MysticMind89

Applejack episodes usually tend to be the simpler episodes, even by slice of life format, which is not by any means a bad thing, it just means we have to set our expectations to a more mundane story that may not have fantasy heavy elements like the other members of the Mane Six will have. We know how AJ and Big mac are the two ponies who handle the vast majority of work around the farm, and so it is to be expected that with such a dedicated work ethic, AJ is a pony who very much comes off as a workaholic. This can be good, but it can also be unhealthy, although it seems to be that Rarity is wanting AJ to relax more out of her own desires to spend time with a friend than any health reasons.

Which, again, isn't necessarily bad. AJ has made allot of promises she couldn't keep, and being self employed on top of stubborn makes it so she still doesn't care much for getting help. What is interesting is that it's hard, if not impossible, for her turn off her practical handy mare senses. Due to her stubborn nature, if there is an obvious problem to be fixed, she cannot resist getting involved to fix it herself!

This is where the episode gives me mixed feelings. We see how easily Applejack figures out the contradictory circular reasoning of the Spa staff (which seem to be quite under staffed for such an establishment), but she isn't able to realize how unnecessary the full extent of her own routines are when it comes to farm work. It helps that Rarity was able to see her dedication to fixing unnecessary problems, but to me it feels like she was hit with the idiot stick in order to learn a lesson that wasn't really a problem for her before. It shows a lack of understanding of the characters when you have to contradict a character trait in order to create conflict and drive the story forward.

Yet at the same time, I don't see this as big enough a flaw to really make the episode bad. It was entertaining seeing Applejack dramatically put on her tool belt, as well as to see Twilight trying to go through the over complicated list because AJ laid out the very specific order. Twilight is usually the one to make situations over complicated, but in this case, she was simply following orders due to her ignorance on the subject of farming!

This makes for good comedy and entertainment, and it could be justified that Applejack's stuborness means she doesn't realize why she's contradicting herself. But this episode just needed this little extra justification to solidify the conflict and fully realize the depths of these characters that other writers have come to show. And honestly, I would also like an episode that further shows Rainbow Dash's feminine side! It was nice that aside from a little light smirking, Rarity and Applejack were still happy to spend time relaxing with spa treatments with her. I give this episode a first impressions rating of a B+.

After the bore fest for me that was the previous episode, I am so glad to see another comedic episode of MLP get things right back on track! With Rarity's perfectionism, she is prone to perhaps be a little too picky with how her work space environment would be, leading to perhaps a bit of a nightmare when it comes to doing up her new shop in an effort to make it presentable on its opening day.

This could have easily turned into a Ponyville Confidential 2.0, but the framing device of a review based on interviews from the Mane Six is more of a method of setting up the comedy, contrasting Rarity's expectations with how each of the Mane Six express how they had an uphill battle trying to get everything done correctly. All of these are accurate recounts from their points of view, but the worry here is that there will be a big amount of media spin to portray Rarity's operations in a negative light.

The none linear format allows for excellent comedic timing in setting up how everyone reacts to the scenario difficulty, while always using the best qualities from everypony, without exaggerating their flaws in the process. This is all tied together with some fantastic visual gags and the occasional reference, both to pop culture and fandom memes, that never break the immersion of the world in the process. 

While some may be put off by the formulaic format, which in fairness does at a shade of predictability to how things turn out, I find that it's very effective considering how this episode represents, in spectacular fashion, how the show has grown to be able to present it's morals and lessons in a none direct way. Rarity trusted her friends to help her in a way that would best work to her standards, but never asked too much of her friends or was entirely unreasonable in her demands. Instead of trying to work to a perfect standard, Rarity's friends all focus on achieving their goals through compromise and working outside of the box. 

When we all make the best of a bad situation and work with others to reach a middle ground where everyone is happy, we can achieve much more than just trying to do everything in an my way or the high way fashion! This is an episode that should entertain fans of all ages, as well as giving kids as brilliant lesson to take away, as all the best episodes do! I give this episode a first impressions rating of a straight A.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a big Rainbow Dash fanboy. She has by far and away gotten the most development over the course of the show, which often directly ties in to how she makes the Wonderbolts better through her own moral code.

However Newbie Dash was a big step backwards in terms of this overall development. But honestly? It mostly isn't Dash's fault. The Wonderbolts simply are reverting to Rainbow Falls level of mean spiritedness! The key moment that sent this episode on a Downward spiral was Dash's flashback to her childhood where she was teased mercilessly as "Rainbow Crash".

The fact that even the teacher was laughing only further shows how this trauma effects Dash, along with the faces of the Wonderbolts who call her this name imply a strong attitude of malice.

Rainbow's unrelenting focus to try and overcome this nickname clearly only hinders her further in actually learning all the moves for the stunt routine, which leads into the most cringe worthy moments of the episode.

As opposed to actually TELLING Spitfire directly that this nickname triggers her, she goes on to try and imitate the personalities of each of her friends. This was funny when it was a one time gag in Lost Kingdom of Griffonstone, but in this episode it's so obvious that it's not going to work and only annoy her comrades, further adding fuel to the fire instead of demonstrating her skills that I actually considered skipping several minutes in order to avoid it!

There are some positives in this episode, such as Dash's excitement at finally becoming an official Wonderbolt member, as well as how her friends, including the CMCs, support her and actually acknowledge that the nickname hurts her.

But this is so overshadowed by the terrible moral that Dash should just accept this nickname as it's part of the Wonderbolt's social clique where nicknames are given by beginners mistakes. This contradicts all the none visual cues given earlier in the episode, and serves no useful purpose when it comes to focusing on stunt flying!

The drive to improve in tasks that require concentration and finess can be achieved without mockery! The ignorance of the Wonderbolts is astounding! First Impressions Grade: D.

This is an episode that gives me mixed feelings. In principle, I like that Trixie is getting more development while acknowledging how both her and Starlight have reputations that people don't forget so easily. This kind of continuity makes the setting believable on a basic level, while also giving characters room to grow beyond basic archetypes. We can be re-assured that even with a general reformation of morals and ideals doesn't consist entirely of a face heel turn. We have seen through Discord that, even with a general positive attitude towards friendship as opposed to selfishness, a God of Chaos is still going to be a massive prankster who is still learning the nuances of friendship, as we have seen in episodes like "What about Discord?".

While lacking malicious intent, Starlight clearly has a bad habit of using magic to adapt situations to her comfort, as opposed to adap

I have been thirsting for so long for an expansion on Dragon Lore in Equestria, especially after the genericness that was Dragon Quest in season 2. It is a shame that the new writers have to build on what was already established, but they did a fine job of working with what they had!

This episode puts so much into perspective as to what it is like to grow up in a Dragon culture; one that is firmly entrenched in a brawn over brains culture of toxic masculinity. It is all about physical dominance and durability, surviving an almost literal trial by fire for dominance and leadership. Ponies are looked down upon with contempt for being open with their emotions, which only further goes to show how feminine traits are devalued in a highly patriarchal culture.

This time around, Spike has no concerns for other questioning his Masculinity or his place among pony kind. He simply wants to protect those who he cares about, and if others see less of him because of his caring nature, then so be it. It is this caring nature that allows him to gain a friend among Dragonkind, even though the Princess follows these similar hyper macho ideals in spite of her desire to prove her worth

Ember may be firmly entrenched in everything that she has been taught from her father, but at the very least she doesn't let this stubbornness blind her to the obvious of how Spike saves her life several times. The fact she follows the teachings of her culture is not a problem. The issue I have is that the story execution and teleplay are so generic. Most episodes seem to have more subtlety than this, but the moral and the motivations behind each character were stated in such a literal way that it didn't feel too natural. I would have liked to see something different beyond the "RARW I AM STRONG DRAGON WHO DON'T NEED NO FRIENDS" attitude, but as it stands, the dialogue drags this episode down considerably.

Even so, it does give clear evidence to one fact; though other nations may be jealous and see themselves as superior for their physical prowess, as we have seen with the Griffon Kingdom, harmony through friendship creates strong alliances. This is why Equestria is so successful when other kingdoms may fall into ruin; when individual might is placed in higher value than the unity of many, societies are doomed to fail. My first impressions grade for this episode is a B-.