Random Thoughts: Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

Warning: Spoilers abound. Proceed with caution.

Okay, I normally don't do this. Usually when it comes to episodes, I like to hone in on a specific point that caught my attention and save my review and reaction for the Comments sections of other blogs. But this episode was just full of so much win and I got so much out of it that I can't pick one specific point. So, I'll just rattle off a few here.

1. Wonderbolts world-building. This is something that I wanted to see for a while, and I'm glad I finally got to see it.

2. Character development for Rainbow Dash. I think I now know why she (supposedly) dropped out of Flight School. It lends a bit more credence to Dumb-bell's accusation in Sonic Rainboom, don't you think? Not only that, but the fact that she can multitask mid-flight is nifty, believable, and shows that Dashie is more than just a dumb jock. Plus, she's now in the Wonderbolt Reserves, taking another step toward her big dream! I guess that means she's a private now. Or the navy equivalent; my knowledge of military ranks isn't all that great.

3. "Hey, I am not that tall!" Clearly, Twi, you haven't been seeing what everyone else has been noticing all season.

4. We need more of Fluttershy playing peacemaker. She's actually really good at it.

5. Did anyone else get the feeling that Pinkie Pie was trying to parody those stupid after-school specials with that rap? Y'know, the ones that try way too hard to be "hip" and "with it?" That's what I got out of it.

6. AJ would've been completely superfluous (seriously, how is the history of apples gonna help Dashie?) had it not been for her line completely ragging on Rarity's teaching method followed by Rarity's deadpan glare. Speaking of Rarity, I don't think focusing on the Wonderbolts' wardrobe alone is going to help Dashie, either. I'm actually with Applejack on this one, even if she did end up calling the kettle black.

7. I think we just saw Twilight utilize her position of royalty to get something she wanted for the first time. I mean, how else did she convince all of Ponyville to help Rainbow Dash study?

8. The moral just resonated with me on so many levels, and I think it's something that adults (especially those who work in education) need to learn just as much as kids.

So, final thoughts. This episode was just:

That is all.

Comments

[Noble Thought]

I am agreed with you on the points you've made, and I'm glad that they didn't spend a lot of time on any one of the different teaching methods. I actually learn a bit like RD, actually, but I'm not such a good multitasker. Two is about my limit, but as long as I'm doing something else, like listening to music and reading, then I retain pretty well.

As someone with close ties to the education community (I write software for schools here in my state,) I agree with you that many teachers could learn a lot from this episode. Too often, I hear about teachers getting stuck in a rut teaching the same rubric by rote. Not only that, but it's a bit formulaic. Anymore, it feels like school is geared towards passing The Test. (I know that school isn't really hugely focused on The Test, but that's the general feeling around here and it's a noisy talking point.)

But I've been heartened to hear that some big name colleges here in the US are starting to make the SAT/ACT test optional for admission. I'd have to look an the article, though, if anyone is interested. It was something on NPR a couple months ago.

On a less serious note, I will add this: Fluttershy is best Celestia Cosplayer.

[MythrilMoth]

I loved this episode, and loved how Rainbow Dash is continuing to hang lampshades left and right. I don't really think Twilight had to assert any royal authority for the flash mob, though. Ponies in Ponyville seem to be perpetually willing to drop everything and lend a hoof unless the story calls for them to be jerks, and Rainbow Dash is a pretty popular pony, so it's only natural everyone would be willing to help her.

Now if Twilight had followed through on her threat to join the Wonderbolts, THAT would have been impressively awkward.

[Osakayumu]

Best Pony and Second-Best Pony were both amazing in this episode!

[YoshiOfADown]

[Did anyone else get the feeling that Pinkie Pie was trying to parody those stupid after-school specials with that rap? Y'know, the ones that try way too hard to be "hip" and "with it?" That's what I got out of it.

It was a parody of 80's/early 90's rap.

[Metool Bard]

1985501 Huh. So I see. I knew it was a parody of something.