The Gift of the Maud Pie S6E3 Recap · 4:19pm Apr 2nd, 2016
I'm always hesitant when I hear MLP is going to do a stock plot. This goes all the way back to Ticket Master and how, in hindsight, I can't believe a show that's shown such creativity and effort resorted to one of the most stock and predictable plots ever for their third episode. MLP tends to be hit and miss when they do that. So, hit or miss here? ...Hit. Barely.
This episode seemed to have a lot of padding. We get good jokes from Rarity and Pinkie, and tons of exploitable faces from both, but not a lot really happens. They loiter around Manehattan with Maud for a lot of the episode until we get to the end.
That said, the end is not what I expected, actually. MLP doesn't play the Gift of the Magi plot straight. Pinkie trades her party cannon to get a rock pouch for Maud, so of course I'm waiting for Maud to reveal she traded Boulder for the confetti she bought. Nope - she just bought it. Maud is happy with her new pouch, but Pinkie is upset she can't fully appreciate Maud's gift. Maud finds out what happened, trades back the pouch for the cannon, and gives us the moral that gift giving isn't about trying to outdo each other or get something expensive. It's about buying somepony you love something that makes them happy.
I was a bit confused at first why Rarity was here, but when her enthusiasm for helping the two sisters reached breakdown levels, the obvious became clear - Rarity is the perfect choice to accompany Pinkie for this plot. Element of Generosity, of course she's going to go to her wit's end to help. She also drops what is probably a hint to a future episode, where she's planning to open another boutique in Manehattan. Hmm...
Rarity regained her composure. “You’re right, Rainbow Dash. The Manehattan store will be a brilliant success.”
Finally, I like the treatment Maud is getting. After four episodes you'd think her shtick would wear thin. But it hasn't, because the writers understand how to do it properly. Maud is more than just the joke that she's stoic and quiet. She makes very out of place and random comments about rocks and treats Boulder like he's alive. She says Boulder promised his cousin they'd send a postcard! Either she's serious and is a bit off in the head, or she's joking and this is her way of having fun. Either way, she really is Pinkie's sister, and the two are a great match.
Overall, not an awesome episode, but it kept me entertained and had an unexpected ending that made for a good moral.
There were, to me, only three good things about this episode:
1. The "Big" reference.
2. Most of Maud's presence.
3. Rarity's weird Pinkie impression.
Everything else
blew goatswas meh.3843693 We both forgot this.
https://derpibooru.org/1122567
I'm surprised Boluder has a cousin. I wonder where this cousin lives, and what he or she is like?
3843760 Cousin Tom.
Did you notice the gay stallions in the beginning of the episode?
3844851 Is there any other kind?
It would have been hilarious if Maud traded away Boulder for the confetti.