So, much as I have never been a fan of romantic episodes, I think this one was actually rather sweet. Fitting for an episode with so much sugar.
Yes, it’s a bad pun. I regret nothing.
The plot itself is pretty straightforward. It is, for the most part, a standard “awkward individual competes with non-awkward individual for heart of a third individual” romance story I feel the 90’s especially seemed to crank out with alarming regularity. Not exactly a point in its favor, true, but the utility of competitive romance is that it
is such a classic tale that even the most bitter, unloved husk of humanity is likely aware of the tropes involved.
Conveniently made clear by romance “expert” Sweete Belle.
As such it conveniently allows jumping straight into the story without needing to establish much in the way of backstory first. And building off the audiences preexisting knowledge also gives the little details a chance to shine through more than they sometimes do in more complicated stories. And really, it is the little details elevate the episode beyond it’s more mundane foundation. The show (through the CMC) plies every cliche in the classic romance department to try and get Big Mac the mare he’s interested in, with increasingly failed results.
>>1435494t (merged)
Once you’ve hit the stage where your love is cowering in fear, it’s time to stop.
The end, however, is probably the best part of the episode. Big Mac’s love interest does not want grand gestures and fairy tale romance at all, and that the show goes as far as to point that out is a much appreciated touch of realism in a genre that often showcases such things as successful. That Big Mac ultimately succeeds by having listened to Sugar Belle and been attentive to what she actually needed elevates the story considerably. As does the reveal that Feather Bangs, for all his smooth talk and well kept mane, really has nothing beyond the grand gestures to offer.
>>1435485t (merged)
Not that some ponies need more than that.
So all in all, a pretty good episode. Not the best of the season, but if it can succeed in making a love story interesting, than I consider that a decent victory.
Also, I’m beginning to think Sweetie Belle takes after her sister more than she realizes.