Newbie Dash? oh yeah.

After the latest episode came out, I had chance to come across some reviews of it from various persons. I'm not going to name anyone, but it seemed that a good portion to most, didn't like the episode all that much.

Gotta say guys, I think you're really wrong on this one.

I though the episode was great as a matter of fact, one of Rainbow's top ones to date. I am a firm believer that while Twilight is the main character, Rainbow Dash is the actual star of the show.

Seeing her finally become an actual, no bullshit Wonderbolt is something we've waited to see since the beginning, her foalhood dream come true. And I have to say that I was remarkably impressed by how they pulled it off.

For a pony who is known for her ego, and desire for attention, this was very much an episode about her maturing. No longer cold she rely on being a standout among her peers, because now she was among equals, if not betters. So like a lot of young people when they leave High School and go to college, or the military, or right into the work force, she learned that part of growing up, is that whatever talent you have, there's probably a bunch of others who are great at it too, if not superior. "So you think your fast Dash? welcome to the fastest fliers in the continent. Hope you can keep up."

In addition to putting aside her pride, she also has to learn to be a part of a team. She's been used to being a stand-out for her whole life, so of course it's very difficult for her to truly understand that being a Wonderbolt means working in tandem, playing a part of a bigger play, learning how to stay in her lane.

Since she's the newbie, she had to deal with the fact that she now had to start at square one, bottom of the totem pole, greenhorn, rookie. And that while her previous accomplishments are appreciated, she pretty much has to make her bones all over again. She earned the privilege of getting the call-up, now she has to earn the right to stay.

I also really liked how they brought her sore-spot full-circle. For her whole life the nick-name 'Crash' haunted her as a painful reminder that as awesome as she is, she is not invincible, she can and will screw-up some times. So she goes the length of the episode being very upset that her detested moniker has risen once again, but in her haste and ignorance, she doesn't see the true hand at work.

When as a foal she was called Crash, it was an emblem of being separated from the others, something that made her less in their eyes. Now among the Wonderbolts, it's completely reversed. As someone who has spent the last 15 years of life on teams of one sort or another with other men, I understood instantly what had occurred when they labeled her, and I went the whole show just shaking my head at her inexperience.

The nickname 'Crash' is now something that bonds her to her teammates, instead of separating. Something that elevates her closer to equal standing to the others, not diminishing. It transformed from being a stain on her pride, to being a badge of honor.

But to get into the more fun stuff, I loved the sequence where she tries on the different personalities of her friends. And I thought it was very impressive the way they pulled off her impressions. It was nice to see Rainbow be forced out of her comfort zone like this, and pushed to try some new approaches. I was especially amused when she tried on Applejack, since it must have been a feat for Ashleigh Ball to try and do one of her voices try and imitate another! What a trick!

I also thought it was a nice play on Rainbow's surprising attention to detail the way she was able to imitate her friends mannerisms.

And I will admit, I thought she looked beautiful when she did Rarity. I don't know if it was the hair, the suit she had on, or the fact that we finally got to see the tomboy flirt, but man, she was a vision! Which I think plays into her hidden talents beside being an obnoxious braggart, speedster, and procrastinator, they way we got to see more of Rainbow Dash's personality at play.

And while I am firmly in the Soarin-Dash camp, I was chagrined again to see an otherwise likeable male character portrayed like a fool. Don't tel me it's that way because the show is aimed at girls, because then you're justifying that they give young girls inaccurate, of not insulting examples of how men and boys are. Why can't they just give us one male who reflects the brothers and fathers their target audience have in their actual lives? With all the other beta-male, r-selected, incompetent, or evil examples they have, why can't Soarin have a competent portrayal? As a member of an elite corps, you'd think that he'd be smart, brave, conscientious, experienced, and highly capable. All great things to show girls about the masculinity of males. Shining Armor gets cucked-out all the time to his sister, so why can't we just have one? I also think it would be good for Rainbow, it would continue to develop her maturity.

So my gripe about the general portrayal of males in the show aside, I though this was one of the more memorable RD installments, like 'Tanks for the Memories' in season 5. She entered a new phase of her life, one where she transfers from the glory of standing out, to the connection and belonging of being part of something greater. And no, not a connection based on an otherwise absurd importance in a magical round-table, that she just happened to be a part of. This one was based on merit, that she had to work and achieve to be a part of this group. Instead of some vehicle of destiny, Rainbow made this one happen, on her own strengths, by her own determination, her own journey.

So while it may be a fateful honor to be a magical avatar, I think her achievement as a Wonderbolt is actually far more rewarding.

Another reason, why Rainbow Dash is the star of the show.

~Crush 'Em