This was a good episode, a vast improvement over the last one. It was funny, and it had a good message... ...but Applejack and Rainbow Dash are MASSIVELY out of character here. Yes, Applejack and Dashie are boisterous, competitive and aggressive, that's true. However, it's also true that they are very capable of reigning in those tendencies. Remember "Sleepless in Ponyville"? Dashie took the Crusaders to a field trip there, and she wasn't competitive there. Or how about when they had to entertain the citizens of the Crystal Empire to keep King Sombra from killing everyone? They managed to do just fine, Dashie even went out of her way to not harm Fluttershy during the jousting competition. Or the first Sisterhooves Social? Applejack put her competitive side aside to help Rarity repair her (Rarity's) bond with Sweetie Belle. Applejack and Dashie aren't Klingons, or Mandalorians, or Saiyans, or Vikings. They are not gonna throw common sense out of the wind just because "I MUST PROVE THAT I AM THE STRONGEST OF ALL!". If Dashie and Applejack were written well, they would have used the field trip as it was intended, to train and educate the Student Six. But if Dashie and Applejack were written well, we wouldn't have an episode. And that's what bugs me: Dashie and Applejack are badly written just so the plot of the episode can happen.
Who says old habits don't die hard? So I got to see my 2 favorite characters... not on their best behavior. I'm not surprised that, even years after Fall Weather Friends, the 2 friends in question have fallen back into their old ways. Not much to say other than the fact that, while I did enjoy the ride, this episode just kinda... happened. Overall: 5/10
