SPOILERS? Mariusioannesp Reviews: "Celestial Advice" and "All Bottled Up" · 6:39am Apr 18th, 2017
WARNING!!! The following contains SPOILERS for the MLP’s season premiere episodes “Celestial Advice” and “All Bottled Up”.
Now, without further a-unprecedented-two-independent-episode-premiere-do, here is my review of “Celestial Advice” and “All Bottled Up”.
In the first episode of this premiere “Celestial Advice”, Twilight Sparkle realizes she has no ultimate plan for her pupil Starlight Glimmer. She decides to consult her former mentor Princess Celestia. After coming to the conclusion that she needs to send Starlight away, Twilight agonizes over where would be the best place to send Starlight. Will Twilight realize the true reason behind why this decision is so difficult to make?
In the second episode of this premiere, “All Bottled Up” Starlight Glimmer is giving The Great and Powerful Trixie a few lessons in magic while Twilight Sparkle and her friends are on a friendship retreat. In the process though, Trixie accidentally makes the Cutie Map disappear. Due to her mounting frustrations with Trixie, Starlight starts magically bottling up her anger. This of course has disastrous consequences. Will Starlight learn how to properly manager her anger at Trixie?
So what’s the verdict?
Well, I can’t say this was the best season premiere. We’ve had better premieres. We’ve also had worse premieres and premieres that didn’t even bother to try to be as good as the best premieres. But you can’t judge the episodes that form this season premiere by the standards set by the best of MLP’s premieres and finales. They’re definitely more like the intra-season episodes of MLP, and so by that standard they should be judged. By that standard, these are two very good episodes.
So yeah, I liked them. Liked them quite a bit.
First, we shall recap “Celestial Advice”.
We begin with Spike paying Starlight Glimmer a visit at her room in the Castle of Friendship, discussing the upcoming ceremony where Starlight, Discord, Thorax, and the Great and Powerful Trixie will be commended for their actions in the last season finale “To Where and Back Again”. However, this is all meant to be a distraction while Twilight Sparkle surreptitiously measures the space above Starlight’s dresser. This whole scene just feels like the back half of Season 4’s “Castle Sweet Castle”. 
Looks like we’re back to the characters doing impressions of each other. This time, Spike is doing Rarity. That came out wrong. Or did it?
Once their mission is successful, Twilight tells Spike how she plans on after the ceremony giving Starlight a mirror decorated with pictures of her and her friends, just like the one she has. That way, the first thing Starlight sees every morning is her surrounded by all of her friends. 
Twilight wants it to say, “I'm so proud of you both as a mentor and a friend. Equestria is safer thanks to you.” Spike thinks she might be able to do that better with a card. Spike also thinks they should be more concerned about getting the castle ready for the ceremony, but Twilight informs him that Pinkie Pie has that covered.
Yeah, Pinkie just has to pull a lever and the already prepared party descends from the ceiling.
Then it’s time for the ceremony! Among those assembled are the ponies of Our Town, a number of the new Changelings, Sunburst, the Remane 5, Shining Armor and Princess Cadance, and some assorted residents of Ponyville. Princess Twilight and Princess Celestia commend Starlight, Trixie, Discord, and Thorax for saving Equestria and freeing the Changelings by awarding them with the Equestrian Pink Hearts of Courage. 
Is that like the Purple Heart? Was going into the Changeling Kingdom like their ‘Nam?
Because the medal doesn’t quite fit around Discord’s head, his head pops off so that it could get on.
Princess Luna actually has some trouble getting the medal around Thorax’s antler thingies. 
Hey it’s Vinyl Scratch! Now, it’s a party.
Later, Starlight, Trixie, Discord, and Thorax are mingling with the guests. Sunburst is impressed Starlight was able to do all that she did without magic. Some Changelings are impressed that they were able to stand up to Chrysalis like they did. Yeah, here’s some further proof all Changelings can talk. Celestia and Twilight are watching all this, and she remarks to Twilight about how wonderful it is to watch one’s student reach their full potential. Celestia can definitely relate. But then Discord shows up. He inquires with Twilight as to what she plans to do with Starlight going forward. Twilight assures him she has three years worth of friendship lessons planned. Discord scoffs at this though as Starlight has clearly moved beyond simple friendship lessons, and he assumes Twilight must be joking. He’s sure Twilight has a grand master plan for Starlight in place just as Celestia had for her. Of course, Twilight doesn’t, but she doesn’t want to admit that. Discord then brings Starlight to Twilight so she can reveal this grand master plan to her. 
Starlight happens to be curious too as to what lies ahead for her. Fortunately, Trixie comes by because some newspaper called the Ponyville Chronicle wants a picture of Starlight and her squad. Before Twilight can breathe a sigh of relief though, Discord pops up in her teacup taking a bath. 
He claims to know what she’s up to. She must have a big announcement planned for later in the party. He pops off to tell Fluttershy and everyone else.
Soon enough, Spike finds Twilight in a panic, scrambling to come up with an ultimate path for Starlight just like Celestia did for her. 
That’s when she realizes she should ask Celestia about this. In the throne/Cutie Map room, Twilight consults with Celestia as to what to do with Starlight given that Celestia has been in the same position. Twilight then realizes that when Celestia was in her position, she sent Twilight to Ponyville. This means only one thing. The time has come for Twilight to send Starlight away. 
Now the question is where does Twilight send Starlight. She’s worried about sending her to the wrong place and such. First, she figures she could send Starlight to the Changeling Kingdom to teach the new Changelings all about friendship.Twilight then does a spell that creates a simulation so Celestia, Twilight, and Spike can see what it’d be like if Starlight was sent to the Changeling Kingdom. In this case, Starlight and Thorax are doing a skit to teach Changelings about compromising instead of attacking. 
Spike questions whether this is really something Starlight and Thorax would do. Celestia however rebukes him. This is Twilight’s fantasy and for Celestia, there’s no wrong way to fantasize. 
Really Celestia. There is no wrong way to fantasize. Is that what passes for Celestial advice?
Anywho, Celestia notes that Starlight could be busy there a long time, but it could be rewarding work. Twilight though imagines what the dangers would be. She imagines a scenario where a Changeling goes rogue, impersonates Starlight, and starts causing trouble in the Changeling hive, thereby turning the Changelings against Starlight. Interestingly enough, this fantasy depicts these new Changelings as being able to shapeshift. One of these Changelings in question is named “Cornicle”. Apparently, a cornicle is a tube thingy found on aphids, and so like the thorax is part of their anatomy. So, do all Changelings have insect anatomy names? What about Kevin? I want to see other Changelings with Minion-like names. I wonder also if Twilight’s concern over any of these new Changelings going rogue has any grounding in reality.
Movin’ right along, Spike doesn’t think this would actually happen though. Twilight insists it could, which is why she just can’t send Starlight to Celestia-knows-where without properly thinking it through. 
Apparently, Celestia is unaware of this saying. So you’re telling me Celestia is unaware that ponies use her name as an oath. Either way, she finds it an apt turn of phrase as she does not have answer to this question.
Next, Twilight figures she could send Starlight to the Dragon Lands. She figures that Starlight and Ember would totally hit it off. Twilight once again uses her spell to fantasize about what that would be like. 
Spike however doesn’t think the way Twilight imagines Ember and Starlight would act is particularly in character for them. Twilight knows that Dragons do all kinds of fun things from Ember’s letters, you know the ones she arranged to get at the end of “Gauntlet of Fire”. These are things like The Feast of Fire, the Dragon Bowl, and Claw-chella. Hold on, Claw-chella? Dragons have their own Coachella. Wait, wasn’t Coachella this past weekend? Anywho, Twilight realizes Starlight would have to be there a long time as well, and not all Dragons are particularly fond of ponies. She then imagines Starlight having a run in with Garble. I really did not think we’d ever be seeing Garble again, especially not this soon. Anyway, this imagining ends with Garble grabbing Starlight and jumping into a pool of lava. 
Spike reminds Twilight that she’s insane as Starlight is very talented at magic and could stop herself from falling into a lava pit.
Twilight tries to think of someplace safer to send Starlight. She then figures she could send Starlight to continue her magical studies with Sunburst. It’ll be perfect because Sunburst’s knowledge of magic is only matched by Starlight’s skills, and together they could become the most talent Unicorns Equestria has ever seen. She magically fantasizes about this imagining Starlight and Sunburst magically turning a block of wood into a Flurry Heart cuckoo clock. 
Twilight once again realizes that Starlight will be there a long time because magic is a lifelong pursuit. Spike sees where this is going. Twilight fears what would happen if Starlight and Sunburst became too ambitious. Twilight imagines Starlight and Sunburst mixing spells together, kind of like how Starlight did in “Every Little Thing She Does” last season. The result is an out of control vortex that sucks up them and the rest of Twilight’s fantasy! 
Twilight is in a panic over all this, and Spike gently reminds her that none of it was real. Twilight insists it could still happen, and now she doesn’t know what to do. Celestia then bursts out laughing. 
She’s not laughing at Twilight though. Celestia is laughing because she had the exact same fears Twilight did when she decided she had to send Twilight away. Well, this is certainly an interesting development. Celestia then tells us a story in flashback about how she realized that though Twilight was excelling when it came to her academic studies, she wasn’t really reaching her full potential as she wasn’t making friends. 
Oh look, it’s lil’ Moon Dancer!
Celestia tried to figure out what to do about this, but one look at her sister stuck in the moon made her realize she had to send Twilight away. 
She knew there was special group of ponies down in Ponyville, but she kept making excuses to put off sending Twilight to Ponyville. 
Hold on just a sec. How did Celestia know the Remane 5 were special beforehand? Perhaps there will be an answer later this season. So yeah, Celestia just like Twilight now, kept imagining the worst possible things that could happen to Twilight, like being eaten by a manticore, being sucked into Tartarus, or not even getting along with anyone. 
Celestia admittedly kept Twilight in Canterlot longer than she should have. Celestia realized that the reason why she felt so anxious was because she didn’t want to let Twilight go. She feared that if Twilight made friends, she wouldn’t need her in her life anymore. Twilight assures Celestia that nothing could be further from the truth as she will always need her. Celestia suspects Starlight feels the same way about Twilight. Twilight admits that she is a bit afraid of losing Starlight. Celestia assures Twilight that they are proof positive that letting someone spread their wings so to speak doesn’t mean they don’t have a place in their life. 
That’s a lesson I can stand behind. Celestia adds that if Twilight is still worried, she could always have Starlight write her letters. So after all this time, that’s the real reason Celestia had her do that.
Later, Twilight returns to the party with Starlight’s present in tow, ready to make her announcement. Discord has apparently told everyone about it, and everyone is very excited to hear what Twilight came up with. He asks her if she didn’t just come up with a plan now because that would be embarrassing. Anyway, Twilight then announces that Starlight will no longer be her student as she has proven herself at friendship and has now graduated from her tutelage! Starlight is rather flabbergasted by this announcement. Everypony else is excited, and Thorax and Trixie congratulate Starlight. Discord however was hoping Twilight would send Starlight to his realm so they could be roommates. Apparently, this is what he was hinting at all day.
Wait a minute. So, Discord messed with Twilight’s head like this just because he wanted Starlight to be his roommate.
Okay.
Why does everyone here just love Starlight Glimmer so dang much?
Anywho, Trixie suggests they celebrate by taking a girls’ to Las Pegasus. Of course Trixie would suggest that since what happens in Las Pegasus, stays in Las Pegasus if you know what I mean. 
Thorax suggest they throw a Changeling gourd fest, which is apparently more fun than it sounds. Discord suggests making mischief by turning Celestia’s castle into cheese. He wonders if this is a “gouda” idea. And that’s just the first of many cheese jokes if they go down this path.
Does anyone else want to hear cheese jokes from Discord? No? Okay, let’s move on then.
Starlight goes to see Twilight and shares with her the mix of feelings she has over this development. Starlight asks if Twilight is really sure she’s ready. Twilight assures that she’s thought long and hard about this, and she’s sure she is. Starlight disagrees; she’s not ready to leave her.
What? After all this, Starlight justs insists she doesn’t want to go and that’s it.
Turns out though, Twilight doesn’t want her to go either. She then presents Starlight with her present. It’s a mirror with pictures of Starlight on her various friendship adventures. 
Twilight assures Starlight that even though she may not know what Starlight’s future holds, she knows that she will always be there for her.
We get another pre-credits scene where Pinkie cleans up the whole party afterwards with a large vacuum cleaner with some kind of face on it. 
Now it’s time to recap “All Bottled Up”.
We begin once more with Trixie and Starlight in the kitchen of the Castle of Friendship. Trixie is trying to magically turn a pepper shaker into a teacup. While Starlight is making some teacakes, she gives Trixie the advice that she needs to imagine the teacup fully and in detail and you know, not just say “teacup” like she’s been doing. Trixie succeeds, and she is so excited that she managed real transfiguration magic. 
This is what happens when Starlight gets excited over Trixie.
What is wrong with me?
Trixie starts excitedly turning everything in the kitchen into a teacup. Trixie does this even to Starlight’s icing bag, but ends up turning it into a bizarre barking teacup with legs and a tail. This abomination of nature ends up ruining the teacakes Starlight was working on. 
Apparently, Trixie was imagining a teacup poodle instead. Starlight is not happy about this. She was making these teacakes as snacks for Twilight and her friends to take on their friendship retreat. Trixie tries to make it up to Starlight by presenting a bag of pretzels she could give to Twilight and her friends as snacks. This doesn’t really help Starlight, and her mounting frustration is evident by the dark storm cloud emanating from her horn. 
Later, Starlight and Trixie are seeing Twilight and her friends off at the train station. Twilight can’t remember the last time they were all together without having to save Equestria. I think that might be true. Twilight offers Starlight, Trixie, and Spike a chance to join them on their retreat, but they decline. Spike has some comics to catch up on, and Starlight wants to help Trixie with her magic, which will go better with no pony else in the castle. 
What is wrong with me?
Trixie adds as a joke that if they break anything, Starlight could just go back in time and fix it. Starlight’s not too happy about this comment. As the Mane 6 leave on their friendship retreat, Trixie asks Starlight what a friendship retreat is anyway. Starlight explains that Twilight and her friends are going to bond, share laughs, and probably sing a song. That sounds kind of meta. Trixie’s sure she and Starlight are going to have more fun though. Trixie then makes it known to Twilight that Starlight has something for her, and so Starlight is forced to give Twilight Trixie’s bag of pretzels. It’s clear she’s still miffed about the teacakes. But then the Mane 6 are on their way.
Back at the castle, Trixie wants to learn how to do a disappearing act. That requires teleportation, which is rather complex magic. So, Starlight is a bit hesitant, but Trixie insists on going big or not going at all. Starlight explains to her how she does it. Her magic is often tied to her emotions. Whatever she’s feeling fuels whatever magic she’s trying to do. Trixie notes how it’s just like how Starlight’s hatred of cutie marks made her powerful enough to enslave an entire town. Starlight clearly doesn’t appreciate that remark as a dark storm cloud once again emanates from her horn. Trixie insists that was meant as a compliment as if anyone can teach Trixie such complex magics, it’s Starlight. Irregardless, Starlight moves on, and they try to find something for Trixie to teleport. Trixie suggests Spike, but Starlight would rather Trixie try it on something not living.
Now, there is a rather hackneyed phrase “Meanwhile back at the ranch” that was once often used to transition between scenes in stories regardless of whether either scene was actually set at a ranch. I apologize for having to use this turn of phrase to transition between the two parts of this story I am currently recapping.
If anyone can guess in the comments what I’ve been reading that has led me to use this turn of phrase, you win 54 internet cookies!
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Twilight and her friends are off at their retreat at a place called Manehattan Escapes. Rarity was under the impression they were headed to a spa, but it turns out it’s actually an escape room. I actually have quite a fondness for escape rooms. I’ve done two of them. The first I won, but the second I lost. (It was completely my sister’s boyfriend’s friends fault I assure you.) Anywho, Rainbow Dash inquires as to what the fastest time escaping the room is. The attendant informs them that group of Griffons got out in an hour. Rainbow scoffs at this given that Griffons don’t even like each other that much. Given what good friends they all are, they can surely break that record.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Starlight notes that if Trixie can master teleportating this apple before Twilight and her friends return, they’ll probably break some kind of record. There seems to be some parallels between what Twilight and her friends are doing and what Starlight and Trixie are doing. Either way, Spike decides to stand off to the side while Trixie tries out teleporting. Starlight begins explaining how Trixie needs to visualize where she’s teleporting the object in question. Trixie goes off half-cocked and does the spell before Starlight can finish her explanation and ends up teleporting the Cutie Map away!
Oh, come on! The Cutie Map isn’t that bad.
Well, that’s going to be a problem then. Starlight of course begins to panic. Surely, Twilight will never trust her alone in the castle after this. Trixie’s not too worried as she’s sure they’ll find the Cutie Map. In fact, Trixie is impressed she was even able to teleport an entire table. Trixie was just teleporting it like Starlight told her too, but Starlight didn’t get a chance to tell Trixie she needed to visualize the object as well. Trixie thinks Starlight should have told her all of that before she let Trixie do it. Starlight’s frustrations continue to mount as can be seen by that dark storm cloud emanating from her horn. 
Starlight takes a moment and goes into the kitchen where Spike is washing all the teacups. 
Everything is teacups because of Trixie! Starlight plans to magically put her growing anger at Trixie in a bottle. See Starlight is concerned about this dark cloud of angry magical energy emanating from her horn, utilized in magical duels or previously in enslaving Our Town. She fears what she might end up doing to Trixie. If Trixie knew what Starlight was thinking of doing to her, she’d probably never want to be her friend again. You never know Starlight; Trixie might be into that sort of stuff. We’re not talking about the same thing are we.
What is wrong with me?
Anyway, Spike, the voice of reason that he is, doesn’t think this is a good idea. Still, Starlight needs to find the Cutie Map and can’t afford to let her anger get to her. Starlight goes back to Trixie, who almost thought Starlight had abandoned her, but then she remembered that Starlight always forgives her. That earns some more anger for Starlight’s bottle. Anyway, Starlight gets down to brass tacks and inquires as to the last place Trixie was thinking of as the Cutie Map was probably teleported there. Unfortunately, Trixie has just forgotten what she was thinking of at that moment. That’s some more anger for the bottle. Starlight decides the best thing to do is to take a walk around town in hopes of jogging Trixie’s memory. Trixie thinks this is a good idea as they can get some cinnamon nuts while they’re out. She’s been craving something sweet since she couldn’t have teacakes that morning. That’s some more anger for the bottle.
After Trixie gets her cinnamon nuts, Starlight and Trixie inquire at a jewelers for the Cutie Map. Apparently, Trixie might have been thinking about treating herself to a broach later when she teleported the map. The Jeweler pony informs them that she hasn’t seen their table map, but she’s got broaches if Trixie’s still interested. Of course, Trixie is, and that earns some more anger for Starlight’s bottle. Starlight ushers themselves out as they don’t have time for broach shopping. Next Starlight and Trixie hit up Sweet Apple Acres as Trixie might have been craving apples at the time. Trixie still is since they would go great with her cinnamon nuts. 
Starlight just chucks Trixie’s dang nuts away!
Granny Smith informs them that she hasn’t seen their table map either.
Oh, look it’s the teacup poodle again.
Apparently, the ice cream parlor was bust so Trixie suggests they check the Crystal Empire because since Twilight’s castle is made of crystal, Trixie might have been thinking about that. This earns some more anger for Starlight’s bottle, and bottling all this anger has left Starlight quite exhausted. Trixie notices Starlight’s raggedness and asks her if she feels alright, describing her appearance with some kind of gibberish.
This earns some more anger for Starlight’s bottle, and this time Trixie notices the glow it causes in Starlight’s bag. Trixie demands to know what’s in Starlight’s bag and starts fighting her for it. Nearby, Granny Smith and the Jeweler pony have gathered around Bulk Biceps’ nut cart for some of those cinnamon nuts. Starlight’s bottle is lost in Starlight and Trixie’s struggle over it, it smashes on the ground, and all Starlight’s anger goes into Granny Smith, Bulk Biceps, and the Jeweler pony. They come after Trixie with their glowing red eyes. 
They start yelling Starlight’s frustrations at her: the teacakes, the pretzels, how Trixie doesn’t pay attention to her magic lessons, how Trixie brings up her dark past over and over again. Trixie’s very confused and cries for Starlight’s help.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Applejack asks for Twilight’s help solving one of the escape room puzzles. That leads to them solving the final clue and finding the key! Twilight’s quite impressed by their success, but Rainbow knew they’d succeed because they’re the best.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Granny Smith is yelling that Trixie is the worst. Then, they all start attacking Trixie. Starlight can’t do anything because her exhaustion has rendered her magic inert. Starlight is glad Twilight isn’t here to see this.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Twilight wishes Starlight was here to see what can be accomplished when friends trust each other and work together. This leads to the first song of the season, a little ditty called “Best Friends Until the End of Time.” I wouldn’t call it the best song yet, but it’s perfectly serviceable though the sequence that accompanies it is a tad repetitive. It just tells us what we already know, how tried and true the Mane 6’s friendship is after almost seven seasons. What’s interesting about it though is how the sequence is interspersed with scenes of Trixie suffering the consequences of this slight dysfunction in her relationship with Starlight.
Once the Mane 6 finish their song though, the escape room attendant reminds them that it’s not over until they turn the key in the lock. Rainbow does so, but it turns out they missed the Griffons’ record by two seconds. The attendant suggests that perhaps they shouldn’t have that song. Just a reminder that pretty much since the very beginning, all of the songs on MLP are diegetic--the word “diegetic” means “that when they sing it’s actually happening to those around them and no one finds suddenly bursting into song the least bit odd.”* In her frustration at this turn of events, Rainbow cries out “Nuts!”
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Bulk Biceps tosses his nut cart at Trixie, and Trixie dives out of the way and cries out “Nuts!” Trixie can’t understand why these ponies suddenly hate her so much. Starlight recovers some of her strength and finally admits that it’s not them, it’s her that’s angry at her. She’s able to pull her anger back to her. Starlight confesses to Trixie that she’s angry at her because Trixie lost the Cutie Map, she could get in trouble over it, Twilight might never trust Starlight again, but Trixie makes jokes like she doesn’t care and Trixie hasn’t even bothered to apologize to her. Trixie promptly apologizes as she didn’t even realize Starlight felt that way. Starlight admits though that Trixie couldn’t have known because she literally bottled up her anger instead of share her feelings with Trixie. She used magic to avoid using magic and unsurprisingly it backfired. Starlight apologizes to Trixie and the other ponies who got roped into this, but there’s no love loss. Except Bulk Bicep’s nut cart is broken, but Starlight fixes it with her magic. Then the Jeweler pony realizes that Bulk Biceps also works at the spa, and Bulk Biceps runs off because he’s late for his other job. I think this is the first time it's been acknowledged that Bulk Biceps or pretty much anypony has more than one job. Anywho, Trixie admits that it was hard to hear all those things said about her, but she needed to hear them. Starlight couldn’t bring herself to tell Trixie because she was afraid of losing Trixie as as friend. Trixie assures her though that it’ll take more than cross words and magical temper tantrum to lose Trixie’s friendship. Her favorite parts of Starlight are her passion, liveliness, and even her anger. 
I’m sorry what was that?! The Starlight I love!... And Trixie specifically mentions her being passionate... **
But enough with the alleged shipping fuel. Trixie also appreciates that Starlight always forgives her. Starlight promises to keep forgiving her if Trixie forgives her too. Suddenly, Trixie remembers what she was thinking about! Starlight and Trixie find the Cutie Map at the Ponyville Spa! 
And Bulk Biceps is just massaging ponies on it.
Turns out, Trixie was thinking about the day she met Starlight at the spa in last season’s “No Second Prances” and how glad she was to have Starlight as a friend. Awwa. So Starlight gets the Cutie Map back in the throne room just as Twilight and her friends return from their escape room retreat. Starlight will only admit that she learned a friendship lesson while they were away. Twilight is proud that though Starlight’s just graduated, she’s already taking initiative. Oh look, they directly referenced the episode that aired just before this one. Fluttershy explains how they learned about team building and problem solving. Pinkie adds that they also learned when not to sing songs. That’s a lesson I can stand behind. (Clearly, that’s not the lesson we should take away from all this.) Rarity suggests they all go to the spa since they have coupons. Trixie surreptitiously inquires with Starlight if there’s a way to magically make the spa ponies forget that the Cutie Map was there. Starlight is aghast that Trixie has seemingly learned nothing about not using magic to solve your problems. I thought the lesson here was about not bottling up your anger and sharing your feelings with your friends. That's a lesson I stand behind. Trixie explains that if she did, they wouldn’t get into all the fun shenanigans they get into. And that’s pretty much it.
These episodes were written by Joanna Lewis and Kristine Songco, aka The Lady Writers. If you recall one of my predictions for this season was that they’d be writing the premiere and/or finale. This makes seven of my initial thirteen predictions that have come true. I was right!... Again! Though I was expecting an epic two-part season premiere that I’m certain they could pull off given Legend of Everfree. I mean it is rather unprecedented for a season premiere to consist of two separate episodes rather than a two-part episode. I suspect that this could mean that the Lady Writers know their strengths and weaknesses are. Prior to Legend of Everfree, they wrote Slice of Life episodes. So they put two such episodes together for the premiere because that’s what they already know they’re good at. Unlike Josh Haber, they avoided rushing headlong into an epic two-part premiere. I think they could have pulled off an epic two-part premiere, but obviously they're the ones know best what they can and can’t do. I still hope for an epic two-part finale, but there is already a precedent for a single episode finales.
These episodes felt like the episodes that would follow the premiere. They’re usually the episodes that make up for a lackluster two-part premiere. I think the Lady Writers were right to start the season like that instead of potentially faltering with another premiere. (Not that I think they would have.) It’s like instead of starting the season with a bang, it’s like gently easing into a warm, comfortable bath.
Interestingly enough, they also served as story editor for these episodes. Honestly, I’m not certain how the position of story editor works. But does this mean they’re story editing all the episodes this season? What about Josh Haber? You all may recall I mentioned before that he’s also story editing for another series, but as far as I know, he never definitively stated he wasn’t working on MLP anymore. To tell you the truth, I have no problem if that is the case. My fear is that it isn’t. Just as I have some hope for this season, he’ll rear his story editing head again to extinguish it. I mean, you can see from just these two episodes that the Lady Writers have a better idea what the problems with MLP have been the last two seasons. I have complete confidence that they can salvage the refuse left in Haber’s wake and return MLP to its former glory.
Nevertheless their potentially higher standing in the show staff, these episode bear all the hallmarks of the Lady Writers’ work. Twilight Sparkle is again at the front and center. Spike acts as the voice of reason for both Twilight and Starlight Glimmer as they embarked on their shenanigans. They even managed to work in a little world-building. We learned a bit about the new Changelings. They may still be able to shapeshift, and they might not yet have fully embraced friendship. We also learned about the connection between magic and emotion and how teleportation spells work. They even included a few references to their episode “Gauntlet of Fire”, including brief cameo by Ember.
“Celestial Advice” gives us a never before seen look at Princess Celestia. Never before have we seen how much Celestia valued her relationship with Twilight. She just really didn’t want to let her go. If you think about it, this episode implies that Celestia waited until the last possible minute to send Twilight away when she did so in the series premiere.
“Celestial Advice” gives us a good ole’ fashioned Twilight freak-out. Twilight catastrophizing over what could happen to Starlight if she sends her here or there is totally vintage Twilight. Over the past seven seasons, we’ve seen Twilight grow so much, and yet she still remains the same adorkable little pony we’ve all come to know and love.
Discord doesn’t play too big a role in “Celestial Advice”. That’s probably why John de Lancie forgot he was in this episode. Still, this is yet another example of despite the fact that Discord is reformed, it doesn’t mean he’s not going to mess with people’s heads, especially Twilight’s.
And then there’s Starlight and Trixie’s relationship in “All Bottled Up”. Starlight and Trixie are a lot different than the Mane 6 as they are two rather broken individuals with dark pasts striving to be better. Through their friendship they can help each other be better. Trixie in particular still has quite a bit to learn about friendship. Trixie continues to have a tendency towards self-absorption. Starlight learns that she can be a check on that if she’s honest about her feelings for her, I mean with her. Starlight learns to be honest with Trixie about her feelings. Feelings of anger. Not anything else that may or may not be there. Anywho, Starlight and Trixie can help each other become better ponies. And isn’t that what true love is all about? Dang it!
Are the Lady Writers intentionally providing shipping fuel for Starlight and Trixie like they kind of did for Sunset and Twilight in Legend of Everfree? I don’t know. I’m just putting that out there.
I’ve ridden far too high on the StarTrix.
“All Bottled Up” in part seems like a self-parody of MLP. The way Fluttershy relates what they learned at the end with Pinkie’s addendum is almost like a parody of how they’ve related friendship lessons in the past six seasons. In fact, the Mane 6’s whole storyline is like a parody of what MLP is kind of like. They work together to solve a problem, they succeed, sing a song, and relate what they learned at the end. To a certain extent, this remains what a lot of people may think MLP actually is. Pairing this storyline with Starlight and Trixie’s serves to illustrate that MLP is not like that at all. This may be meant to show possible new viewers that MLP is not what they think it is. Now, why would I think MLP would have viewers watching its seventh season premiere who’ve never watched MLP before? Well, if you recall, last week a trailer was dropped for the MLP movie with the release of Smurfs: The Lost Village. People who went to see the Smurfs movie may have decided to check out MLP’s seventh season premiere because of the movie coming out in October.
Speaking of the storylines in “All Bottled Up”, this episode perfectly balances Starlight’s storyline and the Mane 6’s storyline. A problem we’ve seen with Starlight’s episodes last season is that she tends to monopolize the story and end up pushing the Mane 6 to the side. This was most apparent in “To Where And Back Again”. If they manage to keep this kind of balance in the rest of Starlight’s episodes this season, than that would be a major improvement. Despite this balance though, the focus of the episode is squarely on Starlight and Trixie. That’s because they have the more compelling storyline. Like I said before, the Mane 6's storyline seems like a parody additionally because the “lesson” they learn seems like something they've already learned before. This could be a send up of MLP’s unfortunate tendency at times to rehash old plots.
Interestingly enough, the series logo seems to be different. 
It’s different shades of purple instead of pink like it’s been over the last six seasons. This was probably done to match the movie’s logo, which is also purple. Also, purple is a more gender-neutral color than pink. Perhaps, it’s a sign that MLP is further embracing Bronies by trying to seem less “girly”.
As for what I didn’t like, the ending of “Celestial Advice” was a bit too anticlimactic. I think it would have been better if they had finagled it so that Starlight’s insistence to stay with Twilight happened at the end of “All Bottled Up”. Also, Trixie seems maybe a bit too oblivious and obnoxious in “All Bottled Up”. But then again, it just goes to show she still has quite a bit to learn about friendship. Otherwise, these were two very solid episodes.
Overall, “Celestial Advice” and “All Bottled Up” were the best episodes to begin MLP’s seventh season given the whole slew of lackluster premieres we’ve gotten in the past. If you can’t impress the audience, than you might as well make them comfortable. That’s what these premiere episodes were. They’re a comfortable beginning. I hope the season is equally comfortable, if not impressive. If it is in fact the case that the Lady Writers have taken over story editing duties, then I look forward to what they can do this season. We live in a time where some are looking to make some things great again. Perhaps the Lady Writers can Make MLP Great Again.
What did y’all think of “Celestial Advice” and “All Bottled Up”?
God bless you all. God bless America. And God bless Equestria.
Happy Easter! Jesus is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! He is truly risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Jesus, I’m sorry and I pray you forgive me if I’ve disappointed you with my shipping nonsense.
* This is another clue as to what I’ve been reading.
** I admit I rewinded this part on my DVR just to make sure i did not mishear it.
I liked these episodes as well. A very interesting way to start off a new season. Starlight is still a pretty divisive character among the fanbase (I've personally enjoyed her presence) so maybe the Lady Writers will give us some episodes that will convince the naysayers. Or not. Who knows? Much like another certain show that had its season premiere on the same day, MLP is a show with infinite potential.