Marks for Effort Review · 4:30pm Jun 2nd, 2018
With just two episodes to go to the mid-season finale, this school theme is finally coming back into play. And it's just to introduce a character we already know is going to be the antagonist for the finale, and it's not focused on any of the student six.
I'm beginning to think that school theme was a bad idea, at least from a marketing perspective. Why bother to go through all that trouble of touting it and hyping it up, if you're not going to do anything with the concept outside of a few throwaway episodes that you're gonna hastily tie together for the finale? If you didn't want to do an overarching theme, no one said you had to. This is probably why Season 7 didn't bother to promote a theme, it knew that any theme it could come up with for marketing wouldn't be the focus of the actual season. Anyway, Nicole Dubac, one of the co story editors for this season wrote this episode. She previously worked alongside Josh Haber to write "Shadow Play", but her biggest writing credentials are for the Ponyville Mysteries series alongside Mike Vogel. So Nicole was probably the best choice for this CMC centered episode. And considering she also helped Mike and Josh with "School Daze", you'd expect this episode to be a guranteed hit. But did it somehow end up a failure in spite of all its potential? Well, let's find out.
We begin with the CMC trying to evasedrop on classes at the school, complaining about how it's so much better than their regular school. The students even get to play buckball in gym class.
During the brief montage, we're able to see Pinkie Pie's laughter class, which surprisingly is about sharing (she gives out free cupcakes, but you have to say something nice about someone and give one to another student). And we also see some of the other mane six teaching in their own way. The CMC then somehow sneak into Twilight's class as she's giving a lecture on friendship through the ages.
Twilight leaves Spike to teach the class, while she talks to the CMC. She tells them that they can't attend her school and they belong in Cheerilee's class. But she doesn't tell them why she thinks this way (like maybe, they've already mastered the basics of friendship and like Starlight they are now capable of learning on their own), and trust me when I say she only gets worse from here. Anyway, she comes back to her class to find Spike has taken over and inspired the students to worship him. He's also still getting used to his new wings.
The CMC waste the entire first act on selfish ways of getting their big sisters to let them attend (refusing to do their chores, nagging loudly, interrupting them while teaching) and faking a friendship quarrel that even Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy find odd. Then we get to the introduction of Cozy Glow, a pegasus filly who's new in Ponyville and doesn't know anypony. The CMC befriend her though, and decide to help her with her friendship homework, doing something nice for Bon Bon, Mrs. Cake, and Big Macintosh. Big Mac especially appreciates the help, because with his chores done he has more free time to spend with Sugar Belle.
Cozy Glow gets an A+ on her homework, but then she reveals there's a big friendship test coming up and she needs help studying. The CMC teach her all about the Elements of Harmony, and in what I assume is foreshadowing for Cozy Glow's betrayal in the finale, she originally assumes magic is control. Also, at one point, while at Fluttershy's cottage, she tries to sweep some bird seed under the rug, like Snow White's animal friends.
However, after the test is taken, Cozy reveals that she failed and runs off. The CMC are summoned to Twilight's office, and she accuses them of giving Cozy the wrong answers out of spite for not being allowed to attend her school. Despite there being no evidence to prove this claim otherwise. It's even more insulting when you remember that Twilight in previous seasons was like a big sister figure to them, and even briefly tutored them. This is character assassination to a very appalling extent!
And you wanna know what the real reason for Cozy's failure is? She did it on purpose in the hopes that Twilight would think the CMC are bad at friendship and admit them into her school. Why she didn't just think to bring up that fact before the test, or even just plead her case to Twilight independent of the test, I have no idea. Unless their intent is to foreshadow Cozy being an antagonist, in which case they did it too well. Anyway, Cozy confesses to Starlight, who actually reveals why the CMC can't attend the school, they make better teachers. So Starlight is the one who makes everything right, the CMC get honorary diplomas from the school they never even attended, and get hired on as friendship tutors. And Cozy is instantly forgiven for stabbing the CMC in the back and getting them in trouble with Twilight!
And that's the story, so what do I think of the episode? Well it sucked! It's not quite as appalling as "Non-Compete Clause" where Rainbow Dash and Applejack were so hyper competitive that they didn't even bat an eye when one of their students almost drowned on their watch! But this episode is still far from enjoyable. Had Twilight simply told the CMC from the start what Starlight reveals, the entire conflict could've been avoided. But instead, one had to be shoe horned in, and all it did was make Twilight look like a shell of her former self, and once again rely on Starlight being the one with common sense. The Cozy Glow scenes only serve to introduce her prior to the finale, but we could've gotten that at any point (like say the episode after the premiere). I guess I can see why Nicole doesn't write solo, but I'm surprised Josh Haber didn't think to question her on her decisions here since he has worked with her. In the end, I give this episode an E, putting it above "Non-Compete Clause" but below "Fake It 'Til You Make It" which as frustrating as it could be, in the grand scheme of things it's harmless. The kind of damage this episode has done, may never truly be undone!
Well, here's to hoping next week can close out Season 8 on a high note, with Mike Vogel writing "Mean Six" which is going to see Chrysalis' long awaited revenge on Starlight Glimmer. Why they decided to make it a one shot and not a two parter, I don't know.
Honestly, I thought the episode was fantastic.
The cringe comedy was hilarious, and Starlight's scene was one of the best of the entire series.
I'd put it in the top 4 of the season, and the top 10 of the entire series.
Another episode that sucked. * sighs * Don't judge me, it's my opinion, but this show is going down in the dumps soon. If Chrysalis gets reformed in the next episode, then I'll be happy.
The only part I found funny honestly was that "Your Mom" line.
Also, it's not Bon Bon. That's her cover name. It's Special Agent Sweetie Drops.
As for the episode in it's entirety, I feel that the episode was kind of sending mixed messages. I honestly couldn't narrow down what lesson was the center point of this episode.
Cozy also looks as old as Scootaloo, so why does she get to fly, and not Scoots? I WANT ANSWERS!!!! (Which I know I won't get at this time from Hasbro.)
And failing on purpose gets the tutors in trouble? Okay, so first off. Twi, why didn't you have Cozy in the room with them so she could explain the first time. Second, Twilight, you should know better than to accuse the CMC right off the bat. Let them tell their side of the story so you can get all the facts.
And the History of Radishes?........... Seriously? I understand Botany is an important thing, but just to brush over the History of Radishes. How can you make that a whole day thing?
And I think the only one who gets points at all for creativeness, is Scootaloo, hiding in plain sight, but even with that look, that was too obvious. And Rainbow Dash, I feel they really insulted her intelligence in that scene. Being at the back I understand, but when getting to the front, seriously? How could Rainbow Dash not see that?
Anyways, yeah, this is not an episode I wish to come back to time and again.
I seriously doubt that....
Let me tell you a story to you and yodajax10, When i was at school during when i have type-1 diabetes and autism, i check my blood sugars daily, i even packed some either lunches (Like bologna, cheese and ham sandwiches) or lunchables, but one day while me and my student friends were outside, my insulin went out... i didn't know what to do nor did my teachers, so i tried to rewind my pump to get through the day, but it didn't work.... then i told my teachers, they called my mom, i checked my blood....
Okay, my actual blood was over 800, that meme clip was from dbz so you get the idea, anyway... my mom then decided to drop me out of school and decided to home-school me about diabetes, learn the carbs in math and numbers and have infusion sets, insulin & reservoirs delivered.
You shouldn't be a f. Instead of a e. OK
But. Im given this a c. Because it is not an bad episode . OK
I beg to differ, here in this situation, Twilight can't be the big sister figure. She has to be the principal of her school, and hand out discipline when it is required, even if the students (Who really shouldn't be there to begin with) are ponies she's close to. And you must remember, this is Twilight, who jumps to conclusions very easily at times. Lesson Zero, A Canterlot Wedding, and Shadow Play. Need I say more?
I think the only reason they DIDN'T make "Mean Six" a two-parter is because they are apparently ONLY allowed to do two-parters for the season openers and season finales for some reason. Plus, to be fair, Chrysalis is working alone now (as the vast majority of the non-reformed villains would either not be stupid enough to work with her or SHE wouldn't be stupid enough to work with THEM) and has FAR fewer resources, so a two-parter might be a bit excessive without making the heroes look MAJORLY incompetent.
But, yeah, I definitely see your points concerning this episode. A definite possible rewrite for Volume Eight or Nine of your "What If?" series [Volume Seven would be the very next one [either during the summer or shortly after the season eight finale] and any season eight episodes would be much too soon)
Also, about next episode,I think it's because Chrysalis will have a mid season plan that stupidly fails, cause her tactical genius is faltering, and she looks into backup through one of the other villains she still has access to.
Only three I can think of:
1. Discord getting bested again, but that's a far off one, since Chrysalis took Fluttershy last time, so he'd probably be too sore at her.
2. Nightmare Moon. I mean, looking through the seasons, I think there is still a chance Chrysalis could awaken Nightmare Moon again, but I can also see it backfiring on her. I feel we haven't seen the full might of Nightmare Moon used in realistic Equestria since she felt she didn't need much power to best others, and underestimated her opponent. Her power in Starlight's dream is another matter, since it was Starlight's psyche.
3. Tirek. Yes he's in Tartarus for the time being, but if one can break out of Tartarus, once can certainly break in as well, just a little finesse, and Chrysalis can make it past Cerberus.
All three scenarios, well, they can easily get the better of her, but we'll have to wait and see what happens. I am only guessing here. I haven't seen the new episode, even though it was leaked, and I don't know the season finale outcome either, so my assumptions could be completely wrong.
4875015 And how many times has jumping to conclusions backfired on her?
4874870 From what I hear, she doesn't get reformed. So that much is something I'm grateful for. But assuming she just gets away again in the end, I'm going to be majorily disappointed if there's not even an attempt to pursue and capture her. Letting her walk away now, is just begging for her to keep coming back with new attempts at revenge.
4875335
She's like the Joker of the MLP universe to me. She gets away with a lot of crazy things, and literally gets away from the good ponies's grasp all the time XD I didn't want to see her reformed at first, after hearing a rumor, but now, even if they don't reform Chrysalis, I'd love to see it happen now. Or, they could kill her off, like Hasbro did with Sombra and the Storm King ( supposedly ).
What do you think?
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A lot, I admit, but the point still stands. This, sadly, is how Twilight had to be in this situation, and before you say she didn't apologize, I'd say hiring the CMC as tutors for the school counts as one Hell of an apology.
Oh dear, another flop of an episode and once again, Josh Harber has fallen asleep at the wheel.
4875806 On a writer he's used to working with, no less.
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NO! she doesn't need to get reformed, that's a bad idea, especially since she killed a cat in front of the CMC in the comics.
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Which is why, if she doesn't get reformed, for the love of Pete, they should kill another villain off XD They did it with Sombra and Storm King ( supposedly ), why not Chrysalis? I want to see more of the major villains die either in the show, comics, movies, etc.
I mean, Tirek died in G1 I think it was, and that was beautiful.