Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' is a timeless festive classic that has been adapted a number of times with mostly good success (only don't care for two). It has been condensed in just over 20 minutes more than once in animation, prime examples being Disney's 'Mickey's Christmas Carol' (a childhood favourite) and the underrated 'Peter Pan and the Pirates' episode "Hook's Christmas" and very well in both cases. Was very interested in what this show would do with the story.
'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' on the most part adapts and condenses this amazing story incredibly well, in what is by far the best holiday themed episode of the show and one of the high points of the inconsistent Season 6 by quite some way. Also a huge improvement over the disappointing "Newbie Dash". Is there much new to it? No, as the premise is an old one. This is a case of that not mattering, considering how fully investable it is emotionally (in my view) and its entertainment value.
"A Hearth's Warming Tail" does get a little rushed towards the end with how much content there was and a little more time could have been dedicated to the resolution.
However, "A Hearth's Warming Tail" is one of the season's best looking episodes. Possibly either a close second to "Gauntlet of Fire" or a tie between those two, not just because of the vibrant colours and the backgrounding but also the imaginative visuals on the spirits and how the ponies look in their Victorian period garb. The music, in the first "musical" episode of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' episode since Season 5's "Crusaders of the Lost Mark" is also amazing, with "Luna's Future" being a very strong contender for the best song of the season (a mixed bag when it came to its songs).
The writing has humour (and tasteful and amusing humour this time, not what was seen in "Newbie Dash"), poignant emotion (without being too sentimental which it could easily have been) and intrigue. Spike, Season 6 has done a great job with him so far (while this season overall was one of the show's weakest, it was also one of Spike's stronger seasons characterisation wise), even has a great line when he reminds Starlight of her actions before her reform. Anything with a telling stories within a story structure immediately intrigues, and "A Hearth's Warming Tail" does such a great job having enough of the story's primary details, keeping true to the spirit of both 'A Christmas Carol' and of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' and being cohesive despite being condensed. There is a lot of charm here and the emotion is also present, while it's rushed towards the end the ending is also quite touching and heart-warming.
Characters are spot on, Starlight was a great choice for the Scrooge of the tale because it mirrors what she was like in Season 5 and her development to how she is in this season onwards. It took me time to get used to and accept her 180 personality when the reform was so rushed in Season 5's finale, but she started to grow on me here and it was great to see some sign of her old self (if not as evil). Twilight is compassionate and well-intentioned, truer to character than she was in "No Second Prances" and the episode handles the spirits imaginatively. The character interaction all round is spot on. As is the voice acting.
In summary, a great episode and one of the season's best by quite some way. 9/10
'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' on the most part adapts and condenses this amazing story incredibly well, in what is by far the best holiday themed episode of the show and one of the high points of the inconsistent Season 6 by quite some way. Also a huge improvement over the disappointing "Newbie Dash". Is there much new to it? No, as the premise is an old one. This is a case of that not mattering, considering how fully investable it is emotionally (in my view) and its entertainment value.
"A Hearth's Warming Tail" does get a little rushed towards the end with how much content there was and a little more time could have been dedicated to the resolution.
However, "A Hearth's Warming Tail" is one of the season's best looking episodes. Possibly either a close second to "Gauntlet of Fire" or a tie between those two, not just because of the vibrant colours and the backgrounding but also the imaginative visuals on the spirits and how the ponies look in their Victorian period garb. The music, in the first "musical" episode of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' episode since Season 5's "Crusaders of the Lost Mark" is also amazing, with "Luna's Future" being a very strong contender for the best song of the season (a mixed bag when it came to its songs).
The writing has humour (and tasteful and amusing humour this time, not what was seen in "Newbie Dash"), poignant emotion (without being too sentimental which it could easily have been) and intrigue. Spike, Season 6 has done a great job with him so far (while this season overall was one of the show's weakest, it was also one of Spike's stronger seasons characterisation wise), even has a great line when he reminds Starlight of her actions before her reform. Anything with a telling stories within a story structure immediately intrigues, and "A Hearth's Warming Tail" does such a great job having enough of the story's primary details, keeping true to the spirit of both 'A Christmas Carol' and of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' and being cohesive despite being condensed. There is a lot of charm here and the emotion is also present, while it's rushed towards the end the ending is also quite touching and heart-warming.
Characters are spot on, Starlight was a great choice for the Scrooge of the tale because it mirrors what she was like in Season 5 and her development to how she is in this season onwards. It took me time to get used to and accept her 180 personality when the reform was so rushed in Season 5's finale, but she started to grow on me here and it was great to see some sign of her old self (if not as evil). Twilight is compassionate and well-intentioned, truer to character than she was in "No Second Prances" and the episode handles the spirits imaginatively. The character interaction all round is spot on. As is the voice acting.
In summary, a great episode and one of the season's best by quite some way. 9/10