Progressive Pony Analysis: Growing Up is Hard to Do, (Spoilers Ahead) · 12:54am Sep 29th, 2019
This episode was painfully generic. It could have been an interesting commentary on the limitations of adult expectations on children, but instead it just plays out as a by-the-numbers "be careful what you wish for" story. It's an important lesson for kids to learn that adults have so many more responsibilities which get in the way of hobbies. It's something I myself am still struggling with, so I absolutely see the perspective of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
However the issue that's displayed is a combination of experience and knowledge. Kids aren't stupid. While it's true that long distance train travel is a risky thing for kids to do when they're not fully aware of their surroundings, the CMCs are actually very aware. They assume adult authority because that's all their taught to respect: adults know best, that's the end of it. What Twilight and Co. could have done is give the CMCs a map. Give them a list of station stops before Appleoosa, and ask the guard to announce when they've arrived (which he should do anyway, since steam trains don't have an intercom system).
The biggest issue with the teleplay writing is how much it tries to lampshade the generic kids message of "what if you get lost somewhere and cause a catastrophe?", and uses that in place of actually doing anything new. Lampshading only works if you're either making fun of a common trope, or if you're actually deviating from that trope. To lampshade a trope over and over and keep doing exactly that doesn't make it clever, it makes it predictable!
It's not all bad, however. There are little gems here and there that add to the entertainment value. Scootaloo's wings being canon deformed, limiting her flight capabilities. I also headcanon that Scootaloo is dyspraxic, like me, or at least on the autism spectrum, since she flaps her wings at high speed when happy. This looks to me as a form of stimming, which is nice to be treated as normal in kids shows! Likewise, the worldbuilding with the dog creature and the swamp-living ponies adds an extra layer of depth to the world, as well as showing older children who aren't yet adults, but more grown up than the CMCs are.
Little details save the episode from being bad, but otherwise it just felt dull at best, and mildly annoying at worst. 6.2/10
What did you think of the episode? Feel free to discuss it below! ~Mystic Mind
I agree and it also teaches that just because you're older and maybe have a little experience doesn't mean you know everything