Thoughts on the episode 'Over a Barrel' · 7:44pm Jun 10th, 2016
In the near-future, I intend to write two Braeburn and Little Strongheart segments, one as a standalone fic (of the friendshipping variety, not the romantic variety) and a scene in another longer story. That in mind, I thought I'd talk a little bit about my thoughts on Over a Barrel. I'd like to solicit feedback on your thoughts as well. I'll likely incorporate some of what I hear into these scenes, so comments are definitely appreciated!
It surprises me how much, not so much hatred, but dislike there is for Over a Barrel. Apathy I can understand, but outright dislike is something else.
For what it's worth, I enjoy the episode. As a Season 1 episode, it's one of only 3 that don't take place in Ponyville and the surrounding areas (The Best Night Ever and Sonic Rainboom are the other two, and I would count the first bit of FiM part 1 and the flashbacks from Cutie Mark Chronicles as half each). Of those three episodes, TBNE focuses more on the high society rather than the culture of Canterlot (which is honed in on in Sweet and Elite), so Sonic Rainboom and Over a Barrel are the only episodes in Season 1 that really explore a new area and significantly flesh it out. In Over a Barrel's case, Appleloosa is pretty memorable, and the 'old-west' architecture of the town is given a lot of exposure in the scenes (I'm going to spell Appleloosa with two l's, because not even the show can seem to keep it straight whether it's one or two l's).
One of the complaints I hear is about how it uses the scenario of the settlers of the American West versus the natives for the story. I'm...not really seeing the issue here. I can accept maybe it doesn't fit jive well in a kid's show, but then that's why the ending is the way it is. It's worth noting that Avatar the film was released in December 2009, and Season 1 started airing less than a year later. Since most of the scripts were probably written before Season 1 was aired (with minor changes as they went along in animation), it's very possible the show writers were inspired to do something in lieu of Avatar.
That said, Over a Barrel isn't a straight expy like Avatar or Dances with Wolves is. It also weaves in a western tone. That's why we get the buffalo sort-of hijacking a train (taking the last car off the train), and a 'shoot-out' at the end of the episode.
This episode is also top-notch for humour. Michael Daingerfield, who voices Braeburn, just dominates the episode with his performance. Braeburn is given a very eclectic personality, with the way he rears up and goes "APPPPPLELOOSA!" and he zooms through several puns in only a few seconds (wild west dances, mild west dances, horse-drawn carriages, horse-drawn horse-drawn carriages). Unlike Dave Polsky's other Season 1 episode, there's only two cases of physical injury as harm here - Rainbow Dash flying into a sign by accident, and a buffalo slamming into a bale of hay that has an iron anvil in it - this second one really is legitimately funny). Depending on your view, Applejack's fawning over Bloomberg may or may not be entertaining. It did elicit a brief chuckle from me.
Plus this episode self-parodied the show's use of songs before it became more prevalent in later seasons, as Pinkie Pie sparks a war with her song. Since she manages to get hostilities called off in Party Pooped, I guess that that cancels things out? The one thing I was expecting that never happened was a play on the episode's title 'Over a Barrel'. Over a Barrel is a phrase meaning 'in a helpless position; at someone's mercy', which sort of defines the plot. But a barrel is also the term for what is roughly the torso of a horse (where the rib cage and internal organs are all located), so I expected something about jumping over horses, and never got it.
And the 'Fluttershy is a tree' skit. That thing is legendary. That's the best part of the beginning few minutes. However, I think the lighting effects in that scene where they have candles lit while it's dark out marks the point where the animators began to get comfortable with using Flash for the show and come up with some neat effects.
Little Strongheart is a bit of a toss-up for me. I genuinely like her as a character, and I'm hoping they do good by her with the future Friends Forever issue that features her and Rainbow Dash. Her and RD have good chemistry in their short time together in this episode. The scene where RD and Applejack push her up against Braeburn is incredibly awesome and has forever cemented that as a ship in my mind (Braeheart or the wittier 'Heartburn'). Little Strongheart's age is never really specified but I've always assumed she's at least a young adult, in the 18-19 range compared to the roughly early 20s equivalent of the Mane 6.
There are probably more people who care about the FlutterPie moment than Braeburn and Little Strongheart
However, Little Strongheart gets crowded out after the second act. Strongheart is more memorable than Chief Thunderhooves and Sheriff Silverstar are, though. They get time in the third act, but considering they're also competing with Braeburn for attention, they can't really compete.
Rainbow Dash's actions in this episode I suppose might be controversial, where she decides to side with the Buffalo. I think people are maybe pigeon-holing Rainbow Dash here, expecting her to continue being against the buffalo because of 'loyalty' to Applejack or something. Recall though that RD never makes it to Appleloosa originally, instead going off to rescue Spike. When she sees he's being treated well by the buffalo, she actually calms down, and then she listens to the buffalo talk about their issues. Rainbow Dash decides then that the buffalo have a legitimate gripe, but you also have to remember that she's never heard the opposite side at that point, and RD is pigheaded enough that once she's standing up for something, she'll lock it in and be unwilling to budge. She feels sympathetic for the buffalo, so of course she's going to butt heads with Applejack.
I think the biggest disappointment has to be that Appleloosa has barely been used since. The last we see of Little Strongheart and Chief Thunderhooves is a two-second cameo in Pinkie Pride. Braeburn gets some more screen time in Apple Family Reunion, but then he gets demoted to 'male comedy relief character #45' in Appleloosa's Most Wanted along with Sheriff Silverstar, and Appleloosa itself takes a back seat to the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Troubleshoes. It's really kind of disappointing since Dave Polsky wrote both episodes. He envisions a strong set of characters and an energetic, vivid town in Appleloosa in Over a Barrel, then kind of throws it aside for AMW. I legitimately hope we see a return of this set of characters in the future in a stronger episode.
Maybe I should do Polsky's other Season 1 episode, Feeling Pinkie Keen, next.
And then the fanbase rose up and said "Neigh!", forgot the character on the left even existed, then turned the character on the right gay and shipped him with every stallion in existence
Yay! Heartburn! Huh, never thought I'd say that. Go figure.
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Er...it's apple pie not meth.
It was a perfectly reasonable solution. You want our land? Give us something in return. Mutually beneficial exchange.
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I,uh, I think the point was that conflicts can be resolved through reasonable compromise.