It Isn't the Mane Thing About You

Friendship is Magic first impressions review: It Isn't the Mane Thing About You (s07e19)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

It Isn't the Mane Thing About You is a strange case. Tonally, it feels like an episode from seasons 1 or 2, with a few modern era things thrown in. There's not much to say about it other than its mostly fine, save bad pacing.

Pinkie accidentally causes a silly string explosion in Sugarcube Corner, creating a mess both in the building and in Rarity's mane. The two seek Zecora, who prescribes Rarity a shampoo, and Pinkie a bottle of scrubbing soap. Only Rarity accidentally takes the bottle of scrubbing solution instead. When she washes with it, the majority of her mane is scrubbed off, leaving only a few tangles of spiky hair.

This is all the worse since she has a photo shoot for "Vanity Mare" magazine that day. She seeks the help of Zecora again, who says that hair is unable to be grown by magic. Distraught, Rarity seeks the advice of her friends, who try their darnedest to help out, to no avail. The obvious thing would be trying on a wig. However, because the character in this particular trouble is Rarity, it has weight. As self-conscious of her appearance as she is, it makes sense she would be so distressed. Yet the episode manages to never make her too unbalanced, which gives the story an extra sense of realism. It works well in this case because there are not as many jokes.

The episode ends with Rarity realizing that the little mane she still has can be used for a punk look. First there was Rarity shredding guitar in Honest Apple, now here she's dressed as an 80's-style glam rock star. (I wounder if they're setting her up for a rock phase?) I like this. She realizes that despite looking different, she can still be just as fashionable. It also shows her learning patience, having to wait for her mane to grow back.

I said that is where the episode ended, but it actually goes on for another scene, cutting to a month later. Rarity's mane is grown back. Not only that, her punk look is featured in that month's issue of "Vanity Mare", despite her not having gone to the photo shoot. Turns out, the Mane 6 convinced Photo Finish to secretly follow her around. Yes, paparazzi do this type of thing in real life. Yes, the show has dabbled with the subject before (Ponyville Confidential.) The intentions were good. But there is something undoubtedly creepy about this whole set up. It also adds nothing useful to the story.

In fact, that is my biggest gripe with It Isn't the Mane Thing About You. The montage of Rarity helping out various store owners at the beginning could be cut down considerably, and the extended epilogue has no reason to even be there at all. Perhaps replace some of that time with Pinkie's shenanigans cleaning up Sugarcube Corner? Asides from these needless scenes, the episode is one of season 7's better ventures.

Extra notes:
*Zecora's back! And...she's kind of a jerk here. Perhaps not intentionally, but something to note.
*More timeline confusion: Pinkie is celebrating the anniversary of the Cake twins first sneezes, or "sneeziversaries." Alright, that is not something out of character for Pinkie to do, but it's very odd. Also, if this is their one year sneeziversary, then did season 2 happen only a year before this episode? Best not to dwell on that.
*Good line from Rarity: "One shouldn't have to brave the forest for shampoo."
*Want something creepier than the Mane 6 hiring someone to secretly photograph their friend? How about getting to see cows being milked? Remember, cows in this series are just as intelligent as ponies!
*I like the act break of Rarity screaming.
*Season 1's Boast Busters shows that hair can be grown by magic. However, because that is only a small side gag of that episode, I'll give the writers the benefit of the doubt in not remembering it. Plus, I don't expect the current writers to know the minute details of every episode in the series, especially as MLP is not exactly a serious show. What I expect from them is to respect the material at hand, with a good grasp of what it is about, and do their best working with it.
*Rarity does look exceedingly cute in her punk rock gear.
*The scene of the Mane 6 going to see Rarity (before she finally goes punk) is admittedly not very well written. There is a surprising (or should that be unsurprising) amount of cheese. Though it's far from the worst this series has done. One line I do like from it, though, is from Applejack: "A friend so generous, she chose to cut off her tail to help a sea serpent." I don't applaud the nod to continuity as much as I do the strange placement. Yes, Rarity did help a sea serpent, but I can only imagine what those watching the episode who haven't seen the pilot must be thinking!