S4:E13 "Simple Ways" Review · 5:13pm Feb 14th, 2014
Since it's Valentine's Day, I thought I'd take a moment to talk about the recent Simple Ways episode.
I was really hoping for more from Simple Ways. I wanted Spike to have a bigger role in this episode. Instead, his relationship with Rarity was merely referenced.
Where's the jealous Spike from Season one? 
And don't tell me he "learned his lesson." Rainbow Dash has "learned" loyalty several times now. MLP:FIM has no problem retreading the same moral message. This would've been a perfect opportunity for Spike to try and sabotage Rarity's chance with Trenderhoof. Spike could've talked up Applejack.
"Hey, Trenderhoof. I once owed Applejack a life debt and was her servant," Spike said, "So, I know exactly what she likes."
After seeing how miserable Rarity is without Trenderhoof, Spike could realize that he wants her to be happy; even if that means they must remain apart. Of course, that would require Spike to be considered an actual character by the writers instead of a joke.
It's probably worth mentioning that I don't want Rarity and Spike getting together; at least, not until the series finale. That's the problem with unrequited love. Once the dynamic changes and the starcrossed lovers finally come together, there's nowhere else to go. Just look at Moonlighting with Maddie Hayes and David Addison or Frasier with Niles Crane and Daphne Moon. The series only worked when there was sexual tension between the couples. Once they confessed their love and got married, the series suffered creatively.
I would love to see each Rarity episode include a joke about Spike hopelessly longing for her. In this case, Twilight Sparkle and Spike could be helping with preparations for the fashion show, when Rarity bursts into Carousel Boutique. She's crying, her hair is a mess and her droopy overalls are covered in mud. She looks a sight and blows her nose with a handkerchief. Spike could shake his head in exasperation and say "Oh! Will these infernal temptations never end?!" Rarity would be oblivious to the comment, but Twilight would give Spike a stern look.
Personally, I would've loved to see this happen.
Applejack might take issue with that as well.
Simple Ways had some good elements, but it basically seemed like a repeat of the sleepover episode, only now with a love triangle.
I enjoyed Applejack trying to act sexy. She's still got it!
Also, what was up with that Derpy cameo?
Unappreciated? What did they mean by that? Are they saying that we, the fans, don't truly appreciate Derpy? Are they saying that those who opposed Derpy's wall-eyed stare didn't appreciate her when they had her censored? That one line might hold more meaning than any other this season. Please share in the comments what you think the writers meant when they called Derpy "unappreciated."
Have a Happy "Horns in Poons" Day, everyone!
That last gif, the mare on the ladder. Her expression fucking killed me.
Surprise Horn Sex.
scalp deep
I believe the unappreciated line for Ditzy Doo is in fact for those who found this lovable wall-eyed pony offensive and demanded that she be censored.
Is it just me, or did anyone else happen to think that Trender Hoof was pretty much a giant douche? And here's another question: when Rarity was showing off her 'shrine' did anyone else happen to notice the glass case with a lock of Trender's mane in there? Did she just pick up random strands from wherever he went or snuck up on him at some point in time with a pair of scissors and run off with a snippet?
I think this episode had a very good message for little girls(aka the target audience).
Don't change who you are just to be in a relationship, you won't be happy.
Or something faggy and important like that.
Somehow, that last part seems like either a intended innuendo, or a really sloppy slip-up xP
I think the "underappreciated" line has one of two meanings. One is that Hasbro and/or DHX failed to appreciate how much the love for Derpy outweighed the hate. The other is admittedly unlikely, but beautiful in its subtlety:
underappreciated
How I feel about Spike's reaction depends on what he was thinking. For example:
Tragically admirable: "Do what thou wilt, my love. I remain at your side."
Understandable: "You know what? Fine. Fine. I'm going to help you just so you know what this is like."
Disturbing: "He can have you in life, but I will keep you in death."
Genre savvy: "Eh, he'll be gone by the end of the episode."
Extra genre savvy: "Anything for more screentime."
What? Pinkie's been training him in the ways of the fourth wall since back in Lesson Zero.
damn, why have you posted the last gif? I can't get it out of my head.
you know i never made the connection to Frasier. but the Daphne Niles dynamic is a big part of what made that show great in the start.
Same with MLP I guess... oh gosh I hope they elope in an RV
Obviously, Trenderhoof was pointing at Desert-Island-Butt, not Derpy.
1833889
As soon as I saw his picture.
I think it may be referring to the uproar the Bronies caused when Derpy had a voice. That was the only time Derpy was an actual supporting character, when she had dialogue. But her rabid fans were outraged and flailing their arms around just because she didn't fit their expectations and they made up excuses on how Hasbro was making fun of the disabled.
It's a far fetch though.
Personally, I liked this episode quite a bit more than I thought I would. I was kinda worried that it was going to be about romance, but thankfully it wasn't. What's that? An episode where two ponies have overt crushes on other ponies isn't about romance? Yep, that's right. The point of this episode wasn't to talk about romance, it was to put on a show about epic cringe comedy and role-reversal. Rarity and Trend's crushes were merely an enabler for that, nothing more.
And boy oh boy, did Rarity deliver on the cringe comedy. Tabitha did an awesome job with Rarity doing a bad country accent (ask just about anybody in the field of acting, and they'll tell you that playing a character who's doing an impression of another character is not easy to do), and that final role-reversal showdown was simply excellent (I hope we have more excuses in the future to see Applejewel...).
I loved how everypony in the show was fully aware of how ludicrously Rarity and Trend were acting... except for Rarity and Trend. I like to think that it was obvious even to Spike that Rarity's crush on Trend was obviously not going to result in anything. Thus, he was pretty chill about the whole thing.
As for the "unappreciated" line... I don't think there's any real special meaning or commentary behind it. I think the writers were just being ironic for laughs. Sorta like... "Oh man, Trend thinks that Derpy is unappreciated? Wait 'til he gets a load of this side of the fourth wall. ^_^"
How did I not see that moment in the episode with those mares on the ladder? That is hilarious!
I just plain detest Spike being in an actual romance with Rarity anyway, not much else to say.
My idea of "the unappreciated" is the possibility of Derpy not being particularly loved by everypony else in town just because of her eye issue, when she surely means well and just wants to do her very best to help out with this and that.
1835222 "Desert-Island-Butt" has hardly even been seen in an episode whereas Derpy has been in so much more.
And besides, Trender's hoof is not even in the direction of "Desert-Island-Butt" as anyone with eyes can tell you.
1835700
Especially since Tabitha also voices Granny Smith, so she knows how to do a folksy accent.
1834053
Thanks for the feedback! I love your interpretation for the Derpy line and Spike's potential motivations.
1836771
Of course he hasn't been seen much. That's why he's underappreciated!
1838127 He still wasn't being pointed at.
1838174
Trenderhoof has bad aim. He needs new glasses, but he's too hispter to get them.
1838182 Nothing is wrong with his aim, he is literally pointing at Derpy and that is the end of it!!!
Either take this more seriously or stop responding to me. Those are your options.
1838217
Where's the fun in taking things seriously? dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/discord.png
After all, this is a children's cartoon about pastel-colored ponies we're talking about.
1838300 What we're talking about is which pony Trenderhoof is pointing at, which is Derpy as the sense of sight will show you.
Start taking this seriously or just gtfo and be done with it.seemslegit.com/_images/3f203b9d55b430ffa396a3b35069f489/41%20-%20gtfo%20kindly-leave%20picard%20star-trek%20theres-the-door.jpg
1838417
I refuse to take cartoon ponies seriously.
dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Emoticons/misc_Lyra_dealwithit.png
1838496 What you're being asked to take seriously is the fact that Trenderhoof points at Derpy in the episode. "Cartoon ponies" has bugger all with it.
So if you're not able to take THAT seriously, you are more than welcome togifsforum.com/images/gif/gtfo/grand/gtfo-eccbc87e4b5ce2fe28308fd9f2a7baf3-2720.gif
1838531
Trenderhoof is a cartoon pony.
Derpy is a cartoon pony.
Desert-island-butt is a cartoon pony.
Ergo, we speak of cartoon ponies. QED.
1838667 The fact of the matter is still that she was being pointed at, not "Desert-island-butt," which you cannot just be serious about so that leaves you with the other option, i.e.global3.memecdn.com/gtfo_o_869631.jpg
1838893
But you're too much fun~!
1839161 And you are no fun at all.
troll.me/images/pissed-off-obama/you-bitch-gtfo-now.jpg
1839238
How many GTFO macros do you have, anyway?
1840512 Voila.
1840582
Well that's boring. I thought you had a collection of favorites saved.
1840686 Where's the fun in that?static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/discord_by_bronyb34r-d4upxmc_-_copy_1744.png
Link to BigMac x Tenderhoof comic please. I must see if the creator made more comics as funny as that. Also, yeah, Spike got shafted... again. Kind of expected at this point. Frankly, I'm finding the line between MLP FiM and MLP FiW to be becoming more blurred. Just a little.
OK Broniestories you must go here and liven it up:
http://www.cloudsdale.org/clouds/TheVelvetSaddle