• Member Since 5th Mar, 2012
  • offline last seen Dec 23rd, 2023

Kwakerjak


A thirtysomething Brony from Pennsylvania with a library degree. I also have a Patreon.

More Blog Posts556

  • 292 weeks
    Update (Without excuses this time!)

    Guess what? I'm done writing the next chapter of Manifesto.

    I just need to give my prereaders a day or two to look over it, and then it'll go up.

    Until then, here's Despacito being played on a guzheng.

    8 comments · 752 views
  • 303 weeks
    Hey, everyone.

    I've somehow gotten out of the habit of posting updates. Oops.

    Anyway, you've no doubt noticed that I don't post as often as I once did in the past. This is largely because improvements in my life situation mean I have the wherewithal to engage in hobbies other than writing fanfiction.

    Read More

    5 comments · 834 views
  • 326 weeks
    Update.

    Goodness, it's been a while, hasn't it? You're probably wondering why my pace has slowed down on Manifesto. Well, there are several reasons, but the most relevant one is that I find myself rewriting large swaths of this chapter as I zero in on the best plan for Sunset to take. I'm basically going back and forth between two ideas that can't really be combined into a single one, and for

    Read More

    3 comments · 761 views
  • 338 weeks
    New Story Incoming

    In case you missed my last blog post, I'm taking a break from the adventures of Celestia and Daring Do to write the next Petriculture story. At this point it looks like it'll be fairly short -- about two chapters long -- and I recently finished up the first chapter, which will be posted once my prereaders give it a final once-over.

    4 comments · 642 views
  • 343 weeks
    Update

    Okay, so here's what's going on with me.

    Read More

    4 comments · 863 views
Apr
26th
2015

Thoughts on "Tanks for the Memories" · 1:25am Apr 26th, 2015

1. Cloudsdale moves around Equestria... I admit it, I had never thought of that possibility, though if I had, it would have killed much of the tension in Flash Fog.

2. Tank's first winter with Rainbow Dash? Seriously? The last three seasons or so took place in less than a year? That's 63 episodes'* worth of material, mind you, and several episodes take place over a span of more than one day, with only two shown to be happening concurrently. I should also note that one of the episodes between "May the Best Pet Win" and this one is "Hearth's Warming Eve," when it is rather obviously winter already, and Twilight does not yet have her wings.

Even if the episodes aren't aired in chronological order, the least number of episodes between them would have to be 34, placing "May the Best Pet Win" right before "Just For Sidekicks," and assuming that's the last thing that happens before Twi gets her wings. (Since we see Twi's new castle in this week's episode, and none of the previous episodes with her castle show Ponyville in winter, we know that this is, chronologically, the latest episode aired thus far.) Now, I suppose 34 episodes'* worth of interesting stuff could have happened in less than a year, but as you can probably guess, my suspension of disbelief is rather severely strained.

3. Tank apparently has had the cloudwalking spell Twilight found cast on him, otherwise he would have fallen through the floor of RD's cloud house.

4. Grinch-face Rainbow Dash was good enough to get me to stop ranting about continuity. Come to think of it, it's really a rather silly reason to get upset and start fuming about ignoring an episode. No reason to throw out the baby with the bathwater, as they say. After all, there might have been a reason for the lack of seasonal episodes in Season 4.**

5. Song. As usual, my opinion is decidedly "meh." Ashleigh Bell's real singing voice is way better than RD or AJ's.

6. Why does the Weather Factory have tortoise-sized coats and hardhats?

7. If this really is Tank's first winter with Rainbow Dash, does that mean that she basically dumps out all the water she and the other pegasi in Ponyville gathered in Tornado Day?

8. Rainbow Dash slippers for Tank, and Tank slippers for Rainbow Dash.

9. AJ cries on the inside, and as of this blog post, there's already a story in the Feature Box that makes the obvious connection.

*Plus 2 90-minute movies.
**And yes, I am, in fact, pausing the episode to write these notes, which is why you might see me change my opinions mid-post.

UPDATE: In case it's unclear, the process of writing out this blog post has more or less helped me get over the whole issue I had with the chronological order of the episodes. It's really not a particularly big deal.

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Comments ( 27 )

Regarding item #1, I'd regard moving Cloudsdale as something that is non-trivial and is tightly scheduled, given that it apparently houses the sole weather factory in use. Deviating from the schedule results in a serious domino effect, so it wouldn't be done unless an issue puts most or all of Equestrian at risk. [1]

Regarding item #2:

If you're wondering how he eats and breathes
And other science facts
Just repeat to yourself "It's just a show,
"I really should relax,"
For…

Regarding item #3, it's also obvious that Twilight has cast the cloud walking spell on her non-Pegasus friends so they can visit RD at home.

[1] Of course, if there's only the one weather factory, RD's actions should come with serious consequences—unless the factory is already so unstable that blow-ups happen frequently without equine intervention, requiring ongoing major repairs. It's the pegasus equivalent of the Apple family's barn.

1. Cloudsdale moves around Equestria... I admit it, I had never thought of that possibility, though if I had, it would have killed much of the tension in Flash Fog.

Ever since Hurricane Fluttershy, I've assumed Cloudsdale must move around. I was thrilled to have that headcanon confirmed.

(And Spike's a dragon, not a reptile. Take that all you weirdos who keep trying to say he's cold-blooded. Yeah I'm a nerd.:twilightsheepish:)

Perhaps, on the issue of it all being less than two years, Equestrian years are longer than Earth years. Considering that they directly control nature, there is plenty of reason for them to set up months, seasons, and years to be easily calculated. Or, Equestrian years are not based on the seasons.

Lol, I decided that the ponies run the seasons however the fuck they want ages ago so I didn't have much to nitpick

3. Tank apparently has had the cloudwalking spell Twilight found cast on him, otherwise he would have fallen through the floor of RD's cloud house.

Actually, I had noticed that, and I looked at the floor closely.

I think she has actual solid tiles on her cloud floor. They weren't there in the Daring Do episode. She has had tiles added to her house.

1. Cloudsdale moves around Equestria... I admit it, I had never thought of that possibility, though if I had, it would have killed much of the tension in Flash Fog.

Funny, 'cause I'd always assumed Cloudsdale moved around.

2. Tank's first winter with Rainbow Dash? Seriously? The last four seasons took place in less than a year?

No, their chronology sucks. Hearth's Warming Eve took place in the wintertime, and it was aired after May The Best Pet Win, as you observed. Of course, it's possible that winter is scheduled at different times in Canterlot than in Ponyville (unlikely, but possible), or that Hearth's Warming Eve takes place in the late fall or early spring [since Canterlot is on a mountain, the snow there might come earlier or stay later]. I'd just chalk it up to the writers taking liberties, though.

Now, I suppose 34 episodes'* worth of interesting stuff could have happened in less than a year, but as you can probably guess, my suspension of disbelief is rather severely strained.

He says, while discussing a show about magical talking ponies.

3. Tank apparently has had the cloudwalking spell Twilight found cast on him, otherwise he would have fallen through the floor of RD's cloud house.

It could be a permanent enchantment on him, or it could be part of the nature of cloudhouses. Never mind Tank; has every object in Rainbow's house been enchanted with a cloudwalking-type spell?

6. Why does the Weather Factory have tortoise-sized coats and hardhats?

Probably an OSHA-type regulation. The auto shop where I work is required by law to have an exit sign above the man-door in the shop . . . which is right next to a 12' wide garage door. I'd be going out the garage door in a fire.

7. If this really is Tank's first winter with Rainbow Dash, does that mean that she basically dumps out all the water she and the other pegasi in Ponyville gathered in Tornado Day?

Probably. For me, that was where the suspension of disbelief set in, since RD is Ponyville's lead weathermare. Well, she was in the first episode, anyway. Maybe she got fired.

9. AJ cries on the inside, and as of this blog post, there's already a story in the Feature Box that makes the obvious connection.

She's lying. AJ doesn't cry.
fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2014/198/0/1/applejack_in_the_west_by_alkaa_wolf-d7r5pmx.jpg

Also, the "Who's on First" routine was cute.

my suspension of disbelief is rather severely strained.

Use the stuff that makes sense, cut out the stuff that doesn't.

At the end of the day it's still a children's show, and continuity is usually only a nod to other events, rather than a cohesive timeline.

2. Tank's first winter with Rainbow Dash? Seriously? The last three seasons or so took place in less than a year?

Actually, if you remember the Season Four premier, they were getting ready to celebrate the Summer Sun Festival (Celebration or whatever you want to call it) and Celestia said this was going to be the first since Luna's return. That indicates that the first three seasons covered exactly one year. Now, considering the order the episodes were shown, I'd says the show is episodic (meaning that are showing episodes in whatever order they fell like it) rather than chronological.
This was something that was pointed out to me by someone's blog, but I just can't remember whose.

3017197
I agree. I was totally about to say this, but it seems like you beat me to it!

I think for the most parts episodes are chronological, more so in recent seasons, but a few Episodes like Winter Wrap Up, Hearths Warming, Fall Weather Friends, and Luna Eclipsed are out of order.

I once argued with someone on here about it... I wish I knew where those comments were so that I could rub it in their face that I was right...

3017197 Here's my idea, the SSC was canceled for some reason for the a few years, either that, or it's the first since Luna spent more time with Celestia instead if doinwh knows what. As for the first winter together, Rainbow could have had Fluttershy watch over Tank for a winter or two, and his is the first they getti soend together

I'm thinking maybe tracking the seasons isn't a good way to tell time in Equestria. If Cloudsdale has to move around and start winter in each small town individually, it's probably always winter somewhere. Hearth's Warming Eve happens during Canterlot's winter, which is probably part of summer or spring for Ponyville.

3017283
I like that idea. Considering that they control the sun, it doesn't seem like there's any particular reason they have to have seasons all at once - as long as any given area gets all the seasons it needs regularly, it shouldn't matter whether they all sync up. It might make scheduling some things a bit harder, but compared to the benefits of reduced risk of famine, lower distance to move migratory animals, etc....

It would be good if someone were to write a story from that angle. *cough* 3017154

6. Why does the Weather Factory have tortoise-sized coats and hardhats?

That's why.

3017283 Eh? Ponyville is right next to Canterlot. I imagine their seasons would be fairly similar.

1. Cloudsdale moves around Equestria... I admit it, I had never thought of that possibility, though if I had, it would have killed much of the tension in Flash Fog.

Wait, how would that have killed tension? It's still a giant cloud city. I really doubt it's moving quickly. Obviously they can't have it sitting still, blocking out the sun for a large region forever, but that doesn't mean it zips around Equestria several times a year.

Yeah, the continuity's been snarled since the Season 4 premiere alleged than all of the first three seasons took place over the course of a single year, which is literally impossible. At this point, I just shrug and blame Discord mucking around with time.

And those slippers were adorable. :rainbowkiss:

The episode was a pain to get through for me. I literally was half watching it half playing vidya. I then procrastinated, went to bed, woke up and finished the rest. My points of interest.
1) The episode had a bunch of comedic moments. So many in fact that they are more memorable than the main plot of Rainbow being a brat about her pet getting rest.
2) Rainbow's character has gotten even harder to judge than ever before. I see that Hasbro takes it upon themselves to splice and inject traits every season or so. But all in all the Cmc have been more mature than Rainbow ever was.
3)Speaking of which, did rainbow plan to hangout with Tank ALL WINTER?? I would expect her to be a little sad but then go hang out with Scootaloo, her supposed 'lil sis' or hang with her friends. Your only as lonely as you want to be.

All in all this is just another rainbow episode to me. Placed on the shelf in the backroom to be sold off with the rest of the junk you don't use on ebay...Speaking of which, I think I forgot to check a bid or two...

Uh...

The only way this makes sense, and which would also rather raise the stakes explaining Dash's extreme reaction to Tank being totally fine, and coming back just "a few months later"... is that an Equestrian year is significantly longer than an Earth-year.

"A few months" probably is the equivalent of over a year in Earth-time. :rainbowderp:

Cloudsdale moves around Equestria... I admit it, I had never thought of that possibility, though if I had, it would have killed much of the tension in Flash Fog

I don't think it would have. Given that this thing is a flying city, I don't think it would have been okay to alter the course of the entire city, possibly throwing off the current seasonal changes planned and creating general chaos for all parties involved. And they never discussed how fast they city moves, given that moving too quickly would create medical issues for the inhabitants it's probably not significant enough to hurt the story in any significant way.

Re: Time elapsing-- I guess Ponyville really does get destroyed or hit with calamities and problems every other day!

I was disappointed there wasn't any consequence for causing a major factory accident. I'd like to see a drought, or a lack of clouds, or legal action (although I suppose they weren't caught) or SOMETHING for destroying industrial equipment and endangering lives.

Maybe the tortoise-sized hardhat and coat was for the deformed pony in the locker picture. :pinkiehappy:

Actually, I think I've worked out how this is Rainbow Dash & Tank's first winter; the episodes don't always seem to happen in the order they aired, especially in the first two seasons. So Rainbow Dash got Tank in season two, Hearthswarming Eve took place before May The Best Pet Win which would have taken place in early spring, this still leaves at least one winter to account for which is taken care of by the Rainbow Dash micro series comic, the events of which span three months. The first month has the immovable cloud which would have delayed winter, the next two months we don't see but are mentioned as having gone by, which we can presume were the winter which had to be concentrated into two months to fix the season schedule. Since Rainbow Dash was recovering from injury for those two months and had to have her house parked on the ground she probably wouldn't have counted it since they didn't get to enjoy that winter properly. As for Tank not hibernating, given the control Equestria has over it's weather, it's possible that the Pegasi positioned Rainbow's house and arranged the weather so the area around her house was unaffected by the winter out of consideration (since she was already unable to fly due to an injury was incurred saving the town, they didn't want her to have to do winter related chores on top of it), thus it never got cold enough around her house for Tank to hibernate.


There you go. (^u^)

3020650 Yeah, Lightning Dust was removed from the Academy for endangering five ponies. Before I remembered that, I was thinking suspension, demotion, a fine... now... I'm not sure how that would go over, but I don't really know what they should do.

3018075 It's not literally impossible, in fact its very possible. Someone in the analysis community counted up the days for seasons one through three. The total days taken lies somewhere between 193 and 266 days.
A Briefer History of Pony [60fps]

3053897
Assuming absolutely nothing happened but what we saw on-screen. And ignoring the progress of seasons, which CorpulentBrony explicitly dismisses as irrelevant, despite the Summer Sun Celebration that spurred his work in the first place.

I really don't want to have a debate about this, and I don't think either of us is going to convince the other. Can we please agree to disagree on this one?

3054156 You're free to assume whatever you like about what happened off screen and how long it took. But if you state it as if it were a cold hard fact, don't be surprised if you get called out on it.

3054605

Can we please agree to disagree on this one?

3054929 Apparently not, since twice now you've passed on the chance to just not say anything. If you really don't want to argue, why are you trying so hard to get the last word? All you had to say was "Okay it's not literally impossible. But I don't think it's likely. And I don't really want to get into why right now."

But apparently you don't want to admit you overstated your position. So you make a couple of dismissive comments about Corpulent Brony's analysis and then say let's just "agree to disagree". That's not maturity, that's the internet debate equivalent of punching someone's nose and then running away.

So lets address what you said:

Assuming absolutely nothing happened but what we saw on-screen.

Firstly, of course it assumes only what we saw onscreen. That's what the show canon is. Any assumptions about things happening off-screen would be just that assumptions, i.e., headcanon. Headcanons are not facts, and can't be used as such in reasoned debate.

Secondly, the longest period of time is 266 days which ,assuming a standard 365 day year, would still leave 99 days for other stuff to happen. That's enough time for the whole of winter for example.

And ignoring the progress of seasons, which CorpulentBrony explicitly dismisses as irrelevant,

Of course he dismisses them as irrelevant. That's because, for the purposes of this analysis, they are. CB is counting up days here. That has nothing whatsoever to do with the seasons.

despite the Summer Sun Celebration that spurred his work in the first place.

Here you're conflating the celebration with the season in which it occurs. But again, CB is counting days not trying to make sense of the seasonal mess. The SSC is an annual event that occurs on a fixed day, making it a useful yardstick for measuring a year. What season it occurs in is entirely beside the point.

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