MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #6 - The Cutie Pox

Y'know, I think the first four episodes of season two kind of spoiled me. I mean, we had a pretty awesome duo of episodes that, while rushed, introduced Discord and his amazingness, then we had the fantastic Lesson Zero, one of my favorite episodes ever, and then Luna. All these normal episodes just seem so... well, normal in comparison.

I just find it funny that the writers have managed to get Big Mac into every single episode in season two so far, excluding the very first episode. It's clearly because he is the BEST STALLION.

Blah blah blah, spoilers, etc. etc.



For our first Cutie Mark Crusaders-themed episode of the season, we start off with the trio trying to - you guessed it - earn their Cutie Marks in a new, wacky manner. Specifically, bowling. They fail as per usual, but Apple Bloom is hit particularly hard and, in a fit of depression, wanders into the Everfree Forest.

Meanwhile, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle just let her do that. Um, isn't that forest supposed to be dangerous? Girls? Seriously?

Ah, well, anyway, AB meets up with the best zebra, Zecora, and learns a bit about zebra magic to boot. She latches onto the idea of making a potion to get her her Cutie Mark, and, sure enough, in the next scene she appears to have succeeded, having gained a little silver ring on both flanks.

If you read the episode description provided by your television provider, you can probably guess what happens next. AB gets a whole bunch of Cutie Marks, each forcing her to perform the talent associated with them, and is diagnosed with Cutie Pox by Twilight. Eventually, Zecora helps out, AB admits her misdeed, and all is well once more.

If it sounds like a relatively simple plot, it is. The episode does a pretty good job of elongating things, though, having scenes that, for the most part, don't wear too much on the audience and allow the writers to develop a little more about Ponyville and its inhabitants. Zecora in particular gets some great screentime, and the episode has a lot of new background ponies present in the bowling alley and in Apple Bloom's class. It's also really nice to see the minor fillies and colts present with some dialogue. The whole episode feels really lively, with more ponies getting the spotlight than your typical episode might allow.

However, the middle of the episode is primarily Apple Bloom showing off her "special talent" (and, later, talents) and begins to wear a little bit. It's great to see her classmates' reactions and some from the various townsfolk, but I can't help but feel like the whole sequence could've been shortened a bit without losing impact.

In addition, the ending of the episode strikes me as detrimental to the episode as a whole. Apple Bloom supposedly learns her lesson and send a letter to the Princess, but ultimately remains apparently unchanged. I get that the writers want the CMC to keep up their goal and antics for future episodes, but it still doesn't sit well with me that AB would learn nothing from the events of the episode. Character development is something important to chows that are largely character-driven, and I feel like this was a bit of a misstep in that regard. It certainly doesn't make things look hopeful for the CMC eventually getting Cutie Marks, like I very much hope happens.

The Cutie Pox isn't a bad episode, but it certainly feels... filler-y, to an extent, which is unfortunate. With that in mind, I give it a

6/10

Pros:
-Develops Ponyville with a few new areas and a handful of new background ponies
-Grants some of the minor characters some time to shine
-Zecora

Cons:
-Apple Bloom apparently learns absolutely nothing
-Apple Bloom's showing off gets dull after a while
-Feels almost like filler, with nothing of real consequence happening

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Y'know how I said earlier that the season started off with a bunch of great episodes so now these ones feel more mundane? Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's happening, which is almost a shame. Again, though, I must stress that this is not a bad episode - just not as good as episodes 1-4, and some of the better ones in season one.

And as an aside, you know how Dizty Doo/Derpy Hooves has been popping up in every episode in season two? Her appearance in this episode was particularly perplexing - she shows up for one scene as a filly in Apple Bloom's class. Does Ditzy have a canon daughter that isn't Dinky? Was filly-Ditzy the results of time travel, no doubt due to her association with the Doctor? These are all very important questions that need to be answered by every fanfiction ever.

Speaking of fanfiction, someone on the Equestria Daily thread for this episode smartly pointed out that the Hearts Desire flower will almost certainly show up in shipping fics now. Which is highly amusing to me. Go, guys, and use this premise to make more fics of the best ship!

Also, join me next week when Rainbow Dash gets an episode and Scootaloo becomes her honorary sister! Probably, anyway.

~ C.O