Despite not being the biggest fan of the "The Crystalling" two parter that began Season 6 and being somewhat mixed on Season 6, there were high hopes for "The Gift of the Maud Pie". It was a return to Manehattan, used to great effect in previous episodes especially "Rarity Takes Manehattan". Maud Pie made such a big impression in her debut episode "Maud Pie" and has always been a fun character, and it was so great to see Rarity and Pinkie Pie together.
On the most part, "The Gift of the Maud Pie" delivers and succeeds at its potential. It is not a 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' classic and didn't amaze me, but it is very good, is a big improvement over "The Crystalling" and to me among the better faring episodes of Season 6. Manehattan is far from wasted and the writers clearly had fun with Rarity, Pinkie and Maud, as characters and in their interactions. It's the character writing and interaction in general for the show that play a big part in its appeal so it was great that "The Gift of the Maud Pie" did so well in this aspect.
"The Gift of the Maud Pie" doesn't have anything new in its story and can be predictable and a little too heavy in the dialogue.
It could also have afforded to be a little wackier, the humour is still very funny and energetic but with an episode that has Pinkie Pie playing a big role one sort of expects wackiness and while it's there here it doesn't completely explode.
However, "The Gift of the Maud Pie's" good things far outweigh the not so good. The animation is beautifully detailed in the backgrounds, expressive and bursting with liveliness in the colours. The expressions and reactions for the characters were particularly good, some of the best being for Maud. The episode is one of the best scored of Season 6, not only because it is so characterful and beautifully orchestrated but also because of how clever it is. Including having a different mood for each character. The voice acting is very good, with Ingrid Nilson standing out as Maud. Her delivery of Maud's one-liners is priceless and it's the delivery that makes the lines work so well in every episode she appears in.
Although it could have been wackier at times, the writing is beautifully balanced, thoughtful and hugely entertaining. With a good mix of genuinely funny humour (most of it from Pinkie Pie), poignant emotion (such as the truly heart-warming climax and a very powerful moment with Pinkie Pie). The story may lack originality, but it more than makes up for it by its charm and likeability, how it makes the most of the setting, and its energy. The moral is a great one and delivered with tact while making its point too, one of the season's best morals and one of the better executed ones.
Character writing and interaction make "The Gift of the Maud Pie", Rarity and Pinkie Pie are both spot on and true to character, no blandness or exaggeration of character flaws here, and Maud comes close to stealing the show. Loved the interaction between the three and how almost sisterly the bond between Rarity and Pinkie Pie is, very different personalities but gel beautifully together.
In conclusion, very good. 8/10
On the most part, "The Gift of the Maud Pie" delivers and succeeds at its potential. It is not a 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' classic and didn't amaze me, but it is very good, is a big improvement over "The Crystalling" and to me among the better faring episodes of Season 6. Manehattan is far from wasted and the writers clearly had fun with Rarity, Pinkie and Maud, as characters and in their interactions. It's the character writing and interaction in general for the show that play a big part in its appeal so it was great that "The Gift of the Maud Pie" did so well in this aspect.
"The Gift of the Maud Pie" doesn't have anything new in its story and can be predictable and a little too heavy in the dialogue.
It could also have afforded to be a little wackier, the humour is still very funny and energetic but with an episode that has Pinkie Pie playing a big role one sort of expects wackiness and while it's there here it doesn't completely explode.
However, "The Gift of the Maud Pie's" good things far outweigh the not so good. The animation is beautifully detailed in the backgrounds, expressive and bursting with liveliness in the colours. The expressions and reactions for the characters were particularly good, some of the best being for Maud. The episode is one of the best scored of Season 6, not only because it is so characterful and beautifully orchestrated but also because of how clever it is. Including having a different mood for each character. The voice acting is very good, with Ingrid Nilson standing out as Maud. Her delivery of Maud's one-liners is priceless and it's the delivery that makes the lines work so well in every episode she appears in.
Although it could have been wackier at times, the writing is beautifully balanced, thoughtful and hugely entertaining. With a good mix of genuinely funny humour (most of it from Pinkie Pie), poignant emotion (such as the truly heart-warming climax and a very powerful moment with Pinkie Pie). The story may lack originality, but it more than makes up for it by its charm and likeability, how it makes the most of the setting, and its energy. The moral is a great one and delivered with tact while making its point too, one of the season's best morals and one of the better executed ones.
Character writing and interaction make "The Gift of the Maud Pie", Rarity and Pinkie Pie are both spot on and true to character, no blandness or exaggeration of character flaws here, and Maud comes close to stealing the show. Loved the interaction between the three and how almost sisterly the bond between Rarity and Pinkie Pie is, very different personalities but gel beautifully together.
In conclusion, very good. 8/10
