The episodes centered around Applejack and the Apple family are as an overall whole variable. Some are good and even great (or close to). Others are a bit lacking. Others are somewhere in the middle. While liking Applejack as an overall whole, she is for me the least consistently characterised of the Mane 6 when talking of the show in general. When in character she is funny and worth relating to, when out of it she is a lot less endearing.
"Apple Family Reunion" belongs in the third mentioned category, somewhere in between. As far as Season 3 goes, it is somewhere in the middle too and fits the distinction of decent but not great. The episode is great when it comes to its honesty, that it doesn't try to do too much and in the character interaction. It is easy though to see why some will be, and have been, put off by "Apple Family Reunion's" pace and how Applejack is written here.
Much is done right. As is the case a vast majority of the time for the show, "Apple Family Reunion" is beautifully animated. Love the use of colour and the setting has a nostalgic charm. It's dynamic in placement and tone musically and have no issues with the voice acting either. While having issues with Applejack here, Ashleigh Ball's voice acting is not one of those issues. The moral is brilliant and one of the most relatable and true to life, the delivery of it is tactful and doesn't preach.
Loved the character interaction and how the Apple Family bonded and worked together. The preparation montage is charming and the part with the barn heart-breaking. The script has amusing and poignant moments, and appreciated its honesty and subtlety.
Was a lot less taken with the character writing for Applejack, at her worst for the season here. At her best (though as said for me her character writing was not consistent throughout the show) she is funny and easy to endear to, but here her selfishness and overdone control freak attitude was a turn off.
Despite the writing having enough nice moments, it is sometimes bland. Not enough conflict, what there is can lack tension, and there is not an awful lot of insight into the characters. Did find the pace of the episode on the too sedate side, partly because of there being for my liking too much filler to try to stretch out a plot that is quite thin.
Overall, not a bad episode at all but didn't leave me wowed. 7/10
"Apple Family Reunion" belongs in the third mentioned category, somewhere in between. As far as Season 3 goes, it is somewhere in the middle too and fits the distinction of decent but not great. The episode is great when it comes to its honesty, that it doesn't try to do too much and in the character interaction. It is easy though to see why some will be, and have been, put off by "Apple Family Reunion's" pace and how Applejack is written here.
Much is done right. As is the case a vast majority of the time for the show, "Apple Family Reunion" is beautifully animated. Love the use of colour and the setting has a nostalgic charm. It's dynamic in placement and tone musically and have no issues with the voice acting either. While having issues with Applejack here, Ashleigh Ball's voice acting is not one of those issues. The moral is brilliant and one of the most relatable and true to life, the delivery of it is tactful and doesn't preach.
Loved the character interaction and how the Apple Family bonded and worked together. The preparation montage is charming and the part with the barn heart-breaking. The script has amusing and poignant moments, and appreciated its honesty and subtlety.
Was a lot less taken with the character writing for Applejack, at her worst for the season here. At her best (though as said for me her character writing was not consistent throughout the show) she is funny and easy to endear to, but here her selfishness and overdone control freak attitude was a turn off.
Despite the writing having enough nice moments, it is sometimes bland. Not enough conflict, what there is can lack tension, and there is not an awful lot of insight into the characters. Did find the pace of the episode on the too sedate side, partly because of there being for my liking too much filler to try to stretch out a plot that is quite thin.
Overall, not a bad episode at all but didn't leave me wowed. 7/10
