Recap / My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic S2 E5 "Sisterhooves Social"

Gives a whole new meaning to locking horns.

Applejack: Being sisters is like... apple pie! You can have amazing apples, and you can have a wonderful crispy crust, but only together can you have a perfect apple pie.

Written by Cindy Morrow

One morning, Rarity is awakened by Sweetie Belle's attempt at cooking her breakfast in bed. Before they can begin arguing, however, they're interrupted by their parents, who are going on vacation and leaving Sweetie Belle with Rarity in the interim. Rarity decides to make breakfast again since Sweetie Belle burnt it, but turns her away from most of the work, and the one task she gives Sweetie Belle (adding the garnish) ends up making a big mess. Determined to win Rarity's approval, Sweetie Belle tries various ways of making herself useful (doing the laundry, drawing her a picture, cleaning up around the shop), but they all end in disaster, too (Sweetie shrinks Rarity's favorite sweater, garnishes her drawing with rare gems Rarity needs for a big project, and straightens up the "organized chaos" of Rarity's "inspiration room"), and soon Rarity is on her last nerve.

When Sweetie Belle leaves, upset by her inability to spend time with her big sister, she runs into Apple Bloom, who suggests the two enter the Sisterhooves Social, an annual tag-team competition for sisters at the Sweet Apple Acres farm. Rarity refuses, however, and the tensions boiling over cause Sweetie Belle and Rarity to disown each other as sisters. An angry Sweetie Belle leaves the boutique and heads to Sweet Apple Acres, where she discovers the excellent relationship between Applejack and Apple Bloom. Applejack invites her to help with the chores, and Sweetie Belle enjoys herself immensely.

Back at Carousel Boutique, Rarity slowly begins to realize she misses her little sister more than she thought after finding little ways in which Sweetie Belle's mistakes paid off (her shrunken sweater fits Opalescence perfectly, and the neatly-organized cloth in the inspiration room inspires a new line of outfits). She finally starts to regret their argument after finding Sweetie Belle's heartwarming drawing of the two. When Rarity arrives at the farm, however, Sweetie Belle gives her the cold shoulder, announcing that she's "adopting" Applejack as her big sister, to everypony else's surprise and consternation. Rarity's attempts to convince Sweetie Belle to return backfire when the filly calls her out for wanting to do things that only Rarity wants; after Applejack points out that Rarity needs more give-and-take in her relation with Sweetie Belle, Rarity devises a plan to fix the problem.

Come the day of the Sisterhooves Social, Apple Bloom "gives" Applejack to Sweetie Belle (for "ONE. DAY.") to enter the contest. Applejack falls into the first obstacle but gamely continues the race while Covered in Mud, finishing the course with Sweetie Belle just strides behind Berry Punch and her sister. As they celebrate, however, Sweetie Belle discovers that "Applejack" was actually a mud-covered Rarity, who had arranged to swap places with Applejack in the mudhole.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle reconcile, and the two write a letter to Princess Celestia about having learned to compromise and have fun with one's siblings... only to begin arguing over the wording of the last sentence. Luckily, Spike is on hand to help them compromise.

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Tropes:

• Aesop Amnesia: Enforced for laughs in the tag when the sisters start bickering again.
• An Aesop:
  • It's great to have a sibling, but it takes teamwork, too.
  • Having siblings is about compromising, accepting differences, and mostly having fun, even getting your hands (or hooves) dirty.
• All Take and No Give: Applejack gently chides Rarity for acting this way towards Sweetie Belle. Rarity believes she's been giving enough of her own, until Applejack points out that sometimes, to really give back to someone else, you have to be willing to give in, and do what they want. Realizing she has been acting this way by snubbing Sweetie Belle's attempts at sisterly bonding (going against the spirit of her Element of Generosity) is what prompts Rarity to make amends.
• Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: From what we can see, Rarity's parents are the complete inversion of their elegant social-climbing daughter.
• Angrish: Rarity's chief reaction to most of Sweetie Belle's actions is incomprehensible.
• Annoying Younger Sibling: Despite trying to help, the results that doesn't end well only made Rarity feel this way about Sweetie Belle.
• Argument of Contradictions: Rarity and Sweetie as Spike writes their friendship report at the end, disagreeing over getting your hooves "a little bit dirty" or "a lot dirty". Spike stops them by suggesting, "a medium amount of dirty, not too little, not too much, just right."
• Art Evolution: Rarity's wet mane is a mix of deep blue and purple, not just purple like it was before.
• Assumed Win: When Sweetie and "Applejack" jump for the finish line, they land and look up...only to see they landed just before the line, and the sister couple they were neck-and-neck with has landed further than them and won.
• Beauty Is Never Tarnished: Mud-covered Rarity is able to shake off all the mud in a few seconds and return to her pristine white coat.
• Be Careful What You Wish For: Rarity wants to get away from Sweetie Belle earlier in the episode, but misses her later in the episode.
• Beyond the Impossible:
  • Sweetie Belle's cooking skills.
    Rarity: I didn't know you could burn juice.
  • Also, the next dish presented seems even more impossible, a bubbling bowl of grey sludge:
    Rarity: Let me guess, applesauce?
    Sweetie Belle: Nope, toast.
• Big "WHAT?!": Rarity, Applejack, and Apple Bloom consecutively when Sweetie Belle declares that she's adopting Applejack as her new big sister.
• Book Ends: The episode starts with a zoom-in on Carousel Boutique, with two birds on a tree branch, and ends with the same shot zooming out, with same birds snuggling each other.
• Bottle Episode: Like "Look Before You Sleep", it may have been made to conserve the voice-acting budget, considering only three-sevenths of the mane cast appears.
• Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick: Rarity before breakfast in bed:

  Rarity: (mumbling in sleep) Oh... Are those sweet... carrot... pancakes I smell? (gasp) Mmm, how divine, num num num num. The aroma... spiced warm apple cider. (sniff) Ahh, and the smell of... smmmoke... (wakes up) smoke? Smoke?! SMOOOKE! YAAAAAAAH! Oof!

• Breakfast in Bed: At the beginning of the episode, Sweetie Belle tries making breakfast in bed for her sister Rarity, the keyword here being tries.
• Breaking Old Trends: This is the first episode of the series where Twilight Sparkle is absent, although Spike still appears for the Friendship Report in the final scene.
• Brief Accent Imitation: Sweetie Belle does this twice to mock Rarity. She's not too bad either. She must have an ear for speaking voices like she has an ear for music.
• Can't Live with Them, Can't Live Without Them: Rarity and Sweetie Belle both think they're better off without each other. Turns out they're not.
• Comically Missing the Point: Sweetie Belle finds it difficult to understand her sister's frustration sometimes.
  Rarity: Ugh! Sweetie Belle, what am I going to do with you?!
  Sweetie Belle: (hopping around) Oh! We could paint together! We could ride bikes, play chess, sing a song, catch frogs, pillow fight!
• Color-Coded Stones: Sweetie Belle used rare baby blue sapphires for her picture.
• Continuity Nod: Applejack's explanation of the meaning of "uncouth" shows that she still remembers a thing or two from her time in Manehattan.
• Cool Big Sis: Applejack presents as one here to Applebloom and it makes Sweetie Bell envious.
  • Rarity decides to become one at the end by getting covered in mud in order to spend time with and have fun with Sweetie Bell.
  • Also the other big sisters in the Sisterhood Social itself: Berry Punch (to Piña Colada), Golden Harvest/Carrot Top (to Noi), Amethyst Star (to Dinky Hooves), and Cloud Kicker (to Alula).
• Covered in Mud: Happens to Applejack during the race. Turns out that Rarity was hiding in the mud, and the two used this to let Rarity do the race without Sweetie Belle realizing it.
• Cuteness Proximity: Rarity goes from fuming over her ruined sweater to crooning over how darling Opal looks in it in a heartbeat. Complete with Baby Talk as well. "Ooh, Opal-Wopal! It's as if Sweetie Belle knew the sweater was perfect for YOU!"
• A Day in the Limelight: This one of Sweetie Belle's focus episodes.
• Empathic Environment: With the Bookends, two birds are just standing next to each other at the beginning of the episode. At the end after Rarity and Sweetie Belle make up, the two birds are much closer together and are snuggling.
• Epic Fail: Sweetie Belle's cooking. Justified however, as she's only a child. See Beyond the Impossible above and Lethal Chef below for the examples.
• "Everybody Laughs" Ending: Parodied with everypony laughing at Rarity's suggestion that they celebrate her and Sweetie Belle making up with a visit to the spa:
  Rarity: No, I... I'm serious.
• Eye Scream: Granny Smith really shouldn't have tried working a megaphone from her rocking chair.
• Fair-Play Whodunnit: After the mudhole, the shape and color of the eyes of Sweetie Belle's partner is the only clue that another pony has taken Applejack's place. If you look very closely, you can see a horn.
• Feedback Rule: Granny Smith somehow manages to produce a feedback whine with a speaking trumpet.
• Feud Episode: Rarity and Sweetie Belle have a sibling bicker over misunderstanding and agenda clashing. They reconcile by the end.
• Finishing Each Other's Sentences: Applejack and Apple Bloom do this briefly before the race.
• Friendly Tickle Torture: Applejack does this to Apple Bloom as payback for being covered in grape juice.
• Full-Body Disguise: Rarity passes herself off as Applejack by wearing a cowboy hat and completely covering herself in mud.
• Furry Confusion: Applejack and Apple Bloom herd a flock of sheep into a pen, but before closing the gate:
  Lamb: You could've just asked...
• Hawaiian-Shirted Tourist: Rarity's father for vacation, complete with straw hat and Minnewegian accent; her mother wears the equally stereotypical tennis outfit.
• Here We Go Again!: The episode ends with Rarity and Sweetie starting to argue again because of what they should put in their letter to Celestia, but Spike resolves it.
• I Am Not My Father: Rarity's preference for glamour and fashion is in direct contrast to her parents' less classy tastes.
• Idiosyncratic Wipes: The montage sequence while Rarity and Sweetie Belle are composing their letter to Princess Celestia uses objects from each of the activities they are enjoying together to transition into the next scene, such as the clouds of smoke from Sweetie Belle's baking, laundry on the washing line, etc.
• I Have No Son!: Used, then inverted as Sweetie Belle declares AJ is her new sister.
• Ironic Echo Cut: Sweetie Belle finding out about the Sisterhooves Social.
  Sweetie Belle: Rarity will think it's an excellent idea!
  (cut)
  Rarity: What a ridiculous idea.
• Irony:
  • Although her status as the Element of Generosity is not specifically referenced, Rarity is called out by Applejack about not giving (selflessly) very much in her "give and take" relation with Sweetie Belle.
  • Apple Bloom asking what "uncouth" means while acting in the most uncouth manner possible.
    Apple Bloom: *chomp chomp chomp* (wipes mouth with foreleg, talks with mouth full) What's "uncouth"?
    Applejack: It means uncivil. Y'know, bad-mannered?
    Apple Bloom: **BELCH!**
    Applejack: Exactly!
  • Rarity's "organized chaos".
• Is This Thing On?: Granny Smith, with the megaphone.
• Layman's Terms
  • Applejack, as she likens the relationship between sisters to apple pie.
  • Also happens when Applejack explains the meaning of "uncouth" for the benefit of both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, with Apple Bloom as a perfect example.
• Lethal Chef: Sweetie Belle's breakfast is a uniform shade of charcoal. Even the liquids. She also somehow managed to liquefy and burn toast. And this is after her mother has given her lessons, implying either Sweetie is a really slow learner, Sweetie's cooking was even worse before, or that Rarity's mom is every bit as bad. She improves in the final scene, at least somewhat: even though she nearly sets the kitchen on fire again, she manages to produce a decent-looking pie.
• Moment of Weakness: While Rarity is seen actively trying not to blow up at a well-meaning Sweetie Belle. It's not until Sweetie Belle's frustration hits the critical point and she angrily disowns her that Rarity finally loses her own temper.
• Mood Whiplash: After Rarity sees the heartwarming drawing and barely manages to hold back her tears, she belts out a deliciously hammy "My God, What Have I Done?" speech.
• Mundane Made Awesome:
  • Rarity's declaration that she's going to make things up to Sweetie Belle. See Shout-Out.
  • Everyone takes Rarity's declaration that they should celebrate at the spa as a joke. She's mystified as to why.
• My God, What Have I Done?: Rarity, upon seeing and apparently for the first time actually paying attention to the contents of the drawing Sweetie Belle made of the two together, realizes how poorly she had been treating Sweetie.
• Oblivious to His Own Description: Apple Bloom asks what "uncouth" means while demonstrating uncouth behavior.
• Obsessively Organized: Rarity needs things to be just so in her shop. This is particularly the case when she discovers that Sweetie Belle has cleaned up her "inspiration room" (normally kept a mess). On the other hoof, Sweetie Belle also seems to have some, even organizing paper clips in a row when she cleans this up. It's also equally likely that Sweetie Belle was just arranging the room to Rarity's usual standard.
• Old-Fashioned Fruit Stomping: Applejack and Apple Bloom prepare for the titular event by stomping grapes in a matter of seconds, along with applebucking and pie-eating. Sweetie Belle, upon witnessing the grape juice stomping, remarks that Rarity would call the fashion police on her if she gets grape juice anywhere near her outfits. By the race proper, Rarity, disguised as Applejack and covered in mud, also does the grape stomping with Sweetie Belle in order to reconcile with her.
• No OSHA Compliance: Minor variant — Rarity's home isn't dangerous, but it's unchild-proof! Many valuable and important things are left out where not only can Sweetie Belle get at them, but be attracted to them. Justified in that Sweetie Belle doesn't normally live with Rarity.
• Not Helping Your Case: When Rarity tries to convince her sister to come back, she suggests activities like teaching her how to cook Rarity's favorite dishes.
  Sweetie Belle: You want me to go home with you so we can do what you want to do?
  Rarity: Um... yes?
• Parental Abandonment: Averted for the first time in the show, if you don't count flashbacks (else we've also seen Twilight's and Pinkie's parents); we see Rarity's parents taking care of Sweetie Belle.
• Poor Communication Kills: Sweetie Belle means well, but without certain bits of information, (i.e. Do Not Wash That Sweater) her help continually backfires.
• Pun-Based Title: "Sisterhooves Social" to Sisterhood Social.
• Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: "ONE. DAY."
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: While "Look Before You Sleep" already established the contrast between Applejack and Rarity, this episode shows that Sweetie Belle is the red to Rarity's blue but being much more energetic.
• The Reveal: The first scene reveals Sweetie only comes to visit Rarity, and lives with their parents somewhere else in Ponyville.
• Rhetorical Question Blunder: After Sweetie Belle used the sapphires for her drawing:
  Rarity: Sweetie Belle, what am I going to do with you?
  Sweetie Belle: Oh, we can paint together, we can ride bikes, play chess, sing a song, catch frogs, pillow fight...
  Rarity: That's not what I meant!
• Rule of Symbolism: Rarity acts more sisterly to Sweetie Belle following Applejack's apple pie metaphor (see Page Quote). Among the activities seen during the Friendship Lesson montage is the two successfully baking an apple pie together.
• Rule of Three: "ONE. DAY."
• Say My Name: "SWEETIE BELLLLE!"
• Schizo Tech:
  • Ponyville apparently has megaphones, but no washing machines or automatic dryers. Then again, necessity is the mother of invention; most ponies don't bother to wear clothes — even Rarity doesn't wear clothes on a regular basis — so it makes sense that washers and dryers wouldn't take off. Alternatively, Rarity primarily works with delicate fabric and probably prefers to hoof-wash everything.
  • You can also hear a smoke alarm beeping when Sweetie Belle and Rarity make their pie at the end. But that can be explained as a joke.
• Second Place Is for Winners: Even if they didn't win, Rarity and Sweetie Belle bonded over their strong performance.
• Shout-Out:
  • "As Celestia is my witness, I will never go sisterless again!" Appropriate, considering Rarity's enough of a drama queen to rival Scarlett O'Hara.
  • Sweetie Bell's cooking is comparable to that of Squidward, all of the foods she cooked are completely burnt, even the juice, and her toast is a bowl of black mush.
• Shrunk in the Wash: Sweetie Belle ruins Rarity's wool sweater by washing it.
• Sibling Rivalry: The plot of this episode is driven by Sweetie Belle wanting to do things with Rarity and Rarity wanting Sweetie Belle to stay away.
• Sidetracked by the Analogy: Rarity's reaction to the Apple Pie analogy delivered by Applejack at the top of the page. She still comes away with the correct message, though.
  Rarity: But apart all we are is a pile of mush, and some crumbly dry mess.
• Spiking the Camera: Apple Bloom does it while asking Applejack about the word "uncouth".
• Staircase Tumble: The episode begins with Rarity falling down the stairs.
• Terrible Artist: Sweetie's art project is dreadful, though she is just a filly and it does move Rarity to tears.
• Talking in Your Sleep: The episode opens with Rarity apparently dreaming about feasting on carrot pancakes and apple cider. And then she smells the smoke.
• Unkempt Beauty: Rarity in the brief moment where she is standing the rain. Her mane dripping wet and she looks great.
• Unspoken Plan Guarantee: Viewers know Rarity's plan will work because there's a commercial break before it's revealed.
• We Used to Be Friends: Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Sweetie even calls Rarity an "un-sister" at the end of their argument.
• Wham Shot: Sweetie Belle knocking the hat off "Apple Jack" and exposing the white horn (though, as noted above, there are subtler indicators before this for those paying close attention).

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