Fluttershy Leans In

Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Fluttershy Leans In (s07e05)
Obake

Note: this episode was leaked, so I watched it early in fear Hasbro would be more vigorous in taking down uploads. Hopefully they keep the uploads that appear this Saturday up. Also, I wanted extra time to finish another pony episode review, and plan on posting it this weekend as a bonus. Enjoy.

(SPOILERS!)

I'm conflicted on how I feel about this episode. On the one hand, it has good character building for Fluttershy, and a few funny scenes. On the other, it is unsure of its message, and is rather slow at points. Overall, it aims high, but does not reach above average.

After Angel Bunny injures his paw in a parkour accident (yes, really), Fluttershy takes him to the local vet, only to find the place swamped. Animals have taken over. The lone veterinarian, Dr. Fauna, is tired and overworked. Fluttershy promises to find a solution. Her idea: build an animal sanctuary.

The Mane 6 are on board, and even refer three friends who can help: Hardhat, a construction pony, Dandy Brandeur, a fashion designer, and Wrangler (what else), an animal wrangler. Fluttershy is sure her dreams will come true. She tells the referrals her plans, how she wants the sanctuary (which is in a small, wooded area) to be all natural, with no walls or buildings. None of her plans are heeded, and construction is started on a rather gaudy building. Rather than shy away, Fluttershy gives them a piece of her mind, calling all construction off. Unwilling to take defeat, she decides to lead the project herself. Her and her friends irrigate the land, plant flowers, build a hammock and tire swing, and put nests into trees, creating a paradise for animals to recover after visiting the vet.

There's a lot to like about this episode, yet a few notable oddities/inconsistencies. For example, Fluttershy tells Hardhat not to build any unnatural structures, yet says she wants a gate. Also, why Fluttershy wants a décor designer to help build an all natural sanctuary is never explained. These may be construed as Fluttershy not having a clear vision, which ties in with her eventually learning that in order to achieve her goals, she has to work on them herself. What cannot be answered is why the episode forgets that Fluttershy's cottage has been used as an animal sanctuary since season one. I don't object to her building an outdoorsy sanctuary, but the episode fails to show one of her most prominent roles, while still mentioning how great her talent as a caregiver* is!

Fluttershy takes no guff in this episode, showing frustration and not holding back her feelings, yet reverting to her soft side once everything is said and done. She realizes her dreams through hard work and standing up for her ideas, something she rarely did in previous seasons. It's just too bad the episode around it isn't that strong.

*I know she takes care of Angel, but he's her pet, so it is expected.

Extras:
-I enjoy the shenanigans with the animals, like the goats eating doctor supplies, and the bear wearing a shower cap and towel. They are silly, I know, but I found them cute. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the first time a giraffe has appeared in the show.
-Angel is still a little snot, and has a horrific sounding cry. Luckily he does not have much screen time.
-Of the referrals, the most memorable is Dandy. He has a terrible aversion to nature, and is aghast when Fluttershy suggest he uses green and brown color combinations.
-Once Fluttershy takes lead of her project, she invites one of her own friends: Hooffield McColt. He is a farmer, and knows animals, I guess. It is still an odd choice, especially as he does not get much to say.
-I have to ask, if Fluttershy is not working in animal care, then what does she do? Does the Princess pay her and the Mane 6 for their roles as Equestrian heroes? Let me know what your theories are.