The Break Up Break Down

Friendship is Magic first impressions review: The Break Up Break Down (s08e10)
by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

This episode is a blend of good and bad, much like a love potion. Or is it love poison?

Big Mac mistakenly thinks Sugar Belle is going to break up with him, so he decides to break up with her first. When he goes to apologize, he learns the truth, the two laugh it out, and spend the rest of their Hearts and Hooves Day together. Meanwhile, a pie Big Macbaked for Sugar Belle goes to the wrong address, making the Cutie Mark Crusaders think Sweetie Belle has a secret admirer. It is one of the rare cases an episode of FiM has a subplot. Sadly, it barely goes anywhere.

What kills The Break Up Break Down is its exposition. Example: (Big Mac, after he yells at Sweetie Belle) “I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle. I'm just mad and I'm taking it out on you.” “That's okay. I bet it felt good to get it out.” Edit the dialogue as follows and it sounds much more natural: “I'm sorry for taking my anger out on you, Sweetie Belle.” “It's okay. I bet it felt good.” There are other examples, but the case remains the same. Weak dialogue drags down an already cliché ridden story.

There are a number of fun gags, mostly from Discord. There is a moment where he is listing items with his hand, subtly growing more fingers as he continues on. I also like some of his snark, including not wanting to be a “second-rate clown magician.” The best bit is Spike asking about Skelenora, which is talked about in the extras.

Not all of the gags work, though. Discord's methods of cheering up Big Mac do drag. Some of them, like leaning cool, feel uninspired. Plus they are exasperated by Big Mac's constistent crying.

The Break Up Break Down is a strange case. I recommend the episode for some good jokes and a mostly solid (albeit well tread) narrative, which is a bonus for a romance story. At the same time, it could really be so much better.

Extras:

• The character dynamic of the episode is certainly unique. We have Big Mac, Spike, and Discord taking up the majority, with the Crusaders and Sugar Belle in lesser roles. In terms of Big Mac and Sugar Belle's relationship, it is miles better than in Hard to Say Anything. I can actually believe the two would want to be together here.
• The gist of the mix ups: Big Mac and the gang overhear Sugar Belle talking about her cousin, who she will no longer be able to spend weekends with. They think she is talking about Big Mac. In the B story, the package meant for Sugar Belle gets sent to the barn where the Crusaders are hanging out. They think the smudged name of the recipient is Sweetie Belle.
• Discord hates Hearts and Hooves Day, feeling it is just an excuse for greeting card companies to sell more merchandise. He is not wrong.
• I do not get Discord's spiel on love being fake, however.
• More about the B story: there are both good and bad things. I really like when the Crusaders are going to random colts and asking whether they are Sweetie's admirer. When Sweetie asks Snips and Snails, she desperately mutters under her breath “Please say no!”
• There is also some fan service in the fact that they confront Button Mash.
• I do not like is the saccharine ending of the Crusaders hugging. Not only does it feel tacked on, but the show used to subvert these type of cliches. Remember Scootaloo at the end of The Cutie Mark Chronicles? We also already have Big Mac and Sugar Belle back together, so making the Crusaders go through a similar beat feels unneeded.
• During a game of “Ogres and Oubliettes”, Discord summons a sentient cardboard picture of a pony skeleton called Skelenora, to temporarily keep a despondent Big Mac company. My favorite part of the whole thing is at the end when Spike asks if Skelenora is available. It sorta makes sense; everyone else in town is celebrating Hearts and Hooves Day with a special somepony, why not him?