A Flurry of Emotions · 8:10pm Apr 22nd, 2017
Friendship is Magic first impressions review: A Flurry of Emotions (s07e03)
Obake
(SPOILERS!)
The very idea of this episode is fraught with horror: Baby Cakes + Flurry Heart. For those who do not know, I consider Baby Cakes one of the worst episodes of season 2. While I have never hated Flurry, I have never been a fan. Her debut was dull, and no episode since established anything for her besides being an “adow'able” prop. That is why I'm genuinely surprised by how enjoyable A Flurry of Emotions is. It manages to avoid typical babysitting story pitfalls with its own brand of gumption.
That does not always work in its favor, but more on that later. Twilight's promised a day of fun and reading to sick children at the hospital. All she and Spike have to do is buy supplies. Neither expect a visit from Shining Armor and Cadence, who come asking if Twilight could babysit Flurry for a day. Despite already having a full schedule, Twilight agrees. The episode plays the idea that she is super enamored with spending time with her niece. Fair enough, but putting off promises on the fly is uncharacteristically poor decision making on her part, especially as she eventually brings Flurry with her to the hospital. Having an infant in the same room as children affected with potentially contagious hives is a terrible idea, even if said infant has super powers. The visit ends in disaster, with Flurry using her magic to levitate the sick children and hospital staff, causing a scene. Twilight learns she needs to be more careful with her responsibilities.
Unlike Baby Cakes, A Flurry of Emotions has a few things going for it. It is not just the protagonist trying (and failing) to take care of an infant at home. There are several locations: grocery store, hospital, school, etc. While Flurry inevitably creates trouble in each one, the different props and characters keep it varied. It helps, too, that there is a b-story about Shining and Cadence visiting a friend's art gallery. It is nothing great, but it has amusing bits, and it breaks up the monotony of the main story.
Flurry has her OP powers back, despite them having been removed at the end of The Crystalling. While I cannot say I enjoyed her antics here, I was never too bothered, at least until the hospital scene. The interactions between the adults are where the episode shines: Twilight talking to Cherilee about books, the storekeeper's blasé reading of “Things are organized by color”, and Cadence and Shining's small talk with Spearhead. Speaking of which, Spearhead is interesting. He is rather laid back and cool for an artist, instead of a typical snoot. I can see him rubbing people the wrong way, but for me he does not outstay his welcome, and even brings a few smiles (like his painting, “A Thousand Nights in a Hallway”, just a canvas painted black.)
A Flurry of Emotions is not without faults or low points. But despite its problems, it manages to be entertaining, and that is saying a lot for a babysitting episode.
Extras:
*The scene where Cadence and Shining show up had me in panic. Lots of jars of strained peas, extra, extra bags of diapers? It could not possibly take a Mega Babies route, right? Luckily it does not, though at times it seemed it would. Check “poopy diaper scene” as another trope the episode avoids.
*Twilight's schtick of being the “best aunt ever!” gets old fast. I do not mind her loving her niece, but the episode plays this part of her personality too broad.
*It also seems unlike Twilight to turbo rush a cart (with a baby inside it) through a busy store, even if she is behind schedule. But I do not mind it too much.
*Twilight and Spike eventually make it to Sugar Cube Corner. It is weird seeing the more simplistic design of the Cake twins next to Flurry. Pinkie does not contribute much of interests, though I do like when she stamps Twilight's forehead with a frownie face.
*Notably bad dialogue. Twilight yells at Flurry, telling her to stop messing with everyone in the hospital. Flurry cries and rolls into a ball, to which Twilight says “You're scared of me, because I yelled at you, like a big scary bear.” You yelled at her because she was putting sick children in danger. That is more than justified.
*The episode ends with a nice scene of Spike reading to the children at the hospital. Seeing him accomplish a good deed like this on his own and feel rewarded is a breath of fresh air.
Excuse me, but babies actually can get scared of you if you yell at them. I've actually talked to some people about that, and frankly, they agree. Last resort or not, yelling at babies is NEVER a good idea, and if you believe otherwise, then you probably don't see the whole picture.
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You're right. I should have said that Twilight was justified in being frustrated, but should have been firm but calm towards Flurry Heart. Thank you for correcting my mistake.