Season 7 Episode 21: Marks And Recreation
This episode starts off with the CMC helping a blank flank named Kettle Corn find their special talent. The CMC mention that they've run out of time for the day, and usher Kettle Corn out out their clubhouse in front of a line of waiting blank flanks. Scootaloo mentions how much time it takes to help out a single blank flank, and conjectures that they won't have time to help all of them. That's when the trio get the idea to open "Cutie Mark Day Camp". Roll opening credits!
Cut to the town center, where the CMC are handing out flyers inviting blank flanks to their new day camp. Rumble walks past, trying to avoid them, but the CMC manage to foist a flyer onto him. Thunderlane spots this, and asks him what it is, but Rumble simply states that it's nothing, before balling it up and throwing it in a nearby garbage bin. Thunderlane wonders what it was, so grabs it back and de-crumples it.
There's a cut to the start of the day camp, with several blank flanks in attendance. Thunderlane shows up, bringing Rumble along with him. Rumble reveals that he's been lied to in order to get there, though Thunderlane states that it's just *him* who's going to Wonderbolt practice. The others are thrilled to find that Rumble's brother is a Wonderbolt, and revel in that fact. Scootaloo tries to bring up the fact that Rainbow Dash is practically her sister, though no-one seems to care.
As the day camp gets underway, Rumble shows little interest, as he deliberately fails to complete any of the activities. One such activity is attempting to write haikus, and ironically, Rumble comes up with a perfect haiku while complaining about the camp itself. Immediately after, Kettle Corn comes up with a haiku of her own, which grants her a cutie mark for writing haikus. The CMC emphasise that Kettle Corn's success was due to banding together with her peers and trying out now things, though note Rumble's lack of effort.
Tracking Rumble down at the end of the day, the CMC empathise with him about not getting his cutie mark. Rumble reveals that he doesn't actually *want* a cutie mark, which seems to completely flabbergast the CMC. Apparently the reasoning is due to him thinking that having a cutie mark confines a pony to one particular activity for the rest of their life. Apple Bloom reassures him this is not the case, as she herself still likes making potions with Zecora. Rumble brings up the fact that she hasn't done that in a long time, and Apple Bloom suddenly comes to this realisation for herself. She tries to cover this fact by stating that the CMC have been busy helping others. Rumble insists that he's not going to "be put in a box", and skulks off.
Returning home, Rumble complains to Thunderlane that the camp is for losers. Thunderlane tries to convince him to give the camp a chance, as the very fact that the others aren't very skilled means that there's not as much pressure for Rumble. Rumble doesn't want to return, though Thunderlane still forces him to head back the next day.
Cut to an interesting scene in the morning in which Pipsqueak complains about not getting a cutie mark, and Scootaloo tells him that there's more to a cutie mark than just being good at something or liking it. It's at this point that Kettle Corn pipes up, stating that she really enjoys painting circles, but got her cutie mark for writing haikus. Pipsqueak worries that he can't get a cutie mark in something he likes, as Rumble shows up to compound everypony's fears, breaking out into a song about how terrible cutie marks are.
During the song the CMC try to counter Rumble's arguments, though several campers take his side. This culminates in the camp splitting in two, with Rumble starting his own camp for those who no longer want a cutie mark. As the CMC try to comprehend what just happened, they observe that the new Camp Blank Flanks Forever appears to just let the campers do whatever they want. This isn't much different from Camp Cutie Mark, so they attempt to go and reason with Rumble.
As they head off to deal with Rumble, they run into Kettle Corn, who has covered up her cutie mark. She explains that she's keeping her options open, as she's about more than just haikus, though Sweetie Belle points out that the very explanation she just gave was a haiku in itself. As some of the other blank flanks are playing horseshoes, Skeedaddle performs amazingly well, and worries about getting a cutie mark for her performance. Rumble calls a stop to this, stating that they can't risk doing any more activities that could potentially grant them a cutie mark.
The CMC head off to talk to Thunderlane, to see if he can offer any insight. Thunderlane is surprised to hear that Rumble failed so many of the activities, as he's actually quite good at most of them. The CMC come to the realisation that he must have been failing on purpose. Thunderlane reveals that ever since he became a Wonderbolt, Rumble has been infatuated with wanting to be a Wonderbolt, with no interest in anything else. He thought it would be a good idea to send Rumble to the camp in that regard. The CMC state that it doesn't seem as thought Rumble minds being put in a box at all, and that he actually seems to have a box already mapped out.
Back at Blank Flank Camp, the campers are getting rather bored from not getting to do anything. The CMC head to the line divider between their two camps to announce Camp Cutie Mark's special guest: Thunderlane. They try to entice Camp Blank Flanks Forever to their own camp with promises of a day of activities with a genuine Wonderbolt. Skeedaddle quickly switches sides as she apologises to Rumble.
As the blank flanks are all having fun acting out Wonderbolt-related activities, Rumble finally returns back to Camp Cutie Mark. Thunderlane is busy cooking up a stew, and Rumble asks him why he isn't running the obstacle course with the others. Thunderlane reveals that although he's a Wonderbolt and his cutie mark is all about moving fast, he really likes to cook. At Wonderbolt's HQ, they take turns doing the cooking. Thunderlane didn't particularly want to do it at first, but learned to love it, wishing he tried it sooner. He assures Rumble that there's more to him than being a Wonderbolt, and conjectures that there's more to Rumble as well.
Rumble looks over to the obstacle course, where Kettle Corn is having a good time, speaking a haiku of how the course is much more fun than painting circles. Sweetie Belle spots Rumble, and calls out to him, asking if he's going to do the obstacle course. Rumble mentions that he might tomorrow, as today he wants to cook. He finally decides to find out what other sorts of things he can do, as the credits begin to roll.
Overall, this was a pretty good episode. 'Blank Flanks Forever' wasn't a bad song, the pacing was great, and the moral was excellent (not being confined to one thing). Rumble got some great character development, though he did seem to emulate Starlight Glimmer a little, much like Tender Taps. Kettle Corn played the 'lead-by-example' role perfectly, and it was really interesting so infatuated with drawing circles, when according to her cutie mark, that wasn't her true calling. Having said that, she attempted the obstacle course later on, and found that even more enjoyable, showcasing that a cutie mark isn't all-defining. That actually brings up the question of cutie mark acquisition versus ability again, which is something I'm not sure the cannon will ever truly answer.
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