Episode Review: Inspiration Manifestation · 11:11pm May 4th, 2014
Sorry for the late review, but spontaneous black outs and general life busyness have made me launch this sucker almost 2 weeks late, since I like to aim for Tuesdays. Find it after the break.
Being a writer, inspiration is, all at once you best friend and your worst enemy. Without it, it is often very hard to get the ball rolling on a projects or an idea, but with it, you can become blind to all but your own specific vision. And sometimes even neglect silly things like sleep or food if you're on a roll. Surprisingly, it ties in very well with this episode, but that is something to save for when we really get into the meat of it, now isn't it? Spirarity shippers will love this one, and thankfully, this is a Spike episode that DOES NOT SUCK! How can this be!? Let's find out!
Three Vinyl sightings in one season? I'm not complaining. <3
Inspiration Manifestation begins on the day of the Foal and Filly Fair, an event, I presume, geared to child-related arts, crafts and items. Ponyville does seem to have a lot of this, but that could be because of Pinkie Pie, or Equestria will find any excuse to have a holiday. Regardless, Rarity is there to sell a mobile puppet show to a puppeteer, but is devastated to learn that he not only does not appreciate her... esthetic, but that he outright thinks it is horrible since it's so small and so... Rarity. Yeah, that works. Anyway, the results are excepted (though the vocalization of "om nom nom" was a nice touch) as Rarity despairs over the setback to her career. Naturally, Spike will not let his lady suffer and, without any adult supervision, goes to the Everfree Castle on his own to look for a spell to help.
Spike and his partner in crime Owlowiscious find an obviously dark book in a hidden passage behind lock and key (nice use of fire breath, Spike). After extracting the book and casually escaping the collapsing room, Spike finds just the spell he's looking for and takes the dangerous artifact to Rarity. She reads the spell he pointed out and a green light encompasses her horn and the spell book changes in a flash of magic just from her thinking about it. With the spell active, Rarity creates a new and improved puppet stage for the puppeteer, who marvels at how quickly she managed to build the new and improved stand. At first, she seems satisfied with her success and looks like she's going to leave things as they are... but this is Rarity we're talking about and since when has she ever just settled for success?
Some time later, Spike goes to check on Rarity and sees a bunch of flashes from her shop. Owlowiscious is following him and doing his best to get Spike to take the spell book back before it's too late, but he keeps ignoring him throughout the episode. He goes inside and finds that Rarity has gone overboard with her new powers and has filled her shop to the brim with new clothes. Spike encourages her and thus a slippery slope begins with Rarity beautifying the town, Spike singing to her songs of praise and Owl hooting in disapproval in the background. In the end, she's turned Ponyville into a disaster zone worth of Discord and has plans of taking her show on the road in her "Rariots" when Spike finally steps in and tells her the truth; she's being awful and villainous. The spell finishes, Spike learns a lesson about being honest and probably gains credit in Rarity's eyes. Twilight, Luna and Cadance clean up Ponyville and Spike is in for a grounding. The end.
Rainbow Dash always dresses in style! (I had to do it at least once.)
So, what is there for me to single out this episode and talk a little more in-depth about? Although I personally find the ship a little bit creepy, let's talk about the relationship between Spike and Rarity and how it's come along. In the beginning, it was a classic case of unrequited affection, or lust at first sight. Over time though, the two of them have come to see the other less through the tint of a crush (in Spike's case). Many may say Spike has been "Friendzoned" in this episode, but I like to see it as Spike seeing for himself that Rarity isn't perfect and that it's not in either of their interest for him to think of her as being able to do no wrong. Being able to see and understand the faults is as important to a relationship as seeing the similarities. At least, in my mind.
"I'm watching you, Wazowski. Always watching."
Topping the list of my likes for this episode is the Puppeteer who looks vaguely like Gene Wilder's version of Willy Wonka and his very valid complaints about Rarity's form-over-function mobile puppet theater. An then there is Rarity herself. Tabitha St. Germain gives another stellar performance this episode as you can actually hear the mania creep into even her normal voice as the book's vice grip continues to grab hold over her. Oh, and not to mention that she actually vocalizes eating ice cream, which makes me smile every time. There was also a title drop in this episode, and unlike practically every time it has been done in the series, this one did NOT make me cringe. Owlowiscious was also a legitimate character, which was a very nice surprise; I'd like to see more of this. Finally, Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody appear in the same episode! <3 If I made a shipping story, I'd ship these two hard! =D
But... like all episodes, there are a few flaws, if they feel a little nit-pickey, bear with me. For instance, green is always associated with evil in this show and it just makes me wonder why. I mean, first Trixie and the green hair, green dragons, changelings, the tentac-vines from the season opening... just why? Also, while I can see that it's being lampshades by Rarity being such a ham, it just irks me when she outright says what she is feeling. I also did not like the fact that the stupid 'who' joke is still persisting; it wasn't funny the first time and it's still not funny. I can only see them keeping it for the younger audience. Finally, I thought that thing encased in crystal at the end was Ponyville Town Hall, not just a giant gazebo... or is it both?
... And that's how Equestria became an annex of Oz!
On the whole, this was a good episode, Spike as the main focus or not. In fact, I forgot this was even a 'Spike episode' until the very end because of how well it was done. Nothing felt really ham-fisted or forced and for that, I am grateful. Alas, if you were to stick me in a room with Rarity when that crazy spell is infecting her, I would give this episode an inspirational 84/100.
Next time, Spike and the mane six return to the Crystal Empire for the Equestira Games! Will our favourite dragon let his nerves get the best of him when given the honour of lighting the torch for the opening ceremonies? Until then, this is Ciroton saying, "Inspiration is a crutch, real artists work by doing"
o__o I need an adult. Oh, crap. I AM an adult! @.@
Heh. Yeah, not too much to say about this episode, actually. It was a fun deconstruction of Rarity with Spike needing to get over his infatuation for her in order to help her. I think it was done well.
The kids at school must love all these Equestian/Ponyville holidays. So many days off of school!
I forgot about Rarity hating the color green. If only there had been a mirror handy.
Too late.
another good episode i must say. actually i laughed at the who joke like nine seconds later when it was clear spike was understanding what he meant. mainyl because it made me think that he legitimately asked who........ oh lord.
maybe the got the idea from all the other times Green has been used to represent evil magicks. maleficient, ursula, that shadow man. happens a lot in disney actually.
also a lot of people really, really ship those two hard i nvarious incanrations. personally i prefer them being friends than having a physical relationship.
I kind of enjoyed the episode.
It's kind of interesting that Rarity in a way became "addicted" to the Inspiration spell and Spike as the one who helped her break out of it.
Even Megan McCarthy in a way admitted it because she said in her twitter account that the episode resembled the episode from the Saved by the Bell show when Jessie Spano gets addicted to caffeine pills.
It actually makes the episode a bit dark thematically when you think about it.
It does deconstruct the idea that inspiration is magically doled out to a special snowflake that perceives things lesser creatures cannot, doesn't it?
Heh. The lesson would have been better hammered down if somepony came out of left field and succeeded by getting in there and grinding it like happens in the real world.