While not a novel premise, the storytelling for "A Camping We Will Go" in particular did sound promising and like it would be fun and charming if done right. 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' did the telling stories around a campfire or had camp related events more than once, and mostly quite well. Despite finding even the best episodes of 'My Little Pony: Pony Life' merely average (most of the show is weak), there was a little potential here with some focus on Rarity.
Neither "A Camping We Will Go" or "Campfire Stories" worked. Nothing new is done with a familiar yet nostalgic setting and the usual simplistic characterisation, less than mature writing and every bit as simplistic storytelling are still present. As well as neither story being particularly interesting. There are worse 'My Little Pony: Pony Life' episodes, with this actually being one of the least bad double bill episodes oddly enough, but we are eleven episodes in and improvement is very little.
Again, the best aspect is the voice acting. Which is very dynamic with a lot of energy and nuance, things that were more than what the characters deserved. Tabitha St Germain has still got it as Rarity, who while not complex is not as over the top melodramatic here as she has been in other episodes while not being too perfect.
Unlike a vast majority of the previous episodes and succeeding ones too, there is a little more humour than usual in "A Camping We Will Go" and it's occasionally amusing.
There is a lot wrong however. The animation is unimaginative and less than vibrant, with it looking rushed and careless. The music is like cheesy high school quality and never fits with what goes on. The theme tune is grating. There is very little that is interesting about the writing, which is completely lacking in invention and lacks personality (occasional amusing humour aside). Emotions, nuance and complexity aren't there and some of it is rather childish.
Furthermore, the storytelling is overly simple and mostly uneventful, with a plot that could easily have worked as a 6 minute short. Did not see the point of "Campfire Stories", which merely only seemed to be there for padding reasons and goes nowhere. Other than moments with Rarity, the character writing is one dimensional and has little development or subtlety, while the interaction seemed disconnected. The moralising sounded good on paper, but feels too dumbed down and wouldn't even be illuminating for younger audiences.
Overall, weak. 3/10.
Neither "A Camping We Will Go" or "Campfire Stories" worked. Nothing new is done with a familiar yet nostalgic setting and the usual simplistic characterisation, less than mature writing and every bit as simplistic storytelling are still present. As well as neither story being particularly interesting. There are worse 'My Little Pony: Pony Life' episodes, with this actually being one of the least bad double bill episodes oddly enough, but we are eleven episodes in and improvement is very little.
Again, the best aspect is the voice acting. Which is very dynamic with a lot of energy and nuance, things that were more than what the characters deserved. Tabitha St Germain has still got it as Rarity, who while not complex is not as over the top melodramatic here as she has been in other episodes while not being too perfect.
Unlike a vast majority of the previous episodes and succeeding ones too, there is a little more humour than usual in "A Camping We Will Go" and it's occasionally amusing.
There is a lot wrong however. The animation is unimaginative and less than vibrant, with it looking rushed and careless. The music is like cheesy high school quality and never fits with what goes on. The theme tune is grating. There is very little that is interesting about the writing, which is completely lacking in invention and lacks personality (occasional amusing humour aside). Emotions, nuance and complexity aren't there and some of it is rather childish.
Furthermore, the storytelling is overly simple and mostly uneventful, with a plot that could easily have worked as a 6 minute short. Did not see the point of "Campfire Stories", which merely only seemed to be there for padding reasons and goes nowhere. Other than moments with Rarity, the character writing is one dimensional and has little development or subtlety, while the interaction seemed disconnected. The moralising sounded good on paper, but feels too dumbed down and wouldn't even be illuminating for younger audiences.
Overall, weak. 3/10.