MLP S7 Episode 6: Forever Filly Review

Short Version: Isn’t it kinda weird that Rarity is more of a mom to Sweetie Belle than their actual mother? You know, the one that hasn’t had a speaking role in like 5 years?

Long Version:

-A refresher: Way back in Season 2, we had a little episode called “Sisterhooves Social”. While it stands out in my mind as the first episode of the show I watched after I was done catching up with everything that came before it, I didn’t pay it much regard at the time. I didn’t think there was anything particularly wrong with it, but I couldn’t really engage with the story the way I could’ve with some other ones, at least at the time. Looking back on it, it probably deserves a bit more recognition: it was the first episode of the show to not feature Twilight Sparkle in any capacity, where it was up to one of her friends to deliver the lesson of the day, and it was the first post-Cutie Mark Crusaders episode that focused on members of the CMC that didn’t default to another plot about finding their Cutie Marks. That level of focus hadn’t really happened on the show before, so it was kind of a big deal, a real landmark for the series moving forward and spreading its scope. Suddenly, not having every episode go back to Twilight in some way expanded the breath of stories/experiences that the show could feature. I’m not sure this is enough to make it a truly great episode, but definitely one to be remembered. So, it’s a pleasant surprise that we get what’s essentially a sequel to that episode that presents an evolution to Rarity and Sweetie’s. Rarity has gone from not caring enough about spending quality time with her sister, to not spend the time with her sister the right way.

-It’s a good call that the episode establishes very early on that Rarity acting out the way she does isn’t out of sheer blindness, at least not entirely, to how much Sweetie Belle has grown up, but rather about the fulfillment of an emotional necessity. She really has come to value their quality time, but being so busy with how much things have changed over the last couple of seasons has made her unintentionally de-prioritize it (not that it matters too much since Sweetie Belle has also been busy, but that’s beside the point) and even fail to realize how much both of them have changed. I love how over-the-top Rarity’s reaction to this realization is, not just because of Tabitha St. Germain going over-the-top is always pretty great, it really sells how much that particular side of her personality has changed. It’s always pretty significant whenever we watch her step out of her comfort zone, so watching her go out of her way for her sister’s sake really made me feel for her even when I knew at the same time that she was going about things the wrong way. It’s the kind of stuff that some of the best episodes of the show are made of: an admission that character behavior isn’t “right”, but makes you accept it anyway; not because you know they’re in for a lesson, but because you know that their heart is in the right place. While she’s definitely being ridiculous, the “why” behind it all feels justified and even endearing: she’s processing that her little sister isn’t so little anymore, so their relationship needs to “grow up” as well. Without that, she would’ve just been intolerable (Looking at you, “Simple Ways”). This is the kind of lesson that I feel would be better suited for a parent to learn about their child, but parents being involved in this show are pretty sporadic, so I guess the episode had to settle for the next best thing, which given the specifics of the relationship between our two leads, was definitely the better choice.

-The best thing about this episode hands-down is the way it highlights the way time has passed within the show, particularly when it comes to the development of the CMC, to the point that they really aren’t the same little fillies we’ve met over 6 years ago. While still visibly young, though not old enough to be comparable to older ponies, the CMC don’t feel like they’re coded to be little kids anymore. They carry themselves with more confidence and purpose, doing what’s basically a job. It’s the kind of thing I wanted to see from them last season but didn’t really get. At the heart of it all, at least for this one episode, is Sweetie Belle. While I’m not sure what to make of how the story seems to single her out as the most capable of the CMCs (I guess the writers did this so that the overall story would be more about her), I like the way she shows off her insight and maturity. It’s easy to picture the Sweetie from even as far back as Season 4 throwing a hissy fit or getting in a fight with Rarity over what she does here, similar to the one they had back in “Sisterhooves Social”. However, it’s easy to see she’s showing real restraint here; she’s conscious about Rarity’s motives, and while she’s annoyed by it, she tries to power through it because she knows it means a lot to Rarity and, of course, does want to spend time with her, even if she is at a point in her life where she’s starting to move on from childish things. Yeah, it’s basically the same position Maud was in regarding Pinkie Pie in “Rock Solid Friendship”, only two episodes ago, but it didn’t really bother me or thought it felt like a re-hash. There are enough nuanced differences in the relationship between both duos of sisters for this to feel like it has its own unique energy and purpose. It may be a little weird how Sweetie comes across as more mature than Rarity here, but again, the episode conveys the emotional headspace that both characters are occupying very well, at least well enough to make their actions make sense. And yes, it bears pointing out how Claire Corlett sounds less “squeaky” with the passage of each new season.

-I know it’s kinda cheap to mine sentimentality from a little girl and her relationship to a dog but…yeah, it works. Zipporwhill should’ve been just a throwaway character, but she ended up really getting under my skin. I felt sad for her thinking that her puppy doesn’t like her anymore and was happy when they started getting along again. While the comparison between her relationship to her dog and Rarity and Sweetie Belle’s is definitely very on-the-nose, I didn’t really mind it. The episode doesn’t really start to lay it on thick until the appropriate time, so it’s fine. She deserves to get some fans from this.

-Nice to see Sassy Saddles again. The show should think of other excuses to keep having her show up. I liked how her frantic attitude is complimented with Rarity’s more comfortable work etiquette.
-Loved the picture wall in the CMC Treehouse. Little details like that really help emphasize just how far they’ve come.

-The Chipcutter sequence was a better CMC episode than anything involving the CMC last season that didn’t also feature Gabby the griffon.

-Shout-out to Rarity getting her “Sonic Rainboom” wings again (kind of).

-Tabitha St. Germain as Zipporwhill reminds me of Christine Cavanaugh as Dexter in Dexter’s Laboratory.

-As far as episodes about members of the Mane6 spending time with younger ponies, I prefer this one over “A Flurry of Emotions”.

-Between this, “Rock Solid Friendship”, and “A Flurry of Emotions”, I’m sensing a sort of “family” theme this season. It’s pretty neat. Now that I think about it, isn’t the next episode about meeting Rainbow Dash’s mom and dad?