Mini Re-Reviews: "Over a Barrel" & "A Bird in the Hoof" - Season 1 Episodes 21 & 22 · 11:36pm Jan 4th, 2020
FLUTTERSHY: "I'd like to be a tree."
RAINBOW DASH [sighs]: "Fluttershy, I'll let you off this time because that's such a iconic, fan-loved moment, but we need to have a serious talk about how to do these captioned intros."
Here we go. Whenever "Over a Barrel" is brought up these days, it's either by people remembering the fandom moments it gave us (Fluttertree and uh... "wingboners"...), both of which are largely separate from the episode itself, or cringing at its depiction of what many perceive as a whitewashing of century-long conflicts between American settlers and Native Americans. And I get that reaction, and it is understandable, if a bit overblown (I actually saw this episode pop up in more then one "Top 10 Worst Episodes" lists since the show ended; not even remotely the case). Even within Season 1, there are several candidates for weaker episodes. Basically, I acknowledge the issue most have with the episode, and it does weaken it a bit. But it does not cripple it the way many think. We'll get back to that part.
It's a pity, because this is an interesting beast of an episode in many other ways. Not only is "Over a Barrel" our first adventure episode outside of Ponyville and its surroundings (and our first full-on adventure episode since "Dragonshy" 14 episodes prior), it's actually the first episode in the whole series to take place completely away from Ponyville. Excepting two-thirds of "Sonic Rainboom" and the opening chunk of the first episode, we basically haven't left the town and its surroundings up to now. But no, we open on a train moving through a desert (being pulled by four stallions, in one of those delightfully quirky cases of Early Instalment Weirdness) and stay in Equestria's equivalent of the Wild West all episode. Thankfully, we're still many seasons away from Equestria being traversed so frequently it ceased to be vast.
Another thing of note is the plot direction it takes in this adventure episode. Most such episodes in the show strain to have the Mane 6 interact with each other and their environment all at once, even in the two parters. Dragonshy was an early exception that made all that work, but in the future it will largely prove to be a stumbling stone for the show. "Over a Barrel" does something I'm flabbergasted the show never used all that much in splitting up the party. The bifurcation occurs right as the buffolo make their introduction, and it allows for two separate and radically different storylines and mindsets to grow and evolve before they slam back together. This is a type of storytelling I'm especially keen on, and while on some levels it can sometimes be confusing for kids, I still wish the show used it more. Having smaller groups makes it far easier to give meaningful roles to all involved. Not every character gets this; after the opening sequence, Fluttershy and Rarity are largely superficial to proceedings, and it's easy to imagine the episode simply not bringing them along had it been written in a later season when such things were more common, but the other five are all crucial to the proceedings. It results in an episode that's pleasing in the structure and character of our main ponies, notable given they're basically interlopers on the conflict. Also, Spike gets what may well be his best role in the series to this point, using the fact that he's not a dragon perfectly in the buffalo warming up to him quickly as a stepping stone to the exposition.
And speaking of characters, Braeburn is quite the expressive character full of personality, the first male one on the show after Spike (Big Mac had yet to have a notable role). With his excitement and energy that make him quite the hoot, even if the Appleloosa tour and his schtick with it is a bit padded, it's a shame he's kind of neutered after that scene, and an even bigger shame he was never used again as much. And whenever he did pop up, he was far less expressive and kind of dull. But he certainly serves to make Appleloosa a bundle of fun right out of the gate (again, pity it was far less fun by the time we came back, but sure, what're you gonna do). It's odd, I don't find Wild West media all that enchanting, but somehow you filter it through ponies here and the flavour gains some spice. Go figure.
Believe it or not, character-wise the buffalo-as-Native-Americans are done right. There's no shock or fear of them, the standoff is based purely on the land conflict. More then that, the focus is never on what makes the buffalo different or on them-as-Native-Americans at a character level. Their culture is there, but the focus is on them as people, or bison. Faust's work to have a Native American consultant help shape Dave Polshy's script is much appreciated for sure. I especially like the touch of Braeburn and Little Strongheart meeting and both being quite amicable and eager to talk things over, with Applejack and Rainbow Dash being the ones that are stubborn and set on the opposing sides. Had the buffalo appeared again in future episodes it would have been great and helped to offset the complaints people had with the story told here. Doesn't seem they were declared off-limits much like with zebras other then Zecora, with Hasbro supposedly fearing more controversy for appropriating a real-world culture. Nope, they appear in cameo form in "Pinkie Pride", "Twilight's Kingdom" and in the final battle of "The Ending of the End". Guess no other episode was ever proposed or approved that used them significantly.
The episode certainly handles the fact that it is padded quite well, disguising the unnecessary nature of the opening travelling sequence at night with some hilarious moments (though Rarity is a bit off-putting with her "sharing the commoner cart, ugh" dialogue). Perhaps a bit too well, with how quickly it leaps upon Chief Thunderhooves hitting upon the idea that reaches a suitable compromise between the buffalo and the Appleloosians. A bit better time management wouldn't have gone amiss, though the humour of the cut from him proclaiming he has an idea to the wrap-up works too.
If the episode does have two problems that are undeniable true, it's these. Taking a stance of both sides being right is normally a good one, but it's hard to argue against the buffalo having far more right to the land then the Appleloosians who only set up shop a month ago and (seemingly) never bothered to check it was okay. And even for someone like me who isn't constantly comparing the buffalo to Native Americans, even if it's all there, having it reduced to a (funny) pie fight seems trivial even within the confides of the show.
It's a pity the episode's problems have become overblown and come to define it in the eyes of many, considering how much it has going for it. It's our first episode fully away from Ponyville, it's an adventure story that uses a Split the Party mechanic to great effect (Rainbow Dash is so steadfast and awesome throughout), it has a fun new town of settlers (such a shame the Wild West trappings end up distracting from the moral instead of enhancing it), an interesting new culture, and (for Season 1 standard) beautiful new scenery). While I do wish the moral and theme were uncoupled from the episode, allowing the fun things to dominate in the viewer's mind more, this one still has too much stuff that works and which I especially dig to call it the failure or even the mixed bag that most viewers do. Though I can admit they drag it down to a 7.5/10.
STRAY OBSERVATIONS
- No way any cartoon could get away with doing this episode today, and that's a real shame. Even in very early 2010, when this was being written, our culture was far less PC-obsessed to the point of ridiculousness then it is now.
- Pinkie's "You Got to Share, You Got to Care" song is a frequent candidate for worst song, or at least it was back when there were far less to choose from. I think people are missing the point of it being intentionally bad, given it's what sets Chief Thunderhooves off on a rampage, twice, and the character reactions during the first number make it clear they find it cringe too. Me, I like it for what it is. No problems here!
- The character animation of the buffalo is sometimes a bit awkward; a combination of a new biped with a different body structure likely led to animators using them as they would ponies. That and all the new backgrounds and props for this episode certainly explains other awkward moments of animation throughout, though the episode is very good at circumventing them so they don't distract. Oh DHX (or Studio B, I suppose), in those early days, you really were an ambitious animation studio with something to prove beyond your prior work on tripe little kids shows.
- To judge from the shot at 18:23-ish, where the town clock has just rung and everyone is all still and tense before the battle begins, Bon Bon moved to Appleloosa. Changing voice and location constantly this season, it would seem. Fair play to her.
FLUTTERSHY: "Excuse me, kind sir. Have you seen a sickly molting bird run by here?"
TWILIGHT: "Yeah, she's about your height, your skin and beak colour, and she has just as few feathers. Just no big brown moustache. Have you seen her?"
Between "Green Isn't Your Color" just two episodes ago and now "A Bird in the Hoof", the later part of Season 1 is just on fire with stellar Fluttershy episodes. They are also both stuffed to the brim with visual gags, as it happens, though on that front I'd sooner compare this one to "Feeling Pinkie Keen" for being an episode trafficking in cartoon slapstick. But with "A Bird in the Hoof" lacking a somewhat clumsily-delivered moral, and gaining lots of freshness from the most-cartoony pony barely being around and instead featuring the pony least given to falling into cartoon antics situations, it ends up as a more fresh and unique episode.
What makes this episode so great is how deeply-character based the gags generally are; those who find Feeling Pinkie Keen's brand of Looney Toons randomness to be not quite their cup of tea should find themselves better acquainted here, I reckon. Even in the cold opening, with Fluttershy worrying about every detail and doubling back enough times that Angel locks the door... which she still returns and tries to get past before throwing in the towel. Then there's the party, where everyone's reactions are firmly rooted in their personalities and only seem to be too much because Twilight's awareness of said quirks has shot past 11 in light of Celestia's presence. From Rarity showing off a beautiful gown but paralysed to the spot in fear of ruining it, to Applejack not eating due to being uncertain of formal eating order, to Rainbow Dash performing a classic "get the stoic guard to react" routine (a thread that pays off later to great results), to Pinkie being just Pinkie.
And Celestia. Sweet Celestia, this episode is easily the most business she's had to this point, and it's such a highlight, from her mischievous streak with the pretend sip of the tea so the overzealous Cakes overfill it, down to everything else. But even this and her later actions play into some character depth; it's easy to interpret this as her trying to downplay her role as both ruler and living goddess (it's easy to forget that even Twilight didn't know in the first episode that she was the same sister in the Nightmare Moon legend), with her preferring to be approachable and not liking being too revered. Her reaction to everyone assuming she'll dole out big punishments plays into this too.
Of course, after the opening third that gifted us with Trollestia, the bulk of the rest of the episode concerns Fluttershy trying to nurse back to health Celestia's stolen bird. Having five straight minutes of Fluttershy alone allows us to see her in her element; when she's not always socially anxious, it adds so much more depth to her character. With Fluttershy off of her leash, the episode can get down to simple but glorious escalating slapstick courtesy of Philomeena - and it later turns out to be mostly her being overdramatic, likely due to having run out of ways to provoke a reaction from Celestia at her life cycle's deaths. Fluttershy's "always works" line and facial expression needs to be seen to be believed.
As it stands, this episode brings in Twilight just when the Fluttershy and Philomeena show was inching towards staleness, and from there it get fresh once again, with Twilight's rougher "tough love" dynamic providing a good counterpoint to Fluttershy's gentle demeanour. We can see her biggest freakout to this point knocking on the door of "Lesson Zero" but with good reason, given her perception of all her friends habits' in front of the Princess from before. But Fluttershy still manages to hold her own, as demonstrated by her swift "Do you?" response to Twilight's hysterical question of Fluttershy having any idea what Celestia will dole out as punishment.
Following a few scenes of Twilight-administered tough love, we get one of the most glorious Benny Hill sequences in the history of cartoon media (such a thing works better here where it's unexpected then in more standard kids' cartoons where the tone makes it more common). The amount of mileage wrung out of that moustache is unreal. Finally it all wraps up with a tearful death sequence played straight for a good minute, but which is still hilariously because it's obvious Philomeena is a phoenix the moment she burst into flames. A lengthy but effective denouement that presents the moral beautifully and makes Celestia out to be even more grounded ("No, you don't need to write me a letter, I heard the lesson, you silly little ponies") closes out the episode, once Rainbow Dash and Philomeena cooperate on making the stoic guards break character and laugh.
Even aside from the lengthy list of fandom-loved moments and memes this gave us, I also dig this episode for focusing on a few ponies but not to the exclusion of the others. Many future episodes (and some we've already had!) will often give several the boot for better screentime management. This is a happy medium, where the focus is on a select few, but we get occasional reminders of the group's friendship, like Rainbow Dash dropping in for what she assumes is a race. Quite the welcome treat!
Really, I have almost nothing negative to say about this episode. It might not rank as highly for those not as onboard with slapstick, but for the rest of us, it's a true gem, and other then the Fluttershy-and-Philomeena show going on slightly longer then in perhaps best, no real flaws leap out at me. A simple idea executed masterfully is just what Friendship Is Magic does best, when it is at its best. 9/10 on this one.
STRAY OBSERVATIONS
- According to Lauren Faust, the episode "was originally conceived as a tug-at-your-heartstrings style episode about losing a pet". Given the show later did that with Season 5's "Tanks For the Memories", it's no big loss, I reckon. I find the turnaround at the end and the fun from a Twilight and Fluttershy teamup too great to wish it had gone in that direction instead, honestly. "The Hooffields and the McColts" didn't even come close to getting as much mileage out of this comic pairing.
- Rainbow Dash expressing an interest in being a royal guard got me thinking. Was that ever brought up again? Being a Wonderbolt and being a royal guard have their similarities for sure. Wonder if there's some fanfiction out there about Rainbow Dash as a royal guard? Probably.
Hey look at that, I'm actually commenting!
As far as "Over a Barrel" goes, my view on it has never been that favourable, though I have always loved the "I'd like to be a tree" sequence and Pinkie's intentionally terrible song. (The agreement between Thunderhooves and Silver Star about that is amusing, too.) As I said in my own review, it's very hard to really get something like settler-Native relations and I don't think I ever will be able to. That iisaw, who does have the knowledge, detests this episode so much has had a bearing on how I now feel about it. I'm not sure I've entirely solidified my feelings even now, though.
I'm ridiculously delighted that finally someone else really loves "A Bird in the Hoof". I've always felt it to be a dreadfully underrated episode, and not only because Fluttershy shines in it. I'm with you entirely on the Twilight/Fluttershy dynamic -- it's a real shame those two were paired up so rarely after this, and that their one cutie map episode ("The Hooffields and McColts") was a pretty mediocre effort. As for stories about Dash being a Royal Guard... well, she's one of Nightmare Moon's guards in that alternate timeline in the S5 finale. But fics specifically? I haven't read it, but Elusive Phoenix wrote The Equestrian Royal Guard in which Rainbow is recruited.
Oy. Defending “Over a Barrel” is always going to be a delicate subject. I do fully believe in doing so, of course; there’s far too much this episode does really well and I wish that we could have had more adventure-y episodes like it (minus the moral screwups and Native American allegories, of course).
Funny you mention iisaw; on your review he pointed out my separate comments of “I feel the hate is overblown” and “as a non-American I can’t really get it” were perhaps not unrelated. Somewhat bluntly. He may well be right. His hate for the episode even beyond the morals and Natives-settlers thing was surprising, given how much he loves adventure stories (and good thing too; his The Celestia Code series is a gem).
But all that said, I still stick by my guns of this being a good episode worth defending, and one I’m more fond of then my numerical score may indicate. Proof they’re not the only thing worth reading a review for! I guess it comes down to me being loosely intellectually aware that some have those issues, but more then me not being in that place emotionally, I feel it’s a bit intellectually misplaced. Just a little. As you might guess, I can get passionate about defending underrated episodes for the early eras of Pony - just recently I did the unthinkable and gave “Putting Your Hoof Down” a higher score then “A Friend in Deed”. Blasphemy, right? Well, I had my reasons.
Yes, “A Bird in the Hoof” is one of those episodes that the lack of love for is sometimes perplexing. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, of course. But other then some slight trimming in the extended Fluttershy-and-Philomena show, I wouldn’t change anything, really.
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