As well as being a fan of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' and liking to loving most of the previous Season 4 episodes, the concept leaves one intrigued. Seasons 3 and 4 did so well developing Twilight Sparkle, it was great to see more of Cadance and Discord is always a pleasure (something that was apparent in a vast majority of his appearances). So it was great to have an episode that centered predominently around them without feeling too much like a distant relative of an episode.
"Three's a Crowd" to me was a good episode if not quite great like it admittedly had potential to be. Not everything works, but a lot does work and what does work is done to an excellent standard. Anybody that loves Twilight, Cadance and Discord will not be disappointed, but other episodes have utilised the Mane 6 a lot better and been more focused tonally than in "Three's a Crowd". Not the best episode of Season 4, not one of the worst either. Somewhere in the middle.
So much comes over very well in "Three's a Crowd". The animation is vibrant and richly detail with fluid and very natural character designs. It especially shines in Discord's song "Glass of Water", where the visuals are incredibly creative, this scene alone makes "Three's a Crowd" one of the season's and show's best animated episodes. The music is as dynamic and characterful as ever, "Glass of Water" is one of the show's best songs in my view and one of Discord's crowning jewel moments.
Can say very little bad about the dialogue either, which has some genuinely funny and even hilarious comedy, inspired and witty pop culture references that are affectionate and not random and a lot of heart. Did like the self-aware joke and the tango. The story is not perfect, but is wonderfully weird and charming with a relatable and not too heavy-handed moral. The Mane 6 have some nice moments, Rarity and Applejack faring best. Twilight brings a lot of heart to the episode and to me her frustration was relatable and not overdone. Loved her chemistry with Cadance, giving one of her more interesting appearances. Stealing the show is Discord on awesome and very funny form. Tara Strong and John De Lancie are great, all the voice cast are but especially them.
Not everything works though. After a strong first two thirds, the episode loses momentum pace-wise towards the end and the material in the final quarter runs out of ideas. The tone could have been a little more focused, with it at times feeling like it was trying to do too much and going back and forth abruptly when it could have been predominently one tone with splashes of another.
Didn't really like either that most of the Mane 6 are under-utilised and their contributions don't feel relevant. Fluttershy pretty much is wasted.
In conclusion, good but not great. 7/10
"Three's a Crowd" to me was a good episode if not quite great like it admittedly had potential to be. Not everything works, but a lot does work and what does work is done to an excellent standard. Anybody that loves Twilight, Cadance and Discord will not be disappointed, but other episodes have utilised the Mane 6 a lot better and been more focused tonally than in "Three's a Crowd". Not the best episode of Season 4, not one of the worst either. Somewhere in the middle.
So much comes over very well in "Three's a Crowd". The animation is vibrant and richly detail with fluid and very natural character designs. It especially shines in Discord's song "Glass of Water", where the visuals are incredibly creative, this scene alone makes "Three's a Crowd" one of the season's and show's best animated episodes. The music is as dynamic and characterful as ever, "Glass of Water" is one of the show's best songs in my view and one of Discord's crowning jewel moments.
Can say very little bad about the dialogue either, which has some genuinely funny and even hilarious comedy, inspired and witty pop culture references that are affectionate and not random and a lot of heart. Did like the self-aware joke and the tango. The story is not perfect, but is wonderfully weird and charming with a relatable and not too heavy-handed moral. The Mane 6 have some nice moments, Rarity and Applejack faring best. Twilight brings a lot of heart to the episode and to me her frustration was relatable and not overdone. Loved her chemistry with Cadance, giving one of her more interesting appearances. Stealing the show is Discord on awesome and very funny form. Tara Strong and John De Lancie are great, all the voice cast are but especially them.
Not everything works though. After a strong first two thirds, the episode loses momentum pace-wise towards the end and the material in the final quarter runs out of ideas. The tone could have been a little more focused, with it at times feeling like it was trying to do too much and going back and forth abruptly when it could have been predominently one tone with splashes of another.
Didn't really like either that most of the Mane 6 are under-utilised and their contributions don't feel relevant. Fluttershy pretty much is wasted.
In conclusion, good but not great. 7/10
