Rarity is such a great character, one of my favourites from 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic', and there are some great Rarity-centric episodes in the show (i.e. "Rarity Takes Manehattan"). Anybody that liked the first half of Season 5 (from "The Cutie Map: Part 1" to "Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?"), like me on the most part apart from "Appleoosa's Most Wanted" and "Princess Spike", will undoubtedly expect a lot from this episode that opens the season's second half.
"Canterlot Boutique" mostly delivers, a good start to the second half of the fifth season and a solid episode of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'. Personally respectfully do not agree with the previous reviewer and don't think it fair to give such a low score for one thing. While doing such a great job with Rarity and the setting with a relatable situation, it is not to me one of the best Rarity-centric episodes and there are better episodes of Season 5 before and since (as well as much worse).
Am going to get the not so good things out of the way first. Not all the characters are handled well, Pinkie Pie is very annoying here (so disappointing after such good character writing for her in "Party Pooped") and Spike is basically background that contributes barely anything. The ending felt too contrived and convenient.
There is one scene that should have been expanded upon a lot more and not practically forgotten, the one where Rarity makes a big blatant and not defensible mistake when choosing her preferences over her customer's that happens and quickly thrown away and neglected when realistically a big deal would be made of it depending on the customer.
However, the animation is gorgeously coloured and rich in detail (whether in the little things or the more elaborate ones). The show has always been one of the best uses of flash animation, a very variably executed style of animation when used in general, and to me "Canterlot Boutique" is one of the best-looking episodes of Season 5. Absolutely loved the song as well, very catchy and one of the few Season 5 songs that had inspired lyrics and wordplay. One of the best of the season easily and the best up to this halfway point of it. Most of the characters are written very well indeed, Rarity apart from one scene is a character one can relate to quite easily and has a very strong personality that's not distorted.
Sassy is every bit her equal, very well established early on, sassy and actually with more conflicting emotions than one would think. Some of my friends, also fans, found her too malicious, not me and that it was just a case on going too far on trying to do the right thing and over-eagerness with no bad intentions. The writing is thoughtful and entertaining and while the story is very straight-forward the situation actually resonates and it was great for the episode to address the consequences of putting trying to appeal to a certain kind of audience over quality that is so true to life. Do know what it's like from experience to sacrifice her creativity for popularity. Personally actually liked the message, which is not as simplistic and more tasteful actually than what has been described here and it was one of the season's more identifiable ones. The voice acting from Tabitha St Germain and Kelly Sheridan is excellent.
Overall, good if not great. 7/10
"Canterlot Boutique" mostly delivers, a good start to the second half of the fifth season and a solid episode of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic'. Personally respectfully do not agree with the previous reviewer and don't think it fair to give such a low score for one thing. While doing such a great job with Rarity and the setting with a relatable situation, it is not to me one of the best Rarity-centric episodes and there are better episodes of Season 5 before and since (as well as much worse).
Am going to get the not so good things out of the way first. Not all the characters are handled well, Pinkie Pie is very annoying here (so disappointing after such good character writing for her in "Party Pooped") and Spike is basically background that contributes barely anything. The ending felt too contrived and convenient.
There is one scene that should have been expanded upon a lot more and not practically forgotten, the one where Rarity makes a big blatant and not defensible mistake when choosing her preferences over her customer's that happens and quickly thrown away and neglected when realistically a big deal would be made of it depending on the customer.
However, the animation is gorgeously coloured and rich in detail (whether in the little things or the more elaborate ones). The show has always been one of the best uses of flash animation, a very variably executed style of animation when used in general, and to me "Canterlot Boutique" is one of the best-looking episodes of Season 5. Absolutely loved the song as well, very catchy and one of the few Season 5 songs that had inspired lyrics and wordplay. One of the best of the season easily and the best up to this halfway point of it. Most of the characters are written very well indeed, Rarity apart from one scene is a character one can relate to quite easily and has a very strong personality that's not distorted.
Sassy is every bit her equal, very well established early on, sassy and actually with more conflicting emotions than one would think. Some of my friends, also fans, found her too malicious, not me and that it was just a case on going too far on trying to do the right thing and over-eagerness with no bad intentions. The writing is thoughtful and entertaining and while the story is very straight-forward the situation actually resonates and it was great for the episode to address the consequences of putting trying to appeal to a certain kind of audience over quality that is so true to life. Do know what it's like from experience to sacrifice her creativity for popularity. Personally actually liked the message, which is not as simplistic and more tasteful actually than what has been described here and it was one of the season's more identifiable ones. The voice acting from Tabitha St Germain and Kelly Sheridan is excellent.
Overall, good if not great. 7/10
