Rating:
Faith was already tackled as a subject by Dave Polsky in the
first season, and those results were rather dreadful. Josh Haber’s second go around succeeds by
generalizing it more, and with no less than the Apple Family and Flim Flam
Brothers for characters. The former much
maligned stars get a decent episode by just being themselves and finally feeling
like a family. Haber keeps Applejack and
Apple Bloom under control, while treating Granny Smith as much more than comic
relief. She ends up experiencing youth again
thanks to the returning brothers, who have appropriately moved into selling a
cure-all tonic. Although the family is a
bit dense throughout, Applejack soon discovers it’s a fake and must decide
whether to ruin Granny Smith’s rejuvenation.
This simple tale straight out of the old west is an accurate metaphor
for religion, since what’s the harm if it makes you feel better to believe? Rather than insisting that unexplainable
things must mean the existence of a higher power, Haber asks how important the
quest for truth is. Perhaps Applejack
has to find as she does, even if her character not being religious is doubtful. Still, instead of pushing one side or the
other, Haber explores the philosophical aspect without needing either to be
true. Combine this with a reasonable
Apple Family portrayal, and Leap Of Faith is easily the best episode focusing
on them even despite a few suspect moments.
While relaxing in the lake, Granny Smith finds time in the
teaser to reminisce about when she was a diving champion. Surprisingly to her, diving into a kiddie
pool from six stories high produced career ending injuries, but she still can’t
bear to face water since then. Because
of its danger, Apple Bloom wants to try too, but then everyone is suddenly
distracted by a starting show. The Flim
Flam Brothers are back with a new scheme, but it’s literally the same old
song. Exactly like they’re initial
appearance in The Super Speedy…, most of the first act is taken up by a similar
sounding large production number.
Instead of cider, the brothers are peddling old-fashioned faith healing
via their new tonic, and naturally make a crippled pony walk normally again
during their presentation. That’s enough
for Granny Smith, who makes the first purchase of a bottle.
Since it’s obviously not real, the cure-all appears to
work. Granny is immediately back in the
water and swimming better than her descendents.
She’s incredibly spry and happily finishes some chores with all the
extra energy in her possession, but this display quickly makes Applejack set out
with Apple Bloom to discover what’s really in the tonic. At the pavilion, they run into the same guy
who was cured during the previous show.
A chase ensues, but he uses an organ as a smokescreen to escape. Unfortunately, he still leads Applejack back
to the brothers, where they inform her that their cure-all is clearly working, and
what does it matter if the product is only made of apples and beets? They coerce Applejack into keeping their
secret so as not to ruin everything for Granny Smith.
Back at the pool, Granny plans to participate in a swimming
competition with Apple Bloom, and they soon return to buy more cure-all (every
athlete is juicing with something, after all).
Applejack tells the skeptical spectators there that it seems to be
working for Granny, and this out of context quote leads the brothers to say she
is endorsing their product (later complete with billboard ads). As the money rolls in, Granny continues her
tear on the sporting world, earning three perfect 10s with Apple Bloom from the
judges in synchronized swimming. She
freely admits her cheating after the event, and just like in real life,
absolutely no one cares.
Unfortunately, Granny Smith now believes she can complete
her high dive, which means Applejack finally has to put a stop to
everything. She lassos Granny just
before the latter hits the pool, and subsequently admits the tonic is
fake. When asked if that means she lied,
Applejack is forced to answer yes. This
at least causes the brothers’ helper Silver Shill to come clean as well. After promising legitimate business ventures
from now on, he gives Applejack a coin procured from working as a beer
tonic vendor. This becomes her key,
since it’s all about the Benjamins, or something. Meanwhile, the brothers slink out of town
while everyone’s attention is diverted.
Applejack makes the surprising Nietzschean decision of
preferring truth to the beliefs of everyone around her, although she doesn’t
have much choice with her element being honesty. Since Celestia is right there (some of the
time), this virtual atheism is more understandable. An argument for religion exists that
theorizes it’s better to believe, since you lose nothing if God doesn’t exist
(well, except all the time praying, going to church, converting, etc.). For those who prefer the truth though, this
isn’t enough, as it must be sought no matter how inconvenient or unhappy.
But Leap Of Faith doesn’t require you to follow this
path. As has been shown with placebos,
what the brain believes can have a powerful effect on your well-being, which presumably
explains Granny Smith’s actions. She
probably couldn’t perform everything we see, although clearly some limitations
were only in her mind. Haber doesn’t
show Granny aching badly upon learning the news, but this would still likely occur
at some point since she’s 120 years old.
Any aversion of clichés is appreciated, but restarting an athletic
career at such an advanced age isn’t going to happen no matter what your mind
thinks.
Haber does finally find the right tone for the Apple family,
as they seem like equals who have spent a lot of time together rather than
always trying to boss each other around.
This extends to Applejack and Apple Bloom, who behave like sisters that
do things together rather than a daughter with a mother who won’t leave her
alone. Apple Bloom even does something
fun with Granny Smith, which is a rare if not singular occurrence. Big Mac only gets his usual catchphrases, but
they’re well used and are fairly expressive.
Overall, the family has never felt better.
They are unfortunately rather stupid, though. Applejack shouldn’t take any time to question
the cure-all’s veracity based on who’s selling it, while her brethren
absentmindedly flock to the Flim Flam Brothers’ presentation when their show
couldn’t have been anything good. At
least the brothers fare pretty well for characters that didn’t necessarily need
a second episode. They clearly remember
their earlier feud with the Apples, and don’t bother lying to Applejack when an
alternate way will be more effective.
However, having another vocal introduction feels dangerously like filler
since it was already done before. The
song is catchy enough, but takes up most of the act and wastes time that could
have been used elsewhere.
Also brought with them is an accomplice who does manage a quick
character arc. Unfortunately, Silver
Shill feels like an archetype (someone Walter Brennan might have played), and
his progression isn’t interesting.
There’s just no reason to care about a character that is so spineless.
Leap Of Faith appropriately takes risks with subject matter
and characters, and they pay off thanks to strong writing. The episode is a good choice for Applejack’s
special moment, even if its trigger doesn’t make a lot of sense (how will money
remind her to tell the truth?). Some
filler moments and bad characterization hurt things, but the lesson on faith is
finally well presented. Haber has
brought a realistic feel to My Little
Pony, which serves to ground the Apples and make them tolerable. This is another surprisingly strong outing
from a rookie writer.
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