S04:E16 - It Ain't Easy Being Breezies

[Tigerpop198 696]

Meh, it was ok, I guess. The mane 6 breezified, no, I don't want to see that ever again. Overall it was a very strange episode, but hey another reveal.

6/10

[PartyWithPinkie 189]

When I heard about this episode having the Breezies in it, I was actually really surprised.

I remember that G3 of My Little Pony had the Breezies too. I remember having the toys. (They were... So ugly)

 

I was also kinda scared. I didn't really see how they could fit in characters like that. What sort of situation would they be in? How would it tie in with the show and the things that have been going on?

But I was pleasantly surprised by this episode, it was actually not bad.

I actually found myself sort of excited to see the mane 6 transform into Breezies.

My biggest problem was that Twilight just happened to know that spell, but at least she explained why she knew.

 

I've been trying to go into each episode this new season with an open mind. I don't wan to judge anything too harshly.

So many Bronies are jumping to the conclusion that MLP is on it's way out this season, but I think that's sort of a foolish conclusion just to jump to.

 

Season 4 obviously has some sort of underlaying theme, and it shows in all the references to this new "Rainbow Power" business.

I feel like that's why this season has been different than season 1-3, and for whatever reason people are panicking about it.

The show is leading up to something, and I see it in episodes like Pinkie Pride, Rarity Take Manehatten, Rainbow Falls, and yesterday's episode.

But over all, episode 16 wasn't terrible, and it wasn't amazing. But I liked it. it was a wonderful moment for Fluttershy's character.

[Cuddly 43]

It is the worst episode in season 4 for me. When I watched it I was very bored. I haven't seen so boring episode before. I don't like Breezies, they are ugly, weird, all of them look like female. Although they know that if when stay in FS home longer, they won't come back to their home, they preferred play and rest in Ponyville. It is weird because their world was amazing. Only See Breeze was smart. Mane6 as breezies look very awful.

In plus:

+ Breezies have a funny accent

+ when Rainbow Dash asked Twilight to change her into a dragon or Griffin.

+ Crying Fluttershy is so sweet.

Edited March 2, 2014 by Cuddly doggy

[Yellow Diamond 7,568]

Since when has Twilight NOT had a convenient spell to fix the problem?

 

Even in Season 2, she had her "failsafe spell" which failed due to the fact that Discord is just too powerful for a mere unicorn to overcome.

 

Fair enough -- except Twilight's "Failsafe Spell" failed, so the subversion helps immensely in smoothing out the fact it came out of nowhere. It also didn't play a integral role in resolving the conflict.

 

I still find the introduction of the "Breezie transformation spell" inelegant. Certainly MLP is no stranger to either deus ex machina magic spells (e.g., "A Canterlot Wedding", "Friendship Is Magic") or applied phlebotinum (e.g., Zecora's potion from "Princess Twilight Sparkle"; Twilight's spell in "Bats!"). The essential issue here is that we're told all these things as opposed to learning them through observation.

[yoshivzqz 14]

Eh. In my opinion not as good as the other episodes. At least we now know what fluttershy's rainbow item is.

[GhostPony750 959]

Okay... so I just started it, and it feels so strange. o_O

This makes no sense!!!

[Pixel Stick 927]

I've been trying to go into each episode this new season with an open mind. I don't wan to judge anything too harshly. So many Bronies are jumping to the conclusion that MLP is on it's way out this season, but I think that's sort of a foolish conclusion just to jump to.

 

Well, speaking just for myself, the thing I'm afraid of, which I've seen happen to countless other shows, is that between having exhausted all the really good ideas, having forced out the show's creator and original visionary, and having really obvious meddling from Hasbro's marketing department, MLP:FiM is starting to resemble the things that everyone disliked and/or hated about the previous-generation shows.  I've seen enough people reference G3 in regards to this episode that I'm convinced as well.

 

AFAIK, back in Season 2, the worst thing to happen was the Derpygate scandal.  There were a lot of people riled up about Hasbro's decision to yank Derpy from the series after the backlash to "The Last Roundup".  I came in to the fandom shortly after the furor about that died down, and had the perspective that if that was the worst thing about the series thus far, the show as a whole must be really strong.  And even with a couple of obvious cash grabs here and there, the writing in the first two seasons was just phenomenal - most of the episodes were well-paced, I really CARED about the characters (ALL of them), and I felt I could relate to something in almost every episode.

 

Season 3 had moments of that as well, but it felt more rushed, and while I personally liked Twilight becoming an alicorn, I disliked how they did it and I totally acknowledge that it was a cash grab.  And unfortunately, Season 4 has done very little to redeem that - they've almost entirely glossed over Twilight's new role (she's a bit more mature, she's more powerful, the kids like her more, and for the most part she's just a background pony now), and with only a few notable exceptions, the rest of the characters feel much more shallow to me than in any previous season.

 

In this episode in particular (these are listed from worst to best, IMO):

- Pinkie Pie's ONLY role was to scream about how excited she was at this and that.  (Which she's done in virtually every episode this season where she wasn't the main focus.)

- Spike was only there to "accidentally" cause the episode's central conflict, furthering his role as "bumbling idiot/comic relief".

- Rarity was only there to wear an obnoxiously bright outfit.

- Applejack was just along for the ride.  She had nothing whatsoever to contribute.

- Twilight was only there to save the day with a convenient transformation spell.

- Rainbow Dash was the only character aside from Fluttershy to be of any use in a context that made sense, and even then she seemed awfully wishy-washy.

 

Fluttershy, the main focus character, felt awfully shallow, and like she'd lost a few brain cells (perhaps due to her stints as Flutterbat and Flutterhulk?).  She's an animal keeper - she KNOWS how to be firm with them.  She considers woodland creatures to be just as intelligent as her friends, and she's made it clear they come first.  So when she's dealing with another apparently-intelligent race of creatures (the Breezies), how is it that she completely forgets what it means to actually TAKE CARE of them?  Taking care of anyone or anything doesn't mean just bowing to their every whim.  It means making sure they have what they need, and that they get back on their way as soon as possible.  She knows this - she's demonstrated it in the past.

 

To me, the fact that she was letting the Breezies walk all over her in her efforts to be "kind" really diluted her element.  I totally get how each of the "key" episodes so far has taken the form of presenting the character with a direct challenge to her element, and then making her resolve it in her own way.  But in this case, I think they missed the mark - the moral felt shoehorned in, whereas it felt like it made more sense with the other keys.

 

(Edit: Added a Spike mention.)

Edited March 2, 2014 by Pixel Stick

[Galen 1,354]

 

 

It would make sense if this episode was written to push a new toy line.

 

You just hit the nail on the head there.

[Painted Lattice 131]

You just hit the nail on the head there.

 

Yes, this is how I felt watching this too ...

 

This episode just didn't do anything for me.

[Mushroom Mutate 69]

Haven't seen it yet! Can someone send me a link? 

[Seaweed-Headed Dragon 359]

In my opinion, the story development on this episode wasn't as rich as the other ones. However still a good episode. 

[Shawn Parks 1,798]

Haven't seen it yet! Can someone send me a link? 

 

 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1e2c39_s4-e16-it-ain-t-easy-being-breezies-hd-tv-rip-temporary_shortfilms 

 

Season 4 | Episode 16 | It Ain't Easy Being Breezies 

[OptimisticNeighsayer 471]

 

Well, speaking just for myself, the thing I'm afraid of, which I've seen happen to countless other shows, is that between having exhausted all the really good ideas, having forced out the show's creator and original visionary, and having really obvious meddling from Hasbro's marketing department, MLP:FiM is starting to resemble the things that everyone disliked and/or hated about the previous-generation shows.  I've seen enough people reference G3 in regards to this episode that I'm convinced as well....

 

Fluttershy, the main focus character, felt awfully shallow, and like she'd lost a few brain cells (perhaps due to her stints as Flutterbat and Flutterhulk?).  She's an animal keeper - she KNOWS how to be firm with them.  She considers woodland creatures to be just as intelligent as her friends, and she's made it clear they come first.  So when she's dealing with another apparently-intelligent race of creatures (the Breezies), how is it that she completely forgets what it means to actually TAKE CARE of them?  Taking care of anyone or anything doesn't mean just bowing to their every whim.  It means making sure they have what they need, and that they get back on their way as soon as possible.  She knows this - she's demonstrated it in the past.

I speculate that the episode was purposely written with a more G3 feel just to establish a Breezie link to the past.  That's not to say that it wasn't a bad choice, but I'm not confident that this is really part of a trend.

 

As for Fluttershy, I figured she was 1) blinded by the Breezies's cuteness (and we've seen that be a flaw for her in "Swarm of the Century") and 2) may have believed given the time frame (which was ambiguous enough to be a serious critique of mine for the episode) that the Breezies could get away with resting for more than a few minutes (while of course, still cognizant of the time frame).  After, all, it was Seabreeze that was really impatient to get home and caused Fluttershy's conflicting feelings.  (Thus hypothetically, if Seabreeze wasn't so impatient, she may have realized, after a few more demands, that the Breezies had gone too far on her own.)

 

However, you make a fair point.  Fluttershy should have figured that the Breezies were faking their colds.

Edited March 2, 2014 by JustFairness

[Guest90210 3,568]

Only thing I didn't really like about the episode was how Spike was written. I kind of look past the other "flaws" in the episode, probably because I really like the Breezies

Edited March 2, 2014 by Rivendare

[roptiriolg 49]

I've never been fan and don't like old mlp, that's why I like  the new MLP cause it's cool characters and better than the girly G3. With that said, I've no idea what a 'breezie' was but obviously as mentioned above, something too girly for my taste. As Fluttershy is my most fave from the 6, I definitely enjoyed her cuteness along the entire episode! Fluttershy was so cute everywhere, that this is what made me love the episode. I still know better episodes that I like more with her (from Season 2 and 3) than this one, I am saying she was very nice. As for the breezies, nothing against the idea of having them or how they look, I imagined them like some FAIRIES, and I think they were okay as a design. Not sure what more could've been added to the episode as it matches a typical Fluttershy episode and that's good. I did not like the mane 6 turning into breezies though, that's just not my taste, but it was a nice episode overall.

Edited March 2, 2014 by ImtR

[vader4445 2]

Did anyone else think of Bug's Life when the leaf broke up the line?

[Jangocoolguy 433]

And now, a hilarious role reversal

It's a swarm of tiny Swedish Chefs!

"Why couldn't Rarity block my view?"

C'mon guys! This is nothing compared to the Twig of '94

Translation: Why return to our home and families when we can mooch off this chick?

NO, NOT THE--oh you know.

I wonder if Andrea's having repressed Gen 3 flashbacks

...Flutter Valley? O_O

Don't feel bad, Dash. The fans will draw you like that (and so much more!)

 

Fun & entertaining, but noting special aside from Fluttershy getting her rainbow item. Still, a fun semi-filler is always better than a dull one!

Edited March 3, 2014 by Jangobadass

[MrHaru 217]

Meh, I wasn't really entranced by this episode in the least. I didn't hate it, but I know I didn't like it.

 

Wasn't G3 or G2 filled with these mutant non-horse-but-actually-horse creatures? I feel like this episode took a hint from previous incarnations of MLP for a bit.

 

That being said it had nothing to do with the writing: it wasn't at fault here. I just......felt there was NOTHING to be excited about. There was no conflict anywhere at all...and that's odd for me to feel that way since I usually find something in each episode to like (in every single one right up until now, including Equestria Girls)...but this? Nah. Wasn't feeling it.

[Pixel Stick 927]

That being said it had nothing to do with the writing: it wasn't at fault here. I just......felt there was NOTHING to be excited about. There was no conflict anywhere at all...and that's odd for me to feel that way since I usually find something in each episode to like (in every single one right up until now, including Equestria Girls)...but this? Nah. Wasn't feeling it.

When a drifting leaf is the biggest actual conflict, you need a really strong story. This wasn't it.

Edited March 3, 2014 by Pixel Stick

[GhostPony750 959]

Okay... hmm... this episode was probably the worst episode ever, seriously didn't like it, at all. :/

But well, it's just one episode I guess.

[VenomTrixie 57]

Yeah I kept thinking through the whole episode that Seabreeze looked and sounded like a girl to me.

[Danger Dash 101]

This episode was okay. Probably my least favorite episode of the season. It was a Fluttershy episode that was just a tad bit too much on the 'girly' side for me, must be the fairies. I found the voices of the breezies annoying. Considering that it was just 2 episodes ago that it was another Fluttershy episode I was hoping for an episode about a different character.

 

Was Fluttershy's attitude towards the bees a result of Iron Will? Or is it just me? My reaction to that part was "OOOOHHHHHH SHEEEEET JUST GOT REAL!"

 

Edited March 3, 2014 by #Rainbow_Danger_Dash

[ShadowSpectrum 9]

*me when the breezie leader spoke* oh god they're freaking SCOTTISH.

Edited March 3, 2014 by ShadowSpectrum

[princeeclipse 0]

i don't care what anyone says. if flutter shy took over the world it would be chaos ……. it would be enough to make discord proud     

[Music Chart Fan 819]

Overall, I wouldn't consider this a very good episode. It seems like almost nothing actually happens; the conflict, plot, and the breezies all come across as contrived and unengaging; and the moral is muddled and not illustrated well by the actual events of the episode.

 

One of the main issues I have with this episode is the breezies themselves. I didn't find them anywhere near as cute or appealing as it seems I'm supposed to, but more than that, I think there are a lot of unanswered questions about them. Why are they journeying away from their home world to get pollen? Why do they have to travel across all of Equestria to do so? How often do they have to do this? Perhaps more importantly, why are they so sensitive and in so much need of micromanagement by ponies? If this journey to get pollen is crucial to their survival, how have they managed to survive for so long? Were they ever able to survive this journey without ponies carefully planning and intervening on their behalf? Do they only survive at the whim of ponies who ensure their survival because the ponies are enraptured by their "cuteness" or feel sorry for them? In short, I'm a bit astounded at how much breezies are dependent on ponies to shelter them from perfectly ordinary occurrences in the natural world (e.g. a blowing leaf or falling acorn). I guess they haven't evolved any kind of mechanism to deal with these abundant natural threats, though perhaps that's because ponies have interfered with the process of natural selection.

 

That brings me to a second main issue I have with the episode: the way that all (and I mean all) of the characters react to the breezies. The entirety of Ponyville seems absolutely enamored of and entranced by them (even Rainbow Dash frets about them), and they're perfectly willing to go far out of their way to make sure the breezies aren't discomforted, inconvenienced, or dispirited in any possible way. It became more and more baffling (and annoying) to see how much this happens - the Mane Six being taught to cheer the breezies to boost their confidence, but not too loud so that they don't startle them; the pegasi having to get the breeze just right; Rarity dressing up for this "special occasion" and then being told by Fluttershy to remove her jacket because it might reflect sun in their eyes; all of the spectators having to whisper and not scare the breezies in any way; and, last but not least, Fluttershy needing to attend to the breezies' every whim simply because they were blown off course, even though they weren't injured whatsoever. I can't help wondering why ponies dote on the breezies so much and put forth all of this effort for them, yet the audience is never given any real explanation or reason for this, other than perhaps "because they're cute!". In short, I don't know why the ponies care about the breezies so much, and consequently, I don't know why the audience should care about them or their plight, either.

 

Yet another issue is that the moral of the episode is muddled and isn't really reinforced by what actually happens in the episode. We see Sea Breeze learn a lesson that being mean doesn't incline others to listen to you, yet we also see Fluttershy learn that being overly concerned with being nice sometimes results in things not being done which need to be done. So, apparently, sometimes you have to be nice, and sometimes you have to "put your foot down". But when should you do the former and when should you do the latter? Should you try to be nice first, but when that doesn't work, be more firm? I don't think the episode gives any good indication. This isn't helped by the events of the episode. On a superficial level, Sea Breeze acted "not nice" with the other breezies, and they didn't listen to him. Yet Fluttershy acted "nice" with the breezies, and they didn't listen to her either (and took advantage of her). Fluttershy acted "nice" with the bees, and they didn't listen to her, yet when she acted "not nice" with them, it worked. Then Fluttershy acted "not nice" to the breezies, and they listened. So, again, looking at these events, can we actually tell when should one be "nice" as opposed to "not nice"? In short, the moral of this episode is unclear, and the events of the episode seem only to confuse the moral (whatever it is) even more.

 

On a related note, once the straggling breezies actually get going, Sea Breeze does an almost total 180 and gives canned encouragement to other tiring breezies, saying things like "I did not even really believe those things I said!" and "I believe in you!". It seems to me that by swinging from one extreme to the other in such a short time, Sea Breeze comes across as insincere, and I would find his statements like the ones I just mentioned a little hard to believe. Sea Breeze's previous and oft-repeated "mean" statements about the other breezies' incompetence, weakness, etc. certainly sounded like he meant them, but now the other breezies are suddenly supposed to believe otherwise? I would be a bit skeptical.

 

Finally, there's the whole issue with Twilight using a spell to turn the Mane Six into breezies. Other forum members have said that this comes close to jumping the shark, and I can see why they would have that sentiment. This seems to just come out of the blue, and I can't imagine what a good in-world explanation is for it. Why was turning the Mane Six into breezies a good solution to the dilemma of the breeze being too strong for the small group? I would expect them to be very inexperienced at flying as breezies (although they somehow aren't) and they aren't positioned in a way to break the wind for the other breezies or anything like that. And it seems like there are other simpler solutions, such as having fewer pegasi flapping to create the breeze or having the breezies cling to Fluttershy as she transports them. Of course, the cynical real-world explanations for doing this would be to provoke an "OMG, they're so cute!" fangasm from the audience and (in conjunction with that) create a new toy line of the Mane Six as breezies.

 

Finally, here are a few miscellaneous observations of mine:

 

If Fluttershy wanted the rest of the Mane Six to whisper, why not just tell them to? Why do they have to go through all of the "a little quieter now, a little quieter now" routine?

 

The explanation Fluttershy gives for why the artificially-created breeze is necessary is that it activates the breezies' magic, which protects the pollen they're carrying from being destroyed (as Fluttershy says) or going bad (as Mr. Cake says). What does this mean? How exactly would the pollen "be destroyed" or "go bad"? What does this activated magic do to prevent that?

 

Wouldn't Fluttershy's darting around in the air to save the breezies actually exacerbate the problem by stirring the air currents around?

 

We see Twilight and Applejack, and then Rainbow Dash and company, ask Fluttershy whether the breezies are ready yet, and when Fluttershy says to wait longer, they just defer to Fluttershy without asking follow-up questions or asking for an explanation of why, even as they have legitimate doubts and concerns.

 

Since when do peepholes on doors have hinges or the capability to be opened and closed? What purpose would that serve?

 

Sea Breeze gives Fluttershy a picked flower to remember the breezies by, which also turns out to be her rainbow "key". Will Fluttershy have to do anything to preserve it? I would expect it to be dead and shriveled up after a couple of weeks or so. Considering this, a flower doesn't seem like a very long-lasting thing for Sea Breeze to give Fluttershy as a reminder of them, unless Fluttershy is only supposed to remember them for the next few days.