Apr
18th
2015
Cutie Mark Crusaders Logic · 4:08pm Apr 18th, 2015
We are bullied and picked on because we have no cutie marks. We shall form a merry band dedicated to discovering our cutie marks based on the advice of the least wise member of the Mane 6, and become best friends! Nothing shall ever separate us...
Oh, you got your cutie mark? Well, I guess we're not friends anymore, because anypony with a cutie mark is automatically a bully. Give us back your cape. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
And if you though that was just Apple Bloom's nightmare talking, ever see her hang out with Twist anymore? Didn't think so.
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InsertAuthorHere · 410 views
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I am still pulling for a potion making cutie mark for Bloom.
I think there are a combination of factors, but fear is the big one.
2993878
Still trying to wrap my head around Babs' mark, and waiting for the inevitable dark fics around it
I don't think logic was meant to be involved in most of the episode, and I say that not as a criticism. These were her fears and concerns being made manifest in her dreams, not a careful and logical presentation of the facts and arguments.
This is just head-canon but I've long thought that, when a pony gets their cutie mark and thus their True Talent, it is traditional for them to be apprenticed by a more experienced pony in the same talent field. So, yes, you'd expect a bunch of blank flanks who get their marks to be driven by professional needs and tradition in different directions.
What if, though...?
What if...?
What if the Crusaders refuse to be split up but, instead, find some way to use their talents to keep them together? What is friendship really is a magic stronger than all others?
I'm just saying, there's any number of meta reasons why they stopped Twist and AB hanging out, and if you want an in-universe reason, say she's too busy with her new duties as candy-maker or whatever to hang anymore.
I thought it would be a dream thing, but it definitely went on longer than I expected, and I liked the little twist (
) at the end.
Yeah... that logic does not sit well with me...
Meh... mediocre episode was mediocre.
It's probably to be expected that we'd eventually get a dream episode for Apple Bloom just like we had for Scoots and Stweetie, and cutie mark anxiety certainly fits, but well... the problem I have with this episode is it doesn't really have any substance. In the previous episode the dream was just one aspect of the dilemma, but here the dream was practicality all we got. That's not exactly a bad thing in and of itself, but compared to those other two episodes this one just felt arbitrarily tacked on, as if they were just doing it to complete the set.
Not to mention that it all just feels like so much audience bating. Apple Bloom (or any of the CMC) finally getting her is one of those long standing concepts, and while we've teased at it before with things like Cutie Pox, this episode felt like nothing except a tease. Speaking of Cutie Pox, I kind of liked how that episode dealt with the whole crusader thing so much better, no concerns over whether they were all still friends, just genuine enthusiasm and mutual support. Plus the fact that for the past two seasons the CMC had while still living up to their group's name, weren't overly preoccupied with marks either, makes the sudden return paranoia over such seem just a we bit forced.. For not the first time I feel like the show is just regressing into plot threads that would have worked better in earlier seasons.
Still, the episode had it's moments with perhaps Tiara & Spoon being the best. Sure it was all just a dream but they were both perfectly in character, shifting into ridiculing AB for what her mark is as opposed to not having one, all without missing a single beat. Much like in Flight To the Finish it just goes to show that bullies will always find some way to tease there prey no matter what.
Also for another, I appreciate that this episode reaffirmed that a cutie mark isn't just some arbitrary thing ponies get at random, but a manifest symbol of there true identity. I doubt it will actually shut any one up, and even expect it might inspire a whole new wave of pony with talent they hate non-sense instead, but I can still appreciate the episode for it's actual message.
2994230
Chiefly the thing about Twist is that she really only ever had a bit role in that one episode, and has ever since been just another background pony. I mean I like much of what the fandom has done with her, and I wish the show would have likewise acknowledge her as the "fourth" crusader (even if perhaps in only an honorary capacity), but I can't really miss a character that never really had much presence in the first place.
Maybe that's something I felt was another missed opportunity with this episode, as I think revisiting AB's old friendship with Twist could have been a good way to provide a waking compliment to the dream, and thereby give the episode some actual narrative weight to hold it together.
2995031
Yeah, I can agree with you on Twist, then again it'd also be a little weird to suddenly reinsert Twist into AB's narrative when she already had such a small role to start with. I think that boat has sailed, much like how you said some of these plots would have maybe fit better in earlier seasons.
I thought this was a pretty good episode. I liked that it addressed aspects of the Crusaders we've only till note have been questioning.
Good on Babs too.
Luna is still best dreamwalker.
Rarity is the polite judge.
Pretty psychologically too.
I likes it.
2995054
I guess for me the difference with Twist is that while the show forgot her we bronies haven't. Some of my favorite fanfictions are ones where the two of them still hang out, and I like to imagine that those story could still be true within the context of the show. Yes it would be far to late to have an episode where a big deal was made about it, but I'd have liked an episode that at could have maybe at least acknowledged that the two of them never stopped being friends and still have been doing stuff together off-screen this whole time.
2995761 Actually there is a least one scene, though I forget where, where Twist and bloom are playing in school. This fits with my headcannon. It's not that Twist and AB aren't friends anymore it's just Bloom spends all her time with he crusaders crusading, and as you might have noticed that's fairly terrible and somewhat dangerous. Even if Twist is willing to let her go though with trying to hang out with Bloom despite that it's very possible Twist's parents, along with many other parents probably, want them to avoid the crusaders. In other words the crusaders don't realize while they've bonded, it's in a way that scared off everypony else, cutie mare or no cutie mark.