Season 6, Episode 4 Thoughts and Review · 10:12pm Apr 9th, 2016
Spoilers below the cut! You've been warned!
Yaaaaaas, a CMC episode! It was real nice to see an episode with the newly marked CMC and to see what they were up to! Let's get down to the episode!
At the Cutie Mark Crusaders' clubhouse, Apple Bloom calls to order their first meeting since receiving their cutie marks. Unfortunately, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are so enamored with their cutie marks that they are unable to focus. Which... kinda seemed outta character? But, then again, they have been waiting for their marks for an awful long time and to finally have them after all that waiting must make it pretty hard to go without looking at their own marks in wonder. Still, though, it was kinda conceited, especially for my girls.
BUT SCOOTS WAS SO FREAKING CUTE THOUGH, LOOK AT HER TWIRLING AROUND.
However, before Apple Bloom also gets distracted by her own mark, she proposes they go out and try new things, such as square dancing and mountain climbing.
Awkwaaaaaaaard.
Alas, as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo point out, the Crusaders already have their cutie marks, much to Apple Bloom's embarrassment. The three fillies realize that crusading for their marks is all they have ever done, and they wonder what to do next. Apple Bloom suggests they do what their cutie marks symbolize: helping other ponies find out or rediscover what makes them special.
...With great difficulty, of course.
The Crusaders travel around Ponyville to find ponies with cutie mark-related problems—from Big McIntosh to Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake to Mayor Mare—but all of the ponies they meet appear to be perfectly content with their special talents and lives.
I honestly don't know who I am more in this gif.
As the Crusaders start to question how special they truly are, they encounter Bulk Biceps, who says he has a cutie mark problem. Though, I gotta wonder, why was he at the park at that time... And why was he sitting in something that was clearly unable to bear his weight? I have questions, man.
The Crusaders invite Bulk back to their clubhouse—despite the cramped space—and he explains that his cutie mark is a dumbbell, but he has lifted every dumbbell in Ponyville. When they suggest he find other things to lift, he asks what to do after that. They then suggest that he teach other ponies to lift things, and this quickly satisfies him.
OUT OF CONTEXT GIF IS OUT OF CONTEXT.
Apple Bloom worries that there aren't many ponies in Ponyville with cutie mark problems and those that do have problems are too easily solved. Because of this, she wonders if the Cutie Mark Crusaders have any reason to exist.
The Crusaders take stock of their situation—too few ponies to help and easily solvable cutie mark problems—and Apple Bloom proposes expanding their search to all of Equestria. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo believe that's too much for them to handle and they should instead focus on helping ponies in Ponyville. Until then, they can just do things for fun without the pressure of getting their cutie marks.
SCOOTS BEING A TOTAL BADASS, HELL YEAH. She betta be a daredevil sometime down the road.
Also, Sweetie pursuing her musical talents make me really happy.
As a choir student who has sight-read for competition, this is legit what it feels like.
The face your director makes when you mess up.
ALSO, DUDE, CHECK OUT ZECORA'S HUT:
THE QUALITY OF ANIMATION, AAAAAAH.
The three fillies try out several activities around town, such as scootering and singing, but they find it difficult to think of something they are all interested in. Despite Apple Bloom's reservations, the three decide to pursue separate interests.
DAMN, THIS SONG WAS SO GOOD.
Suddenly on her own, Apple Bloom tries to find something fun to do, all while singing a heartfelt ballad. Unfortunately, she can't, particularly because she doesn't have Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to do it with.
Man, I was not expecting this comparison to AB's situation...
For a brief time, Apple Bloom discovers an interest in dancing in a class taught by Hoofer Steps, and she substitutes for a shy student named Tender Taps. Due to her lack of dancing talent, however, she struggles to fit in.
I don't know who I relate to more in this scenario...
As Apple Bloom leaves, she talks with Tender Taps, who has a lot of tap-dancing talent but suffers from stage fright.
DANG, SON, YOU GOT SOME SKILLS.
However, despite Tender Taps in obvious need of help, Apple Bloom is too caught up in her own depression to pick up on it.
*sadly tap dances away*
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo return to the Crusaders clubhouse after an afternoon of fun spent crocheting and bungee-jumping. Inside the clubhouse, they find Apple Bloom sitting alone in the dark.
AB looks so fucking done, I can't even.
After trying dozens of activities and failing to find anything that interests her, Apple Bloom despairs about finding happiness now that she and her friends don't hang out anymore. Scootaloo corrects her by stating they can still hang out, but they don't have to do everything together. What a good lesson.
Then, Apple Bloom admits that she did like dancing, but she wasn't very good at it. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo tell her she doesn't need to be good in order to have fun. When Apple Bloom mentions Tender Taps and his performance troubles, Sweetie Belle asks if he had his cutie mark, which jump starts the girls into a rescue mission.
At the Ponyville dance theater, the Crusaders find Tender Taps backstage, and Apple Bloom tries to convince him to perform. When Tender Taps expresses fear from performing in front of an audience, Apple Bloom says she'll perform with him so he'll look good by comparison.
AB is such a good friend.
While Sweetie Belle provides them with costumes and Scootaloo assists with the stage backdrop, Apple Bloom and Tender Taps perform a tap-dancing act together. Apple Bloom mostly embarrasses herself, but Tender Taps manages to overcome his stage fright and impress the audience with his dancing. As the ponies cheer for him, he earns a tap-dancing cutie mark.
I'm so dang happy for this nerd.
Tender Taps thanks the Cutie Mark Crusaders for helping him realize his tap-dancing potential. He tells Apple Bloom that he hopes she continues dancing, and Apple Bloom says she will.
Ship parallels are hella cute~
Apple Bloom apologizes to her friends for being so silly about them trying new things on their own, and Sweetie Belle says by doing so, they'll be three times as likely to find ponies to help.
"Well, one thing is for sure. The Cutie Mark Crusaders will never be the same. We'll be better!"
— Apple Bloom
I liked this episode. It was cute, and while the plot sometimes had moments where it felt like it didn't really know what to do with itself, I still enjoyed it. The animation was fun and upbeat, the song in it was well-written and very nice to listen to, and the lessons in it were freaking fantastic.
Lesson #1: It Ain't Over Yet
Here's the thing about the CMC and what getting their cutie marks means; back before they got them, everyone was excited and terrified of what would come if they got them. People worried they wouldn't have a purpose and that they wouldn't have a reason for continuing to have episodes on the show.
However, this is surely not the case. Just because the girls finished one mission doesn't mean that they finished for good. That's like going through one level on a game and saying, "Alright, I'm done." No, not really... I mean, these girls are talented and unique, so while they achieved part of their potential, they still have so much more that they are capable of doing.
With every door that closes, a new one opens for us to go through. Don't think that all the doors are shut when there might be one right in front of you.
Lesson #2: It's Not Always A Competition
Not everything you do has to be something you're good at. Seriously, the whole point of doing something is to enjoy it. What's the point of being the world's greatest writer if you hate every word that comes from your fingertips? Sweetie Belle knew she was bad at crocheting, but it didn't stop her from having a good time. And she had just started doing it, too, so she knew that she had room to improve. Apple Bloom soon learned this when she returned to the idea of learning new things and I'm so glad she did.
Sometimes, it doesn't matter if you're good at what you do; all that matters is that you love it.
Lesson #3: Friends Don't Have To Do Everything Together
This? This is probably one of the most important lessons. I mean, this lesson has been somewhat discussed in "Scare Master" (review), but this episode gave more depth on it. In Scare Master, Shy ended up telling the Mane Six that while she enjoyed being with them, Nightmare Night was just going to be one of the things that they didn't do together. And they were all totally fine with it.
While it is fun to spend time with others and have things to enjoy together, there's absolutely nothing wrong with having something you do on your own. Absolutely nothing.
Also... I totes have a new ship:
Now, what can we expect from next week's episode?
Season 6, Episode 5: "Gauntlet of Fire"
Spike is forced to compete in a dangerous Gauntlet for the title of Dragon Lord in order to save his friends.
SPIKE EPISODE! AND HE MIGHT BE USEFUL! AAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Alright, just gotta say this to the writers right now:
OH NO SHE BETTA DON'T
Anyone wanna discuss this episode or the upcoming episode? Comment down below!
It did have its share of cute moments.
aaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd the new ship of Tenderbloom has now set sail
And I wonder if next week's episode might give us a glimpse of Spike's past. Maybe he might be faced with a decision to either stay with the dragons or go back with his friends.
I enjoyed this episode, it explored new territory for me, moral wise. All things that I thought about, you already had it in your review, so I don't have much to add. Well...except that I loved Bulk Biceps having a lot more dialogue, I hope to hear more from him. I also want to add that while I was watching this episode, I was hard shipping Apple Bloom and Tender Taps, they just seem so cute together...UGH. Though, normally, I don't like kid romances, since I feel they shouldn't focus on romantic relationships until they are older. BUT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T SHIP TEENAGE VERSIONS OF THEM. THAT WOULD BE SWEET(ie Belle).
Ahhh! I can't wait for that Spike episode, to win a title called, "Dragon Lord", is practically saying there will be other dragons involved. AND PERHAPS A VILLAIN DRAGON. I have been waiting for something like this since Season 1, yes, that far back! (The writers better not mess it up)
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I'm excited and terrified. Please, writers, don't do another bad Spike episode... My poor heart can't take it...
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I would be angry if they mess it up. I wouldn't throw anything, but I will probably rant to myself the rest of the weekend.
This was a good episode, and Tender Taps is a cute little colt. I'm right there with you on next week's episode, it'd better be good, for their sake!