Comedy
Dead Boy Detectives
Dead Boy Detectives targets teens in style and story. But it comes with very adult, problematic content.
The ponies of Equestria didn’t always have magic. The pegasi couldn’t fly, the unicorns’ horns didn’t glow and the earth ponies were like any other run-of-the-mill horse.
But then Sunny, Zipp, Hitch, Izzy and Pipp became friends and found the Unity Crystals. And when those crystals were combined—put together like a puzzle—they provide magic to all of Equestria.
Now, the pegasi zoom and glide around Maretime Bay. The unicorns levitate objects to make day-to-day tasks simpler. And the earth ponies can make plants grow.
Of course, the crystals are aptly named. Because they only work when the three pony races of Equestria are united as one.
That’s not always easy. Many ponies are still trying to learn how to use their new powers—sometimes resulting in disaster. Zipp discovers that when they work together, they can invent even more types of magic, which can result in more unexpected problems. And the appearance of a dragon, which haven’t been seen in ages, prompts the ponies to wonder what else might come with the return of magic.
And then there’s the mystery of the alicorn.
Sunny has the power to become all three types of pony at once. But she can’t seem to control when or where this magic manifests.
It’s important Sunny figures it out fast, too. Because there’s another alicorn living outside of Equestria, Opaline, who wants to take over and become the most powerful pony ever.
My Little Pony: Make Your Mark has a lot of sweet lessons packed into every episode. The pony friends constantly try to encourage each other and help each other solve problems. And it’s this promotion of friendship, kindness and cooperation that makes the show kid friendly.
However, parents should be mindful of a few things before setting their little ones in front of the screen.
Obviously, the show is rooted in magic. And while this magic is fantastical, not occult, some families may still choose to steer clear. Opaline can be quite cruel to other ponies, even those working for her. Several ponies exclaim, “Oh my hoofness!” And Pipp has an obsession with social media that struck me as unhealthy, since it could promote bad habits with littles watching the show.
When Izzy hits a creative block, her friends all give her different advice.
Ponies use their magic to fly, levitate objects, talk to non-pony animals and make plants grow. One pony uses his magic to save a fellow pony from falling. Opaline uses an enchanted mirror to spy on the ponies.
Opaline is mean to her assistant, Misty, often mocking and belittling her. Someone lies. A pony exclaims, “Oh my hoofness!”
Izzy learns to respect shared spaces when her messiness inconveniences her friends.
Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.
Dead Boy Detectives targets teens in style and story. But it comes with very adult, problematic content.
An elf mage contemplates on connection and regret as she watches her human friends grow old and pass away.
