My Little Pony Review: S6E7 “Newbie Dash”, or “How to piss off Star Seer the Writer” [Spoilers]

[starseerdrgn]

I’m not normally one to review shows like MLP, but this episode is one of the very few of any series that’s actually managed to both disappoint me from the fan aspect, and anger the writer in me. I’m not going to talk about the show play-by-play, but I will touch on a few aspects, and there will be spoilers.

 

Starting off, this is a Rainbow Dash & the Wonderbolts episode, and I’ve not enjoyed a single episode’s portrayal of the Wonderbolts. When they’re not looking like complete dicks, they come off as completely inept. Soarin and Spitfire work well when they’re the only one or two on the screen with Rainbow Dash, but if they’re with anyone else from the team, they just look very uncomfortable.

In fact, in Rarity Investigates, Soarin was a jerk in his accusations, and the team as a whole came off as judgemental and hateful. WHY does Rainbow Dash like this group? It makes so little sense.

In this episode, Rainbow Dash is thrown under the shark as a Cloudsdale bus runs over them both. Spitfire’s warning about checking the runway is good, but when Rainbow Dash crosses without looking later, she’d have never seen anyone coming since the two flying at the time came in from a dive, and would have been outside of her view when she checked. The writer (Dave Rapp) simply threw her onto the runway for the sake of the plot, and that’s not the sign of good writing. Add in the fact that the incoming Wonderbolts could have easily flared back for a quick rise, then landed VTOL-style, and you have the makings of potential dick teammates.

Then comes the “nickname” given to Rainbow Dash by her fellow Wonderbolts: Rainbow Crash. All because she dove out of the way and hit a trash can. Soarin looked rather uncomfortable hearing everyone use it, and even seemed like he didn’t want anything to do with it. Spitfire at least looked amused, but not taking it seriously. The other Wonderbolts used it in an outright spiteful manner, and in no way as a sign of Rainbow Dash’s first day.

When it’s revealed that they all have such nicknames at the end, it felt more like Dave Rapp was trying to justify the outright bullying that the Wonderbolts were putting Rainbow Dash through. Yes, I’m aware that they have roots in the military, but this is a show where you’re trying to target children to give morals to. This moral came off as “Bullying is natural, so just take it.” That doesn’t sit well with me at all.

Then there’s Rainbow Dash’s flying throughout most of the episode. I can understand nervousness causing issues, but this was more along the line of “Rainbow Dash forgot how to fly”, not “I’m just nervous.” If it’s anything outside of the plot, then Rainbow Dash would have had to start flying bad because the Wonderbolts were bullying her, and that just makes them look worse than ever. After Wonderbolt Academy and Rainbow Falls, I didn’t think that’d be possible, but Rarity Investigates beat that thought, and Newbie Dash sank them even further in my view.

Of course, then Rainbow Dash loses her mind (again) and starts a bit of a comedy section that actually made me laugh: she imitates her friends. It’s the only good part of this episode for me, and Dave Rapp’s writing actually shined here. What really hurt was Flutterdash, with Rainbow Dash imitating Fluttershy. It actually felt like those were Rainbow Dash’s real feelings coming out when she was hurt so badly.

The expert flying on the day of the show felt forced, especially after everything Rainbow Dash had went through up to that point. The sub-plot of that act with Scootaloo also felt forced. I think the show would’ve been better without Scootaloo’s character being dragged down with Rainbow Dash insanity.

All in all, this was a trainwreck of an episode that had very little to redeem it, and while the comedy section was good, it couldn’t save this sinking boat.

As a writer myself, I outright hated this episode. It felt like it broke continuity, broke characters, and even broke all suspension of disbelief. The only reason I finished the episode was because my mate Sildrae kinda made me. I actually hope I don’t see another Wonderbolts-oriented episode for the next couple of seasons…

Thankfully, the discovery of the new show Camp WWE, and the insanity of Markiplier’s latest Subnautica episode, managed to improve my mood enough to enjoy the day.