It never fails. I go on vacation and end up two episodes behind. Whatever that means at this point.
I watched The Road to Friendship, and I liked it.
I love how much thought went into the design of Hoo’far. The windswept mane invites the viewer to think about
the environment he’s from. Between the goggles for his eyes, the headgear for his ears, and the cloth which I imagine he can pull up over his face, he’s well-protected from the sandstorms that would be common in a desert environment. His colour composition is also very nice; the yellow, orange-brown and maroon are analogous, while the orange compliments the blue. It’s a mix of warm and cool colours that reflect the extremes of the desert. He’s up there with Tempest in terms of character design.
On the subject of Hoo’far, I’m slightly disappointed that they never explain why he was interested in Trixie’s wagon. It’s also disappointing that we don’t find out why the wagon holds the sentimental value that it does. I suppose it being her property is reason enough for her to be upset about it being traded away. It just feels like a missed opportunity. There’s always the possibility that they’ll follow it up later.
Another thing that stands out is the shot of them leaving Ponyville as the song begins. It lasts six seconds, but I really want to talk about it. It’s a view of Ponyville that invokes a feeling of Season One. You have the dirt road that winds into the background. You have the blue sky and the negative space created by the mountains, and you have the yellow and white of Ponyville contrasted with the cool, earthy colours of the rest of the scenery. All of these things draw the eye towards the most distant part of the shot, while the subject (the wagon) moves towards the camera. This creates a contrast that emphasizes Starlight and Trixie’s departure from Ponyville, and sets the tone for the upcoming song. The song is also really good.
Aside from the visuals, there’s really not a lot to say about it. Nothing is really accomplished. There’s not much in the way of morals. The story is uncomplicated, and it ends up right where it started. Let’s set aside the fact that it’s Starlight and Trixie for a moment. I kind of like the idea of occasionally getting an episode where the plot is downplayed, and the character interactions and visuals do the lifting. Sometimes it’s nice to just watch characters be characters. The fact that it’s my current favourite duo is a nice bonus. (Although a few more Rainbow Dash and Rarity episodes might change my mind.)
Overall, if you’re not a fan of Starlight and Trixie, and you’re not in the market for a new horsebando, you at least get some nice visuals, even if the other elements are a bit barebones.
I’ll watch The Washouts tomorrow.
