SPOILERS? Mariusioannesp Reviews: "On Your Marks" · 3:17am Apr 11th, 2016
WARNING!!! The following contains SPOILERS for the last MLP episode “On Your Marks”.
Now, without further a-get-set-ready-go-do, here is my review of “On Your Marks”.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders are having a meeting discussing what are they to do now that they have their cutie marks. After finding that ponies with cutie mark-related problems are few and far between and those with them are easily rectified, the CMC decide to go their own ways and find their own interests. Apple Bloom though has a tough time at this and begins to worry what will become of her without her fellow CMCers always by her side. Will Apple Bloom learn how to be on her own?
So what’s the verdict?
This was a simple, sweet little episode, but it has its moments where it ran quite deep.
So yeah, I liked it!
We begin of course at the beginning where Apple Bloom is calling to order the CMC’s first meeting since they got their cutie marks, but she finds her fellow CMCers are a tad distracted. 
LOOK AT OUR BUTTS!
They can’t get over how beautiful their cutie marks are. Really. 
Anywho, Apple Bloom calls on her friends to do more than just stare at their butts. They have to go do something! They have to do as they always done and try new stuff, like square dancing. 
Or mountain climbing. 
Or even square dancing on a mountain they’ve climbed. 
As long as they keep trying as many new things as possible, Apple Bloom is certain they’ll have more chances to get their cutie marks. That’s when Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo reminder her they already have their cutie marks. 
They come to the sudden realization that they’ve never really did things that didn’t have to do with getting their cutie marks. A montage of clips from episodes like “Call of the Cutie”, “Scare Master”, and “The Show Stoppers” seems to confirm that. Is that really the case though? There were indeed plenty of episodes where the CMC weren’t primarily concerned with seeking out their cutie marks, like “Family Appreciation Day”, “One Bad Apple”, and “Twilight Time”. So, continuity? Moving on, Sweetie Belle wonders what exactly are they supposed to do now. Apple Bloom proposes that they obviously do what they got their cutie marks in. They must help ponies without cutie marks or those who have forgotten their special purpose. However, this proves more difficult than they realized. After going through all of Ponyville, they were unable to find a pony who needed help with their cutie mark. They even try giving the Cake Twins a speech about not being worried about not having their cutie marks yet. 
How come their eyes aren’t like the other babies we’ve seen recently? Are they suggesting newborns have fully-fledged adult eyes, but then lose them? And why are they still babies? According to my speculative chronology, they should be close to three years old by now. They don’t have diapers; perhaps that means they’re potty-trained at this point.
Anyway, the CMC are at the playground lamenting this unfortunate turn of events. They start wondering if they can’t do what makes them special, than does that mean that they’re not special. That’s when an opportunity presents itself. 
It’s Bulk Biceps! But why is he at a children’s playground on a piece of children’s playground equipment?
Can you Bulk? Can you?
This is Polsky being weird again!
Well anyway, it turns out Bulk Biceps has a cutie mark problem! After they squeeze him into their clubhouse, they get down to brass tacks. 
As you may recall, Bulk Biceps’ cutie mark is a dumbbell, so he’s been lifting every dumbbell he can find. That explains his rather… unique physique. But now, he’s run out of dumbbell’s to lift. Scootaloo suggests that he try lifting things other than dumbbells, and Sweetie adds that once he’s run out of other things to lift, he could teach others how to lift things. And with that, he falls out of the clubhouse with his problem solved. 
Well, that was easy. Too easy in fact. The CMC are far too talented in their special talent. Sweetie breaks down their problem helpfully with this here chart. 
I’m Ross Perot!
Y’all remember Ross Perot? Tee hee. Election humor.
Anyway, the problem boils down to that they no longer have to go out to do stuff to get their cutie marks. Those ponies with cutie mark problems are hard to find. Plus, when they find such a pony with a cutie mark problem, they’re so good at solving such problems that they do so very quickly. Apple Bloom suggests finding a way to travel all around Equestria solving ponies’ cutie mark problems. That won’t work though. Instead, Sweetie suggests that since they don’t need to do stuff to get their cutie marks, they could just do stuff just for fun. They all take to this idea, however they have different ideas as to what to do. Scootaloo wants to do some scootering naturally so she sets up this complicated track to go down at Sweet Apple Acres. 
As you can see, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle can barely stay up.
Sweetie wants to sing naturally, but her friends can’t carry a tune. 
Apple Bloom wants to do potion making with Zecora. 
Wait a minute! Zecora’s house mutated!
This is the first time we see Zecora this season, and she has no lines. They really don’t have much to do with her anymore. It’s kind of sad.
Either way, Scootaloo and Sweetie aren’t that good at it.
After that, they’re trying to figure out something they can all do together when Scootaloo suggests that perhaps it will be better if they go off on their own to do their own thing. They don’t have to do everything together. Scootaloo wants to try bungee jumping, Sweetie wants to try crochet, and Apple Bloom doesn’t want to do either of those things. Apple Bloom can do whatever she wants to do as soon as she figures out what that is. They’ll just meet later to talk about the cool stuff they’ve done. Apple Bloom though is uncomfortable with the idea of separating like this, especially since she has no idea what she’s going to do. Once she’s left on her lonesome, Apple Bloom gives us this season’s first song. It’s a delightful little ditty called “Out On My Own”. I admit, it does not stand out and it’s not very memorable. However, it’s only the season’s first song. The song is accompanied by a montage of Apple Bloom trying all kinds of different things, but the most interesting is when she tries painting. 
Oh my gosh it’s Tree Hugger! And she’s modeling nude! Wait a minute, she never wears clothes. Never mind. Not only do we get a cameo appearance from Tree Hugger, but there is so much going on here if you’re an art nerd like me. In the back, you got that Leonardo Da Vinci pony from last season’s “Princess Spike”. On the left you got a pony who’s clearly Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso as well as emulating his art style. And his cutie mark is a collection of cubes! Cubism! On the right, you got a pony who’s clearly Salvador Dali painting Tree Hugger into a parody of The Persistence of Memory. His cutie mark is a melted watch too.
And let’s not forget this pony who is clearly supposed to be Andy Warhol.
She also tries some grape stomping with Cherry Berry and Berry Punch. 
She also tries out baking pretty successfully but finds she has no one to share her pie with. 
Oh my gosh! Look in the back! 
It’s Twist! How long has it been since we’ve seen her around.
And Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon are sharing some pie too.
Anyway, once Apple Bloom finishes her lament of existential ennui, she comes upon a nearby dance studio. She finds a dance class taught by a pony named (in the credits) Hoofer Steps. 
She has a Russian accent. At least it sounded Russian to me. That’s some subtle world-building. They got Russian ponies in Equestria.
In any case, Apple Bloom asks to join the dance class because she’s not really in the mood to try anything on her own and dancing seems like something you need to do with another. Hoofer Steps allows her to join up given that they have a space open at their recital that night as one of her students Tender Taps is too nervous to perform in public. 
Awwa. Look at the poor little dude huddled in the corner.
So, Apple Bloom tries out dancing with a partner, but given she has no prior formal training, she does not do very well. Still, she has developed quite an unnerving immediate connection with her fellow classmates and already considers them all her friends. Hoofer Steps though thinks that dancing with a partner is a little too advanced for Apple Bloom and suggests she learn a few things on her own. Apple Bloom leaves dejected but is followed by Tender Taps. He tries to console her and assures her she has a lot of potential. It’s in the course of their conversation that Apple Bloom discovers how skilled a dancer Tender Taps is. 
And Apple Bloom clearly likes what she sees. 
Me likey.
He loves dancing, but he can’t bring himself to do it in public. He even thinks performance might be his special talent. Hmmm. A pony with a potential cutie mark problem. This looks like a job for the Cutie Mark Crusaders! However, Apple Bloom is too wrapped up in her own issues to see this opportunity staring her in the face as she goes sulking back to the CMC clubhouse.
Back at the clubhouse, Scootaloo and Sweetie arrive after having had a fun afternoon trying things on their own. Scootaloo really enjoyed bungee jumping, and Sweetie really enjoyed crocheting despite not being particularly good at it. When they enter the clubhouse, they find an uncharacteristically unhinged Apple Bloom sitting in the dark. 
Apple Bloom, honey… You’re scaring me.
Once they open the blinds, they discover the wall plastered with all of Apple Bloom’s failed attempts at finding an individual activity for herself. 
Each attempt made her feel alone than the last, and she can’t see how she’ll ever be happy if they’re not going to hang out together anymore. Scootaloo however clarifies that they never meant that they couldn’t ever do things together anymore, just that they don’t have to do everything together. They should be able to pursue their individual interests if the others are uninterested in it. Now, that Apple Bloom understands, she admits she kind of liked dancing, but she wasn’t that good at it. (You know, it’s not surprising she liked dancing the most given that she tried it out in “The Show Stoppers” in Season 1 but was just as bad at it.) Sweetie and Scootaloo assure her she doesn’t have to be good at something to like it and being good at something doesn't mean she always will be. That’s lesson I can stand behind. Apple Bloom then tells them about Tender Taps and his skill at the dance but fear of performing. When Sweetie inquires as to his cutie mark status, Apple Bloom suddenly realizes what was staring her in the face this whole time.
The CMC arrive at the dance recital where we see this happening. 
It’s a pony parody of Dirty Dancing.
Dirty Dancing. That’s another movie I’ve never seen.
Anyhow, Apple Bloom finds Tender Taps and apologizes to him for being so wrapped up in her own issues that she didn’t notice his. He’s the best dancer she’s ever seen, and she wants to help him get over his fears and perform in public. He’s still too scared of not being good enough and concerned about not being adequately prepared, lacking costumes and a backdrop. Apple Bloom tells him she’ll go out with him because next to her, he’ll always be a better dancer. The rest she leaves in the capable hooves of her CMC associates.
So, Apple Bloom and Tender Taps are provided crudely crocheted costumes by Sweetie, and Scootaloo quickly switches out the backdrop with her newly acquired bungee skills. We’ve seen before way back in Season 4’s “Flight to the Finish” how far the CMC have come since their first attempt at performing on stage in “The Show Stoppers”, but this just adds to it. Apple Bloom attempts to dance while poor Tender Taps stands next to her shaking like a leaf, and soon enough Apple Bloom dances off the stage. 
After some encouragement from Apple Bloom given that she’s fine though she’s just made a fool of herself, Tender Taps starts dancing and surely enough he gets right into it. This earns him applause from the audience. 
Hey look, it’s Octavia.
Not only that, but Tender Taps gets his cutie mark! 
Tender Taps thanks the CMC for their help and encourages Apple Bloom to keep at it in her dancing. 
Hello, what’s all this then?
Derpibooru seems to have settled on TenderBloom last I checked. I can go with that.
SHIP! SHIP! SHIP!
Not now Grunkle Stan!
Apple Bloom apologizes to her friends again about freaking out a little over separating to pursue their own interests. She realizes this can only make them better at what they do as they acquire new skills. And by going off on their own, they’re three times as likely to find ponies who need their help. The Cutie Mark Crusaders will never be the same; they’ll be better than they’ve been before.
Oh don’t mind me. I’m just showing random passersby my butt.
Don't change the channel
Don't touch that dial
We got it all on UHF
Hmmm.
This episode was written by our good ole’ friend Dave Polsky. Now, I know it’s only recently that I’ve been paying attention to an episode’s writer, but I’ve always paid attention when Mr. Polsky writes an episode. Dave Polsky has written what many consider the series’ worst episodes, though in a number of cases, it remains beyond my understanding why that is the case. This episode though doesn’t have much as I far as I can see that can arouse people’s ire. Still, this episode bares some of Polsky’s signature marks. Many of Polsky’s episodes, particular those that I enjoy, have a certain philosophical depth to them. This is the case here as we witness Apple Bloom go through an existential crisis. Apple Bloom has defined herself as part of a unit, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. When the CMC naturally begins to grow up and grow apart, Apple Bloom finds she has difficulty defining herself outside of that unit. Hence the existential crisis. It also explains the immediate bond she attempts to build with the dance group. She thinks she needs another unit to define herself. In the end, Apple Bloom takes an important step forward in defining who she is as an individual.
One thing though that marks this episode as unique among Polsky’s oeuvre is that it was co-written by Josh Haber. It bares Haber’s mark as well by sharing a thematic connection with a previous Haber episode, last season’s “Bloom and Gloom”. As you may recall, one of Apple Bloom’s nightmares in that episode was of losing her friends due to them getting their cutie marks. Here, Apple Bloom has to deal with a situation that appears to be like that in real life.
One of the things that makes this episode unique is its focus on the drawback of being too much of an extrovert. For the most part, MLP tends to celebrate extroversion as opposed to introversion. Given the series’ focus on friendship, naturally it’s going to include a lot of ponies coming out of themselves and coming together. This is generally the case with Fluttershy episodes and was the case with Moon Dancer in “Amending Fences”. The only real episode before this point that at least acknowledged that some ponies (or donkeys in that case) prefer to be introverts was “A Friend In Deed”. In this episode though, we see that Apple Bloom is so extroverted that she has difficulty defining herself outside of her group of friends. Apple Bloom learns that it’s totally a good thing to separate yourself for a while to work on yourself as an individual.
I believe this episode sets the stage for what future CMC episodes will be like. With the CMC’s journey to get their cutie marks complete, now they must move on to other things. The most interesting thing here is how the CMC used all the skills they learned on their own to help Tender Taps get his cutie mark. It was something I suspected when they got their cutie marks that it would mean they would have to go out to learn all kinds of new skills in order to fully help ponies find or further understand their special talents in whatever the case may be. To a certain extent, the CMC’s ultimate destiny kind of fulfills the idea had my some earlier in the fandom that the CMC would dedicate themselves to helping other cutie mark-less ponies get their cutie marks. I believe that for now on, the CMC’s episodes will involve them helping some pony get or further understand their cutie mark, just like they did in this episode. In fact, they did one of each in this one.
As for what I didn’t like, there’s a possible continuity error in the CMC’s assessment that they’ve never done anything together that didn’t have to do with getting their cutie mark. As I noted before, there have a number of episodes featuring the CMC where they weren’t primarily concerned with getting their cutie marks. I remember because they often stood out as kind of refreshing at times. Also, it’s not really clear to me how Apple Bloom comes to the conclusion that her friends won’t want to spend time with her anymore. However, these problems are pretty minor. Nitpicks even. This was still a pretty solid episode outside of that.
Overall, “On Your Marks” was a fun, simple episode, but it gives you a lot to think about. It sets up a new dynamic for the Cutie Mark Crusaders going into the future, and I, for one, am looking forward to seeing more of that.
What did y’all think about “On Your Marks”?
God bless you all. God bless America. And God bless Equestria.
I liked this episode as well. It wasn't amazing but it was simple and enjoyable.