Doctor Perseus Reviews: MLP S6E14&15 "The Cart Before the Ponies" and "28 Pranks Later" *SPOILERS* · 11:25pm Aug 14th, 2016
Sorry for the late reviews. I went on a sorta vacation this past week and took it easy. But here I am to give my thoughts on the two most recent episodes of MLP. 
Let's start with The Cart Before the Ponies. Right off the bat, I have to say that, as of right now, I feel that this episode may be one of Season 6's weakest entries. I didn't think it was bad and it was certainly more enjoyable than Applejack's Day Off. But there are certain aspects of this episode that just bug me. Firstly, it felt like Rarity's, Applejack's, and Rainbow Dash's stubbornness levels were raised to insane levels for the sake of this episode's plot. Granted, I'm glad they went with these three characters as they are the members of the Mane 6 who are most prone to being stubborn. But it just felt a bit forced. However, I think my biggest issue with the episode is that the main dilemma could have been easily avoided if the CMC just switched partners: Apple Bloom with Rainbow Dash, Sweetie Belle with Applejack, and Scootaloo with Rarity. I get that the CMC wanted to do the derby with their sisters/role models but the solution was still right there.
But, on the plus side, the kart designs were neat, the song was pretty good, and the part of the moral about how adults aren't infallible and don't always know best was actually pretty good (though I feel this message was executed WAY better in the Steven Universe episode: The Test).
So, overall, I really don't have a lot to say about The Cart Before the Ponies. This episode was enjoyable but it had its share of flaws.
Now let's talk about 28 Pranks Later. First off, as a horror fan, I very much appreciated the title's reference to the British zombie flick 28 Days Later. I'm not surprised that they didn't make the "zombies" in this episode resemble the infected from that film because that would have probably traumatized kids more than the Red Band Trailer for Sausage Party being shown at a Finding Dory screening (that actually happened BTW 
).
Anyway, the episode had a bit of a rocky start for me. This may be a nitpick but I wasn't a fan of the easily-scared Fluttershy gag at the start of this episode. Fluttershy can still be nervous but COME ON! We're in Season 6 and Fluttershy has had episodes upon episodes dedicated to her overcoming various aspects of her shyness and fright. She is long past the days of being scared by her own shadow. Having Fluttershy being frightened by Rainbow Dash simply saying "boo" right to her face felt like too much. That's Season 1 Fluttershy behavior, not Season 6 Fluttershy behavior.
Thankfully, the rest of the episode was a lot of fun. Granted, the plot was pretty predictable as it was easy to guess that the whole zombie plague was a huge prank pulled off by the town in order to get back at Rainbow Dash. Still, Rainbow Dash got the comeuppance she deserved and everyone else didn't come off like preachy bullies like they did all the way back in a certain Season 2 episode. However, again, this is another episode I don't really have a lot to say about. It was just a fun horror/comedy episode with a satisfying resolution. Though I must say, and this is another nitpick, that I'm a bit disappointed Starlight wasn't in this episode. I think it would have been funny to see her get involved in the big prank. But she was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she was off visiting Sunburst or something.
So, overall, I really enjoyed 28 Pranks Later.
What did the rest of you think of these two episodes? Do you agree with my thoughts? Disagree with them?
Yeah, I admit these were two of the weaker entries because of the personality issues (I blame the new writers.) but they had their moments. Just wish people could stop whining and bitching about every little thing at times with these two.
As with most of the episodes for this season so far, I feel the need to bring up who were the writers for these entires. Coincidentally, both of these episode happen to be collaborations.
* The Cart Before the Ponies: The story is given to us by Michael Vogel, while the writing is handled by returning writer Ed Valentine. Just as as a little reminder, Mr. Valentine was a writer during Season 4 where he wrote two episodes: Flight to the Finish and Three's a Crowd (the latter of which is a collaboration with Meghan McCarthy).
* 28 Pranks Later: The story is given to us by Meghan McCarthy, while the writing is handled by new writer F.M. DeMarco. If that name sounds familiar, Mr. DeMarco was a writer for "Littlest Pet Shop" where he contributed a total of six episodes: Tongue Tied, Back Window, Proud as a…Peacock?, Game of Groans, Go Figure!, and LPS: The Moosical.
Anyway, when the synopsis for 28 Pranks Later was revealed, people were dreading that it would end up being a rehash of the second season's most infamous episode The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well. Not helping matters was the fact that it was going to be written by a brand new writer just like the aforementioned episode. However, once it premiered, the general consensus for this episode seem to be that it's Mare-Do-Well done right. Like with No Second Prances, I am reminded of William Shatner's line from "Airplane II: The Sequel":
I think fluttershy showed great character development in the zombie episode. first she spoke up and called Rainbow out, when that didnt work, she went to the next higher instance and called in a meeting to discuss rainbows behaviour, instead of just sucking it up and be a doormat, like season 1 Fluttershy. And despite not enjoying pranks and scaring her friends, she participated in the zombie-plan to teach rainbow a lesson, thats some Flutterbrutter-like boldness right there. Sure she was scared of the "Boo", but as wacarbs latest episode of UFP taught us, its a common cartoon trope to end the episodes prologue with a joke right before the theme song, so this one part shouldnt be taken so seriously, after all during the philomena chase scene Twilight, the top-student of Celestia, got fooled by a fake mustache because rule of funny.
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You make a good point.
Oh you were on vacation! That's good. Too many of those I follow having been dropping like flies lately (even without like saying anything about it).
I also agree "The Cart Before the Ponies" is one of the season's weaker episodes, but not that bad. However, I also felt "28 Pranks Later" was equally as weak. I go into molecular detail in my own blogs already linked.
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I'll always try to let my followers know what's up. I'll never just disappear from the face of the earth. If I do decide to quit this site (which I don't plan to), I'll let everyone know.