My review of S08E10: The Break Up Break Down · 3:47am May 20th, 2018
Alternate Blog Title: Hi Nick Confalone I will have your babies but no homo tho
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Alright, sooo it's not a secret that I think Nick Confalone is a boss. The guy has written some excellent episodes, including Saddle Row Review, which is in my opinion one of the top 10 best episodes of the show. He has also written a couple that I haven't liked as much, and one that I reaaally didn't like (Hearthbreakers), but overall the guy is kind of MLP Jesus.
I didn't like Hard To Say Anything very much, and as far as Big Mac's love interests are concerned, Sugar Belle's introduction felt like it came way out of left field for me in that episode. To be honest, I wasn't really looking forward to this one, which was a shame, because last week's episode (Non-Complete Clause) was a pile of festering feces.
But when I saw Nick Confalone's name credited at the beginning, my hype went from 0 to 100 in a split second. Aaand... he didn't disappoint.
This review will contain spoilers, though the ending summary and verdict will not.
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
Let's start with the plot of the story. There were three plotlines that were weaved together throughout the episode: Spike and Discord "helping" Big Mac, Big Mac and Sugar Belle's fallout, and the CMC's "secret admirer" search. Because there were so many characters to follow in a 20 minute span of time, there ended up being no filler and the episode didn't waste any of the viewer's time. Spike's interactions with Discord were highly entertaining, the callback to ANOTHER great Nick Confalone episode (Dungeons and Discords) was masterfully incorporated in with the story, and Discord's characterization was spot on. And maybe I'm alone on this, but Spike "master dragon poet" couplet about Rarity took me completely off guard and made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe.
The episode also did a good job of making me feel for Big Mac and Sugar Belle. By the end of the episode, I have to say, I was onboard the canon ship. Even though MarbleMac is still better. Seriously, what an adorable ending scene with the wagon. They probably locked the barn door once they got there, too.
And lastly, we had the CMC plotline. The pie mix-up and them squeeing over Sweetie Belle having a secret admirer was adorable, and their search for the mystery colt was pretty entertaining for as brief as it was (Sweetie Belle's "please say no" when she approached Snips and Snails was hilarious). But the climax of the story involving Big Mac and Sweetie Belle was a standout moment for me. Sweetie Belle's gracious reaction to Big Mac's apology for yelling in her face was admirable and heartwarming. She really lives up to her namesake, and on top of that, she indirectly ends up helping him get Sugar Belle back, too. Again, everybody's storylines were weaved together with a ton of precision, and the pacing felt perfect as a result.
And on a miscellaneous note, LyraBon is now canon. If you still don't think so after seeing them literally being included in a montage of romantic couples giving each other gifts and snuggling together, then might I suggest you go join all of the "Applejack's parents are umm ackshually alive" people on a bus and go drive off a cliff. Thanks. Relax, it's a joke. You people do suck, though. Fuck off.
SPOILERS OVER!!!
So, in summary: the jokes landed, the pacing was perfect, the different storylines were weaved together with great precision, and the resolution was very well done. This episode got me to like SugarMac. Wow.
It's only fitting that the first 10/10 episode of the season would go to Nick Confalone. I know it sounds like I'm sucking him off but it's only a little bit and it's not really all that homo or anything but I still want his babies inside of me
Final Verdict: 10/10
Spike's reaction to the ending of his poetry reminded me of the gag in "Dungeons and Discords" where he realized he'd also revealed too much and then told everyone not to think too hard about the name "Schmarity".
The funny thing about his poem being written by "dragonkind's greatest poet" is Spike may be completely legit in making that statement - for all we know, like friendship, dragons may not do poetry. (Garble would for sure think it was something for pansies.)
Of course, this may have been Spike's ego at work again and there are actual dragon poets.
I loved the structure of the episode. The catalyst of the mix-up to kick things off is an old idea, but once everything is put into motion it really doesn't matter anymore. The actions the trio take run parallel to that plot and instead we are treated to a lot of funny and heartwarming moments with them. When the confrontation between Big mac and Sugar Belle does happen, it only lasts a few moments. There was no need to dwell on it and the episode smartly moves on to the moral. And then the episode surprises us by remembering to wrap up the CMC thread and tie it all into the same moral. Brilliant.
And just when you think Nick has forgotten about Spike and Discord's bet, even that is wrapped up with the bonus of giving us some nifty insights into Discord's inner self. Plus the gag with Spike trying to get hooked up with a game NPC is hilarious and unexpected.
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You know, that's actually a good point. I didn't think of it that way. The line still caught me off guard, though!
And I agree with you about the rest of what you said, too. The episode wrapped up so well and I don't think anything was left hanging or forgotten. I did like how quick the confrontation was, as well, and it seemed to be realistic for Big Mac's character to be so blunt with the breakup declaration.
And I totally forgot about that ending gag with the Skeleton cutout character. It was a nice touch. Oh, and the implication Spike made that Discord is romantically interested in Fluttershy was pretty ballsy, too. Discord can deflect and deny all he wants, but after the fantastic episode that was Discordant Harmony, I think there's something else between them now, too.
You LIKED that episode?