My Thoughts On Season 5 · 9:09pm Apr 18th, 2015
I'm kinda pissed at myself for not thinking of this two weeks ago, when Season 5 actually started, but better late than never. I'll be posting these every Saturday after I've seen the episode myself, for the two of you who care about what I have to say about it. So, starting with the premiere and working our way forward, here are my thoughts on Season 5 (so far)
Oh, and there will be spoilers. You have been warned.
The Cutie Map- I didn't know how Season 5 was gonna start, but I did know that it was going to be great. It certainly set the tone for the core episodes of this season, going for a more dire vibe than earlier seasons did. The Cutie Map, also known as Cutie Markless, was downright creepy, with a town of ponies who, simply put, should not exist the way they do. The smiles, the Cutie Marks, the song! Oh, lord, the song! In Our Town had some of the darkest, grimmest, creepiest lyrics I've ever heard, kid's show or otherwise. "We don't have to wait/To find out that our destiny/Is just to emulate", "Our Cutie Marks the same/Because we do not separate/Ourselves by more than name", and, my personal favorite, "We work as a team/You can't have a nightmare/If you never dream". Daniel Ingram proving himself to be a man of many lyrics, eh? Same guy who wrote the lyrics for the EG songs, right? Yeah, totally different tone.
I also appreciate that there was this tiny little subplot of tolerance. Most of the girls were quick to shun and judge, but Fluttershy was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. It was a tiny thing, but I think it's something that more people need to learn. Just because you don't live that way, or you don't understand the lifestyle, does not make it okay to shun, judge, mock, or otherwise disrespect it.
Another little thing that I loved: The Mane 6 don't save the day! This is the only episode I can think of where our heroes didn't really do much of anything. Sure, you can argue that Spike saved the Crystal Empire, or that Cadance and Shining beat Chrysalis, but the Mane 6 did something to help. Here, they were heroes in a more realistic way. They gave the people the power to save themselves. Another great thing I think everybody should learn, not just kids. You don't need powers to be a hero. Sometimes, all it takes is one normal person to change the world.
Overall, I would rate this episode at 9 out of 10. It was a solid lesson, a good setting, creepy atmosphere. I just really don't like how they just up and let Starlight get away. For shame, Princess Twilight.
Castle Sweet Castle- Sticking with the trend of a serious premier that sets the scene followed by a lighter episode, Castle Sweet Castle has no reference to the map. This episode is all about Twilight Sparkle joining the thousands of bronies who despise her new castle. I totally sympathize with our favorite alicorn princess; I myself have moved around quite a bit, so I know what it's like to be forced into an uncomfortable new environment. I was all up for it... until the song began. It wasn't bad, but it was... kinda undercooked, I think is what I'd call it. And then the girls started getting super petty and they were bickering over the dumbest thing when they all really should've known better. That awkward moment when Spike, literally a BABY is one of the most mature characters in the episode.
Overall, this episodes gets a rating of 5 out of 10. Underdeveloped song, stupid, out of character behavior, and a rather salvaging ending is what gives this episode its score. I appreciate the song being led by RD, that's always nice, and the chandelier is fantastic and kinda Xzibit-y. "Yo, Twilight, it's your boy X-to-the-Z, I came to pimp your crib. Dawg, I heard you liked your ol tree, so we put yo tree in yo tree so you can look at yo tree while in yo tree."
Bloom and Gloom- And, recovering from the rockiness of the last episode, Bloom and Gloom starts out with Best Crusader telling the others that Other Best Crusader got her Cutie Mark! Good for you, Babs! Then, the story gets kinda deep. Applebloom starts to freak herself out about, surprise, her Cutie Mark (or lack thereof). This episode actually brought up one of my weird, existential thoughts I have about life in Equestria: What if you get you Cutie Mark and you hate it? What if you're Cutie Mark is of a loaf of bread, implying you should be a baker, but you're allergic to yeast? Or, and this would be my biggest fear of living in a place like Equestria, what if your destiny is taken? Like, say my Cutie Marks is of a six-inch sub, cause I make really good sandwiches. Now, that's all I can do. My job is now to make sandwiches until the day I die. What happens if I live in a place that already has a sandwich maker? Hm? HM?!?!
Anyway, Applebloom's Edgar Allen Poe/Inception sequence was fun to watch. She dealt with Diamond Tiara fairly well in her dream, though I would've called her something a little more abrasive than "The Worst". Her dreams were really getting to her, to the point where I feel Luna is kinda cruel for letting it go on as long as it did. That said, it was nice to see Luna come out and finally put an end to Applebloom's fears. She was so relieved to see her friends in the dreamscape, and they solved their problems in the best possible way: They talked about it. It was a really deep, meaningful episode, and I was honestly kind of surprised at how long the dream thing went on. It was good set up for payout in the form of a great lesson: Don't hold yourself back. Don't let your own fears stop you from grabbing what you want in life.
Overall, I give this episode 8 out of 10. Smart, a bit on the edgy side, and bonus points for a flying Scootaloo in the dreamscape. Finally, Luna pulls the hat trick and talks to all 3 of the Crusaders. Can we officially add "Princess of Children" to Luna's list of titles? Cause I think that's pretty accurate.
P.S. Next week's post won't be so long. I just needed to catch up.
P.P.S Look out for LBS on Monday, at latest.
