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Kkat


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Jun
16th
2016

Afterthoughts: Spice Up Your Life · 5:33pm Jun 16th, 2016

art by SilFoe

My inner foodie is so full of happy at this episode.

This episode is a celebration of individuality! Sure, the message “be true to yourself” is by no means new territory for this show, but “Spice Up Your Life” serves it to us with a unique style and several new ingredients.

But before we get into what the episode was really about, I think we need to address the elephant in the room. (And no, I don’t mean the culturally intriguing sign for Tasty Treats.)

Once again, the writers have given us an episode that will probably strike a bad chord with certain people. Like with “Flutter Brutter”, there are going to be people who find this episode strikes a little too close to home for their comfort. And again, if it is doing so because the featured character reflects actual faults in yourself, then it should be uncomfortable, and it is doing so for the right reasons. However, by the same measure, if the discomfort is because of surface similarities and not underlying issues, then it really isn’t about you.

#notallunemployed :trixieshiftleft:

Some people could get so wrapped up in seeing a partial similarity – one that is not the core problem which these episodes address – that they miss the real messages. In the case of this episode, I worry many reviewers will allow themselves to be unnecessarily triggered, becoming defensive and missing out on the joys this episode brings.

#notallEQDprereaders :derpytongue2:

“Spice Up Your Life” does make a very important and pointed commentary on critics, especially those who hold themselves up as Guardians of Standards. But what it does not say is that critics, reviewers and analysts are bad. Nor that everyone who acts tries to regulate quality is being detrimental.

Rather, this episode emphasizes that you are the ultimate judge on whether or not you enjoy something. Nobody else has the right to tell you what you can and cannot like. Not a critic, not your parents, not your friends and not the crowd. Just because a story has thousands of upvotes does not mean you are obligated to like it. Just because a movie is universally panned does not mean you cannot enjoy it. I liked this episode a lot and got a lot out of it. That doesn’t mean you are wrong if you didn’t.

vector by cheezedoodle96

And there are people, particularly critics, who will demand that you follow their opinions. Who will claim that their observations are matters of objective truth, and that anyone who does not agree is wrong. These are the critics that the episode is warning about. And that is why I think one of the strongest choices the episode made was to not have the critic change her mind.

It is unrealistic to believe that your signature dish is going to be wonderful enough to change this kind of person’s mind. They are too invested, and change is simply not on their menu.

As we last see her, walking off… probably to write her blog rant about “popularity vs quality”.

And what is interesting is that the critic makes valid points about subtlety and nuance. There is something to be said for her perspective. The issue is only when that perspective is forced on others.

You are free to have your own interests and your own tastes. Critics and analysts have value. They can help you see things you missed, which in turn can help you improve. They can help you gain a deeper or broader appreciation for something. But they cannot tell you that you shouldn’t enjoy something. (I am reminded of the message from a previous blog: it is okay to like things.) Analysts are there to offer a perspective.

You must be careful that you do not use “expressing your individuality” as a cover for ignoring anything you don’t want to hear. That trap will kill you. Likewise, reviewers must remember that they are here to offer a viewpoint, not dictate preferences and acceptability. Those who hold themselves as Guardians of Standards all too often become Gatekeepers of Only Allowing What I Like.

art by tyuubatu

Like the critic in this episode, many who have fallen into the same self-aggrandizing trap that Zesty Gourmand has will make an appeal to quality. Mind you, there is an argument for quality to be made, but far too many lose sight of the fact that most elements of quality are subjective. And even those objective elements – for example, the proper use of grammar in writing – are often critiqued through non-objective viewpoints.

Keep in mind that strict adherence to the tenets of objective quality do not necessarily produce quality work. Nor does breaking those tenets mean that the final product isn’t of quality. Continuing the example: the reason an author needs to know the rules of grammar isn't so he or she never breaks them, but so the author knows when and how to break them. Charles Dickens used run-on sentences. Shakespeare would end a sentence with a preposition when it suited the writing. Don’t be afraid to add some spice to your use of words.

While this episode’s message centered on not allowing your opinions to be dictated by others, the opposite problem is just as common, if not moreso. Sadly, all too often, people don’t seek out analysts and reviewers for the good they can do. Rather, they are looking just for those who agree with the opinions they have already formed, seeking an echo-chamber. They surround themselves only with those who reinforce their own views, rather than opening their minds to something new. We shouldn’t be like the ponies who let Zesty Gourmand decide what they would enjoy for them, but the episode is also a warning not to be like Zesty Gourmand herself. Be open to new opinions and new experiences.

In short: spice up your life!

For our pre-hiatus episode, the writers gave us a new map adventure. And with it, we got a very nice explanation as to why we haven’t seen one in a while. Kudos to the writers for that excellent bit of reasoning. (And it was really nice to see Starlight again.)

It really stood out that Starlight Glimmer didn’t have a chair at the table. Unlike the others, she isn’t connected to the Elements of Harmony, and thus to the Cutie Map. Sadly, that would suggest the map cannot choose her for any Plot Quests… the only down note in the promise of more map episodes.

I have to wonder if the glitches that Pinkie Pie called out before the map settled on the Canterlot mission might have been failed quests – missions that they missed because the map wasn’t functional. I wouldn’t be surprised if fanfic writers jump on those ideas. (On the other hoof, Twilight and Twilight in Twilight’s Castle? That last one sounds destined to inspire someone’s clopfic.)

I think it no coincidence that they gave us short bit with Starlight at the beginning of an episode which emphasizes non-conformity. Pinkie Pie’s lines in the (delightfully Bollywood-style) song gave us the true message of the episode long before the finale:

Don't let what others do be your cue
Never rearrange 'cause somepony said you should
Just trust your heart, it will know what to do

I know there are some fans who are upset with Rarity’s portrayal in this episode. Rarity is an artist. She champions creativity and unique design. In the episode “Canterlot Boutique”, she was faced with a nearly identical crisis and had to fight to keep her vision of haute couture (or, at least, bespoke tailoring) instead of conforming to the ready-to-wear mass marketing standard.

However, I can forgive this because there is a level at which Rarity was accurate. If you want to compete, you do have to match or exceed standards, and critics who are doing their proper job will often be the ones to let you know where you fall short. If you are a hotel, and your décor looks like a grandmother’s bedroom, or you refuse to update to flatscreen televisions, your business is going to suffer. If you are a restaurant, an you are serving pre-cooked food warmed in a microwave, you’re going to get trounced by restaurants that use fresh ingredients and cook to order. If you are an internet service provider, only offering DSL isn’t “sticking to your individual style”, it’s just a bad business practice.

If your hotel rooms look like this, these will be the only customers you get.

But while Rarity is clearly presuming that this is the problem, it really isn’t what is going on here. And Pinkie Pie is the one who correctly identifies the critic is the harmful issue.

One thing struck me as odd. In this episode, Pinkie Pie plays the one who is right, and Rarity is the one who is effective. From getting Zesty Gourmand to visit the restaurant to bringing in a full house, Rarity is able to get everything she tries to do accomplished, even if it doesn’t get the results she desires.

Pinkie Pie, on the other hoof, has the story’s moral down, but she may have let her individuality become a detriment. Her inability to curb her own enthusiasm certainly did not help when advertising to the populace of a city like Canterlot. I couldn’t help but notice that, had the two divided up tasks correctly the first time, Pinkie Pie wouldn’t have had one. Her sole contribution would have been to find the friendship problem in the first place.

Additionally, while the episode was full of its own delights, it really didn’t do anything to build the characters of Rarity or Pinkie Pie, nor did it add anything new to their relationship.

I cannot help but imagine how this episode might have been different if the map had been able to sent Rarity and Starlight on the quest. Putting Starlight in the position of having to recognize the conformity problem on Restaurant Row and champion individuality would have been a very personally significant role for her to take on, and the episode could have been an amazing vehicle to establish a relationship between her and Rarity.

I did like how the map sent our ponies on a quest to fix what seemed like a very small-scale friendship problem. Yet, by the end, we see the consequences of fixing this problem ripple out, affecting all of Restaurant Row, and surely as a result, Canterlot itself. And if, as Rarity says, Zesty Gourmand’s word is the “ultimate authority in Canterlot and thus all Equestria”, then helping this father and daughter rekindle their passion could have positive ripples all across the country. Once again, we see just how important friendships are in Equestria, and how much impact even one friendship can have.

As a side note, while I’m not a pony and thus not into eating grass, a dish that calls for marinating overnight in mustard Dijon sounds absolutely packed with flavor. (And I love Dijon mustard.) I couldn’t help but notice that the food that the show depicted was based on actual Indian cuisine. Between this and the dish served in “The Saddle Row Review”, I rather suspect the writing staff now includes a foodie. (Prop designer Mat Herring perhaps?) We even got a Gordon Ramsay pony!

(They didn’t go with his same cutie mark as in the comics, I noticed.)

Sadly, my food-knowledge may be letting me down. If Zesty Gourmand is a ponified version of a real-life food critic, I have no idea who. The only connection that I am drawing is to Anton Ego from one of my favorite movies, Ratatouille.

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Comments ( 27 )
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and several new ingredients.

I see what you did there.

The only connection that I am drawing is to Anton Ego from one of my favorite movies, Ratatouille.

We seem to have mice/rats movie-love in common, Kkat.

This was an interesting blog and I think you touch on a lot of points about criticism being valid, if sometimes enforced. I think I'll keep this blog somewhere safe so I can send people here during the inevitable arguments that might evolve from this.

I must be living in a separate world from my fellow fans because I didn't take any offense from this episode's message and caricatures. I'm almost willing to think fans are just looking for things to get upset about for no reason other than to get online and argue. Meh.

My favorite part was the song. It was catchy and memorable. Something I can't say for some of the other songs lately. Many just blur together.

The biggest difference between Zesty Gourmand and Anton Ego is that Anton was willing to try the food while Zesty didn't. Anton came away with a new perspective while Zesty is still stuck in her worldview.

Besides the Gordon Ramsay pony, we also got lots of other ponified food people. The episode followup on EqD has a nice list of each pony and their real-life counterparts.

Interesting points you made. Nice to see other's perspective.

Some of the best insight into the episode I've seen thus far. Nuance is tricky to convey and harder to grasp, in or out of a kid's cartoon. This episode could've been clearer in the necessity of the moderate position and the validity of Rarity's stance when given a rational critic, but it still did quite a lot with twenty-two minutes. Thank you for the rundown.

We had elephants, giraffes and lions and many other creatures in Gift of the Maud Pie, which raises many questions...
derpicdn.net/img/2016/4/2/1122657/large.png

Monkeys are canon!
As are airplanes and dinosaurs

Seems like Saddle Arabia is a mixture of cultures, which is nice

And just like Season 5, hiatus has begun for Season 6.

4026565

Like everything in life, a balance must be maintained between individuality and criticism/conformity.

To much "individuality", and you're like Zephyr Breeze, just blowing in the wind with no plan or agenda.

To much conformity and following of critics, you're just an extension of said critics.

"Spice up your life" is so right, meet in the middle.

Well... first off

As we last see her, walking off… probably to write her blog rant about “popularity vs quality”.

I love it when your snarky with us good Kkat. Its like that scene from Hellsing where schrodinger greets the two walking up the gangplank and as though butter wouldn't melt in her mouth at the word ladies one of them just pulls out her piece and blows his brains out. Its the same sort of unexpectedness and out of nowhere happiness.

Now... as for critics... I think its also the case of believing they need to be truth tellers. No one likes to hear that some they're invested in is shit, so critics do get a lot of flak over it. Jay Sherman anyone? But critics can take it to far for the sake of career or shock effect. For example, you've read my critiques on fallout 4 here, and I stand with it. I've tried to remain objective and polite, and that's what a lot of folks miss with criticism

Sadly, all too often, people don’t seek out analysts and reviewers for the good they can do. Rather, they are looking just for those who agree with the opinions they have already formed, seeking an echo-chamber. They surround themselves only with those who reinforce their own views, rather than opening their minds to something new. We shouldn’t be like the ponies who let Zesty Gourmand decide what they would enjoy for them, but the episode is also a warning not to be like Zesty Gourmand herself. Be open to new opinions and new experiences.

Or they seek out new podiums and outlets to belittle, troll, seek out an arguement, or soapbox. Personally I like to think I debate, but that's just me. And yes they do seek out echo chambers. Nothing the stupid and poorly informed love more then feeling like they've filled their up till then and in their sole opinion empty lives with something that validates their stupid opinions, makes them feel as though there doing something, and at the same time offers no actual thought or challenge to them as though they were a thinking reasoning adult.

Not that I'm judging their dumb asses of course:trollestia:

I just love the restaurant. I worked for a couple of months one summer in an indian restaurant that sadly went under when the father died. Oy, could that family raise a racket when they argued... Good times

How could they forget the Julia Child pony! Hells below, they made a reference to pulp fiction and the big lebowski people!:raritydespair::raritycry: Now no pony rap battle!

Very interesting perspective all around (as usual.) Nothing to really add you just about nailed it. This is yet another episdoe that you actually have to pay attention to the nuances to understand and see how it works. And that this show can even have stories like that, while still being overall simple enough for the target audience to get, is simply amazing and really shows the care and work the writers put into it.

Also, saw one person point out exactly how Pinkie Pie should have gone about trying to get ponies to come check it out, while showing off and celebrating how unique it is. Free samples! If she had had Saffron following her around with samples of their food to directly show the ponies what they are missing, it might have gone a LOT better.

Still loved the ep, the nuance, the message, REALLY loved the new ponies. Only have two minor little bugs, both of the "missed chance for something even MORE awesome" type. One that the music number (as awesome as it was) did not go full Bollywood and have massive crowds of brightly dressed ponies dancing in the streets. Two, we didn't get to see Gordan Ramsey Pony tear Zesty a new one for the damage she was doing to the actual art of cooking in Canterlot. That would have been epic..... but not something you could actually get away with in a TV-Y(7) show. Still, was hopping some brony would have edited something lie that together by now.

4026782 First off, they might not have thought they needed a Julia Child pony, given they already have Mulia Mild.

Secondly, even then, they did have a Julie Child Pony in this ep.

derpicdn.net/img/view/2016/6/12/1176640__safe_screencap_sitting_table_animation+error_spice+up+your+life_spoiler-colon-s06e12_sweet+biscuit_julia+child_on.png

And.. yes there is a difference between being a critic, offering actual constructive criticism... and just being a asshole who wants to bitch about stuff you don't like. Or, more often, the issue with Zesty, and one of my biggest pet peeves that I really loathe any 'reviewer' or anyone trying to critique something going into. Not realizing "I don't like this" =\= "This is crap"

4026782 I thought Schrödonger was a boy...he is wearing the Hitlerjüngen's male uniform...

4026880
I was refering to who shot him

4026839

Not realizing "I don't like this" =\= "This is crap"

Ima triger you bruh... project horizon

4027013 Let's not bring that up here. But I am very very clear on my issues with that and why beyond just "I don't like it" it fails. Just because that statement is true, it does not stop something from being bad, simply because it's bad, just not because you dislike it.

If Zesty Gourmand is a ponified version of a real-life food critic, I have no idea who. The only connection that I am drawing is to Anton Ego from one of my favorite movies, Ratatouille.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one thinking that. I got that vibe right up until she didn't try the food.

Also, I wonder if you noticed that Saffron Masala's design is a new design for mares. Look at the snout.

I'm reminded of a friend I used to have that absolutely refused to form her own opinion. When we talked about video games every time she quoted something a famous youtube critic said we tossed it aside and asked what she thought of it. Then the conversation became very circular of her still saying what someone else thought and never told us what she thought.

I hadn't thought of it, but it would have been a great way to work on Starlight and Rarity's relationship, and highlight the lesson she learned about conformity.

The note on avoiding "sticking to your individuality" as an excuse for shoddy work strikes a bit close to home though, since I'm trying to write (completely outline, really) my first fanfic with someone else.

(I suppose we critique each others' suggestions, but it is definitely a bit of an echo chamber.)

I loved the song and the episode, though it is making me want to finally try Indian food.

Since my family isn't a fan of it and my brother has picky tastes, I was never introduced to it while we ate together.

notallEQDprereaders

This made my day. :rainbowlaugh:

Not a critic, not your parents, not your friends and not the crowd.

The irony for me reading this sentence is that most of my friends like the opposite things that I like. :twilightoops: It makes for conversations where we don't know much about what the other is talking about. :rainbowlaugh:

The only connection that I am drawing is to Anton Ego from one of my favorite movies, Ratatouille.

I haven't actually seen Rararouille all the way through, but I have seen the parts with Anton Ego and when I saw the critic from this episode I thought of him right away. :pinkiehappy: I also noticed the Gordon Ramsay pony even though I'm not well versed in food shows or critics. I think I got lucky recognizing him. :scootangel:

(On the other hoof, Twilight and Twilight in Twilight’s Castle? That last one sounds destined to inspire someone’s clopfic.)

This also made my day. :rainbowlaugh:

4026730 Well, the concepts of those things are definitely canon. Whether the things themselves are is uncertain. Keep in mind that what we are looking at in that picture is a toy store.

Our own toy stores have dragons, even though dragons don't exist in our world. Obviously, dragons exist in Equestria. But dinosaurs may be to them as dragons are to us. Likewise, we know that Equestria has balloons, blimps, peddle-powered helicopters and magically-powered flying machines. They could have airplanes. But since we have not seen one yet, I would err on the side of caution and be more inclined to view the toy airplane as their equivalent of a sci-fi toy.

4029991
Well, not neccesarily as things of fiction. More then likely they treat such things more like novelties then viable inventions. Equestria hasn't had any real need to make any sort of real progress since they huddle eternally under Mommy's wing. And of course pegasi would be less then enthused at the prospect of anything that goes much faster then a baloon or zeppelin or push paddle thinga ma jig.

Look at Flim and Flam's invention. Those poor souls could have sold that thing in a heart beat on Earth. A hauler, sorter, and picker? But since Equestria is more concerned with tradition then progress, those two spend their days as con colts

4030342

Flim & Flam's problem wasn't "progress versus tradition." It was that they decided since they had the upper hand, they'd try to scam someone out of their entire livelihood (the Apple family farm). Rather than just have the competition and convince the Apple family the Squeezy was worth buying, they tried to get the whole farm in the deal. Their egos got the best of them.

On the flip side, betting the farm was a bad move on the Apple's part.

4036510
Yeah, but they were going to lose it anyway.


Okay, so AJ claims that with the 25 75 split, they lose the farm, right? This despite the cider is pretty much all going to be sold. Now assuming AJ had been popping idiot balls like mintos and took the deal, how much net gain would she lose?

25%. I strongly suspect if the blonde bimbo had let her poor brother in on this matter, his fancy mathmaticals and bit fu could have easily talked them up to 50-50, and even if he hadn't, it wouldn't have taken all that much to break even at the very least. Not only that, they could have sold their hoof made stuff for more as premium cider

I strongly suspect that AJ is just the pretty face in the family. Not to say she's not bright or determined, but yeah... Big Mac strikes as the brains and voice of reason when the mare folk decide to do something stupid. Of course he hardly coated his dumb self in glory in this scenario, but it sort of seems like he got upset because his sister was.

Also, they actually did win, so...

4037840

Huh?

Since when has Big Mac really been shown with major responsibility on the farm?

Applejack seems like she is the one being groomed to take things over, operating a stand, running numerous chores, and let's face it - being far better than her brother at communicating with others.

The time she took over the family reunion to help her grandmother only seems to confirm this, though she got overenthusiastic with that task.

I don't think Big Mac is stupid, but he sure isn't the one I'd bet on to take charge of things and actively haggle with others.

4043258
Okay... I sort of feel like we've gone afield of the original topic, so... lets take this off of our good authors page to pms shall we gents and lasses? I don't like cluttering up her blogs with my idiotic ramblings more then neccesary, so this will be my last word on the subject here. Thank you kkat for your patience

Remember the second (or was it third... huh) well, remember the episode where aj off and went full on dumb ass over a matter of pride? And Macintosh tried to talk her out of doing something stupid?

Let us also take into account her time away from the farm. Farming is incredibly and obviously labor intensive work, and she just off and pronks lo such and so on at the drop of a hat, an action she couldn't simply do if she were in charge. And lets not forget her most recent episode where she goes to the spa and once again heavily abuses those tasty idiot balls with her oinker endeavors. If she were the one in charge, and given with what we've seen with the girls innate ability to get stuck cutie mark deep in silly places, the whole of the farms would have come to a stop so hard it'd start going backwards.

Since when has Big Mac really been shown with major responsibility on the farm?

See above. If she were the one in charge, she couldn't leave like she does except during the winter months. Of course, I'm only assuming responsibility given the circumstances.

Applejack seems like she is the one being groomed to take things over, operating a stand, running numerous chores, and let's face it - being far better than her brother at communicating with others.

And we see this where exactly? We're given no real look into the inner workings of the apple family dynamic aside from the pinkie family pie episode, and thats a rather poor place to do it considering how unnaturally the pie's were acting. And considering how she runs aforementioned chores...

And that kind of proves my point, the communication bit. AJ would probably be the one selling the product given mares being better with mares, sex appeal for the stallions (and lesbian mares if lesbians can be swayed by such), and given Mac's shyness. I'm saying he probably handles things like the books, alocations of funds, and major decisions like buying and selling of the land itself and what happens on it. AJ seems better at P.R given her friendly attitude and communication skill.

The time she took over the family reunion to help her grandmother only seems to confirm this, though she got overenthusiastic with that task.

That's more due to tradition, and tradition dictates that part where the mare is in charge of the festivities, IE public relations

I don't think Big Mac is stupid, but he sure isn't the one I'd bet on to take charge of things and actively haggle with others.

Glad to hear. Many mistake his rather taciturn mannerism with slow headedness. And again, I'm only taking what I've seen and drawing the most likely conclusion.

If anything, granny would probably be the one in charge

And my conclusion: Oh Applejack, what a silly pony:rainbowkiss:

Yep no one should tell us what we should and should not like.

so how 'bout that batman v superman? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) :P

I think this is the first time I've seen someone not fault Rarity for what she did in this episode.

I enjoyed this episode, especially the song. The lesson was good, Rarity was misplaced in her ideas at first, but Pinkie was in top form, so i can forgive that.
Besides, the fan rage at rarity's portrayal could be at least lessened with one change.
We already know that Coriander was planning to shut the place down if things continued the way they were, so just have him say to Rarity something like "I don't care what i need to do, just tell me how to get that rating."

Anyway.

Also it was good seeing Zesty Gourmand (who really fits neither of those) get hers, a bit. Also also, speaking of Gordon Ramsay, there's always https://www.fimfiction.net/story/333378/its-raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw

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