Season 4 started off very impressively, nearly as good as how the previous three seasons did which is a big compliment. It was not a perfect or consistent season, again very like the previous ones and there were a few disappointing episodes, but there were a number of good and more ones, again like previously. Really liked the premise of Season 4's fourth episode "Daring Don't", the show did an episode previously that centered around literature "Read It and Weep" and that was a big success.
"Daring Don't" for me was not near as great. When rating and reviewing it, it was something of a tricky one, being somebody that didn't hate it but didn't love it either. If anything, it was somewhere in between firmly in the middle. There is plenty to like in "Daring Don't", just loved the characterisation and interaction especially as well as the humour. What let it down for me was the story execution, which was heavily flawed while not being terrible.
As said, there are plenty of good things in "Daring Don't". The animation doesn't quite have the same amount of atmosphere as the previous three episodes, but it is still immensely vibrant and the attention to detail in the backgrounds is very rich. Loved how vivid the setting is and how much the visuals have advanced and become more polished since 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' first started. The music has energy and atmosphere, and placement-wise it is in harmony with the action and not at odds with it. The writing is a joy here in "Daring Don't", with hugely enjoyable dialogue between the Mane 6 and the humour is plenty and is very funny, never misfiring or coming over as corny.
The episode is masterful when it comes to the characterisation and character interaction. The standout characters of the regular characters are Twilight and Rainbow Dash, who are both adorable and hilarious. Daring Do is also awesome. As is the moral, again of much relevance today and not delivered in a preachy or throwaway fashion, neither is it contradictory or mean-spirited. The adventurous element has thrills and sense of danger. The voice acting is very good, especially Ashleigh Ball.
For all those great things though, "Daring Don't" could have been even better. The story isn't dull and it is fun, but it is also on the messy side. Structurally there is a little too much jumping around which made the story feel a little choppy and rushed at times. Tonally the episode is muddled as a result of trying to do too much, too many gear changes and some of them shift quite abruptly.
On occasions, some suspension of disbelief is needed, due to as a result of some ideas not being completely followed through it doesn't always make sense. While the Mane 6 are well characterised and in character, other than Twilight and Rainbow Dash they are underused.
In summary, tricky to sum up and while it was a well above average and quite fun episode it could have been better in the story execution. 6/10
"Daring Don't" for me was not near as great. When rating and reviewing it, it was something of a tricky one, being somebody that didn't hate it but didn't love it either. If anything, it was somewhere in between firmly in the middle. There is plenty to like in "Daring Don't", just loved the characterisation and interaction especially as well as the humour. What let it down for me was the story execution, which was heavily flawed while not being terrible.
As said, there are plenty of good things in "Daring Don't". The animation doesn't quite have the same amount of atmosphere as the previous three episodes, but it is still immensely vibrant and the attention to detail in the backgrounds is very rich. Loved how vivid the setting is and how much the visuals have advanced and become more polished since 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' first started. The music has energy and atmosphere, and placement-wise it is in harmony with the action and not at odds with it. The writing is a joy here in "Daring Don't", with hugely enjoyable dialogue between the Mane 6 and the humour is plenty and is very funny, never misfiring or coming over as corny.
The episode is masterful when it comes to the characterisation and character interaction. The standout characters of the regular characters are Twilight and Rainbow Dash, who are both adorable and hilarious. Daring Do is also awesome. As is the moral, again of much relevance today and not delivered in a preachy or throwaway fashion, neither is it contradictory or mean-spirited. The adventurous element has thrills and sense of danger. The voice acting is very good, especially Ashleigh Ball.
For all those great things though, "Daring Don't" could have been even better. The story isn't dull and it is fun, but it is also on the messy side. Structurally there is a little too much jumping around which made the story feel a little choppy and rushed at times. Tonally the episode is muddled as a result of trying to do too much, too many gear changes and some of them shift quite abruptly.
On occasions, some suspension of disbelief is needed, due to as a result of some ideas not being completely followed through it doesn't always make sense. While the Mane 6 are well characterised and in character, other than Twilight and Rainbow Dash they are underused.
In summary, tricky to sum up and while it was a well above average and quite fun episode it could have been better in the story execution. 6/10
