Thoughts on "The End in Friend" · 6:19pm Aug 24th, 2018
Well, since I'm about to take a weekend trip, I might as well give you this before I forget.
All I could think about this episode is just how contrived it is. True, there are a few funny moments, but I was mostly uncomfortable with how the plot just demanded that Rarity and Rainbow Dash had to just end their friendship like that. I suppose the pressure of having students watching your every move could make a person a little testy, but something just seemed really off about this.
This would have fit better in Season 1 or 2. It's funny that I see people say that being reminiscent of a Season 1 or 2 episode is a good thing, because it must have recaptured the magic from when the series was new again! Which I call bullcrap on, because shoving in a conflict that feels like earlier seasons does not jell with the development that the characters and their relationships had over the years--it's one of the reasons that I hate "Secrets and Pies" so much.
I suppose that there's a way to bring to light that Rarity and Rainbow Dash don't have much in common and could wonder why they're friends, but the way this episode did it felt artificial to the point where I was groaning at them acting childish instead of getting invested in the issue.
Feels like the only thing that I found relevant is that I'm actually happy that Rarity can pick locks (I had her do it in Brotherly Bonding Time, so it's nice to feel validated by the show... on a minor detail, but still). And also that breath mint they made for that... thing... looks like toothpaste. I now have an urge to brush my teeth.
Well, hopefully I'll have some better thoughts on the next episode. Thank goodness "Yakity-Sax" had an early airing, so I can skip it!
I totally know what you mean. The episode felt a little forced. Not that I hated it, but it wasn't great.