Welcome to Episodic, the blog feature where I look episode by episode at a show that people have told me to watch, even if I wouldn’t necessarily do so on my own time. It’s all in the name of getting a better understanding of the medium, and also fun. Currently, I’m watching “MLP: Friendship Is Magic.” Of internet fame/infamy. But how does the show itself fare? Let’s find out…
Episode 4 then, what have we here? Again, simple problem established early, the rest of the episode goes around said problem and attempts to find a solution. We’re still in sitcom territory here. There are good gags, especially Pink talking in the stampede, but I wasn’t all too into this one. It was okay.
The “problem” with this one, and the previous one to be honest, if you can even call it that, is how throwaway they all are. They don’t so much have character development as explore one issue to do with friendship and wrap it up at the end. This is fine, because it’s not trying to be more, and who knows, maybe future episodes go deep into Fluttershy’s backstory or whatever, but compare it to cartoons like Adventure Time, which from the little I’ve seen, has some real meaty stuff in the cute kids show framework. I assume MLP’s audience target skews a few years lower though, so that’s fine. But it does put me at a loss for words.
I mean, there’s not much I can say, really, beyond YUP FUNNY and YUP FRIENDSHIP. Which isn’t a bad thing, it’s not like the show’s making any bones about what it is. That’s why it works, anyway, because it’s honest and upfront about exactly what it’s intentions are. But it’s the same Ice Cream again and again in a row. And I love Ice Cream, and I’m happy it’s there, but I don’t really have an urge to binge it at all.
The points of the bullet variety that go on the end for fun:
- ”The horror! The horror!”
- Bunny Census. I’d watch a show called Bunny Census. Or they’d just be my ska-punk cover band.
- Stubborn as a mule. CUT TO: a Mule.
- “How do you like them apples?” is always a great retort. Especially about apples.
- Again, smart ensemble work, every character is well balanced, no one overshadows the others, or undermines the others.
- I’ll trudge on for a bit, but I’ll mix it up with other shows for the reals. I don’t think I’m destined to “get” this show like some others. Fallen hard, I have not.
