More Episode Thoughts · 4:49pm Feb 15th, 2014
Hi all! Hope your lives are all going well. Mine is still super swamped and crazy. Fanfiction just isn't in the cards right now, and honestly, I probably miss writing it more than you miss reading it. Fingers crossed I get a chance to work on it again soon.
Anyhow, going to give a rundown of my thoughts on the past few episodes.
Pinkie Pride blew me out of the water. I wasn't sure what to expect. Even though I love Weird Al, I was super concerned about having a "celebrity guest star" in an episode...especially in a Pinkie Pie episode. But it totally worked and was amazing. I haven't been able to do this yet this season, but Pinkie Pride earned it: I award this episode a 10/10. Just brilliant. Loved all the songs. Felt the emotion throughout. Every character was handled carefully and lovingly, and for such a goofy, silly episode on the surface, it felt the most "real" to me of any so far this season. I know I'm biased, since Pinkie is my favorite pony, but that actually makes me tougher on her episodes. This one knocked it out of the park. Excellent, all around. Can't wait to rewatch on repeat.
Simple Ways was an okay episode. Good for some laughs, and had some stellar Spike moments, but overall pretty forgettable. The way they handled Spike is probably my favorite show-version of Spike. He's super supportive of Rarity, and becoming more and more mature about where he stands with her. His 4th wall camera look was priceless. I know some weren't happy at how he was reacting (or rather, not reacting) to learning that Rarity had eyes for somepony else, but it served a magnificent contrast to Rarity's own dilemma in this episode and demonstrated that Spike is in many ways, much wiser than supposed "older pony" Rarity. So bonus points for that. Spike has come to terms with where he stands with Rarity, and I'm happy to see that acknowledged in the show. Also, to see that Rarity turns to Spike for comfort. Just...beautiful.
Overall, though, Applejack stole the show for me in Simple Ways. This episode may have actually moved Applejack up from 4th to 3rd of the mane six for me. So that's saying something! I'll give this episode an 7.5/10. Would've been a 7/10, but Spike's support and Applejack's hilariously deadpan treatment of Trenderhoof raised it up for me.
Today's episode can be summed up in one word: adorable. Loved Fluttershy today, which is rare for me. She's usually just "okay", but today she shined. Great writing for her. And yes, this definitely rehashed a big chunk of the plot and lesson from Green Isn't Your Color, but with enough of a twist that I was mostly okay with it. Rarity wasn't jealous at all. Instead, she was perceptive, seeing what Fluttershy wanted before Fluttershy could even admit it herself. Pinkie, in contrast, was not. I don't think Pinkie was hugely OOC in this, though. I'm on the fence with her behavior. Part of me knows it was over the top to the point of being cringe-worthy, but another part of me wonders if that was Pinkie's master plan all along. So I'm okay with Pinkie in Filli Vanilli.
The return of Flutterguy was hilarious, and actually realistic for the plot. Loved Fluttershy's progression throughout. So overall, this episode made me smile enough to forgive the continuity overlooks (really, the ponies should know by now that Fluttershy has stage fright...seriously, how did they assume she'd be okay with singing in front of a crowd?). I'll give it an 8.5/10. Would've been a 9 if the characters had been more understanding of Fluttershy's fears from the get-go, but since they (mostly) caught on fast enough, I think an 8.5 is a reasonable score.
Generally speaking, I'm enjoying Season 4. It's got its ups and downs, but seems to be on a reasonable streak at the moment. My biggest complaint is how they're dealing with the Twilight stuff, but I can't fault individual episodes for that, as much as I fault the season as a whole. Also, I know that I'm personally fading in my obsession and interest, as I usually do after a few years in a fandom, so I'm not as "in love" with new episodes as I once would've been. Things just aren't as rosy as they used to be. A lot of the original fun and charm is gone, and that's OKAY. This observation isn't meant as a slight against the show or the fandom. It's just how I personally progress as a fan. My interest eventually wanes, and I accept that.
But while I might not be as invested in them as I was a couple years back, I am still enjoying the new episodes. And I'm happy the fandom is still ginormously huge and dedicated.
More power to those of you who are still going strong. *brohoof* Seriously. Props.
Funny, today's episode had me specifically wondering what you thought about it. Most of what you said for all three episodes was pretty close to how I felt, but it sounds like Pinkie's portrayal bugged me a little bit more than it did for you in today's episode. It just makes me sad that most of the time now, it seems like they've completely forgotten about Pinkie's gentler and supportive side, the Pinkie who sang an encouraging song to Fluttershy in Dragonshy when some of the others were getting impatient and grumpy, the Pinkie who refused to prank Fluttershy in the Gilda episode, or the Pinkie who told Twilight that her first time ice skating was just as crasheriffic, just to make her feel better. So Pinkie shouting in Fluttershy's face until she cried, well, like she herself said, it was just too much. Well, unless you're right about it being her master plan. However, that was my only gripe about the episode, and other than that, I loved it.
Anyway, here's hoping life relaxes a bit for you soon.
1837727 The only way I could reason out Pinkie Pie in this was from the angle that she was deliberately being obnoxious to Fluttershy to get her to admit she was shy/upset/etc. Pinkie understands her friends far too well to not already know what Fluttershy was feeling, so I could only rationalize it as Pinkie trying to force Fluttershy to fess up. I don't think she was truly trying to hurt Fluttershy's feelings at all.
That said, I'm merely "okay" with Pinkie in this episode. Not the best portrayal, but she's not being Random!Stupid!Pinkie, just Blunt!Pinkie. I'm more okay with this Pinkie-type than the one from say, Three's a Crowd.
I totally see where you're coming from, though, because I was struggling through similar thought processes. I think I just landed on a different side of it than you.
been ther, done that. Having a social life is awesome, but writing takes a back seat. such is the way of life.
And I agree with you determintations of the episodes. I particularly thought that the Sparity moments handled in Simple Ways were terrific. He's less of a boy now, and more of man...so to speak. That's what Rarity wants.
And I get your waning interest in the show. With me, I used to get hyped to watch every episode, but now I'm okay with missing a few and catching them later. It happens.
Anyway, keep it real