Episode Re-Review: Sisterhooves Social · 5:30pm Feb 18th, 2021
Alongside "Lesson Zero" this was the first episode of the show that I saw when I decided to give it a try back in January of 2012 (though I had seen clips of various episodes before). Much like "Lesson Zero" this episode is often regarded as a classic and one of the best episodes for all of the characters involved. "Lesson Zero" lived up to the hype (albeit not entirely unscathed) so did this episode do the same, or did it end up like "The Return of Harmony" and "Luna Eclipsed" where despite the promises it held it fell short? Well, let's find out.
The episode begins with Rarity asleep in her bed with a sleep mask on when suddenly she smells smoke (and a smoke detector goes off). She runs downstairs only to find that Sweetie Belle was planning to make her breakfast in bed (she shouldn't have, literally). Rarity goes right up to confront her little sister only to be surprised at the appearance of her mother and father in what's basically their only major appearance. Though not named at the time they would subsequently receive names within the trading card game: Hondo Flanks for the father and Cookie Crumbles for the mother. Because Hondo's head was covered by a straw hat, some thought he might be an earth pony (it wouldn't be for a couple of seasons that we'd learn that wasn't the case).. Honestly though, their inclusion here and subsequently throughout the show feels like an afterthought, done solely to disprove a headcanon so many people had developed: Sweetie Belle was actually Rarity's daughter that she'd given birth to in secret.
They're basically here to drop Sweetie off with Rarity (again) while they go on vacation to somewhere unknown. Cookie Crumbles also states that she's been given Sweetie Belle cooking lessons (so either Sweetie's cooking is that bad or Cookie Crumbles is a terrible cook), which results in Sweetie burning juice and making toast that has to be served in a bowl. As soon as Hondo and Cookie leave, Rarity decides to make an actual breakfast for herself and Sweetie while promising Sweetie can help. However, Rarity basically makes the entire breakfast on her own and has to be reminded to let Sweetie help. This results in her micromanaging Sweetie's attempt to put the garnish on the plate. Breakfast has to be made again when the plate slips off the table, and by the time Rarity's done cleaning up she has work to do, so she drops the towels off with Sweetie and tells her to take them to the laundry room. While in there, Sweetie sees an old sweater and decides to wash and dry it too. Except Rarity reveals that it's a wool sweater, which shrinks in the heat of the sun.
Rarity then leaves to work on some dresses, leaving Sweetie bored and with nothing to do. She decides to do some coloring and shows off a picture she made to Rarity. But Rarity is horrified when she discovers that Sweetie Belle raided a chest that housed rare baby blue sapphires she needed for an important client. However, this is Rarity's fault. If the gems were that important to her she should've made sure they were kept in a secure location. Anyway, she is forced to go hunt for more and refuses Sweetie's offer to tag along. It's mostly because of how "helpful" Sweetie's been up to this point, but Rarity might also be worried about a repeat of the diamond dogs incident.
Sweetie Belle spends her time away cleaning up Rarity's workshop, which horrifies Rarity when she reveals that it was "organized chaos". Still, she forces herself to grin and bear it and orders Sweetie Belle to leave for a little while.
Sweetie Belle happens to meet Apple Bloom while outside, and Apple Bloom reveals that Sweet Apple Acres will be hosting an event called the Sisterhooves Social.
I should mention that there is no mention of Scootaloo at any point, not even where she might be. I'm not saying she needed to be in this episode because she didn't, but it feels like her absence warrants an explanation here. Anyway, Apple Bloom suggests that Sweetie Belle and Rarity participate in the social, which Sweetie thinks is a good idea. Rarity naturally objects, detesting the idea of getting dirty. At that Sweetie snaps and decides to try the rest of her life without a sister, to which Rarity agrees. A furious Sweetie Belle then hangs out with Apple Bloom and Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres, and the two let Sweetie watch them do their chores together. The bond between Applejack and Apple Bloom is a little bit too perfect here, but for the sake of the episode it works fine. There is one strange detail though in which they round up sheep, but the sheep are revealed to be sentient and one says "You could've just asked." I know it's a joke but it does feel kind of weird. The cows at least made sense, they were spooked by a snake and suffered from herd mentality.
Meanwhile, Rarity is trying to stay mad at Sweetie Belle but can't bring herself to do so. She even finds uses for Sweetie's mistakes (such as giving the shrunken sweater to Opal, who isn't really thrilled with it). But she doesn't realize her mistake until she sees the picture Sweetie drew and is filled with regret at how beautiful it is. After a bit of feeling sorry for herself Rarity vows "Celestia as my witness, I'll never sisterless again!" which seems to imply Celestia is worshipped as a deity of some kind. She then decides to take action that night at Sweet Apple Acres when Sweetie is having a camp out with Applejack and Apple Bloom, roasting marshmallows around a campfire. Just need a good campfire song to complete the mood.
Rarity approaches Sweetie Belle who is still not quite ready to forgive. Rarity tries to apologize and offer to make it up to Sweetie, but all her offers involve are doing the things Rarity wants to do. So Sweetie tells Rarity to forget it and even proposes swapping sisters so that Apple Bloom could be Rarity's sister for a day (kind of a shame we never got an episode like that. We did sort of get the "Let's trade lives/professions" plot in "She Talks To Angel" but that more of a body swap episode). Rarity and Applejack both reject the idea but Sweetie still isn't willing to go back with Rarity. Applejack then tells Rarity what she's doing wrong, explaining that sisters is about compromise and uses a similie about apple pie. Rarity appears to realize what she needs to do then and there. Then the next day dawns and Applejack offers to let Sweetie Belle participate in the social with her instead of Apple Bloom. Sweetie is delighted and agrees, joining Applejack at the starting line.
At the very first mud puddle Applejack stumbles and falls in. She emerges unharmed, and when you see blue eyes on her you can probably guess what's gonna happen. Applejack and Sweetie Belle run the race together with Applejack covered completely in the mud, ultimately falling just short at the end. However, Sweetie is just happy to have had a good time and gives Applejack a hug. In doing so she knocks Applejack's hat off, revealing a horn. Surprise surprise, Rarity took Applejack's place at the first mud puddle. So where was Applejack? Well, the whole time she was just holding her breath. Wouldn't it have just been easier for her to slip out as the race unfolded without anyone being any the wiser? That seems a lot safer than holding her breath.
Rarity explains her motivations and Sweetie Belle is happy to accept her as a sister again. Then Rarity proposes a trip to the spa, which everyone around her thinks is a joke but she insists she's serious. Honestly, though, I think a spa trip would be a great way to unwind after a big race. Get all cleaned up and relax those muscles. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, even just a long bubble bath or a massage. Then we have Rarity and Sweetie Belle preparing to write a letter to Princess Celestia, and Spike ends up being there to help them do it. As a result this is the first episode of the entire show not to have Twilight appear at all. It didn't take long for them to make use of the status quo change from "Lesson Zero". Spike even helps the two come to a compromise about how dirty one should get.
And that's the story, so what do I think of the episode? Quite honestly, there's not much to say that hasn't already been said. It's every bit as good as you remember and then some. There isn't much that doesn't come down to nitpicking, really. Tiny little details that could've made the story a bit stronger but weren't absolutely necessary. This really offers the most realistic look at siblings, showing the good and the bad and giving both things to be right and wrong about. It would be kind of nice if we knew where Twilight was in this episode when Spike shows up, and a similar explanation about Scootaloo's whereabouts would be good. But again that wouldn't really impact the story either way if such things were included. This episode gets a solid A since the inclusion of the parents does feel like an afterthought and Applejack and Apple Bloom's sibling dynamic is a bit too perfect even for the sake of the moral, but that's the only thing that can really hurt this episode even remotely.
But now we come to what many consider Season 2's first major misstep in the form of "The Cutie Pox", an episode full of filler and nothing but filler.
This episode is definitely really good.
Not one of my absolute favorites of the season, but definitely up there.
I'm still amused by the fact that, even with some later cameos, Rarity's and Sweetie's parents have less overall screentime than pretty much any of the others, despite being the third pair we see
5456442 Yeah. Rarity and Sweetie Belle's parents were on my list of the top ten forgotten characters because we saw so little of them.
Fun Fact: This episode is the personal favorite of the famous brony analyst Silver Quill, as well as the episode that turned the famous YouTuber Joshscorcher into a brony.
You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn't like this episode, even a little.
Ah Sisterhooves Social. Among my top 5 of the season, and considering how many bangers there are in this season, that's saying a lot. I'd go a step further and give it an A+, though if I rated it out of 10 I'd probably give it a 9.5 so idk.