My Review of MLP: FIM season 7 episode 5 Fluttershy Leans In · 9:55pm March 9th
Grading Scale:
A (fantastic episode)
A- (an excellent episode with at least one flaw)
B+ (a great episode with a couple of flaws)
B (a good episode which still could have been better)
B- (a good episode with numerous flaws but still rewatchable)
C+ (a decent episode)
C (eh... it’s not terrible but not good either)
C- (it’s not worth rewatching although it does have good elements)
D+ (a bad episode with a few good things in it)
D (a really bad episode with wasted potential)
D- (a terrible episode with badly written characters and butchered moral)
F (horrible and unwatchable)
Greetings, folks! This is Mr. J back with another MLP episode review for today. This afternoon, I will be reviewing the fifth episode of MLP: FIM season 7 entitled “Fluttershy Leans In”. This was a really good episode to rewatch, to be honest. As Fluttershy is one of my favorite characters, it was awesome to see her become her own boss and take on a certain challenge that fits right up in her alley.
The episode starts with Fluttershy worriedly watching Angel Bunny performing some daredevil trick until he accidentally hurt his foot. She immediately takes him to Dr. Fauna to be treated for his injury; however, Dr. Fauna is overwhelmed by the number of animals taking shelter in her clinic.
Fluttershy wonders why every animal is so comfortable in her clinic until she realizes that she’s the one who recommended her to all her critters for care. Wanting to make her feel less stressed, Fluttershy decides to create an animal shelter where all animals can both feel at home and feel safe.
Now this is something I find incredibly interesting because we all know she’s always had a natural love for animals of all kinds and would always do anything to make them feel loved and appreciated. So making an animal sanctuary is something she would absolutely do. In fact, I’m kinda surprised it took her this long to finally put this idea into action.
She seeks the help of her friends as she lays out her version of a blueprint…sort of. Happily interested in helping out their friend, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity respectively mention each particular individual whom they know would be intrigued in assisting her in the construction of her sanctuary.
As those three ponies show up, Fluttershy tells them exactly what she wants for her project, but the former group don’t really see eye-to-eye as they are stuck to their own ideas about how it should be built.
As a result, they went ahead and started working on the sanctuary with all the material elements which Fluttershy explicitly told them she didn’t want for her animals. So of course, when she saw what they were doing, she scolded them for doing the opposite of what she instructed them to do.
I’m sorry…were these idiots really that stupid? Did they genuinely think she would’ve been fine with what they were going for even though they went behind her back? Given how they’re already associates with Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie, they should’ve laid aside their pride and trusted her judgement…because, y’know, Apples, Rares, and Pinkie are FRIENDS with her?!
No, I don’t understand why they did what they did. I refuse to believe they had a single brain cell when they stubbornly refused to simply make it work for her. It’s not like she was confusing them or anything because Flutters was polite, respectful, and crystal clear when she told them what she really wanted.
I remember some people were complaining about Fluttershy being too bossy and unwilling to listen to other ideas. Umm, you do realize none of the ideas her friends were suggesting were remotely helpful either, right? While it is true that it never hurts to listen to other ideas, you have to remember that not every idea will be incorporated into a project.
Plus, Fluttershy has every right to either accept or reject ideas because it’s HER passion project. It’s HER blueprint, so I was so happy to see her so assertive and passionate about this. And of course, she received help not just from her friends but also from Big Daddy McColt.
See? She knew she needed extra help, but she had to ask someone she knew she could trust to assist her. This goes to show that just because some associates are close to your other friends doesn’t mean you can trust them fully because you don’t know them. Always ask the help of someone you know and trust to guide you in your passion project.
With all this said, I gotta say that this episode is definitely one of the best ones in this season. My girl Fluttershy shows everyone who’s boss, she doesn’t take shit from anyone, and my least favorite characters take the backseat. This is awesome! So I’ll grade this episode an A. A rare perfection.
This is the best episode Gillian Berrow ever wrote for this show unlike some of the others I’ve already reviewed before. It sucks she couldn’t write more episodes with the same level of quality this one has.
Peace!
I swear, I'm joking, but...
...your Batman trilogy might've said otherwise. XD
But no, I'm always a sucker for a Fluttershy-focused episode.
I agree. This episode was definitely one of the best Season 7 provided, as well as a terrific Fluttershy-centered installment. Also, you made an excellent point regarding the message and the three ponies recommended for helping Fluttershy, and it was exactly what I perceived too!
I'm now all-the-more interested in seeing what you think of "Daring Doubt", mainly on the grounds that you previously mentioned it was the only one by G.M. Berrow that you enjoyed. And whether your opinion on it changed, of course.
Hot take: the “expert” ponies should’ve been made recurring antagonists if Friendship is Magic did get more seasons.