Mini Re-Reviews: "A Dog and Pony Show" & "Green Isn't Your Color" - Season 1 Episodes 19 & 20

DIAMOND DOG: "My... precious..."
RARITY: "Oh, please, not-darling, that reference is so overdone."

Now, this is an episode I remember rather fondly. "A Dog and Pony Show" was one of those early episodes that stuck with me especially vividly during my initial 7-season-binge of the show from two years ago. I think that a lot of that results from an especially cartoony and slapsticky episode that, to somehow who grew up on Foster's, the previous show for both Faust and many of the writers, felt right at home. But it also came from it being the episode that truly made me sit up and take notice of Rarity, who had control of the situation the whole time and was never truly helpless the way Spike and the others fantasised (though those fantasies stick close enough to previous examples of her behaviour that they too seem believable). Combine that with delightful slapstick along the way (that whack-a-mole sequence is a killer, even managing to sidestep the question of how the three leader dogs are up there to mess with them when they're logically down in the tunnels trying to torment Rarity), and some charmingly off-kilter villains of the week in the Diamond Dogs, and this episode remained one of my top favourites from this early stretch of the show.

Nowadays, that doesn't hold as true, but not because of the episode not necessarily living up to my memories of it. It's more due to my priorities and preferences for what I seek in the show changing slightly. I do still love this episode for how quirky it is, but I acknowledge that that same quirkyness may not sell as much for every pony fan. It's that same quirky, unusual nature that makes this episode the kind that would have never been done in the show's back half, let alone its last two seasons.

Still, for an episode that has seemingly everything an early-show episode could have - adventure, comedy, slapstick, and light, playful worldbuilding - one could do a lot, lot worse then this. This is a very cartoony episode even when there's no slapstick in sight, not taking itself too seriously at any point (observe there's no "I have to get these gems in x time!" comment by Rarity, or, indeed, a deadline of any kind imposed by Sapphire Shores for the commission). Yet at the same time, it treats everyone with respect and keeps them grounded in a believable sense - yes, even the Diamond Dogs, funnily enough.

It helps that the episode has a unique energy and flow to it, which is what I think endeared me to it since that first viewing. For a start, the episode has the decency to keep its plot active by continually shaking up the focus. Just as the pre-title sequence promises an episode more in the ballpark of "Suited for Success", it shifts to a gem-hunting expedition (that, personally, had me recollecting countless video games where gems and gold are strewn everywhere, available for easy pickings). Then it shifts to incorporating the Diamond Dogs, and just when it seems to be about Spike and Rarity dealing with them, it shifts to a six-minute sequence of Spike and the Mane 5 in pursuit and crashing into elaborate visual gags. The biggest surprise is that it largely keeps that separate from the following sequence with Rarity and the 3 Diamond Dog leaders down in the tunnels; both sequences are ripe with transitions and easy spots for transitions, so conventional wisdom would dictate cutting between the two sequences as the episode progresses. Indeed, this was how I remembered the bulk of the episode playing out. But doing the bulk of the pursuit first proves to be a wise decision; the imaginary sequences of Rarity are funnier when we have yet to see what's happening down with her in the tunnels. This energy of changing focus is a trick the show has performed before, and one it will perform again, but it's suitably off-kilter here to go with a suitably off-kilter episode.

There are some minor points of contention here. The message of Rarity being able to handle herself just fine is a good one that does wonders for her character, but Twilight's blunt delivery of it (not helped by the sentence emphasising 'ladylike' and 'weak' in the same breath, largely omitting the 'doesn't make her' phrase from in between them in impact) robs it of a little impact, especially when the following sentence about triumphing over adversity due to one's wit, despite seeming defenceless. Twilight knowing Rarity's gem-hunting spell is a slight hand wave (a bit of trimming from either the early setup or the group's pursuit elsewhere could have helped for a bit more time there, perhaos), and though the episode generally does really well by Spike, giving him lots of proper hero moments, it's still a little uncomfortable watching Rarity knowingly use him early on and then taking away the one gem he was eating at the end (showing him having already eaten a few would have fixed that). But that's about it: no objection to the mule gag here, my friends!

Oh, and it helps that, like with many Season 1 episodes, it's packed full of great, ear-to-ear-grinning moments, further cementing this episode, to me, as one of the most casually watchable for a good cheer (to such an extent I'm more likely to reach for it to rewatch then some other, better episodes). Applejack's 'lover boy' response to Spike is just one such example, and plenty other moments help to make all three Diamond Dogs have distinct, if one-trait, personalities. I'll be fair and give this episode an 8.5/10, as the story, much like Rarity down in the tunnels, seems to flounder about a bit as it goes, but my personal enjoyment of it remains more of a 9.

STRAY OBSERVATIONS
- Humorous error time! Sapphire Shores lacks a Cutie Mark during a shot exposing her flank before the title sequence. Lauren Faust did confirm it to be an oversight resulting from her design covering her flank from most angles and the shot that showed her rear being approved in layout without them realising that the character model wouldn't have a cutie mark when done abroad. But still, I'm surprised more fans didn't make fanon material out of the potential of adult without cutie marks from this. Or maybe they did? Who knows.
- The iTunes release of this episode (and subsequently most versions of the episode available online that don't have a broadcast watermark) have a notable error where after the group's sliding trip through the tunnels ends, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash are missing from the shot of them in a heap on the ground (as well as Spike's following "No!!!!"). Jayson Thiessan explained this as the iTunes uploaders somehow getting an earlier version of the episode where those two character models during those shots hadn't being finished yet or were accidentally turned off. Other more minor errors, depending on the release platform and DVD, include Twilight's rope harness vanishing at certain points while fighting the guards.

FLUTTERSHY: "Oh, um, I'm sorry I don't have a horn. Um, I could go swap myself with a pony that has a horn. Um, that is, if you want me to..."

For all that I love Friendship Is Magic, a decent chunk of the opening sequences fall kind of flat, delivering the first part of the setup of the show without much pizazz (indeed, compared to much of the rest of the episode, the opening scene for "A Dog and Pony Show" does fall into this category). Then you have those opening scenes that are just pure perfection. This is one of those. "Green Isn't Your Color"'s decision to build Rarity asking Fluttershy to model for her around a weekly get-together at the spa is just ingenious; that they are getting their 'usual', and that we get to see what every step of that entails for both ponies (Fluttershy sitting quietly in the mud bath while Rarity is constricted by seaweed; Fluttershy having two small dabs of mud facial while Rarity has it all over her face) makes for wonderful bits of character building on the side, alongside just having the pair enjoying themselves low-key with a long-lasting friendship (as has being said before, the impression the series gives is that most of the Mane 5 didn't know each other that well prior to the series, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash excepted - this is another one that very possibly counts as an exception too). Add it adorable moments of Fluttershy's Pinkie-like squee at not having a horn to a spa worker for a hornicure, and Rarity going back for a second round afterward due to being frazzled from anticipating asking Fluttershy to model, and you have an opening sequence that is as perfect as they come; it's lived in my mind as an ideal blueprint for how most slice-of-life episodes should aim to start out.

Of course, there's another 19 minutes to follow after that, and they're a pretty great 19 minutes, truth be told. It's a fun setup, mixing Fluttershy being thrust into the fame and attention Rarity wants and how their mutual feelings of disappointment simmer and build, with Twilight stuck between a Rarity Rock and a Hard Fluttershy in letting either know of the other's feelings without breaking the trust they placed in her. Using Pinkie's utmost devotion to the sanctity of a promise was a neat way to get around the obvious solution in this little comedy of errors, not just allowing the episode to proceed organically but giving more dimension to Pinkie too (as with most S1 episodes, small wonder the Pinkie Promise has being build in all possible directions by the fandom at some point or another). The moment where Pinkie's creepy glare as she chews an apple slowly gives way to bubbly delight at its juiciness is a highlight just as much as the meme-worthy "FOREVERRRRR!!!"

Not a lot else to say on the plot otherwise, though it's a very well executed one, with one of the best delivered morals of the season (in a season where the actual delivery of the morals, given that Twilight always had to be involved, wasn't always perfect). Not to mention the writing is structured well enough that no pony wind up being the problem of the episode; any rational viewer will find themselves on both characters' sides relatively equally. Let's talk character instead: Photo Finish isn't a fav of mine, but her self-absorbed nature fits someone whose success depends on the well-being of the ponies she chooses to spur to stardom, and while a little Photo Finish goes a long way, I still mostly enjoy her when she's onscreen.
Back on our main ponies, the episode plays to Fluttershy and Rarity's strengths the whole way; the former is adorably meek but not a total doormat throughout, having enough shots showing her irritated disapproval. More then that, this plot could only proceed with the pony least likely out of the six for their ego to go to their head, with Fluttershy spending nigh-on the whole episode silently wishing for escape from her comedy cage (for the uninitiated, in comedy writing, an important dilemma is coming up with a reason for your characters to be in the 'prison' required for that episode or series, one that means they can't just up and leave). Truth be told, Rarity occasionally goes a bit overboard in both her jealously and being short with her friends when under pressure. Still, Rarity is trying so hard to be happy for what she thinks is pleasing Fluttershy, and the speed with which she stops her mild sadistic pleasure at Fluttershy's intentional folly and cheers for her instead - well, it sure wasn't easy.

And the comedy. Good lord, the comedy. This season just keeps tossing episode at me one after another that are stocked to the brim with the comedy, and in this episode, a large chunk of them are visual, oddly enough for an episode that isn't playing in the same slapstick wheelhouse as others this season. Even aside from the ones mentioned, there's pretty much everything Pinkie does, Twilight's desperation towards the end to avoid spilling the beans, and the variety of poses and noises Twilight has Fluttershy make when trying to slip up the show. Oh, and it's verbal, but the speed with which the fashion elite switch to following Rarity's approval is all the funnier because of how true it is.

The only real complaint I have for the episode is Spike, again: subject to more then a few butt monkey situations, though he does at least play a pivotal early part in the promise subplot subjected to Twilight. That aside, we have once again a goldmine of plot, character, comedy and memorable moments. 9/10.

STRAY OBSERVATIONS
- I had totally forgotten Pinkie miming an elaborate key-locking-and-burying outline was something that was in an actual episode - I mis-remembered it as being a fandom creation. All the more delighted knowing it came from the show itself.
- This episode features an early appearance of Goth Fluttershy (different hairstyle) during the brief photo montage, seven whole years before "Fake It 'Til You Make It".
- I'd completely forgotten Bon Bon had the tendency to switch voices everytime she spoke an incidental line in the early episodes. Helps to offset the sting of her not knowing who Rarity is, I suppose.

Comments

[Loganberry]

Yipe, I've let these slip! Okay, let's go...

Rarity, who had control of the situation the whole time

I'm not sure I'd go quite as far as the whole time -- she didn't plan on being captured in the first place, after all! -- but indeed, most of it.

Twilight knowing Rarity's gem-hunting spell is a slight hand wave

Though as someone (I think you!) said when I reviewed this, it's reasonable she might know it, as someone interested in learning magic. I just found the "Oh my goodness, I know this, Rarity told me" lines a tad on the clunky-exposition side.

I'm surprised more fans didn't make fanon material out of the potential of adult without cutie marks from this. Or maybe they did?

Before my time, and maybe just that little bit too early for the fandom to leap on it as they doubtless would have done a season later. Adults without cutie marks in general is of course a moderately common ponyfic subject -- but the starting point seems more often to be pre-S5 ideas about the CMC never getting theirs.

this is another one that very possibly counts as an exception

My headcanon agrees with you! I certainly think Rarity and Fluttershy were friends before the series began. I'll save my complaints about the pairing having been underused for future occasions!

one of the best delivered morals of the season

You'll find no argument about that one from me. But then, as you know, I gave this episode top marks -- which I hadn't really been expecting to do beforehand.