Uncommon Bond · 5:48pm Oct 21st, 2017
Friendship is Magic first impressions review: Uncommon Bond (s07e24)
by Obake
(SPOILERS!)
Starlight worries that Sunburst has more in common with her friends than with her. This is yet another blah episode, that's not so much bad as it is sort of empty. It certainly drags out its length with not one, but three montages, and a nonsensical schmaltz ending a la Once Uoon a Zeppelin. But it is far from the worst.
The episode starts with Starlight anticipating Sunburst's arrival to Ponyville. She chats up with railroad ponies about how much she and Sunburst have in common, that their week is going to be just like old times, etc. It is setting up the fact that the two have grown apart, which is not an issue.
They meet, Sunburst revealing himself to be just as awkward and nerdy as ever (he packed a suitcase of books just for the one train ride.) Starlight is surprised to learn that he is also into antiquing, leading them to Ponyville's antiques shop. There they meet Twilight, who has an instant connection. She and Sunburst gush and squee over old relics via montage, as Starlight feigns interest. The same happens later when Sunburst meets Trixie, and last when he meets Maud. Starlight grows more and more frustrated.
Finally we reach an inexplicable scene where Starlight uses a spell she wrote to bring Sunburst and herself back to their childhood home, as foals, to play a favorite board game. First off, I know Starlight is supposed to be great at magic, but age changing spells are supposed to be reserved for only the most well-trained unicorns (according to the episode Magic Duel.) Either Starlight has been educated as much as the most elite sorcerers in Equestria (which she might be,) or this episode is making a huge continuity blunder.
What is really strange is Sunburst's reaction. He yells at Starlight that he does not want to play the game (he would rather be studying rocks with Maud again.) Throughout the episode, he gushes over Starlight's friends, and puts his own interest above Starlight's. There is no real sense that he cares much for her, which could be an interesting story. Instead he just sort of mopes about afterward, until he realizes a solution: recreating the same board game he and Starlight played as kids, only life-sized. I admit being turned into a foal would be weird, but just because one is an adult does not mean they need to update a board game, right?
I do not hate Uncommon Bond, but do find it tedious. Sunburst's freakout is very much out of nowhere, and the repeated montages serve only to pad out time. The funny thing is, Sunburst turning out to be an ignorant butt munch has plenty of potential, and could fill 22 minutes.
Extra items of note:
- To be fair, there is some interesting cinematography. My favorite is a P.O.V. shot from Sunburst as he puts on his glasses.
- We are also taught what “blind buys” are, as Sunburst explains why he bought a barrel of random antiques. Reminds me of early seasons explaining things like hibernation, the meaning of uncouth, etc. This is not a criticism, just something to note.
- While I put more blame on Sunburst for being self-absorbed, Starlight is not entirely in the clear. She broke the seal leading to the cave with the mirror pond (poor Tom), with the intention that maybe she and Sunburst could use it to make copies of themselves. At this point in the episode, under the circumstances, she should not be this desperate.
- Remember when Trixie used to be good with magic? Yes, she lied about defeating an Ursa Major in Boast Busters, and her (natural) skills were proven less than Twilight's both then and in Magic Duel. But despite being foolish, she still had some competence. This episode, and some other recent episodes, have made her a complete joke. It does not feel like a natural progression as much as a major step down, especially when we get to see a montage of her failing simple parlor tricks. I am also unsure whether the writers or animators realize that the game where you put a ball under a cup, and rearrange it with other cups, is supposed to have cups that are the same color and design, or if Trixie is just that stupid.
- Another thing in common with early episodes is the plight of bag carriers. From the beginning of the series the poor guys have carried mountains of luggage for ponies boarding trains or visiting suites. I hope they get paid well.
- The episode ends on a closeup of a mystical-looking book, inside the blind barrel Sunburst bought. I am certain I know where it is leading.
