Episode Re-Review: Rarity Investigates · 10:52pm May 2nd, 2021
Sure didn't take long for Canterlot Carousel to become relevant, and with our first proper RariDash episode to boot. However, the writers were a bit of a concern. Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco were on tap here, and their only prior result had been "Castle, Sweet Castle" which had been a dud. Fortunately, they weren't doing it alone this time. They had help on the story from both Meghan McCarthy and M. A. Larson, kind of odd that both were pitching in but I guess neither had the time to fully assist. Both Meghan and Larson had good track records, they'd worked together with Scott Sonneborn to bring out "The Cutie Map" to start Season 5 off on a high note. So maybe they were up to the task of helping Lewis and Songco improve? Well, let's find out.
The episode begins with Rarity setting up a display modeled after her favorite detective work, Shadow Spade. However, just as she gets it set up Rainbow Dash comes barging in, knocking the whole display down. As the display is fixed we get exposition confirming that Rainbow is the reserve member who's been called up with the Wonderbolts slated to perform in Canterlot the next day. She's only to fly if a team member is unable to perform for any reason, but she still gets to stay in a castle suite and gets to bring along a guest to which Rarity is happy to oblige. Yet we then get a mostly pointless scene of Rarity charming a male post worker into correcting a shipping error for her. It's meant to establish what Sassy comments on, Rarity being able to sweet talk others into doing anything. But it really just seems to involve the same kind of thing from "The Best Night Ever" of Rarity using her looks to make stallions do things for her because she's pretty. It's just stereotypical and cliche.
Later, Rarity is with Rainbow Dash when she catches whiff of a rather pleasant scent that she believes is "Juniper Phoenix". This leads into the introduction of Wind Ryder, a never before mentioned Wonderbolt who is coming out of retirement to perform at the ceremony tomorrow. And it just so happens that Rainbow Dash is close to breaking his record. You can tell already what's going to happen because of that. We do briefly get a scene of Rainbow spilling punch on Rarity's dress and Rarity mentioning that it's almost impossible to get stains out of clothing, before revealing that she came prepared for just such a fashion emergency. Then, we see that Rainbow and Spitfire are occupying the same wing of the castle, though in separate rooms. Next day, Rarity is putting sunscreen on Rainbow's face when Soarin shows up, informing Rainbow that Spitfire had to leave to take care of her sick mother. And therefore, Rainbow is the replacement.
A little later, Rarity is watching from the stands when a pegasus mare shows up. She's soon revealed to be Stormy Flare, Spitfire's mother. And not only is she not sick, but she claims she never actually sent a letter. Soarin begins to suspect something is up, and Wind Ryder suggests that someone sent Spitfire away. Immediately, suspicion falls on Rainbow Dash since she's the only one with a motive. Of course, she claims she's innocent but the other Wonderbolts harp on her. Some complain about this, but keep in mind that the Wonderbolts are at the very least professional athletes. Professionals do have protocols in place for when foul play is suspected. And it's not uncommon for public officials to be placed on leave until an independent investigation can be undertaken to determine guilt or innocence. And Soarin does give Rainbow a chance to clear her name before the show, with this episode thus confirming that he's second in command of the Wonderbolts. However, Rainbow isn't sure how she's gonna prove that she didn't send the letter. But Rarity, clad in a detective outfit modeled after Shadow Spade, offers to take the case.
The first stop is of course the scene of the crime, with Rarity providing inner monologues about what she's doing. She soon detects a scent on the letter but doesn't say outright what it is. She then notices hairs from a rainbow colored mane and puts them in a bag. She then notices that the nearby drapes are out of place, but the next real development is to question the guards on duty the night before. They insist that they stood guard the whole night and no one entered or exited their wing besides Rainbow and Spitfire, and Rainbow tries to play bad cop to make them talk. However, Rarity insists on playing good cop and turns up the charm. This is enough to get the guards to confess that someone sent a cake to them. And thinking it was a reward, they accepted it. And it was a very specific cake too, one made at a specific shop in town.
So Rarity takes Rainbow to visit the shop the cake came from and interviews the shop owner. She testifies to a pony ordering the cake last night, but they had a raspy voice and wore a trench coat to hide their face. The voice sounded just like Rainbow Dash, but Rainbow doesn't remember visiting the shop which should at least raise suspicion about her guilt. The detail about a scarf proves to be interesting, but Rainbow groans and complains that Rarity has been more interested in changing costumes and talking about fashion than actually trying to solve the crime. Rarity doesn't reply to this, instead opting to return to the stadium and immediately identify Wind Ryder as the culprit.
Wind Ryder of course denies his involvement as even Rainbow Dash can't believe Rarity would accuse him. However, Rarity reveals through the items she found and the ponies she talked to what she was really doing all along. She noticed the scent of Juniper Phoenix on the letter, the hairs didn't fall out they were cut, the drapes were out of place because someone hid behind them and the guards were briefly distracted by a cake. The clue that confirms Wind Ryder is the guilty party though, is a chocolate stain on his scarf since he's been wearing it differently.
Despite the fact that he's not been directly implicated yet, Wind Ryder confesses to his crime. Why'd he do it? Simple, he didn't want Rainbow Dash to ever break his record so he figured he'd get her kicked out. Rainbow then has to more or less state for the third time that the Wonderbolts are better than this, that they look out for each other. And yeah, it gets a bit repetitive and doesn't exactly make the Wonderbolts look good if stuff like this keeps happening, it makes it look like they have a toxic culture even though some of them try to argue otherwise. However, Rainbow doesn't want to take Spitfire's place because of Wind Ryder's sabotage, so she flies off to get Spitfire and manages to bring her back in time (likely breaking Wind Ryder's record anyhow). And Spitfire sounds a bit off here, kind of deeper than normal. I'm not sure if Kelly Metzeger was just under the weather or was directed differently. It's still her Spitfire voice, but it sounds a touch more masculine than it probably should.
There is an attempt at a moral as Rainbow apologizes to Rarity for doubting her, which just feels like the episode forgot it had to have a moral and hastily tacked one on. But Spitfire decides to have Rainbow replace Wind Ryder and kick him out of the Wonderbolts instead, probably erasing all his records as a result. It's a shame that he's never seen again from here, kind of think he and Lightning Dust could've teamed up.
So in a way, Rainbow gets to achieve her dream of flying with the Wonderbolts, which does kind of undercut her becoming an official Wonderbolt next season (but we'll get to that when we get to that). Meanwhile, we get an ending joke about how Rarity's inner monologues aren't exactly private. But I guess providing your own narration isn't weird. What would be weird is if you did your own theme song.
And that's the story, so what do I think of the episode? Well, it is a better mystery than "MMMystery on the Friendship Express" because that one sought to build tension by not letting Pinkie Pie (and by extension the audience since it was from her perspective) see the clues. This one does let us see the clues, but it still tries to build tension by having Rarity not explain anything to Rainbow Dash about her findings even though she's well aware how worried her friend is. Heck, she flat out ignores Rainbow berating her for apparently fixating on costume changes and just goes straight to accusing Wind Ryder because the evidence points to him. She admits that it was all a gamble, that she couldn't be sure until she saw the scarf but it was a pretty big risk that she never consulted Rainbow Dash on. It was nice to see Canterlot Carousel and Sassy Saddles again, and Sassy definitely made for a better supporting character playing off of Rarity here. The Wonderbolts could've been written a little bit better since not one of them seems willing to give Rainbow even the benefit of the doubt when she says she's innocent, the closest we get is Soarin giving Rainbow a chance to clear her name. In fact, Soarin really proves his character here of how some fans call him "The only Wonderbolt who isn't an asshole", and I think it shows him a lot better than "The Best Night Ever" and "Rainbow Falls" where he was kind of a butt monkey. Wind Ryder's motive though is one I've seen way too often to take seriously anymore, it's even more cliche than the Scooby-Doo formula of trying to scare others away. Rarity definitely carries this episode, though Rainbow Dash is given moments to shine. She and Rarity play off each other really well, a lot better than the next time they'd get paired up. So ultimately, I'm willing to give this episode a B+.
So now it was time for the second of three map missions, one that would also try to do the "Two episodes occurring at the same time" trope after Season 3's attempt fell flat. And it was an Applejack and Rarity episode (which meant that in terms of air date Rarity got three focus episodes back to back, perhaps making up for her not getting one in Season 3) in the form of "Made in Manehattan". It's one with an interesting development story, which may explain why the finished product may not be all that memorable.
This is definitely my favorite of the Rarity trilogy that started season 5's second half, not so much for the noir stuff, but for Dash's reactions to Rarity's antics.
So much like Castle Mane-ia where you said Twilight dismissing Spike was worse than Rarity dismissing Fluttershy, would I be correct in saying you think Twilight withholding information from Pinkie in MMMystery on the Friendship Express is worse than Rarity withholding information from Rainbow Dash in this episode?
5511342 Yes. At least Rarity eventually explained her methods, whereas Twilight never once even bothered to give Pinkie one.
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So why'd that get an A? This episode is much better, it's more unique, and had a better dynamic, and I'd argue this is funnier but that's debatable.
5511449 I had more fun with that episode than this one despite the former clearly being a filler episode. This one kind of got unpleasant to watch at times and Wind Ryder's motivation was so cliche and petty, plus it felt like they just tacked on a moral because they needed to have one.
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Wind Ryder's motivation may've been petty but is that really a bad thing?Also I don't know what you mean by the episode being unpleasant other than that. Every moment of Noir Rarity was pure gold, and the interactions were soooo much fun, that it more than makes up for any shortcomings it may have.