Episode Review: Castle Mane-ia · 10:21am Dec 1st, 2013
With the season premiere done, the real season begins. Headcanons and fanfics must now brace for the next six months of battering winds, golf ball sized hail, and the always looming threat of a visit to the Griffon Empire. With all the controversy that the hiatus brought, it was important for the first regular episode to quell some of the remaining rustling that the premiere didn't. Let's see if it was able to accomplish that feat.
Things kick off with Twilight doing what she does best: reading copious amounts that would make even my seven hundred story long Read Later list gulp. Instead of putting off the story arc until the last episode like last season, she's decided to get right to work trying to crack the Crystal Empire-like box. Surprisingly, she's unable to find any information on a mysterious box that's never been seen or heard from before in the library of a small town.
She seeks out Celestia's help to unravel the mystery. Celestia, being just as helpful as she always is, can't do anything and, instead of suggesting Twilight contact a much larger library—or even the massive Canterlot Archives—she instead suggests going to the rundown castle in the forest that nearly killed Twilight twice in the previous episode.
“I just don't get it. 120,000 words and the villain ends up being a black alicorn OC.”
Twilight and Spike arrive and find the Castle's library in perfect order—despite a thousand years of neglect, the elements (and not the magical ones, either), and two omnicidal maniacs. She promptly has a wingboner at all the ancient Dark Magic books she can read to research her coming overthrow of Celestia, and sets to work. Spike, being a wuss, is intimidated by the ancient thousand year old ruin filled with the memories of an alicorn driven insane who attempted to murder destroy her only sibling and kill every living thing on the planet. As the giant spiders remind me that being magically teleported to Equestria wouldn't be a good thing, we fade into the intro because I watched the leaked version that actually had the intro.
Meanwhile, Applejack and Rainbow Dash are auditioning for Jackass 4, but aren't accepted as they're not wearing speedos or getting stung due to following proper safety procedures. Pinkie's also there and is unable to follow them to the Everfree Castle because she actually has a job as a baker—or rather, that would be a good reason, so instead, she has to ring a school bell to ensure that the bell maker wasn't slouching when he presumably did the checking to make sure it worked.
Rarity's going to the Castle to graverob steal tomb raid repair ancient tapestries and then put them right back to be worn down again in the middle of an abandoned building. Fluttershy's also going because some idiot's going to be ringing the nearby school bell for the next several hours and she wants some peace and quiet and deadly venomous spiders. Angel promptly runs into the Castle and Rarity and Fluttershy give chase.
Continuity? Is that you? I thought you were killed ages ago.
Twilight and Spike just miss them as Twilight decides to spend the night in the complex that was abandoned by a (possibly) immortal alicorn and her army for reasons that are still in the realm of fanon. Just as they depart, Applejack and Dash arrive to marvel at the interior we've never seen before despite seeing the interior in the pilot. Applejack tries to scare Dash by giving her the rough plot of Past Sins. Dash is naturally skeptical that an alicorn OC story could make it onto EQD and the two proceed inside.
For some reason, the architects of the castle thought it was a good idea to booby trap Equestria's capitol building with hidden doors, false walls, and pit traps. Scooby Doo antics ensue as most of these traps are unwittingly set off by the Mane Five. First, Fluttershy can't unhitch one of those “As Seen on TV” hooks from the wall and scares Dash and Applejack. Then, Angel sets one off. Unexpectedly, it isn't because he's a dick, but accidentally stepped on one. Fluttershy and Rarity are thrown into a pit.
Dash's foalhood fear of blue banners finally catches up to her.
Back in the library, Twilight's unaffected by the spookiness. Spike however, considers it far too spooky for him. Angel arrives and once again triggers a pressure plate—revealing a hidden room that will no doubt be used in many evil!Twilight fanfics for when she needs to find the evil book. There, she finds Celestia and Luna's diary. Evidently, it was their public diary as there's no way two sisters would keep a shared diary.
As this is happening, Rarity gropes Dash, causing her to freak out and run away with AJ. Another trap is sprung and Rarity and Fluttershy escape as well, equally freaked out by Dash's rebuffing. Twilight is disappointed in the diary as it doesn't contain any juicy gossip or hormonal fantasies of teenaged alicorns. I'm disappointed when somepony starts playing an organ and they don't play either the Team Rocket Theme or Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
“What are we going to do with this giant room?”
“We could use it to house the poor and needy as a sign of the Diarchy's concern and compassion?”
“Nah, screw that. Let's put a huge ass organ in it.”
The lack of either also freaks out the Mane Five. Fluttershy and Rarity arrive in the very nice looking duel throned throne room—a far cry from the single throne that Luna has to squat over in the intro—and Rarity falls into a trap set on Luna's throne. No wonder she went insane. Applejack gets plucked off by a similar trap and the Mane Five soon enter a mad dash to find their friends.
They eventually stumble into each other in the Castle's foyer and break down in tears and quivering terror. Rarity gets smothered under a tapestry, Dash turns into a fly that's just been hit by a newspaper, Fluttershy can only look on in horror as that bastard bunny finally gets what's coming to him, I have completely forgotten what Applejack was doing, but, in all likelihood, it was probably something involving the ground and hooves cause she's a filthy dirt pony.
You see what sequestration does?! The Royal Guard went from having full body suits of armor to those puny things with saddles.
Twilight arrives and whips out some possible alicorn abilities by restraining all of them simultaneously—something she needed a hot air balloon, Fluttershy getting pissed, and Applejack's rope to do in the season two premiere. They calm down and explain the frightening situation to her. Dismissive at first, Twilight and company soon move to investigate the organ player, where it's revealed to be Pinkie, who instead of talking to her friends and having fun with them, decided to fuck with them instead.
The episode raps up with Twilight organizing a replacement of the friendship letters in the form of a diary. As with most diaries, it will only be remembered when being written in and will eventually be forgotten to collect dust in an abandoned tree library filled with the memories of an alicorn driven insane. Zecora then pops in to remind us that she's still alive and give a little fuel for the fanfics.
Apparently, the castle has grown several towers (along with some more buildings) since the last time we saw it. Must be that Tree of Harmony magic.
All in all, a nice, enjoyable filler episode. Not much of anything important happened and that's essentially the episode's only flaw. It will more than likely fade into the background as bigger, better, and more exciting episodes arrive farther down the season. The characterization—something I admittedly pay little attention to in the show—was done well and my favorite part was the interweaving subplots that brought the group together. So often they're together just because and it was nice to see an episode where there's actually a reason behind the madness.
Some complain of Pinkie's role. Before I saw the episode, I would have agreed. However, the Shadow Pony has next to no actual role in the story and it would have been odd for Luna or Sombra or someone to take time out of their busy day just to troll the Mane Six for no reason. Had the Shadow Pony played a much larger role, as the antagonist for instance, I could see the use of a “bigger” character, but Pinkie fit the role as portrayed quite well.
Final Score: 7.5. A nicely paced episode with great interweaving subplots, very nice characterization, and set in a location that's able to be canonically expanded upon. The lack of anything really happening of substance is the only detractor.
Fanfiction Impact: Minimal. While the Everfree Castle could have potentially crippled some stories, the fact is, most fanfics use a very generic “Spooky Everfree Castle” in their settings that canon fits very nicely. Only the most detailed (and anal) of fanfics or writers will be affected.
Next Week: Hasbro attempts to plug the leaks by releasing the episode on time. Are fandom jokes going to be made? How much of the TV Tropes Daring Do article will have to be rewritten? Will I ever stop being bitter over Twilight's mom not being Daring Do's author? Tune in next week to find out...
Yes, I know it's actual name is “Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters,” but if you think I'm typing that name out fifteen times, you're even more insane than Luna was.
She's just trying to arrange for the alicorn immortality test in a more roundabout way.
I didn't think the show ever said one way or another, while the comics imply she is.
I'm wondering if the castle has maintenance spells that the Mane Six somehow triggered during their first visit. It would explain how the castle seems to have been partially rebuilt, it's various mechanical aspects working despite a millennia of neglect and there being fresh carrots for Angel Bunny.
If so, in a few episodes time, it could be fully repaired and, once again, a castle fit for a pony princess. New year toy sales, anypony?
THAR BE NOT ENUFF RECAPS. GRUMPY CAT IS NOT PLEASED.
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Your avatar...
Oh God, yes!
Do you just really hate filler episodes?
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I did wonder where the heck those carrots came from.
I read a lot more into this ep than you.
I consider it to be an affirmation.
There were tons of S1 throwbacks showing that the characters are still true to who they always were with enough modification of personality and behavior to demonstrate that character development sticks. And they also showed that they are maintaining plot continuity and are not afraid to dip into backstory.
As for fun bits in the episode, I am surprised you did not make note of yet more evidence of pony superstrength when Twi hauls the rest of them around on her back. Also the confirmation of Trollestia by building a castle that she apparently crept around all night
terrorizingentertaining her sister. I was really hoping the organist was Celestia. And she sent them there just to use the crap she left there. And giant spiders with stars on their backs... Night themed creepy crawlies? Luna's old pets? Spiderses reference?1560765
Episode 4 is going to feature them meeting Daring Do's author, and screenshots don't look like Twilight's mom, unfortunately.
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Noooooo! Don't joss the comics!
I think the fanfiction impact in this one is everything but minimal. And for just one reason: War & Equestria. The suits of armor and also a picture of a pony in uniform basically confirm that there was the need for something more than a "guard" in the past. There was actual military. This is imporant headcanon.
I hope that never happens