Rating:
Hearth’s Warming Eve isn’t really an episode of My Little Pony, which is why it’s
Merriwether Williams’ best effort. Freed
from the restrictions of characters and series history, Williams indulges in
stereotypes while telling a hypothetical history of Equestria’s founding. None of it can be true since Celestia isn’t
involved (while Starswirl The Bearded gets namedropped), but the story is
pleasantly watchable in a way most of Williams’ episodes aren’t. The mane six have been tapped to present a
Christmas play, and all perform excellently despite no previous
experience. They are cast as the three
leaders of each faction (Pegasus, earth, unicorn) and their sidekicks. Every pony in charge plays up their
character’s personality: Rarity is prissier, Pinkie Pie crazier, and Rainbow
Dash bossier than usual. The
second-in-commands are more level-headed and are actually able to get
along. Williams’ fable uses some fairly
obvious symbolism, which is weakened by an ending that tries to explain it
away. Clichés pop up again (but not
nearly as much as in Mare Do Well), and the fight-filled real mane six scenes
mean our actual ponies’ absence isn’t missed.
Despite problems galore, Williams was given a story perfectly suited to
her “eccentricities”. That doesn’t mean
Hearth’s Warming Eve is canon or worth having given her a second chance for, but
it’s a decent enough Christmas offering without falling too deeply into the
holiday’s “traditions”. As we saw from
Williams both before and after, she could be a lot worse.
Since this episode doesn’t take place in the Equestria we’ve
seen for a season and a half previously, it’s plausible for the mane six to be
extremely excited about their lengthy trip to Canterlot. Despite having never rehearsed at all, they
are set to star in the city’s big Hearth’s Warming Eve production, which Rarity
relates is the most prestigious and could be viewed by hundreds to thousands of
ponies. Since it hasn’t started yet,
Williams gets in another shot at Rainbow Dash, whose refusal to close a window
threatens to blow the mane six apart.
Fortunately, the show begins and they just forget these problems.
Medieval Equestria (or wherever, since it apparently doesn’t
exist yet) is threatened by a humongous blizzard that has every inhabitant
starving and angry. The three tribe
leaders attend a meeting whose topic is how to solve this problem, but they all
storm out after accusing each other of starting the snowstorm. Commander Hurricane (Dash), Princess Platinum
(Rarity), and Chancellor Puddinghead (Pinkie Pie) return to their various
homes, where they take their lieutenants (Fluttershy, Twilight, Applejack) and
set out to find a new land. After many
tribulations, the three groups all arrive…next to each other.
While originally free from snow, the blizzard returns after
our ponies start inevitably arguing.
Forced inside a cave, petty bickering continues despite the winds and
ice building up. Each leader is
completely frozen, while the seconds appear close to that fate. Admitting they’re all not nearly as angry as
their captains, the three realize every problem has been caused by Windigos;
magical creatures who feed off others’ hatred.
Forming a bond of friendship just before being swallowed by ice causes a
reaction in Twilight’s horn akin to the pilot.
This magic defeats the Windigos and begins melting their surroundings. Finally agreeing to live together, the ponies
dub their new land Equestria. With about
a minute left to fill though, the mane six continue their fighting backstage
before a strong wind convinces Rainbow Dash to just close that window.
Most of the problems Hearth’s Warming Eve has stem from it completely
ignoring everything about the series.
Pretty much none of it could be canon, from the train ride to both the
play’s story and production, Celestia’s absence, and the existence of such a
holiday. But admittedly, this play is
the episode’s best part, since the surrounding scenes are much weaker. Twilight and company actually play “I spy”
upon entering Canterlot, but it’s not a game so much as them saying what they
see. Then Dash is again insufferable (having
learned nothing from The Mysterious Mare Do Well), which spills over to the
mane six’s needless fighting. No reason is
given for Dash even opening that window, so such strife was completely
manufactured. Props should be given for Fluttershy’s
stage fright though, which is seen again in Filli Vanilli. Of course, she gets over it rather quickly
and easily here.
Thankfully the play provides relief from a likely worse
episode, even though it feels like each character is what Williams thinks
they’re actually like rather than them acting out a part. Puddinghead (while hilariously named)
suggests earth ponies have always been rather crazy, when Pinkie Pie is just
clearly unique. Princess Platinum is
every bit as stuck up as Rarity is often portrayed as, while Dash’s Hurricane
is similarly brash. They feel like what
you would imagine if someone gave you a 30 second summary of each character
rather than you watching the actual show.
Is it a coincidence that Williams’ work on My Little Pony seems like exactly this happened?
At least Williams tries to make some sort of point regarding
how those in charge often think they’re very important, when it’s likely they
were either more outgoing and forceful (Hurricane) or born into it
(Platinum). Pinkie’s character wouldn’t
rule anything, but she no doubt satirizes someone who is very sure of themself
even when completely wrong. All told,
it’s a rather complete picture of higher-ups who don’t realize when they’re the
problem. Paradoxically, the further you
go up that pyramid, the less needed each person is. Whether Williams intended it or not, she
actually demonstrates an issue even if in rather obvious terms. Just because someone is rich and privileged
doesn’t mean they’re important, but good luck convincing anyone of that.
Watching the mane six play other ponies is actually fun if
one ignores the stereotypes. Were all of
them trained actors, they might have turned in such performances while enjoying
their work. Seeing an Alpha Pinkie
provides some stupidly amusing moments (“can you think inside a chimney?”),
while Rarity eats up being positively insufferable at times. Interestingly, Dash’s character is probably
male, and she wasn’t exactly cast in a trousers role. This is partial proof for the supposition
that Dash is trans-something or other and nobody cares. Of course, Hearth’s Warming Eve isn’t
remotely canon, but Dash seems convincing just the same.
Because it doesn’t actually belong as part of the series, I
could understand Hearth’s Warming Eve being rated much lower, especially given
its writer. But outside of any “real”
parts, the play is very watchable and thankfully dominates most of the running
time. Williams tries to provide some
backstory, and at least shows an atmosphere of tolerance and ponies working
together. This is a far cry from her
other episodes, even though she can’t resist terrorizing them through constant
fighting and encasement in ice. Yes, all
of Williams hallmarks are here, and the few clichés that seep in are painful
(did we really need to trot out “I can see my house from here” again?). Hearth’s Warming Eve also never reaches those
sustained lows of Williams’ other episodes though. The editing department may have helped her
out (as did animation, especially with Derpy’s cameo), but that’s their job. I must judge whatever aired, and Hearth’s
Warming Eve is less than half bad. It
does nothing to suggest Williams deserves a place on the writing staff, but the
series will probably never show a better Christmas episode either.
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