Episode Re-Review: Parental Glideance · 5:47pm January 27th
Fun fact about this episode, it aired in the U.S. about a week after Mother's Day and about a month before Father's Day. Of coruse, by now much of the fandom's attention was on early episode airings coming out of Treehouse T.V. in Canada, and on what was announced for further down the road. Interestingly, this episode marked the debut of a new writer in the form of Josh Hamilton, whose previous writing credits included both Avatar cartoons (The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra), and Voltron: Legacy Defender. You'd think that with such a resume, Josh would be a perfect fit for the show. Then again, Merriweather Williams had previously worked on Spongebob Squarepants and Adventure Time, and she didn't fit well at all. Nowadays, this episode is mostly remembered for what Scootaloo says at one point, though it would appear to at least partially contradict what we now know about her family situation. But you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who likes this episode. Heck, some people really despise it. Has this episode deserved its reputation, or is it possible that time has lessened the sting? Well, let's find out.
The episode begins with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle helping Scootaloo get into position with a giant slingshot. She's going to launch herself up to Cloudsdale, and to a very specific location. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle naturally object and say this isn't a good idea, and Scootaloo starts to see their point. But it's too late, she gets launched into the air.
Fortunately, she manages to reach her destination (don't know what happened to her scooter, but it probably fell to the ground and broke), and a pegasus pony mowing the lawn stops just before the mower can hit Scootaloo. This pony turns out to be Rainbow Dash's father, which prompts Scootaloo to let out an excited shriek. Unfortunately, they dwell on this for a very long time. And this isn't the last time this episode will subject us to such loud noises for prolonged periods of time. This may be one of the few episodes that's hard on the ears.
The screams naturally bring Rainbow Dash's mother out, and we learn the names of the parents: Bow Hothoof for the father and Windy Whistles for the mother. Why has Scootaloo sought them out? Because she's doing a report on Rainbow Dash for school, and apparently she's decided that instead of asking Rainbow Dash directly, she wants to interview Rainbow's parents in order to better understand what Rainbow's childhood was like. Bow and Windy then reveal that apparently they're big fans of their daughter too. It starts off innocent enough, we see that they have a pretty big house (no word on what their occupations might be) and they have lots of framed pictures of Rainbow Dash as a child: Including her in a highchair trying to flap her wings to get out, and her having tied up her mother when presuambly Windy was trying to keep Rainbow on a leash. However, things start to take a creepy turn when we visit a shrine Windy and Bow have set up, and we see that they've kept things like the apple Rainbow bit into when she lost her first tooth, or the diaper she was in when she spoke her first words. This makes them look more like creepy stalkers and superfans rather than it being simple parental praise and admiration.
But as it turns out, neither Bow or Windy are in the loop about Rainbow's current achivements. They have no idea that she's part of the Wonderbolts until Scootaloo tells them such. So what do they decide to do? They decide to go visit Rainbow Dash completely unannounced. And by luck, Rainbow's currently at the academy with the other Wonderbolts. They're in the middle of a flight routine when they get interrupted by turbulence generated by loud shouting. Surprise surprise, it's Rainbow's parents who are causing the turbulence. Spitfire isn't too pleased with this, stating that civillians aren't allowed on the academy grounds without prior permission, just like how civillians are not allowed on U.S. army, navy, or airforce bases without prior permission, not even if they're related to someone stationed at the base. Though if that's the case, it's weird that Wonderbolt Academy apparently has no security systems of any sort.
Rainbow Dash is, of course, embarrassed to have her parents show up. But the Wonderbolts are more than willing to welcome them, and don't seem to mind it too much despite Spitfire's earlier complaint about them showing up uninvited. Rainbow then takes Scootaloo aside and angrily berates her for bringing Bow and Windy to the academy. When pressed, however, she denies hating her parents and insists they have "a delicate relationship". It really doesn't make Rainbow look good when we learn that she's intentionally being avoiding contact with her parents and hasn't informed them even a little about what she's been up to. But this episode will soon make it perfectly clear why that is. Trust me, if all we saw of Bow and Windy up to this point is what they do when they first meet Rainbow Dash in a Wonderbolt outfit, they wouldn't look anywhere near as bad as they're going to look later on.
We soon get a montage of Bow and Windy showing up to every official Wonderbolt show or event Rainbow Dash is part of. Before then, however, we get a pointless recap from Scootaloo about Rainbow Dash's path to becoming a Wonderbolt: Detailing the events of both "Wonderbolt Academy" and "Rarity Investigates". But it has no bearing on the overall plot. Plus, it ultimately gets contradicted a season later when Scootaloo reacts with shock upon learning that Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust know each other.
So aside from that pointless recap, we see Bow and Windy going on to do very questionable things while cheering on Rainbow Dash. They shoot off fireworks during the performance, which you cannot do during any sporting event or any public event without prior permission and often a license (for very obvious reasons). They cheer on Rainbow Dash loudly no matter what she does, causing Rainbow to get distracted (even cutting off Spitfire's tail by accident). And they won't even leave her alone in the locker room, they refuse to grant her any sembelance of personal space. And Scootaloo is a witness to all of this. Bow and Windy act like the kind of over the top superfans whose bad behavior ruins the fun for everyone else. Yet it's up to Rainbow Dash to tell them off, not any of the Wonderbolts despite Spitfire at least showing signs of discomfort from what Bow and Windy are doing. So Rainbow gives her parents a great big speech about how much she can't stand them and how much their behavior is annoying her. So what does the episode do as a result? It paints Rainbow as in the wrong for telling off her parents, even though we the audience naturally sympathize with her. It's not like she went over the top either. But no, the episode suggests that if you yell at your parents at all for any reason, you're in the wrong, even if all you want is to be treated like an adult and not a child. Even Scootaloo seems to think Rainbow's in the wrong despite being a witness to everything Bow and Windy have done.
And what's Scootaloo's reason for siding with Bow and Windy against Rainbow Dash? She claims that nopony ever encouraged her the way they have, apparently not even Rainbow Dash. But this would fly in the face of what we saw when Scootaloo's parents were finally revealed in Season 9. Nothing about them suggests they were discouraging her or talking down to her. Even her aunts seemed pretty supportive. Yes, having parents who are around is a lot different from having parents who aren't, but even assuming that that's what Scootaloo is referring to, I wish to make two points against it: 1. One extreme doesn't justify the other. 2. Is that any way to show appreciation to Rainbow Dash after she took you under her wing and encouraged you multiple times?
We're then treated to a flashback explaining a particular photo Bow and Windy had. In the flashback, we see that Bow and Windy cheered on Rainbow Dash and celebrated no matter what she did, even when she failed to place at all on a podium during a race. This was probably intended to put everything we'd seen them do into context. But if anything, it makes their behavior worse because it shows how Rainbow developed her inferority/superiority complex. Bow and Windy never taught Rainbow how to cope with failure, treating everything she did like an accomplishment even if it wasn't deserved. That's like the parents who insist on handing out participation awards and trophies at school or in clubs. It doesn't do anything except make children unable to handle failure. And the more you praise them even when it isn't deserved, the less likely they're going to be to feel proud of themselves when they actually do succeed. Failure is inevitable. Even the most successful people in history failed at some point in their lives. The important thing with failure is not to let it discourage you, but to learn from it so you won't make the same mistake again. That's why they say you learn more from your failures than you do your successes.
But apparently, this is enough to make Rainbow Dash realize she's being ungrateful. So she decides to rope the other Wonderbolts into giving an apology performance to her parents. Bow and Windy don't have to confront their bad behavior at all, they get to be treated as in the right despite how disrupte and distracting they've been. All they really do afterwards is shift all their praise to Scootaloo. And them shifting their praise to an "acceptable" target doesn't do anything to solve the problem, it's only going to make Scootaloo end up just like Rainbow Dash. They even show up to Scootaloo's presentation at school where she gets a B for her project, partially due to having preserved a sandwich that was Rainbow's favorite meal as a child (no word on her having kept the diaper that Windy gave her). And once again, even when ponies are visibly disturbed by the behavior they're witnessing, no one says anything.
And that's the story, so what do I think of the episode? Well, it quite clearly got tripped up over itself. It wanted to use the "Amazingly Embarrassing Parents" trope as an explanation for why we've never heard of Rainbow Dash's parents up to now, and why they haven't been present for any of their daughter's accomplishments. Rainbow being estranged from her parents and ashamed of them because of how they treat her was a fairly popular fanon prior to this episode, so it being used here should've at least made for a decent episode. But they went way too far with Bow and Windy, making them come across more like creepy stalkers and superfans, and proceeding to show how disruptive their behavior is. If anything, you have to wonder why none of the other Wonderbolts ever say anything before Rainbow snaps and tells her parents off for what they're doing. And that is where the episode completely falls apart: Treating Rainbow as in the wrong when she's clearly in the right, and forcing her to apologize without requiring her parents to do anything or showing that they've at all realized what they're doing is wrong. Their parenting is just as bad as Spoiled Rich's, and it only makes Rainbow's behavior in episodes like "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" even harsher, as we now understand why she's so insecure and so desperate for attention, on top of being unable to handle failure.
Scootaloo ends up looking even worse. Not only is she apparently blind to what's right in front of her, but she comes across as ungrateful for suggesting that Rainbow Dash's parents are more supportive of her than Rainbow Dash. Her statement about her family is contradicted by what we now know about it. And if anything, I think people are forgetting how much Scootaloo idolizes Rainbow Dash. She's projecting: Of course Scootaloo would want her parents to be as present and supportive all the time as Rainbow's parents are. But that doesn't justify her thinking that their behavior is acceptable when it's clearly not. Scootaloo's already seen examples of how parents and grown-ups don't always know what's best. She's always been the most independent of the Crusaders. And again, one extreme doesn't justify the other. I'm sure even Diamond Tiara would be hard pressed to say Bow and Windy are better than Spoiled Rich.
About the only saving grace for this episode is the fact that the Wonderbolts don't look bad. For a change, they're actually really nice. If anything, they're too nice in that they let Bow and Windy get away with violating academy rules and putting the Wonderbolts in danger on multiple occasions. Interestingly, this is the episode that saw Thunderlane join the team, he appears in the background in a Wonderbolts uniform. So him being a Wonderbolt in "Marks and Recreation" didn't come completely out of the blue. Rainbow Dash also looks good for most of the episode since we end up sympathizing with her for all that she's made to endure as a result of Bow and Windy's treatment. We can easily see why she didn't want to tell them she was a Wonderbolt. I get that family can be complicated, but this sort of parenting isn't helpful, it's destructive and arguably toxic. And treating it like it's no big deal hurts the episode enough to drop it down to a D+. If not for Mr. and Mrs. Shy and Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbs, Rainbow Dash's parents would be the worst mane six parents of all time, and likely be in the running for the absolute worst parents of the show. Compared to them, Scootaloo's actual parents are much better. Far from perfect, but leagues above this sort of parenting.
Sure didn't take long for Season 7 to stumble again. Now, since I already covered "Hard to Say Anything" back in 2021, we're going to skip ahead to "Honest Apple", an episode where Applejack is judging a fashion show.
You broke this episode down perfectly and said basically what I have been unable to properly put into words about this episode. It seriously drives me up the wall for people to think RD was in the wrong for calling her parents out. It's like the writers were deliberately trying to make her into the villain over some vendetta they have against her or something
. I don't think I ever felt more sorry for RD than I did in this episode.
I also agree that the Wonderbolts were being way too nice - and lenient - on Windy and Hothoof. Not only did they enter military grounds without express permission, but they endangered the other wonderbolts - on of them being their own daughter - with that fireworks fiasco. While they did not encourage Windy and Hothoof's behavior, they are certainly not innocent as they did nothing to stop it either. Spitfire should have shut that down and booted them out immediately after the fireworks incident.
It's been a while since I've watched G4 but I remember the uproar over Bow and Windy's behavior especially at the Wonderbolts performance and how Rainbow was portrayed as being in the wrong despite having a completely valid reason to call her parents out.
Bow and Windy's style of "parenting" sounds pretty similar to Phyillis Cloverleaf. We saw in "A New Generation" how she babied Sprout, propped up his ego and encouraged his worst ambitions and qualities, not realizing the damage she was doing until it had snowballed into him declaring himself "emperor". Though I'd have to imagine if Phyillis were ever able to read up on how Bow and Windy raised Rainbow Dash even she would be put off by the level of praise they showered on her for every single thing she did (Keeping the apple Rainbow bit into when she lost her first tooth, yuck yucky Yuck YUCK!!
).
5765284 At least Phyilis presumably learned her lesson after Sprout turned into a dictator. Bow and Windy, as far as we know, never learned their lesson.
Fun fact: This is the second of only two episodes in the entire series where Rainbow Dash appears without any of the other Mane Six, the first being Flight to the Finish.
You don't suppose they allowed all of this to happened just so they could have an excuse to laugh at Rainbow Dash's expense, do you?
I disagree. Compared to Rainbow’s parents, who in my opinion are the typical overly supportive parents whom the child often has trouble peacefully communicating with, Scootaloo’s aunts and parents were terrible. Especially her aunts, who are openly guilty of child neglect.
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If they did, they are just as bad as the parents and - frankly - not deserving of their positions. Spitfire seriously should've set a better example.
5765291 There is nothing "typical" about preserving the diaper your child was in when they spoke their first words, or the apple they bit into when they lost their first tooth. That is creepy and disgusting. It's not like preserving trophies, drawings, or old dresses.
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Exactly. That was just so wrong on so many levels
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And how is that any worse than two ponies constantly leaving their niece alone and assigning her neighbors to watch over her? Especially instead of making permanent residence in Ponyville in the first place? Or two parents never making the time to be there for the child to begin with?
An aspect that I personally disliked. It became another reason for why I've frequently been having a hard time seeing how Seasons 8 & 9 are officially canon, and you can pretty much thank Nicole Dubuc in all those regards.
5765306 The recap in this episode was pointless. Old fans already knew Rainbow Dash's arc, and new fans didn't need to know about it for this episode.
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Does that give any excuse for how noticeable of a continuity error “The Washouts” presented, though?
5765316 Well, if you think about it, if Rainbow Dash barely told Scootaloo anything about her parents because she was embarrassed by them, why would she tell Scootaloo about somepony like Lightning Dust that she despised and prior to "The Washouts" would've likely never given a second thought about? It's not like Lightning Dust's expellsion from the Wonderbolts was headline news, she's undoubtly not the first recruit to be cut from the team for any reason.
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Considering how much of a fanatic Scootaloo is for Rainbow Dash, I'd be surprised if she didn't know about the fiasco with Lightning Dust beforehand.
Then again, whenever I look back on "The Washouts", I'd find myself thinking that it has an excellent concept, but it felt like it was based on a script that was initially made for Seasons 5 or 6, before getting passed over and later reignited for the 8th season.
Up until a certain two-parter near the tail end of the show, there isn't a single episode of Friendship is Magic I can truly say I pure, straight hate with every inch of me. However, with it going on as long as it did, there is no shortage of episodes that leave me feeling frustrated at how they dropped the ball on what could've been some of the most compelling My Little Pony drama. This is definitely one of them, landing in my personal bottom 10.
The premise is there, and the setup practically demands a powerful payoff. Instead of something satisfying, it falls into that increasingly annoying storytelling trap where there's right and wrong on both sides, but they carelessly frame one person as the thoughtless bad guy and the other(s) as the blameless victim(s). Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles have every right to cheer on their only child whom they unconditionally love so much, but as far as we can tell, they've always been her fanboyish and fangirlish cheerleading squad first, and her mom and dad second (if at all). Rainbow shouldn't have lost her temper and broken her parents' hearts, but the effects their antics have had on her go so much beyond just being embarrassing, it's the most human reaction that could've sprung forth.
Besides that, I find Rainbow's tirade when she blows up a bit weak. It just sounds like "You're supporting me too much, and I hate it!", and that feels like an understatement in regards to how this drama has escalated. I know we don't normally say everything we want to get out when our emotions are heightened, but I imagine a lot more than one basic thing can be said when so much resentment is pent up for the longest time.
Here's a version of Rainbow's rant I've had in my brain ever since Parental Glideance was somewhat new:
Rainbow Dash: "STOP! I knew this would happen if you learned I was a Wonderbolt! You're the same fanatical supporters as ever, and none of it is encouraging, it's annoying!"
Windy Whistles: "Dashie... what's wrong?"
Rainbow Dash: "Oh, now you ask that question?! You're distracting me with your shouting, you could've hurt somepony with those fireworks, you're disturbing my peers, and you can't even let me hang a towel in peace! A stupid towel!"
Bow Hothoof: "We're only trying to be supportive."
Rainbow Dash: "Yeah, and you won't stop! For anything! Not even to see how it's making me feel! I've been bullied, developed a crippling fear of losing, and never had a friend in the world before Fluttershy, Scootaloo and the others, because you two never found the time to just be my parents, instead of my overzealous cheerleaders! Heck, the only way you've supported me today was remind me why I moved to Ponyville in the first place! I can't believe I've had to spell this out for you!" (At this point, she is in tears)
Bow Hoothoof, Windy Whistles and Scootaloo stand and stare in stunned silence.
Rainbow Dash: "Now, if you're done, the exit's that way."
Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles tear up.
Windy Whistles: "Well, thanks for letting us know, sweetie. We get it, you're a big girl now. You don't need us anymore."
Bow Hothoof: "Your words are strong, but clear. Expected no less. We couldn't be prouder of our little Dashie!"
After that, the ending could've seen both sides directly apologizing. Rainbow would learn to take all the psychologically helpful good with the mountain of psychologically harmful bad, and Windy Whistles and Bow Hothoof would come to understand that to properly encourage Rainbow, they need to consider her feelings by dialing their enthusiasm back a notch. Of course, they would also make it clear they intend to cheer for Rainbow until the end, not because she's a great flier, or because she's now a Wonderbolt (as much as those two factors help), but because she's their daughter, no matter how old she grows. A softer conclusion to the story than seeing Scootaloo getting spoiled at school in the middle of class.