by Frosthawk (?) » Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:44 am
Finally got to watch this episode when it reran at 3:30 today on the Hub. I would say it's a great episode, but something just felt a teensy-bit off.
I was hoping this would be a lot like Sisterhooves Social, and to an extent it was, but it didn't quite reach that level. Another thing that was interesting was that, in SS, I was strongly sympathizing with Sweetie Bell, whereas in this episode I was totally feeling for Rarity. I actually thought that was an interesting little progression. In Sisterhooves Social, SB causes trouble with child-like innocence overall well-meaning-ness, which is what made me sympathize with her. Here she seems a lot more like an adolescent, which would naturally happen to a kid as they grow up - it's almost character growth, in a way. So while I think Sweetie Bell was waaayyyy ungrateful (I mean, I saw why she was mad, but come on), I think that was overall a good thing for her character and the episode.
I also loved the ending sequences - Sweetie Bell warming back up to Rarity was just so sweet to see, and it cast Rarity in such a good light. I also liked how the ending wasn't one final punchline like it usually is, but ended on a sweet moment. That almost seemed jarring at first, but that's just cause I'm so used to the Scooby Doo endings.
The kind of "off" factor in all of this was basically Luna. I'm still not too big on her "stalking children's dreams" trope, and in this episode it seemed particularly egregious. I guess she has nothing better to do? It just sort of gave the whole episode this Christmas Carol-esque mystical tone which I think distracted from the more slice-of-life sentiments this episode handled really well.
Oh, and I really like Sapphire Shores, which other episode was she in again?
Also did I watch it incorrectly or was Fluttershy the only other member of the main six that got standalone lines in this episode? That's kind of a diversion from the norm.
Last edited by Frosthawk on Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:46 am, edited 1 time in total.