First FimPressions: A health of Infromation

By Celestia, Season 7 has been on a roll with world building! I'm surprised how grim the concept of Swamp Fever is, considering it slowly turns you into a tree while you are still alive. And to think, I recently read a Grimdark fic with a similar premise.

Fluttershy seems to have taken on a few aspects of Twilight's character for this episode, primarily with her dedication and hyper focus on a single task. This isn't out of character for her or anything (she has always been a caring pony, after all), I just find it interesting to see her so dedicated to a single task, even at the expense of her own health.

To see Zecora be in a position of ill health and in need of help is also a nice change of pace, since she is usually the one offering a helping hoof with her potions. I'm surprised that she didn't actually know what Swamp Fever was, considering she is the resident alchemist, but I suppose she can't know everything, and something has to give for the plot to move forward. To see her unable to rhyme puts a noticeable emphasis on her worsening condition, even if the show never displays much beyond traits of a common cold + a few branches growing out of her head here and there.

All of this does well to create a sense of urgency and drama which isn't seen in many episodes outside the season bookends, especially with Fluttershy contracting the disease as well. Though she is also the focus of my biggest criticism of the episode, being that the lesson she learns is stated, but never shown. Fluttershy's dedication and persistence did ultimately help Zecora, but she never actually did take time to rest for herself like she said. Throughout the entire episode, she is actively aiding Twilight in getting the honey needed for the potion.

It would have been better to actually show her having greater consequences for exhausting herself, requiring self care while Twilight ultimately gets the honey. You wouldn't need to do much; an injured wing or a longer recovery time. Something simple, yet more than what we got, which was almost nothing.

Which is a shame, as I find the moral of self care, even as a carer, is important for kids to learn. I know from experience that exhausting yourself from always helping my friends with emotional baggage in spite of my own mental health just makes things worse. Even with responsibilities, giving yourself "me" time is essential to recharge and have a greater ability to help others.

With world building becoming the norm for season 7 and giving Zecora more to do, I give this episode a solid B+.