While there have been times where Rainbow Dash has not been well written, there were a few episodes of Season 6 that messed her up big time, or where she is poorly treated (i.e. The Wonderbolt-set episodes), there were many other times where she was very funny and worth relating to and had great character interaction with the rest of the Mane 6 and characters ("Sonic Rainboom" for instance is still a high point of the show).
"Grannies Gone Wild" is not a great episode or a must watch, with it having strong potential of being even better with a clearer moral. It is however worth watching and above average, with a colourful setting, great cameos and Rainbow Dash has fared far worse in terms of character writing here. There are better Season 8 episodes than "Grannies Gone Wild", and it is a shame that this and the previous two episodes are not on the same level as the promising two parter that opened the season ("School Daze"), but there are also worse. This is one of the middling episodes.
Shall get the negatives out of the way. The moral was not as focused as it could have been. On paper reading the synopsis, it immediately caught my attention and related as prejudice is still such a big problem for so many things and should be addressed more anywhere. It is handled with good intentions and Rainbow Dash clearly learns from it, but it is also muddled a little by Applejack coming over as little over-protective (other episodes did that worse though, "Somepony to Watch Over Me" for example and it's actually more understandable here considering that a family member is part of the party and the age group) and that the episode also seemed to be teaching that she was not to be trusted judging from how her instructions are carried out.
Rainbow Dash has been worse written than in "Grannies Gone Wild", it was moving when she opened up and actually she is not near as prejudiced here as feared (being somebody who has been in similar positions more than once in my life, same with my siblings). But she didn't usually strike me as being as selfish and reluctant to do something in the way she is here and there are not many other episodes where she puts her want to achieve a goal over the safety of others. Then again that is my take. The story occasionally could have done with more energy and while the ending was sweet it was a little too neat.
However, the animation is great. Very colourful and beautifully detailed, Las Pegasus really struck me as a place where the hype and excitement is more than earned considering how vibrantly it's depicted. The music is characterful and there is never any trouble with fitting with the action. Have also no issues with the voice acting, Ashleigh Ball and Tabitha St Germain voice Rainbow Dash and Granny Smith beautifully.
Despite Rainbow Dash being imperfectly written, her honesty was sincerely written and loved the chemistry she had with the rest of the characters. She and Granny Smith interact very well and surprisingly do gel for two very different personalities. The rest of the Golden Horseshoe gals (parodying the Golden Girls) are amusing and charming. The background pony cameos are absolute joys, including ones based upon Rick and Morty, Gordon Ramsay and even Walter White.
In conclusion, worthwhile if not the show on peak form. 6/10.
"Grannies Gone Wild" is not a great episode or a must watch, with it having strong potential of being even better with a clearer moral. It is however worth watching and above average, with a colourful setting, great cameos and Rainbow Dash has fared far worse in terms of character writing here. There are better Season 8 episodes than "Grannies Gone Wild", and it is a shame that this and the previous two episodes are not on the same level as the promising two parter that opened the season ("School Daze"), but there are also worse. This is one of the middling episodes.
Shall get the negatives out of the way. The moral was not as focused as it could have been. On paper reading the synopsis, it immediately caught my attention and related as prejudice is still such a big problem for so many things and should be addressed more anywhere. It is handled with good intentions and Rainbow Dash clearly learns from it, but it is also muddled a little by Applejack coming over as little over-protective (other episodes did that worse though, "Somepony to Watch Over Me" for example and it's actually more understandable here considering that a family member is part of the party and the age group) and that the episode also seemed to be teaching that she was not to be trusted judging from how her instructions are carried out.
Rainbow Dash has been worse written than in "Grannies Gone Wild", it was moving when she opened up and actually she is not near as prejudiced here as feared (being somebody who has been in similar positions more than once in my life, same with my siblings). But she didn't usually strike me as being as selfish and reluctant to do something in the way she is here and there are not many other episodes where she puts her want to achieve a goal over the safety of others. Then again that is my take. The story occasionally could have done with more energy and while the ending was sweet it was a little too neat.
However, the animation is great. Very colourful and beautifully detailed, Las Pegasus really struck me as a place where the hype and excitement is more than earned considering how vibrantly it's depicted. The music is characterful and there is never any trouble with fitting with the action. Have also no issues with the voice acting, Ashleigh Ball and Tabitha St Germain voice Rainbow Dash and Granny Smith beautifully.
Despite Rainbow Dash being imperfectly written, her honesty was sincerely written and loved the chemistry she had with the rest of the characters. She and Granny Smith interact very well and surprisingly do gel for two very different personalities. The rest of the Golden Horseshoe gals (parodying the Golden Girls) are amusing and charming. The background pony cameos are absolute joys, including ones based upon Rick and Morty, Gordon Ramsay and even Walter White.
In conclusion, worthwhile if not the show on peak form. 6/10.
