Friendship is Card Games: Winter Wishday · 12:57pm Nov 27th, 2022
With all of Make Your Mark thus far behind us, it’s time to delve into the latest bit of pony media. Let’s see just how Hearth’s Warming Eve mutated in a world with neither magic nor tribal unity.
(Really, this just goes to show how dangerous it can be to remove a species from an ecosystem. Yes, windigoes were hostile monsters who wanted to snuff out all life and heat, but they were also a useful stick to go along with Harmony’s carrot.)
“Nights are getting longer”
And from the first words spoken—well, sung—I have questions. For one, there’s the perennial question of who’s moving the sun and moon, especially when taking seasonal adjustments into account. For another… No. They aren’t. The nights are longest at the winter solstice, i.e. the first day of winter. Unless Equestria is suffering even more Christmas creep than we are to the point that there are fall carols, this is just factually wrong.
… Oh. Given that this appears to be the first snowflake of the season, this very well may be pre-solstice. 
Though an eight-pointed snowflake has its own issues. I’m tempted to blame Discord.
What exactly did those earth mares use for garlands? Hops? Brussels sprouts? Flytraps?
“No I just can’t wait/’Til it’s Wishentine’s Day.”
I have several questions. Not least how a February holiday got dragged into this, but also what mutations Hearts and Hooves Day underwent. Really, I should consider the entire Old Equestrian calendar. It’s packed with holidays, some of which exist outside of Pinkie Pie’s imagination. (And she probably made quite a few official in her role as Vizier of Laughter.)
“It’s that twinkle in the eye/Of every pegasi.”
That’s not how plurals work. You could’ve easily made it “Of all the pegasi” and it would’ve worked grammatically.
I see Sprout is still performing community service. Or maybe he actually has turned over a new leaf. Hard to tell without more data.
Huh. I don’t know if I ever noticed the banners with the three tribes in profile on one side and the Brighthouse on the other. Either Sunny’s been doing a lot in the background or the Canterlogic marketing department saw the writing on the wall. Possibly both.
The baking-focused “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” riff definitely has a Pie-based origin, so it makes sense that Sunny’s the one singing it. Though “happy new moon” highlights the continuing issues with that particular unit of measurement. (I’ll stop bringing it up when they do.)
Hmm. Can Zipp not sing outside of spontaneous musical numbers, is this performance anxiety… or is she deliberately doing terribly to try to get out of the performance?
Also, we have Winter Wishday for the earth ponies and Wishentine’s Day for the pegasi, nicely indicated by traditional carol versus pop hit that will make retail workers long for death midway through December.
I have to wonder if Rarity had any influence on the Royal Carousel Concert. The fact that it was the pegasi who ended up with a traditional monarchy still raises some fascinating questions.
Ah, you know shenanigans are afoot if there’s a mouth harp in the background music. Also, Izzy suffers the familiar drawback of her powers being context-dependent. If it’s funnier for her to struggle, then struggle she will.
Brighthouse-themed holiday card? Yeah, Canterlogic definitely switched gears. I hope Sunny was able to negotiate some decent licensing fees. (Or got Pipp to do so. There may be a story there…)
I’ve complained about family members as the plot demands in the past, but I can’t get mad about a grandmother. Everyone has two.
Huh. Cookie cottages. A flavor-agnostic approach to gingerbread houses. I like it.
I also like Sunny’s adorable portrait cookies. Hopefully next year there will be one for Misty.
Hmm. I can definitely see the line from the Fire of Friendship to the Wishing Star. The issue is that Sunny really should have brought this up earlier. I do like how we see the scars left by her years as a pariah. She’s just not used to having this many friends, nor working around their schedules. And she desperately needs them. Loneliness does no favors to a member of a herd species.
Ah, we have the unicorn holiday, Wishiehoof. And of course there are superstitions associated with it.
Climate change is apparently affecting Equestria. Maybe I was wrong about windigoes being extinct…
Izzy zoning out feels like there was a five-second gap in the script and no one could figure out how to fill it. Though who knows? It may be relevant later.
Ah yes, Zipp’s original dream of returning flight to the pegasi, now expanded to all of equinity. Good to see the writers haven’t completely forgotten the movie.
That said, it feels wrong that Sunny isn’t really doing anything to investigate magic herself. This was the mare who had nothing but questions about everything outside Maretime Bay. It’d be nice if Zip at least showed her how to ask reality itself through the scientific method.
Huh. Interesting that they redo the origins of the Marestream when Tell your Tale has already covered it. (Especially since they actually did test flights in the short.) Imperfect continuity between the 2D and 3D content has some curious implications of its own. For now, I just appreciate the cargo-cultish process akin to how the Librarian of the Unseen University made a motorcycle in the Discworld novel Soul Music: Physically assemble a rough approximation of the concept and letting magic bring it to completion. It’s just a matter of cutie mark magic and the Prisbeam rather than the ambient memetic power of Music With Rocks In.
But I digress.
Izzy has apparently taken on the mouth harp as her signature instrument, much in the same way a harpsichord would cut in for Rarity being Rarity. Also, forging official documents is a crime, Izzy.
Six spots, eh? Harmony magic does have a track record of knowing something ponies don’t…
“We’ll head out to Equestria” makes it sound like Maretime Bay isn’t part of Equestria. Very odd phrasing there. Also, is the Wishing Star an actual astrological phenomenon?
Ponies come and go, but excessive luggage gags are eternal.
I feel like having the vehicle directly facing a building during takeoff is… suboptimal.
Not actually having an altimeter, speedometer, or even compass is a little concerning. I can only hope the instruments are somewhere in the Marestream’s UI. Also, someone tell Pipp to put her phone into airplane mode.
Ah yes. The seatbelt sign. Because they definitely have seats and not just designated places to stand. I can only assume that Zipp learned about pilot announcements from her research in the undercity airship port. Izzy is clearly just channeling the morphic resonance of the Marestream to access relevant humor. Clearly.
Okay, I love how the carol lyrics ram into each other headfirst. This is what mumble mumble years of cultural divergence will do. I also like how they resolve the matter. It’s a wonderful representation of the reconciliation these five (and Señor Butterscotch) are performing every day.
Also, it’s possible that Zipp might have just worn out her voice in the earlier scene due to the sheer amount of practice Pipp was putting her through.
To be fair, it’s not like there are a lot of aircraft at the moment… but yeah, those two pegasi are violating basic flight safety protocols.
Ah, unexpected change. Hitch’s greatest enemy.
It does appear that the Wishing Star isn’t just symbolic. Very interesting, and it explains why “Wish” found its way into the name of every tribe’s holiday. (It also raises the question of whether they strictly need to be in Maretime Bay to see it.)
Hitch, you couldn’t have mentioned any of this yesterday?
Also, I wonder if this is the closest we’ll get to the “racist old relative” trope.
Once again, we have moon as year, and I want to smack the writers with an astronomy textbook.
I do appreciate the irony of the Trailblazer family being very set in their ways. Possible Apple family influence there.
Hmm. This snow is unprecedented for the better part of a century. I was joking earlier, but now I’m wondering if some other species really is throwing off the global climate. My money’s on the minotaurs.
A doting grandmother is one thing, but I’m not comfortable with Figgy having that one especially sultry photo of Hitch. I doubt he’s happy about it either.
Also, that phonograph gives a nice bit of G4 nostalgia. And raises interesting questions about the timeframe.
Nice use of seashells in the decor. Makes sense for a port town.
Oh. Of course. It’s Hitch who can’t handle change. And to think, we thought Discord might have a soft spot for him because he could talk to animals…
Ah, always nice to get a glimpse of Argyle. I do wonder what Figgy thought of his research.
“Not in my pony life.”
… Twilight? Did you open any Conversion Bureaus? 
Snow persisting in as a staple of holiday tales does make sense, especially with Hearth’s Warming Eve acting as the common ancestor of the modern traditions.
Unicorn-made media was at least available to earth ponies during Figgy’s foalhood. An interesting data point.
I do love how we can hear Figgy getting progressively more fed up with Hitch as the visit goes on. Excellent performance.
I’m very surprised that Sparky didn’t eat that chimney.
Pipp including Rocky and Jazz cookies is a lovely touch. As is how, even as a cookie, Jazz has no ears.
I’m not sure, but I’m pretty sure Zipp made an airship hangar.
For a second, I thought Sparky was going to rampage among the cottages.
I knew there’d be a “Figgy pudding” joke. Unavoidable, really.
Sunny truly has taken some of Twilight’s less desirable traits to heart. Clock is ticking!
Hmm. That boost not working may be a concerning sign of things to come in a bit.
The closed captioning credits Sparky as saying “Me too!” Official first words?
If they land by Chez Moonbow, couldn’t Izzy just trot to the Wishing Tree?
I do have to wonder how the Marestream’s navigation system works. Magic, yes, but how and what kind?
Bringing books with you during holiday trips. Ah, nostalgia…
Also, much smoother landing this time.
So… has Izzy been by her Bridlewood house lately? I feel like that googly-eyed snowpony is her work.
Ah. She must have if she had those scarves stashed here. That or she spent a lot of time knitting during her own social isolation.
Hmm. I wonder if Izzy’s channeling her mother with the admonition to bundle up. Definitely sounds like she’s imitating someone.
Aaaand they reused the same snowpony as the one in front of Izzy’s house. Sigh.
I appreciate the recursion of a decoration made to look like the thing it’s decorating.
Alphabittle Blossomforth? Well, that implies some pegasus connections. Very interesting…
Izzy, you definitely don’t want to wager your ornament. Seriously, why? What are you getting out of this?
Charades with hooves seems like a nightmare.
Ah, of course she’d have a backup. How foolish of me.
Scarves… for horns. This is what happens when you assume a spherical rabbit.
I can only assume that that bongo player follows Onyx everywhere. I have to assume that they’re dating at minimum.
The sixfold-symmetrical snowflakes only highlight the eightfold ones. Still, I have to appreciate Onyx on a conceptual level.
“I don’t remember life before that poem.”
I genuinely can’t tell if that’s a positive or negative reaction.
Hmm. An ancient tree rumored to have cleansing properties. I don’t like the idea of the Tree of Harmony turning into mundane wood, but this is definitely a point in its favor… assuming that this is in fact that tree. Wasn’t it supposed to be in a clearing in no mare’s land?
It’s nice that the locals have extra ornaments for any out-of-towners who want to join in the tradition.
Huh. Did Hitch and Sunny reflexively bow when they heard a gong? It’s not like they were just reacting to the sudden loud noise; neither pegasus does. Very curious.
I wonder whether the elderly unicorn couple remembers a time when magic was still at least somewhat available.
Well, at least Bridlewood has a mayor. And a secretary. I guess Raven really is immortal.
Zipp has a point. Given how the Marestream seems to run on friendship magic, an untimely argument could make it fall out of the sky.
Mind you, Pipp also has a point. The wings of your aircraft icing over is never a good sign.
Visualizing what you want to happen could be a holdover from more complex spellcasting. It certainly seems to be the case here.
Sunny, don’t move the lantern. Why are you moving the lantern? You’re going to regret moving the lantern.
I do appreciate the Rockefeller Center-esque fountain.
A holiday display window in Zephyr Heights featuring unicorns does say volumes about how well pony society is coming back together.
… Oh. Oh my. That is very nearly the Wonderbolts poster. Just modified to have the towers of Zephyr Heights in the background. I have so many questions.
I see the guards are acting as substitute Spikes in the traditional hauling of many gifts.
Zoom and Thunder don’t get paid enough to deal with this. Though credit to Zoom for thinking on the fly.
Once again, we see the importance of communication, especially clearing your plans with others ahead of time. Though with Haven, it could be an uphill battle to convince her to spend less time with her fillies.
So is “Pipp” not short for something? I get the feeling Haven really was thinking along the lines of “heir and a spare” there. This would have been long before anypony found out about Zipp’s reticence to take the throne, including Zipp.
I do like the use of wings in the sisters’ opening dance.
Oh no. They’re doing all the verses.
So… why do ponies have carousels exactly? Yes, this was a question with Rarity’s boutique, but the point still stands.
Ah, a truly universal experience. “Does anyone remember where we parked?”
Okay, I was clearly wrong about moving the lantern. 
Oh no. Uncontrolled incantations. Unicorns will need to relearn basic spell safety… though this seems like it should be more in the pegasus wheelhouse. (On the other hand, Rarity was managing Ponyville’s weather somehow.)
What did I just say about basic spell safety? Yes, good, you’ve found a warming spell. Don’t overcompensate.
Huh. That wishing star’s tail has a very familiar color scheme. Makes me wonder if the Crusaders ever managed to launch anything into orbit.
… Wait, did Sunny just blow up a comet with the larger Prisbeam?
Oh. I suppose the wishing star’s palette might also be based on the coats and manes of the current main cast. Still, the Crusader shield also fits. (I do wonder how Sunny set up five personalized Batsignals. Yes, she was a lighthouse keeper for years, but that does require a good amount of equipment.)
Nice touch with Sunny tugging at her present’s bow with her mouth. We’ve seen very little of that in G5.
Izzy definitely got Sparky a good gift. Any child appreciates an empty box to play with/in.
Some fascinating world building, and a good subtle buildup on the climax. I genuinely thought the unicorns were lighting their horns intentionally as a new part of the greeting. Plus, we finally got out of Maretime Bay in 3D. In all, this may be the best piece of G5 media since the movie. Definitely some of the best showings we’ve gotten from much of the cast, though Hitch remains a goober. I just wish we got a little more on the reasons for the seasons; we see a lot of celebration, but not what the tribes are celebrating.
Also, it would be interesting to see what Opaline and Misty were doing today. That castle might house the last two Hearth’s Warming dolls in Equestria, or Opaline might say that any day when she doesn’t get her fix isn’t worth celebrating.
In any case, no matter what you celebrate, I’ve gotten you some presents:
Cultural Divergence 2W
Enchantment
Creatures can’t attack you or planeswalkers you control unless attacking payer pays X, where X is the number of different creature types among those creatures.
Herding cats is hard enough without adding a dozen other species.
Royal Choir 2W
Creature — Pegasus Bard
Finale — Whenever you sacrifice a Song, you become the monarch. If you were already the monarch, draw a card.
The Zephyr Heights royal family is a strange blend of rulers and pop stars, with subjects to match.
2/3
Whiteout Conditions 2W
Snow Instant
Choose up to X creatures, where X is the amount of S spent to cast this spell. Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures not chosen this way. (S is mana from a snow source.)
Zipp had never flown the Marestream in snow this bad. Or any other kind.
Peerless Pilot 3W
Creature — Pegasus Pilot
Whenever Peerless Pilot crews a Vehicle, you may pay 3. If you do, Peerless Pilot and that Vehicle gain indestructible until end of turn.
“I don’t crash. I perform unscheduled stress tests.”
3/2
Consistent Construction 1U
Instant
Kicker 4U (You may pay an additional 4U as you cast this spell.)
Choose target nonlegendary artifact. The next time one or more artifacts or creatures enter the battlefield this turn, they enter as copies of the chosen artifact. If this spell was kicked, create three Treasure tokens.
Blizzard Beckoner 2U
Snow Creature — Unicorn Wizard
2S, T: Target creature you control has base power and toughness X/X until end of turn, where X is the number of snow permanents you control. (S can be paid with one mana from a snow source.)
Some like it cold.
2/2
Window Shopping 2U
Instant
Look at the top four cards of your library. Put one into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library. Create a Treasure token. (It’s an artifact with “T, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.”)
“Seeing the displays is half the fun.”
—Queen Haven
Ancient Incantation 4U
Sorcery
Target opponent reveals their hand and the top card of their library. You may cast a noncreature card revealed this way without paying its mana cost. If you don’t, return Ancient Incantation to its owner’s hand.
Many of Bridlewood’s early magical discoveries came by accident.
Zephyr Heights Wonderbolt 4U
Creature — Pegasus Performer
When Zephyr Heights Wonderbolt enters the battlefield, you get TK (a ticket counter), then you may put a sticker on a nonland permanent you own.
Each creature you control with three or more words in its name has flying.
However warped, the tradition lives on.
3/3
Frosty Shivers B
Snow Enchantment — Aura
Enchant nonsnow creature
Whenever Frosty Shivers or another snow permanent enters the battlefield under your control, put a -1/-1 counter on enchanted creature.
Any blessing in excess becomes a curse.
Onyx Soliloquy 2B
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, each player discards a card. Then if a player has no cards in hand, sacrifice Onyx Soliloquy and draw a card.
Bridlewood poetry always leaves an impact on the listener.
The Great Exodus 2BB
Enchantment — Saga
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.)
I — Each player chooses a creature type. Destroy all creatures that aren’t of a type chosen this way.
II — Up to two target creatures explore.
III — Exile this Saga, then return it to the battlefield transformed under your control.
Wintry Vestige
(B) Snow Enchantment Creature — Elemental Horse
Menace
Wintry Vestige gets +1/+1 for each creature card in a graveyard.
So long as mistrust lurks in pony hearts, the windigoes are never truly gone.
0/0
Forged Documents R
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature can’t be blocked by white creatures.
Whenever equipped creature attacks, target creature can’t block this turn.
Equip 1
A clipboard and a careful hoof open many doors.
Figgy, Senior Reinventor 1RR
Legendary Creature — Pony Citizen
Permanent spells you cast cost 2 less to cast and can’t be countered.
Whenever you cast a permanent spell, at the beginning of the next end step, sacrifice a permanent you control that shares a card type with that spell unless you pay 2.
2/2
Pressure Burst 2R
Instant
Proliferate, then destroy target artifact. Pressure Burst deals damage to that artifact’s controller equal to the number of counters on it. (To proliferate, choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Unwise Wager 2R
Sorcery
Choose target opponent, then flip a coin. If you win the flip, draw three cards. Otherwise, mill three cards, then Unwise Wager deals damage to that player equal to the total mana value of those cards.
Never bet against Alphabittle.
Sudden Sprouting 1G
Instant
Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can’t cast spells or activate abilities that aren’t mana abilities.)
Untap all attacking creatures. They become colorless Forest lands until attacking player’s next turn.
The local foals never bothered Figgy again.
Frolicking Unicorn 2G
Creature — Unicorn Citizen
When Frolicking Unicorn enters the battlefield, you gain 1 life for each Unicorn you control.
“You can’t just go out there and prance. A good frolic takes years to master.”
—Izzy Moonbow
3/3
Magus of the Lantern 2G
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
Lands you control have “T: Add one mana of any color.”
T: Add one mana of any color.
The Prisbeam’s caretakers don’t know its full capabilities, but they know it needs to be protected.
1/3
Cookie Cottage 2
Artifact — Food
You may have Cookie Cottage enter the battlefield tapped as a copy of any land on the battlefield, except it’s a Food artifact in addition to its other types and has “2, T, Sacrifice this land: You gain 3 life.”
Almost too beautiful to eat. Almost.
Winter Wish 1S
Snow Sorcery
You may reveal a snow card you own from outside the game and put it into your hand. Exile Winter Wish.
She wished for a storm, but not for the comfort to enjoy it.
Brighthouse Banner 3
Artifact
As Brighthouse Banner enters the battlefield, choose two colors.
T: Add one mana of either chosen color.
3, T, Sacrifice Brighthouse Banner: Draw a card.
Charisma to unite, vision to lead.
Combat Carapace 4
Artifact — Equipment
Living weapon (When this Equipment enters the battlefield, create a 0/0 black Phyrexian Germ creature token, then attach this to it.)
Equipped creature has base power and toughness 3/3.
Equip 2
The Marestream 4
Legendary Artifact — Vehicle
Flying, lifelink
The Marestream gets +1/+1 for each color among permanents you control.
Creatures that crewed The Marestream this turn have hexproof. (It can’t crew itself.)
Crew 2
A wing from a prayer.
1/1
Recursive Ornament 1UB
Artifact Creature — Equipment Shapeshifter
Equipped creature gets +2/+2.
Whenever equipped creature dies, you may have Recursive Ornament become a copy of that creature, except it’s an Equipment artifact in addition to its other types and has reconfigure 3, this ability, and “Equipped creature gets +2/+2.”
Reconfigure 3
2/2
Incessant Carol 2WB
Enchantment
Creatures you control get +1/+1.
Creatures your opponents control get -1/-1.
When your opponents control no creatures, sacrifice Incessant Carol.
“If I hear that song one more time, something’s going to die.”
—Posey, Maretime Bay malcontent
Decoration Mishap 3RG
Sorcery
Put a +1/+1 counter on each of up to three target creatures. Decoration Mishap deals damage to target player equal to the number of permanents that player controls with counters on them.
“Izzy braves new frontiers of public safety.”
—Hitch Trailblazer, Maretime Bay sheriff
Immaculate Synthesis 4GW
Sorcery
Look at the top seven cards of your library. Put any number of nonland permanent cards with total mana value 6 or less from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Miracle 1(gw) (You may cast this card for its miracle cost if it’s the first one you drew this turn.)
Duck 1W//Cover 1U
Instant//Instant
Duck: Tap up to two target creatures.
Cover: Target creature you control gets +0/+2 and gains hexproof until end of turn.
Palace Gates
Land — Gate
T: Add C.
T: Add one mana of any color. Activate this ability only if you’re the monarch.
“All are welcome within our home. Especially the gift shop.”
—Queen Haven
If g5 is at least consistent that "a moon" is a year (I haven't checked that they are, but it's beginning to feel that way) then I'm okay with that even if it makes no astronomical sense. It's been a long time since g4 used that term with all the precision of a biblical cubit, and all the pony pun slang of g4 has been replaced with new, different pony pun slang. Language is always changing. What can you do v0v
Queen Haven is turning into one of my favorite characters in G5, and I think the pegasus royal family is a rich well of stories in ways the other characters aren't. They have the whole family dynamic to draw on, three ponies with different relationships to each other, plus two comic relief guards that follow them around doing sitcom shenanigans. Compared to that the rest of the mane five don't have much to work with in the character relationship department.
While I have no knowledge to back this up, I feel like this must have been produced alongside the first Make Your Mark special, and before the series. The series has better animation than the specials, which I can only chalk up to the studio getting better with practice, and Opaline and Misty are left out.
All in all I don't have much to say about this one. It's not terrible, exactly, but very tame. I just wish it had more of the energy and wit of g4 to lift it up
To be fair, "new moon" is a term that means something specific in our world. That this only bungles things up even more... well, any linguist can explain how that isn't a continuity issue.
I mean, at this point Rarity's boutique probably is the explanation. There's plenty of things in our world where we don't know anything more than that.
On Ahuizotl's tail (to borrow your usual line), she wasn't exactly doing a good job.
Whereas I'm only wondering whether it was deliberate.
Meet the new Rainbow Dash, same as the old Rainbow Dash.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: There are over a hundred creature types, so changelings aren't going to be attacking you under Cultural Divergence unless something very strange is going on.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Consistent Construction will fail to resolve if its target is illegal by the time it tries to, and you can't cast it without one. The Treasure tokens from kicking it will consume the main effect to become probably something else, although they'll still consume it if you targeted a Treasure token you already had.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: If you want to scam Figgy out of the borrowed mana, you'll have to kill her in response to the spell. This is too late to affect the discount, so your opponent will have to act even faster to deprive you of it.
Inside Baseball Alert: Another day, another Magus, another real card being referenced.
It's a good question what she did, and whether this is some new form of celestial-body-raising alicorn magic, or prisbeam laser show, but blowing up a comet would not be my first explanation.
"Pipp, why is there all this money in my account?"
"Somepony has to take care of your image and IP rights, Sunny."
Speaking of Pipp, how about "Ponente" as her full first name? It's a name for the west wind, fitting together with "Zephyrina", and I could see everyone, Haven included, ignoring it and just calling her Pipp. (Clearly, Zipp was inspired by her sister's nickname becoming her use name!)
If that's not a ready-made story idea, I've never seen one in the wild!
Give or take the Portrait of a Princess episode, this is indeed the best MYM has yet gotten (there may be a few TYT shorts I'd place higher, even apart from them ending much quicker, but even the good ones there fade from memory awfully fast, so it's hard to say). The main reason is that the most insufferable character gimmicks, Pipp's internet celebrity persona never turning off and Sparky's "cute" destructive tendencies, are barely present in this special at all. But there are other improvements too; less terribly rigid character animation, getting the action out of Maretime Bay does make it not as draggy as some other escapades, and a not-tiny number of grace notes. And while the Misty plotline has been the closest thing to anything interesting in the post-movie G5 content, at least it being properly absent allowing the show to commit to being a fluffy disposable holiday special (no coincidence that the best episode of Ch. 2, the Portrait episode, was the one that made the least feinting towards ostensibly moving the arc forward)
This is still a wishy-washy plodding drag, and that nothing has been plugged into the absence of the most insufferable character parts means the mind inevitably wanders, noticing the usual array of convenient withholding of information (Zipp and Pipp only telling their mother they've heading off with Sunny & co. after the fact), far more nonsensical and unfunny holiday tradition vignettes then are needed or desired, pure padding and including characters out of obligation (that Alphabittle charades bit is… yeah), and repeating points numerous times in a scene. And how passive-aggressive all of the characters, but especially Sunny, continue to be, with neither the writing nor the others even aware of how monopolising she is of doing the holiday traditions her way (literally any other writers would have had her popping around on her own, joining everyone's family traditions for brief spells, only for them to join her at the end. Writing 101, folks). I can't imagine anything more then rapid completionism on series rewatches will compel many to visit this again.
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Actually, circumstantial evidence indicates they were, indeed, produced in production order. This special has a few people online on Twitter and the like noting it was their first credit, and these folks weren't credited for Chapter 2 (which itself had many more newcomers). Chapter 2 also had an expansion in staff in some areas midway through, which is carried onto this two-parter. That wouldn't line up with this special being produced before it.
As for the animation, actually, I found the character animation here to be among the best yet. Or, more accurately, have the smallest amount of terribly rigid moments that were quite commonplace in Chapter 1 and less present but still present throughout most of Chapter 2. I'll agree that most of the other areas (lighting, texturing, effects) still haven't improved, least not on a consistent level.
I can't even argue against Haven and the royal family dynamic being more interesting, you're probably right. But I cannot for the life of me see it getting delved into more than incrementally at the margins going forward, as it has been in Portrait of a Princess and a few TYT shorts to this point.
I suspect that his was a thing that happened in the recording booth. It was the actor that zoned out and recovered (in character) and it was just fun enough that the director decided to keep it in. Or maybe they're building to a Very Special Episode where they have to do an intervention with Izzy about her drug use. Could be either one.
One might comment about the proportional relationship of thought and effort put in to excusing anachronisms vs. creating or avoiding them, if one had a few moons to spare.
Moons. It's mumble mumble moons. Okay, so maybe it's lazy and inaccurate translations from the Equuish words moon, mune, mewn, muun, and moun. (Seem my previous comment.)
I have to admit, this was a pitch-perfect bit.
The unintentional, unconscious magic of a few hundred unicorn being able to change the climate kept giving me Forbidden Planet flashbacks.
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"Monsters from the
brIDlewood"5700387
Exactly!
Loving the snark!
Yeah the tree of harmony on a hill in a gigantic field was an Easter egg confirmed by the French concept art artist for the film (I can't remember names, ever). But that was the movie, done in Ireland, and this is the series, done in Ontario, Canada. Things change, like Izzy's interest in the world and in bringing the pony tribes together into a unified whole. Now she's all about good nutrition.
I missed that snowflake. Oh the horror!
Canterlogic has been swept so far into the background I was getting the impression that it had been abandoned. It doesn't help when Queen Pegasus (Iforgethername) just swoops on in and claims, by royal writ, a wall of the jail in Maretime Bay for her own collection. And the sheriff issuing decrees. Like there was no longer a figurehead leader for Maretime Bay.
To be fair, it's the Marestream flying bus that is at fault. In a midair collision at speed, those flying horses are hamburger before they hit the ground. Full disclosure, in the case of 2 million deer struck and killed on US highways every year, I blame the vehicles, not the deer.
Earless Jazz is the best running gag of the series, especially since I doubt it was intentional.
Boost not working on the Marestream: that's a subscription-only service. Costs 1,400 bits per year.
As I recall from staff tweets around the movie's release: Zephyrina got named after the city, she started going by / being called Zipp, Haven named her sister after that. There's a number of reasons Pipp has/had issues, and this might be where they started.
This special is at least 70% puns, which means I can't not love it. Definitely rewatching at some point to catch more of them. Also, somewhat more heavily focused on Izzy, which I appreciated. I appreciated her shaking her ass again, too. And I'm rather glad things didn't play out with the forced drama the cliches being played upon would invoke, I really enjoyed the fluffy nature of the whole thing. The Mare Stream (how the toys spell it, that thing is €40 btw) remains a very buyourtoys thing, but I somehow don't hate. I don't like it either. I just accept its existence.