"Sounds of Silence" is the highest rated episode here of Season 8 by quite some way, seeing as the ratings for most of the other episodes are unsurprisingly (and in most cases deservedly) quite low. Only 9 out of the 26 episodes of Season 8 are rated 8 and above here, but there are a few lower rated episodes in the season that to me were actually better than a couple of the high-rated ones. Am someone that loves the show but Season 8 was very uneven, very nearly as much as 6.
In my mind, "Sounds of Silence" deserves its distinction of the highest rated episode of Season 8 and is widely considered in the fandom as the best episode of the season. Personally don't think it is quite up there with the very best episodes of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' as implied by the rating, but when it comes to ranking the episodes of Season, this along with "What Lies Beneath" and "The Hearth's Warming Club" (to a lesser extent "Horse Play") are in a different league to the rest of the season. The best things about "Sounds of Silence" make for Season 8 at its best.
To me, "Sounds of Silence" was at its weakest with the moralising. A case of two morals in one and one is much better than the other, one is very identifiable and relevant to today's society though could have gone into more depth. But the other, the more dominant one, could have done with more subtlety and isn't as universal a moral (it is also one that can go either way)
However, "Sounds of Silence" has so many brilliantly done things. Absolutely loved the characterisation. The kirin make strong and quite promising first impressions, despite being silent their inventive character designs and their mysterious air make them memorable and their body language and reactions speak volumes. Applejack and Fluttershy are the Mane 6 characters focused upon, was very worried that it would be yet another Season 8 with an odd coupling at constant odds with each other and with their flaws over-emphasised. Not the case. Applejack has been known to be too stubborn and aggressive when focused upon, but "Sounds of Silence" does not go overboard on this in my view, she's flawed but endears. Likewise with Fluttershy, she thankfully is not bland with her trademark shyness being here but also some assertiveness. The two work really well together and their different personalities make for a partnership that is likeable, well contrasted and makes sense.
What really stands out for me in "Sounds of Silence" is Autumn Blaze. She gets my vote as the best individual character of the season, the most interesting, the most entertaining and one that is easy to root for rather than being out of character or a missed opportunity. She manages to be absolutely hilarious, her running gag and lines not wearing thin, but also surprisingly mature and not one-dimensional (plus the animators and writers were clearly having a ball with her, and Rachel Bloom voicing her). Her interaction with Applejack and Fluttershy is fun and charming. The voice acting all round is excellent, with the standout being the absolute joy and breath of fresh air that is Bloom.
Animation is colourful and beautifully and inventively detailed, particularly shining with Autumn Blaze's character animation and deliciously wacky expressions. It also does a great job immersing one into the Kirin world. The music is characterful and infectious, fitting beautifully. The song "A Kirin Tale" is also the best that 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' has had in a long time (the latter seasons were generally quite light in this department and were variable in quality). The writing is hilarious and thoughtful, the first portion is heavy in exposition but it was exposition that didn't feel too heavy in the talk, it didn't bog the episode down hence making it drag and it actually moved the story along. The story compels and is fun and emotionally investable, aided by the character interaction.
Concluding, not 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' at its best but it's Season 8 at its best. 9/10.
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