Review: A Bad Day for Grumpy Goat. by: de Writer · 7:36pm Dec 4th, 2014
A short little story about a fairly grumpy goat who has yet another in what seems to be a rather long string of bad days. A somewhat dark yet somewhat comedic tale. Not much more to say without giving away the whole story, so on with the review.
Story: Pretty solid overall, if rather short. Again not much that can be said about it without giving away the whole thing. But on the whole, fairly well done, if rather simple. But being kept rather simple works for the story. Especially given the main characters overall attitude. It all fits to lend a really good atmosphere to the whole work. While it is a tad on the dark side, it’s hardly bad, and though some of the stuff that happens is rather grim, the story’s overall tone is far to lighthearted to feel that dark. It’s basically a dark comedy done right, with a great blend of the two.
Characters: There is really only one character that matter, Grumpy Goat, and he is what really sells this story. Just how nonchalant he is about things, in a really deadpan way. Not emotionless, not without feeling, and for such a short story it does a really great job at fleshing out the character. But he’s very subdued. Simply accepting what happens and moving on. Trying to make the most of what he has to deal with. Think Marvin from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy if he got some good antidepressants. same snark and “Oh whatever” attitude, but without the wallowing in self-pity. And I really like him. The other characters that do show up are also fun, tending to be twists of a common cliche or type of character. taking the usual tendencies of that type, and being somewhat unexpected, mostly in really good ways.
Ponyness:This is the one real issue with the story, it doesn’t really ‘feel’ like something that fits in Equestria, and yet at the same time it rather does. The events, the magic, the world, I could see them fitting pretty well. But the characters attitude, the massive racism toward Goats, the ponies whole irrational “Grab the pitchforks and torches” “Condemn and burn first, convict later” mentality. It doesn’t seem to fit right. Though the story is labeled an AU, and overall does fit with slightly more cynical, darker tone de Writer takes with his pony stories. While it does feel rather at odds with the tone of the show, there is a lot there which does fit in and does work well for Equestria. And does not detract from the story as a whole, and given the comedic overall tone, and some of the events, yeah it does have reason to be a Pony story.
Overall: Great. A really fun, slightly dark, somewhat comedic story with a really intersting and likeable protagonist, some really fun dialog and plot turns. And aside from the ponies attitudes being at odds with how ponies should act, the only complaint I’d have about the story is that it’s so short. Not due to pacing, since even with the shortness, it’s still well paced. But rather it’s so good, and Grumpy is so fun to watch, it leaves you really wanting more. And while the pacing was fine, this could easily have been expanded on and more given. But it is just the first in a series, so there is plenty of promise of more to come.
