S05:E04 - Bloom and Gloom

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

Ok, a few hours removed and a rewatch trying to view it with the SB dream scene as Haber likely intended it did help a little. The approach to the cutie mark concern, the heartfelt moments with the lullaby, Scoots flying, and Luna's message about self acceptance all made this a worthwhile outing for the CMC.

 

I'm not trusting DHX teasers anymore though. -_-

DHX trolling with teasers.

 

I don't judge an episode on a misguided teaser. I judge it on what it is. 

[Gernia 691]

It was a good and entertaining episode.

 

 

Wish she had gotten one for real.

 

[mars 4,862]

Ok, a few hours removed and a rewatch trying to view it with the SB dream scene as Haber likely intended it did help a little. The approach to the cutie mark concern, the heartfelt moments with the lullaby, Scoots flying, and Luna's message about self acceptance all made this a worthwhile outing for the CMC.

I'm not trusting DHX teasers anymore though. -_-

Agreed, Jeric. That was low.

 

Throughout the episode, a voice is heard speaking to Applebloom. During the first nightmare, I seriously pondered the possibility that it was actually happening and that the voice was Starlight Glimmer. How awesome would that twist have been? It woulda been cool to see her return after having fled during the season premiere, to try and steal Applebloom's cutie mark. Then this would have meant that Starlight stripped Applebloom of her cutie mark, so now the town is in danger and disarray since she can't perform her job, getting revenge on Ponyville. Then again, that would have taken the spotlight away from Applebloom and her cutie mark for this episode, so maybe this wouldn't have been the best way to take it. But to be honest, they've driven this cutie mark story into the ground at this point. I want them to all just get their cutie marks already instead of dragging this plotline on for so long.

 

I actually wondered if it would be Starlight, but I unfortunately knew that it was a dream and we're not that lucky.

[A Joe in the Bush 255]

That's why I refuse to watch any trailers or teasers. They get my hopes up in the wrong direction.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Sooo...am I the only one who actually found the whole thing Sweetie Belle singing trollbait thing extremely hilarious?

 

I mean, if there's anything teasers and trailers in general have taught me, it's to never expect things the way the trailers and teasers make them out to be 

 

Wouldn't say hilarious, but I never really expected anything from it and am not in any particular hurry for the CMC to get their marks. That'd probably explain my lack of disappointment. In fact, I really enjoyed Sweetie and Scootaloo's nightmares taking them for what they were. Rarity "generously" giving Sweetie a 1 ^_^. And Scootaloo's nightmare was :( :( . I really liked how her failure to fly was the thing, in her mind, condemning her to the life she didn't want.

 

But yeah, I can understand the reason for complaints people've had about this episode but... I don't share them . Didn't exactly try anything new or surprise me, but it executed pretty darn well. As somebody who's at a bit of a turning point in his life and who is also prone to overthinking and worrying about problems, I found it pretty dang relatable. Heck, I even had a series of nightmares about some personal stuff a few weeks ago . Repetitive, unrealistic, sure, but that was kinda the point. I thought the portrayal was spot on. Probably my favorite episode of the season so far.

 

On another note, pancakes seem to be a recurring motif this season . Must investigate further.

[Dark Qiviut 22,415]

I don't judge an episode on a misguided teaser. I judge it on what it is. 

For episodes like B&G, judging the episode, even to an extent, on a teaser like the ones from a while back is unfair: In Equestria Games, the hype for the episode was explicitly tied to the ads. In B&G, the teasers are completely unrelated.

[Frostgage 7,975]

I usually don't love Apple Bloom's episodes but really enjoyed this one, just a great episode. The only slight disappointment is that now I know the Sweetie Belle singing scene doesn't really happen ;-;

[Dark Qiviut 22,415]

It was a good and entertaining episode.

 

 

Wish she had gotten one for real.

 

 

Since the Cutie Mark Crusaders will be pursuing for their Marks very soon, she obviously wouldn't get one this week.

 

[Castle Bleck 19,361]

I hope Babs getting her Mark doesn't mean the end of her screentime or anything.

[Prince Firemane 309]

That's true but it felt like this is the longest he talked in an episode. "Apple Buck season" and "Ponyville Confidential" he talked for a little bit here and there, but in this episode it felt like he kept going on. It felt nice to hear him have more voice time than the other episodes we heard him speak in.

Yeah, but Apple Buck Season was written before Big Mac became the strong, silent type. In Ponyville Confidential, he spoke a few sentences that served to show how upset he was. He did speak a lot in Hearts and Hooves Day, but... yeah...

 

It seems that the writers are conspiring to make Big Mac say as little as possible because it's been turned into a running gag, so it's rather humorous that if you hear Big Mac speaking a lot in long, coherent sentences, you must be dreaming. xD

[~Flash Brush~ 313]

As soon as I saw that Applebloom had a cutiemark I started to freak out..... Turns out it was a dream, AWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

[MAIKUN 262]

 

Since the Cutie Mark Crusaders will be pursuing for their Marks very soon, she obviously wouldn't get one this week.

 

Wait wait hold up. Seriously?

[Dark Qiviut 22,415]

Wait wait hold up. Seriously?

Eeeeyup. In fact, it'll air in two weeks.

 

Appleoosa's Most Wanted.

 

"Infamous outlaw Troubleshoes Clyde returns to terrorize the Appleoosa[sic] rodeo and the Cutie Mark Crusaders set out to bring him to justice, hoping it is the key to finally getting their cutie marks."^[6]

 

According to the FIM Wiki, Dave Polsky's the writer.

Edited April 18, 2015 by Dark Qiviut

[StitchandMLPlover 930]

I really loved this episode. It is tense and keeps you guessing. I think it is Josh Habers best episode yet. I thought I would be "Meh" about this episode but I am really impressed. This may be the best characterization of Applebloom in the entire series. I remember seeing an interview with Josh Haber saying he was worried about writing the CMC effectively but he seems to have them all down pat. He understands their inner thoughts and fears. Applejack was great in this episode with her lullaby. I loved that Big Mac got a bigger speaking part. I was definitely right about this episode being Applebloom's dream visit from Luna. I like how in certain scenes you aren't sure if Applebloom is really dreaming or not which gives it a really unique flavor compared to the other 2 dream episodes. Luna was so sweet and motherly here. Seems Luna can see multiple dreams at once. I liked that Scootaloo and Sweetie waved to Luna. I love that Babs Seed got her cutie mark. I wonder if we will ever see Babs with her new cutie mark and what happened to Babs other Manehatten classmates without cutie marks. I like the paraspite callback. I also like the callback to "Twilight time". This episode is dripping with continuity. Including Scootaloo's dream flying which was actually sad in a way because you know she really wants to fly. I relate to those kinds of feelings of my body being more free during sleep because I am disabled. A potion making cutie mark would have made sense for Applebloom in real life, as would a singing cutie mark for Sweetie Belle and a dare devil cutie mark for Scootaloo. I liked how the lesson kind of tied in with Cutie Map with "a cutie mark won't change you, no matter what you get" I'm glad they addressed fears some fans had of the CMC spitting up and/or fighting once they get their cutie marks and the fact that they probably won't get their cutie marks at the same time. I find it interesting that Sweetie and Scootaloo acted like jerks when they got their cutie marks in one dream. Seems to me that Applebloom has been somewhat scarred by being bullied by Diamond Tiara considering those girls were almost worse in Applebloom's other dream. The idea of Applebloom's shadow was fascinating.  

[Glaive9Gko 82]

Pretty solid! 
-- Gotta love the way MLP handles surreal dream stuff. 
-- Ya know, I actually kinda wanted Applebloom to be Equestria's Dale Gribble, or maybe Ghostbusters would be a better comparison? Pony Dale Gribble as a ghostbuster? Yeah, I'll just go with that.
-- Dat AJ lullaby! Holy shit, cutest thing in MLP to date! 
-- Love it when MLP messes with conventions, so having the old exterminator guy call Applebloom out on parrot exposition was great!
-- Couldn't help but notice that all of their dreams contained hints as to their true marks. Sure it was blatantly obvious with Sweetie and Scoots, but I also noticed that 'Bloom fixed the clubhouse offscreen during the my-friends-are-gunna-leave-me part. 
-- The barn is never safe, even in the dream world! 
-- So, Big Mac gets a major speaking role here. Anypony think this means anything? Did AB dream it because it would be strange, or do we find it strange because AB is more used to hearing him talk than the audience? Is there a meta joke? Like, Big Mac only gets lines in our dreams?
-- Good lord, flying Scootaloo hit me right in the feels...

Well that's enough of that. I'mma give this episode an adorableApplejackmoment/10

[SL4MT 51]

Babs' cutie mark has a lot of room for jokes if you know what I mean. Also what the hell was up with SB's voice?

[Omar 692]

My favorite part was the pest control guy

He's now one of my favorite ponies.

[Cleverclover 1,526]

For the most part, I think this episode was pretty dull, but Applejack was a major saving grace. 

 

I was nearly in tears when she started singing to Apple Bloom. If you were to ask me why I love Applejack so much, moments like that are exactly what I would point to. Take notes, Sonneborn. This is how you write Applejack. 

 

AB's dream sequences were just straight up painful to watch. From the farm being destroyed, to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon taunting her in a manner more cruel than they ever have before, to her own friends and family disowning her. It was all just very unpleasant and simply made me enjoy the episode less. I really don't think that the dream sequence should have made up the entire episode. 

 

In any case, it's not a bad episode, just a really average one. 

[Scootaloodle 1,622]

I loved it:

 

It was just an all round good episode.

 

It was kind of obvious that Applebloom was dreaming pretty quickly but it still made a good episode.

 

The bit when Scootaloo was on the ramp on her scooter, I almost screamed like the Scoots fanboy that I am

[Allen 1,387]

It's Apple Bloom got her cutie mark in this episode, however it's a fake one as her dream got a nightmare. Later, when I heard that spooky voice come from: that's Princess Luna.

 

Also, the song was revealed after her dream was finished! 

[OtakuBrony 349]

Howdy all!

 

Pretty good episode with Apple Bloom.

 

Josh Haber wrote a doozy.

 

Man all those cutie marks.

 

Kinda reminds of the Cutie Pox.

 

Michelle Creber (Apple Bloom) did great performance.

 

Apple Jack singing that lullaby was cute.

Though I thought Michelle was gonna sing her version Hush Now Quiet Now (back in S1)  except Claire Corlett singing as Sweetie Belle in this episode.

 

Yay for Tabitha as Princess Luna

 

I was hoping Babs would appear in S5

 

I woulda been  if Diamond Tiara & Silver Spoon would get shocked by those electric pests.

Poor AB.

 

 At least theres another CMC episode coming up later in the season. (Maybe more who knows?)

 

See ya!

[DJShy 873]

When Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon showed up, I can't be the only one who was like, "Open the jar, open the jar, open the jar..."

[ponylaces 1,870]

Definitely Josh Haber's best episode.

 

It was an interesting episode, confusing and weird at times but I liked it. Apple Bloom does ask some good questions about getting her cutie mark and Applejack's lullaby was really nice. It was interesting to see Scootaloo's and Sweetie Belle's dreams too.

 

I screamed when Scootaloo started flying. I'm weird, I know.

That part was such a subtle sad moment for Scootaloo. She knows they're dreaming so she starts flying, that's just the saddest thing ever.

 

Pretty great episode. This season has been really awesome so far.

[Spartan 433]

FINALLY saw the new episode..

 

But Scootaloos nightmare was the best lol! But is it me or did Luna's voice change? But all the sugary 'breakfasts' in ABs nightmares can only mean one thing.. Celestia had a hand, uh hoof, in it! That or Luna's on a diet now and its her nightmare too..

 

 

Oh and Scootaloo did fly! Given it was a dream lol

[Twilight Frost 271]

meh, It was ok.

 

I kind of find the repetative rewind thing they did kind of annoying. Whenever you have anything where time or an event keeps skipping back to the beginning over and over again and it is not groundhog day or Majoras mask, it just gets really annoying.

 

I would almost say I hated the episode, but the lesson it teaches at the end was sufficient from bringing it down to a 1/5.