At their best, Seasons 1-3 were brilliant. Neither of the seasons were consistently good all the way through and this is coming from a big fan of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' (unexpectedly so). All three did have a couple of misfires/disappointments, which still had their moments. All the characters had episodes where they truly shone and developed really well, but there were episodes that screwed up on the characterisation. Seasons 1-3 had both cases, so did Season 4 and so did the other ones after.
"Bats!" is the seventh episode of Season 4 and is quite good. Better than expected, as there was the worry as to whether the episode would go more for atmosphere and not do enough with the characters, the latter of which being what carries 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' essentially as well as the interaction between them. Also as to how Applejack would be written, as of the Mane 6 she is probably the most inconsistently characterised. "Bats!" actually does very well with her and even better with Fluttershy. It is not one of the best episodes of the show, not by a long shot, and not even quite among the best of Season 4. It is though conceptually one of the season's most interesting.
Not everything works. Other episodes do better at advancing their stories. For example a little bit more could have been done with the conflict between Applejack and Fluttershy, which is sometimes neglected in favour of the more horror-like elements of the story.
The third act for me was rather rushed and the resolution too abrupt.
Really liked the darker look of the animation however, as well as Applebat's cool character design. The Sweet Apples Acre to Evertree Forest transition is remarkably seamless and quite creepy. Those two things stood out in this regard. The music is infectious and dynamic. Cannot get enough of the bat song. The conflict was mostly done well. Applejack is not distorted, not like some episodes of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic', and Fluttershy's internal struggles are heart-breakingly handled.
Script is amusing and heartfelt, nice 'Dracula' reference. The story disappoints in the third act but a vast majority of it engages throughly and delivers brilliantly on the atmosphere front. Atmosphere-wise, it is one of the spookiest episodes of Season 4 and much of it is from the visuals. Applebat is also adorable, while the voice acting is great. Andrea Libman voices Fluttershy beautifully, when did she ever not.
Concluding, not the show or season at its best but interesting and enjoyable. 7/10
"Bats!" is the seventh episode of Season 4 and is quite good. Better than expected, as there was the worry as to whether the episode would go more for atmosphere and not do enough with the characters, the latter of which being what carries 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' essentially as well as the interaction between them. Also as to how Applejack would be written, as of the Mane 6 she is probably the most inconsistently characterised. "Bats!" actually does very well with her and even better with Fluttershy. It is not one of the best episodes of the show, not by a long shot, and not even quite among the best of Season 4. It is though conceptually one of the season's most interesting.
Not everything works. Other episodes do better at advancing their stories. For example a little bit more could have been done with the conflict between Applejack and Fluttershy, which is sometimes neglected in favour of the more horror-like elements of the story.
The third act for me was rather rushed and the resolution too abrupt.
Really liked the darker look of the animation however, as well as Applebat's cool character design. The Sweet Apples Acre to Evertree Forest transition is remarkably seamless and quite creepy. Those two things stood out in this regard. The music is infectious and dynamic. Cannot get enough of the bat song. The conflict was mostly done well. Applejack is not distorted, not like some episodes of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic', and Fluttershy's internal struggles are heart-breakingly handled.
Script is amusing and heartfelt, nice 'Dracula' reference. The story disappoints in the third act but a vast majority of it engages throughly and delivers brilliantly on the atmosphere front. Atmosphere-wise, it is one of the spookiest episodes of Season 4 and much of it is from the visuals. Applebat is also adorable, while the voice acting is great. Andrea Libman voices Fluttershy beautifully, when did she ever not.
Concluding, not the show or season at its best but interesting and enjoyable. 7/10
