MLP:FiM 2x12 "Family Appreciation Day"

[Kemaiku]

Apple Bloom doesn't want Granny Smith to embarrass her by speaking in her class.

 

[Count Zero]

I missed the teaser and I have trouble understanding the dialogue due to Granny Smith's and AppleBloom's accent and way of speaking. But Doctor Whooves! Woohoo! I also like Filthy Rich and the name joke.

 

[Kemaiku]

It's been weird so far but then Granny Smith is like a much older Pinkie Pie.

But there were hints that either their parents are dead, or Applejack and Mac *are* Bloom's parents.

 

[Count Zero]

But Applejack is her big sister, so I guess her parents aren't around.

Yeah, Granny Smith is weird. I love how the Cutie Mark Crusaders' plans are so elaborate and yet totally amateurish.

 

[Kemaiku]

The Zapples are cool.

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaap

 

[Gepard]

So tired. Must go back to sleep. But I have one word: Timberwolves.

 

[Count Zero]

The Timberwolves are awesome monsters. I think the Rich family should reconsider their naming habits (Stinky and Filthy Rich), at least Filthy Rich named his daughter differently.

So, all of Granny Smith's weird behaviour had a reason and we even learned the origin of Ponyville. Neat. Still, the episode didn't fully jibe with me, but then again, I did miss the beginning and I had trouble understanding the dialogue. It's a B for now.

 

[cardinal biggles]

It's an A for me (who had no trouble understanding the dialogue ). We've all had that weird relative who you're really embarrassed about, but they turn out to be really cool. Also, really excellent voice performances by Tabitha St. Germain (who I wouldn't have recognized as the voice of Granny Smith in a million years) and Michelle Creber.

Also, interesting revelation that the family's name is Smith, not Apple (from this line in "The Gala Song": And I'll earn a lot of money for the Apple family!).

 

[Gepard]

I actually had a little trouble understanding some of the dialog, too – though I was watching it on a livstream on by crappy computer speakers while lying in bed half-asleep. So that didn't help.

That said, on reflection I'm going with "A" as well. The story moved at a nice clip, we got tons of backstory, some awesome new creatures, great use of the Crusaders, etc etc. (Hopefully we're out of the slump things were going through a few episodes back. I like my ponies happy, confliceted and/or go-get-'em, not prideful jerks.)

Again: Timber wolves. They regulars on EqD are freaking out (in a good way!) about those guys.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

It's been weird so far but then Granny Smith is like a much older Pinkie Pie.

But there were hints that either their parents are dead, or Applejack and Mac *are* Bloom's parents.

You realize what you just implied, don't you, Chem? INCEST IS NOT MAGIC!!!

 

[Kemaiku]

Only what half the fandom has thought due to the ever absent Apple parents.

The Timberwolves are great, now we know where Ponyville came from, and Celestia's appearance was neat.

I was never a big fan of Granny Smith, or really any of Tabitha's characters but she was great this episode, filly Smith was even kind of cute.

Always nice to the see the CMC's, they've definitely been adding to their clubhouse since they first built it. Scootaloo has been getting a lot of screentime, and once again one of Sweetie Belle's ideas lands them all in the...well, yeah, the pigs didn't look too happy.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

Doesn't mean half the fandom is right, Chem. I'd go with the "parents are dead" theory, not the stereotype of hillbillies.

 

[Gepard]

"Parents are dead" is Faust's impression as well, according to the Pony FAQ she put up on her DeviantArt.

The quote in question:

Q: Where are Applejack's parents?

To put it bluntly, we just never figured it out. I just liked the feeling of them living with their Granny, but keeping the family dynamic tight and small. To be honest, I would like to simply say that they passed away somehow, but it would have likely been deemed too sad for a kids' show and I don't think it would have ever been approved. There was brief discussion of them being traveling salesponies or explorers, but since we never needed the information in an episode, nothing was ever made official. So it will have to remain a mystery until someone decides to define it.

So, there's that.

 

[Jetfire]

B+

Decent enough ep...Granny Smith's story saved it from being just a B.

 

[Kemaiku]

@Gep, yup I read that the other day, I tend to think they are.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

Yeah. Though why that would be too sad for a kids' show... Disney movies have a very serious parental body count.

 

[Count Zero]

I prefer to think of them as explorers - makes for more story potential.

 

[Kemaiku]

I dunno, everyone tip-toeing around the subject of her parents and never bringing it up, the family banding together and not talking about their past much. If their parents were famous explorers it would have been mentioned a few times, the fillies at school would at least mention Apple Bloom's famous parents, but no one ever does.

 

[Count Zero]

They don't necessarily have to be famous, just explorers who might have disappeared.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

My headcanon says this...
The Apple siblings lost their father not too long after their mother found out she was expecting Applebloom. There was grief and sadness and their mother said things would be okay. But then she had complications giving birth to Applebloom and died. AJ became very protective of her baby sister, effectively being sister and mother. Big MacIntosh knows better than to get in the way. Applebloom doesn't know what's happened yet, and Applejack is thankful that her sister hasn't asked. For AJ, it's still too painful.