DerpyFast
So I just got done watching Mean Six, and it was fine.
Back in the day, the word “pandering” got thrown around a lot. Once that thought crossed my mind, I couldn’t get rid of it. The episode itself is a throwback to the various two-parters; exploring The Everfree Forest like in the premier, the discorded Mane Six like in Return of Harmony, Queen Chrysalis is self-explanatory, and The Tree of Harmony from Princess Twilight Sparkle. While the throwbacks are appreciated, it feels like they’re there entirely for their own sake, and like the episode mainly exists as a vehicle for them. Combine that with the way Starlight is treated, and the feeling of pandering won’t go away. I think if you hate Starlight, you’ll probably like this episode on principle, but the writers couldn’t do this to any other character.
I’m glad I went back and rewatched A Canterlot Wedding. I like the consistency of the word choices; “army”, “minions”, “control”, “have it all”. It’s a nice detail that she calls the Elements of Harmony a “weapon”; it reinforces her lust for power and conquest. As I said earlier, Chrysalis has been thoroughly defeated. She’s a tyrannical leader, so even if she gets another hive, they’ll just rebel against her again. The way I see it, this episode cements that she’s in a hole that she dug for herself, but it leaves the door open for her returning by creating better copies. It’s been established that she will make changes to her plans and try again, so I’m curious if they’ll go that route. Since they can’t kill her, the only options are for her to continue her self-defeating cycle, or to eventually seek redemption. I think Chrysalis would be ideal for a story about redemption brought about by self-reflection; now that she’s in this hole, she really thinks about what got her there. Thorax cares for his subjects and has no interest in conquest. I’d love a scene where Chrysalis has a serious moment of introspection, and asks Thorax how he does it.
Other than that, the episode feels less like a story and more like a string of events. The Mean Six were amusing enough, but not amazing. My opinion might change after a second viewing. The scene with the Elements of Harmony was sufficiently messed up. It supports my theory that the Elements will do terrible things to anyone who tries to misuse them. Part of me was hoping Mean Twilight would escape.
Overall, while not a bad episode, I think the actors had more fun recording it than I did watching it.
Back in the day, the word “pandering” got thrown around a lot. Once that thought crossed my mind, I couldn’t get rid of it. The episode itself is a throwback to the various two-parters; exploring The Everfree Forest like in the premier, the discorded Mane Six like in Return of Harmony, Queen Chrysalis is self-explanatory, and The Tree of Harmony from Princess Twilight Sparkle. While the throwbacks are appreciated, it feels like they’re there entirely for their own sake, and like the episode mainly exists as a vehicle for them. Combine that with the way Starlight is treated, and the feeling of pandering won’t go away. I think if you hate Starlight, you’ll probably like this episode on principle, but the writers couldn’t do this to any other character.
I’m glad I went back and rewatched A Canterlot Wedding. I like the consistency of the word choices; “army”, “minions”, “control”, “have it all”. It’s a nice detail that she calls the Elements of Harmony a “weapon”; it reinforces her lust for power and conquest. As I said earlier, Chrysalis has been thoroughly defeated. She’s a tyrannical leader, so even if she gets another hive, they’ll just rebel against her again. The way I see it, this episode cements that she’s in a hole that she dug for herself, but it leaves the door open for her returning by creating better copies. It’s been established that she will make changes to her plans and try again, so I’m curious if they’ll go that route. Since they can’t kill her, the only options are for her to continue her self-defeating cycle, or to eventually seek redemption. I think Chrysalis would be ideal for a story about redemption brought about by self-reflection; now that she’s in this hole, she really thinks about what got her there. Thorax cares for his subjects and has no interest in conquest. I’d love a scene where Chrysalis has a serious moment of introspection, and asks Thorax how he does it.
Other than that, the episode feels less like a story and more like a string of events. The Mean Six were amusing enough, but not amazing. My opinion might change after a second viewing. The scene with the Elements of Harmony was sufficiently messed up. It supports my theory that the Elements will do terrible things to anyone who tries to misuse them. Part of me was hoping Mean Twilight would escape.
Overall, while not a bad episode, I think the actors had more fun recording it than I did watching it.