"A Perfect Pear" Review and Reaction · 9:36am Jun 21st, 2017
So, I'm not really one for the whole 'review an episode' thing. I usually leave that to much more talented authors than myself. But sometimes this show... this DAMN SHOW does something that reminds me why it's still worth watching, even as the fandom shrinks from it's greatest heights.
After all this time, we finally got an episode about the Apple Parents... and I'd be lying if I said it's not in my top five episodes of the entire series.
As I'm writing this, it's almost four in the morning here on the Gulf Coast, the weather is stormy outside, and I spent the whole day in the hospital worried sick that my wife's weird pains meant something bad for my little Piper/Ezra. Maybe it's the late hour, maybe it's my heightened emotional state, or maybe it's how satisfying this episode was... but I'm openly weeping right now and, by God, you're all going to understand why.
A note; I saw the episode thanks to some intrepid Australian streamers. If you don't want the episode spoiled, then just read this in a few weeks when the states get this episode proper.
-So, let's get this out of the way; Grand Pear is voiced by William Shatner, the man who portrayed one of my most important fictional heroes, James T. Kirk. That just set the tone for the next twenty minutes that would rock my world.
(Just a heads up, I'm not doing an point by point breakdown of the entire episode. That's DrakeyC's job.)
-Not gonna lie; I almost did a spit-take when Goldie Delicious pulled out that book and said "Apple Family Secrets History."
-Dinky Hooves has apparently embraced her destiny, joined the Guild of Time Defense, and is checking out younger Granny Smith.
-Tear up #1: When we see that Apple Bloom looks just like her daddy, color scheme wise.
-I'll touch on this more later, but we now have concrete evidence that ponies often change their names for a variety of reasons.
-I definitely got a chuckle out of Burnt Oak being Sam Elliott in pony form... and gets introduced after saying good-bye to the Dude.
-'Dear Applebloom' was posted to FIMFiction on October 19, 2012. Nearly five years later, we finally get to meet Applejack's father... and as I wrote way back when, she got her hat from him. There really are no words to express how seeing that small detail filled me with such joy.
-Pear Butter/Buttercup is absolutely adorable, by the way. Her design and voice are just on point. Felicia Day knocked this out of the park.
-Tear up #2: Big Mac asking if he can come back and hear more stories about his dad from Burnt Oak.
-Hot damn, we have unexpected development from Mrs. Cake! Her birth name was apparently Chiffon Swirl. So, going by the logic of the name changes we've learned about in this episode, she took Carrot Cake's last name when they got married and 'Cup' is probably his pet-name for her. Which is SO CUTE.
-So the Apple Parents had a secret spot during their court-ship. Gee. Nobody ever saw that coming, did they?
-Buttercup's song, which (correct me if I'm wrong) is the show's first real love song, is kind of perfect. The accompanying courtship montage is also diabetes inducing. Special mention to the long-distance dancing, the two wearing the same scarf, and Bright Mac spending the whole night doing Buttercup's chores.
-Buttercup's reaction to her accidentally saying "I love you" first makes me grin like an idiot.
-SERIOUSLY. WHO COULD'VE FORSEEN BRIGHT MAC CARVING NAMES AND A HEART ON SOMETHING?
-So "Eeyup" comes from Mac's mom. And I'm a complete child for loving that as much as I do.
-How bloody long has Mayor Mare been Mayor of Ponyville?!
-Perhaps you guys might understand why the small, secret wedding of Bright Mac and Buttercup affected me as much as it did if I told you that my wife and I also said our vows in secret, each only bringing along one friend each to act as witnesses.
-Line of the episode? "Doesn't that feel nice?" from Buttercup after she and Mac are officially married.
-Also holy hell did that kiss catch me off guard. I've become so used to just pushing noses together in this show...
-Tear up #3: the final confrontation between Grand Pear and Buttercup... and knowing that was probably the last time Grand Pear saw his daughter.
-Tear up #4 (with bonus ugly crying): the way Apple Bloom's voice breaks when she's talking to Grand Pear and he starts crying too.
-And there it is. Absolute, irrefutable, canon fact; the Apple Parents are dead. We may never know just how they died, but I think that's okay. We don't need to know. What's important how they lived and loved, not how they died.
-Tear up #5: The revelation of Mac and Buttercup's tree... with Buttercup's song in the background.
-The end credits music was also a nice touch.
Before this, the only episode of MLP to make me cry was 'Crusaders of the Lost Mark' (for obvious reasons.) This episode was nothing short of perfection.
It reminded me why I love writing these characters as much as I do.
The anniversary Bright Mac stated(131,456 hours) is a little over 15 years by standards. Though it was a flashback of a flashback...
I will say this is the first episode I've seen(that I've wanted to see) since the ending of season 5(4? 6? I can't remember). It was worth the wait.
Maybe Mayor Mare might be magical?(or a secret alicorn or illegitamate (grand)daughter of Celestia...?) Please no.
Thing is, Applejack resembles neither parents or grandparents except for eye color. Adopted Orange? I guess I shouldn't think about it too much and take it at face value.
...Okay, it's possible to post blank comments. c.c I'll have to mention that to knighty...
Okay, you caught way more stuff than I did. :B I'm now really looking forward to rewatching this episode!
Also, I like how you noted Piper and Ezra as possible names for your kid, I assume based on sex, and yet I have no idea which would be which. XD
Um... basically anyone who knows about people carving names and hearts on things? You know, that romantic gesture that basically every character with a knife and a tree does to express some notion of eternal love?
Like, good for you and everything, but correctly guessing a secret meeting place is a degree closer to non-obvious than 'an apple farmer would at some point carve names and a heart into something'. Unless you guessed a rock instead of the obvious apple tree.
4578582
Shhhhh... let me have this.
Please.
4578038
Yeah, stealth reveal of the agreed upon baby names. Piper Ray for a girl, Ezra Roland for a boy.
4578637
Sure, okay.
4578695
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Yeah, the feels here were pretty on point, certainly one of, if not the single most potent episode of the show so far. My issue with the episode is that it has more holes in it than swiss cheese, plot wise. Like, how come their parents never told the Apples any of this when they were little? Did they never ask how they met? Granny Smith seemed to be OK with their marriage at the end, so how come she never told them? How is it that nopony ever noticed the still intact grove of pear trees directly adjacent to their own orchard before now while doing farm work? And, most importantly, why the hell is there a jaguar living in an old mare's house?
On an unrelated note, did you notice what the Dude had actually purchased? It was rugs.
And another unrelated note: Piper? Isn't that name a bit... suggestive? I'm warning you now, expect her to be teased in middle school if you go with that.
4578824
Uh... why? Kids are going to tease her for being named for one of the Flash's rogues/one of the sisters from Charmed?
4580192
I mean, both types of genitals are pipe shaped.
4580291
That's kind of a stretch.
Haven't seen the episode, but I'm pumped for it!
Also, how is your wife and new little on the way?
We join Jade in the hospital room as the wall explodes and Swirling slides in.
"JADE! How's the baby?! I have professional doctor gear!"
"What? We're fine! ...wait, where did you get that stuff?"
Swirling looked to the side, "No where..."
Camera cuts to a different part of the hospital missing different machines. There are lose wires sticking out of the wall and a linking broken pipe out of the floor.
Jade glares at Swirling, "No where?"
"No where you have to concern you about."
"Is that a doctor screaming about where his equipment went?"
"Could be. You never saw me here!" Runs to the window and jumps out, "Tally-hooo!!!!!!"
thud
"Dammit! If I realized this was the first floor I would have been ready to run not fly!"