Thoughts on "Honest Apple"

Heh, got a little distracted with a Disney movie marathon that my sister Marshy and I are doing over the summer. Basically, we’re watching all the movies in the Disney Animated Canon (so, no mainly live action movies, no Pixar, and no sequels unless they’re in the official canon, like Rescuers Down Under and Fantasia 2000) in order of release. So far, we’ve made it to Dumbo and we should watch Bambi next.

Wait, this post is about an MLP episode, not Disney movies. Okay, better get into the episode before I get distracted again.

~Okay, I guess the whole “happened to be passing by” thing gives me excuse to say this: I’m tired of Spike’s crush on Rarity. It was funny in the earlier seasons, now it’s just stale and annoying... and kind of creepy. I’m all for their friendship, but I just can’t take Sparity as a serious romance ever. I really want Spike to grow out of it... like, NOW.

~Watch out! Cute Pinkie with a guitar alert!
...wait, why does it only have two strings and four... uh...

~Yeah, I was confused about Applejack as a fashion judge like the rest of you. The whole practicality angle as the reason Rarity chose her as a judge makes a little sense... I think? I don’t know, I’m no fashion expert and dress more on the practical side, so I probably shouldn’t talk.

~Why is Apple Bloom wearing that hat...

~All the whole “kiss kiss” thing reminds me of is that one little scene in Brotherly Bonding Time with Rosita the Flower Shop Granny greeting Peanut Butter and Jelly. If that last part wasn’t capitalized, your out-of-context-ness would give you a silly mental image.
~That reminds me, I haven’t thrown Photo Finish or Hoity Toity into that story. Wish I knew where to put them now...

~What the heck, Coco? Who in the right mind would wear a freakin’ full body disco ball costume with absolute, utter seriousness? I can only see Cheese Sandwich wearing it to entertain partygoers and sing some parody disco song in the process.

~Oh, hey, that Lily Lace character is cute--OH MY GOSH IT’S A VALLEY GIRL WHY. Oh, and there’s also Mr. Shapely Shape Pony, Starstreak (what the heck is up with his mane, it’s freaking me out), and the Goth Pegasus, Inky Rose (the name’s hilarious, considering that I like watching Brony Analysis videos and know who some of them are).

~AJ, be nice, I think the dresses are fine (I’m a little confused on Starstreak’s design, though). But seriously, Applejack’s not being all that great during this montage, with some nasty bluntness and some criticisms that I think are just pointless; if a certain thing is detrimental like how Apple Bloom was wearing that hat earlier, then I’d get behind AJ, but some of those things don’t really get in the way (though holes in clothes personally annoy me). That downcast look on Inky Rose and that whimper from Lily Lace made my heart break for them. Though, the purposefully messy mane... I fail to see how that’s fashionable.

~HOLY CRAP RARITY CAN SHRED. THIS IS THE BEST MOMENT IN THE SEASON SO FAR.
~I love Pinkie’s reaction to that.

~Aaaaaand then we get the shaking off feathers scene. UGH, Applejack, Lily just said that it took her forever to stitch those feathers on the hat! And unless the wearer is allergic to feathers, that hat’s not going to get in the way and ruin somepony’s day. It’s. FINE.

~Well, I don’t see much difference between the belts, so I guess I agree with AJ here.

~I don’t deny that fashion does get ridiculous and I don’t understand it half the time, but it’s made clear that these ponies are working hard to express themselves through their designs and create something unique. AJ, I like you, you’re one of my faves, but you’re not looking good right now with your harsh criticisms... half of which I think are just useless. There is a difference between honesty and bluntness.

~Welp, show’s over. Sorry, Rarity.

~Okay, I know why we’re seeing this Strawberry Sunrise mare... but I can punch this snob in the face? It’s not even a minute and I hate her.

~At least Applejack is having a good turnaround by rounding up the other judges and the designers (honestly, I find that scene kind of funny) and apologizing to them. And it’s adorable how she’s helping the designers out to make up for being so harsh.

~Oh, show’s back on. And I have to say, the clothes are really neat. Though... I do like Lily Lace’s designs the best.

~Also, all of Pinkie’s scenes in this episode were adorable. Wow, usually she’s mishandled in a supporting role, but so far, much of this season has handled her really well. The only time I was annoyed by her was in Rock Solid Friendship.

~Okay, but did they really have to cop out by making AJ choose all three of them as winners? That kind of makes the “win” cheap.

~Yeah, that dress is awful. Get it out of my sight.

So, uh... that was something. I guess it would have been a good episode had it not been for Applejack being so harshly blunt and having criticisms that do nothing but offend the designers. Some of the elements of the designs that she complained about I didn’t see a problem with, and there were a couple that I think were some really nice touches (I love the feather hat).

Seriously, her negativity was overblown to the point that I was disliking her... and well, when you overblow a trait of favorite character of mine to angering levels, I call foul (flashes back to “Somepony To Watch Over Me”, “Filli Vanilli”, and that one fic that made Cheese Sandwich an annoying creep). Thankfully, AJ’s normal self returned with enough time to fix things and make it up to the designers, so I’m not in a seething rage like with StWOM.

And as others have pointed out, Rarity did make a mistake to call upon Applejack as a judge. That, and the Applejack-Rarity dynamic is overplayed to the point where it’s gone stale. I don’t really need to say more, except that maybe they should step back from that pair and focus on a different pair, one that’s underutilized.

Anyway, I guess that’s all. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be looking for Bambi to watch with my sis and get on with our Disney marathon.