My Review of MLP: FIM season 9 episode 14 The Last Laugh · 1:15am Aug 24th, 2020
Grading Scale:
A (fantastic episode)
A- (an excellent episode with at least one flaw)
B+ (a great episode with a couple of flaws)
B (a good episode which still could have been better)
B- (a good episode with numerous flaws but still rewatchable)
C+ (a decent episode)
C (eh... it’s not terrible but not good either)
C- (it’s not worth rewatching although it does have good elements)
D+ (a bad episode with a few good things in it)
D (a really bad episode with wasted potential)
D- (a terrible episode with badly written characters and butchered moral)
F (horrible and unwatchable)
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Hey, guys. Here is my review of MLP: FIM season 9 episode 14 The Last Laugh. Is it just me or do some of these episodes have “last” as part of their titles? Such as this episode, “The Last Crusade”, and “The Last Problem”? I guess it reflects how that this is the last season of the show, so they had to keep reminding us that this show was coming to an end. WE GET IT, HASBRO!! YOU DON’T HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING US!!! Anyway, this was an average episode at best even though one of the beloved characters from the season 4 episode “Pinkie Pride” returned: Cheese Sandwich. I actually like Cheese Sandwich as he is quite an amusing and entertaining character. I wish he had more appearances than just having two episodes where he is a main character (even though he had a non-speaking cameo in “Twilight’s Kingdom part 2” and was mentioned a few times by Pinkie).
While this was not a terrible episode in any way, shape, or form, it still suffers from an illogical premise, unfunny humor, and a nonsensical plot. So with that being said, let’s jump right into it:
The episode starts with the Mane Five and Spike being gathered together by Pinkie Pie within the map room of the Friendship Castle. The pink pony reveals herself to them and explains that she was invited by Cheese Sandwich himself to his own workplace called the “Amusement Factory” where gadgets and toys would spread joy and laughter to everypony in Equestria. Twitches eye Excuse me? No... no... (Clears throat). Pardon me, I don’t feel like myself. Anyway, Pinkie expresses great excitement to meet with him as she had a specific task in her mind to ask him personally for his help and advice as to what her life’s purpose is.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on a minute... she was questioning her life’s purpose??? So throughout this whole series, she never had a clear understanding or knowledge of what she wanted to do in her life? And she wanted Cheese’s advice for that? I’m sorry but... didn’t she literally sing a song about “SMILE” way earlier in the show? That song actually defined her character and her life’s purpose! How is it that she just completely forgets about it and questions why she hasn’t done anything that would define her life goal? That is just great; first, they make an episode called “Yakity Sax” that derailed Pinkie’s character in making her a depressed fuck and spoiled brat because she was told that she simply couldn’t play her favorite instrument properly, and now they make this false premise that ignores her “SMILE” song? Why were the writers killing her like that? Do they hate her or something?
So, she makes her way to the factory where she meets Cheese’s right hoof pony named Sans Smirk. Huh, actually a creative and meaningful name considering his personality. Unfortunately, just like with most of the new characters we had before and after this episode, he never makes another appearance in this season to make a lasting impression for the viewers. While I admire his name, his design is weak as well as his character. Don’t get me started with how he actually laughed at the end of the episode that makes his own name completely meaningless. But anywho...
She informs him about his boss inviting her to the factory after Smirk showed her every area of the factory and the amusement toys they had been creating. He brings her to him; she is overjoyed to see him again except... he is now in a state of depression... having “lost his laugh”. Well, Cheese Sandwich, I’m sure The Joker will make you feel better. Trust me on that one. ;)
Pinkie is shocked to see that happening. She questions why and how he ended up like that. He then explains through a flashback that he initially wanted to make everypony laugh with the use of amusement toys... of course with Sans’ idea of creating an “Amusement Factory”. However, the more he worked there the more he was sad, unenthusiastic, and depressed. Thus, he lost his laugh. Okay, to be frank, I kept replaying that scene over and over to make sure I was hearing right. But my ears do not deceive me... IT MAKES NO SENSE.
Look, I get he wants to make ponies happy and laugh joyfully. That’s admirable and sweet. But a factory??? No... just no. Once again, this is the same situation with the School of Friendship; you cannot teach friendship just as you cannot make a factory where you can create certain means to cause people to laugh. Can’t people just laugh naturally and not artificially? That just sounds like a child’s play than anything else. But then again, this is a kids’ show. So what am I even talking about? Naaah... it’s still bullshit. At least The Joker’s antics and his comedy-based gadgets had more purpose although deadly.
So Pinkie does everything in her power to make him laugh again such as banana peels, joy buzzers, and googly-eye glasses, but it is no use. It’s interesting that they never use the word “depress” just like how they avoided using the word “kill”. Fascinating, isn’t it? But wait! The big solution happens! When one of Sandwich’s workers giggled at one of his accidental quirks, Cheese actually gets happy again and laughs in realization that he got his laugh again. Wow... that was... interesting. So he had to make his friends laugh so that he can be happy? Actually... that’s a good lesson to teach. In fact, it’s important to teach kids that it’s not only about making them happy but it’s also about making others happy that will in turn make them happy and laugh. That’s a good moral right there.
The song they had together was okay but not too memorable in my opinion. And the ending was just average but not terrible. That’s my overall thoughts on this episode. It’s not terrible, but it’s still not great due to the issues it has. So I give it a C.
Well, folks, I can guarantee you that you will never see this grade or any of the positive grades ever again (you will see one of them for “Big Mac Question”) as I will be... (groans angrily)... tormenting the next episodes that are just... (exhales deeply)... you will see what happens. Get your headphones, your tables, and your pillows as I will be merciless in my next season 9 reviews Gordon Ramsay-style.
Peace.
Believe it or not Mr. J, Cheese Sandwich in this episode reminded me of my cousin Louie.
That part where Pinkie questions her life purpose and then she pointed out to the girls on their purposes is, it bothers me how she didn't point out Spike's. Like.. he was literally RIGHT FREAKING THERE and yet she didn't acknowledge him in terms of purpose stuff she was talking about. Is Spike a joke to you, Pinkie Pie? Like really
Aside from that, I don't feel much about this episode too I think.
How soon will your reviews on the next Season 9 episodes and Rainbow Roadtrip be posted?
5341998
Quite excited, huh?
My Rainbow Roadtrip review will be posted this afternoon; my reviews of episodes 15-17 will be posted the rest of the week.
5342021
Most excited to see your review of “Daring Doubt”. That’s the one I’m waiting for the most.
I would say this episode was okay for me. :)
Three words from me in epic style: Bring. IT. ON!
5342021
Heh, I'm looking forward to your review on Rainbow Road Trip as well, especially for one of the characters who is my favorite from the special. X3
This happens in sooo many shows and I bet this is because the new writers didn´t watch the previous episodes or they didn´t understand the characters. I´m not against new writers, in fact it gives great chances! But I think that some basic understanding of the characters is required. Also, I don´t think it´s necessary to watch every episode but I think that the older writers should point out important episodes to the new one, so they can understand the characters better.
Actually, I think that´s the reason Cheese got depressed. The means he used weren´t what made ponies laugh, it was him. And running a factory took that away from him. Laughter and friendship are something that are achieved naturally by actions or words, not through materials.
A good moral for once, yaaaaay!
Oh brother.... I´m going to grab some pop corn and a nestea. This is going to be fun.
Oh, boy! I'm gonna need more popcorn!