Grannies Gone Wild Review · 4:29pm Apr 14th, 2018
Yes yes, the title is definitely a surprising one for the show. Anyway, G. M. Berrow's writing this episode, and her track record for the show is... mixed to put lightly. "The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows" is the very definition of a fun episode even if there were some questionable moments towards the end, "Fluttershy Leans In" was just there for lack of a better term and the moral I still have mixed feelings on, and "Daring Done?" was great from a character standpoint but the story while great in concept turned underwhelming in execution. Considering Berrow hasn't written a tie-in chapter book since "Trixie and the Razzle Dazzle Ruse" (which hasn't really gotten a lot of favorable reviews), was she able to break out of her writing slump with this episode or just prove why her writing career seems to be on indefinite hiatus? Well, let's find out.
We open up at Wonderbolts HQ with Rainbow Dash overhearing Soarin, Fleetfoot, and I think Misty Fly all talking about a roller coaster called The Wild Blue Wonder in Las Pegasus. Apparently, every Wonderbolt has been on it, and the ride is slated to close for good. Rainbow Dash wants nothing more than to go on it, but she can't because she has to teach at Twilight's school.
Fortunately, Applejack is willing to cover for Rainbow, if she agrees to watch Granny Smith and a few of her friends on a trip to Las Pegasus. The group called The Golden Horseshoe Gals consists of Granny Smith, Applesauce, Apple Rose, and Goldie Delicious, and Big Macintosh usually accompanies them. To get to Las Pegasus, they ride in the hot air balloon from the opening (run by Cherry Berry) and Applejack gives Rainbow Dash a list of instructions on how to take care of the gals, so the trip won't have to be cut short. Compared to "Somepony to Watch Over Me", her demands seem reasonable. But without spoiling too much those demands are going to be a problem towards the end of the episode. Anyway, Rainbow Dash follows the hot air balloon to Las Pegasus, and discovers that the roller coaster happens to be in the very hotel she and the gals are staying in. And the gals also get a luxury sweet (and hit on various stallions).
Rainbow convinces the grannies to take a nap (but they actually have an alterior motive), while she goes to ride the roller coaster. Unfortunately, the line is never ending, so she decides right then and there to wright it off. She goes back to the hotel room, only to find the gals have slipped out. You'd think this would lead to some kind of tension or drama, but instead we have Rainbow spotting them at the arcade, trying to break a horseshoe toss record. With Applejack's instructions being not to let the gals get too excited, Rainbow intentionally sabotages their effort. And when Granny tries to eat nachos at a buffet, she swipes them away.
While dancing, the gals come across two old magicians who give them V.I.P tickets to their magic show that evening. And they get picked to be volunteers for an escape trick, in which they'll be underwater and escape only with the instructions relayed to them in their mind. Rainbow breaks it up, and the magicians leave after insisting that everypony gets out because of their directions. They even exit in a manner similar to that of Trixie, which makes me wonder if they're related to her at all.
But it turns out that the gals could more than handle themselves, it was Applejack's rules that caused a problem. You know, you'd think that after "Somepony to Watch Over Me", Applejack would learn her lesson about being overprotective and smothering of her family members. Especially considering she's seen Granny Smith do all kinds of things every day.
And after all that, the gals actually had V.I.P access to the front of the line (in other words, they had the pony equivalent of a Fast Pass), so all Rainbow had to do was ask. She gets to ride in the very front of the coaster and enjoys herself. Then on the way back, she's made a member of the Golden Horseshoe Gals and invited to come back next year.
And that's the story, so what do I think of the episode? Well, it's just there to be honest. It doesn't really have much going for it either way. There's never really any tension or stakes, and neither do they try to exploit situations for comedic effect. Aside from Rainbow Dash getting grossed out when the gals hit on older ponies, and conversing with the Applejack image in her mind, there's no real jokes. Her character is likeable, thankfully enough, but this is a set-up that had so much more potential. But every time it looks like it's going to get interesting, Applejack's rules have to step in and shut down the plot point. It's like a very poor mix of "Apple Family Reunion" and "Somepony to Watch Over Me" that doesn't even mesh well. Heck, we don't even see Flim and Flam anywhere, and no indication that they left the hotel (though perhaps that might be for the best). In the end, I give this episode a C. It ranks above "Fake It 'Til You Make It" because you know I'll always take something meh over something bad any day, but that doesn't mean I actually prefer either one.
I sincerely hope we're not hitting a dry patch already, Season 8 had three solid episodes right out of the gate, and now we've had two in a row that have been duds. Well, hopefully things will improve next week with "Surf And/Or Turf", our first Cutie Mark Crusaders episode of the season, and a map mission to boot. Though to be honest, that sounds like a bit of a reach to try and hype up the episode. Still, at least we'll be seeing more of the hippogryffs.
Jim Miller Tweeted a hint that the magician that offered Granny Smith and her friends the tickets could be Trixie's dad.
In all honesty, another dud that wasn't much better than last week and another writer that needs to leave the show. I'm starting to think Josh Harber was asleep at the wheel when these episodes were getting approved.
4841016 At least this one feels like there was some editing done, because they at least remembered to keep Rainbow Dash sympathetic. It wouldn't surprise me if the first draft called for her to disregard the rules and let the gals get into trouble.
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