My Little Pony - Friendship Is Magic: Episode 120 - Green Isn't Your Color

Rating:

Green Isn't Your Color is a bit more over the top in its depiction of the fashion industry than Suited For Success, and also unfortunately has more slapstick.  Nevertheless, the overall spirit is fun, and the episode still manages to depict an important lesson even if in a slightly silly manner.  This spirit carries Green Isn't Your Color, which otherwise might have come off as a jab at fashion by someone who really doesn't know much about it.  Everything is well-meant though, and another in a long line of great supporting roles by Pinkie Pie is instrumental in helping.  Not every moment sparkles, and a lot of what happens suffers from the one-off/forgetfulness syndrome that is typical of the first season.  With the overall good time though, this doesn't end up mattering so much.

Rarity and Fluttershy spend a day at the spa, in what is apparently a weekly occurrence even though we won't see it again.  Of course, Rarity gets the full treatment for everything while Fluttershy gets a more toned down version.  Although Fluttershy suggests she isn't into fashion that much (certainly not like Rarity at least), she is asked by Rarity to model in an upcoming shoot for the fashion maverick Lady Gaga Photo Finish (ideally this is because Rar­ity knows of Fluttershy’s fashion interest, but it probably isn't since the episodes were written by different writers).  Fluttershy agrees to help her friend, and naturally ends up being too good at it (to both of their chagrins).  Somewhat like the opening of Sonic Rainboom, Rarity attempts to coach Fluttershy on modeling, but Photo Finish prefers when Fluttershy looks sad after being yelled at for trying things.  Rarity doesn't realize until later that Photo Finish’s “next big star” is actually Fluttershy, which causes both parties a lot of grief for the rest of the episode.

Although certainly not like the tall and anorexic models in the human world, Fluttershy is otherwise perfect for the task.  While more than attractive enough (like the rest of the mane six), she exudes a shyness and cuteness that her other friends don’t have.  This is again dissimilar to the human world (where models are mean-looking hangers), but works because her looks and attitude make Fluttershy quite photogenic.  It’s completely believable that her popularity as a model would skyrocket, although probably not quite so much so fast.  Rarity would likely make a decent model as well, so the fact that she doesn't try to break into the field after Photo Finish’s rejection is somewhat surprising.  Rarity is devoted to design though, and it probably doesn't occur to her during another of her many self-imposed exiles.

As something of the B-plot but yet containing the message of the episode, Pinkie Pie and Twilight are hanging around this situation for some reason (they are “helping” Rarity set up her photo shoot at first, but neither of them really needs to be there).  Spike is in attendance too, and his crush on Rarity is in full force.  Despite this being very obvious since the pilot, he lets the two helper ponies in on his “secret”.  Twilight laughs this off correctly, but Pinkie Pie (who apparently didn't know this before) informs Twilight that betraying his trust is the fastest way to lose a friend, “for-ev-errrrrr!”  This thread continues throughout the episode, as both Fluttershy and Rarity come to Twilight with secrets about how much they dislike their current situation.  It is an interesting twist that divulging these secrets would actually not hurt anyone’s friendship, but rather solve all the conflicts.

Twilight figures it out right away and can’t wait to tell since this would put an end to her friends’ grief, but she unfortunately forgets Pinkie Pie’s cartoon logic.  At the spa for some reason, Twilight’s repeat of Pinkie’s friendship statement is happily punctuated by the latter from a basket of sponges.  Moments later, Twilight looks around before trying to tell Fluttershy about Rarity’s secret, figuring Pinkie must be gone by now.  Nope, she’s still in the sponges.  Twilight goes for a walk with Fluttershy later, perhaps thinking they’d probably lose Pinkie Pie this way.  No again, as she conveniently appears right out of a basket of apples (along with taking a rather sinister bite out of one).  These “absurd” occurrences wouldn't be forgivable if were normal for all characters, but they have only ever been consistent to Pinkie Pie.  This time, she has the plus of acting like Twilight’s conscience, which means Pinkie might have only been in her head all of those times (but probably not).

With too many secrets starting to eat at her, Twilight devises a plan to get everyone to hate Fluttershy, thereby solving all the problems.  For Fluttershy’s next runway show, Twilight uses her magic to make her do some rather silly and embarrassing things on stage.  This starts with Fluttershy tripping and falling, but ends with her acting and sounding like other animals (a gratuitous nose-picking scene goes on too long and is rather disgusting to watch, but yet technically accomplishes its objective despite its inappropriateness).  Temporarily forgetting the existent of magic, the crowd is stunned and dismayed by what happens on stage (including Derpy, who lets out an audible gasp long before her first “official” speaking part in season two).

Unfortunately, Rarity decided to attend the show as well, and now feels bad for what’s happening to her friend.  Since it always works in the movies, Rarity decides to start a slow clap in an effort to restore Fluttershy’s reputation.  Having donned a rather stylish-looking cape for the occasion, she convinces the crowd she must know what she’s talking about, and succeeds in turning their opinion around.  Rarity “saves the day”, but makes both of their problems continue in doing so.

Finally, Fluttershy and Rarity confront each other in the backstage dressing room, and admit that they don’t want things to go on.  Twilight can’t take keeping these silly secrets anymore, but knows she has to (especially since Pinkie Pie is watching through a mirror), and sticks her head in a flower pot to prevent herself from doing so.  With the air finally cleared, Fluttershy happily quits her job, leaving a stunned Photo Finish to wonder what happened.  Then Twilight blurts out to Photo Finish about Spike’s crush on Rarity.

For all of the questionable moments found in Green Isn't Your Color, at least as many good ones exist.  There are a number of repeated phrases throughout the episode, and they don’t always work.  “More ribbon, less ribbon,” and its counterpart “more blush, less blush” are apparently an attempt to show how silly or arbitrary fashion designers are, and don’t really have much other point.  Likewise, Photo Finish’s “no…yes!” is repeated instead of having her say something different the other times.  Pinkie Pie’s “forever” and her revision of the “cross my heart, hope to die” rhyme are much better and more memorable though (especially when Twilight attempts to repeat the “Pinkie Pie swear”, only to accidentally poke herself in the eye).  Also, Photo Finish’s accented “we go” makes a nice reappearance at the end.

Despite the economic reasons for this occurring, it is somewhat amazing how many characters were performed by how few voice actors here (Tara Strong, Andrea Libman, Cathy Weseluck, and Tabitha St. Germain do just about everything in the show).  Photo Finish is the main new addition, and while she has yet to reappear on the show beyond a background cameo, her attitude is more charming than silly and pretentious (which may be how she is supposed to come off).  Photo Finish is absolutely right that Fluttershy looks better in her “sad” poses instead of what Rarity wanted, and Fluttershy appears every bit the attractive model with her hair done up on the runway.  Obviously Photo Finish is a bit of a caricature, but never one that comes off mean-spirited (even with the delightful Austrian accent).  The four appearing mane six ponies are all in top form for what they do best, especially Pinkie Pie and Rarity.  This also includes seeing a side of Fluttershy we haven’t before, although there sadly isn't too much time to explore what it’s like for her to be famous (not that she's happy in the few scenes shown).  Spike gushes a lot more in this episode than in Suited For Success, but it doesn't seem inappropriate.  Rainbow Dash and Applejack are mysteriously not around (except for a “blink and you miss it” montage cameo), but with everything else going on they’re not really missed. 

The writing may not be quite up to the standard it should be in Green Isn't Your Color, and there are a lot of questionable moments that hamper things.  But yet, enough good remains for the episode to qualify as a guilty pleasure.  Green Isn't Your Color is just too much fun overall, and somehow becomes more than its parts would suggest.  There’s a knowing smartness in the writing, along with a memorable Pinkie catchphrase and a good lesson presented atypically.  It’s not the secrets that are important, but rather knowing that you can trust your friends.  And it is true that once trust is lost, it’s usually gone “forever”, although Spike no doubt eventually forgives Twilight for telling someone that doesn't really know who he is.  Certain moments are slightly disappointing, although in this case it wouldn't be fair to mark the episode down too much because of them.  Green Isn't Your Color might not be quite as good as the previous fashion episode, but it does end up being surprisingly close.