One Bad Apple Review · 10:52pm Nov 30th, 2012
Nothing else to say here for now folks. Review beyond the break if you are interested!
First off, let me just apologize for the delay in this review. It was never my intention to wait until the day before the next episode to get this up, but... well... I only review after at least the second viewing so I am not going off of my first impressions and can give a more fair review. Sadly, I was not very motivated to do it this time for reasons that are not yet known to me. At any rate, it's time to get on with the show.
Way back in January of last year, we were given our first episode focusing around the trio of 'blank flank' fillies we now know as the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Typically, these episodes seem to be more focused on the primary demographic than any of the others, but for an acceptable reason. Let's face it, one of the reasons why this show is popular with our age group and forged the Brony community is because the Mane Six are young adults. They all hold full-time jobs, live independently of their parents, or both. Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are fillies trying to find their way in life, and thus it makes sense that Hasbro and Studio B would want to have a small cast of characters for the asops on growing up and maturing.
Arguably, in the past near two years the CMC have done a bit of growing up for they know the value of teamwork and friendship just as well as our older mares. In One Bad Apple, they tackle a subject that has plagued kid-kind since the dawn of time: bullies. I am quite open in saying that I was a victim of bullying when I was younger. I was kind of a weird kid and not exactly hygienic, so in hindsight I probably brought most of it upon myself since people have told me that I am not easy to dislike or hate. Go figure. Anyway, regardless, this is an issue that will always be on children's minds, so why not go the predictable route and make an episode about it?
One Bad Apple starts off with Applebloom worrying over her appearance in advance of a visit from her big-city cousin Babs Seed. Applejack, for once, is forefront and tells her not to worry, but her little sister does not listen until she tells her said cousin does not have her cutie mark either. Applebloom and the rest of the CMC meet her at the train station and smother her in greetings and claims that they are going to be the best of friends. They show her their clubhouse and their Harvest Festival Parade float. At this point in time, resident bullies Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara arrive and ridicule them. Surprisingly, instead of defending her cousin and her friends that she met ten minutes ago, Babs joins the twats and destroys their float. See if you can guess what part of that last sentence was snarky!
From there, we cut to the CMC brooding over what to do while Babs is in town for the next couple of weeks. Unsurprisingly, the group's voice of reason (Sweetie Belle) pipes up and suggests they go to Applejack (then later Rarity and, surprisingly, Twilight) for help and/or advice. On all counts, she is swiftly defeated in majority rule and peer pressure. Ear worm montage ensures and comes up with easily the most endearing snippet of the CMC available to date.
If you feel tingling in your right arm, headache, nausea or lightheaded from this gif, call your doctor immediately!
After which, the intrepid trio decide that while to forgive is divine, getting even is much better. To that end, they build a better version of their float and make it a golden apple. Hail Eris! (That was for you, BP) However, they booby trap (*snicker*) the float in an undisclosed manner and set out to manipulate Babs Seed into stealing it from them so she ends up humiliated and they get their jollies. Applejack takes notice of Babs riding off in their float and commends the girls on letting her have the limelight because, dun dun dunnn, she was being bullied back home for not having her Cutie Mark! Realizing their error, the CMC intervene and save Babs from a muddy future, only to end up with egg in their face as well.
But not before Pinkie Pie drops some bad puns.
I thought you were going to leaf me out of this review, silly Ciro~!
So, poor jokes aside, they learn their lesson, Silver B**** and Diamond C*** get their comeuppance and everyone laughs happily. The end. I don't think I was alone when I thought the whole moral being "tell an adult" was slightly insulting to my intelligence. However, the episode also raises something a little more deep, which saves it from being a total loss. Usually, bullies have a reason for doing what they do. It can be anything from a bad home life, to simply being jerks because it was how they were raised. Understanding can help because, as one of my favourite sayings goes "the only way to truly destroy and enemy is to make them your friend."
What else I liked about this episode is that we see the CMC maturing physically in some manners. For example, Scootaloo can hover and fly around low to the ground for small periods of time. As well, Sweetie Belle is beginning to grow into her magical abilities. Plus, speaking of our favourite young marshmallow (Sweetie is best CMC!) we actually get to see her parent's house and her ROOM! Apparently, her dad is a sport fisher or something and they live right next to the town's windmill, or at least one of them. So that was nice to see, but I wonder when, if ever, we will get to see Applebloom, AJ and Mac's folks crop up. Unless they're dead... or if they're coming up in the reunion episode. (Applejack-centric? Celestia knows the gal deserves it!)
Now, about Babs Seed. Let me just say that on first viewing, I hated her! If that was what the team was going for, you all did an excellent job because I felt bad about it on some level when I learned the truth. Although she sounds like she is from the Jersey Shore (or whatever the Manehattan equivalent is), she is downright adorable; especially when she is subconsciously hiding her blank flank with her tail. It shows that while she has a tough, big city girl attitude, she is actually quite self-aware of how others see her. In my mind, for the brief amount of time we see her, I think they did a good job characterizing her.
Now, we come to my final thoughts and what are they on the latest CMC episode? Well, I like how they didn't shoe-horn in the Mane Six to be the voice of reason beyond what was necessary and I also liked Babs Seed for being convincing and pretty well-rounded for the screen time she has. I started off disliking the CMC for their simple episodes and simple morals, but they have grown on me as time has passed. Although, the problem still remains in those morals. Don't get me wrong, this episode was good for a CMC one, but in terms with the rest of the show? I find most of them to be a little below par and this is no exception. All of this could have been avoided if they just talked to Applejack and helped Babs out, but then again,, we wouldn't have an episode.
Rating time? Personally, I hate giving numeric values to episodes, but if you can't live without them, I would give this a solid 76/100.
Stay tuned, because tomorrow is Magical Duel where we see the return of everyone's favourite loudmouth: The Great and Powerful Trixie! *Fanfare and fireworks* I look forward to seeing how many fanon interpretations are ruined, my own included! >=D
Until next time, this is Ciroton saying "If it ain't black and white, kick, scratch and bite!"
Ah, another fair review. Seriously, I keep seeing opinions range from one end of the extreme to the other. And then there are those nitwits that keep screaming, "The show is dead! It's jumped the shark! Bring back Lauren Faust!" and other crap like that. I, for one, have had little to no problems with this season so far and no reason to believe that the show has been "ruined". If anything, the creators are taking more chances than ever to keep things interesting.
I need to watch this one again myself, but I did enjoy it. I thought the "Bad Seed" explanation at the end was kinda beating us over the head with the symbolism but other than that, pretty solid episode. Maybe a little preachy in some places but I can live with it.
Oh, YES! I am so pumped for tomorrow! Even though most of the episode has been spoiled for me already (my own fault), I am just bouncing off the walls to see one of my favorite characters make a comeback! Down with the neighsayers!
CANT WAIT
Did you know that "the only way to truly destroy and enemy is to make them your friend." was first said by Abe Lincon? Also looking foward to the episode "Sleeples in Ponyville" because we might actually see Scootaloo's folks or at least her house!
Yeah, I had a set of really mixed feeling about this episode.
But on the other hoof I, so far, kinda disliked how the episode seemed so much like Gilda's. There, too, was a bullying problem discussed, and there, too, it was going to be solved with a party. Needless to say, if that was how the episode ended, it wouldn't even be worth that 76% of your grade. 
But then happened:
Anyway, it drastically changed the way I considered the episode. For the better, of course. 
I could clearly divide it in 3 parts:
1. CMC acting as a cryfillies. I mean, come on! dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/sillyfilly_Sweetie_Belle.png If this was a fanfic it would probably be blasted to oblivion by EqD prereaders for how out of character CMC felt in the first 5-8 minutes of the show. Running away and hiding? Definitely not CMC-style. And Sweetie Belle suggesting to tell Applejack instead of Apple Bloom? AB's her sister for Celetia's sake! (SB kinda forged a special bond with AJ during Sisterhooves Social, though.)
2. The great and powerful revenge. Yeah, I kinda liked this part because that was definitely something CMC would do. So yeah, back to their canon selves, so to speak.
3. The final part - revelation, explanation and so on. So yeah, the episode had two morals: one for the kiddos (tell adults when you're a victim of bullying), and one for more matured audience (pretty much what you wrote: bullies have a reason for doing what they do). Sweetie Belle actually summarized it quite neatly when she said: "Why does life have to be so ironic?" Actually, it kinda felt like Cindy berating herself slightly there, but it may be a little over-interpretation on my part.
Also, the best thing about this episode (if you forgive a shameless self-plug):
[youtube=VUWe4koyREM]
BENDER!
)
Well played Cir,
(get it? Cir instead of sir? You know, like your.... shut up it was funny in my head
The last time anypony destroyed as many head-canons as The Grating and Not-actually-using-her-own-power Trixie is about to, there were any number of petitions begging Hasbro to save her. Anyways, all fanfictions are alternate universes to begin with so if your Trixie is Twilight's only sibling, that's what she is in your world. In my world (pj202718.deviantart.com), Trixie lost her voice after exposure to Poison Joke and spent a year in the Everfree trying to 'save' ponies from Zecora....
Well, made a lot of good points that again, brought up in my own blog review. Though kinda forgot to point out also could've been avoided if Applejack had just been HONEST (I mean, element of honesty? wtf writers?) with the CMC and told them/AB about Babs being bullied back home. What, she didn't trust them or what, if she knows how DT and SS still bully them a bit?
I think, not to mention how someone else pointed out in their review, shouldn't be a bully to a bully in the first place, no matter the circumstance. Plus, some technological references (with the supposed movie theater and motorized vehicles), though didn't notice Scoots flying for longer than normal. 
The twat part?
Yeah, now on to the still boastful and arrogant Trixie! dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Trixie_lolface_2.png And after that, getting a Scoots-centric episode that breaks a lot of fanon! Since Scoots is usually tough girl, might be nice to see her being scared thanks to something Rainbow Dash told, from what I've heard.
>truly destroy and enemy
*an
To be fair the CMC having bad judgement is cannon, so of course they don't talk to AJ about Babs.
556685 Honesty doesn't mean always saying every possible thing you can think of all the time. AJ just hadn't thought to mention it yet. Since she wasn't aware of what was going on she had no reason to. Also she was utterly honest when she did bring it up, not even thinking of hiding it at all. LIke she maybe should have actually. Just randomly telling ponies she was being bullied is possibly a private thing. If anything she was too honest.
566586
But eh, whatever.
dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Luna_apple.png Eh, maybe. Still, doesn't change that also could've been avoided if AJ had told them, so they would understand. Cause I mean, Babs wasn't bad at the BEGINNING, then when those witches Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon started picking on her, she became a bully to avoid getting picked on more like back home.
I've noticed you don't even bother wondering about Scootaloo's parents. WHY DOES EVERYONE ASSUME SHE'S AN ORHPAN!:scootsad: