'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic's' first season is just a little over halfway through and in its second half with "Stare Master", and the overall standard mostly for the season was exceptionally high. Not consistent as such, with a few disappointments including this, but almost all the episodes up to this point are very good and above and a handful even excellent, the best being among my favourite episodes of the show's early seasons.
After the brilliant "Sonic Rainboom", one of my favourite Season 1 episodes, "Stare Master" disappointed me. And judging from the opinions of some other 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' fans that is not a controversial opinion. Of the seventeen episodes of the show up to this point, "Stare Master" is in my bottom three. The other two being "Boast Busters" and "Feeling Pinkie Keen". Does this mean it's awful? Of course not. By Season 1 standards though, this was disappointing.
"Stare Master's" good things are many. The animation is full of vibrant colour and richly detailed backgrounds. The music is unobtrusive and well suited to the show's and episode's tone. The main theme is memorable, but "Hush Now Lullaby" makes much more of an impression and is one of the high points of the episode. The writing is neither too simple or complicated and has humour and pathos, love the interactions between the ponies and how well their friendship is depicted.
The moral of not biting off more than you can chew is a relevant and worth teaching one, and a very good idea to teach it early. It isn't too blatantly handled too and it is at least not confused and makes sense, not like the moral for "Feeling Pinkie Keen". Did like the episode's creepy atmosphere at times, the ending was enthralling and it was great that it was Fluttershy-centric. It was high time she got primary focus and a great job is done making her interesting and giving her a stronger and more assertive personality, giving reasons too for her shyness. Andrea Libman brings this across very well.
Having said that, apart from the moral, the character interaction between the leads and some creepy atmosphere the story is not particularly special and could have done with more surprises and a tighter pace. The conflict would have had more tension if the source of the conflict itself was more interesting and creepier.
Really, like other fans, disliked how Twilight is treated here. Too mean-spirited and for no reason, or at least no obvious one.
In conclusion, decent but should have been much better. 6/10
After the brilliant "Sonic Rainboom", one of my favourite Season 1 episodes, "Stare Master" disappointed me. And judging from the opinions of some other 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' fans that is not a controversial opinion. Of the seventeen episodes of the show up to this point, "Stare Master" is in my bottom three. The other two being "Boast Busters" and "Feeling Pinkie Keen". Does this mean it's awful? Of course not. By Season 1 standards though, this was disappointing.
"Stare Master's" good things are many. The animation is full of vibrant colour and richly detailed backgrounds. The music is unobtrusive and well suited to the show's and episode's tone. The main theme is memorable, but "Hush Now Lullaby" makes much more of an impression and is one of the high points of the episode. The writing is neither too simple or complicated and has humour and pathos, love the interactions between the ponies and how well their friendship is depicted.
The moral of not biting off more than you can chew is a relevant and worth teaching one, and a very good idea to teach it early. It isn't too blatantly handled too and it is at least not confused and makes sense, not like the moral for "Feeling Pinkie Keen". Did like the episode's creepy atmosphere at times, the ending was enthralling and it was great that it was Fluttershy-centric. It was high time she got primary focus and a great job is done making her interesting and giving her a stronger and more assertive personality, giving reasons too for her shyness. Andrea Libman brings this across very well.
Having said that, apart from the moral, the character interaction between the leads and some creepy atmosphere the story is not particularly special and could have done with more surprises and a tighter pace. The conflict would have had more tension if the source of the conflict itself was more interesting and creepier.
Really, like other fans, disliked how Twilight is treated here. Too mean-spirited and for no reason, or at least no obvious one.
In conclusion, decent but should have been much better. 6/10
