"Marks for Effort" is the second Cutie Mark Crusaders-centric episode of Season 8. The first being "Surf and/or Turf", which to me was not a bad episode at all if uneven and not one of those episodes that progresses anything that much. Have always liked the Cutie Mark Crusaders very much, characters that are not near as too cutesy as their character designs indicate (a good case of not judging a book by its cover) and they have had some great episodes.
Season 8's "Marks for Effort" is not quite one of those great episodes. It is though very good and a superior episode to the previous Cutie Mark Crusaders-centric outing (if not quite one of their best overall), despite the ratings here for the episodes indicating otherwise. A lot more interesting and layered than one would think reading the basic synopsis, when reading the whole plotline summary and seeing how it is executed. On paper it sounds predictable and mundane, but it's the opposite.
Didn't find much wrong with "Marks for Effort" actually. The only big one was when the Cutie Mark Crusaders are accused of sabotage, Twilight jumps to conclusions far too quickly without any proof and the punishment was too extreme, things that she doesn't usually do. While liking Twilight on the whole in the episode, one does lose respect for her at this quite jarring.
While it was nice to see a little of the rest of the Mane 6, they don't really add very much to the episode other than providing a throwback.
However, much of the character writing is absolutely great. The only downside really being that one moment with Twilight. The Cutie Mark Crusaders are funny and likeable, their good intentions appreciated, and the Darla Dimple-like Cozy Glow manages to be quite fascinating with a personality that is charming at times and sinister at others, though that her character was spoiled before the season even aired took away from the surprise factor a bit. Starlight delights with her facial expressions, and while respect is lost for Twilight during the aforementioned part that is gotten back in the resolution. The voice acting is excellent.
As is the colourful and meticulously detailed animation, with the increasingly inventive facial expressions and reaction being delightful. Am not surprised that Starlight's "I see" expression is a meme. The music is dynamic with the action and has a lot of character and atmosphere. "Marks for Effort" is a cleverly written episode, it is a long way from cheesy or over-sentimental and actually has a good deal of side-splitting humour and the action has enough variation to avoid the friendship formula getting stale and enough twists to avoid repetition and excessive predictability. The chemistry between the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Cozy Glow has heart and feels fresh. The resolution is neither rushed, preachy or too pat, with one of the better morals of the season, and it is a resolution that also feels earned.
Very good episode on the whole, liked it a lot better than expected on first watch and still think the same. 8/10.