This is an interesting review because, as you probably already know, there was no two-parter this season, but two standalone episodes.Rock Solid Frienship review · 4:28am Apr 30th, 2017
Hello there. Sorry I haven't uploaded a review of last week's episode but schoolwork has been pretty heavy for me this last week and I just couldn't justify writing it when I have lab reports, GIS projects, and an Econ exam to study for. I will re-watch the episode tomorrow and then write my review for it, so please come back tomorrow to read my thoughts on episode 3. For now, let's take a look at episode 4, featuring a geologists favorite pony: Maud Pie (now with a Rockterate). As an aspiring geologist, I've always found Maud to be a real treat to watch. She (and the rest of the Pie family) act as such an interesting foil to Pinkie that I always enjoy hearing more about each of them. This time we see Maud earn her degree in rock science and now she has to figure out what she is going to do now. Of course, Pinkie tries to get her to stay in Ponyville but she ends messing it up, and Maud decides to go to Ghastly Gorge (Dun-Dun-Dunnnnn). But through the guidance of Starlight, Pinkie learns what she did wrong and goes to apologize to Maud and everything works out. My thoughts on the episode below.
I really enjoyed this episode. Like I said earlier, I am an aspiring Geologist so I understood all the Geology references (such as Plate Tectonics, and the line about sodium rich plagioclase feldspar). This episode couldn't have come at a more perfect time. Today, I spent most of the day (from 8:00 a.m till 5:30 p.m) examining the Columbia River Flood Basalts in Eastern Washington and Western Idaho. It is one of the largest lava flows in Earth's history, dwarfing any seen by mankind. It was the first time I was able to go out in the field and see the features I've been reading about for the past year+. Any time I can deepen my love for Geology is a great opportunity and this episode did that for me as well.
About the episode, I really loved the interactions between Maud and Starlight. I'm glad that they're still finding ways to bring Starlight to the forefront without it feeling forced. The only thing I didn't quite care for was Pinkie Pie. She has never been my absolute favorite (Rainbow Dash still holds that title) but I've been entertained by her antics and usually she gets some chuckles from me. This time however, I felt like I was watching an episode from an earlier season, namely "Maud Pie" and "A Friend in Deed".
In both those episodes, Pinkie tries to either make friends with someone who doesn't want to be friends with her or make her friends, friends with someone she cares about. That happens again in this latest episode. Pinkie tries to make Maud friends so that she will stay in Ponyville but ends up messing it up, similar to what happened when we first met Maud. She also goes out of her way to bring that friendship making about, even going so far as to trap them all inside a cave. Overall, I just felt it was a weak moral. Anyway, that's it for "Rock Solid Friendship". come back tomorrow for my review of "A Flurry of Emotions" and next week for a leaning towards Shy.
