Update... and Common Plots

Before we get into the pilot episode of Common Plots, I want to do an update.

So, the new logo. Yeah. I got mixed about FIMFiction's idea for a revamp. Aside from the font containing letters, the new logo doesn't look that bad. But the fact the crew behind FIMFiction is making it optimal for emoji based stories kind of deviates away from the guidelines we still have now. I mean, sure it's great for comments and author's notes, but isn't the whole point about the actual story is to be able to actually read them? The way FIMFiction looks today looks just like anything to be expected of a website that posts stories. The front page is extremely easy to navigate. I have no idea what the new front page will look like, but I sure hope it's the same. It's okay if it's not, but I don't want to have a hassle trying to get around.

So, now onto Common Plots. Common Plots will review a bunch of works that have one simple premise in common in the first half. Most, if not all, will date back to Shakespeare; however, I'm not one to review such old works. The second half will be a top ten/five list of my favorite depictions of the premise and look at these as the closes examples to said premise and take note on what to do. So, without further ado, I present Common Plots.

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Common Plots - Episode 1 - Duo Comes to Be

You all know this plot. Someone new to the main character of the story and said character come across each other and overcome certain adversities, determining whether or not whatever remnants of the status quo remain. I found a lot of works that have this sort of plot.

Toy Story
This is a classic for me. This movie remains in my head to this day. The way Toy Story handles the "Duo Comes to Be" story is a little unusual, but it works so well nonetheless because of how unique this kind of story is handled as Buzz and Woody aren't actually friends until the climax. It actually makes sense to be honest. All in all, it's a really good movie to this day.

How to Train Your Dragon
This one, I'm going off of memory for. From what I remember, this fit just fine. I had some enjoyment out of it. The details are quite murky, but the chemistry between Hiccup and Toothless I remember being adorable. Thanks to The Times They Are a Changeling, I can still remember a good portion of what this movie's about as Toothless was a harmless dragon, like Thorax was a good changeling.

Air Bud
Like How to Train, this is just off of memory. But I remember this a lot more, and I saw How to Train more recently than Air Bud. You'll notice that after this point, a lot of works I'll mention seem to have a "keep a secret" plot point going around. This movie doesn't really do that. In fact, Air Bud averts this plot point as it was crucial for making the sequels we know today. Nah I'm kidding. But seriously, this aversion was GENIUS on the part of the crew behind Air Bud. I also loved how Buddy's original owner got his comeuppance near the end. The court scene was hilarious with Buddy barking every time the gavel dropped. Air Bud also had some pretty powerfully sad scenes, like Josh throwing his basketball far away, and Buddy's original owner announcing that he'd be going to the pound. This movie is probably one of, if not, my favorite take on the "Duo Comes to Be" plot.

Rock-a-bye Bivalve
Ah, SpongeBob. This is yet another one of the my favorite takes on the "Duo Comes to Be" plot. Actually, this is the first variation as SpongeBob and Patrick found Junior instead of just one or the other. Early SpongeBob kind of knew exactly what to do with this kind of premise. Like Toy Story, this take on the premise is unusual, but it works so well. Everything in this episode felt so natural. Finding Junior, Junior flying off, the roles SpongeBob and Patrick play as parents, it didn't matter. It worked and it was genius. Unlike Air Bud, SpongeBob and Patrick straight up never tried to keep anything secret. All they did was basically, "Get comfy, Junior. Then, we're going out and having fun." I found this episode very well done, polished, and overall well written.

My Pretty Seahorse
I'm just going to get this out of the way right now. I want to love this episode. It's borderline PERFECT with powerfully emotional writing, natural plot points, an amazing parallel with Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob, and a tough subject handled with much maturity. There's just one problem. The tone shift humor is inconsistent. It's not bad, and out of context, it's actually pretty funny. But the times that it was put in wrong was way too jarring for me to love this episode. Everything else was tolerable at worst and perfect at best. Overall, this is a very good episode of SpongeBob with few things wrong with it.

My Little Dashie
Ooh boy. This one. I already talked about it in the first sub-episode of Always a Better Pony, so all you need to know is that I happen to tolerate quite a bit. It may hit more than it misses, but when it misses, it misses on a level of SpongeBob, You're Fired. Since recently, I've found it just okay. There's some powerful scenes, and there's some unnecessary elements that could've been completely cut out. Overall, it would get a pass and nothing more.

You've Got to be Foaly Kitty Me
BALANI DEVOVEO!!! I wish I didn't have to include any of my old works in here! Well, the title says all of how I feel right now. Anyway, I find this work to be old shame. I used to like it. But looking back at it now, the only things I like about this is the length and minor fixes from My Little Dashie. I'm not into self insert fics anymore, so there's a bias in this. But yeah, a few problems from My Little Dashie still carry over to this. Most of the emotion would actually be there if I wasn't a character in it. Let's not forget that the fic was also initially riddled with errors. But yeah, I've long since moved on.

The Jostled Flyer
Aaaaand... yet another fic I wrote that I don't care about anymore. While I do like the message sent as it's unique from the other works on here, once again, it's riddled with errors. Now, it's not nearly as bad as You've Got to be Foaly Kitty Me, but I still find it just average. I'd rather just watch Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep. And that's saying something as I intended to fix that episode with this very work. Well, at least the emotion isn't forced like Snowdrop.

Past Sins
Yes. It's this fic. I stopped reading after the play scene because I felt it was missing so badly on the moments I should love. I guess I just really didn't care for Past Sins. It's just bland. Sorry that I have to say it, but it's just bland. Nyx undercover was pretty much unnecessary and kind of soured the story. Plus, the beginning raises quite a question. Why would anypony want to bring Nightmare Moon back? She cast eternal night. It's shown within FIM that Luna deeply regrets what happens. All things aside, I seriously didn't care about this fanfic.

Living Nightmare
Now this is something I can care about, so spoilers. Every problem I had with Past Sins is fixed in this very fic. Instead of the select few ponies bringing Nightmare Moon using extreme measures, it's the complete opposite, wanting to get rid of any essence of Nightmare Moon. And Stellar Nova NOT being undercover was very well done. Diamond Tiara was reformed by being shown what condition Stellar Nova was in. And Stellar Nova's origin as a human baby was not only given right away, but it actually made Luna empathetic. I also like how the story courses through Season 5 of FIM in some alternate universe. But the best part had to be how badly it hurt as portrayed by Stellar Nova of how she couldn't return home. This has to be one of the most unusual and admirable uses of the "Duo Comes to Be" plot.

The Times They Are a Changeling
Finally, a real episode of My Little Pony. And what an episode to go to other than this episode. This is an impressive episode that covered prejudice incredibly well. Spike had to go through one obstacle and had to trample over it a couple of times, and this obstacle is one that gives the trampler multiple chances. I personally learned that I had to make bad fanfics before I made good ones, that I had to cancel some fanfics before I could get others approved. People will get the impression that I'm a bad writer when doing that, but it doesn't happen just to me. One user on this site had to cancel 7 out of 13 works before writing to this day the only unfinished entry on this list. Getting the crystal ponies on Thorax's side was enough for me to think about how others overcome obstacles. Overall, The Times They Are a Changeling gets every theme right portrayed.

Owl's Well That Ends Well
Eh, there's some good, some bad. Toy Story did the jealous twist better than this. At least then, I felt good about it. Here, I don't feel anything. I do like that Spike WASN'T getting replaced. But Twilight really should've initially worded her disappointment more carefully. But really, that's all I have to say. This was just eh.

I Am a Pet Changeling
Ah, this story. This story isn't even finished yet. Right now, it's almost at 100,000 words. If it were earlier though, it would've qualified quite a bit more as a "Duo Comes to Be" story. But yeah, I Am a Pet Changeling has to have the most interesting take on this plot. I'm really liking it to say the least. I also love how funny this fic is. Recently, one of the chapters got me thinking to myself, "What is this? Close En-carapace of the Third Kind?" So far, I Am a Pet Changeling is going in a VERY interesting direction.

The Carina and Jon Trilogy
Now we're talking. Oh, and there will be spoilers. Recently, I finished writing this trilogy. Overall, I love how it turned out as it has a good balance of emotion and humor. The takes on the "Dou Comes to Be" plot are quite unique. The first two of the trilogy remind me a bit of Air Bud. I do like how the first of the three fixes ALL of the problems with both My Little Dashie AND You've Got to be Foaly Kitty Me. While the third kind of has its own plot instead of going further on what would be going on with Carina and Jon's lives, but I did like what I made of it. It made quite some hope for the future and left it to some light speculation and some fortunate implications. I had a blast writing this series, and it really did click with me. I love what I did to cap off the trilogy as Carina will be able to see Jon, Tim, Sophia and Aita, even all at once.

Top 10 Best Takes From This Episode

10. My Little Dashie 6/10
9. How to Train Your Dragon 7/10
8. Toy Story 8/10
7. My Pretty Seahorse 8/10
6. The Times They Are a Changeling 9/10
5. I Am a Pet Changeling 9/10
4. The Carina and Jon Trilogy 9/10
3. Living Nightmare 10/10
2. Rock-a-bye Bivalve 10/10
1. Air Bud 10/10

Well, I look forward to next episode.