Starlight Glimmer does not have the greatest of reputations from fans, to begin with when she reformed she was a very controversial character and understandably so. Overtime though, she has grown on me. Am less keen on Sunburst and found him very hard to take in the previous season's "Uncommon Bond". Season 8's "The Parent Map" is not the first time to deal with embarrassing parents, "Parental Glideance" also from the previous season did it as well.
That episode also did it better, being very good while not being a high point of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' or of that season. "The Parent Map" however, despite flashes of greatness, was rather average and bland in my humble opinion (am taking no pleasure in being the dissenting point of view here) and is a let down after the excellent previous episode "Horse Play". Also consider it one of the weaker episodes of the first half of Season 8.
Good things are quite a few. The best thing about "The Parent Map" is the lesson, which is a very sincere and poignant one that is easy to relate to. The animation is vibrant and rich in detail as ever, with very polished character designs. The facial expressions are especially well done and quite inventive. The music is dynamic with the action and beautifully orchestrated.
Did think that there were a few humorous moments with the townsfolk. Starlight fares the best of the focused upon characters, personally did feel empathy for her in a situation that would be embarrassing for more people than one would think. Despite not caring for most of the characters here, credit is due for seeing them being taught the lesson and showing that the want to help the younger characters was genuine. The voice acting is strong from all, especially Kelly Sheridan.
Sunburst however is a lot less empathetic, "The Parent Map" doesn't take his selfishness and insensitivity to the extremes that the show did in "Uncommon Bond" but it does make him rather annoying and unsympathetic still. Worse are Firelight and Stellar Flare, both truly are obnoxious which the episode badly overdoes (sorry, do have a thing for character flaws being over-emphasised which this episode does do). The worst of their material is truly cringe-worthy, and Firelight especially is unbearable.
Furthermore, the story is too slight and never excites with some dull pacing. That most of the characters are not worth caring about doesn't help. The writing is usually a good deal more mature than this and the attempts at humour go well overboard on the cringe factor and come over as childish and derivative. While only the writing at the end made me feel anything emotionally. Hence what was meant when calling the episode bland.
On the whole, watchable if bland. 5/10.
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