S02:E07 - May the Best Pet Win

[Moony the Cat 3,702]

I liked this Episode, it was a fun race and i also liked, that it showed a bit more Animals than usual. I just disliked Rainbow Dashs Personality in this one. Sometimes she is just so full of herself, that it honestly annoys me, not as much as Pinkie Pie, but Rainbow Dash has become the second worst Pony to me.

[Thrond 3,263]

This is blatantly terrific. Rainbow's still kinda selfish and rude in this, but never too mean-spirited, and she's also at her absolute most charismatic. The animals are cute, the script is laugh-a-minute, and there's a joyous momentum to all of it that I just find irresistible. Plus, Rainbow Dash didn't need to be humiliated to learn her lesson. It was just an accident which came from her not paying attention, and the episode doesn't even overemphasize her overconfidence. Of course, the moral isn't really about pets - it's about people, about the value of perseverance. Otherwise, this is one of those episodes where talking further would just involve me listing great gags, so here's a few observations I had this time:

• It would have been funnier if they had used a real eagle call. 
• I need gifs of Rainbow Dash saying "pause for dramatic effect" and "dun dun dun!"
• Wow, Rainbow Dash saying Twilight would "never qualify to be her pet" sure is a roundabout way of calling her a nerd. 
• Oh, Fluttershy references the song they sang earlier. Is this the first time a character acknowledged the musical numbers?
• Shout out to the moment when the falcon shakes Tank's foot(?) and walks sadly away. Good sportsmanship. 

Score:

Entertainment: 10/10

Characters: 8/10

Themes: 9/10

Story: 9/10

Overall: 93/100

 

[Meushell 52]

On 12/13/2015 at 11:43 AM, Dracu98 said:

am I the only one who thinks that rainbow dash was kinda acting like a dick in that episode? she saw the passion, love and care tank felt towards her, and yet she decided to pick a pet based on their skills. that's not how you pick a pet, that's not how you treat a future family member. I really felt sorry for tank, and I hope rainbow dash really realised how horrible she's been acting, 'cause otherwise, she wouldn't deserve a pet as wonderful and great as tank.

It depends on what you are looking for in a pet. Wanting one that flies makes perfect sense for a flyer.

I wish she had taken the falcon. Tank winning was just too predictable. Besides, he seems to knock himself around a lot in future episodes, and that’s just no fun to watch. I know Rainbow crashes a lot, but it seems wrong with the tortoise.

Twilight making a comment on Rainbow not knowing what pets are for is pretty funny since she got hers as an extra helper.

[bigbertha 414]

I like this episode. There's nothing great here (except for the song), but it has a decent story and some good jokes through it. Good episode.

Score: 7/10

[bigbertha 414]

This one's mixed. The song is one of the best of the show and there are many entertaining moments, but a lot of the episode is repetitive and boring. And there are a lot of moments that feel like they're trying too hard to be cool, like talking about "radicalness". There's also the fact that Tank being Dash's pet is both incredibly obvious and really contrived. I don't quite think this one's bad, but it's not very good.

Score: 4/10

[kazamacat 64]

I *love* this episode. It is so much fun, Rainbow is so much fun, Rainbow and Fluttershy singing is so cute. This is my second favorite in the whole series.

[Rainbow Dash Swag 285]

Anything having to do with Rainbow Dash already makes it a good episode

[bigbertha 414]

There are quite a few good things here. The first act is pretty entertaining, especially with that song, the second act has some solid jokes, and the third act is kinda exciting.

The issue is with how repetitive the second and third acts are. The different events all have the same structure to them and it gets old. Same goes for the race in Ghastly Gorge. The ending is cute, but there's also a problem with how quickly Rainbow warms up to Tank. It's not set up horribly since saving Rainbow is a very big moment, but I just wish the scene with Tank saving Rainbow went on longer.

Score: 6/10

  

[CypherHoof 26,483]

1 hour ago, bigbertha said:

There are quite a few good things here. The first act is pretty entertaining, especially with that song, the second act has some solid jokes, and the third act is kinda exciting.

Indeed. I also like that they backreference that at the end (when fluttershy asks if they should sing about it again)

 

1 hour ago, bigbertha said:

The issue is with how repetitive the second and third acts are. The different events all have the same structure to them and it gets old. Same goes for the race in Ghastly Gorge. The ending is cute, but there's also a problem with how quickly Rainbow warms up to Tank. It's not set up horribly since saving Rainbow is a very big moment, but I just wish the scene with Tank saving Rainbow went on longer.

Score: 6/10

I quite like the events - each candidate pet approaches the problem in a different way, and you get to see how the different candidates match up to the list of criteria Dashie SAID she wanted. But in the end, it turns out what she values most wasn't on the list at all, and that is loyalty, literally her element.

Of course that causes trouble later on, when Dashie can't bear to be separated....

[Lucky Bolt 35,063]

Eeeee I love this episode, mostly cause of RD, and nostalgia. 10/10 

[luvvva.bxbymiyah 210]

I loved this episode! XD I liked it when RD acted like a total jerk towards the tortoise,  and then her soft side is revealed towards the end. :33 That's what makes her such an interesting character and that is why she's my favorite. :P

[Justin_Case001 4,888]

Decent episode, but I will never forgive Rainbow for choosing that f*cking tortoise.  I hate that Celestia-damned tortoise.  I'm sorry, but I just f*cking hate him.  He's so stupid.  Just because he was the Little Engine That Could doesn't mean she needed to pick him.  She's supposed to have a cool pet that can fly.  She should have chosen the hawk.  I never got over that.

[HedonismBot 239]

On 6/4/2018 at 2:01 AM, Meushell said:

It depends on what you are looking for in a pet. Wanting one that flies makes perfect sense for a flyer.

I noticed that as well. Rainbow Dash lives in a house built on clouds, and she spends most of her waking hours flying. A pet that can fly would legitimately be a much better fit than one that can't, yet she is portrayed as in the wrong for her initial rejection of the tortoise. For what it's worth, quite a few dog owners in real life go jogging with their dogs, and what she wanted out of a pet was basically the airborne equivalent of that.

One would think an animal lover like Fluttershy would know a thing or two about choosing a pet to match one's lifestyle.

Though the episode as a whole wasn't bad, and Tank in his propeller backpack is pretty neat.

[Gale Wind 82]

I also wish she’d taken both. 
 

and do their wings have feathers? It woulda hurt but seems like she coulda got loose easier by pulling it loose but idk

[Cash In 22,306]

Let's first talk about the turtle tortoise in the room. Yes, Tank winning was far too obvious, but I felt that the episode was built around that. You know that the tortoise is going to win, but how he does it is the question.

I found Rainbow Dash interesting here. On one hand, part of me wanted her to just hurry up and just pick a pet. On the other, I actually really enjoyed her extreme competition. It's so over the top, I can't help but enjoy it. I also love the progression of RD being very critical of Tank, to finally appreciating his will and perseverance. It's simple, but it's a wonderful moment and message.

Of course, "Find A Pet" is an amazing song. Nothing unusual here. :p

Awesome episode overall.

Edited February 27 by Cash In
Updated thoughts

[Hadrien 950]

So sad S2 has so many great song, because this could've been the best one. The instrumental alone is toptier, and Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash harmonizes really well for some reason.

I like how the different pets tried to gain advantage, only to be ruined by their own hubris (which is how I plan to go out @StrawberryMilk Simp). Only the steadfast and stalwart turtle made it through by being the tank. So everytime I play a Tank in RPG, i'm actually the best player on the team DAVE !

8/10, great Rainbow Dash episode, but that eldritch abomination of all the pets combined still haunts my dreams.

[Antiyonder 1,150]

YouTube upload of the episode: