"Princess Twilight Sparkle" Review. · 11:22pm Nov 25th, 2013
A review for the new episode, bet no one's written one of those before :P
It should go without saying, spoilers are ahead
What's to say? Over the last few months as I waited for the new season the lack of ponies made my love for it fade slightly.
Well, now it's back, with a vengeance.
The newer, sharper and shinier animation is so amazing to look at, highlights and shadows just popping out at you.
Seeing Twilight struggling with not only her wings but her new royal duties was a great sight, we didn't just see her be this fantastic alicorn, we get to watch her progress.
Although it was great to see her step up to the royal plate when her time came.
On a personal note, I have to wonder how those royal guards got on once Twilight left, meaning all their princesses have vanished. Canterlot must have gone into chaos.
Pinkie Pie was being super awesome, as always, from messages stuffed with confetti to the return of the Pinkie sense.
Sweetie Belle using magic, even if it was going wrong, was just adorable.
Seeing a more grounded Celestia, seeing some of her secret feelings that she's never shared before was a great touch.
Luna's part could have been bigger, but that said, seeing her transformation into Nightmare Moon was a spectacular sight.
Seeing all these different events from the Pony Princesses pasts was great, not just hearing them told but actually seeing them was a great way to expand the back story of Equestria.
When I heard that the premier episode was going to involve Twilight going back in time and seeing Luna become Nightmare Moon I must admit that I thought it would feature a little more in the story line. Maybe seeing something like the whole back story, what exact things drove her into that jealousy and so on.
I did enjoy the epic magic batter between Luna and Celestia and seeing the banishment, but it seems like Hasbro were really giving us an unnecessary tease when they promised that.
Anyone else click that Discord had something to do with the tendrils when they saw him eating those seeds?
So a Tree of Harmony. Anyone else think "It's Elementree, my dear Twilight?" or is that lame pun just my burden to bear?
I do hope this tree and its powers will be explored further. Don't just bring it up as a thing and dismiss it in a couple of episodes.
And why did the tree specifically have those three cutie marks on it? I hope we get answers about that. A sun and a moon could be explained away I suppose, harmony is balance, like the balance between sun and moon. but the star of Twillight's Cutie Mark was just an odd feature. Especially since it was bigger than both the sun and moon marks. It it merely a symbol of how the magic of friendship is the binding force with makes harmony, or is it hinting at something more personal involving Twilight, Luna and Celestia?
Removing the Element's of Harmony was an interesting, but understandable, move by the writers. They were supposed to be a last resort power move but were pretty much in danger of turning into an over used get-out clause. When the new villain turns up there'll be no suspense when we know all the mane six have to do it put on the elements and all will be well. There are only so many ways they can lose the elements, or be prevented from getting to them before it starts becoming repetitive. By removing the elements means that the mane six will now have to face their challenges in new ways. Relying more on their personal strengths instead of just using the elements. It'll probably lead to greater character development.
Interesting to see that Twilight is the glue that holds their friendship together, everyone is useless at this save-the-world thing without her.
It's good to see that Discord's reformation looks like it'll hold. It would just be lazy to make him a villain again.
Although, now I think of it, Discord lied to them. He said he wasn't causing the problem with the black vines but he was, or he had caused the problem back in the day. He knew what the problem was and didn't fix it.
He may have inspired Twilight to return to her friends by disguising it teasing, he may have even claimed that he said nothing because it was a good lesson for Twilight and the group.
But he still lied to his "friends." Fluttershy will be disappointed.
Now, we have a strange box that needs six keys. This will be, obviously, be the season long arc and probably will all be answered as the season finale. It would be great to see their quest to collect the keys be stretched out over a couple of seasons but I expect it'll all be answered by the finale.
It would make MLP like a Zelda game; defeat a minor villain and get a key, all leading up to that final boss where you get the big thing that saves the world.
That could be stretched out to two seasons at least.
Final thoughts:
-An action packed episode.
-Great to see back story of the Princesses.
-Good to see a more human (or pony) side to Celestia, rather than just have her be the monarch all the time.
-A lazy bit of deus ex machina that Zecora just happened to have this potion only alicorns could use. why have it if you never think you'll be able to use it?
-Discord being the root cause (no pun intended) of the trouble was a little predictable. Although it was kind-of understandable. He was a villain once.
I'll bet this wont be the first old problem of his the mane six will come back to cause trouble. Not sure if that's going to be a bad or good thing yet.
-Seeing Twilight growing and developing and not just being a princess is good.
-Canterlot ponies panic as easily as Ponyville ponies when things go wrong. That just just amuses me.
-Removing the elements is great, adding new potential to future story lines.
All in all = 8.5 out of 10
Story line good, great level of friendship without laying it on too thick, great flashbacks and action.
But it's just lazy writing for Zecora to have that potion and Discord was the cause of the problem in a roundabout kind of way.
Discord being his mischievous self could be dismissed.
But that potion is really a sticking point.
Good point about Zecora and her potion. I didn't catch it at the time while I was watching, I was just glad to see my favorite zebra make it out of an out-of-control Everfree in one piece.
Eh...I dissagree about Discord lying. Sure he knew what was going on, but he wasn't actively causing harm or trying to. He just wasn't helping either.