The first half of Season 1, from one of the best and most addictive animated shows in recent years (speaking as a big lifelong fan of animation of all kinds and of all decades regardless of country and studio), was very solid and actually mostly great. The second half of it was less consistent and some episodes disappointed, but there were also some very good and more ones (a few of which being Season 1, and early seasons, high points).
"Green Isn't Your Colour" is another episode from the second half of the first season, which despite having some disappointments was solid enough because there were a lot of great episodes. Along with the previous episode "A Dog and Pony Show" (which was a vast improvement over its underwhelming previous two episodes) "Green Isn't Your Colour" is in my opinion one of the better and great ones if not quite a season high point.
It was interesting to see a different side to Pinkie Pie, usually she is the cute comic relief character but there was a scary, almost psychotic, side to her here and it was interesting. Didn't really endear to her being rather manipulative at times however, which was not characteristic of her, her treatment of Twilight was enough to make some go right off her, she didn't quite do that with me but still didn't care seeing her like that.
Much is done right though and extremely well. That Rarity and Fluttershy, the focus points of "Green Isn't Your Colour", are such likeable characters here really helps make up for that Pinkie is the opposite of likeable here. Fluttershy is the one that one relates to and feels sorry for more though, but Rarity is in a scenario that is realistic and true of the modelling world then (and still is, you don't need to be a model yourself to know that, pictures and stories of those that are say it all) and she deals with it in a way that's different to what one expects, by Rarity standards she handles the situation quite maturely and in a way that's quite mature for Rarity at this point. Photo Finish was an interesting character.
At the heart too of "Green Isn't Your Colour" is the relationship between Rarity and Fluttershy, it was so lovely to see how their friendship is portrayed (with warmth and heart) and how they care for each other. That is what is striking in general about 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic', the character relationships and how they interact which have more complexity than one thinks. The story is entertaining and poignant, with the modelling world portrayed without being trivialised or too villified. The ending is heart-warming and the moral about lying being bad may sound simplistic on paper but it is always worth reiterating as it is still relevant today and avoids heavy-handedness.
Writing is handled in a way that's mature and relatable with some humour and pathos that is well balanced and done well individually. As ever, the animation is colourful and elegant and the music is suitably dynamic. Tabitha St Germain's voice acting as ever shines.
Overall, great again. 9/10
