'My Little Pony: Pony Life' "Lolly Pop"/"Little Miss Fortune" (2021)
Opening thoughts: My expectations were mixed for "Lolly Pop" and "Little Miss Fortune". Liked, if not loved, the idea for the former and Season 2 on the whole was an improvement over Season 1, with two episodes that were actually decent. Most of the previous episodes were a disappointment, on the same level as the best that Season 1 got (lacklustre), and it was like the improvement had not happened. There was potential with the concept for the former, if not so much for the other.
Neither of the two segments worked that well, especially the latter which does nothing new or appealing with a premise that didn't endear that much to begin with. The former had potential and moments, but not enough, semi-watchable but nothing special. Again it felt like the general improvement had not happened, even if some areas were done better than usual. The double bill is not completely terrible and it has moments with the former segment, but the numerous things that fail are as badly done as Season 1 at its worst.
Good things: There are some good things. The voice work is energetic and nuanced from both Ashleigh Ball and Andrea Libman.
Did think that "Lolly Pop" did a few mildly amusing moments with Applejack and also moments of creative visuals. Fluttershy, by far the least problematically written of the characters in 'Pony Life' is quite likeable.
Bad things: Unfortunately, none of that can be said for the unbelievably bland "Little Miss Fortune". "Lolly Pop" was a long way from perfect itself though, its story is still executed too conventionally and is still very thin, with some very rushed pacing and a too simple and rehashed moral. "Little Miss Fortune" does nothing new with an old hat premise, has no creativity and doesn't really go anywhere. The plotting is barely there and the pace drags a lot. Charm and heart are completely absent, the too little humour being too juvenile and there is nothing endearing or relatable about the rest of the one-dimensionally written characters.
Both segments have real problems individually. Nothing is imaginative or vibrant about the animation, which is rushed and careless looking throughout. Indicative of rushed deadlines and low budget. The music is like cheesy high school quality and never fits with what goes on. The theme tune is grating. Both segments are low on laughs and what there are is mostly forced and juvenile. The character writing is one dimensional with none of the characters having much to them. After 'Friendship is Magic' did so well breaking away from the "only for primary school period girls" stereotypes wrongly associated with the franchise for so long, the characters come over as dumbed down stereotypes with that target audience stereotype being reinforced.
Concluding thoughts: Mediocre overall.
4/10.