Bloom and Gloom, FINALLY! Third Times The BUCKING CHARM!

I haven't posted the review of what I thought of the episode from CMC, because, eh, I was focusing on other stuff, likewise I left alone the next one, Tank's for the Memories which SO should have gotten a review.

But eh, better late than never.

Now let us be honest, the CMC have not been the greatest trio at times, they can be cute, funny and so on, when they are interacting with one another or alone. But the main issue is this, FOUR seasons, it was about cutie marks, the first was meant to happen, the second was drawing it out, the third was getting tiresome.

You have to accept the fact that the CMC? They aren't ever likely to get them, and it becomes an increasingly sad reality when it proves true every episode they appear. The only cutie marks appearing in this show were through flashbacks and off screen.

But then the solo episodes aired, and goddamn if it isn't a breath of fresh air, plus my favorite princess, Luna.

Now my general opinion of the piece? Rather well to be honest, I felt it was kind of obvious from the get go, but that might be because I read the plot summery that was posted beforehand so... sorry for that.

Now onto the story~ SPOILERS DAMMIT!

We start with the CMC, as they gather in their treehouse, base, clubhouse, thing? And a suddenly announcement is made.

OH MY GOD BAB'S HAS GOT HER CUTIE MARK!

And once again proves how cutie marks are made, OFF SCREEN OR FLASHBACKS!

I'm serious, I can't really remember a moment it didn't happen like that, maybe they are saving the spot for when the CMC MAYBE get their own.
I wouldn't hold my breath.

So yeah, Bab's was a nice sign of continuity, something that has been an increasing feature as of late, it's kind of scary how much has been happening. Do you think they finally heard the yelling from the fandom?
Yes, I hope they did.

Because of this, a lot of questions come to light about 'Hey, what if we DO get our cutie marks?'

Well... kind of weird that this is happening JUST now, but alright, it could fit.

The CMC are their own little group, when others in their class got their own Cutie Marks, it was depressing when they were further isolated from others, in their own mind of course, only Diamond Brat and Silver Suck-Up really did anything of the sort. So I suppose if Bab's was of course a close friend and traded letters like here, it would make some sense...

But look, I would have liked a damn build of continuity throughout the seasons, I know that planning ahead is too much to ask, but at the very least do a Maud and give us hints towards this damn development a few episodes earlier, you could have worked around the episodes.

But that's nitpicking and I think we held up too much.

But seriously, it all snowballs from there, Applebloom worries and fears about 'What will happen...' and shares of troubles with Applejack, it was here that I found it rather hurt my expectations, I'm a spoiler to myself of course so I had future knowledge, I still think they could have been more vague.

From there it's dream sequence central, in the first it starts of normally enough and then.

BOOM!

Cutie Mark, you know how to kill off bugs, despite getting your mark while asleep and never even knowing about this job before.

Even if I hadn't spoiled myself, give me some damn credit writers, I can add one and one to get two.

From there it takes a simple visit from Dumbo Tiara and Sheepdog Spoon to make Apple Bloom regret having gained her Cutie Mark, despite it being the talents and fulfillment she wished for, it was just not what she expected.

Then, OH GOD IT'S THE BLANK ZOMBIES! KILL IT! KILL IT WITH FIRE!

... You got to admit, THIS was a crazy coincidence.

I like to think in some weird way, there is a god, and he is influencing the writers into making dark fics a plausible reality. I mean sure, the topic is getting rid of a Cutie Mark instead of making sure you never GET one at all, but you have to admit, little miss shadow with glowing eyes of evil was making you have shivers all over.

It's almost as awesome as the Rainbow/Pinkie scenario in Party of One/Cupcakes.

Now if only Derpy could speak again without being censored and the world can be complete...

Fantasies another time, and if you weren't tipped off before about this being wacko of a dream? After a traumatizing and sad experience of Apple Bloom's home getting ASHED, we find ourselves in a groundhog day scenario, where we wake up, small differences here and there, and a different Cutie Mark.

And so, we reach the second problem discussed beforehand, would you still be a CMC member when you already have a Cutie Mark? Short answer no... but they could work around it, like Apple Bloom suggested to Scootadrool and Stuck-Up Belle (dream versions of mean friends), she could help out. I mean really? I know this is a dream sequence but it gets weird when Apple Bloom can actually fear the fact her friends would maybe abandon her.

Before you know it, we find ourselves back at removing Cutie Mark's and come back to find that, 'oh what? You have your Cutie Marks now? Are you going to show me- nope, alright, your business, move along'.

Then it reaches the final, that finally grants mercy with the 'YES, I BLOODY KNOW IT'S A DREAM' theme, and simply does away with the 'Apple family issue' if she didn't fit in as an apple without a apple Cutie Mark, it's short, yet filled with a nice amount of laughter.

Then it turns to nightmare central, bottomless pits of shadows and the like, and finally we face the final boss, the Cutie Marks removing mysterious figure, which is...

Sorry, HAD to do that.

Oh, and Luna appears and shows it, yay...

She's my favorite princess, but I miss happy-go-lucky Luna, the one from Nightmare Night, maybe even the one who missed all the action and goes 'what did I miss?' I mean COME ON!

And so, the CMC gather together and discuss their problems, and how a Cutie Mark doesn't determine who you are, they just show you who you will be, they will appear at their own time...
Alright, please save this /Cutie Mark doesn't determine who you are, they just show you who you will be, they will appear at their own time/ for another review, it's the reason I decided to pick this up again.

And so, the episode ends nicely, with Applejack singing the charming lullaby from before, and Apple Bloom joining in.

... Now THAT, was deep.

I always thought of the CMC having a plot driven leader system, when the main focus is Apple Bloom's problems, she's the leader, if it's Scootaloo's lack of confidence in her physical abilities, she's the leader.

So now to the CHARACTERS!

Apple Bloom here seems to cement that she could very well shape up to be as level headed and mature as her sister one of these days, small examples of being the prime example for a Cutie Marks worry in the entire CMC, she was the first tot be introduced with having it, and the first crusader as well from her attempts to get one. I found that this was a deep amount of basic doubts she has likely held about her Cutie Mark for longer than this episode, I like how she doesn't forget Bab's as well, and makes sure to send a care package.

Sweetie Belle was the peacemaker, or tried to anyway, making attempts to calm Apple Blooms worries, she was charmingly funny as always with her interaction with Scootaloo, speaking of which.

Scootaloo's purpose was to add worries, to set the scene that would later come into Apple Bloom's nightmares, all from the Cutie Mark you don't want to get, to the possibility that you won't fit with others.

Applejack was the message that arrived early, I get exposition into what the problem will be, even if it is all very specific, but the solution was offered by Applejack from the start, Apple Bloom simply didn't take the time to grasp it until the Princess of Dreams herself decided to pop up. I feel that Applejack's role was trashed in this episode, because her message was ignored partially. And to feel sympathy for Applejack's involvement in a series, you have to move me hard!

Luna... I mentioned before, I just miss her character that wasn't all royal adviser or decorum, I can only hope for an episode that deals with her less formal side once again, 'THE FUN SHALL BE DOUBLED!'

The others mentioned are from Apple Blooms dream, so sadly it isn't clear whenever or not they either exist... oh wait, I'm talking about pest pony guy.

Yeah, the pest pony business was interesting, and even pointed out the connection of Parasprites NOT being the regular crowd they deal with. I was interested in the possibility of magical insects such as Twittermites, but since they were in Apple Bloom's dream it was likely made up.

Other than that, this episode dealt with some deep stuff, exploring the stigma's and possible problems that could pop up because of a Cutie Mark.

Here's hoping they stick to their-
APPLELOOSA'S MOST WANTED
... lesson...

Son of a BIT-