MLP SEASON 6 REVIEW #7: The Cart Before The Ponies

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 6/8/16 - Written by Ed Valentine

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

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With last weeks surprisingly consistent barnstormer of an episode setting a high standard not seen for many months, you can be assured that my expectations along with many Bronies were lifted for this past weeks offering as we exchange meta trope deconstruction for race carts and rivalries.

The premise of this episode seems simple enough, with the CMC's taking on the mantle of racing in the "Applewood Derby" (a tradition that only sprung up now, because reasons). With competitive spirits aplenty, it could serve us an episode full of sportsmanship and complexity that has covered other sporting episodes such as "Fall Weather Friends", "The Last Roundup" and "Flight To The Finish" among others. Will this episode give us what we want or prove to be something much less? Knowing that Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash, three staunchly competitive ponies in their own right are in the mix too, what could possibly go wrong? It all sounds like we could be in for something simple and fun, which only further analysis will be able to decide is truth or a lie.

STORY AND NARRATIVE

It says a lot about an episode when I see it and it has a 'seen it before' vibe, yet am uncertain as to which series I should be waving the white flag too. Unfortunately the unmistakable presence of 'Simpsons Already Did It' syndrome reared its head with the whole cart race premise and its execution of the adults taking control from the get-go. While I will credit to Mr. Valentine for making it unique to the MLP universe with the use of the awards to split the three characters plot points and try to create a full story, at the end of the day I saw a story that failed in almost every immeasurable way to provide something entertaining, and more importantly unpredictable.

With the focus of the episode being mostly on the PREPARATION and RIVALRY rather than the race itself, it reminded me of "Flutter Brutter" in its execution, spending too much time setting up a feud between six characters, making for a foreshadowable conclusion become more and more inevitable. This was done with gusto, leaving a musical number and an interlude to gloss over the race with little to no fanfare, and making the story feel like it was picking for scraps to justify itself. The pace of the episode up until 'Derby Racers' was painfully slow, with the upped pace for the race being adequate but coming way too late. Once the CMC's set out their plans for what they wanted, it became painfully obvious based on their respective adult counterparts where this episode was going to go and it took a lot of enjoyment out of proceedings, especially as the strict three act structure didn't allow for any movement from archetypal 'interjecting adults' to spring a surprise or two, which when combined with its pace meant this was a tired story that even with an impactful conclusion didn't carry its weight all the way through.

This episode, if focused on the race, with the competitiveness of the colts and fillies on show would have lead to an exciting episode that could have produced new characters and a true fighting spirit of a moral to come through. The message (which I will get to later) anchored this episode into a predictable place where it took itself too literally and seriously bogged it down more than many could see. This episode's narrative and story was a car wreck, with the symbolic crash that capped off its cheery musical number providing an adequate metaphor. This was not enjoyable in the slightest, seen it before, done better and honestly it was a missed opportunity for something fun, rather than 'morally educational' to take hold.

RATING: 0 out of 5.

WRITING AND VOICE ACTING

It's rare that I am ever going to say this statement again, but the CMC's actually got upstaged by someone else during one of their episodes. While you could claim that Diamond Tiara did that in "Crusaders Of The Lost Mark" with her sublime character portrayal, it's been a finite commodity to see the Crusaders lose their air time to other characters, especially ones who in many eyes didn't need more. This, primarily is the reason why the episodes' story failed, and gave us an antagonist role that in this case wasn't needed.

To have Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash put themselves forward as the 'the interfering dance/soccer moms' who believe THEY know what's best for their 'children/siblings' by intervening contradicted a lot of their personality traits and regressed them to minimal fodder, which was a horrible decision. It made them become so detestable that you ponder why you supported them for so many years in their positive growth, for it all to be thrown away here? While I can understand Rainbow's constant quest for the limelight being her drive, to see Rarity's stylistic side come at the expense of someone elses again (ala "Spice Up Your Life" but much worse), and Applejack lie and suppress a progressive thinker in her sister was depressing to watch. This is especially apparent when both of them in the process forgot important lessons learnt from episodes such as "Sisterhooves Social" and "The Last Roundup" respectively about doing things someone else wants to ensure their happiness and being proud to not come first in competition respectively. Apple Blooms nightmare about her family forcing the tradition upon her in "Bloom And Gloom" came to manifest itself in reality much to my ire, and for the second time this season, Rainbow ignored Scootaloo in the spirit of competition, which was wholly unnecessary.

While the 'Mane Three' in this case proved to be a burden on the episode, it allowed for the Cutie Mark Crusaders and surprisingly Cheerilee a chance to show themselves in an extremely positive light, especially with the CMC's portraying themselves as forward thinkers who want to forgo the formalities and try something different simply for the sake of it as their new roles in "On Your Marks" dictated, showing good continued progression for them to show that children can be more 'intelligent' that many think. Cheerilee may have been a little aloof and overoptimistic in what her students could do, but her proud, happy and content attitude to proceedings made her for the first time in quite awhile to show her character in a positive light that created good middle ground between the two competing parties. Her symbolic cheerleading attire didn't put her in a position of authority, but as a person who sat alongside the audience feeling immensely proud of what shed gotten her students to do, which was lovely to see. That is something in many episodes, we've rarely seen and it was lovely to see unfold in her fleeting appearances across the episodes run-time. Snips and Snails also got fleeting speaking time early on, and while they didn't do the minimal representation of the male gender in the episode any favours, it was nice to hear them again regardless despite my hatred for them.

The voice acting saw great, varied performances from Rarity, Applejack and Apple Bloom, with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo support their Crusader sistren's frustration with a subdued, empty performance that was further accented by the end of episode outburst. Cheerilee's vocal performance was standard fare for her, and amplified her partitioner role well.

Overall this was an episode that balanced itself out in the writing department, giving a lot of characters in different alignments to provide ample conflict while proving to be unwatchable at times. The inclusion of a 'boy' racer pony wanting to win at all costs like Lightning Dust from "Wonderbolt Academy" would have been great to add some dynamism to proceedings, instead of clogging itself with characterisation that irritated more than it succeeded. The lack of comedy to ensure the dramatic tension didn't overwhelm was extremely minor, which plays into this episodes negatives, and without it, means this episode can't progress further than the mark I've supplied below, which is fine, but it could've been better.

RATING: 2 out of 5.

ANIMATION

We now arrive at the metaphorical tortoise of this episode, starting off slow but inevitably coming through in a blaze of glory to pretty much become the focus of the episode, much like the fable of yore. The animation may have gotten off on the tiniest of feet, but by the episodes' conclusion, it showed itself to have lived up to its potential.

'Derby Racers' had a plethora of set pieces, transitions and effects to make it a vibrant showcase to end the episode on. The use of a chequered flag motif spreading itself across the screen with the carts movements was stylised and fun, while the split screen effects whole blocky and obtrusive gave great symbolism to amplify the disillusionment the CMC's were feeling, the mud and crash/bang transition helped as well in providing extra speed to the songs flow, as well as giving identifiable colour schemes to split the Mane Three's vocal sections and make them feel distinct. The nuanced Wacky Races reference was also a joy to see, and made me smile. Outside of 'Derby Racers' there was a lot to marvel at, with the changing gradient transition in the morning sky, the design of the tents, carts and Rarity's sublime helmet came forward greatly along with the reflection of the second place ribbon in Rarity's eyes (as noted in the above screenshot). The best thing of all? Cheerilee living up her name via her lovely cheerleading costume, something the fan artists have already had a blast drawing.

While I can credit this episode in filling this episode with colour in its latter stages, half of the episode felt rather empty and lacklustre in comparison. This does bring the rating down, but not by much as the quality of what was showcased helps it into a position it might not have made otherwise. On that note, the animators and editors should be proud of themselves here.

RATING: 3 out of 5.

MESSAGE

With a predictable story and poor characterisation powering this cart, it seemed inevitable that a simple message would provide driving force for the dire run this episode had in places. While it did remain consistent in showcasing itself across the episode, for which it wins its lone notion of merit, I can't say the same when it lost everywhere else in points winning positions.

The message of 'adults not knowing best and learning to speak up to them' while fine for the story we got, felt flat, especially when the Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom have spoken up to their sisters in past seasons. When combined with established characters forgetting what prior messages had told them to ensure this message had some gravity felt sloppy and was deconstruction for deconstruction's sake, with almost no purpose needed for it all other than to supply this episode with a reason to exist in the first place. This is a case of poor writing, especially when it throws everything else that formatted this episode together under the wheels in a quest for meaning and value, all of which it came out empty handed. Those three smart girls, who had to force their intelligence out through the episode were infantilised, forgotten and marginalised in order to give the older characters a purpose, and make an episode feel tired as a result. It was a message that failed on everything it could've done, but succeeded in the lone area it got right, in leading the narrative down a path it wanted.

They got the ribbon for that, but I will have to disqualify it for everything else. I would usually give a zero to this much negativity, but based on the little it got right, I have to be fair. If it hadn't shown itself to be utterly correct in its portrayal of its adults, we'd be looking at a message that would've crashed an burnt for sure.

RATING: 1 out of 5.

MUSIC

Finally, here's something I wasn't expecting, the music category got a massive kick in the rear in comparison to the last episode, which helps the episode more than many would think.

With the surprise musical number of 'Derby Racers', it added some fun and symbolic importance to the race at hand while showcasing on a pedestal the contrasts in emotion within a cheery musical background. While it does have one of the cheesiest choruses I've heard on this show, its verses with alternating lines for each set of characters gave it a big and bold feel that contrasts well the symbolic instrumental simplicity. The same instrumental piece for 'Derby Racers' also got utilised in a pre-song montage of the carts being prepped, and while I will usually criticise the use of a piece of background music multiple times in an episode, the difference in use and the positive effect it had on the already mentioned lacklustre pace of the episode means I can let it slide. The intense orchestral score that accompanied Rarity's past derby loss and the following dramatic scene was sublimely inserted and gave a comedic vibe that was missing from the episode as well as tagging on its meaning nicely. The tone change between Cheerilee and her class at the beginning was also a nice showing of contrasting attitudes that sums up the 'life' quite nicely.

While I can praise the musical elements for bringing life into the episode, it loses a final mark for having jarring gaps from the announcement of the race, to the prelude itself. While I could commend the composers and editors for possibly doing this intentionally to emphasise the emptiness the frustrated CMC's were feeling, the idea that this was done on purpose doesn't seem at all plausible. As a result it has to be just shy of the top marks, which is a shame but understandable given the circumstances.

RATING: 4 out of 5.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Yes, that is a male cheerleader on the right of this screenshot, well done Ponies, you've done it again with an occasional positive gender representation.

Anyway, "The Cart Before The Ponies" wanted to take its title in literal context by focusing more on the racing than the characters, and to portray itself as a fun episode where character progression didn't necessarily feel important. While that was the obvious goal, thanks to some quite noticeable faults, this episode didn't come close to its podium position as it might have hoped.

To put it bluntly, style over substance won on this day, with the visual and audio elements helping prop up a bone dry story and subpar characterisation that dragged it further into the mud. All of this wasn't helped by poor pacing and predictability that made a viewing audience lose all anticipation and fervour for what was to come. While some characters came out of this episode looking great, it was done at others expense, something I can't be very cheery about. This episode shouldn't be getting the mark its getting, as on the standard 'important' merits alone, it failed. However, it's why I'm pleased with my system as from anywhere a back-runner can surprise, which I'm thankful this one did. Regardless though, it felt like a Season 1 or 2 episode, in how it tried to educate its audience through use of conflict and basic themes, which while a nice contrast with the meta-analytical episode for the Bronies' that preceded it last week, didn't produce much that would be considered great television by my standards, despite the animation and music positives that came through.

While this episode was fine to watch and did enough to keep my interest, it isn't at the level I was expecting at this point in the season. Therefore, as a result, "The Cart Before The Ponies" did something that further gives me reason for concern, as it buoys up an ever growing pack of mediocre episodes this season has produced, which is something that never seems to go away, much to my irritation. So not matter what positives this episode brought forward, disappointment comes not far behind in its wake.

FINAL RATING: 10 out of 25.

LETTER GRADE: D+

In relation to other Season 6 episodes, it lines up as follows:

A HEARTH'S WARMING TAIL - 24/25, A
ON YOUR MARKS - 22/25, A-
GAUNTLET OF FIRE - 19/25, B+
STRANGER THAN FAN FICTION - 18/25, B
THE SADDLE ROW REVIEW - 13/25, C
FLUTTER BRUTTER - 13/25, C
THE CRYSTALLING - 12/25, C-
SPICE UP YOUR LIFE - 11/25, C-
THE CART BEFORE THE PONIES - 10/25, D+
THE GIFT OF MAUD PIE - 7/25, D-
NEWBIE DASH - 6/25, D-
NO SECOND PRANCES - 5/25, E+
APPLEJACK'S "DAY" OFF - 4/25, E+

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I've been Freddy Thomas, you've been people reading. This has been an MLP Episode Review for The CC Network Blog. I'll see you all next week for the next review. Cheers!