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Thoughts on Best Gift Ever
7 years ago
Just in time for Halloween, we get a Christmas special that serves to bookend Season 8 and close out 2018 for My Little Pony. When everyone (though especially Twilight) starts freaking out about getting prepared in time for Hearth's Warming, AJ suggests a Secret Santa set-up to cut down on everyone's shopping time. From there, most of the main characters have their own separate adventures (while Starlight hangs out with Trixie in the background).
Some of the set-ups seem a bit forced, like Rainbow not knowing what Fluttershy likes. These two literally grew up together and have been friends the longest. I understand Rainbow needing a bit of help, but having Fluttershy just say she likes everything feels lazy (besides that, EVERYONE forgets about Pinkie's filing system, including Pinkie herself). However, Discord's appearance was handled well. His mischief actually leads to a clever ending, and feels like an apology for A Matter of Principals. (to say nothing of the G.I. Joe reference; Discord as Snake Eyes and Rainbow Dash as Storm Shadow had me dying)
On Pinkie Pie's end, we begin with a long-awaited follow-up to Hearthbreakers, with the Pie family visiting Ponyville. Marble's reaction to Big Mac and Sugar Bell seriously made my heart hurt. And speaking of couples, Mudbriar also makes a cameo at the end (and by that point, Marble is looking REALLY salty). But anyway, Pinkie's set-up also feels weak, as she decides to go to the yaks for advice (she should know better; she's already seen firsthand that Prince Rutherford doesn't have a damn clue about anything). Though this eventually leads to her meeting three magical reindeer named Aurora, Bori, and Alice, who are color-coded like the Powerpuff Girls. I thought these characters were pretty neat, though the elderly reindeer looks a little too similar to Granny Smith.
AJ and Fluttershy have yet another run-in with Flim and Flam, though this one is handled MUCH better than Friendship University. This time, the brothers are creating false hype around cheap dolls, but when they get called out, they point out that this is a legitimate business practice, without the conflict of interest from the friendship school (though we STILL don't have an answer as to how they got Twilight's lesson plans). And AJ and Fluttershy ultimately foil them in a way that points out the flaw in their sales pitch and lets everyone else make up their own minds instead of just forcing them to close their business. Again, this feels a lot more balanced and fair. And AJ and Fluttershy don't get a free pass either, as they both end up with these terrible (and hilarious) dolls that they have to give as gifts.
Rarity's story begins with her talking to Derpy. And I don't know... I WANT to like this scene, but compared to Derpy's previous speaking parts, something seems off here. Something about the timing just feels wonky. Anyway, Rarity ordered a designer hat for AJ that ended up going to the wrong address. And here we meet the Acorn family, who I really liked. It turns out the family's son Pistachio is also into fashion, adores the hat, and is even star-struck at meeting Rarity. I also appreciate that Pistachio is played as a relatively even-tempered person who happens to love fashion as a hobby, rather than being over-the-top flamboyant like many other fashion ponies on the show (not hating, mind you, but it's good to get different characterization sometimes). Rarity connecting with Pistachio and encouraging him was really sweet.
Then there's Twilight (who's PUDDING revelation put me on the edge of thinking, "Go home, MLP, you're drunk"), who seems to have everything together until it gets ruined by Cadance's demon baby (damnit, I was really on my way to not hating Flurry Heart too). Though I really appreciate how Cadance and Shining Armor both get a chance to shine here. Hey, remember when Shining used to be a competent leader, before the fandom turned him into Cadance's bitch boy? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
And finally, there's Spike, who goes through so much effort to get matched up with Rarity, only to go completely blank on what to get her (hey, we've all been there, man). So, he ends up giving her a song at the end. I'm always apprehensive when Spike's about to sing, because it can really go either way. But thankfully, this was a really good song, and a great way to close the episode. Some of the visuals are a bit weird, though. We get a few shots from the characters involved in the episode (good), then a random shot of Mayor Mare at the town hall (umm, okay?), then a shot of Luna and Celestia (not in the episode, but still sweet), and then the changelings (Wait, what? Why? They had nothing to do with the episode AT ALL. So why don't we see the other species, like the griffons or the hippogryphs? And Ocellus is there, but we know she had to spend one Hearth's Warming at the school, so this is NEXT YEAR already! How old are all the characters by now?)
Despite stumbling in a couple of places, I thought this was a really good special overall, and I'm glad we could get one more positive note to remember Season 8 by.
Some of the set-ups seem a bit forced, like Rainbow not knowing what Fluttershy likes. These two literally grew up together and have been friends the longest. I understand Rainbow needing a bit of help, but having Fluttershy just say she likes everything feels lazy (besides that, EVERYONE forgets about Pinkie's filing system, including Pinkie herself). However, Discord's appearance was handled well. His mischief actually leads to a clever ending, and feels like an apology for A Matter of Principals. (to say nothing of the G.I. Joe reference; Discord as Snake Eyes and Rainbow Dash as Storm Shadow had me dying)
On Pinkie Pie's end, we begin with a long-awaited follow-up to Hearthbreakers, with the Pie family visiting Ponyville. Marble's reaction to Big Mac and Sugar Bell seriously made my heart hurt. And speaking of couples, Mudbriar also makes a cameo at the end (and by that point, Marble is looking REALLY salty). But anyway, Pinkie's set-up also feels weak, as she decides to go to the yaks for advice (she should know better; she's already seen firsthand that Prince Rutherford doesn't have a damn clue about anything). Though this eventually leads to her meeting three magical reindeer named Aurora, Bori, and Alice, who are color-coded like the Powerpuff Girls. I thought these characters were pretty neat, though the elderly reindeer looks a little too similar to Granny Smith.
AJ and Fluttershy have yet another run-in with Flim and Flam, though this one is handled MUCH better than Friendship University. This time, the brothers are creating false hype around cheap dolls, but when they get called out, they point out that this is a legitimate business practice, without the conflict of interest from the friendship school (though we STILL don't have an answer as to how they got Twilight's lesson plans). And AJ and Fluttershy ultimately foil them in a way that points out the flaw in their sales pitch and lets everyone else make up their own minds instead of just forcing them to close their business. Again, this feels a lot more balanced and fair. And AJ and Fluttershy don't get a free pass either, as they both end up with these terrible (and hilarious) dolls that they have to give as gifts.
Rarity's story begins with her talking to Derpy. And I don't know... I WANT to like this scene, but compared to Derpy's previous speaking parts, something seems off here. Something about the timing just feels wonky. Anyway, Rarity ordered a designer hat for AJ that ended up going to the wrong address. And here we meet the Acorn family, who I really liked. It turns out the family's son Pistachio is also into fashion, adores the hat, and is even star-struck at meeting Rarity. I also appreciate that Pistachio is played as a relatively even-tempered person who happens to love fashion as a hobby, rather than being over-the-top flamboyant like many other fashion ponies on the show (not hating, mind you, but it's good to get different characterization sometimes). Rarity connecting with Pistachio and encouraging him was really sweet.
Then there's Twilight (who's PUDDING revelation put me on the edge of thinking, "Go home, MLP, you're drunk"), who seems to have everything together until it gets ruined by Cadance's demon baby (damnit, I was really on my way to not hating Flurry Heart too). Though I really appreciate how Cadance and Shining Armor both get a chance to shine here. Hey, remember when Shining used to be a competent leader, before the fandom turned him into Cadance's bitch boy? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
And finally, there's Spike, who goes through so much effort to get matched up with Rarity, only to go completely blank on what to get her (hey, we've all been there, man). So, he ends up giving her a song at the end. I'm always apprehensive when Spike's about to sing, because it can really go either way. But thankfully, this was a really good song, and a great way to close the episode. Some of the visuals are a bit weird, though. We get a few shots from the characters involved in the episode (good), then a random shot of Mayor Mare at the town hall (umm, okay?), then a shot of Luna and Celestia (not in the episode, but still sweet), and then the changelings (Wait, what? Why? They had nothing to do with the episode AT ALL. So why don't we see the other species, like the griffons or the hippogryphs? And Ocellus is there, but we know she had to spend one Hearth's Warming at the school, so this is NEXT YEAR already! How old are all the characters by now?)
Despite stumbling in a couple of places, I thought this was a really good special overall, and I'm glad we could get one more positive note to remember Season 8 by.
