Another Thing · 10:19am Feb 3rd, 2016
Howdy-owdy-mowdy, FiMFiccers. Now, some of you may have been wondering why my latest stories have had practically zero Season 5 content (for those of you who bothered reading my latest stuff). Well aside from not wanting to hop on the bandwagon and follow the hottest fandom pony-gushing trend, the truth of the matter is I hadn't watched a single episode of the latest season... until just now. Yes, only a few months after the season finale have I gone to see the dang thing in its entirety, well after the hype had died out! In a sense it's a bit of a warm fuzzy feeling surfacing from this sea of fan reimaginings, deconstructions and epics to see the source material upfront as the creators originally constructed it before our crazed, bored imaginations got to work.
Well, since this is supposedly the halfway mark of a proposed 10 season run, and with me having watched the final two episodes here at lovely 3 in the morning, something special is in order. Thus tonight, for the first (and possibly) only time ever, I'm gonna do my very own season review, whereupon I dispense my own remarks, criticisms and praises, just like any other critic on the internet! (And like most of them, this will likely be overlooked and forgotten before it's barely even started)
So while I'm still recovering from a marathon buzz, here I present to all who cares for such things:
THE COMPENDIUM OF STEVE'S PONY EPISODE SUMMATION BLOG
(Well after the fact!)
So let's get started! (Also, I imagine reading the episode names in the voice of Mr. Poniator ala "What I learned today")
The Cutie Map: So we go with a step in a different direction in terms of opening two-parters, with the introduction of the season mcguffin leading up to the first major villain: Absolute Homogeneous Equality. It was interesting having the main six face off with a cult rather than some national catastrophe or eldritch baddie, although the creepiness levels were blaring Purple Kool-Aid Alert pretty early on. Now seeing all the various featured fics over the past few months have spoiled a good number of things about the season, so I more or less knew about Starlight Glimmer's deal, but she did make for a cunning enough villain, and it left me hankering for the mayhem she was to unleash later on. Also having the one-shot characters save the day was okay, though it's funny reflecting on it what little the main characters did in this opener. A bit disappointed that the Lance of Longinus Starlight uses was a fake, but meh, one can dream. Right, so I'll try keeping the next reviews short.
Castle Sweet Castle: An okay episode for me, with just about everyone traipsing around making a mess of things and Spike getting the short end as expected. Some tender moments there reflecting on past events, especially with the old Golden Oaks Library (that was my Librarium, Tirek you dick!). But yeah, still overall okay.
Bloom & Gloom: Not a fan of this one, since it was driving the same message into your head with the repeated dream fake-outs. Though it reminds me of this one comic from Season 4 about how Luna delights in traumatizing ponies' dreams just to "ease" their slumber. Neat that there was a CMC meeting in dreamspace, though.
Tanks for the Memories: Or as I like to call it, "Rainbow Dash experiences baseless fear and denial that makes her insufferable and almost causes a national catastrophe". I mean, seriously? "Mysterious Mare Do Well" had her pegged as really annoying and obnoxious, but she goes through all kinds of desperate stupidity. Stop winter, just for one tortoise? The whole crying scene at the end did nothing because OH MY GOD IT'S JUST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR GET OVER YOURSELF AND STOP BEING SO NEEDLESSLY AND UNCHARACTERISTICALLY STUPID!
Appleloosa's Most Wanted: The Troubleshoes episode, and I had some expectations about what he'd be like. Hadn't thought to consider him an Eeyore sort. I also find it questionable how incredibly incompetent Braeburn was overall with the whole, you know, losing sight of the kids TWICE in one day. And no Little Strongheart? Shame. But an alright episode.
Make New Friends but Keep Discord: First Discord episode, but boy was it a letdown. Petty jealousy I totally get, but why'd he have to be a total spazz in trying to get back at Fluttershy? Yeah yeah friendship is new to him, but an annoying Discord episode is unforgiveable! Also, what's the deal with Tree Hugger? How could anyone in their right mind find the things coming out of her mouth as the funniest thing, or particularly engaging to the point of giggliness? She's only babbling hippie nonsense, and that's it, that's her whole deal. She's only a stereotype. No real depth, dimensions, anything to make her more than a walking bag of Woodstockian tropes. I can tolerate the name, but not when she's a doped-out broken record. Oh, and non-singing Smooze? Missed opportunity. But a point for sock puppet dimension. And oh Celestia, you trickster you.
The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone: Not at all what I expected the Griffon Kingdom to be, so kudos to the devs for sidestepping my expectations. Wasn't fond of Gilda way back when, and not fond of her this time. Also it annoyed me just how money-grubby these birds were. So yeah, this didn't do much for me, unlike...
Slice of Life: Why can't there more episodes like this?? Seriously, this was a refreshing break from routine. No major catastrophes, friendship lessons, or focusing on the main characters' problems. Just a look at the day of everyone else in this happy technicolor town, and how they talk and behave when the main six aren't around, as well as seeing a bit of fan characterization injected in. Interesting to see Time Turner with a more Doc Brown personality, and of course Derpy talking multiple lines like an actual character, yay! And oh my god, Steven Magnet. They actually went with the name, and by god he was great. Lyra and Bon-Bon totally being really close friends (and having her use BOTH her names!) And that thing between Octavia and Vinyl, JUST FRICKIN' AMAZING! Kinda spoiled things the way they bookended a lesson at the very end the way they did. It's supposed to be under the pretense of a wedding speech, but they're pretty much shouting "HEY, WE HAVE ALL THESE SIDE CHARACTERS AND THEY'RE PRETTY COOL TOO. IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT OUR HEROES YOU KNOW!" I mean really, give your audience some credit. (And yes I know this is for little girls under the age of ten or so, but still, give them some credit)
Princess Spike: Spike gets in over his head... again... yay. Yeah, this did nothing for me. Maybe someday, Spike, you'll be the cool guy. Maybe someday...
Party Pooped: I read criticisms about the Yaks here, and yeah, they're needlessly whiny and violent. Hadn't expected the little Pinkie expedition, though. Fairly fun there.
Amending Fences: This episode... I really damn enjoyed. Another break from formula, looking into Twilight's past, before season 1 and what her life was then, interacting with old friends and seeing the repercussions of a single, seemingly minor selfish act. It was amazing that that one throwaway moment in the very first episode would come back to bite Twilight in the ass, and seeing Moondancer's little breakdown at the end got me teary-eyed, that poor girl. I've had a similar experience in past regrets, so this connected with me and left me feeling very fuzzy seeing it all resolve as it did, real touching. The first of my truly favorite episodes of the season. Also, book Twilight is damn awesome, and adorable.
Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?: An episode I was made aware of well in advance, and one I had high hopes for. But it just turned out to be okay. Dream battle was cool, but it's unfortunate that it's basically Luna having to deal with the same kind of schtick she's been struggling with. Also she really needs to work on her dream swagger (insert Doremy Sweet plug here)
Canterlot Boutique: This was a pretty good episode. Real laid-back, no major threats, and the "antagonist" isn't blatantly so. A Rarity episode done right, I say.
Rarity Investigates!: I'm a real sucker for that good ol' low jazz, noir setpieces. Funny when Rarity forgets how to monologue, and it was a nice little diversion for the fashionista to play detective. Although the culprit was pretty much marked even before the mystery began.
Made in Manehatten: Eh, nothing special. Not much going in it for me to recall.
Brotherhooves Social: This... was something special. A Big Mac centric episode, where he talks more than his other talking moments combined... while in drag. I mean, wow this episode. Not only does Mac voluntarily choose the rather insane option, and everyone goes with it, but what gets me is just how into his role he is. Like he's selling that s*** like his life depended on it, and I absolutely loved every moment of it. Aside from that, it was real tender seeing him feeling out of touch with his younger sibling and getting all melancholy about it, and that reconciliation at the end also got me teary-eyed. Among the favorites of the season here.
Crusaders of the Lost Mark: Interesting how they got Diamond Tiara to turn around to the side of good, and how everyone wouldn't put up with her BS any longer. Although why did their have to be six songs packed in for this? This is the kind of thing that ruined "Magical Mystery Cure", where you have to sing out a story rather than play it out in a more calm fashion. I guess it's more forgivable here since it's not a season finale, but even so six is just too much. Not so the case with the Weird Al episode cuz, well, it's Weird Al. You have him sing ALL THE SONGS!!
The One Where Pinkie Knows: Heh, who doesn't love seeing Pinkie go crazy over the smallest thing? But yeah, the episode that made it official that Cadance and Shining will be having a baby, and oh man how the fandom must've gone wild (if I had been there to experience it). Twilight's reaction: priceless, and adorable. So yeah Cadance and Shiny, congrats on the sex! You win!
Hearthbreakers: Wherein we see the other Pies. It was kinda okay, though it was interesting seeing all those clashing personalities having to live under one roof.
Scare Master: Well those made for some disturbing frights, Fluttershy. Good job. Overall, though, an alright episode. And fish dress slaps FOR THE WIN!
What About Discord?: Now this is more the Discord I wanted to see: manipulative, antagonizing, and oh so devious. Top Q-quality right here in providing his own lessons on friendship. Kinda ruined when they decide to do a reverse lesson on him in the last minute, but not by much. A rather good episode.
The Hooffields and McColts: Another episode spoiled early on, and I expected to not like it. But nope, it turned out alright, and fairly amusing. But oh boy, did the final seconds leave me eager for what was to come for the perky little princess.
The Mane Attraction: A pretty touching episode, all things considered. Coloratura was very well-rounded, and it was refreshing that she wasn't the antagonistic focal point, but rather the blatantly pushy and slimy manager. Songs in this one were great, and it almost made it teary-eyed by the end (I'm a sucker for piano). Another season favorite. And holy crap, Lady Gaga transformed into... Adele!
The Cutie Re-Mark: Wow, Starlight really came to be a formidably cunning and devious bitch. Just some spruced up magic and wits to bring dear Twilight to her knees, as well as bring about this alternate timelines that everyone's been writing about. It was great seeing my main man Sombra back, though why can't he still say anything? And Nightmare Moon was a treat to see when she's in total victory mode. But to wrap things up, it is an interesting route to take by having the major villain join the crew as the seventh friend. Will it go anywhere in the future? Will she be cast aside to the overall plot as much as Sunset Shimmer has? Probably, probably not. Only time will tell (heehee). Funny; the way it ended, this could have very well been the end of the series. The CMC have their Cutie Marks, Luna is at peace, Rarity has her Canterlot Boutique, and Twilight pretty much has things squared away both in past and present, with Starlight Glimmer to join her and the others on a heartfelt, untold adventure. Yes, what a fairly satisfying conclusion that would be... but nope! 5 more seasons gotta sell more merchandise MAKE MORE FANFIC FODDER GO GO GO GO!!!
Wow, okay, that's all of them. My neck is cramping and my fingers are fumbling over the keys, and as I'm typing this it's a quarter past 5 in the morning. Not the best idea typing all this in just one sitting, but hopefully someone out there was amused by my ramblings. So yeah, onto season 6, whenever that is. Right, too tired, off to bed. Good night. agh shoulder cramp
happy catch up! :D
Hey thanks man, i'll admit I've gotten behind myself.
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Celebrations for all! Although, typing up a review/commentary for an entire season in two hours wasn't one of my better ideas. But when you're still young you can be reckless every so often, right?