So I'm not the only one who mentally calls Cutie Marks butt-stamps :D!
I just finished watching the episode. I wasn't impressed.
I thought it was about overdue for the Crusaders to get their marks. Not because I was super invested in them, but because most CMC episodes for the past few seasons haven't even focused on them getting their marks. I didn't think them getting their marks would affect the kinds of stories the writers do with them. But this episode is rushed and oversimplified.
I did think it would've been better if the writers gave Diamond Tiara a little nuance to her character. But after 4 and a half seasons of being completely unpleasant, redeeming her in one episode doesn't work. I think it should've been a slower process, with multiple episodes revealing why she is the way she is, before culminating in her turning over a new leaf.
Silver Spoon turning her back on her happened too fast. It would've been better for her to experience a series of abuses from Diamond Tiara before abandoning her. It doesn't help that Silver Spoon has never been given a personality or purpose beyond "Diamond Tiara's lackey".
Diamond Tiara's mother was so over the top that I couldn't take her seriously. I would've preferred for Diamond Tiara's personality to be the result of several issues, instead of just one factor. I also would've appreciated a more subtle approach, like instead of Spoiled Rich being outright abusive, having her unintentionally put too much pressure on Diamond Tiara, causing her to lash out at others because of her own insecurities. After spending most of her appearances taunting the Crusaders for their lack of cutie marks, her realization of the benefits of trying to find your talent was too quick as well.
I don't like that the episode completely ignored the hints about the Crusaders talents from "The Show Stoppers". Giving them all the same talent and almost indentical cutie marks was cheap.
The final musical number and the Crusaders loved ones telling them how proud they are of them would've been great, if it actually felt earned. It would've been the perfect ending to an hour long special showing the crusaders finally managing to discover their unique talents. As it is, it feels like a waste.
The one thing I did like about this episode was showing that Diamond Tiara's symbol represented her talent being leadership, and her not being able to properly utilize her talent because of her bad personality. That at least felt clever.
Leave a Comment:
Crusaders of Our Hearts (SPOILERS!!)
The last three minutes of My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic S 5 E 19 Crusaders Of The Lost Mark can be summed up thusly: first a Little "No", then a Big "NO!", then a Big "WHAT?!" (repeat 3X), then a Big "OMG!" (repeat 5X), then Manly Tears, then a Big "YES!" (repeat 10X) whilst wildly flailing my arms like a Human Hummingbird, then full on Inelegant Blubbering and Tears of Joy all the way.
This Fan Rejoiced.
I had no idea what to expect. I didn't even realize 10/10/2015 was MLP-FiM's 5th anniversary episode. The title "Crusaders of the Lost Mark" suggested a CMC Indiana Jones parody, with perhaps a guest appearance of Daring Do. Nope. When I heard the first song barely 15 seconds in, I knew something was up.
When Silver Spoon & Diamond Tiara had their "break up", I was like, "YEAH! Enemy Civil War!"
I started expecting an SS redemption episode, and seeing she's been willing to stand apart from DT once or twice in the past, it was more than welcome. But holy crap, I was not expecting a DT redemption episode! I had thought glue pony was irredeemable. But holy crap, they actually did it. DT's abusive mother is the new glue pony. Even as abrupt as it may seem, DT's redemption felt completely genuine.
And, holy crap, they actually did it. The CMC actually did it! After five f*yay*ing seasons, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo FINALLY have their butt-stamps of destiny!
This was a Musical Episode exactly like MLP: Friendship Is Magic S3 E13 "Magical Mystery Cure". But unlike MMC, in which Twilight's ascension had no build up whatsoever (no, waving a mysterious book around once is not a build up — but I still enjoyed it), the Cutie Mark Crusaders have had five seasons building up to this moment. This episode was MMC done right. The songs "The Pony I Want to Be", "Light of Your Cutie Mark", and "We'll Make Our Mark" were all phenomenal, and were the great strength of the episode.
Yes, I could pick nits. Like MMC, this should've been 2 parts. The color scheme of their cutie marks could have been more personalized — but I love the shared shield motif.
This episode is now my all time favorite of the series.
9.9995/ 10
>> Happy Dance <<