The premise for "The Best of the Worst" is one that could go either way of being relatable and fun or forced and with distorted character writing. 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' saw both extremes with Rainbow Dash, especially in Wonderbolt Academy set episodes, where her flaws in some were exaggerated and where she was treated badly by the supporting characters. Was really hoping that this would not fall into the latter trap.
Unfortunately it did. Rainbow Dash was a very interesting and relatable character many times previous to 'My Little Pony: Pony Life', but this was like seeing one of the flawed Wonderbolt Academy episodes but worse with the flaws being even more of an issue. The story could have been fun but had nothing to it, likewise with the supporting characters, and Rainbow Dash is not very well written here. Sad to say that "The Best of the Worst", instead of being a potential big improvement over the very weak first episode "Princess Probz", continued the less than promising standard.
Ashleigh Ball does a very admirable, game job with what she was given and does somehow manage to bring out some nuanced voice work, more so than her material.
Will say also that the moral is much better than it is in "Princess Probz", it is a moral that is much more relevant and easier to relate to and it is delivered with a lot more tact, despite it being on the too simple side.
Everything else is poor however. Dishwater is a very annoying character who is neither funny, easy to like or engaging. Rainbow Dash's competitive spirit can be very easy to relate to if you're that type of person as well, but in being competitive her character flaws come out and come over in an exaggerated and melodramatic manner, especially the selfishess. Don't like how the other characters act towards her, not coming over as sympathetic or supportive enough.
For me, the conflict lacked tension and was both forced and completely bland. The humour here is very childish, embarrassingly so in the first half. Once again the story is simplistic and predictable, as well as resolved far too easily. There is nothing imaginative or vibrant about the animation, which is rushed and careless looking throughout. Indicative of rushed deadlines and low budget. The music is like cheesy high school quality and never fits with what goes on. The theme tune is grating. The writing is limp and unimaginative.
Charm and soul are completely absent and again a bad job is done making the show accessible for a wide audience, due to the immature humour and the reinforcing of the gender and age bracket stereotype that is associated with 'My Little Pony'.
In conclusion, weak but a very marginal improvement. 3/10.
Unfortunately it did. Rainbow Dash was a very interesting and relatable character many times previous to 'My Little Pony: Pony Life', but this was like seeing one of the flawed Wonderbolt Academy episodes but worse with the flaws being even more of an issue. The story could have been fun but had nothing to it, likewise with the supporting characters, and Rainbow Dash is not very well written here. Sad to say that "The Best of the Worst", instead of being a potential big improvement over the very weak first episode "Princess Probz", continued the less than promising standard.
Ashleigh Ball does a very admirable, game job with what she was given and does somehow manage to bring out some nuanced voice work, more so than her material.
Will say also that the moral is much better than it is in "Princess Probz", it is a moral that is much more relevant and easier to relate to and it is delivered with a lot more tact, despite it being on the too simple side.
Everything else is poor however. Dishwater is a very annoying character who is neither funny, easy to like or engaging. Rainbow Dash's competitive spirit can be very easy to relate to if you're that type of person as well, but in being competitive her character flaws come out and come over in an exaggerated and melodramatic manner, especially the selfishess. Don't like how the other characters act towards her, not coming over as sympathetic or supportive enough.
For me, the conflict lacked tension and was both forced and completely bland. The humour here is very childish, embarrassingly so in the first half. Once again the story is simplistic and predictable, as well as resolved far too easily. There is nothing imaginative or vibrant about the animation, which is rushed and careless looking throughout. Indicative of rushed deadlines and low budget. The music is like cheesy high school quality and never fits with what goes on. The theme tune is grating. The writing is limp and unimaginative.
Charm and soul are completely absent and again a bad job is done making the show accessible for a wide audience, due to the immature humour and the reinforcing of the gender and age bracket stereotype that is associated with 'My Little Pony'.
In conclusion, weak but a very marginal improvement. 3/10.
