On the most part, the premise for "Bloom and Gloom" sounds incredibly promising on paper. It sounds quite imaginative when hearing of it and very interesting. Anybody that is not a fan of anything that is heavy on the use of dreams, like "Bloom and Gloom" is may feel a bit worried, worried that it would be too much of a cheat or lack variety, which is a very understandable worry as those are potential traps for this type of story.
"Bloom and Gloom" is another very solid episode, if not quite gem level, of Season 5. Which up to this still very early stage of it was very impressive. Not one of the season's very best, let alone 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic's' best, but again like the previous episode "Castle Sweet Castle" to me it's somewhere in the better half of an initially impressive but overall slightly inconsistent season. One of writer Josh Haber's better episodes as well.
Is it a flawless episode? No. It is a bit silly and repetitive at times, but not often.
However, there is a lot to love here in "Bloom and Gloom". The animation is terrific. Not just typically rich in background detail, very vibrant and atmospheric in colour and with character designs that never look awkward or ugly, but it is also very inventive. A lot goes on visually but it doesn't feel cluttered and is done imaginatively. The music is as dynamic and beautifully orchestrated as ever.
Much of the writing is great, and as said Haber's writing is some of his best ever for the show. Its maturity again was appreciated, as was it not trying to do too much that it became too. over-stuffed on the whole. Luna's fear can make us feel we are trapped in a nightmare line is very telling and one of her best ever lines. The story is not quite perfect, but most of the dreams were imaginatively handled. Especially Applebloom's, which were genuinely frightening.
The characters were extemely well done, Luna makes a very welcome and worthy return and is formidable and it was great to see a more sympathetic side to Applejack at the start. Absolutely loved the moral, a contender for the most identifiable and powerful one of the season and one of the most identifiable and powerful of the whole show and one that resonates. The voice acting is very good, Michelle Creber's vocal range here is incredibly awe-inspiring.
Summarising, very solid. 8/10
