My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Episodes 15 and 16 Review

Fillies, gentlecolts, and foals of all ages, welcome once again to another edition of the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic recap/review. I’ve been admittedly a little lax lately when it comes to writing stuff up, and because of that, I have been a little late on new reviews. So to catch everything up, this will be a quick look at “Twilight Time’, an episode with very little to really talk about, and “It ain’t Easy Being Breezies”, an episode that definitely feels more divisive in terms of popularity. So let’s kick it off with “Twilight Time”.

 

The episode opens at Twilight’s library as the cutie mark crusaders are being tutored by Twilight on skills that may help them get their cutie marks. Scootaloo has to learn how to build a unicyle, Apple Bloom is learning how to grow an apple seedling, and Sweetie Belle is learning how to control her magic to levitate a broom. And while they’re still not very good at their abilities, they do enjoy their “Twilight Time”.

At school the next day, the trio are once again annoyed by Diamond Tiara, who uses other ponies to make herself popular. When D.T and Silver Spoon taunt the fillies about not being able to go to Manehattan to see famous celebrities, Sweetie Belle counters by saying that the three of them get to hang out with Princess Twilight all the time. This intrigues Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, who want to meet the princess. Believing that the duo will be embarrassed, the crusaders let them join for Twilight Time. However, their plan backfires as one day later, the rest of the school wants in on Twilight Time.

However, instead of trying to fix the problem, Sweetie Belle realizes that this means that the CMC are now the most popular ponies in school, and the trio try to use their friendship with Twilight to get them favors from the rest of the school. From free lemonade, to an invitation to a pool party with Diamond and Silver. However, the CMC do feel they’re starting to get conceited, but when they try to go to Twilight Time on their own, the rest of the school goes after the crusaders, wanting their Twilight Time.

And Twilight has no real problem with bringing in the rest of the school to help them learn. That is, until she learns the true motivation of the rest of the school, as they want to be like the CMC. Getting favors from everyone due to their association with a famous princess. Twilight is upset by this revelation, and asks if the CMC are truly learning their new abilities in Twilight Time. When the trio try and fail, it looks like Twilight Time is over. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon mock the crusaders for not really coming to learn, but Twilight smacks them with the knowledge that nopony else came to learn either.

But before Twilight Time is over forever, it turns out that the trio have been improving on their abilities, and Twilight lets them have their study time once again. And the episode ends with Sweetie Belle writing in the journal about how they thought they could become famous because they’re with a special pony, but forgot the real reason she’s special is because she’s their friend.

 

It’s Pro and Con time. What worked and what didn’t work in Twilight Time.

PRO

I love how the cutie mark crusaders were written in this episode. They feel very much like miniature versions of their sisters (or in Scootaloo’s case, sorta-sister). Apple Bloom is the more pensive, not truly happy with the trio’s manipulative behavior, despite by the end of the episode being just as swept up in the praise they were getting. Scootaloo gets cocky, and enjoys the idea of other ponies loving her, which inflates her ego. As seen in the hayburger scene when the class takes photos of Twilight, and Scootaloo makes a bunch of arrogant poses.

And then there’s Sweetie Belle. And I think now more than ever it’s apparent that she really takes after Rarity. More obsessed with being popular, and having other ponies do things for her. And even being a bit dense as to not realizing when to not get herself into bigger trouble. I think this is a good role for Sweetie, and I’d like to see more characterization for her.

The Hayburger scene was hilarious, with Princess Twilight eating like a pig, and even wiping her face with a burger. The Pinkie cameo was also enjoyable, and didn’t just feel like Pinkie Pie being flanderized. She actually felt in character for a change.

And finally, the whole bit with Spike making nachos, only for them to go to waste, and Spike being infuriated was pretty hilarious.

CON

The biggest issue with the episode is the pacing. It starts particularly slow, and never really gets exciting. For the most part it’s a pretty dull episode without as many hilarious scenes. Not every episode needs to be a laugh riot, but it would have really helped a lot of dry scenes throughout the episode.

 

“Twilight Time” is one I didn’t really enjoy on the first watch, but repeated viewings really helped make the episode more tolerable. I like episodes that slowly build the Cutie Mark Crusaders as characters far beyond their original one note characterization of wanting cutie marks. Now they’ve been put in far broader situations, and their own abilities are improving. If these new found abilities will lead to them getting their marks is still up in the air, but they are improving, and it’s fun to see.

RATING: 8 out of 10

 

 

Next, let’s get a look at the far more controversial “It Ain’t Easy Being Breezies”

 

The episode opens with Fluttershy telling her friends about the arrival of the breezies. The breezies are tiny fairy ponies that she was able to go see back in “Three’s a Crowd”. We learn that the breezies are too tiny and weak to fly on their own, and need a gentle breeze to control their magic for pollen gathering. After a fun cold open that is the opposite of the perfect cheer joke from “Sonic Rainboom”, we head to town square as everypony prepares for the breezies arrival. We get more exposition about how the breezies come to collect pollen, and only have two days until the portal to their world closes.

The breezies arrive in town, with Ponyville in awe of their cuteness. However, when Spike tries to get a better view of the breezies, he knocks a leaf off a tree branch, which causes some of the breezies to crash, getting them separated from the group. Fluttershy saves the breezies, spike apologizes, and everypony thinks that they should focus on getting the breezies back in the air. But the Breezies begin to take advantage of Fluttershy’s kindness, making her have reservations on getting rid of them. The only breezie not happy about this is one named Seabreeze, who calls his fellow breezies stupid, and is concerned about getting home.

Despite his pleas to get the breezies focused, they choose instead to stay with Fluttershy, and continue to mooch off of her, and even fake being sick to get more kindness from her. Eventually Sea Breeze is sick of all of this, and flies away. However it turns out it really isn’t easy being a breezie, as everything can kill you, even an acorn. After ending up in a beehive, and about to become stung by the bees within, Fluttershy comes to his aid by yelling at the bees. After a conversation with Seabreeze, Fluttershy gets her rainbow eyes, and realizes that she has to be firm, and tell the breezies that they have to leave.

However there’s still the issue with getting the Breezies back to their home in time. Realizing they need more breezies to help lead the way, Twilight just happens to have a spell that can help. This ends up turning the mane six into breezies, as they help lead the herd back to their home. We learn that Seabreeze has a wife and baby at home, which explains why he needed to get home so badly. Before the portal closes, Seabreeze gives Fluttershy a flower, as the mane six exit the portal, and return to their normal form. And the episode ends with the flower glowing rainbow, meaning that it’s key number four.

 

So, what worked and what didn’t in this Breezie affair? Let’s boil some pros and cons.

 

PRO

I think Fluttershy is growing on me this season. Her characterization has been one of the strongest this season when the spotlight is on her. And this is no exception. This episode is a fresher moral for her than the normal “face your fears” stories we often see, and it’s a far better lesson about assertiveness than the trainwreck that was “Putting Your Hoof Down”.

One thing I love about this show is world building, and once again we’re treated to that with the breezies. I love their designs, being essentially the pony version of fairies. It’s also cool to see that they even have their own language which has a bit of a Swedish tone to it. And that’s the most praise I can give for them, as they do earn some cons.

I also love the breezifeied designs of the mane six, especially Rarity. But then again, I love Rarity, so that’s no shocker there.

CON

While I like the designs of the breeziefied mane six, I can definitely see the biggest glaring issue with this whole scene. A term that has been gaining momentum lately is “Deus Ex Twilight”, meaning that Twilight just happens to have a spell to save the day every time. And this really feels like the most blatant. It feels awfully convenient that Twilight was just at that time learning how to change DNA at that exact time. But at least it worked better this time, and didn’t turn any of her friends into bat ponies or something like that.

That also kind of kills the ending feeling like Fluttershy’s victory. Hell, if it was only Fluttershy as a breezie, I think it would have worked well, and made this solo journey for her feel more complete. However, it just feels like they shoehorned this whole thing as an attempt to sell more toys. And considering that there are breezie toys coming in the fall, mission accomplished.

This episode is slow. The third act picks things up, and the cold open was funny. Other than that though, it drags on for way too long with the breezies taking advantage of Fluttershy’s kindness.

Speaking of the breezies, they may be the most pathetic creatures in the series. A lot of things don’t quite add up about them. They can barely fly on their own, needing breezes to control their wings, and help them gather pollen. And mostly that breeze comes from the wings of a pegaus. So, if they have no wing power to help them, they’re screwed.

Also, it’s never quite explained why all the breezies other than Seabreeze have no interest in going home, and instead would rather stay with Fluttershy. But in the end, they’re happy to be reunited with their family and friends. It’s hard to really feel good for them when they felt so willing to throw it away so easily. It just rubbed me the wrong way.

 

“It Ain’t Easy Being Breezies” is one of the weaker outings this season. It suffers from being too slow, having creatures that lose their charm quickly, and an ending that was pulled out of the plots of Hasbro to sell more toys. The best thing about this episode is Fluttershy, who has been built very strong this season. Everything else though falls apart, leaving an underwhelming experience in its wake. It ain’t easy watching this episode again.

RATING: 4 out of 10

 

Next week, it’s Apple Bloom time. Apple Bloom wants to be treated like an older pony, and especially wants to be able to be trusted on her own. However, when accidents happen, Applejack is less than sure that the young filly can take care of herself. Can Apple Bloom prove her wrong, and show that she doesn’t need “Somepony to Watch Over Me”? find out in 7.

 

Until next time, everypony!