I feel like Maud's luck has been on a bit of a roller-coaster since the episode "Maud Pie", but with episode 120 of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, the third episode of season six, just airing on April 2nd, I'm glad to say that I liked it a lot and I think it handled Maud's characterization well. Here's the lowdown about it.
Within the first few minutes of "The Gift of the Maud Pie", as the episode is named, we see Pinkie Pie get together with Maud in Manehatten -- the occasion being an event called the Pie Sisters Surprise Swap Day (or P.S.S.S.D. for short), which are three separate days Pinkie spends with one of her sisters that include going on a trip and exchanging gifts at sunset. Manehattan was the chosen destination this year because it's near where Maud's getting her Rocktorate. Rarity's also along for business reasons.
Maud gets her first line in when Pinkie asks Rarity "guess who I see? M! A! U! D! Y'know what that spells?" and Maud replies, "It spells Maud". Just with that line, you can tell the voice acting will be spot on, as the "Maud" is delivered particularly well.
Pinkie feels that Maud always gives the better gifts, so she's hoping to get what she feels would be a gift so perfect for Maud that it'd have to be better -- a rock pouch she can carry Boulder in. Throughout the episode, Pinkie and/or Rarity distract Maud while they make plans and efforts to acquire the pouch -- sometimes Maud gets distracted without their aid, like when she helps Boulder look for a postcard for his cousin. Now we know Boulder has a cousin. Other new things we learn later on include Maud having some ice skating finesse -- nothing super spectacular or anything, but enough to see that she's had some experience at it before -- and also that she has Maud-Sense, like how Pinkie has Pinkie-Sense. This allowed her to locate either a certain pony or a certain item the pony had, though the details weren't very specific.
During another run at keeping Maud occupied, Rarity asks how she first met Boulder, and we're treated to the beginning: "It was a dark and stormy night. Little did I know that my life was about to change forever.", and the end: "...and Boulder's been by my side ever since." At times you can see how uncomfortable and/or bored Rarity gets around Maud, which I like to see because I don't really like Rarity, myself, so if she's going to appear at all, it's nice to see Maud sort of inadvertently get back at her.
The rock pouch plan flops when it's found that the store selling them is closed, so Rarity begins trying to find out what would be a good gift for Pinkie to get her. Upon seeing a large giraffe plush, Rarity subtly asks if Maud could see herself with it, but Maud simply replies, "Only if I had a mirror." This was a great scene, because it's one of those "It tastes like apples" moments that were such a part of her in "Maud Pie". Sure, the rock talk and the expressionlessness are important, too, but they get played up a lot more -- like, this episode also included at least four rock jokes I didn't even mention, and several others playing off her facial expressions or lack thereof.
As Pinkie's feeling bad about the pouch being unattainable, we suddenly hear Maud saying, "Boulder? Boulder? Where'd you run off to?" Finding him, she continues, "There you are. Sure wish I had something to carry you around in." -- a humorous thing to happen, almost in response to Pinkie's predicament. Pinkie eventually manages to get Maud a gift, and when sunset comes, they finally prepare to exchange them, first having to sing the "Pie Sisters Surprise Swap Day Song". This would have had me worried, but the last time Maud "sang", it turned out fine. Pinkie asks if Maud's ready. "As I'll ever be.", she replies. Pinkie starts, "It's the Pie sisters swap day song!" The song then finishes with a single, monotone "Hey" from Maud. Even better than last time. Pinkie gives a gift wrapped in a paper that has little Maud heads decorating it, which would be pretty neat to receive in real life. Maud opens it and only says "Thanks", having Pinkie inform us that that was a very happy response.
Upon seeing the gift Maud gave (cupcake scented confetti), Pinkie says that she'll love it "five-ever", a joke making use of the homophonous words "for" and "four", meaning she'll love it even longer than forever. She goes on to say how she'll really have to step it up next year to get Maud a better gift, but Maud intervenes, saying, "Pinkie. Gift giving isn't a competition, it's an expression of love, and you always make sure to give your gifts with lots of love. That's why I'll always love them -- and you -- five-ever. That's even longer than forever." and then smiles a tiny, little smile.
This episode has so much good stuff in it -- lots of funny moments that actually produce out-loud chuckles and even laughs. I sorta wish I discussed more scenes than I did, but there are just so many different Maud parts that I would practically have just been retelling the whole episode if I did. For the entire duration she's wearing her classic frock/dress, and she never breaks character -- really, my only few complaints about the episode aren't even related to Maud.
I hope Maud continues on this path of greatness she's settled back on, as well as the series as a whole, and I also hope we get to see the Pie Sisters Surprise Swap Days with Limestone and Marble sometime. That'd be cool.
