Recap They're back
If this is the female version of Jolly Jumper from Lucky Luke with her own episode that must be it.
I waited for this episode since Christmas Eve and it was all worth since I'm an Applejack fan.
Yes, both Derpy Hooves and Applejack better than before. Derpy gets some word as we see more of Applejack's weak sides.
We see that Applejack has her breakdowns too, we see her other side than working like in Sisterhooves Social and she learns it's dangerous not to keep a promise.
Applejack is starring in a rodeo, but off screen. So will she win the blue ribbon and a load of money? Be sure to watch this episode as this might lead to other upcoming episodes.
There is something for everypony and there is chases, Derpy and I Love Lucy references.
On the positive side lot of action, feel good and drama.
But on the negative side the episode could had been a two part, no rodeo is shown and I still want a song from Applejack.
So overall an episode worth waiting for.
10/10
Recap A solid episode, with or without Derpy.
I'm disappointed that people are too distracted by Derpy's scene and are ignoring an otherwise great episode. Granted, it's not everyday that any production gives that blatant a nod to a periphery demographic, but her scene is like whipped cream on an apple (or if you like, cherry) pie: It's a great addition, but you still have a lovely dessert without it.
The episode is excellent because it really expands on Applejack's character. This is a pony who wears many (figurative) hats: savvy business pony, hard worker, top athlete, loving family member and a cornerstone in Ponyville. However, her main flaw is that while she is plenty of things to plenty of ponies, she cannot be perfect, no one is. She has a very strong drive to prove herself to others, but this leaves her blind to her own shortcomings. Perhaps the main reason why she didn't win any blue ribbons was that she tried to compete in every event rather then specializing in a few. This led to her being out-competed by ponies trained for a specific few events. Which then led to her becoming too ashamed to even come back to Ponyville. Unthinkable for a Pony who earned her cutie mark by realizing that her place is at her home in Sweet Apple Acres. It's actually not unlike Twilight's distress and breakdown in Lesson Zero.
The other characters in this episode were awesome as well, Pinkie Pie especially since we got to see her go through all sorts of situations, from desperately needing to go to the bathroom, imitating Lucille Ball's chocolate factory scene, talking Applejack's ears off about cherrychongas, to blowing her stack at someone breaking a Pinkie promise. Even her interactions with the other ponies was great, such as giving a slice of cake to the mail pony after Twilight unceremoniously slammed the door in his face, and talking Rarity's ears off in the stinger. An entire episode with her an Rarity would be amazing and I personally would love to see it happen.
All in all, sweet cherry-flavored episode, even if everyone's favorite cross-eyed pegasus didn't show up.
Recap Applejack comes in second place in her own episode.
When I review episodes, I always watch them at least twice before writing my critique. I did the same for this episode, but two minutes into my first viewing I realized it was not necessary. Why? Because Derpy Hooves talked. Scenes like this make my reviews pretty easy; however you feel about Derpy, if you're a fan of the show you need to see this episode just for her. At least watch until Derpy finishes her lines (3:15 into the episode). If for some reason you aren't a fan of the show and somehow made your way here, let me go over the other plot of this episode.
Applejack is attending the Equestrian Rodeo Competition after a stunning track record in Ponyville's own rodeo, and plans on donating any prize money she wins to fix the town hall. The whole town shows up to send her off! A week later, her friends receive a telegram from her basically saying she ran away but she'll send money soon. The other Mane Cast ponies leave on an epic quest to bring her back!
Said epic quest takes about one montage to complete, as they find Applejack in a Western setting named Dodge Junction. But she isn't herself... she isn't talking much, refuses to answer any questions about the rodeo, and doesn't want to come back to Ponyville. So now it's up to the Mane Cast to talk Applejack into coming home, even if that means revealing her secret...
Admittedly, the writing to this episode isn't perfect. Plot holes are more apparent than the holes in the town hall, but on the other hand the characters are pretty spot on and interesting. Also, said plot holes are usually made while in conjunction with Rule Of Funny or Rule Of Cool, so depending on your tolerance for such shenanigans you might like or dislike the episode.
Personally I found the episode to be very entertaining despite the plot holes, and found myself very sympathetic towards Applejack in the end. Pinkie Pie has very memorable scenes in the episode, especially those related to a certain Pinkie Promise. I have heard some people don't like Derpy's first appearance, but I find it helps if you imagine her as much younger than the Mane Cast, sort of like an adult child. NOT, as people are claiming, a mentally disabled pony.
All in all, I liked the Derpy. And the episode, I guess, but you might need an extra dose of MST 3 K Mantra to get you through it.
Recap Tries a little bit of everything, and mostly succeeds
Now, this series is notable for usually sticking to either an adventure or Slice Of Life format, with a few being a blend of both. "The Last Roundup", on the other hand, seems to try its hand at everything: action, drama, comedy, and of course Derpy speaking. It manages to juggle all this successfully, making this episode definitely worth watching. 9/10
Other notes:
- For an episode supposedly about Applejack, Pinkie Pie sure got her fair share of the limelight. She even gets to deliver some unexpected Accidental Nightmare Fuel!
- I noticed a pattern in both the pair of Rainbow Dash episodes; one was pretty well received, the other... not so much. I wonder if this'll come true for this and The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000? (Edit: Nope!)
Recap Good episode, but somewhat "jerky"
I'm going out of the chorus with this review: this episode is for me what Mare-Do-Well is for some fans; it just didn't felt right.
To make things clear, the first part of it was ok: Derpy talking was great, Applejack leaving Ponyville for the Rodeo and than sending a letter that she won't come back, with everypony's dispair, was intriguing, and the "mane five" searching for AJ only to find her being ok, with no real reasons for her to not coming back, gets some mystery to be set up (though many probably already guessed the answer of it).
What really felt wrong for me was the part when Twilight & friends tried to force AJ to speak the truth. Now, like some stated before, this is somewhat reasonable considering AJ's well known stubbornes (and how some ponies suffered from it): that's ok, I can excuse it. What I can't excuse is the fact that even after seeing that their method wasn't working at all they were still trying it persistently. I kind of felt that there was some big idiot ball held by the group. Not to mention, it also made them acting somewhat like jerks. Many bronies laments that, In Mare-Do-Well, the mane six minus Rainbow Dash were acting somewhat like jerkasses: well, I think that in this episode they (minus AJ) were ten time worst, just for the fact that they didn't even bother if AJ was being hurted by their behaviour or noticing that they were making the situation worst. This is especially bad for Twilight: as we all know, she's pretty much the voice of reason for the group, the one who always thinks for the most reasonable nad pacific way (not quite like Fluttershy, but still) to resolve problems: here however, she inexplicably decided to act like the others, letting mostly Rainbow Dash and Pinkie to think about what to do (definetly the less suitable ponies for organizing a plan). That.... is OOC for her.
Well, I guess I'm done now. Overall the episode was good, with some good action scenes, gags (especially Pinkie's), and a good overview on Applejack )even without being the real center of the story). However, you can't watching it without having the impression that something was made wrong here: and that something is how OOC and jerky the girls (minus AJ) were, so that we could enjoy some good sction scenes. Well sorry, but that's not why we enjoy te series.