'My Little Pony: Pony Life' is one of those shows that had some potential, but started off badly and has yet to get better. Even the least bad episodes never rose above average and the worst episodes are very bad indeed. "Bad Thing No 3" did sound interesting and Rarity for me was the most consistently written and interesting character of the Mane 6 in 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic', of which the worst episodes are on par with most of the best of 'Pony Life'.
"Bad Thing No 3" is not one of the show's worst episodes, but all of the flaws that all four of the previous episodes had (which were pretty similar to each other, and were things that the show suffered repeatedly from) are present here and just as badly done. There are worse examples of fouled up character writing in 'My Little Pony: Pony Life', but that is not saying much as what made Rarity such a great character before is sadly absent here.
The best thing about "Bad Thing No 3" is the voice acting. Tabitha St Germain enjoys herself immensely and brings out a wide range of emotions.
Did like the idea of the moral, a relevant one and not delivered as heavy handedly as most of the others in the show. Did appreciate the good intentions
A lot is wrong however. Rarity once again comes over as too melodramatic, this is an example of character writing that exaggerates the character in question's flaws and does too little with their good traits. Something that the show was full of, simplistic and one dimensional character writing that rarely paints usually likeable characters in a good light. Also character writing that does nothing to progress her.
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, particularly in the severely underdeveloped advice. Not to mention the childish humour that is not funny.
Not to mention the story, which is dull and uneventful with too many predictable and pat stretches. Fancy Pants is really annoying and very full of himself. Charm and soul are completely absent and the episode does a bad job 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'.
While the intentions were good, the episode itself is far from being so. 3/10.