First Fimpressions: Fake it Till you Make It. · 8:29am Apr 8th, 2018
WARNING! UNTAGGED SPOILERS AHEAD!
This is one of those episodes which does exceptionally well in the first and third act, yet falters in the middle by a sudden and unexplained shift in characterisation. I understand the set up, with Fluttershy taking up a particular archetype for the different types of customers who visit Rarity For You. It's a theatrical act, using each outfit to form the basis of her persona's,
It's good that Fluttershy is using her assertiveness to mould herself around the desires of customers, finding outfits that fit their aesthetic. Given how she is initially confused by the whole thing, it's an interesting development to see her finding ways around her natural meekness. However, the problem comes when she starts insulting guests and saying that outfits are too good for them.
Where did this come from? At what point did she make the decision to start being mean as part of her characters? There's no organic transition between these two opposing ideas, so the central basis for the conflict is never set up. If she was still struggling as more customers came in and started arguing with her characters, then that would help the episode immensely.
Don't get me wrong. I did enjoy the episode, and I like how the resolution has Rarity create something that reflects Fluttershy's inner strength. While the costumes did form the basis of these characters, everything else was down to Fluttershy's own confidence. It's just that the development is so abrupt instead of gradually progressing to one another, more so than Season 2's "Puitting Your Hoof Down".
I give this episode a C+ rating.
