New Chapter, New Season! Let's chat! · 6:40am Dec 1st, 2013
Wassup, bronies! I hope you had an excellent Thanksgiving! I spent mine writing new Celestia! Damned! Chapter!
*NEIGH!*
But enough about that! We've had a new season begin for our favorite colorful equines. So it's time to put down my thoughts and see what sorta minor discussions can form!
Princess Twilight Sparkle
Compared to what we got to end Season 3 this was AMAZING!
Compared to the other openers it's... not bad.
Alright, like the Twilicorn or not I think we can all be glad that the show didn't decide to backpedal on their decision. They stick to their guns about Twilight being an Alicorn, that's the new permanent thing. As I mentioned before, I'm one of the guys that was cool with Twilight being an alicorn to start so I'm not going to dwell on this, but one of my chief fears was that Season 4 might in some way regress Twi back to how she was before in the name of pleasing unruly fans.
Moving along, from a technical standpoint, this episode is a cut above. You can really see how far along the animation has come and how far they're willing to push it. The fight between Celestia and Nightmare Moon was exceptionally spectacular to watch, as were the Elements of Harmony in action when used by the princesses.
Plus, we now finally have some canon to base the battles with Nightmare Moon and Dischord, as well as the origins of the Elements around! Personally I'm a bit frustrated that it doesn't match up with my head canon, but such is life. I've gotta wonder what that Tree of Harmony means though. I always thought Celestia and Luna ascended to Alicornhood by discovering the Elements of Harmony and defeating Dischord. Apparently that's not the case, but they clearly knew a lot about the Tree of Harmony. Perhaps they had something to do with its creation and that's how they ascended, or maybe they're special even among Alicorns. Something beyond what Cadance and Twilight are...
Well, that's speculation for a writer other than me.
From a character stand point it's good to see Twilight quickly able to take charge when the princess sisters disappear. It just cements the proof that she was ready for this ascension to start with. To become a leader, whether it be of Equestria or just among her friends. And do I even need to point out how hilarious Dischord was with his reappearance. Though it's been made pretty clear Celestia didn't see this particular problem coming. I've gotta wonder just why she wanted him free now...
Like I said, speculation for someone else right now.
Moving on, the two-parter does have some issues. Everything running up to the party going into the forest is fine with me. I can even overlook the potion of plot convenience Zecora just happens to carry around. But once they're in the forest...
Ugh, the flow of the episode takes a dive. First Twilight is with her friends, then they're all worried and say she should go back after the Cragodile attacks, then they all wish they had her back and Twilight returns, then they all have to save her (GAAAAAAAH!)
Sorry. My point is that it's so fast it makes Twilight feel like a big magic yo-yo. The episode could have flowed much better and still gotten its message across if they just made one simple change: Have the others tell Twilight not to go into the forest with them in the first place. The whole point to sending her back was the others had the (totally justified) fear that if something happened to Twi, Equestria would be without a leader. That's a good enough reason for them to want to leave her in town to start with. Think about it from there.
Twi could sulk around town while the others struggle in the Everfree. It's clear Twi wants to go help them but knows they have a point and is hurt that they're treating her different. The others are wishing they had Twi around, but trying to power through since they don't want to endanger her. Discord plays his bit with Twi (yes, you can keep the darn scepter), and Twilight rushes to wear she's really needed. Episode more or less plays out as normal, now with everything flowing in one direction instead of bouncing from town to forest and back and forth and (GAAAAAAAAH!)
That's my only real rage point with the episode, to be honest, but it's the one that drags it down to my least favorite of the season openers. That being said, this duo of episodes is still up there on the technical merits and additions to canon alone, so it was an excellent way to open Season 4.
But one thing does boggle my mind. Celestia talks like this episode's Summer Sun Celebration is the first since Luna returned...
If it is, that means all of the past three seasons all took place within the same year.
And all I can think is "Dang, that was one busy year!"
Castle Mania
Let's have some fun in a haunted house!
Oh god, this episode made me laugh. Personally, I think it's damn near perfect. Okay, maybe I was a bit flustered with the competition bit between Dash and AJ (didn't they get over that in Season 1?) but it still made for some amusing character bits.
Plus it expands on Celestia and Luna's past again! The journal Twilight finds certainly sounds like it was written by a child, or at least a child at heart. I'm going out on a limb though and guessing that Celestia and Luna probably were little fillies at some point, clearly using the castle's numerous secret passages and trapdoors for games. We might not know for sure how long ago that was, but you can't deny the idea of them running about, popping out of various places and spooking one another is adorable.
Each of the Mane Six and Spike is so wonderfully in character for this entire episode it's almost suspicious. Like they want us to forgive and forget the flub-ups they made in a few episodes of Season 3 by reminding us they can nail all of these characters right. At first blush a few bits feel like a slip back. Rarity's worries about dirt over the dangers of the Everfree... but then again, it's nothing she hasn't faced before. AJ and Dash getting competitive again... but I suppose neither of them ever stopped, it's just been a while since they went toe to toe and neither of them tried to fight dirty this time.
So yeah, a nice strong follow-up to a great opening. And not a bad way to reintroduce the Friendship reports with the whole diary bit. Actually kind of clever, though I wonder if they're just going to trust Spike to handle all the writing again. Heh, that might be fun...
Well, all in all, Season 4 is off to a great start. I really can't wait to see where it goes.
Especially with that box.
The box.
box
boxboxboxboxboxboxboxbox....
The fun part of episode 3, was a new writer, and finally someone that liked the episode. So many are harping on its wrongs in unhappy, well whining, instead of seeing it for what it aimed for, a season 1 episode at heart.
I felt a little indifferent to the opening two-part story. It was good, but not stellar. I did, however, enjoy episode three...although, as you're quite aware B.H., I couldn't help humming the theme song from, "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" throughout the whole thing.
1560419
Really? All the people I've been hearing from on that episode have been quite pleased with it...what the devil are these other people harping on about this episode?
1560882 They wanted more of the box apparently. They grumbled about the bad parts of 1 and 2 in rough recall (as I just woke.) They wanted more answers, and are forgetting, this is a new writer for this series, and he aimed for a lighthearted and fun episode.
1561150
They also apparently forgot that box is supposed to be a season long story arc. Where's the fun in learning too much about it in the third episode?
1561204 Season 3 left many scars, and what fun is the journey without good and simple fun that it had?
Er, just for future reference, there's no "h" in "Discord."
1561204
1561212
My stance exactly on both of these things, and anyway, a good season is always interspersed with moments that aren't focused on the standing storyarc, especially for a show of MLP's caliber. I was honestly surprised (but tickled pink) they mentioned the box at all in that episode. I mean, they've got time before they need to get back the box, there's no hurry, and actually would hurt the suspense.
That said, I have to assume that the people that think otherwise don't know a whole lot about writing and its need for these sort of considerations.