Deconstruction is Magic: A My Little Pony Retrospective (S1E18)

Grrrrrrrrrrrrreetings everypony, and welcome back to Deconstruction is Magic, my Retrospective/Review/Analysis of every episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is magic ever. Today, it's time to take a quick look at another CMC episode, the Show Stoppers! Without wasting any more time, let's get on with the analysis! I am the Mage of Mind, reminding you, as always, that even a cheeseburger can be deconstructed to its source.

This episode is more of a straight forward, slice of life affair, taking its plot at a moderate pace. This makes it one of the better CMC episodes, in my opinion, because it doesn't push them to be constantly hyperactive as we saw in the Stare Master. Not to say children can't be hyperactive, of course, but from a character writing perspective, it is nice to see a calmer representation of kids for a change. Of course, it's still the CMC, so wacky hijinks are the order of the day, just a tad more spaced out.

It's nice to see both Applejack and Twilight encouraging the CMC to explore what they're good at. Rather than just insisting they wait and find out, Applejack gives them an old treehouse to spruce up. This episode is one that always stands out to me, in terms of dialogue, at least. While the teleplay is a little on the nose about talent potential at times, most of it sounds natural, and explains common phrases to kids through the in-universe dialogue. A lot of season one is focused on setting up character relations and locations for stories to come, so in a sense, the characters are actively partaking in the worldbuilding, as opposed to fitting in with a pre-established status quo!

(School is wack and so are rules! Tucking in your shirt's for fools!)

I have two primary problems with this episode, but neither are related to the cringe comedy of the musical performance. Some pony fans may see it as overbearing, and there's no shame in that. For me, while I'll talk about that scene in a moment, it isn't a part that bothers me. What bothers me, first and foremost, is how many times the CMC step on potential talents like a rake and take one in the face. They start the episode by attempting, and then abandoning, various tasks, only to decide that their part in the stage production is just right? It's even outright explained to the audience by the adults, how they should be doing what they're good at. Yet somehow they continuously miss it.

Sweetie Belle hints at an excuse when she describes performance anxiety, but I think this should've been taken further. Why can't Scootaloo focus on dancing? Why can't Applebloom focus on the crafts and hoofwork? If the episode gave us more reasons for avoiding specific talents, it would've worked out far better. I also think there's some missed potential with the adults here, as well. If they had given the CMC constructive criticism, in a similar way to how AJ gives them the treehouse, it could have been used for the ending lesson. Learning when to take constructive criticism, and what it is, can be a big step in growing up! It shows that people who discuss flaws with your art don't hate you, but rather, they love your effort and want you to be better!

(I know words, I know lots of words!)

Now, as for the show itself? Yes, it is a bit of a disaster, but that's the point. The CMC are so focused on trying something new, they miss what's right in front of their face. And so what fallows is a comedy of errors. One small accident leads to another, and sooner or later, everything starts to fall apart. If you'll pardon the pun, they get marks for effort, but the CMC tripping over themselves is so ridiculous, it's impossible not to laugh! The grand scale of this show is part of the absurdity. How many other kids shows have elaborate rock setpieces? Even if it is a setup for failure, the fact they pulled out all the stops is impressive in of itself.

I like that an important distinction is made with the laughter reaction: that the unintentional comedy meant ponies were laughing *with* them, not at them. For a kids talent show, you can always expect some awkward moments. It's their earnestness that shines through, and given how the writers used 80s Hair Metal to style their costumes? I don't think we're expected to take it all that seriously, either. The important part is that there is a balance between the fantastical and the mundane, and even if the CMC still miss the mark in focusing on their strengths, working as a team at least lays the groundwork for future development.

(Eat your heart out, Spinal Tap!)

Conclusion

This is a simple, but fun episode. It doesn't push many boundaries like some others, and it has its flaws in some of the character development. But it's hardly mean spirited, and it's perfectly fine to have a more laid back episode every now and again. If the worst an episode can do is make a kids stage show a ridiculous show of slapstick? Then we have a solid, if average episode of FiM. The Show Stoppers gets a final score of 7/10.

What did you think of this episode? Is the whole stage musical a dealbreaker for your enjoyment? Feel free to let me know in the comments! Until next time, stay safe all~.