Season Six Episode Review: Flutter Brutter · 5:24pm Jun 4th, 2016
Let's get on with the millennial bashing and look at “Flutter Brutter.” Not “Flutter Butter,” which I imagine is a dairy-based spread so loaded with cholesterol that it is fit only to serve to someone you want to die from a heart attack at the first bite. The box probably also shows Fluttershy making an adorable face, just in case you wanted something visual to help speed the process along.
(PS: I tried to prune out as much of my baggage as possible when approaching this episode. I included it as an addendum after the Conclusion. Just a warning.)
TECHNICAL SPECS:
Season: 6
Episode: 11
Written By: Dave Rapp
First Aired: June 4, 2016
REVIEW:
It's time to another Mane 6 family member to drive the fandom crazy and pull a Death Star drive-by on many a headcanon. And this time, it's Fluttershy, the pony whose familial connections have been a mystery since the series began. Her parents are obviously gentle, smooth-talking, passive ponies, which both explains how Fluttershy turned out like she did and, in an ironic twist, makes her far more outgoing than them after her development sets in. Mr. Shy in particular seems quite fond of his "happy little clouds."
And then there's Zephyr Star.
I hate him so much.
Zephyr is a colossal ass from the minute he appears, and it's obvious from everyone's reactions that this is not a new development. He barges into his parents' home, having given up on his latest dream (in a long line of abandoned dreams, it seems), and treats everyone like they were lowly serfs who should be happy to bask in the glory of their young overlord. And his parents totally allow this because they're too soft-spoken to stand up to him. That's not even getting into his flirting with Rainbow Dash, which she very clearly shows she does not reciprocate, invite, or enjoy – he's just so full of himself that he takes her very obvious “I will electrocute you if you screw this up” as “Take me in your forelegs, stud muffin.” And to top it off, he refuses to put in any effort into anything, preferring instead to leech off his relatives and pin his failings on others.
In other words, it's every millennial stereotype rolled into one.
To her credit, Fluttershy does not put up with his manure for a moment. She's far enough past her old timidness that she will not take his lousy excuses about ponies not appreciating his “artistic” manestyling, and is even able to help her parents tell him to move his ass out. And when he barges into her house to pull the same stunt, she immediately lays out legitimately acceptable ground rules: you can stay, but you have to get a job. In previous seasons, this would have taken almost an entire episode, as Fluttershy struggled and fought to spit the needed words out. She even starts lining him up with work immediately, sacrificing her reputation with her friends for him...which he then spits on because he's a lazy ass.
The problem is that, because Fluttershy's already at the point where any conflict she would have over kicking her useless brother to the curb is gone, we're stuck focusing on Zephyr. So keeping a pony's character development and remembering that past episodes happened actually made an episode worse.
Zephyr's problem ultimately turns out to be a fear of failure. And to be fair, that's a very legitimate and terrible fear to overcome. Failing sucks, and a lot of people don't know how to cope with that feeling. It really does seem easier to simply not try than it is to try and fail sometimes. The episode doesn't handle the resolution perfectly (the actual failing part isn't addressed), but giving Zephyr a confidence boost and showing that he really can succeed if he follows the steps, works at it, and doesn't give up the moment something gets hard is a big step in the right direction.
The problem is that Zephyr's actions did not come about from a fear of failing, especially in the middle act. His sweating and obvious terror at having to move out of his parents' house could have served as some foreshadowing, but I never got that vibe from any of his other actions. He just came across as a lazy asshole who couldn't do the simplest job because he didn't want to expend the energy. About the only other real hint I could find was asking Spike for advice on how to best clean the windows, which does fit into someone wanting to know exactly how to do something so they don't make a mistake, but that still leads to him manipulating Spike into doing all the work while he lounges around.
I did find the episode rather funny, and as much of an asshole as he is, Zephyr is great to laugh at before he finally gets a clue. Rainbow Dash actually following through and zapping him was perfection, and Zephyr still being a conceited ass even after getting better worked.
CONCLUSION:
How much you'll like this episode depends a lot on how much you can stand Zephyr. It's yet another episode where the guest star takes over the show, although the Mane 6 do all appear in at least one mandatory scene. If you find his hijinks and punishment amusing, then this is wonderful. If you find him grating, you will not make it through this episode. As for me, I'm kind of leaning towards the “grating” side of the equation. While it has some good moments, and showcases Fluttershy's development since that time she could barely say her name to Twilight, it's not an episode I see myself rejoining anytime soon.
ADDENDUM:
Speaking as someone who failed at his dream and lived with his parents for seven years after finishing college, I am not a fan of the millennial stereotype. I tried not to simply lie down and leech off my parents. I did housework, yardwork, and looked for actual work. I spent four years working at Wal-Mart, and still kept putting out applications in hopes that I would find a better job elsewhere. I spent two years unemployed after I fucked up the Wal-Mart job, with only three temporary jobs within that short period, and I loved every moment I was working. And yes, I spent all that time being asked why I hadn't found a job yet, as if I could magically make one appear in a shit economy and with a degree that was useless for anything outside of teaching. I finally got the job I'm at now, in no small part due to my parents forcing me to apply for something I was not suited for and I knew I was not going to be able to handle. And sure enough, it's still something I'm not suited for and I'm not able to handle. The only reason I haven't quit is because I can't find work anywhere else, and the only reason I haven't come through and killed myself is because I'm a cowardly idiot that's afraid to die and doesn't want to make the people I care about sad either. (My plan to eat myself to death is working perfectly, however.)
Point is, the millennial stereotype is, like all stereotypes, a kernel of truth stretched out to absolute bullshit. So it was with dread that I went into this episode, which was apparently about a pony that hadn't moved away from his parents being an awful person because of that. Nevermind that there are economic advantages to living at home, the concept of children moving out when they reached adulthood is an extremely recent invention, and many of those that do live with their parents still contribute to running and maintaining the household. Just because I'm a horrible person doesn't mean most everyone else in the same situation is.
Zephyr, as mentioned above, is every negative stereotype about millennials rolled into one hipster package. And while the episode tries to make his problems out to be a lack of confidence, that's actually just another one of the stereotypes. The episode is correct in that ponies need to not be afraid to fail and live their lives, and I didn't hate the episode itself because it still had lots of amusing moments and good showings from the rest of the cast. But much like the hazing from “Newbie Dash,” I can see how people can be very offended by this guy. As for me...
Well, I just watched a show yesterday where eating lamb caused a dog's entire digestive system to burst out if its chest and mouth. Just saying that if the same thing happened to Zephyr, I wouldn't mind.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to sit quietly in a corner and cry.
It's take me in your arms, ponies have those.
Sorry... you peeved my pet.
3998167
(I can't believe I forgot to mention that scene. That was golden.)
Sorry about that. I knew ponies had arms, but threw up forelegs anyway. Whoops.
I've seen better brother/sister treatment on Kitchen Nightmares than that flamboyant stallion, and he doesn't even remotely look and act like a little brother! This is why people should stop making fan comics on the day of the episode's announcement months before it airs!
I haven't even seen this episode and I'm already very worried. If they (the writers) failed to show Zephyr's problem in an appropriate way, then there's no saving this character or this episode. Much like Newbie Dash, as you mentioned, which I think is way worse than say MMDW.
As in all plots, the 'annoyingness' level of Zephyr is tricky for the writer to judge. He has to be annoying enough to push the plot along, but not annoying enough to make everybody want to kill him. (Still, there will be 'Zephyr Dies' stories on Fimfiction in a few hours. Trust me.) Just like humor, you pick your spot and you lose a few people on each end of the range but capture as many in the center as you can, which I think they did very well with
(And it strikes me as drop-dead funny that Fluttershy's parents think Dash is carrying a torch for their handsome son. True love is defined by 50,000 volts, delivered repeatedly until the target smokes.)
Probably worth pointing out that this stereotype - the kid that won't move out of his parents' home and is seen as a shiftless loser - is actually older than dirt. I remember it popping up often enough, anyway: Mallrats, Wayne's World, 8MM (a bit dark there, of course), Saturday Night Fever, Futurama, William Shatner's "Get a Life" sketch on Saturday Night Live, heck, even Weird Al got into with with "It's All About the Pentiums" from 1999. The big difference is that now Millennials are old enough to be the subject of this stereotype in modern movies and TV, rather than just watching it happen in movies and TV to members of previous generations.
The older generations always tends to take a dim view of the younger ones. In ten or twenty years time we'll be complaining about our own shiftless kids living perpetually in the basement and not getting a girlfriend or a job.
Well. Seen the episode now. And...
It wasn't that bad. His issue was foreshadowed. He wasn't as annoying as I feared; it definitely helped that he did see and understand his own flaws and often backpedalled when he noticed ponies weren't happy with his act.
The song, I maybe would've cut. Have them spend more time talking about his fears, like they did with Big MacIntosh and Apple Bloom. That was a great moment. The song distracted more than it helped.
3998276
Good point, Georg. It can be difficult to gauge for a writer. I remember reading about a story where the protagonist mercilessly tortured Diamond Tiara and people were cheering him on—to the author's confusion. He intended to show disproportionate retribution is not okay, but his 'fans' were literally calling for DT's blood.
Even Zephyr's aggressive flirting with Rainbow Dash wasn't that bad. She's a big girl, she can take care of herself. And it's not like she's all that better if she wants to impress somepony. At least he didn't put anypony in physical danger!
Addendum: Whatever else, Zephyr Breeze would make for a good addition to any "Brotherverse". Like the one by Hopefox; basically, switch out the Mane Six for their brothers and brothers of other canon characters. Big Mac, Shining Armor, Thunderlane, Blueblood (if you go by fanon that he's Cadance's brother), and now Zephyr. Just one more and you've got a full set! Anyone know another Earth Pony brother?
3998330 I've toyed with the "Kid won't leave the house" meme, considering applying it to Rainbow Dash and her parents while bending it a little pony-direction.
Dad: Well, my little girl has her cutie mark now. Time for you to move out to your own place and get a job!
RD: Move out? Job? But I love living at home. I was going to train to be a champion flier and join the Wonderbolts.
Dad: You've got your cutie mark now, and for a pegasus, that means it's time to leave the nest. Your friend Fluttershy is already moving down to Ponyville to become an animal caretaker. Why don't you see if she'll rent you a room?
RD: But I'm only nine!
Dad: I was eight when my parents kicked me out of the nest. Wound up delivering papers and collecting expended clouds for the deposit in order to make ends meet. It'll be good for you. Here, we'll even help you pack this afternoon and by this evening, you'll be all moved into your new home.
3998356
Not a fan of the "pegasi kick their kids out of the house early" meme, personally.
3998360
My "favorite" pegasus-family meme was that they were a Spartan-like society that didn't have parents - the foals were all brought up communal-style and taught that being awesome and strong were the way to go. And all of that was just to explain why Rainbow Dash was so hostile towards Fluttershy in "Dragonshy" when she was supposed to be her only friend as a filly.
Fandom can get really weird sometimes.
3998533 I loathe that piece of fanon so much.
I honest to God never thought that would be possible. But hey, shows what I know...
3998330
Fun fact, lots of other countries dont even have the "kick kids out of home" thing....
I'm just happy Fluttershy doesn't suck.
What show said that about dogs eating lamb?
3998533
3998554
Anyone here remember this ancient story on ED where Ponyville was founded to house all the daughters of the mares who had been recruited to crank out babies in the war against the dragons (the boys were shipped off to fight, except for the "beta males"), which had stopped a few years before the start of the series because Celestia had the heir to the dragon realms abducted in secret while he was still an egg and then given him to Twilight without telling anyone who he was so they could keep him as a hostage?
Those were the days.
3998769
True, but in America it's a deeply ingrained thing, most likely a result of the tendency for early pre- and post-Revolution Americans to have massive families - Ben Franklin was the middle of 17 children, most of whom survived to adulthood (his dad married twice, having ten kids with his first wife and seven with his second), and most early Americans had six or seven or more living kids (and a number of others that didn't survive to adulthood). There was just space and food aplenty in the New World to support such huge families (there was also a lot of infant mortality, but the fundamental human reaction to kids dying is actually to have more kids) - but also, since there was so much space, there was a strong incentive to send your sons out to claim that space.
From there, even after we stopped spreading west, just the cultural expectation for children (especially boys) to leave the home to find their own way in the world had become deeply ingrained in the American psyche.
All of this, as well, would be on top of the 1500s-1600s English boys who were brought over from England to work the land as indentured servants (this would be before chattel slavery started to catch on), and then once their indenture was up settle the land themselves, leaving their families in England behind for the most part.
Basically my point is that "leaving the nest" is a core part of American culture. I'm not saying it's good, or bad, simply that it is.
3999137
No, never heard of that one. There is a story I remember where Spike is actually a deformed pony, not a dragon, however - the egg wasn't a real dragon egg, the test was supposed to be a Kobayashi Maru. But Twilight's magical surge mixed with the Sonic Rainboom to make it into a real egg. But not a real dragon egg, because even though the method of conception was unusual it was still fundamentally two ponies that went into making Spike. But since Twilight wanted a dragon, Spike appears like what young girl's perception of a dragon hatchling would be, rather than a pony. But he is, properly speaking, a pony - a unicorn pony. Hence his magic breath.
Twilight is technically the mom and Rainbow Dash is technically the dad. I love Rainbow Dash's reaction - "I'm too young and too female to be a dad!"
...oh, and in the same story Fluttershy is actually a dragon princess. Well, she's still a pegasus, but she was born/abandoned/something in dragon lands and raised by dragons, and her dad happens to be the Smaug (dragon lord), so she's a dragon princess.
3999231
Huh. That's truly a strange one, too.
By the by, I'm slowly growing to like Zephyr Breeze/Rainbow Dash as a ship. Most people hate him, but I think he actually has a similar personality to Rainbow. They both use boasting to distract from their insecurities; but where Rainbow panics and freezes up when she thinks she could fail, Zephyr internalised a defeatist approach and fully believes he's doomed to fail anyway.
Once he learns to become as stubborn with the rest of his life as he if with flirting with Rainbow, maybe she could come to respect him.
Zephyr's struggles although is what made him a complete jerk from a third person view, if you can take it into a personal gaze, then there are millions of people out there that share the same issues (if not unmoved obstacles) as this character.
Lack of motivation occurs from high school (mostly) to adulthood when graduates are trying to find their careers and jobs. Fear comes into play, fear of what? Failure, imperfection, pain of working and struggling, and other minor factors bugging the person out. People then tend to give up, and too insecure to go back and work their plots off; starting over again. This also leads to procrastination (which I believe is what Zephyr's doing in this episode a lot), just scared of recreating a new way to dig in and discover who he truly is in heart.
So you can hate Zephyr Breeze if you want, but he is not the character to be scorned at, he is a representation of one of the most common catastrophes occuring in more than half the world.
3998533 Who the hell thinks of this crap?
Anyone else see Link Pony behind Flutter and RD after the Twilight job? He was hauling a cart full of rupees.