'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic' generally did very well with its two part season openers, the weakest one of the previous seasons being Season 6's "The Crystalling", which was still above average, and the best for me being between Season 2's "The Return of Harmony" and Season 5's "The Cutie Map" which were both excellent. "School Daze" is Season 8's premiere and the first episode after the film (which to me was enjoyable) so hopes were high after liking the previous season while hoping it would be better than that season's finale.
It was and both parts, but especially the second part, make for a most promising and very good start to Season 8. The season itself was very uneven, with some bright spots, the worst episodes being as bad as the worst of Season 6 and a lot of episodes in between, but both parts of "School Daze" belong in the better group of it. Part 1 is set up, but it does a much better job than Season 7's season finale Part 1 ("Shadow Play") at setting things up without being too heavy in exposition or too complicated despite a lot going on.
"School Daze Part 1" has so much to recommend but has its faults. With a lot happening and being introduced there could have been more time to breathe as it did feel a touch rushed.
What would have solved it is if the episode did try to do a little bit less and focused on a smaller group of characters perhaps. While "School Daze Part 1" actually does very well with introducing the Student Six characters, Gallus is not as interesting as the rest of them and also has the personality that is the hardest to warm to, pessimism and apathy are not particularly warm-worthy traits.
However, so much works here. It is only their first episode, but already the Student Six characters have distinct personalities and traits that are mostly appealing and they are very interesting. The episode also does a great job making them individual from each other, with the standout characters being Yona (it would have been easy to overdo her pride and make her too much of a brute, but that is avoided) and Ocellus (really related to her shyness and how intelligent she was). Twilight is well developed here as well, it was great to see proactive here and it was interesting seeing her in a situation that stretched her. Chancellor Neighsay is entertaining and formidable, again the negative characteristics not being overdone. Great to see a different side to Equestria.
The animation is very colourful and polished throughout, especially towards the end when everything goes up into chaos and in the expressions and reactions. The music fits beautifully and never seemed at odds, "School of Friendship" (after a very song-light Season 7, apart from the terrible one in "Marks and Recreation") is catchy and uplifting. The writing is thoughtful and has a lot of heart and fun. The story is not perfect in pacing, but it never felt dull or bland. The voice acting from all is great, especially Tara Strong. It was great fun hearing Maurice LaMarche voice Neighsay and in the same voice he used for Brain (absolutely adore his voice work as that character) in 'Pinky and the Brain'.
Concluding, very promising start. 8/10.
It was and both parts, but especially the second part, make for a most promising and very good start to Season 8. The season itself was very uneven, with some bright spots, the worst episodes being as bad as the worst of Season 6 and a lot of episodes in between, but both parts of "School Daze" belong in the better group of it. Part 1 is set up, but it does a much better job than Season 7's season finale Part 1 ("Shadow Play") at setting things up without being too heavy in exposition or too complicated despite a lot going on.
"School Daze Part 1" has so much to recommend but has its faults. With a lot happening and being introduced there could have been more time to breathe as it did feel a touch rushed.
What would have solved it is if the episode did try to do a little bit less and focused on a smaller group of characters perhaps. While "School Daze Part 1" actually does very well with introducing the Student Six characters, Gallus is not as interesting as the rest of them and also has the personality that is the hardest to warm to, pessimism and apathy are not particularly warm-worthy traits.
However, so much works here. It is only their first episode, but already the Student Six characters have distinct personalities and traits that are mostly appealing and they are very interesting. The episode also does a great job making them individual from each other, with the standout characters being Yona (it would have been easy to overdo her pride and make her too much of a brute, but that is avoided) and Ocellus (really related to her shyness and how intelligent she was). Twilight is well developed here as well, it was great to see proactive here and it was interesting seeing her in a situation that stretched her. Chancellor Neighsay is entertaining and formidable, again the negative characteristics not being overdone. Great to see a different side to Equestria.
The animation is very colourful and polished throughout, especially towards the end when everything goes up into chaos and in the expressions and reactions. The music fits beautifully and never seemed at odds, "School of Friendship" (after a very song-light Season 7, apart from the terrible one in "Marks and Recreation") is catchy and uplifting. The writing is thoughtful and has a lot of heart and fun. The story is not perfect in pacing, but it never felt dull or bland. The voice acting from all is great, especially Tara Strong. It was great fun hearing Maurice LaMarche voice Neighsay and in the same voice he used for Brain (absolutely adore his voice work as that character) in 'Pinky and the Brain'.
Concluding, very promising start. 8/10.
