First Fimpressions: "Grannies Gone Wild" · 4:19pm Apr 14th, 2018
This episode frustrates me.
From an analytical perspective, I liked the themes on display and the conflict between the Golden Girls and Rainbow Dash. But from a base entertainment perspective, there was so much wrong with it.
Rainbow Dash's impulsive and thrill seeking nature always makes it difficult for her to take anything slow, and our initially impressions of the granny group is that they are indeed looking for a low-key experience. Rainbow Dash is constantly trying to wrestle with her desires to ride this roller coaster while also following Applejack's instructions, genuinely wanting to maintain the welfare and stick to her end of the bargain. Meanwhile, the grannies themselves seem to be perfectly fine on their own.
And therein lies the problem. The episode was FAR too predictable. There were multiple opportunities to take a few twists, and have Dash consider that Applejack's instructions are far too over protective. Yet she just sticks to the same interventions every time for each concern on the list, never stopping to question why they are there in the first place. She never pays attention to the grannies, and surely they would know by now how Applejack sets out rules for them? They seem eager to break out, yet there is barely a hint that they know how AJ limits them.
AJ is clearly in the wrong here, yet we only see the image of her in Rainbow Dash's head. The only redeeming qualities are Dash trying to be responsible and getting more character depth with each of the grannies, showing that they don't fit the stereotype that AJ has drilled into Dash's head. Beyond that, the episode is so paint by numbers, I was just waiting for SOMETHING unexpected to happen, yet it never did.
First Fimpressions grade: C+.
