Can completely see why many dislike "2, 4, 6, Greaaat" and completely agree with the many criticisms aimed against it. It is the lowest rated episode of Season 9 and also one of the lowest rated episodes of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic', personally can understand the former but actually don't agree with the latter. A shame because while Rainbow Dash was very inconsistently characterised in the latter seasons she was an admirable one in the earlier ones.
On the whole though she actually had progressed a lot as a character, like all the rest of the Mane 6 in general. You would not think so when seeing how she is written here and it is a massive undoing in this episode. Personally didn't think that "2, 4, 6, Greaaat" was that bad and there are worse Rainbow Dash-centric episodes and episodes of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' in general. It was sadly also not particularly good, a lesser episode of Season 9 and a let down after two terrific outings in a row.
"2, 4, 6, Greaaat" does have redeeming values. The animation ranges from very good to exceptional throughout, with a very interesting colour scheme for the uniforms if we talk about little standout things. The music is dynamic and has energy and atmosphere with nifty orchestration. Have no issues with the voice acting either, even when there were instances of the characters not being written well (and there were quite a few instances in every season) it was never at the fault of the voice actors and it is no exception here.
The supporting characters shine a good deal. Celestia has a lovely uplifting moment at the end. Snips shows a real growth of character here with a much stronger personality than before, craftier and more obsessive rather than being a tag along sort of character. Smolder has one of her shining moments in when she is the voice of reason when putting Rainbow Dash in her place. The lesson is an honest and identifiable one well delivered.
However, while those characters showed real character growth "2, 4, 6, Greaaat" went completely backwards with Rainbow Dash. While everybody has been in situations where they are told to do something they're not interested in, most are very unlikely to have such an apathetic and rude attitude in the way Rainbow Dash does and certainly not to this extreme a degree. There have been quite a number of times in the latter seasons where Rainbow Dash was very unlikeable and where her flaws were over the top, but in a few of those instances one could slightly see her point of view due to having good intentions or being herself cruelly treated. Here her behaviour is completely uncalled for and for no reason. While there has always been an attempt to not dislike something for one reason only, Rainbow Dash's character writing really brings the episode down, ruins it even, and goes too far.
Other issues are here, though not as bad. The writing can be forced and the story could have done with more energy and tension and less of a mean-spirited edge. Did feel that the ending was too neatly resolved and almost undeserved considering how Rainbow Dash treats everyone here.
Summing up, not that bad but not particularly good and Rainbow Dash's character writing leaves a bad taste in the mouth. 5/10.
On the whole though she actually had progressed a lot as a character, like all the rest of the Mane 6 in general. You would not think so when seeing how she is written here and it is a massive undoing in this episode. Personally didn't think that "2, 4, 6, Greaaat" was that bad and there are worse Rainbow Dash-centric episodes and episodes of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' in general. It was sadly also not particularly good, a lesser episode of Season 9 and a let down after two terrific outings in a row.
"2, 4, 6, Greaaat" does have redeeming values. The animation ranges from very good to exceptional throughout, with a very interesting colour scheme for the uniforms if we talk about little standout things. The music is dynamic and has energy and atmosphere with nifty orchestration. Have no issues with the voice acting either, even when there were instances of the characters not being written well (and there were quite a few instances in every season) it was never at the fault of the voice actors and it is no exception here.
The supporting characters shine a good deal. Celestia has a lovely uplifting moment at the end. Snips shows a real growth of character here with a much stronger personality than before, craftier and more obsessive rather than being a tag along sort of character. Smolder has one of her shining moments in when she is the voice of reason when putting Rainbow Dash in her place. The lesson is an honest and identifiable one well delivered.
However, while those characters showed real character growth "2, 4, 6, Greaaat" went completely backwards with Rainbow Dash. While everybody has been in situations where they are told to do something they're not interested in, most are very unlikely to have such an apathetic and rude attitude in the way Rainbow Dash does and certainly not to this extreme a degree. There have been quite a number of times in the latter seasons where Rainbow Dash was very unlikeable and where her flaws were over the top, but in a few of those instances one could slightly see her point of view due to having good intentions or being herself cruelly treated. Here her behaviour is completely uncalled for and for no reason. While there has always been an attempt to not dislike something for one reason only, Rainbow Dash's character writing really brings the episode down, ruins it even, and goes too far.
Other issues are here, though not as bad. The writing can be forced and the story could have done with more energy and tension and less of a mean-spirited edge. Did feel that the ending was too neatly resolved and almost undeserved considering how Rainbow Dash treats everyone here.
Summing up, not that bad but not particularly good and Rainbow Dash's character writing leaves a bad taste in the mouth. 5/10.
