Have always had a thing for good concepts and have said so quite frequently here actually. A lot of 'My Little Pony: Pony Life' episodes didn't have particularly interesting concepts and sounded like ones that would feel over stretched and dull in execution. There are also episodes that did have some potential, but too often executed poorly. Spike didn't do much for me in the early seasons of 'Friendship is Magic', but came on significantly in Season 6. Have also actually liked Fluttershy's character writing in this show, her storylines however have not been worthy of her.
Both "The Mysterious Voice" and "The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies" could have been a lot better. Both are instead prime examples of good concepts, particularly "The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies", executed pretty poorly. The weak execution is apparent in especially "The Mysterious Voice". The usual simplistic characterisation, less than mature writing and every bit as simplistic storytelling are still present, as well as neither story being particularly interesting. The worst 'Pony Life' double bill? No. A long way from the best either.
Most of the voice acting is game, Andrea Libman voices Fluttershy with a lot of enthusiasm and emotions.
Unlike a vast majority of the previous episodes and succeeding ones too, there is a little more humour than usual in "The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies" primarily and it's occasionally amusing.
There is a lot wrong however. The animation is unimaginative and less than vibrant, with it looking rushed and careless. The music is like cheesy high school quality and never fits with what goes on. The theme tune is grating. There is very little that is interesting about the writing, which is completely lacking in invention and lacks personality (occasional amusing humour aside). Emotions, nuance and complexity aren't there and some of it is rather childish.
Furthermore, the storytelling is overly simple and mostly uneventful, the plotting in both being very thin and dully paced. "The Mysterious Voice" actually would have worked better as a 5 minute short and probably would have struggled filling that length. The concept was really good in "The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies" was very interesting, but nothing is done with it. Other than with Fluttershy, the character writing is one dimensional and has little development or subtlety, while the interaction seemed disconnected.
Spike is very bland and annoying and his writing and his treatment is closer to how they were in Seasons 1-5 rather than the big growth that occurred in Season 6. Love Tabitha St Germain but she sounds wrong for Spike, too mature. The moralising sounded good on paper, but feels too dumbed down and wouldn't even be illuminating for younger audiences. The importance of patience in "The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies" is an important and relevant message but executed heavy handedly.
Overall, weak wastes of potential. 3/10.
Both "The Mysterious Voice" and "The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies" could have been a lot better. Both are instead prime examples of good concepts, particularly "The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies", executed pretty poorly. The weak execution is apparent in especially "The Mysterious Voice". The usual simplistic characterisation, less than mature writing and every bit as simplistic storytelling are still present, as well as neither story being particularly interesting. The worst 'Pony Life' double bill? No. A long way from the best either.
Most of the voice acting is game, Andrea Libman voices Fluttershy with a lot of enthusiasm and emotions.
Unlike a vast majority of the previous episodes and succeeding ones too, there is a little more humour than usual in "The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies" primarily and it's occasionally amusing.
There is a lot wrong however. The animation is unimaginative and less than vibrant, with it looking rushed and careless. The music is like cheesy high school quality and never fits with what goes on. The theme tune is grating. There is very little that is interesting about the writing, which is completely lacking in invention and lacks personality (occasional amusing humour aside). Emotions, nuance and complexity aren't there and some of it is rather childish.
Furthermore, the storytelling is overly simple and mostly uneventful, the plotting in both being very thin and dully paced. "The Mysterious Voice" actually would have worked better as a 5 minute short and probably would have struggled filling that length. The concept was really good in "The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies" was very interesting, but nothing is done with it. Other than with Fluttershy, the character writing is one dimensional and has little development or subtlety, while the interaction seemed disconnected.
Spike is very bland and annoying and his writing and his treatment is closer to how they were in Seasons 1-5 rather than the big growth that occurred in Season 6. Love Tabitha St Germain but she sounds wrong for Spike, too mature. The moralising sounded good on paper, but feels too dumbed down and wouldn't even be illuminating for younger audiences. The importance of patience in "The 5 Habits of Highly Effective Ponies" is an important and relevant message but executed heavy handedly.
Overall, weak wastes of potential. 3/10.