#16. Baby Cakes
Writer: Charlotte Fullerton
Storyboard: Tom Sales and Corey Toomey
Season/Episode: 2, 13
Overall: 39
Characters: Pinkie Pie, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, Pound and Pumpkin Cake
Summary: Pinkie Pie wants to babysit the Cakes’ new foals while they’re away, but she doesn’t realize she may be in over her head.
Review: I have to warn you before I go any further–many episodes in the worst countdown are actually from seasons 1 and 2. Now I’m not saying those were bad seasons. The problem is many long-running shows have to get the kinks out, and MLP was no exception. Currently the show is in its seventh season, and it’s one of the strongest. But when you compare season 1 or 2 to it, it just doesn’t hold up. The morals are more provoking, the stories are more challenging. It really has more depth than you might think.
My main problem with this episode is that in trying to establish new canon, it ruins what’s already been established. There’s a flimsy handwave to explain why Pound and Pumpkin aren’t Earth Ponies (I doubt even the youngest kids bought it!). And on top of that, they have no problems with their magic or flying. And yet, we see in her flashback in “The Cutie Mark Chronicles”, Twilight Sparkle struggled with her magic in her younger years. And Sweetie Belle’s horn reminds me of Jubilee from the X-Men–little sparks that don’t amount to much. As for Pegasi, Rainbow Dash had trouble as a filly too. Sorry, but I’m not buying this.
What’s more, this episode does nothing more than hit the same old bits we always see in this scenario–the cringey humor about diapers, the unruly toddlers, the escalating mischief–yep, all here, and all predictable. Even when Twilight shows up and offers help, you want Pinkie to agree. And when she doesn’t you’re facepalming. Pinkie Pie is NOT stupid. I wish the writers would realize that. She’s silly because she views the world differently, not because she’s stupid. There’s a big difference.
No, I don’t like this episode. Charlotte Fullerton, you’re better than this, I’ve seen you write great stories. Just not this one.
Aspie Catholic 