Rating:
After two awful outings, Dave Rapp tried but failed at the
trifecta, which turned out good for us.
Where The Apple Lies is surprisingly watchable and easily his best
season six episode, although it’s also not without faults. The improvement comes from Rapp watching
previous episodes and applying that knowledge, but his origin story remains
debatably believable. It details when
young Applejack told a lie which spiraled out of control, which we wouldn’t
expect from Ms. Honesty. While obviously
troperific, the characters are young and lively enough to provide some
entertainment. Despite mostly taking
place before Apple Bloom’s birth, Applejack’s parents still do not appear nor
are they ever mentioned, so I guess one day the stork brought her. We also learn Big Mac was previously quite
loquacious, but piped down solely from this one event. Probably not.
Such inconsistencies hurt Apple Lies’ enjoyment, as does its unoriginal
plot and Rapp ignoring times when lies are necessary. Considering his distinct lack of writing
style cachet, those aforementioned problems, and still more filler, the episode
can’t be rated any higher despite it representing an improvement on the
previous two. Rapp’s mildly competent work
still isn’t great upon any reflection though, and season six needed a lot more
than what he produced.
The Apples have Zap apple jam and cider batches ready for
shipment, but Filthy Rich ends up with the wrong one even though Apple Bloom
“totally” checked before he leaves (she actually says that, which I consider a
plus). He returns during the theme and
this problem gets quickly rectified, but Applejack is pissed at being lied to. A subsequent comment from Apple Bloom about
how Applejack has “never” lied prompts laughter from her two oldest family
members. Granny Smith happily relates how
Applejack’s lies once sent them all to the hospital.
After arguing about who will run the farm when Granny Smith
finally croaks, a teenaged Applejack and Big Mac encounter Filthy Rich and his
“new fiancée” Spoiled Milk (previously seen during Crusaders Of The Lost Mark,
I was apparently right about her maiden name).
Since Rich is taking over his own business, he offers to sell the
Apples’ cider rather than have Ponyville endure that clusterfuck which results
in Pinkie Pie buying ten cups while Rainbow Dash doesn’t get a goddamn drop. Big Mac wants to pass, but Applejack makes
the deal (for a few barrels at first) because I can’t imagine why. Since it would involve change and probably
higher profits, Granny unsurprisingly puts the kibosh on their arrangement.
(She actually explains cider must be served fresh while the jam can just sit
around, which would be logical if accurate.)
Since they shook on it and he made a new display, Filthy
Rich angrily threatens to end his Apple family business dealings. Applejack panics and tells Rich they’re
pulling out because Granny is sick. This
rather nondescript lie starts spiraling when Rich and Spoiled Milk show up at
Sweet Apple Acres to check on her condition.
While barely keeping Granny out of sight, Applejack eventually says her
elder is at the hospital with Apple Blight (something which should only infect
apples). Naturally Rich and Milk start
heading there instead.
Applejack now tells Granny Smith ponies are coming down with
the Blight, and they need her “expert opinion”.
With Rich and Milk wandering around, Applejack keeps Granny hidden while
having Big Mac pretend he’s the matriarch by lying down and covering his whole
body with a sheet. Somehow, Big Mac ends
up in a large observation room where “Dr.” Granny announces his “infected” red
limb must be cut off. Applejack finally
comes clean and admits her deception in front of the crowd. After much confusion among everyone assembled,
Granny ensures Rich won’t be cutting off any business ties and proclaims no one
else will manage Sweet Apple Acres because she’ll never die and her lousy
grandkids clearly aren’t fit. But that
would be ending on a downer, so the present-day Apples all laugh about drinking
cider together (the second straight episode which ends thusly).
Technically speaking, Where The Apple Lies is another retcon
creation which can’t be taken as actual series history. Ignoring season five’s apparent stride, Big
Mac’s character continues being a canvas for each writer to paint whatever they
feel like about him. Having Big Mac talk
more is interesting and surprisingly easy to accept, but there’s no way he was
ever like that. Resolving so quickly to
listen wouldn’t happen either, but seeing Applejack and Granny Smith disgusted
over one of his usual sayings remains pleasurable. Even if clearly not “real”, this is an
acceptable and fun imagination.
The other younger versions more or less resemble their older
counterparts, which is fine. Granny appears
slightly less wrinkly but still has a penchant for telling long stories and an
ego which allows the episode to continue.
Applejack retains that look and sound (first seen in The Return Of
Harmony) where she’s obviously lying, but at least it was for a good reason at
first. Filthy Rich and Spoiled Milk have
an awkward but understanding relationship which hasn’t been featured on My Little Pony yet, and we quickly realize
he’s probably with her more for looks than personality. From the guy who thought Zephyr Breeze was
compelling and Rainbow Dash would walk somewhere, this is unexpectedly solid
characterization. Outside of Big Mac’s
interpretation, there aren’t really any problems.
As another “lying” parable, both plusses and minuses exist. Remembering and pulling off long stretches of
fibs can be quite difficult, but they probably won’t go so quickly and absurdly
wrong either. And being completely
truthful in every situation isn’t always recommended, especially if it would needlessly
hurt you or others. The acceptability of
lying is a gray area which isn’t easy to make rules for, but Rapp’s children’s
show perspective unsurprisingly suggests it’s never okay. This issue is complex, and couldn’t really be
dealt with by such a silly story.
For once, my 2½ star rating was mostly in spite of how I
felt about the episode. While a
masterpiece compared to Rapp’s previous work, Where The Apple Lies is also very
watchable; a mundane fact which can’t be understated given how poor those
earlier outings were. Big Mac’s
portrayal highlights how non-canon this story is, and Applejack’s lie couldn't
have possibly been sustained so long.
The characterization and enjoyability are markedly improved, although
Rapp doesn’t quite prove his writing skills yet. Maybe what episodes he watched is obvious, but
this produced great continuity and clearly isn’t done enough. As for a small triumph, notice how Zap apple
jam and cider are easier to accept when we’re not witnessing the absurd process
which produces them. Even if not great,
Where The Apple Lies shows how little details can vastly affect things, and
that Apple family episodes don’t need crazy mythology to be successful.
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