Feb
2nd
2016
Things That Just Bug Me: "Inspiration Manifestation" · 3:08pm Feb 2nd, 2016
I'm too lazy to look back at old blog posts to see if I raised this issue before, but...
"Inspiration Manifestation" is on again right now, and there's one thing about the beginning of this episode--and the root of its conflict--that just really bothers me.
Why did Claude commission a dressmaker to build a puppet theater wagon?
Isn't that kind of like asking a carpenter to make a wedding dress?
Exactly! I remember bringing this up when I first watched the episode. It annoyed me so much, and I think the episode references it, doesn't it?
3728542 Nope, it's treated as though it's supposed to be perfectly within Rarity's skillset to build a functioning wagon.
I haven't seen the episode so...did Rarity--like a business owner with common sense--turn this guy away for not having common sense himself?
3728544 well I could understand the decorations, not the whole bloody wagon.
3728549 Nope! She designed him a puppet wagon which didn't meet his expectations, which created the drama that led to the episode's entire plot.
...you miiiiiiight wanna catch up, by the way
3728550 I know, right?
3728563 I really should. I've been a brony for two years at this point and I've only seen a dozen episodes from season 1 and a few episodes from season 5.
3728575 ...that's sad.
Presumably because everyone had their own little jobs for this public Fair, and she was assigned to making a puppet theatre wagon. Which would mean neither party picked the other, and the one to complain to is the mayor or Twilight.
Maybe it was related to her being in charge of making birds' nests for Winter Wrap-Up? Also, didn't Sweetie Belle try to be both a carpenter and a dress maker in Show Stoppers? Granted, she mostly failed at both, but still, it runs in the family.
3728600 I somehow doubt the whole town's volunteer pool just randomly picked jobs out of a hat. Ponyville's town government is garbage, but it's not THAT garbage. Also, nestmaking and basket-weaving (which are similar concepts) ARE within Rarity's wheelhouse.
Given the lack of explanation in the episode, I have to agree that it's weird. That said, by dint of complicated mental gymnastics, I've managed to not let it bug me. Rarity has said (or maybe just implied? I can't remember when, though) that her talent is somewhat general, along the lines of "creating beauty." I figure she heard about Claude's project and got inspired thinking about the fabulous theater she could make, so she volunteered, not really thinking much about whether or not she was up to the challenge of building to spec. And natch, the more she got carried away with her fabulosity, the less she considered the actual needs of the client.
Now why Claude said okay when she offered, that's anyone's guess. But she's quite the salespony, I'll bet she could convince him.
You know that is odd, maybe AJ reckoned her when she was too busy?
The most likely explanation is that Rarity herself volunteered to do it.
I've never seen the episode myself (not that fond of eps that focus on Rarity, as I'm not really all that fond of her), but I would say yes.
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/c/cf/Rarity_turns_tree_into_topiary_S1E08.png/revision/latest?cb=20140529233805
Girl's got a knack for high-detail woodwork.
Also, with Sweetie Belle living there, there's no way Rarity hasn't had to put furniture back together in her spare time.
3728544 My question was more: How could Rarity not be aware that she was designing a puppet theater, and thus it would need to meet different specifications besides just looking good? It's not like Claude just told her to build a theater without any specifications.
I think Rarity volunteered to do it for free for one of the countless festivals, so it would look like she was contributing. Sometimes even free isn't worth it, though, as the puppeteer discovered.
3728575 Ditto. i can't remember why i started reading fimfic, but eventually i created an account just to keep track of all he stories i was reading. i've only actually seen maybe 2 episodes, and a bunch of reviews. Silver Quill rocks! ( inkrose too)
Some speculate he's Snips' father, which would explain his lack of foresight, but as far as canon goes, I have no clue.