Marks and Recreation Review · 4:54pm Sep 30th, 2017

We haven't had a group CMC episode where they were the focus characters since Season 6, though we did see them together in a supporting role in "Hard To Say Anything". But the writer for this episode is May Chan, who previously wrote the relatively medicore "Not Asking for Trouble" that was the last of the episodes to air early in Canada. So, was May Chan able to improve with her second outing, or just confirm that like Josh Hamilton, she's just not cut out for writing for the show? Well, let's find out.

We begin with the CMC helping a filly with circle painting, which I believe is the same filly who will be the focus of the next main series comic issue (the one in August felt like a lost episode of Season 7 and the one in September felt like a continuation of "A Health of Information"). But tending to blank flanks one at a time proves difficult, so the CMC get the idea to host a day camp at the same place Applejack went to as a filly, Camp Friendship.

The CMC advertise their camp to all the blank flanks of Ponyville, but among them is Rumble who doesn't seem all that interested. It's worth mentioning that Rumble has a new voice, I know he only previously appeared in "Hurricane Fluttershy" for one scene, but I kind of like that voice better. This one fits the role he's meant to serve, but it feels a bit too old for a little kid (unless Rumble's hitting puberty a little early). We also learn that Thunderlane is now an official Wonderbolt, after we previously saw him among the cadets in "Wonderbolt Academy". I suppose his persisitance payed off, just have to wonder if that's at all going to increase the chances of him getting shipped with Rarity.

Thunderlane enrolls Rumble in the camp, and a whole bunch of activities are available. Archery, circle painting, jam making, and even canoeing, though it's worth mentioning that through it all there don't seem to be any camp counselors or other adults available for supervision. Seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Anyway, all the blank flanks have fun doing it, including the filly who was into circle painting, who gets her cutie mark in writing haiku. That is, all the blank flanks except for Rumble, who not so subtlely fails at everything and the CMC don't seem to suspect a thing. They go to talk to Rumble, and learn that he doesn't want a cutie mark, because he thinks it means he'll be stuck doing the same thing for the rest of his life. Considering the last CMC group focus episode dealt with a non-pony wanting a cutie mark, this is an interesting reversal. Kind of makes you wonder what Gabby would think of Rumble if the two meet.

Rumble does call out a common criticism lodged at the CMC since getting their cutie marks about how they never seem to do anything not related to what they got their marks for (though there is evidence to the contrary), even including the fact that Apple Bloom hasn't made potions with Zecora since getting her cutie mark (although it actually was for a brief montage in "On Your Marks" which probably should've saved its message of the CMC doing things on their own until after this episode). Then he attempts to set up his own flying course at the same track used in "Hurricane Fluttershy" (which is where Thunderlane and Rumble made their debut by the way). And Thunderlane encourages Rumble to go back to camp the next day. Rumble does so, only to proclaim to all the campers that cutie marks dictate your life, even though the CMC try to tell him that's not true. And this launches into the fifth and final song of the season, "Blank Flanks Forever". It's a little slow to start, but once it hits the hook it picks up pretty nicely. It has that swingy, jazz feel to it in a day and age were jazzy, big band songs are quite rare.

Having started a cult, Rumble takes all the blank flanks (including the cutie marked filly who paints over her flank in a very poor way) and starts his own camp by drawing a line across the ground. It's basically the same as Cutie Mark Camp, that is until Rumble bans all activities because of the possibility ponies might get a cutie mark in one of them. As for the CMC, Scootaloo decides they need to take down Rumble, but Sweetie Belle suggests a calmer approach in the form of shouting at Rumble. When that doesn't work, Scootaloo gets the idea to enlist Thunderlane's help. They go to see him, and apparently Thunderlane can decipher Sweetie Belle's motor mouth. He tells them that ever since he became a Wonderbolt, Rumble's been trying to be like him and is worried that he'll get a cutie mark that'll prevent him from becoming a Wonderbolt in the future. That gives the CMC the idea to have Thunderlane be a special guest at camp the next day. Much like Bulk Biceps, he's a gentle giant.

One by one all the blank flanks defect, Pipsqueak being the last to do so. But Rumble isn't won over until Scootaloo unveils a ground based version of the obstacle course used by the Wonderbolts. However, Rumble is more interested in the fact that his older brother is cooking over a pot. Thunderlane tells Rumble that while his cutie mark involves him being the fastest, he grew to love cooking after taking turns with other Wonderbolts to cook meals at the compound. You might be tempted to think the episode ends with Rumble getting his cutie mark in cooking, and realizing that he can still be a Wonderbolt in his own right someday, but instead the episode ends simply with him sharing some sibling bonding time with his older brother, while all the blank flanks have fun on the obstacle course.

And that's the story, so what do I think of the episode? Well you'll have to get used to Rumble's new voice and attitude, and it does take a while to adjust. I know his character wasn't really set in stone before, but the episode probably would've been boosted if they'd used a new character instead of Rumble. Seeing Thunderlane as a Wonderbolt and having that amount to something besides just fan service is nice, and this time around Sweetie Belle is taking the lead on the problem ("On Your Marks" had Apple Bloom lead in the last third and "The Fault in Our Cutie Marks" had Scootaloo leading). I will say that the revelation with Rumble probably would've been stronger, had they not revealed it as such in the Hascon reels and episode promos. They also could've cut the scene at the beginning and replaced it with the CMC announcing their daycamp so we get to the Rumble revelation sooner. The message is nice and is executed well, and the song "Blank Flanks Forever" is very well done even if it takes a little bit to get going. I really think this episode would've benefited from having Diamond Tiara be present, seeing as she would've probably felt inclined to chime in on the idea of cutie marks given her own problems. In the end, I give this episode an A-, putting it above "Rock Solid Friendship", "Celestial Advice", and "A Health of Information" (characterwise it's pretty good but story wise it doesn't seem to realize the high stakes it's created and the 3 day time skip stretches the suspension of disbelief too far) largely due to the song and the message, but below "Discordant Harmony" which was all around more enjoyable and took a premise that could've been bland and forgettable, and turned it into something memorable. It's nice to see the second half of Season 7 FINALLY return to the high standard of quality the first half seemed to hold (even when that quality was inconsistent).

Now, we have the movie coming out later next week which I will hopefully go to see right when it comes out (likely either Thursday or Friday though there's no midnight showing), and then next Saturday we have "Once Upon A Zepplin", which is the first solo Twilight episode since "What About Discord?" back in Season 5. I'm cautiously looking forward to both, the movie seems to have potential but the animation and new characters being heavily promoted has me concerned the movie might be toyitic to a fault. And as for the episode, well the scene leaked from the Hascon reel indicates a fan bothering Twilight, so there's a chance that could make the episode another fandom call-out (which I'm hoping it won't be). Don't expect a detailed review of the movie if I go to see it, but expect an episode review for "Once Upon A Zepplin" whenever it drops. Here's to hoping it'll be like "Rock Solid Friendship", "Discordant Harmony", and "It Isn't The Mane Thing About You" in that it'll do better than I'm expecting it to.