Doctor Perseus Reviews: "On Your Marks" *SPOILERS* · 9:54pm Apr 9th, 2016
In this week's episode of MLP, the CMC find themselves struggling to decide what to do after obtaining their cutie marks. Apple Bloom especially begins to face some problems when her friends agree that they should start doing their own things...
As I've said in my past couple reviews, this was another episode I really didn't have any sort of special expectations for. So, what did I think of this episode? I thought it was pretty good.
Obviously, this is our first CMC episode for Season 6 and I think it's a good start for the CMC's Season 6 tenure. Immediately, we are flung head-first in the most expected of dilemmas to transpire due to the CMC gaining their cutie marks: the CMC struggling to decide what to do next. I liked how this episode explored the lesson of it being okay to seek out your own personal hobbies aside from those you share with your friends (like, say, enjoy talking about anime with your friends and then go off to enjoy MLP by your lonesome 
). But this was definitely a more Apple Bloom-centric CMC episode than anything else as she is the one who faces the most obstacles with adjusting to this change (as is per the norm for CMC episodes of this nature). I did enjoy the callbacks to the established interests of the CMC: Sweetie Belle's singing, Scootaloo's daredevil antics, and Apple Bloom's potion skills (which provided us with a much-welcomed cameo from Zecora). And it was nice seeing the CMC expand their interests with Scootaloo taking up bungee-jumping, Sweetie Belle taking up crocheting, and Apple Bloom taking up...dancing? Huh. I remember expecting Scootaloo to be the one who was all about dancing due to the clues they laid out in Season 1's The Show Stoppers.
In terms of supporting characters, there's not a whole lot to talk about. The most prominent supporting players were Tender Taps and Hoofer Steps. Tender Taps was likable and, while predictable, it was nice to see Apple Bloom help him overcome his shyness and obtain his cutie mark. Heh, now that I think about it, this might have been a better episode about overcoming stage fright than Filli Vanilli. Bulk Bicepts had an entertaining bit in the episode. Seeing Tree Hugger again was unexpected. I wasn't the biggest fan of her in her debut appearance but I'm not against seeing the character here and there. She might even grow on me if she gets a good enough role in an upcoming episode. Though, in this episode's case, she only got a silent cameo as a nude(?) model for artists. While that is a fitting role for a character like Tree Hugger to take, granted, it doesn't really stand out as much given how most ponies go around in the nude. I'm sure Judy Hopps would be very uncomfortable if she ever visited Equestria.
This episode also gave us our first song for Season 6: "Out On My Own". I thought it was pretty good. And, speaking of firsts, I do believe this is the very first episode of MLP to not have any members of the Mane 6 show up at any point. Do correct me if I'm wrong (maybe they appeared in the background and I missed them), but I believe that, outside of being mentioned, the Mane 6 were completely absent from this episode. Season 6 is going to be another interesting seasons of firsts I see. First we heard Twilight and Shining Armor's parents talk for the first time and now an episode completely devoid of any Mane 6 character.
So, overall, I liked On Your Marks. It was a good CMC episode with a good song and a good message. Just a good episode in my opinion.
Next week, we get our first Spike episode of Season 6 with Gauntlet of Fire!
Spike is forced to compete in a dangerous Gauntlet for the title of Dragon Lord in order to save his friends.
Fingers crossed that this makes up for Princess Spike.
So what did the rest of you think of On Your Marks?
Haven't seen it yet, but from your review it sounds good!
Haven't seen it yet, but it sounds really interesting.
Yup, this is indeed the first episode of the entire series where none of the Mane 6 characters make an appearance whatsoever. The most we get is two lines from Sweetie Belle mentioning Rarity. Before now, the series has always had each episode feature an appearance from at least one Mane 6 pony, especially in Season 1 when Twilight was required to always show up in order to deliver the moral at the end, so to have an episode with none of them in it is quite the milestone. Hey, maybe if the CMC don't appear in the next episode, we could just assume the events of this episode take place during that story in a similar manner to Just for Sidekicks/Games Ponies Play and Made in Manehattan/Brotherhooves Social since Spike was also absent here.
Speaking of next's week episode, based on the premise, I only have one request for whoever is writing the story: Please don't use the "It was all just a dream" cliche!
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Interesting idea...
Oh God. I didn't even consider that being a possibility.
If that ends up happening, I might end up breaking something. 
I too enjoyed this episode. I go all into it in my review.
Is it?
I could've sworn there's another episode before where they don't show up.
I see you've seen Zootopia.
I wanted to see it, but I haven't gotten the chance to. 
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Definitely see it when you get the chance. It's absolutely fantastic! It quickly became one of my all-time favorite Disney films. Yeah, it's that good (in my opinion, of course). I already gushed about it in my review of it on my Youtube channel.
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Okay, I just checked out MLP Wiki and learned that Gauntlet of Fire will be written by the duo of Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco. In case you didn't know, they had previously written 3 episodes last season: Castle Sweet Castle, Rarity Investigates!, & The Hooffields and McColts. Does this give you some hope for the episode?
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It does as I very much enjoyed those episodes.