Rating:
On Your Marks is a rare necessary episode that doesn’t feel
substantial. Dave Polsky’s premise could
have gone either way, but he chose to populate his script with filler. Now possessing strange new cutie marks, the
Crusaders question both their continued activities and existence. They ultimately decide on a Radiohead-like
compromise between doing their own activities around group ones, but Apple
Bloom doesn’t come upon this so easily.
Our least favorite ponies still find time to solve a cutie mark problem
while helping another earn his, but neither ends up being very remarkable. Some problems exist from the Crusaders having
gotten their marks in crusading earlier, but Polsky can’t be forgiven for what
he came up with. On Your Marks needed to
be better given My Little Pony’s
writing situation, which unquestionably makes it disappointing. Too many scenes are wasted with them not
knowing what to do, and that doesn’t make for compelling viewing despite being understandable. If anything, On Your Marks seems like the
series is searching for ideas, but like our protagonists they aren’t finding
them.
The first band meeting since season five’s “momentous” event
catches our leads watching their own asses rather than paying attention. Solving cutie mark problems is proving
difficult since most of Ponyville’s residents are content, but the Crusaders can’t
exactly travel elsewhere. Bulk Biceps
does unexpectedly show up and ask for help, but his issues aren’t complex and
they’re solved quickly. Once the
Crusaders realize they can now do whatever, all three soon discover a lack of
interest in each other’s activities.
With no work or common ground, the Crusaders part to
concentrate on their own projects.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo happily start crocheting and bungee jumping,
but Apple Bloom doesn’t desire alone time.
She essentially embarks on her own personal Crusader episode, which
proves even more unproductive since Apple Bloom now has no friends either. Only dancing slightly piques her interest,
but without experience this predictably goes poorly. After bombing her “audition”, Apple Bloom
ignores a stage fright-stricken pony who has no cutie mark and retreats back to
the clubhouse.
Having produced successful solo albums, Scootaloo and
Sweetie Belle return as well, only to find an angry and insane Apple Bloom has
covered the walls in pictures of failed activities. They must reiterate that breaking up wasn’t
their intention. Every activity need not
be done together now, but they will still remain friends. Apple Bloom neglects performing another face
palm when she relates her dance escapade and mentions the pony without his
cutie mark.
She takes her friends to the dance recital, where they find
Tender Taps skulking near the entrance.
His problems suggest a simple solution: Apple Bloom will go on with him
and look much worse by comparison. After
she falls off the stage and a few nervous moments, Tender Taps starts
dancing. Despite an extremely short
routine (probably cut for time), the crowd erupts in cheers, producing Tender
Taps’ cutie mark right there. Having
found a way to continue on, the Crusaders celebrate their triumph.
Polsky’s outline could have been successful, too many sloppy
lapses exist in his script. The
Crusaders first question Big Mac, who reports no dissatisfaction after
Brotherhooves Social’s events. This is
odd since Polsky also wrote that episode and had Big Mac voice just such
concerns. Bulk Biceps’ stereotypical “dumb
athlete” demeanor might have been redeemable if he was ever seen again. And we also see those Cake twins haven’t aged
at all, which is not how the baby thing works.
Such early mistakes make a potentially fun first act feel wasted.
Apple Bloom’s focus means Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are
neglected and seem like one character.
Neither of them have any concerns about potentially breaking up, nor do
they participate meaningfully in the plot.
This might not be noteworthy if the Crusaders hadn’t been plagued by
such concerns for their entire existence.
That wouldn’t have mattered if Apple Bloom received better development, but
we again witness a parade of skills which don’t make much sense for her. After The Show Stoppers suggested her
eventual cutie mark would be in carpentry, Polsky introduced potion making
during Twilight Time for no discernible reason.
Once this questionable talent goes poorly, he turns Apple Bloom toward
dancing, which likewise has little precedent or future prospects. Considering the others participate in bungee
jumping and crocheting to similar success, these ponies don’t make any progress
at all.
That means On Your Marks fails in its supposed purpose. Instead of showing the Crusaders ably moving
forward, they’re still no better than “try everything” disasters. Perhaps this is truer toward actual life
changes, but some sort of growth potential should have been shown. Instead, Polsky makes season five’s decision
to give them their marks look like a mistake.
It isn’t necessarily considering what happened in their other episodes,
but what else can be ascertained when their supposed talent already seems
fruitless? Maybe a discourse on how
society values certain (often frivolous) jobs above others can save the
Crusaders’ arc, although such a direction seems unlikely. On Your Marks continues season five’s swoon
while not justifying My Little Pony’s
existence either. Little hope remains if
Polsky cannot find more inspiration than what he displayed here.
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