While not what one would call a "brony", that doesn't stop me from considering 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' one of the best and most watchable/re-watchable animated shows in recent years. Loved it first watching it when it first started nine years ago, still do despite it not being as good now. No, am not going to say that every episode is consistently great, not the case but especially love the show for the writing, characters and how they interact.
Found the first part of the two part "Friendship is Magic" pilot/first episode "Mare in the Moon" a very promising start and very good in its own right. To me though, "Elements of Harmony" is even better. Having all the strengths of the first part, while having even more strengths and improving on the very little that wasn't quite as great. It's a fine way to conclude the episode that started off this animation phenomenon, is a fine 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' episode and is very high quality episode for anything. There may be episodes to be an even better indication of the show's appeal and what the fuss is all about, but both parts of "Friendship is Magic" are good representations.
Like with the previous part, Spike is still a bit underdeveloped but this is in relative comparison to the many other characters that are being introduced that are already richer in personality.
But with everything else being so well executed, that was relatively easy for me to overlook. The flash animation is very good for so early on (and for flash), and would go as far to say it improves on that for the previous part with the background characters not being as static. What still remains and even more so are the bright colours, meticulously detailed and often elegant backgrounds and adorable but never too cute character designs. The music has presence but never over-bears what is going on. Personally don't have a problem with the theme song, but making more of an impression are the show's first song "Face Your Fears", which is the very meaning of infectious and a lot less twee than one would fear.
Again, the writing is also highly impressive for such an early stage. The humour is very funny and very winning without being cheesy or juvenile, to me this is one of the aspects of the show that renders the misconception of adults not being able to enjoy this false. If anything, adults are actually more likely to get the humour and find it funnier. The emotion is there too and not in a sentimental way and there is a great relevant message of work not getting in the way of making new friends that didn't preach. The story is neither cheesy or sugary, everything with the mythos is cleverly built/expanded upon from the previous part and it is also remarkably ambitious without being convoluted. That is truly remarkable as was the proper establishing of the show's theme of friendship, which is the definition of magic indeed. The tasks are very imaginatively and entertainingly handled.
Two great character moments sprang to mind here. One was the scene with Rarity and the sea serpent, that saw a different side to Rarity and made her more interesting and likeable, one would not think she would be as kind-hearted from before as she is here. It's a cleverly written scene too. The other, and especially so, is the ending. That was both uplifiting and touching, one will have to see for themselves to see why. The characters continue to engage and their character traits are already well rounded and distinct, they are much more than shallow stereotypes and they are more complex than their cute character designs suggest. It is easy to name Twilight and Nightmare Moon as the most interesting characters here, and they are, but personally also have to give credit for (on top of seeing a different side to Rarity) Rainbow Dash having a stronger and expanded personality here, one that makes one endear to her more, and not making Pinkie Pie too cute. The voice acting is very good, particularly Tara Strong's Twilight and Tabitha St Germain's Nightmare Moon.
Summarising, great and superior conclusion to a more than solid two parter. 9/10
Found the first part of the two part "Friendship is Magic" pilot/first episode "Mare in the Moon" a very promising start and very good in its own right. To me though, "Elements of Harmony" is even better. Having all the strengths of the first part, while having even more strengths and improving on the very little that wasn't quite as great. It's a fine way to conclude the episode that started off this animation phenomenon, is a fine 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' episode and is very high quality episode for anything. There may be episodes to be an even better indication of the show's appeal and what the fuss is all about, but both parts of "Friendship is Magic" are good representations.
Like with the previous part, Spike is still a bit underdeveloped but this is in relative comparison to the many other characters that are being introduced that are already richer in personality.
But with everything else being so well executed, that was relatively easy for me to overlook. The flash animation is very good for so early on (and for flash), and would go as far to say it improves on that for the previous part with the background characters not being as static. What still remains and even more so are the bright colours, meticulously detailed and often elegant backgrounds and adorable but never too cute character designs. The music has presence but never over-bears what is going on. Personally don't have a problem with the theme song, but making more of an impression are the show's first song "Face Your Fears", which is the very meaning of infectious and a lot less twee than one would fear.
Again, the writing is also highly impressive for such an early stage. The humour is very funny and very winning without being cheesy or juvenile, to me this is one of the aspects of the show that renders the misconception of adults not being able to enjoy this false. If anything, adults are actually more likely to get the humour and find it funnier. The emotion is there too and not in a sentimental way and there is a great relevant message of work not getting in the way of making new friends that didn't preach. The story is neither cheesy or sugary, everything with the mythos is cleverly built/expanded upon from the previous part and it is also remarkably ambitious without being convoluted. That is truly remarkable as was the proper establishing of the show's theme of friendship, which is the definition of magic indeed. The tasks are very imaginatively and entertainingly handled.
Two great character moments sprang to mind here. One was the scene with Rarity and the sea serpent, that saw a different side to Rarity and made her more interesting and likeable, one would not think she would be as kind-hearted from before as she is here. It's a cleverly written scene too. The other, and especially so, is the ending. That was both uplifiting and touching, one will have to see for themselves to see why. The characters continue to engage and their character traits are already well rounded and distinct, they are much more than shallow stereotypes and they are more complex than their cute character designs suggest. It is easy to name Twilight and Nightmare Moon as the most interesting characters here, and they are, but personally also have to give credit for (on top of seeing a different side to Rarity) Rainbow Dash having a stronger and expanded personality here, one that makes one endear to her more, and not making Pinkie Pie too cute. The voice acting is very good, particularly Tara Strong's Twilight and Tabitha St Germain's Nightmare Moon.
Summarising, great and superior conclusion to a more than solid two parter. 9/10
