SPOILERS! Thoughts on 406. · 5:05pm Dec 21st, 2013
Oh my goodness, that was hilarious.
Spoilers coming up, so don't read until you've seen it!
I had so much fun with this episode. The was an example of a silly episode where the contrivances and parody-style didn't bother me. Beats out both Castelmania and Daring Don't (Daring Don't by a LONG SHOT).
They finally come out and acknowledged Spike's hazy role in the show, and his own personal insecurities about it. His lesson during all this was heart-warming and adorable. Spike episodes can be tricky to pull off, so I was so happy they managed to make this one work!
I loved how they did the powers for each pony, and how they each came to be able to use them at different points in the episode. Pinkie, naturally, figured hers out from the get-go, since she pretty much normally has that super power. Applejack and Rainbow Dash took longer, because while they "normally" have those "powers", they aren't as adaptable as Pinkie to altering how they do things. Twilight took forever because she hadn't studied how to do any of this. Rarity took to hers shortly after Pinkie, because she's a creative genius and this was no stretch for her. And Fluttershy just had to get angry. So of course that took the longest.
Honestly, out of all of them, Rarity totally stole the show (AGAIN). I love that pony. So. Freaking. Much. When they got out of the tornado and she had herself protected in that serving platter dish thing, staking her claim as Second Pony to control her powers, the episode was pretty much made for me. Then she had to go continue to be fabulous and make giant umbrellas and stairs, and she deserved all of the applause.
Also not going to lie, my inner Sparity shipper was hoping Rarity would have some encouraging lines for Spike during this episode. She only had one such line, sadly. But really, but I can't be too upset. Twilight was great as support, and Fluttershy was so kind to Spike that I couldn't help but smile. He got more than his usual share of love, and they made the useless-Spike joke such a fabulous running gag, that I was very pleased overall.
Oh, and I LOVED Mane-iac. She was great as the comic villain. Ham-tastic and absurd. Loved it. And her henchponies were hilarious with their perfect manes.
So all in all, a very enjoyable episode for me. The cop-out explanation a the end was cheesy, sure. Bit of a let-down that it wasn't something more creative. But how they handled Spike in this felt very true-to-show and true-to-character. Just as with Equestria Girls, since I generally enjoyed the content and humor, I'm more forgiving of the contrived setting. I totally get people not being able to enjoy it if they can't get past that stuff, though.
Giving this an 8.5/10. For something with this absurd of a premise, I think that's pretty much as high as it could go. And this does make it tie with last week's episode, which I loved for entirely different reasons.
So for anyone keeping track, so far my ranking for Season 4 is:
Princess Twilight Sparkle (parts 1 and 2): 9/10
Power Ponies and Flight to the Finish: 8.5/10
Castlemania: 7.5/10
Daring Don't: 5/10
Not bad for the new season.
Agreed on all counts. It's funny, less than two hours after the episode and the only powers I really remember standing out were Rarity's and Pinkie's, aside from the Flutter Hulk, of course.
It just seemed that Rarity was the Queen of the Funny Background Event, this time. I mean, all the ponies were doing something, but Rarity was the one doing things that were actually funny.
Oh, RD is beating up hencponies, or AJ is lassoing them, ok. Rarity, on the other hand, makes giant umbrellas, skips down a set of stairs, makes huge bird cages, and a variety of other really eye-catching maneuvers. God I love her.
I think my favorite part is how they took the subtle reference to monologuing villains without forcing it down our throats. They just showed us Spike setting up his very intricate plan to save the ponies while Mane-iac is talking and talking in the background. Subtle joke, but no less funny for it.
8.5/10 was my rating for it as well. My favorite stand alone episode of the season, narrowly beating out FttF, which was only an 8/10.
-Lumino
I wholeheartedly agree. My only real gripe with the episode is that it was really predictable. I could pretty much see the outcome from the moment Spike described Humdrum as a useless character. Didn't make the whole thing any less enjoyable, mind you!
1631193 I do love that about this show. They're always messing with tropes like that, often incredibly subtly! And yes. Rarity is amazing. I loved seeing what she came up with in this episode, because it was a delightful insight into how her mind worked!
1631194 Yeah, it was pretty much immediately clear what was going to happen in the episode. I personally didn't mind that it was predictable. Like you said, it didn't take away from how much I enjoyed it. MLP is often predictable on where it's going with things, and the vast majority of the time (like in this episode), I don't mind and am just happy to be along for the ride.
Yet another awesome thing Rarity did was provide the first flying carpet we've seen in the show. It may have been a magic construct, but it was still the first!
I would've enjoyed Fluttershy's Hulk-out more if it'd been Spike who was assaulted rather than a bug.
Ok, my thoughts: That was AWESOME!! Going for parts:
- Applejack as: A mix of Wonderwoman (the magical rope), Batman (for the horseshoerangs) and Captain America (for the Catchphrase, in the line of "Avengers Assemble!"). The colors remind a Robin Costume, the original ones.
- Rainbow Dash as: A mix of Thor (for the lightnings and the use of an object to call them) and Storm ('cause you heard Spike: she call call the powers of the weather, not only lightnings.) Also, the costume remind me a lot at the costume of Black Ray.
- Pinkie Pie as: The Flash or Quicksilver. There's no f***ing doubt about it. The costume... No, it doesn't remind me to anyone.
- Fluttershy as: THE HULK!!!!!! The best one of the six girls, no doubt. SHY SMASH!!!
- Rarity as: A Lanter Corp. Note that some of the actuals Lantern Corps don't have the same powers as the Green and Yellow Corps, so it's the Green Lantern. The most amazing one so far, indeed.
- Twilight as: Kinda difficult. With her Magical Powers, it could be Dr. Fate, Dr. Strange, Scarlet Witch...
- Spike as: Robin, or any annoying sidekick you could think XD
- Maneia as: In personality, costume colors, design colors and origin? It's the Joker in a very big way. The powers remind me at Sedusa, the villain of "PowerPuff Girls". Not remind me to anyone of DC or Marvel Comics right now.
Also: Am I the only one who catch the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" reference?
It really was a great episode, but I have to say, my biggest take away from it, was "Best freakin' comic book marketing gimmick ever!"
Too bad it was a one shot item though, I could totally see Spike going back repeatedly to re-play the adventure. Kinda seems like a gyp though, I mean Spike bought it and everything, why shouldn't he get to keep it? (Shades of modern IP and digital ownership vs licencing rights.)
...I wonder if the comic teleported back to the shop to be resold or just evaporated after having run it's course?