to his demands must have been just as aggravating for Pinkie Pie as the moment in which Clive Davis forced an album titled Tony Sings The Great Hits of Today!* to be issued was for Tony Bennett. I think the two can now absolutely relate to each other: They can sing, they can dance, they entertain mass audiences, they can get aggravated by being forced by certain people to do certain things...um...what else?
Each of the songs are spectacular. I wonder if the tracks for the latter were separated by RainShadow yet; I think I'm one of a growing number of people who would love to hear Claire Corlett's (and Scootaloo's) voice again.
It's quite an extraordinary episode, well worth its massive publicity and promotion (none of which was on-air) which appears to have paid off. Lena Hall's pairing with Ashleigh Ball was quite a treat; both of their characters (Applejack and Countess Coloratura) are very talented and gifted in the music field, as I stated earlier.
- Chas Finster in Rugrats In Paris: The Movie (USA 2000)
*from the Columbia Lp ''GREAT MOMENTS ON BROADWAY'', CL-2489/CS-9289, released by Columbia in April 1966. **(Columbia CS 9981, 1970)
3558662 Maybe.
Honestly,in regards to Svengallop vs Spoiled Rich, I personally hate Spoiled more, even though both are actually kind of similar in that they both had, for all intents and purposes, control over another pony's life.
And the reason I hate Spoiled more is simple:
The pony that she controlled was not just a filly, but her own daughter. And, by more or less controlling DT's life, she's also responsible for most of the torment that the CMC have gone through over the course of the series.
But next week, it's time for epicness.
There was one thing that made me enjoyed the episode. When Countess Coloratura said "hoofsies", I thought that was so cute. I wouldn't mind writing a story about her in the future.
Onwards to the finale and I have stayed away from all spoilers and leaks. It's gonna take a lot to knock Twilight's Kingdom off the top spot in my top 10 favourite episodes.
it was nice but I think Pinkie Pride was much better.
3565361 Agreed, I would say this is Amy Keating Rogers third best episode, with number 1 being "Crusaders of The Lost Mark".
3565788
I don't like that episode.
3565821 Why not?
3565837
FAR TOO RUSHED!!!
They should have made this into a long arc of like 6 episodes that were spread across the entire season.
3565858 A little foreshadowing would've been nice, but I think they did really well considering the 22 minute time span.
3565905
But still it was a very bad idea. Also Diamond Tiara's redemption came way too quickly and way too easily. They should at least let her keep her snobby personality, like Discord has. Now she seemed to have lost all resemblance of herself.
3565922 We don't know for sure yet. We'll have to wait until the next episode focused on her and the CMC.
3565956
Well in this episode she seemed pretty innocent. I would think that she would keep her hostile attitude.
3567362 She said her talent is getting others to do what they want, so I can imagine she'd still be a bit bossy from time to time.
3567615
but I would expect her to still have her snobby attitude, it's a big part of her character. Just like Twilight losing her short fuse.
Aren't you concerned about the drastic drop in quility in season 5? the writing is seriously declining. Many episodes have problems that could have been eliminated with some more editing.
3567627 I think the writing in Season 5 has been pretty good for the most part. I think the problem is, many of the original writers are no longer around, and we've had admittedly mixed results from our new writers. Some, like Nick Confalone have done pretty good, others, like Neal Deadsu, have bombed big time.
That being said, I would love it if writers like Ed Valentine or Corey Powell were brought back. Both could be great, if just given a little nudging in the right direction.
3567688
the writing is very weak, even for the better writers. The ideas are still as brilliant as ever but their execution isn't. Even Amending Fences could have used more polish, like that Twilight's friends were a little more resistant and they had made it clear just what their relationship was. It couldn't have been very close but it's left a little vague because Twilight didn't have close friends. Also Moondancer did seem a little overdramatic.
Also that leaving of writers isn't really there. The only one that left in season 4 is merriwiliams.
Nick Cafelone isn't a good writer. Party pooped is far below standard and Heartbreakers also is very in writing. The only reason why Heartbreakers seems better is because it's an easier story to write. Nick Cafalone isn't good, almost all of the bad writers are the ones that wrote for johny test. The 2 writers that were bashed before were the ones that also wrote for that show.
Also 3 of the episodes were made by the art director and all have turned out for the worse. Despite the reputation 'princess spike' is actually the best one. It's hated because it doesn't have any real redeeming values but the writing itself is actually better. Both Party Pooped and Do princesses dream of magical sheep were very bad writing.
Also the thing is that they were unpolished. In Party Pooped if the mane 6 got mad at the yaks it would have been very good. 'do Princesses dream of magical sheep' also has very poor characterization, Luna appears like a spoiled and irresponsible child.
3567740 I think you're being a little too critical, and missing a lot of things that make the episodes good. "Princess Spike" was bad because it swapped stories three times, as did "Scare Master". Pick one story idea and stick with it to the end, if it doesn't last for 22 minutes without believeable filler, scrap it and try again.
3567831
what do you mean with "three stories"?
However consistency if characters and lore is the most important thing and the other 2 episodes really hurt that.
3568036 And how were "Amending Fences" and "Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?" inconsistent, considering the former went all the way back to the pilot, and the latter showed that Princess Luna still feels guilt for Nightmare Moon?
3568224
the first one wasn't inconsistent but it was very vague and pointed in the wrong direction. Twilight didn't have any friends and those unicorns weren't real friends.
With Luna it's inconsistent because Luna never showed that guilt before and also because she acted so weak willed. Luna is very strong willed and much rather resorts to force and fear than cry like that. It's not that she can't feel guilty, it's the way it was done.
3568241 No one ever said Twilight didn't have friends before moving to Ponyville, they just said she never understood friendship before. They likely thought it was a friendship, but Twilight clearly didn't consider it one.
As for Princess Luna, we saw in "Luna Eclipsed" how much guilt she felt, and we've seen that Princess Celestia harbors a ton of guilt for Nightmare Moon as well. But you never see either of them break down and cry in public, it's called "Putting on a mask". You assume the princesses have to always be strong willed and never show any emotion besides anger. And we all know how flawed that arguement is. Having emotions does not make you weak, it's how strongly you are attached to your emotions that determines how strong or weak you are. A strong leader keeps their emotions in check, and knows when to surpress them if the circumstance is needed.
Considering what we were shown, Princess Luna clearly regarded the Tanterbus as her burden and her burden alone to bear. She never would've told anyone if it never escaped her dreams.
3568283
I understand that but they could have made that a little more clear.
Again it's not that I don't get that, it's the way they presented it. Luna appeared very weak and he wouldn't just lose her strength, she would keep it and mix it with her guilt. To suddenly switch to a completely different persona just isn't realistic.
Also why would she do something so dangerous? That's quite irresponsible.
Also explaining Luna's dream power through those wires was a very bad idea. With stuff like that it's better to keep it very vague so that the people can interpret it how they want. They did that with the elements of harmony and Discord and the tree as well. It allows people to make headcannons on to how it works and that was another reason why the show was so successful. Things were consistent but also a little vague.
3568283
the unfortunately thing I've noticed in season 5 is the lack of attention. MLP has thrived because the writers took the time to really read through the script and pay attention to details. These episodes contain many character inconsistencies and also lore inconsistencies never mind also continuity errors.
The new characters are more bland and the ideas less well thought out. It's like the staff is putting less effort into it than they did before.
To paraphrase The Mysterious Mr. Enter from his Ponyville Confidential review:
"Just remember that if you hate this episode because of Svengallop, then he wins and you don't want that."