MLP Deep Thought/Review: Slice of Life · 1:43am Jun 14th, 2015

[Previous DT: Season Five Wish list]

Episode 100….don’t fuck it up.

What do I mean by this? Simple;

You know all the headcanons, stories, and fun little personalities the fandom has made for the background cast?

Ignore it.

All of it.

Okay, not all of it…Just…a fair majority of it. Instead of using what the fanbase has already made, try creating your own personas for this cast. Do something no one would ever expect. We don’t need to see Lyra being obsessed with humans, we’re kind of the reason she’s like that. Time Turner doesn’t need to be a pony Dr. Who (that might cause some legal issues anyway). We do not need to be showed the personas we craved for them. Give us something new to work with, something different. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Change is a good thing. But, most importantly; do not be afraid of fan backlash

…Huh. Well….Shit.

There…is no easy way to say this….I really did not like this episode. Okay, that’s kind of not true. There were things…small thing…like three, that I did like;

Celestia and Luna’s bickering was hilarious.

Vinyl and Tavi’s jam session.

The Bear bug itself looks pretty rad.

That’s really it. Everything was either mediocre, I didn’t care for or DIE IN A FIRE, DR.WHOOVES!!

…(Clears throat) So, yeah. I do not like “Slice of life” and I feel I won’t be alone in the opinion.

So, what specifically did I not like about the episode? Well, find out after the intro.

The Theme of Phantom R

Greetings and Bienvenue, my lovely watchers and welcome another MLP Deep though/review. Wow, it’s been a while since I did one of these? When was the last one?

…February? Wow…Uh…so, episode! And why I didn’t like it. First off, getting this out of the way now;

1. I do not care if you liked the episode. If you did, boss. If you didn’t and agree with me, boss.

2. PLEASE DO NOT TELL ME I AM WRONG FOR HAVING A DIFFERENT OPINION FROM YOU/THE FANDOM.

3. Please do not insult me for my thoughts on the episode.

4. I will make no attempts to hide my bias towards this episode and certain characters.

5. I am not holding back. At all.

With that out of the way, let’s look deeper at the things I did like:

Tia and Luna bickering; It was one of the highlights of the episodes in my eyes. Seeing the two sisters interact like that and fight over something like a gift is hilarious.

The Bear Bug: design wise, It looks fantastic. I’m a huge fan of chimera like monster and creatures so this thing earned some big points with me (honestly, I would like to see this thing come back in a later episode/season)

Vinyl/Tavi session: I’d be lying if I said seeing these to jam together didn’t put a smile on my face. It did. It so freaking did. Best part of the episode for me (not like it had much competition).

Now, for the things I didn’t like:…Basically everything else. Despite the episode being hyped up for so long the end result was…so dull. This does sterns from the fact that I do not care about the ponies show cased in this episode, save for Vinyl, I haven’t been in the fandom a long time (it sure be a year either this month or next month) so a lot of the jokes/references flew over my head, or I just wasn’t engaged enough to care about what was happening in the fore ground when the events in the background (the mane six fighting a cool looking monster) was far more interesting. Or maybe it’s of the non-Vinyl BG ponies I did care about barely appear in the episode.

Thunderlane’s here!....And he’s gone.

Neon Light’s is here!....And he’s gone.

Flash Sentry doesn’t show up at all.

Also, Time Turner wearing the 4th Doctor’s scarf and saying “Alonzi.”

Thanks, MLP. I am now reminded of Dr.Who and it’s awful fanbase.

I was already skeptical about this episode, but now…Sweet Christmas, did this do nothing but re-enforce my skepticism.

I realize that I am in the very small minority about this. I’ll be lucky to find two people who share my opinion about the matter. I further realize that the vast majority of the fandom does/will love this episode and that making this is a death sentence.

I’ve done worse so whatever.

My biggest issue with this episode is how it is primarily fan service with the main plot only severing as a framing device for the BGP, and even if the BGP weren't the true main focus, the plot itself is painfully dull. I did not care for Cranky or Matilda prior to this episode and I still don’t. I’m happy they got married, but I’m not going to suddenly start caring about them.

I get what they were trying to do; they wanted to make an episode not only celebrating the 100th episode of the show (something very rare for a tv show, even more so for a kids show) and as a thank you/love letter to the fans for all they have done. Whether it be watching the show, discussing the themes, making work around it, and buying the merchandise. It’s great that the staff thinks so highly of us and made this episode to show that appreciation. This is a rare thing to see from creators…But, at the same time, they were way too eager to please the fandom and it shows here. If done correctly, fan service can be a wonderful thing, showing that the creative staff does give a damn about your opinions and views on things within their medium. If use poorly, you get High school of the dead.

No, wait. That’s not a good analogy…Um…*Snap* I got it! If used poorly, you get the Power Rangers Operation Overdrive episode “Once a Ranger”.

Yeah…That works better.

Keep in mind that this is all a personal view point of a person who has been and is still in many different fandoms. Fandom from shows who have creative staff that care less about the people and more about the money *Cough* Naruto *cough* and have [tried] to pull this stunt with the fans with…less than desirable results. *cough cough* that train wreck of a movie called the last*cough cough*. Excuse me. I seem to have something caught in my throat. Now, please do not interpret my words as saying Slice of Life is on the same level as the Last. Because it’s not.

Slice of Life is a way of showing great thanks and appreciation from the staff to the MLP fandom.

The Last is a god awful retcon fest that tries to explain how Naruto and Hinata, despite them having no chemistry, got together….and failed.

For as much I don’t like Slice of Life saying it’s on par with The Last is an insult. And in the eyes of most of the fandom, Hasbro, and DHX this episode was a huge success, plus to quote myself from my wish list:

Fans are going to get angry with you no matter what you do. It is impossible and just not worth the effort to try and please everyone. This is your show (Technically, it’s hasbro’s) your canvas, you are the painter (or writer in this case) Do not let the fans run the show.

I have no clue if Hasbro/DHX was trying to please all the fans, but they didn’t…Obviously.

But, despite my frustration with this episode…I can at least say they put a hell of a lot of effort into it and cannot and will not fault them for that. Hasbro, DHX, even if I think poorly of episode 100….I still want to thank you for making it; Both the episode and this mile stone. Here’s to a hundred more.

…But, I still hate it. This is Crimson Kaizer saying; Be fandom, not fandumb and watch so goddamn cartoons. Late.

Report SilverKaizoku · 130 views ·

Comments ( 2 )