What Lies Beneath

Friendship is Magic review by Obake

(SPOILERS!)

This would be the strongest of the school episodes, were it not for a few choice line of dialogue and strange ending. To be fair, the ending may turn out to be part of a bigger plot involving the season's villain, in which case it makes somewhat more sense.

What Lies Beneath has a number of strengths, from decent gags, real stakes, and character development for the Young Six. The students are studying for a test on the Tree of Harmony when they stumble upon an open grate in the school library. Light from inside peaks their curiosity, and they find themselves in an underground cave.

The entrance closes off. A sparkling Twilight tells them they must pass a test. The Young Six are then instantly separated, each having to face one of their fears. Yes, this sounds a lot like Stephen King's It, which may or may not be an inspiration, especially with Yona having to deal with spiders. Gallus is confronted with his claustrophobia, Smoulder the fear of others knowing she is into cute things, Silverstream with the Storm King, Ocellus with her past as a Changeling, and Sandbar being separated from his friends. When they finally defeat their fears is when they are freed.

The episode gives the Young Six a lot to do, which is good. Even the simplistic characters like Yona and Silverstream feel more fleshed out. Yona, for example, sleeps while trying to study, which does not sound like character growth, but for a yak, it is something. All of the students interactions while prepping for the test feel natural, like actual kids.

Smoulder admitting she is into cute things does feel out of nowhere. I would have assumed that her fear was simply being seen as cutesy. But her wearing a dress and makeup, and insisting her friends tell no one about it, is funny.

This episode would be fine were the wrap up not so head scratching. If what the sparkly, fake Twilight that started the ordeal is to be believed, then she is in fact the Tree of Harmony giving the Young Six a test. Yes, the tree itself speaking in ethereal form, to prove these six students worth. Never mind that some of the challenges themselves are terrifying (like the room that almost crushes Gallus). What really comes to mind is, What?

Of course, it is likely that the ethereal Twilight is in fact a concoction made by Cozy Glow, who appears in the episode. What Lies Beneath is almost the finest example of what can be done with the Young Six. But the ending (and some of the dialogue) do throw a wrench in the mix.

Extras:

• Example of bad dialogue: Smoulder, after locating Ocellus, says “We're still in those weird caves beneath the school. We've got to get out of here!” As if Ocellus can't see her surroundings. Cut the first sentence, and the dialogue is absolutely fine.
• As stated, the Young Six's interactions studying for the test feel very much like actual students, from their varying degrees of studiousness, to impatience, and so on.
• An aspect of the episode that does not work is Cozy. She is obviously evil, yet no one catches on.
• Smoulder being forced to participate in a tea party is fun, even if she secretly enjoys it. At the very least, she is not one-note.
• Sandbar's test involves him following (a fake) Rarity and Dash, who tell him to simply abandon his friends. It is stated that Sandbar admires the real Dash and Rarity, but I cannot think of any time he has actually shown that.
• I like that the cave system is varied for each student. Yona is in a dark, spooky portion, while Silverstream's is light, yet filled with menacing rocks, etc.
• Whether or not What Lies Beneath's ending will be made or broken is yet to be determined.