Hearing that "The Last Laugh" bore relation to Season 4's "Pinkie Pride", universally acclaimed among the fanbase, was reason enough to make me want to see it. Absolutely adore "Pinkie Pride" and consider it not just one of the high points of Season 4 (a far more consistent season than Season 9) but also one of my favourite episodes of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'. Was looking forward to seeing Cheese Sandwich back, as he made a very big impression in that episode.
"The Last Laugh" is not quite on the same level as "Pinkie Pride". It isn't as big and ambitious in scope and isn't as seamless tonally in terms of the balance between comedy and drama. It is still a great outing though and as far as Season 9 episodes go it is one of the best by quite some way. Being somebody who was quite mixed on the season and thought that for a final season it should have been a lot better. Some episodes did impress a lot though and "The Last Laugh" is one of them.
It loses one minor point for the emotional punch not being quite as big or as overwhelmingly powerful as it could have been. To some though that is more a nit-pick personal preference than a major flaw.
Everything else works wonderfully. Pinky Pie, in her best episode in a long time (fully redeeming herself after being so intolerable in "Yakity-Sax"), has both wonderfully silly (without being over the top on that that she becomes irritating) and genuinely funny comic timing, and it was great to see a more dramatic and more reserved side to her at the same time. Like when Pinkie Pie realises that she had been living her life's true purpose, one may argue that it was not necessary as it was something that was reinforced but actually considering that it seasons ago it was touched upon it was good to be reminded of it and it made for a lovely bit of development.
Cheese Sandwich doesn't go on a character journey or evolve as much as he did so brilliantly in "Pinkie Pride", but he is still enormous fun as a character and one of the few supporting characters of Season 9 to be not just endearing and entertaining but also be memorable. The voice acting is great, can never fault Andrea Libman as Pinkie Pie and Weird Al Yankovic clearly has a ball as Cheese Sandwich.
Despite saying that the writing is bigger and better balanced in "Pinkie Pride", it is still incredibly well crafted here in "The Last Laugh". It is clever and has a lot of gags and witty dialogue that is laugh out funny, while also having heart and soul. Do think it fares better in the comedy as that is where the wild energy is present and in a way that is incredibly infectious. The dialogue is very intelligently written and has a natural rhythm, didn't find it chaotic at all. The story is always absorbing and is full of energy, a lot happens but it doesn't make the mistake of other "very eventful" 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" episodes of feeling too rushed or trying to cram in too much in a short space of time.
Furthermore, the animation is terrific. Not just typically rich in background detail, very vibrant and atmospheric in colour and with character designs that never look awkward or ugly, but it is also very inventive. A lot goes on visually but it doesn't feel cluttered and is done imaginatively. It is especially good in the song sequence, which is very good as a song and good fun but to me the creative visuals are even more memorable than the song itself.
On the whole, it had a very tough task to be on the same level as "Pinkie Pride" and doesn't quite make it. It is though great on its own and in its own way and goes very worthily with it. 9/10.
8 out of 9 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
