Merriwethering the Storm: Part 2 · 7:58pm Dec 29th, 2012
Before I talk about the most recent episode, I want to clarify something I briefly touched on in a previous post.
The last time I talked about Merriwether Williams, I went through all the episodes she'd made for MLP so far. By the time I got around to discussing the "Wonderbolt Academy" episode, I was short on time and didn't devote enough attention to it.
When compared to her more contemptible stories, like "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" and "Dragon Quest," the "Wonderbolt Academy" is actually a decent episode.
While Wonderbolt Academy dealt with the classic Merriwether Williams trope of "overcoming a self-centered jerk," it felt more appropriate for this particular episode. Lightning Dust was supposed to represent the old Rainbow Dash from the Mare-Do-Well episode. 
She was somepony who only cared about the glory and the prestige of being a Wonderbolt. Rainbow Dash standing up to Lightning Dust was symbolic of Dash overcoming her own character flaws.
Out of all the mane six, Rainbow Dash is the one who's grown the most over the course of the series. From learning humility to trying new things such as reading, Dash's character is going through a full-fledged arc. I'm excited to see what happens to her by the end of the series.
Regarding Spitfire, I was too hard on her in my initial review. There's nothing wrong with her being a tough drill sergeant on new recruits. I think the problem was her trying to be tough, without being realistic. Some of Spitfire's decisions during this episode would not inspire confidence in her recruits. There was a surprising lack of structure with her trainees. I would've expected much more discipline than what we saw. My point is, Spitfire talked big, but she didn't dole out punishments for disobedience like a real drill instructor would.
Take a look at these two scenes from Full Metal Jacket. First the insult...
...then the injury.
I'm not suggesting we put anything as intense as those scenes into a My Little Pony episode, but I would've liked to have seen more drama with Spitfire disciplining her recruits.
As an aside, I think that Rainbow Dash would make an awesome U.S. Marine. 
Their motto is "Semper Fi," which translates to "Always Loyal." I would've liked to see a training mission where a pegasus gets knocked unconscious. Lightning Dust would want to leave them behind, but Rainbow Dash would refuse to leave anypony. Rainbow breaks ranks to save the injured pegasus. Lightning Dust completes the mission by herself in record time. Rainbow is the last one back because she stopped to help her fellow trainees. Rainbow would ultimately be rewarded for her loyalty, while Lightning Dust would be chastised for her selfishness.
A special thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts and feelings in the last Merriwether blog post.
Well, now that I'm all caught up, my next blog post will be all about the latest episode, "Spike at your Service." Who wrote the story?
Merriwether Williams wrote another Spike-centered episode?
[To be continued in my next blog post...]
BUM BUM BUUUUUMMMM!
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I laughed for way too long at the first Merriweather picture.
Insightful review, by the way. Can't wait to see what you thought of "Spike at your Service."
Isn't that The Dragon Quest?
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That image cracked me up, too.
Considering how passionate I got when discussing Merriwether's last Spike-centered episode, it'll be interesting to see my thoughts regarding today's story.
Now we get cliffhangers EVEN on blogposts?
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Am I the only one who felt bad for Pyle?
660336 I stopped feeling bad for Pyle when the rest of the platoon had to do pushups because of him.
I *HATE* Pushups
I have yet to see the new ep and I confess I'm really nervous now. For Merriwether's work I often feel the biggest vibe is pop culture being overused to make a muddy and vague episode.
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Wasn't he mentally handicapped?
I was surprised she wrote it, considering NOW she has him caring about a Dragon Code that seemingly meant so much to him. Considering all the disaster of Dragon Quest and the epic fail of actually doing something meaningful, rather than soul crushing to poor Spike.
1. Friend zoned by Rarity.
2. Having his dragonhood belittled and feelings hurt by those he trusts and adores.
3. First dragons he meets give him the 'fraternal initiation' routine, accept him, and go about trying to make him kill rare birds.
4. He gives up on trying to find out more of his heritage and accepts his pony ways and TAPES A DAMN PICTURE TO ONE OF TWI'S GROUP PICTURES! (that was SO sad!)
But this one, I dare say, she done did good. So, I'll just say it now, AJ and Spike make a great pair.
660380 No, Just a poorly educated farmboy
Towards the end of the bootcamp, he was performing very competently.
And then he snaps.
I hated this episode... first one that I ever hated. That was not the Spike that I knew, how does he not know to clean! He cleans ALL THE TIME!
sigh... I'll rant later in the next part.
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They always snap at the end. Always
fullmetal jacket is awesome!
The most awkward jelly donut in history.
First episode that made zero seance to me. Spike is an assistant therefore he cleans all the time. Then all of à sudden he can't cook clean or anything...
What
-RageCake- Gamer, Ultimate cake rager, Proud Troll, that one idiot from the MDA
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You're supposed to. Full Metal Jacket was a criticism of the dehumanizing nature of warfare and military leaders trying to command forces they don't understand (when Pyle starts chanting insane gibberish and waving a loaded gun around, and Hartmann responds by screaming louder. Really, dude?).
But everyone liked Hartmann because he shouted a lot and Pyle is too damn much of a butt monkey to feel sympathy for. You see someone like Pyle and you just want to vomit, cry and/or look away.
EDIOT: Although, things went pretty well until Pyle started killing people. Like all of Kubrik's movies, it is complicated and isn't something that can be broken down into "this guy is awesome," "this guy is a baddy," and "this guy should be hated."
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I felt all three things at the same time.
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Like I said in my edit, Kubrik didn't really want people to be comfortable. If you don't come away feeling conflicted, confused and a little horrified, you watched the movie wrong.
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At first I felt pity for Pyle, then contempt, then again pity. Looks like Kubrik did his movie right.
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This one's for you guys.
cdn.derpiboo.ru/media/BAhbBlsHOgZmSSIBnzIwMTIvMTIvMTQvMjBfNDVfMjhfNzEyXzE4MTk1MF9fVU5PUFRfX3NhZmVfcmFpbmJvd19kYXNoX2dyaW1kYXJrX3Bhcm9keV92dWxnYXJfc3BvaWxlcl9zMDNlMDdfYXJ0aXN0X2dvcmRvbmZyZWVndXlfdG9pbGV0X2xpZ2h0bmluZ19kdXN0X2Z1bGxfbWV0YWxfamFja2V0X20xNAY6BkVU/181950__safe_rainbow-dash_grimdark_parody_vulgar_spoiler-s03e07_lightning-dust_artist-gordonfreeguy_toilet_full-metal-jacket_m14.png
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That... is... AWESOME!
661377 Better be careful there Rainbow. Charlane dosn't like to be handled by anybody but Lightning Dust.
The actor who played Gunnery Sgt. Hartman actually was a retired USMC drill instructor, and was given almost free rein to adlib his lines and actions during that movie. Only given one instruction - Make It Real.
Have you read any of totallynotabrony's stuff? Admittedly it's not the Marines, but he's got several stories dealing with RD going through the steps to become an Air Force officer, from enrolling in a human university to get her degree all the way to getting on a space shuttle mission.
I wouldn't have had too much of an issue with the new episode, but Merriweather forgot two things.
1.Spike is a fire-breathing dragon.
2.Timberwolves are made of wood.
This season felt really uneven for me, it's like they dumped all the best episodes of the series with the worse ones.
"Their motto is "Semper Fi," which translates to "Always Loyal." I would've liked to see a training mission where a pegasus gets knocked unconscious. Lightning Dust would want to leave them behind, but Rainbow Dash would refuse to leave anypony. Rainbow breaks ranks to save the injured pegasus. Lightning Dust completes the mission by herself in record time. Rainbow is the last one back because she stopped to help her fellow trainees. Rainbow would ultimately be rewarded for her loyalty, while Lightning Dust would be chastised for her selfishness."
Sounds too similar to "May the Best Pet Win" In my opinion.