Top 25 Episodes of MLP: FiM Season 1 – #23 – Episode 21: Over a Barrel
Summary
“Over a Barrel” opens in the caboose of a train traveling through a mostly barren landscape, where Applejack is reading a bedtime story to someone off screen. Rarity storms in to see that AJ is reading to an apple tree, to which she get’s rather irritated. After a bit of back and forth between the two, we cut to that night with the other 4 members of the mane 6, who are talking up a storm and keeping Rarity from her “beauty sleep” and Spike from getting some shut eye himself. A bit more humorous dialog and Spike gives up and slips into the caboose and into bed with the apple tree.
The next morning the group is awakened by a herd of stampeding buffalo. They ooh and ahh at the sight until the buffalo start bashing into the side of the train and the ponies pulling it. Eventually the buffalo start stacking on top of each other at speed and give a smaller one a boost onto the top of the train. Rainbow Dash get’s out to confront the small buffalo but it ignores her and keeps running to the back of the train. Rainbow gets tricked into flying off the back of the train and into a sign on the side of the tracks. The little buffalo detaches the caboose from the rest of the train and signals to the rest of the herd, who fall back and start pushing the caboose back along the tracks, taking the apple tree and Spike with them.
The train pulls into the town of Appleoosa and Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight are greeted by Applejack’s enthusiastic cousin, Braeburn. Before the four can explain what happened, Braeburn starts shoving the group around Appleoosa, eventually showing them to their apple orchard where Applejack finally gets him to listen while the group explains what happened on the way to town. Braeburn in turn explains that the buffalo have been giving them trouble, demanding that the trees be removed, but according to Braeburn, they haven’t said why.
Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, has been on the trail of the buffalo herd and is sneaking around the wilderness when she runs into Pinkie Pie, who was following Rainbow since the buffalo took the train caboose. The two get caught by some of the buffalo herd, but are vouched for by Spike, who explains at the buffalo camp that they didn’t mean to take him, just the tree. Spike introduces Pinkie and Rainbow to the little buffalo girl from before, Little Strongheart, but upon recognizing her, Rainbow’s mood worsens and starts to leave, dragging Pinkie off by the tail. Strongheart however tries to apologize and plead the buffalos’ case to Rainbow, saying that the Appleoosans planted the apple orchard on the buffalos’ “Stampeding Grounds.” After being introduced to Chief Thunderhooves, and a bit more convincing from him and Strongheart, Rainbow agrees to go and talk to the Appleoosans about the orchard.
Just outside of Appleoosa, the rest of the mane 6, along with Braeburn, are preparing to go out looking for Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Spike. Barely after starting out, however, the three show up along with Little Strongheart. Strongheart and Braeburn seem more than willing to negotiate over whether or not the apple orchard should stay or not, but before they can make any headway, Applejack and Rainbow Dash start arguing for them.
Pinkie, being Pinkie, decides that the best way for the two groups to solve their differences is NOT through communication and civilized negotiations, but through a song and dance routine about sharing and caring. The gathered crowd doesn’t find Pinkie’s little show to be that inspiring and Chief Thunderhooves gives an ultimatum to the Appleoosans: either remove the trees by noon the next day, or all of Appleoosa gets torn to the ground.
Both sides begin preparations for the coming fight, and despite the Mane 6 and Spike attempting to make them see reason, neither group is willing to back down. Noon arrives the following day and at first Chief Thunderhooves and the buffalo seem like their going to relent and not charge the town, until Pinkie comes back in with her song and goads them into charging anyway, and the Appleoosans respond with… pies… ooohhh the horror…the seriousness of a war between a native group and settlers, and it’s fought with pies. Anyway, after a bit of a skirmish and taking a… pie… to the face, chief Thunderhooves comes up with the idea of allowing the trees to stay, as long as the settlers give a share of the fruit and the pies they produce. The episode ends with Twilight writing a letter to the princess about sharing and understanding and compromise and oh my god enough! We get it!
To an extent, THIS episode is probably the worst of season 1. The only reason I don’t name it as such is because the first half I felt was actually really good. Like “Feeling Pinkie Keen” it left a bad taste in my mouth, and like “Owls well that ends well” the writing felt subpar, but ONLY during the second half, and not INTIRELY to the degree of those episodes. It’s around the point where Chief Thunder Hooves is introduced that I feel the whole thing just takes a nosedive.
Artistic Design and Animation
This is the first instance that the story takes place in this sort of setting, a barren dessert landscape and western atmosphere. I like the look, it’s something different from the lush and bright Ponyville we’ve been attached to for most of the previous 20 episodes, yet it still feels like it belongs in this universe of colourful equines. The buffalos’ design is okay I guess. Aside from Little Strongheart, they all look like big balls of fluff with little stumps for legs; it works, but I feel that they could have been better. Strongheart herself is a little better, but unless she’s running full tilt, her animation makes her seem rather stiff.
Humor
Applejack reading and talking to a tree like it’s a sentient creature, Pinkie confusing Rainbow Dash’s sarcasm for thinking Dash really believes that Fluttershy is a tree, and Braeburn showing the girls around Appleoosa, are, in my opinion, great comedic moments. However the humor of the second half is composed of mostly Pie related slapstick, during a fight scene, which completely ruins any comedy you were going for as well as any seriousness, leaving the entire scene as just stupidity.
Continuity and World Building
I’m glad we got out of Ponyville for a change, when you stay in one spot for too long it makes the world feel small. Getting out of the main setting and seeing new locals makes the world feel bigger and more fleshed out. This wasn’t the first episode to bring the story out of Ponyville and the surrounding area (that would be “The Sonic Rainboom” but we’ll get to that) but it still deserves a mention. Making the buffalo the Native American stand ins was, I’ll admit, rather brilliant, and they are a welcome addition to the bestiary of Equestria, despite how they acted in this episode. There aren’t any noticeable continuity errors or nods, given that this is a new setting and there are a few new characters that have to be established, this episode is on the whole about as standalone as you can get.
Story Structure
On the whole this episode was structured very well, it built up to the climax (as stupid as it was) with a gradual pace and it kept track of all the characters, even when they were separated. We didn’t really spend enough time with the new characters to really flesh put their personalities though. I’d like to see more Braeburn, as he seems like a pretty cool guy, but on the flip side I think I can go without seeing Little Strongheart and Chief Thunderhooves again.
Moral
The moral is good. I like the moral. Be willing to work together with different groups to reach a compromise, something I feel some of our own Political leaders should learn to be honest. My problem is with how they keep shoving it down our throats. It’s the most spelled out moral in the entire series, and it’s taxing to the viewers, especially those who have seen this exact same lesson taught in every damn show again and again and again.
Overall Feelings
Some may say otherwise, but this felt like a “lack of communication” episode. This whole thing probably could have been solved before the Mane 6 even arrived if the buffalo had explained WHY the settlers had to move the trees instead of just demanding that they do it, and attacking them when they didn’t. No one told the settlers they had made a mistake, it’s not like there was a big sign that said, “Welcome to Buffalo Land.” I’m sorry, but I was siding with the Appleoosans during all this, at least until Applejack tried to make the excuse that the settlers didn’t have any other flatland to plant their orchard, which I have to call horse apples on because at that very moment they were all standing in what looked like pretty flatland to me. Speaking of Applejack, what right did she or Rainbow Dash have to try and make the decisions for both the buffalo and the settlers? Neither of them lived in Appleoosa or the surrounding area! If they had just stayed out of the way and let Strongheart and Braeburn talk, the whole fiasco with the musical number wouldn’t have happened. And about that song, it was one of the most uninspired songs in the entire show both in terms of lyrics and score. Some part of me felt that it was supposed to be as corny and gag inducing as it was, because even Pinkie’s friends, who should be used to this sort of thing from her by now, couldn’t believe what they were watching.
All in All, a promising first half with a disappointing second half, Pinkie’s song didn’t make me feel like sharing OR caring, and pie fights do not a serious moment make.
Summary
“Over a Barrel” opens in the caboose of a train traveling through a mostly barren landscape, where Applejack is reading a bedtime story to someone off screen. Rarity storms in to see that AJ is reading to an apple tree, to which she get’s rather irritated. After a bit of back and forth between the two, we cut to that night with the other 4 members of the mane 6, who are talking up a storm and keeping Rarity from her “beauty sleep” and Spike from getting some shut eye himself. A bit more humorous dialog and Spike gives up and slips into the caboose and into bed with the apple tree.
The next morning the group is awakened by a herd of stampeding buffalo. They ooh and ahh at the sight until the buffalo start bashing into the side of the train and the ponies pulling it. Eventually the buffalo start stacking on top of each other at speed and give a smaller one a boost onto the top of the train. Rainbow Dash get’s out to confront the small buffalo but it ignores her and keeps running to the back of the train. Rainbow gets tricked into flying off the back of the train and into a sign on the side of the tracks. The little buffalo detaches the caboose from the rest of the train and signals to the rest of the herd, who fall back and start pushing the caboose back along the tracks, taking the apple tree and Spike with them.
The train pulls into the town of Appleoosa and Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight are greeted by Applejack’s enthusiastic cousin, Braeburn. Before the four can explain what happened, Braeburn starts shoving the group around Appleoosa, eventually showing them to their apple orchard where Applejack finally gets him to listen while the group explains what happened on the way to town. Braeburn in turn explains that the buffalo have been giving them trouble, demanding that the trees be removed, but according to Braeburn, they haven’t said why.
Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, has been on the trail of the buffalo herd and is sneaking around the wilderness when she runs into Pinkie Pie, who was following Rainbow since the buffalo took the train caboose. The two get caught by some of the buffalo herd, but are vouched for by Spike, who explains at the buffalo camp that they didn’t mean to take him, just the tree. Spike introduces Pinkie and Rainbow to the little buffalo girl from before, Little Strongheart, but upon recognizing her, Rainbow’s mood worsens and starts to leave, dragging Pinkie off by the tail. Strongheart however tries to apologize and plead the buffalos’ case to Rainbow, saying that the Appleoosans planted the apple orchard on the buffalos’ “Stampeding Grounds.” After being introduced to Chief Thunderhooves, and a bit more convincing from him and Strongheart, Rainbow agrees to go and talk to the Appleoosans about the orchard.
Just outside of Appleoosa, the rest of the mane 6, along with Braeburn, are preparing to go out looking for Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Spike. Barely after starting out, however, the three show up along with Little Strongheart. Strongheart and Braeburn seem more than willing to negotiate over whether or not the apple orchard should stay or not, but before they can make any headway, Applejack and Rainbow Dash start arguing for them.
Pinkie, being Pinkie, decides that the best way for the two groups to solve their differences is NOT through communication and civilized negotiations, but through a song and dance routine about sharing and caring. The gathered crowd doesn’t find Pinkie’s little show to be that inspiring and Chief Thunderhooves gives an ultimatum to the Appleoosans: either remove the trees by noon the next day, or all of Appleoosa gets torn to the ground.
Both sides begin preparations for the coming fight, and despite the Mane 6 and Spike attempting to make them see reason, neither group is willing to back down. Noon arrives the following day and at first Chief Thunderhooves and the buffalo seem like their going to relent and not charge the town, until Pinkie comes back in with her song and goads them into charging anyway, and the Appleoosans respond with… pies… ooohhh the horror…the seriousness of a war between a native group and settlers, and it’s fought with pies. Anyway, after a bit of a skirmish and taking a… pie… to the face, chief Thunderhooves comes up with the idea of allowing the trees to stay, as long as the settlers give a share of the fruit and the pies they produce. The episode ends with Twilight writing a letter to the princess about sharing and understanding and compromise and oh my god enough! We get it!
To an extent, THIS episode is probably the worst of season 1. The only reason I don’t name it as such is because the first half I felt was actually really good. Like “Feeling Pinkie Keen” it left a bad taste in my mouth, and like “Owls well that ends well” the writing felt subpar, but ONLY during the second half, and not INTIRELY to the degree of those episodes. It’s around the point where Chief Thunder Hooves is introduced that I feel the whole thing just takes a nosedive.
Artistic Design and Animation
This is the first instance that the story takes place in this sort of setting, a barren dessert landscape and western atmosphere. I like the look, it’s something different from the lush and bright Ponyville we’ve been attached to for most of the previous 20 episodes, yet it still feels like it belongs in this universe of colourful equines. The buffalos’ design is okay I guess. Aside from Little Strongheart, they all look like big balls of fluff with little stumps for legs; it works, but I feel that they could have been better. Strongheart herself is a little better, but unless she’s running full tilt, her animation makes her seem rather stiff.
Humor
Applejack reading and talking to a tree like it’s a sentient creature, Pinkie confusing Rainbow Dash’s sarcasm for thinking Dash really believes that Fluttershy is a tree, and Braeburn showing the girls around Appleoosa, are, in my opinion, great comedic moments. However the humor of the second half is composed of mostly Pie related slapstick, during a fight scene, which completely ruins any comedy you were going for as well as any seriousness, leaving the entire scene as just stupidity.
Continuity and World Building
I’m glad we got out of Ponyville for a change, when you stay in one spot for too long it makes the world feel small. Getting out of the main setting and seeing new locals makes the world feel bigger and more fleshed out. This wasn’t the first episode to bring the story out of Ponyville and the surrounding area (that would be “The Sonic Rainboom” but we’ll get to that) but it still deserves a mention. Making the buffalo the Native American stand ins was, I’ll admit, rather brilliant, and they are a welcome addition to the bestiary of Equestria, despite how they acted in this episode. There aren’t any noticeable continuity errors or nods, given that this is a new setting and there are a few new characters that have to be established, this episode is on the whole about as standalone as you can get.
Story Structure
On the whole this episode was structured very well, it built up to the climax (as stupid as it was) with a gradual pace and it kept track of all the characters, even when they were separated. We didn’t really spend enough time with the new characters to really flesh put their personalities though. I’d like to see more Braeburn, as he seems like a pretty cool guy, but on the flip side I think I can go without seeing Little Strongheart and Chief Thunderhooves again.
Moral
The moral is good. I like the moral. Be willing to work together with different groups to reach a compromise, something I feel some of our own Political leaders should learn to be honest. My problem is with how they keep shoving it down our throats. It’s the most spelled out moral in the entire series, and it’s taxing to the viewers, especially those who have seen this exact same lesson taught in every damn show again and again and again.
Overall Feelings
Some may say otherwise, but this felt like a “lack of communication” episode. This whole thing probably could have been solved before the Mane 6 even arrived if the buffalo had explained WHY the settlers had to move the trees instead of just demanding that they do it, and attacking them when they didn’t. No one told the settlers they had made a mistake, it’s not like there was a big sign that said, “Welcome to Buffalo Land.” I’m sorry, but I was siding with the Appleoosans during all this, at least until Applejack tried to make the excuse that the settlers didn’t have any other flatland to plant their orchard, which I have to call horse apples on because at that very moment they were all standing in what looked like pretty flatland to me. Speaking of Applejack, what right did she or Rainbow Dash have to try and make the decisions for both the buffalo and the settlers? Neither of them lived in Appleoosa or the surrounding area! If they had just stayed out of the way and let Strongheart and Braeburn talk, the whole fiasco with the musical number wouldn’t have happened. And about that song, it was one of the most uninspired songs in the entire show both in terms of lyrics and score. Some part of me felt that it was supposed to be as corny and gag inducing as it was, because even Pinkie’s friends, who should be used to this sort of thing from her by now, couldn’t believe what they were watching.
All in All, a promising first half with a disappointing second half, Pinkie’s song didn’t make me feel like sharing OR caring, and pie fights do not a serious moment make.
