The Quickening: 5 reasons why Slice of Life is the most overrated episode of the show · 4:43pm Oct 7th, 2016
While I was reviewing the past seasons before season 6 started I said I was going to review this particular episode. The time has come. I know I'm going to receive a lot of hate considering the amount of love this episode has but in every family there's a madman.
1. The plot.
Cranky and Matilda's wedding doesn't sound bad and the concept of giving background characters the starring role is great... but why do the main plot has to recycle A Canterlot Wedding? The plot is all over the place and it ties together in a really weird way. Some say that this is supposed to be similar to 22 Short Films About Springfield but the difference between these two is that The Simpsons were more focused and organized, not to mention the writers spent time with the support characters before, which brings me to the next point.
2. The writing.
M.A. Larson was always hit-or-miss for me (probably because he worked in My Gym Partner's a Monkey). For every good episode he writes (Return of Harmony, Secret of My Excess, Amending Fences), there's one bad or forgettable that appears (Swarm of the Century, It's About Time, Ponyville Confidential). Let's be honest; to develop background characters, you should write for only one at time, in one episode at a time and not just cram them all into one so-called "special", rather than just focusing on too many characters at one at time at random in just one little episode and giving them nothing other than pointless attention you should give them the time to develop themselves. The other problem is that, while the main story recycles A Canterlot Wedding, the rest of them and the comedy is taken from Lesson Zero, Ponyville Confidential, Suited for Success, Applebuck Season, Friendship is Magic and The Cutie Mark Chronicles (if you can spot more let me know). And most of them don't work. I don't mind episodes featuring callbacks just as long as they don't affect the story throughout, but if you feature them once too often, it drags the story down considerably. When you show your characters literally jumping the goddamn shark, you know you were trying too hard.
3. Her...
Derpy is probably not only the most overrated background character of the show but also the most overrated background character in the history of background characters and this came down to her personality. Canonizing fanon personalities like hers is quite delicate, but I don't mind having a mentally-handicapped character, in fact, this can help the kids to deal and learn to live with people like her. But why, WHY did the writers had to exaggerate every single aspect? Characters like her are supposed to have respect and we have to make a balance of their lives, not to make fun of them but also to not feel sorry for them all the time (one of the reasons why Finding Dory disappointed me). This is why I always prefer dramatic readings from the fans, because they have known how to treat her with respect. Remember the "Save Derpy" campaign? This is why all my fanfics that have her are simple slices of life or dramas. Not mind having a comedy but please, PLEASE don't do this:
I've been dealing with people like her all the time and they need help and a better model to follow. Speaking of fan favorites...
4. The fans prefer a bland character rather than a bidimensional one.
I never understood why fans liked Bon Bon. When it comes to the Background 6 she has the least amount of personality. Let's check: Derpy is a mailpony with mental retardation, Doctor Hooves is a Time Lord parody, Vinyl and Octavia are musicians with opposite personalities and Lyra has a fetish for hands because she likes humans. What does Bon Bon has to hold herself? Every single one of them has potential to have their own story and development except her. Then this episode aires and Larson gives her a personality, not anything complex but she suddenly she becomes the most interesting of the background 6 alongside Doctor Hooves. And the results? The majority of the fans don't like her, some of them because they feel the secret agent thingy is "out of place" and others because they wanted Lyra to be the weird one, EVEN IF THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN DUE TO HER OBSSESSION IN THE FIRST PLACE! I don't mind Lyra being the crazy one in the relationship but I also want Bon Bon to have an actual personality. But unfortunately the fans have spoken and Secret Agent Sweetie Drops has almost fallen into oblivion. I can understand the complains towards Derpy's name change and Vinyl's being mute... but why complaining about giving deep to a character who actually need it?
5. What About Me?
I'd heard to death that this episode is a love letter to the fandom, a special thanks for them for supporting the show over 5 years and there's nothing wrong with that. On the contrary, that is great! But what about children, who are your actual target and are the main reason why this show continues airing? What about me and other viewers, who like the show but not to the point of being obsessed like the fandom? They left us out this time with no consideration. if you're going to make a good special, think of anyone else we have an opportunity to draw into the show (where we can preach kindness and compassion to them), and don't aim it just at bronies who already a part of the fandom.
I don't want to end on a low note so let me say this right now: I don't like this episode but also I don't consider this to be one of the worst episodes of the show like some people claimed to be. So let me recap and mention the things I do liked about it: The Big Lebowski's parody, Doctor Hooves, some minor development for Amethyst Star, Bon Bon's new personality (like I mentioned before), Vinyl and Octavia's duo, Gummy's philosophical thoughts and Mayor Mare's message. For me this is a 2/5 episode but is still watchable... barely. Now you're allowed to ignite your torches and sharpen your pitchforks.
I agree.
I'm more of the Lily Peet camp of people on this episode: It's really bad. Not the worst of things, but it is still bad.
Of the things you liked about this, I liked these:
Bon Bon's personality, Vinyl and Octavia's duo, and Gummy's philosophical thoughts.
Seriously, my favorite background character is Vinyl and the second is Octavia, even though I don't even know what dubstep is, though I don't particularly care about, because... Music. Is awesome.