Picking Apart "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic", Season 1 Episode 12

We're now taking a twist in this series, as this episode revolves around none of the six main characters at all.  Instead, the focus is on none other than Apple Bloom, Applejack's little sister.  Okay, so we're in for a bit of a change of pace, I see.  Well, let's see how this turns out.

Call of the Cutie

We start by learning that Apple Bloom is a school student attending classes and a pony named Cheerilee is the teacher.  We also learn that each and every denizen in Equestria is destined to obtain what is called a cutie mark, which is shown on their flanks, and they represent what hidden talents that denizen may have.

Well, apparently Apple Bloom is in a terrible rut simply because she doesn't have a cutie mark.  Okay, so she's the only student in Cheerilee's class without one.  So now we can already guess what this episode is gonna be about.  Apple Bloom is destined to find her cutie mark, right?  WRONG!  Because throughout the series so far, it never happens!  Now why is that?  Well, I'm not about to answer that rhetorical question anytime soon, so let's just see how the little tyke is gonna make out.

First, she decides to sell apples alongside her big sister Applejack.  Actually, she decides to do all kinds of crazy things with apples in an effort to persuade prospective buyers.

Her first "customer" is this guy pony named Time Turner, who was originally named Doctor Whooves by fans because for some reason he bears a resemblance to David Tennant, the tenth actor to portray the time-traveling Doctor from the British television series Doctor Who.  That, and his cutie mark is an hourglass that represents time.

Hmm... I don't know.  I don't see much of a resemblance.

Anyways, Apple Bloom doesn't do so hot in the business department.  In fact, Applejack has to scold her sister for just getting in the way and sends her home.

To make things worse for her, her friend Twist reveals that she got her cutie mark, leaving Apple Bloom as the odd one out.  Yeah, that's really a big upset for her.

So she decides to take on training with Rainbow Dash doing all kinds of stuff, and it's revealed later that she actually got good at kung fu.

Oh, I almost forgot to introduce us to these two bitches, Diamond Dazzle Tiara and Silver Spoon.  Now please tell me there's at least one brony in this world that hates these two.  Put your hand down, Ferb.  Here's the thing.  Diamond Tiara apparently recently acquired her cutie mark and decides to host a cute-ceañera to celebrate.  Now who do we know is the only pony in Ponyville willing to throw a party for someone who doesn't deserve it?

That's right.  Pinkie Pie.  As you know, when it comes to parties, she doesn't ask questions, she just gets down to business.  Speaking of her, Apple Bloom offers to help make cupcakes, despite not knowing how, so it's another desperate attempt to earn her cutie mark before the cute-ceañera starts.  Oh, and Pinkie Pie doesn't just tell her how to make cupcakes, she sings about it.

[Pinkie Pie]

All you have to do is take a cup of flour!

Add it to the mix!

Now just take a little something sweet, not sour!

A bit of salt, just a pinch!

Baking these treats is such a cinch!

Add a teaspoon of vanilla!

Add a little more, and you count to four,

And you never get your fill of...

Cupcakes! So sweet and tasty!

Cupcakes! Don't be too hasty!

Cupcakes! Cupcakes, cupcakes, CUPCAKES!

Methinks the song itself might have caused Apple Bloom to screw up entirely, which she does.  And that's when Twilight shows up and Apple Bloom pleads with her to use her magic to create a cutie mark for her, which she does, but it turns out to only be temporary, as in lasting only a few seconds.

Oh, and during all this time, the party begins right at the Sugarcube Corner, so Apple Bloom attempts to sneak out, only to bump into her sister Applejack, who gives her position away.  And wouldn't you know it?  Just as Apple Bloom feared, she gets teased by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, who call her "blank flank".

That's when we're introduced to a unicorn named Sweetie Belle, who is Rarity's little sister, and Scootaloo, a flightless Pegasus who idolizes Rainbow Dash.  The two stick their necks up for Apple Bloom, revealing that they also don't have their cutie marks as well.  Twilight then points out that the three of them have yet to discover their hidden talents and that the possibilities are endless, and that's when all the other fillies start giving them all the attention instead of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

Well, Diamond Tiara may have lost out on her luck for now, but I have a feeling she and her partner-in-crime will be back for more.  As for Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, they instantly become friends and decide to form their own secret society known as...

Apple Bloom: The Cutie Mark Crusaders?

And this begins the three of them ready to take the spotlight, prominently in five upcoming episodes.

However, if you recall, you may have seen all three of them together in the first episode briefly when Night Mare Moon appeared to the denizens of Ponyville.  This was obviously a chronological mistake, even acknowledged by the show creators, but it is worth noting nonetheless.  So I'm not gonna say anything against it because in the big scheme of things, and compared to what really gets this series set up the bomb, it's a minor setback.

Oh, before I forget, the episode ends with the usual letter to Princess Celestia, in which Twilight states that the thing that may make someone stick out like a sore thumb can actually be beneficial.  Yeah, I sure wish that was true for me.  Forgive me, but I'm kind of disgusted that some of these friendship lessons never get taken seriously by society itself.  So for that, I'm ending this discussion right now.