Thoughts on "Shadow Play" S7:E25 + 26

The tl;dr version : Star Swirl is a dick.

Seriously, kudos on the staff for another strong season finale ( Josh Haber, Nicole Dubuc, Denny Lu, Mike Myhre, et al).

Just like with the Season 6 finale, we have a crammed two-parter that would have worked better as a three or four-part episode. Add me to the list of folks (bronies) that would've rather seen this story used for the motion picture.

We kinda figured the reason Twilight could complete Star Swirl's unfinished spell was because she had friends, and he did not. But what about the relationships between the other 5 pillars? Do they consider themselves friends? Or just co-workers in the business of saving Equestria from total destruction? Just because we have already Rule 34'd all of 'em, and shipped in every permutation - it doesn't make it so. I guess/hope we find out in Season 8. My guess is that they consider themselves more as acquaintances than friends. Remember that their era was not far removed from unification, and the three tribes weren't that close yet. And as "fish out of water" (i.e.: now living 1000 years in the future), they will have to bond as friends. I'd love to see S8 episodes in which the Cutie Map pairs an element (and/or Starlight Glimmer) with a pillar to solve a friendship problem. Maybe the season premiere would solve the friendship problem between Star Swirl and Stygian.

I was hoping against hope that Hasbro could back their way out of making Equestria Girls canon. But the scene of the pillars fighting the sirens means there is no point of no return. One reason why I like this show is because they constantly use the moral that banishing an enemy and making them other person's problem is NOT an acceptable answer. I realize that a cartoon can not use "kill it with fire" as an (incorrect) option, but for Faust's sake, it never even dawned on Starswirl and the pillars to think about diplomacy as an option.

I realize why the plot of part 2 went as it did. It had to be Starlight that had convince Twilight to try to save Stygian instead of banishing him with the Pony of Shadows. Twilight had to be clouded by her hero worship to blindly follow Star Swirl. But what about the rest of the Mane 6? As much as they admire the Pillars as legendary figures, they don't fangirl out like Twilight. And since they also part of the reformations of Nightmare Moon/Luna, Discord, and Starlight, why didn't they express any disapproval towards the "banishment is the only way" option?

Overall, a solid end to another solid season.
---------------------------------------------

Here is my friendship letter:

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,

I learned that it is better that you shouldn't ever meet your heroes. Unless your hero is Tara Strong, and you are at NYCC.

Sincerely,
Coolbauch