Episode Review: Trade Ya! · 8:39pm Apr 25th, 2014
Some more progress done on Mezza, still no date in sight. Sorry folks. Review in usual spot.
So, apparently Equestria has swap meets as well. That's nice... but that's about the only really interesting thing with this episode. If you've come into this for character development, you are going to be sorely disappointed. The only thing separating this episode from something in season one or two is the fact that Twilight has wings, and there is a call back to Spike at your Service. I'll get on to that in a minute, but let's just say that Scott Sonneborn is improving as far as entertaining episodes go, but can still do better. Why is this? Let's dig in and find out.
So yeah... Princess Twilight's now a thing with the citizens of Equestria. Only took them most of a bloody season.
Trade Ya! begins with the girls pulling into the train station at Rainbow Falls. Pinkie and Twilight spew exposition about the Trader's Exchange and that a princess needs to preside. This would not be so bad if it didn't have the 'as you know' vibe to it, which is just lazy in my opinion. Anyway, we have three sub-plots in this episode as the mane six (and Spike) split up. Spike's arc can be summed up in "He goes to trade a comic, deals with a pony all day, then gets his comic" since it all happens in the background. And since we are going in least dense and upward, that brings me to Rarity and Applejack. At the start of the day, the two decide since they are both after 'vintage items' that they should pool their stuff together so they have the same chance to get something. This bites them both in the ass sooner rather than later when they both want something that will require all their stuff and is equally petty in gain to the individual. This is the 'bridge' arc between our next two since over the course of the day they go from arguing to passive-aggressive 'I'm the better pony' bickering. Eventually, they get each other a less ostentatious version of what the other wanted... but not without a good passive-aggressive jab at the other! *Groans*
Next, we have Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle. As a princess, Twilight is presiding over the Rainbow Falls Trader Exchange from dusk to sundown, but since there is rarely ever a trade dispute, she decides to get rid of some books she has as the new ones Princess Celestia have given her means she is running out of space. Just when Twilight is about to trade it all for a broken quill, Pinkie steps in and tells her that, while she does want them gone, it would be a completely unfair trade and would break the rules because Twilight doesn't really WANT a broken pen and a trade is only fair if the two ponies get something they want. She then takes it upon herself to help Twilight sell her books, but at the end of the day she talks them up so much that nopony wants to trade because they are too valuable. Even... Twilight... thinks they are now too valuable to trade... even though the Library is overflowing... *Eye twitch*
Finally, the pegasi of the group have their day. Fluttershy wants to trade her bear call for a bird call, but that is overshadowed by Rainbow Dash trying to get the only first edition version of a Daring Do book... despite knowing her personally enough to get an advance copy of her last book. Anyway, she goes to trade a rusty horseshoe (Sleepless in Ponyville reference) for the book, but the seller wants an Orthros, which is a mythical two-headed dog. The two then go to the trainer, who wants a lamp; the pony selling lamps wants a chicken statue and the chicken statue stallion wants a crystal chalice. Dash and Shy trade the chalice for the horse shoe, but it breaks, but they fix it only for the chicken guy to break it anyway. Lamp guy is on lunch, so they work in the food tent to speed up the line, then they trade for the Orthros flawlessly, but Shy drops her bear call after getting the crowd around the book booth gone. However, the first mare doesn't want the Orthros anymore because it's crazy... unless Fluttershy stays to train it for what could be MONTHS! Dash agrees and sells Fluttershy into slavery servitude, realizes she fucked up and gets Twilight. Twilight rules the trade was fair, but the other pony, moved by Dash's words, revokes it. Shy gets her bird call, Twilight gives Dash her old Daring Do book and that's it. The end. -.-
Rarijack shippers will just love this one though.
The morals and characterization of this episode screw the pooch when you think about them. Let's start with the morals first. Yes, Rainbow Dash realizes her mistake and did not think about how valuable her friendship with Fluttershy is, but she still comes off as an idiot at best, for forgetting her, or a monster for selling her friend's services without previous consent. Secondly, while I can get that the conflict for Rarity and Applejack was about being petty over petty things, the characters THEMSELVES are the ones who come off as petty in the end, espeically since is the most they've been together since Look Before you Sleep from season one or Sisterhoof Social from season two. Finally, the moral of Pinkie and Twilight's arc can be boiled down to, 'If it has sentimental value KEEP IT FOREVER!!!' which leads to what most people call 'hording'. Yes, like dragons. But that's just how the morals fell flat on their faces. What about characterization?
With the exception of maybe Pinkie Pie and Twilight, every character here has regressed to the way they were in either season one or season two. Foremost, Rainbow Dash is completely inconsiderate of Fluttershy and her wants and needs. Fluttershy herself is too shy to even consider saying 'no' and may as well have 'welcome' written on her side for all intents and purposes. Rarity and Applejack are both stubborn loudmouths who don't care what the other wants, it's their OWN petty needs that must be absolved! Sure, it does make for good comedy, but it does so at the sacrifice of the characters. I can also see why this needs to be done to make the plot work: when working with a show with character progression and a moral-an-episode structure, it gets harder and harder for them to learn when they are already moral characters. But it just annoys me here.
Boy, ah say, boy! Draw me like one of yer French chickens.
Now, as a rule I am not going to bring up either the moral or the characterization in my likes and dislikes this episode since I have already talked about them at length earlier.
As always, let's start with the positives. For once, ponies who are not foals recognize that Twilight Sparkle is, in fact, an Alicorn princess. Now, it might be since she's acting officially, or because Manehattan is full of tools, but this is great... even if it's too little too late. I was hoping they would tackle the princess thing this season, but nope! They ignored it. *Sigh* I also liked the use of the background in aid to the transitions between scenes. How many people noticed Cheerilee or Fluttershy and Rainbow in the background with Applejack and Rarity on their first view? In that vein of though, the Bioshock Infinite reference with the Lutece Twins and the bird cage was very nicely done. I'll also take the time out to mention the pony with the leg braces as something good, as it was a deal with Hasbro and the Make-A-Wish-Foundation folks. Shame on you if you called the pony stupid. (Not really, it was only revealed after the fact) There was also the addition of an Orthros to the Equestrian Bestiary and the episode still made me laugh in a few places.
All of that said, the blatant exposition in the beginning was really, really lazy and did not set this episode off to a good start, to say the very least. As well, I have to wonder... if that pony had the ONLY first edition copy of Daring Do and the Sapphire Stone (first in the series and the book Dash craved in Read it and Weep which is another reference) then what the Tartarus happened to the others? Did a religious group get pissed and burn them all or something? We may never know. Spike was also shafted this episode; he served NOTHING to the plot and was just... there. I have a personal philosophy where if you're not going to USE a character, don't have them in a work AT ALL! Although, I take back what I said earlier a little bit: Rarity and Applejack just aren't petty, they are downright selfish in this episode and never rise above being jerks to each other for the duration. Finally, Rainbow, what gives you ANY right to lecture Rarity and AJ in the end? Seriously, just... I can see someone calling them out on their dickish behavior, but RAINBOW? Ugh. I blame it on her being the main character this episode.
Thankfully, this wasn't a key. Looks like, as expected, Purplesmart's won't come until the finale.
Trade Ya! isn't a bad episode, like Rainbow Falls was. It was genuinely entertaining even if the morals hurt to think about and the characters seem more ripped from the first two seasons than where they should be. With that said, if you were to trap me in the Rare Animals tent while covered in meat, I would rate this episode a passable 64/100 for all the reasons stated above.
Next week (tomorrow), we start a two-episode Spike streak. This is either going to be a brilliant final stretch, or utterly abysmal. Regardless, Rarity has hit a snag in her work, so Spike finds a spell to help get her muse back. Will this be the boost she needs, or will Inspiration Manifestation consume our poor marshmallow pony? Until then, this is Ciroton saying, "Don't know what to say the monkeys won't do!"
Rainbow_Dash.exe has crashed. Your computer will now shut down.
I'm going to be the guy and say I really liked this episode and say that all the characters were completely in-character.
Ponies are people. People are multi-faceted. We know the lessons that are taught to us, but do we always follow through with them? Do we practice what is preached to us? When our wants start to override our sensibilities, do we step back and take a moment to think about it or do we get defensive and prickly? I know I have.
Twilight growing sentimental over her books? I've been there. Nostalgia and memories are a powerful thing to overcome. I'm sure I've got old junk that I should throw away, but the thought of getting rid of something that once held value to me, emotional or otherwise, keeps it around and clutters my limited space.
I do agree that Twilight being a princess this season has only come into the spotlight when it's appropriate for the plot. Otherwise, her change has been rather superficial.
AJ and Rarity being stubborn with each other? Not surprising. Sure, they're closer than before, but that doesn't mean they can't get on each others' nerves given the right circumstances. If this had been season 1 or 2, they may have parted ways entirely instead of sticking with each other all day.
Rainbow Dash was being her usual brash, act before I think, self. She's gotten better since season 1, but that doesn't mean she still can't screw up.
About the only one I felt frustrated with was Fluttershy. As you pointed out, she's once again a doormat and she really should have tried harder to speak up to defend herself.
So there are my thoughts. Agree? Disagree? Let me know. Till then!
2048385
I like hearing differing thoughts and I agree with you completely on most of them. Namely on Rainbow. I can understand if they made it clear that she did not hear the full terms of the trade, either by a large crowd passing or whatnot, but to me it's like she was fully conscious of her decision and just did not THINK until it was said and done and that just pushes a button.
I think I also said that I can understand why they'd do stuff like this, I just saw this episode as taking a step backwards. To be fair, I was nit-picking a little bit with this one. None of the things were deal-breaker for me since I did enjoy watching this episode. I dunno. Maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday? It did seems to be one of those Murphey's Law days, culminating in a two hour long blackout to half of my city with myself being on the out side. *Shrugs* Still, I'll stand by what my said and my arbitrary numbers.
The only thing I'll take back is the 0 for 2 stuff.
hmmmmmm....... don't entirely agree. the parts that annoyed you I did not have trouble with. my only problem was the pacing, and the story was pulled in several directions.
the only one I would contest you with is that fact that twilight.......... well the books are a reminder to the truly most important events of her life. her friends not only gave her something she never imagined, but gave her alicornhood and gives her more every day. so its less than a hoarder mentality and more they are precious to her.
though I can definitely see how that can be misinterpreted.
also I like friendly passive aggression. they both knew they were take a few jabs are each other but it was all in good fun.
2048502 maybe you could use other episodes as a rating system. use them as levels. like have spike at your service on the bottom (has the most problems of any episode), and on the top have the best episode you can think of come up.