'My Little Pony: Pony Life's' previous episodes prior to "The Trail-Less Trotten"/"Death of a Sales-Pony" showed very small glimpses of improvement in a couple of individual areas. But in terms of overall quality, all the previous episodes stayed on the same consistent line of being barely average at best and very bad at worst. Which sadly was true for the whole show's run too. Was hoping that this would be a better episode for Fluttershy (actually up to this point the least problematically written of the Mane 6) than the very weak "Cute-Pocalypse Meow".
An episode where she was actually not the problem, but the story and one character in particular really sank any potential of making even more of an impact. The good news is that as an episode "The Trail-Less Trotten"/"Death of a Sales Pony" fares marginally better, with nowhere near as many unbearably annoying characters. The bad news is that "Cute-Pocalypse Meow" actually did a better job with Fluttershy as a character. As far as 'My Little Pony: Pony Life' episodes go, this is one of the least bad, but when one says that and the episode still manages to not be particularly good that is indicative of how badly lacking the show is.
There are a few good things. The best thing is the voice acting, which is great. The material is far from being that, and actually a long way from even being good, but the voice acting has a lot of spirit and nuance particularly with Andrea Libman.
Did think too that there were moments of some nice at least amusing humour that wasn't childish or simplistic, something that was not the case in the previous episodes and for most of the show's run. Actually did to begin with relate a lot to Fluttershy's friends not wanting to hurt her, having been in that situation many times, before it went too far.
However, Fluttershy does come over as rather bland, it is good that any flaws were not overdone like they were with all the other ponies in the previous episodes but at the same time her virtues are downplayed too to the extent her personality isn't there. A big problem here is that while the rest of the Mane 6's good intentions to not hurt her were noble at first, their dishonesty over something that Fluttershy would have been understanding about if she knew came over as patronising and dragged out.
Furthermore, the storytelling is limply paced, very thin and unimaginative, showing very little charm or heart. Most of it revolved around the Mane 6's dishonest treatment of Fluttershy, which as said came over as dragged out. The characters are all over simplified in personality, not just Fluttershy, which make them come over as equally bland, the messaging sounded relatable on paper but patronised in execution and the tension just isn't there. Some nice moments of humour aside, the writing has very little spark and goes overboard on the silliness, while also having very little for adults.
Nothing has improved in the animation too, 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 and nothing is done to break away from the gender and age stereotype that the My Little Pony franchise gets, if anything it's reinforced here and a big common problem throughout this show.
In conclusion, not awful but pretty mediocre still. 4/10.
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