Miss Koi's Collab Review on "On Your Marks"

Missy: Greetings Everypony!:D And welcome to another new episode Saturday review of MLP Season 6:) Once again, I’m doing a collab review with a friend; BUT this time, I’m reviewing with a friend that I haven’t done a collab review with. Please welcome InkQuill:D! Thanks for joining us Quill. Since you’re a guest on my channel, you get the pleasure of going first and telling us your first impressions and your score for today’s episode.

InkQuill: Thank you Missy, I’m very happy to be here, first off I didn’t really know what to expect when going into this episode. I knew the general concept from the episode synopsis and preview I watched earlier. All I knew was that the CMC were going to have to come to terms with that they’re not going to be able to do things like they used to before they got their cutie marks and that from the get go I knew was going to pull on the heartstrings.

For what we got out of the episode I think it was really well done in showing how they’re going to be moving on into this next chapter of their lives. We all know how they’re cutie marks are similar with the shields and colors but still unique for each individual, which I think was highlighted when they were all going through what each of them like to do on their own. But let’s talk about the real centerpiece of the episode: Applebloom and her struggle to find things to do outside of her comfort zone. I love the idea of her joining the dance school. I think it really adds something to her character, not to mention we have a new ship. ;) What shall we name this one? Tender/bloom? Apple/Taps? Because I already know that as we speak there are countless writers out their already working on romantic stories between Applebloom and Tender Taps. XD

But what do you think Missy? What were your thoughts on the episode and the possible romance between our little farm pony and the young dancing star to be? ;) :)

Missy: Alrighty then, before I begin my first impressions and all that, let me just say that while I don’t ship Applebloom and Tender Tap, I can still see why people might want to ship this;) I mean, Tender Tap is the colt dancer version of Fluttershy basically, he’s automatically a cutie pie that no filly or mare or koi fish pony to resist;) Lol! Guess who’s going to be on the list of favorite Season 6 characters?:D Tehee;) Anyway, I think their ship name should be Apple Tap, it sounds cute:3 Anyway, as for the episode itself, like what you said earlier, I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this episode. Based on the synopsis, I thought this episode was going to focus on a group conflict/fight about what the next steps that the CMC should take. But then, after the preview, I thought this episode was going to be about the CMC learning how to help other ponies by helping Bulk Biceps. Thus, I thought Bulk Biceps was going to be in this entire episode. Much to my disappointment, Bulk wasn’t in it for the entire episode:( The reason why I wanted him in the entire episode was because not only would he offer a lot of comedic opportunities, but also we could learn more about his character and about his own insecurities. Which, I feel like it would be refreshing since we always see Bulk Biceps as such a confident character. I would have loved it if the CMC helped him in terms of watching over him as he learns to become a teacher for others. While Bulk’s heart is in the right place, I have a feeling that he might have a bumpy start when it comes to being a teacher. He would be a sweet and great teacher, but he’ll needs some help to get started.

Another thing that I would have liked to see in this episode is Zecora actually talking and serving as a comforting mentor to Applebloom during this ordeal. As great as it was having AppleBloom journey on her own and learn the essential moral of the day on her own (which is essential to growing up), but she’s still a kid and she still needs somepony like Applejack or Zecora to at least comfort her through this ordeal and then AppleBloom could still continue out to the dance studio. But I shouldn’t be so nitpicky and think only in terms of what I want for this episode, but then again, for me in terms of what I overall feel about the episode...I felt like there was some missed opportunities in how the story should go about it. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m not a huge AppleBloom fan and that I’ve never really related to her character? Don’t get me wrong, she’s a relatable character, but she’s not relatable to me. My favorite CMC is Sweetie Belle because, not only is she adorable, but she’s also relatable to me and she & I have a lot in common. And for me, AppleBloom always makes choices that either frustrate me or make me scratch my head. However, I still do like this episode and it did accomplish in what it was trying to set out to do & helped a cute little colt along the way too, and that’s always plus:D What did you think of the first official song of the season by the way?:)

InkQuill: First off let me say that I agree with you on the matter that there were some missed opportunities, but for me I like to evaluate the episode in its final form and I think it did an excellent job highlighting the issue of the CMC’s friendship. How it will always connect them no matter what they do on their own. :) I relate to Applebloom in this issue because I don’t get to see my friends outside of school. Either it be I’m too busy, they're too busy or just a matter of having the energy and time to do anything. So I relate to her fear of losing touch with her friends because of the loss of their original uniting force. For them it was their quest for their cutie marks, for me it’s school and I’m about to graduate, so I understand where she’s coming from.

Now as for the song, I absolutely adored it. Michelle I think is a very talented voice actress and singer and I just love the emotion that she brought to the song, showing how lonely she feels not having her friends around to share the special moments with. In short, both the song and the episode did a wonderful job teaching its moral without beating us over the head with it. Showing us the excitement and fear we experience when faced with drastic changes to our lives and how we can deal with them. Plus, it gave me my brand new ship. ^.^ Apple/Taps fiveever baby! <3 :D

I’ll give this episode on a 1 to 5 rating a 4 for its great heart and well written pacing. But what about you Missy? What’s your verdict on the episode? :3

Missy: In terms of the song, I agree with you in terms that Michelle Croeber is a fantastic singer and has such an incredible range for someone her age <3 This song may not be the catchiest, but it certainly conveyed perfectly the roller coaster of emotions that AppleBloom was going for and gave us another MLP country song (boy, it’s been awhile since we’ve had one of those it seems huh?) However, unlike most MLP country songs, it sounds very much like a classic and smooth achey breaky heart, but in the best way possible of course:) Buttt...my still favorite Season 6 song so far is still “The Pie Sister Swap Day Song” from the previous episode;3 ;)

In terms of some of the missed opportunities, at first, I thought the whole CMC not being able to travel the Equestria in order to help other ponies with their cutie marks was a missed opportunities. But as the episode progressed, and the moral expanded more and more, I realized that the CMC are more than just fulfilling the purpose of their cutie marks and their friendship. They are individual ponies that should be free to have fun doing just random things whether alone or together. Sure, they have their key talents and purpose in life, but there’s more to life than just that. Life is also about having fun, trying new things, exploring, making new friends and enjoying the friendships you already have. The CMC episodes don’t just have to be about missions and such, in fact some of the best CMC episodes are about the crusaders not pursuing their marks and just being kids:) Even as adults, they should be free to live their own lives along with having lives together<3 Part of growing up and reality is having diverse interests, and doing things beyond your comfort zones. Plus, the CMC are good at solving cutie mark problems by themselves as shown by AppleBloom with Tender Tap at the show. I guess my point is, the CMC will be doing missions every now and then as kids or as adults, perhaps exploring Equestria and more; BUT, the most important aspect of the CMC is them growing up and becoming more defined character through the process of growing up:)

In a way, I’m still excited for CMC episodes to come because I honestly don’t know what will happen next for them on their journey and how they will grow as characters:) And you know, that makes it more exciting when you don’t know right?;) But no matter what, we know that no matter how the CMC may part from time to time, they will always be friends. Not just the CMCs. Now that I think about it, this episode is kinda like a follow-up episode to “Bloom and Gloom” from Season 5. Apple Bloom kept worrying about what cutie marks will do to her friendship with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. But Luna and her friends assured her that their friendship will always be true no matter the circumstance<3 In this episode, Apple Bloom thought her fears were coming true, but Scoots and Sweetie assured her that it wasn’t the case and helped explain the situation maturely. And I like how this episode follows up with “Bloom and Gloom” even though I wasn’t a big fan of “Bloom and Gloom” either.

My final verdiction: based on my 1 to 10 heart rating system, I give this episode 7 out of 10 hearts<3 Thanks for coming Quill and reviewing this episode with me. It was a lot of fun:D Any last thoughts and comments?

Ink Quill: Cheers to that! <3 I don’t really have anything much more to say. Good episode, good writing and good character development. Cheers to “On Your Marks”, and here's to more great episodes of season six! ^^ <3 :D

Missy: Agreed, here’s to more great episodes of season six to come!:D So excited!:D