āSpirit Riding Freeā is underrated as all get out.
I love its character writing, especially as it uses its looser plotlines to its advantage. Itās not telling a grand narrative of Adora defeating the Horde or the Avatarās journey of self discovery. Itās a āgirl and her horseā story expanded beyond the confines of the usual story beats, showing more dimension to them.
Everyone has some sort of stock archetype that they grow beyond. Aunt Cora is a stuffy nanny for Lucky but is shown to be more than just nagging and proper as she finds her place in Miradero. Grayson is THE worst but heās lawfully the worst as he teaches how the rules can be taken advantage of. Abigailās the comic relief but isnāt without her emotional insight when need be.
Even with itās episodic pacing, you have overarching aspects like Lucky developing her horse riding skills with Spirit incrementally and even performing one of her motherās circus tricks. Jim and Kateās relationship is a sweet slow burn with Lucky trying to come to terms about her teacher becoming her mom.
I know this show didnāt rub people the right way since Spiritās movie was about how he was a wild horse but the show respects that fully as he frequents his herd and Miradero. Season 1 and 2 deal with how those like Grayson try to take advantage of that little loophole. Episode 13 absolutely just crushed me.
Turo is best boy. Full stop.












