The End of Apathy Pony

The End of Apathy Pony

You'd think I'd have something a little more grand or sentimental to say about the end of what is essentially the gig that ended up as the turning point in my career as a writer-- we'd both be wrong.

It's been about 6 months since the last review, and in that time I've been forced to focus my efforts elsewhere, mainly out of necessity since there were other, more urgent matters to attend to. That said, this blog has always been in my thoughts. I've come back to it today to post the last of my MLP reviews.

A Canterlot Wedding: Part 1

From the MLP Wikia: "A Canterlot Wedding - Part 1 is the twenty-fifth episode of the second season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and the fifty-first overall. It is the first half of a two-part season finale. Twilight Sparkle grapples with her conflicted feelings when she finds out her brother, Shining Armor, is marrying Princess Celestia's niece, Princess Cadance. Twilight also begins to suspect that Cadance has changed since their childhood."

These are probably the kinds of episodes they should have been putting out at the start. Everything looks as good as it ever did, but the real bright spot of this episode is the story. Pretty much everything is set up to make Twilight appear to be overreacting to the entire situation, but of note is the scene where Twilight is trying to explain that Cadence is kind of a bitch now.

All of Twilight's friends come up with plausible explanations for her shitty behavior. They actually had me wondering who's side to take for a little bit, and even though things played out the way I expected, that feeling goes a long way with me for anything.

The episode ends on a suspenseful note, I've got my fingers crossed for the conclusion to wrap things up just as satisfactorily as they started.

A Canterlot Wedding: Part 2 

From the MLP Wikia: "A Canterlot Wedding - Part 2 is the twenty-sixth episode of the second season ofMy Little Pony Friendship is Magic and the fifty-second episode overall. It is the second episode in a two-part season finale. Shining Armor and Princess Cadance are set to be married, but Queen Chrysalis has a devious plan to ruin Shining Armor's happily ever after and the future of Equestria."

The conclusion to A Canterlot Wedding was about what I expected, but the way it got there was as well done as anything in the series has ever been. Queen Chrysalis is probably the biggest enemy that the ponies have had to face since Discord, and her power is not to be trifled with. The first part had me wondering if Cadence was even who she said she was, but it was handled with subtlety right up until the reveal, so all credit where that's due. 

The sequence at the end was pretty and gorgeously animated, this show never really stopped impressing me with what they could squeeze out of Flash. On the whole, I feel like this episode's greatest flaw is the fact that it wasn't longer. There was a good opportunity here to expand on a couple things, but what it got done in the time allotted is nothing to sneeze at. Of course, they always could have cut some of the songs, but that's a personal bias anyone who's been reading this far will have seen coming. 

Overall? Stakes, character development, those are all things that can get me to pay attention, and A Canterlot Wedding managed to do that more than most episodes. Good job.

The Crystal Empire: Part 1

From the MLP Wikia: "The Crystal Empire - Part 1 is the first episode of the third season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and the fifty-third episode overall.^[2] It is the first half of a two-part episode. In this episode, a curse that caused an empire to vanish for a thousand years has finally ended. Princess Celestiaorders Twilight Sparkle and her friends to help defend the newly awakened Empire against King Sombra, the evil unicorn who had cursed the empire."

See, instead of bullshit like Over A Barrel, we could have been getting episodes like this. I don't know what season 4 is like, and I have no intention whatsoever of watching it, but what they did in this episode? THEY NEED TO KEEP DOING IT. The wacky hi-jinks? Plot relevant! Everyone had something to do (although it was the same something), there were stakes, mystery-- All that? Every episode. Not just when you need some forum fodder between seasons because you know that merchandising getting on and off shelves isn't an issue-- Every. Episode.

And I noticed this earlier, but it's incredibly telling that the deus ex machina jewels from the pilot are basically kept in a box until shit gets real, just sayin'...

But yeah, the cliffhanger had at least 3 different things go wrong for the protagonists, and I legitimately though, "Well...shit. How are they gonna get out of this one?"

Not bad, show, let's see if you can bring it to a close...

The Crystal Empire: Part 2

From the MLP WIkia: "The Crystal Empire - Part 2 is the second episode of the third season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic and the fifty-fourth episode overall. It is the second episode of a two-parter which begins the season. In this episode, Twilight Sparkle and Spike search for the Crystal Heart while their friends try to protect the Crystal Faire from King Sombra."

...They fuckin' did it.

You know, I'm glad I can end my time with this series on a positive note. For any issues one may take with aspects of the fandom, the show itself can and does entertain on all fronts occasionally.  The second part of The Crystal Empire built on what was established in the first part while also bringing suspense to a crescendo and resolving the crisis in a way that was unexpected but the result of a logical chain of events.

I mean, I'm not trying to say that the show should be joyless-- as much as I bitch about the songs, I say that only to voice it as an issue I take with why I wouldn't watch this show on a regular basis-- not gonna lie, I totally skipped any and all songs. Fuck 'em.

But if that's your thing? By all means, enjoy; I say that not as giving permission (because i'm not arrogant enough to assume that you need mine or anyone's), but because it would be hypocritical of me as someone who watched Powerpuff Girls and Sailor Moon devotedly, and the latter to this day.

One more to go, let's end it right. 

Magical Mystery Cure

From the MLP Wikia:"Magical Msystery Cure is the thirteenth episode of the third season of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. It aired as the final episode of the third season^[3] and the sixty-fifth episode overall. It is the first episode to feature Twilight Sparkle as an Alicorn and the last episode to take place before the spin-off film My Little Pony Equestria Girls.^[4]

In this episode, Twilight Sparkle accidentally switches her friends' destinies and tries to fix them. By doing so, she becomes an Alicorn princess. The title of the episode alludes to the album Magical Mystery Tour, by the Beatles. The episode features a total of seven songs, the most songs in a single episode so far, breaking the previous record of four set by A Friend in Deed."

*sigh*...

Too many songs, princess of what, and why? I really don't know what was supposed to be the point of this episode, but ut was constantly referencing other episodes in what I assume were earlier in the season. The fact that I'm complaining about this means that they at least took more care to reward people who care about continuity. While I applaud that, I still don't much care about MLP-- even the revelation that Twilight Sparkle was in training to become a princess is something that I have no investment in finding out the answers to.

For a final episode, it's a great jumping off point. I feel like I've seen enough of the show to determine that while it's well made and genuinely entertaining when running on all cylinders, it's just not for me.

And that's okay.

- Apathy pony

A message from management

When I commissioned Ash to start this blog more than a year ago, I did so partially with the hope of making him a fan of this series but primarily it was to give him experience with writing on a consistent basis and develop a style.  I knew he wanted to be a writer but lacked experience in actually having to write something for clients with their own criteria and guidelines for what they wanted.  I'm happy with the articles he's written and podcasts we've recorded for this blog but the undeniable elephant in the room was that this show (MLP) simply doesn't suit his tastes.  To paraphrase his own words: he agrees that it is a very well made show, promotes good messages and can certainly understand the show's appeal and why so many people like it, it just isn't for him.  As a huge fan of the series, I can totally respect that and agree that it wouldn't be fun to force him to talk about something he's not really getting anything out of.  He has agreed to finish reviewing the remaining 2-part episodes since those are really the only ones with major series plot development. On a much more positive note, I am delighted that working on this blog has motivated him to branch out into freelance writing and reviewing.  You can continue to read his articles and support him at his brand new site at <www.ashfreeman.net>

S02 E03: "Lesson Zero" and S02 E04: "Luna Eclipsed"

Yes, this blog is still a thing! I know it's been a while, but I've been swamped with many, many other projects. Fortunately, things will be continuing, just in a new form: podcasts!

Instead of having to sift through walls and walls of text, you can find out how I feel about the rest of Season 2 and 3 of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic by listening to Adam and I watch the episode and provide blind commentary for each one. To kick things off, we have not one, but two episodes for your listening pleasure:

S02 E03 "Lesson Zero"

Click here to listen!

S02 E04 "Luna Eclipsed"

Click here to listen!

See you next week for S02 E05 "Sisterhooves Social"!

- Apathy Pony

S02 E02: "The Return of Harmony - Part 2"

S02 E02: "The Return of Harmony - Part 2"

Still a thing, these blogs! Life has been, fittingly enough, chaotic. The rollercoaster that has been the last week or so for me finally stopped long enough for me to watch the finale of the second season's 2-part opening episode. How was it?

It was a'ight.

 

Story goes about how you'd expect. The not-Twilight Sparkle  ponies who are also not Rainbow Dash fight amongst themselves, and Twilight finds the Elements of Harmony while trying to reign them in.  Twilight gets her own personality edit from Discord, and her Soul Gem turns into a Grief Seed-- I mean she turns gray in despair and abandons her friends and her Element as she prepares to leave Ponyville FOREVER TEARS AND TEARS AND TEARS YOU GUYS, SO SAD

Just as she's about to leave, Spike announces that Princess Celestia has spammed her inbox to the point of indigestion-- Celestia has been forwarding Twilight every letter about friendship she ever wrote, and reading them turns her back to normal. Twilight undoes her friends' brainwashing with MOTHERFUCKING FRIENDSHIP, They gather before Discord's throne in the center of  Ponyville brandishing their Elements and declare their intent to leave a crater where he once stood because they all enjoy each other's company that much.

Q as chimera-dragon scoffs at this and tells them to take their best shot.

 

RAINBOWS

And then Discord is a statue again. Star Wars reference because holy shit we have a periphery demographic, and roll credits.

Life changing? No.
Hilarious? No.
Amusing? Once or twice.

 

Over all pretty solid. The animation at the end where they go Captain Planet on Discord was good in particular, but based on other episodes, they could have done more with it. Rarity's reaction to having lugged a giant boulder around like a fool caused the sole chuckles. As a conclusion it works well, and the story as a whole was a good way to open. The characters are certainly more likeable than in the Season 1 opener, that's for sure.

S'about it! See you next time for, like, a few episodes all at once.

-Apathy Pony

S02 E01 : "The Return of Harmony" Part 1

   

Oops, I accidentally took a break! No, seriously, it was accidental. I was planning to do this one last week, but I ended up having to postpone it because of work-related exhaustion. But I'm back now, and ready to watch MLP until my eyes bleed (not really)!

The title indicates that we might actually see, and get this, THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY! You know, the things that saved the day in the pilot and were never seen again for no particular reason? I vaguely remember these two episodes because Adam was watching the premier at the time while I was probably playing a video game or something, I dunno.

The only thing that I clearly recall is that John De Lancie had a role as the villain Discord, which was basically Q as a tiny lil' dragon-thing. I love me some John De Lancie as Q...but how did he fare as Discord? We shall see...

S02 E01: "The Return of Harmony - Part 1"

As if the CMC weren't generally annoying enough, their "antics" went and awakened an ancient evil! Lovely. Discord is implied to have been freed by their negativity, and after the credits we see Ponyville assaulted by chocolate milk storms from candy cotton clouds, Applejack's trees wither and her corn pops into popcorn,  while Fluttershy's animals mutate and go all Biblical plague on Applejack's crops. The six ponies cooperate to stop the chaos, and are immediately summoned by Princess Celestia to Canterlot. 

Once there, she explains who Discord is and how he was stopped last time with The Elements of Harmony by Celestia and Luna. Turns out they were sealed away in the castle after the pilot episode, and that would have been great to know earlier so I wouldn't have spent time bitching about it. Celestia assigns the main 6 to track down Discord and seal him away again since they're the ones currently linked to the Elements...or she would have if they hadn't been stolen. 

Turns out, surprise, Discord took them. He demonstrates that he knows who the main 6 are, and he's decided to have a little fun with them by making them find the Elements. He gives a cryptic clue that Twilight Sparkle deciphers to mean that the Elements are hidden in Canterlot's hedge maze. The six take off, and just before they enter the maze, Discord takes their wings and horns to make sure that none of them use their natural abilities to cheat.

They enter the maze anyway, and Discord seperates them by summoning new walls into the maze. Twilight tells the others to regroup in the center, which everyone agrees to sans Fluttershy, who is too busy freaking the fuck out. Applejack is lead down her path by some apples which turn into living piles of apples. They taunt AJ by showing her a vision of the six ending their friendship, breaking her spirit. This gives Discord the opening he needs to brainwash her. When she is reunited with Twilight, she lies about what happened.

 Pinkie Pie is up next, and Discord convinces her that her friends laugh at her, not with her. Once she's distraught, Discord takes the opportunity to force her under his thrall, just before she's found by Twilight and AJ. This continues with the remaining ponies; Discord appeals to Rarity's greed by making her think she's found a giant diamond, Fluttershy is so good natured and resistant that he just cuts the shit and straight up brainwashes her out of frustration, and Rainbow Dash is tricked into flying away from the maze after being shown the destruction of Cloudsdale.

With that, the game is over-- Dash technically broke the rules by flying away. Discord declares victory and says that a new age of chaos will reign throughout Equestria!

OMG THEY'RE FUCKED

 

So what did you think?

Um...wow...this one was good! Like, legit entertaining! I haven't liked an episode this much since A Dog and Pony Show. I actually laughed more than once, out loud. Them's is LOLs, fuckers! 

There were quite a few humorous moments stemming from character interaction, and while that isn't doing much to make me give a shit about the non-Rarity ponies, they are at least entertaining to watch in this episode. Discord himself I was indifferent to, but that's because John De Lancie's performance was about what I was expecting. They have reached the lowest of bars once again, which is to say that I wasn't bored. I sincerely hope that bar is raised at some point.

"Hold on a second! Eternal chaos comes with chocolate rain!"

  Worth it. 

The animation was good, and there was one moment in particular where Discord reveals himself in a stained-glass window that was very well done. Backgrounds, facial expressions, all as good as usual. Say what you will about the show (I sure fucking do), but it ain't ugly, and this premier episode was a reminder of that.

Overall, it's a great start to the season, and I'm going into the next episode A LOT less apprehensive than I've been since The Episode That Shall Not Be Named. Don't fuck it up, show!

- Apathy Pony

Season 1 Wrap-Up

  

Season 1 Wrap-Up

Man, it has taken so long to get here. Partially my fault, but...eh. Anyway, I finished the entire first season of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Over the course of season one, my opinion was mostly consistent, then a later...episode...kinda crushed my lil' reviewer's spirit. It wasn't easy to get back on the horse, so to speak, but I powered through and finished it. So where does that leave my feelings about the show now? Well, that's below the break. 

S01 E26: "The Best Night Ever"

S01 E26: "The Best Night Ever"

FUCKING FINALLY

Oh my God, it's been a whole fucking year as of this writing [ED Note: April 4th], but I've finally, finally finished the first season. It's been a long road getting here, and that's mostly due to procrastination, so I hope you weren't expecting something inspirational or some shit.

 

As for "The Best Night Ever?" It was good! Good. Even the intro teaser was jam-packed with sight gags, mostly related to the fact that the entire main cast and most people in Equestria are, in fact, goddamn horses. At one point I was wondering if this episode was actually produced earlier in the season and the producers realized that they kinda blew their cleverness wad early, thus choosing to move "The Best Night Ever" to serve as a season finale instead of after "The Ticket Master". Probably just me, but that would have made more sense thematically. 

 

Speaking of continuity, there is a metric fuck-ton of it in this episode. There was a musical number that irritated me, but even that was basically an extended screed about the main cast's primary motivations that were established throughout the series. And to top it off, they were wearing their gowns that Rarity designed way back in "Suited for Success"

FOR THE LOVE OF THE DIETY OF YOUR CHOICE, KEEP FUCKING DOING THAT

 

The entire premise of the episode centers around the Hexa-ponies going to the Grand Galloping Gala. Each of them have expectations of how exactly the night will be awesome for them personally while Spike tries and fails to encourage them to spend their time in Canterlot with them. Of course, they don't get what they want, quite the opposite in fact. The episode goes through the usual montage thing of each ponies whatever is going on in the episode, but Fluttershy's attempts at trying to charm the animals and Pinkie Pie's annoying attempts to spice up the festivities were the only sequences that are actually remotely funny. 

All of this culminates in the Gala being ruined by their trying-too-hard. Twilight is mortified about it and worried that Princess Celestia will have them drawn and quartered (not really, but HA! if she would have), and of course Celestia is all amused and shit. Barely anything phases her and i'm starting to wonder if her horn is made out of magic Prozac.

 

Final Thoughts

Overall, as I said earlier, a GOOD episode. Not great, not life changing, but genuinely entertaining at times, though not consistently. All I can really say that is this is any indication of what the show will be like next season,  with continued improvement, it's looking good for it's chances of me finding it to be legitimately entertaining instead of anywhere between watchable and eye-gougingly terrible. 

See you next time for the Season 1 Wrap-Up!

- Apathy Pony