Friendship is Card Games: Secrets of Starlight · 1:38pm Dec 10th, 2023
Huh. You’d think the episodes about stealing cutie marks would’ve covered Starlight’s secrets. Let’s see what else we can pin on Old Equestria’s Handicapper General. Maybe it’s time travel!
Huh. The last time I saw this kind of kaleidoscopic intro, we went to the human world.
Don’t do this, show. Don’t give me hope.
Ah. I only thought to check the runtime when the special logo showed up. This is a double-length feature, which does somewhat explain the brevity of this chapter. Still the shortest out of all of them, but only by one episode.
Of course Izzy wants answers for the mysterious force that accessorized and bedazzled her. And turned her horn into a single, solid crystal. This is edging into G-rated body horror. 
Isn’t that always the way? The bus only arrives just as you’re getting ready to walk there.
Neat to see that Pipp got an eighth note as the central feature of her necklace. Yes, these designs are incredibly toyetic, but I can still appreciate a magical glow-up. Izzy seemed to have gotten a Rarity-grade lozenge-cut gem. I suppose when your cutie mark is nothing but curves, the minerals can only do so much.
Sunny. You know it’s a Together Tree. Misty told you it was a Together Tree. The entire reason Opaline could go on her rampage was because this was a Together Tree. Yes, this is expositing for the benefit of those who might have inexplicably made this their first piece of G5 content, but it could have been phrased in a way that doesn’t make it seem like Sunny’s been grinding away at this particular brainteaser this whole time. (Or phrased to make it clear that she meant the Tree to which Opaline’s is now connected, because that clearly isn’t the case just going from my reaction.)
Ah. This Tree’s rather insistent, isn’t it? A bit like if the Map of Harmony immediately teleported everypony it called when they assembled.
So, Zipp has a lightning bolt, Hitch a badge, Misty a butterfly, and Sunny just integrated her existing necklace. In any case, welcome to the Crystal Empire.
Yes, I see the episode description calling this place “Starlight Ridge.” It’s in the Arctic and it’s made the cast extra-sparkly. It’s the Crystal Empire.
“Better question, what are we?”
Seriously, show, stop teasing me with what will probably never be.
“I’ve never seen anything like it before!”
Interesting that records of the Empire apparently didn’t survive. If nothing else, you’d think history would mention that Princess Twilight had a brother… though given her own track record there…
Sunny’s faith in trees is enough to put any druid to shame. And again, strong Map of Harmony vibes with dragging the main cast to the ends of the earth for ambiguous reasons.
Misty wanting to take a nap after an adventure doesn’t surprise me. She spent most of the series bargaining with dark forces for a sliver of unearned magical power. Of course the warlock wants to take a short rest.
I’m sure the room temperature, extra-sparkly snow isn’t anything to worry about. Certainly not as a respiratory hazard.
(Plot twist: It’s just soap flakes.)
So, aside from the Curse of Laughter afflicting the designated funny character with harmless, amusing pratfalls, why exactly is Izzy the only one having traction problems? (Pretty sure I answered my own question there…)
Gosh, it’s almost like they should’ve opted for aerial scouting to begin with rather than let the toddler lead the way in a strange environment with a ticking clock on their only known means of escape.
Maybe it’s a matter of budget limits, but that village does not seem to merit the amount of oohing and aahing that it elicited from the ponies.
Also, guys, you are looking at this town from outside city limits. It’s possible that ponies are inside. Or just on streets you can’t see from this angle.
Okay, the assumptions of abandonment work a little better after a scene transition and the implication that the group has actually bothered to look for ponies rather than just reading the DM’s notes.
As for why ponies would abandon the town, aside from the probable cause of another villain—and boy does it say volumes that the ponies can’t seem to conceive of a malefactor other than and distinct from Opaline—there is the question of how the locals fed themselves. Logistics have never been G5’s chief concern, but that question is especially notable here. The Empire had that climate shield for a reason.
Oh! Everypony is inside. Judging by that beat, there’s a Queen cover band performing, and they’re about to start “We Will Rock You.”
Misty forgetting that she’s with ponies who actually care about her well-being is quietly heartbreaking.
Very considerate of the locals to only begin the vocal portion of the song once the main cast was there to appreciate it. Also impressive audio filter effects on what is diegetically a live performance. 
Also also, that is definitely Twilight’s cutie mark on the singer’s necklace. We’ll see if anything comes of that.
I do have to wonder where the locals are getting the cacao for all that hot chocolate. Possibly related to Yakyakistani vanilla beans.
Given the telekinetically operated flute, I also have to wonder whether the locals’ magic was ever sealed. By all appearances, they only connected to the portal network after Opaline’s defeat. I’m going to have to see what they know of the past several centuries.
Also, this may be the most pointless musical number in G5’s entire run. These lyrics practically scream “We’re filling time with this one.”
… Oh. That bit about “no one watching” makes sense now; maybe the rest of the context will fill in later. Not surprising that an isolated village of what appears to be fewer than twenty ponies wouldn’t know how to handle visitors. If you thought the other three towns were bad…
“Where did everypony go?” Misty asks after seeing the exact directions in which ponies fled.
Oh, Sparky has a replica of the Dragonstone on his necklace. Nice touch.
Yup, the coefficient of friction around here is inversely related to how much your character serves as comic relief.
Upon reflection, I can understand the residents of Starlight Ridge not wanting to spill their every secret—and I have to suspect they deliberately chose the special’s name as a fakeout allusion to G4—to the first visitors seen in living memory. There’s clearly a necessary element of trust here that the main cast hasn’t earned in the seconds that the locals have known them.
“Auroricorns.” Hmm. Not sure what to make of that one, but I’m still blaming Flurry Heart’s influence on the crystal pony gene pool.
And Zipp heard a mystery. Sorry, Violet, she doesn’t know how to let anything go. At all.
This may be me reading too much into it, but I’m starting to get Soma vibes from the local cocoa. That or liquid lotus petals. (As in the ones from the Odyssey, not the ones from Tempest.)
Ah. Not just cacao. All manner of crops that nopony’s cultivating. Fantastic.
I do appreciate Hitch thinking about the limited time they have here. And of course Sunny wants to establish ties with another pony society.
There’s a joke here about Hitch getting dragged into this by his harem, but I don’t see him having chemistry with most of them. (He and Sunny have definitely tried a romantic relationship in the past and both agreed it did not work.)
I needed a second to look over the ice skate design and, while it isn’t just blades attached to the ponies’ hooves, the thin clamp-on designs still seem really poorly designed as opposed to, say, actual shoes. But, of course, this team didn’t even have the budget to give Jazz ears, much less layer outfits over the pony models.
“I love skating!”
Not something I’d expect a pony to experience much in a port town. Maybe the sisters have taken Sunny to a few rinks in Zephyr Heights… but given that “I haven’t skated in forever” comment, I’m not sure how to reconcile this one. (Yes, it’s not like the writers thought about it, but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.)
Izzy being nervous about a new activity? On the one hand, that just feels wrong. On the other, I could see this as a form of semi-metafictional pattern recognition. She’s already been slipping and sliding in this special as it is. Goodness knows what the writers have planned for her here.
Yup. As I said, funny characters aren’t allowed to have dignity on the ice.
Funny how the swirling glyphs only showed up when ponies started to skate. I’m sure it’s nothing.
Oh look, the Star of Chaos. I’m sure this is a good sign.
Ah yes, the adrenaline rush of not actually dying overcoming fear that you definitely will. I’ve been there before.
Hmm. A sign of positive emotional energy that ponies view with dread. Also a stallion who isn’t “allowed” to leave this incredibly isolated village that has no idea the wider world exists. Definitely not anything to be worried about.
Also, joy in the lost city of polar ponies creating auroras? Definitely what became of the Crystal Empire. I’m just not sure how the Crystal Heart got shot into orbit. (Probably Flurry.)
I appreciate snow sculptures. I have several questions about Sunny’s icy replica of the Unity Crystals.
Healing snow. That may or may not come up later. After all, someone would have to get hurt first.
Heh. Of course Izzy’s going whole-hog on the more artistic activities.
And of course Zipp abandons all sense of tact and subtlety when ponies refuse to answer her questions. Not that she had much of either to begin with.
I appreciate Sunny being skeptical that the ineffable forces of Harmony and Unity might have done something pleasant. That’s an experienced adventurer speaking. The invisible hoof of destiny does not shove one towards all-expenses-paid, no-strings-attached vacation packages.
Ominous bells. With nary a belltower in sight. I’m sure it’s fine.
Also, that angle on Violet Frost confirms that the auroricorns’ cutie marks are three-dimensional badges, which raises questions. Especially given their similarity to dragon cutie marks, which is an area I’m trying not to think about too much.
I’m split on this one. Yes, there is clearly something fishy going on here, and we’ve seen that this portal has opened twice already. But Sunny’s willingness to abandon everything she’s ever known for a few ponies she’s known for a few hours is concerning, as her willingness to make that decision for all of her closest friends. Also, they definitely should have had this conversation before going to the portal. That’s another trip there and back again deducted from their time here.
Also also, Sunny has lost all “I’m not a leader” rights going forward.
Ponies with painfully forced smiles. Starlight Glimmer is involved! 
“Boinks and bonks.” Is that we’re calling that now?
“Then why do they all look so… happy?”
Sunny, if you think those smiles are natural, I don’t know what to tell you.
Oh my goodness, an actually rabbit-shaped rabbit. Or at least one that isn’t spherical.
Also a winged tiger. Does that count as a sphinx? In any case, between the sinister monster and only slightly less sinister kooky sidekick, I’m getting G1 villain design vibes from these two. (And, again, Allura’s mane—which really does not work on a felid—is a suspiciously close match to Starlight’s.)
If they're just trying to immobilize two random unicorns, now would be a good time for the earth ponies to employ the growth magic that nearly fought Opaline to a standstill. Just saying.
Ah yes, the necessary aimless fumbling before Sunny can remind everypony that teamwork exists.
Allura’s sidekick’s name is Twitch? Between the mind control and the streaming partnership, she’s clearly Pipp’s nemesis.
… Wait, does Allura have telekinesis? I know she has magic, but that still came out of nowhere. This is just so they didn’t have to animate her physically grabbing the Nova Charm, isn’t it?
Also, the fact that nopony even tried to physically resist her in the flashback… Again, this may be an animation shortcut, but it’s still kind of sad.
“Town law says that whoever holds the power of the charm rules Starlight Ridge. Allura managed to steal it and possess it, so she’s the leader.”
… That’s dumb. Your town law is dumb.
“She’s able to get us to do whatever she wants just by talking.”
I suppose “talking” is one way to describe a mesmerizing purr.
Sure, Allura says she’s physically powerful. Counterpoint: She’s also able to control thoughts. This could be a case of convincing the auroricorns that there’s nothing they can do when they outnumber her twenty-to-one.
“She believes that one of the stars in the sky is special and contains the magic to open a portal that will lead her to another realm.”
… Huh. I wasn’t expecting this on multiple levels. For one, this seems to imply that Starlight Ridge exists on a different plane of reality than Equestria, which raises all kinds of questions. For another, where did Allura hear this?
“I can’t believe that anypony would be so cruel.”
Pipp, you literally fought Opaline earlier today.
“If we figure out how to get back [to Equestria]”
Has Misty already given up on the portal? Also, I can’t help but think that somepony should, you know, mention the portal. If only to acknowledge that they have what Allura wants.
Heh. Stealing potent magics from rulers hasn’t failed Sunny yet.
Okay, does Allura constantly have to make that sound? (The answer may be yes, given the sound-based mind control.)
“Is this why you were being so strange about the Aurora Flares earlier?” Zipp Storm. Truly Maretime Bay’s greatest detective. Also, why would Allura even leave the town long enough for these celebrations? I suppose she has her own reasons.
I do appreciate Misty being the one to try to dig into the villain’s motivation and history. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’re getting a repeat redemption with Twitch.
That said, given Allura’s sudden appearance and obsession with interplanar travel, I have to think she was banished from a different realm entirely. (That is, Starlight Ridge is probably in the same universe as G5 Equestria, but Allura’s not from around here.) I’m choosing to blame Star Swirl until further notice.
Okay, we know this building isn’t very well soundproofed. Allura should be able to hear this musicl number.
Huh. Twitch doesn’t speak something the audience can understand. Curious choice.
“I haven’t seen Violet Frost in… forever.”
Typical cat. Doesn’t see someone for ten minutes and assumes they’re gone for good.
… This plan has no right to work as well as it is, but at least the heroes and villain are on similar intellectual footing.
Oh no. Multiple horses against a single rabbit. Whatever shall they do?
… Okay, given Angel Bunny’s example, this is a more even matchup than it might first appear to be.
Yes. A lullaby. That most inconspicuous of distractions.
Okay, while she’s posturing, somepony secure the MacGuffin.
“All I need is the power of ‘purr-suasion.’”
I just want to talk to whoever came up with that. I just want to talk.
And of course Izzy only made the one set of earplugs.
“Maybe I’ll let the auroricorns have a little fun with you before I make you join them.”
I don’t think the writers quite thought that one through.
… So nopony, including the established-to-be-clumsy Comet, ever stumbled into the healing snow before now. And touching the snow with their hooves didn’t count. Also, that snow doesn’t melt when left in an ear canal for minutes on end.
I have never been so thoroughly reminded of the show’s target audience quite as much as I have today.
Also, Allura’s just watching them do this. Including all of the reassuring speeches. At most, she’s providing color commentary that is, at worst… Well, catty.
Look, I’m not saying my wordplay is much better than the show’s, but still.
Also also, the extraplanar invader getting ousted by both the resolve of the natives and the unique properties of the plane she dismissed as irrelevant to her own dreams of conquest. I thought we'd be through with the March of the Machine parallels after last week.
And now they’re having a musical reprise. Allura, you can at least hit the priority targets.
As I suspected, Allura’s… well, a paper tiger. Her greatest defense was convincing the subjugated ponies that they had no hope of resistance.
“I want out of this realm, and I always get what I want!”
Yup, definitely banished. At least Star Swirl didn’t dump everything into the human world.
Oh, for goodness sake, don’t tell me the leopard has a cutie mark too.
… Wait. Are we sure she’s not related to Lightning Chill? I could certainly see such a lousy attitude getting booted out of Pony Life.
So if Violet needs to be told she’s the new leader, who was leading Starlight Ridge before Allura? Was it just an autonomous collective? For all of the obvious signs of descent from the Crystal Empire, this makes it sound like these ponies popped into existence five minutes before Allura got banished here. Is this a demiplane? If we zoom out, is this whole universe a snowglobe on Star Swirl’s mantlepiece? (Yes, I’m still blaming him. The Pony Life hypothesis is a long shot.)
So… is the main cast meant to be rattling off their Harmony-analogous virtues? Not sure how to feel about this, even with my earlier appreciation for the concept of Sunny as Princess of Hope. The thing about the Elements of Harmony is that they all need a friend to have any meaning. (Well, you can and should be honest with yourself, but you know what I mean.) Kindness and empathy still qualify, of course, but hope and creativity both work just fine on your own. And confidence and courage are even worse; they have an adversarial requirement. You have to be courageous against something for it to mean something. This definitely feels like scrambling for something deeper than the writers ever managed.
I do appreciate the Nova Charm holding the portal catalyst. Good “obvious in hindsight” reveal. This also explains why the ineffable will of magic didn’t provide a round trip. We’ve seen how Harmony doesn’t always play well with causality.
“I guess her greed and anger stopped her from seeing the special thing right before her eyes.”
Ah yes, seamless dialogue a real flesh person would say.
“I have been dreaming of seeing the rest of the world for as long as I can remember.”
Comet’s hardly the most reliable source, but I am going to take this as confirmation that Starlight Ridge is on the same planet as the current Equestria. I’d been having my doubts. (I’m also choosing to believe that the stars the auroricorns were plucking out of the sky were only condensed magic put there by the Aurora Flares and not actual stars, for the sake of my sanity.)
Wait, if Izzy affixed that star to the necklace she only has because of the local magical conditions…
Ah, she gets to keep it because of the modifications. Neat hack.
The ominous, mysterious voice of Allura’s unseen brother, this new villain entering Equestria…
It’d be very compelling if this weren’t the last episode of Make Your Mark.
“And with Opaline and Allura gone…” She flew off in a huff. You people did nothing to actually address her continuing threat. Seriously, ponies in this age seem to have conflated humiliation with death. Which might explain Pipp’s social media empire.
And in the final seconds, a character tries for something mildly impressive, stumbles, and tries to play off the disaster as exactly what they were going for. I can think of no better summary for Make Your Mark as a whole. Don’t get me wrong, there were some good elements in this special, but the ultimate pointlessness of the exercise leaves a bad taste in my mouth, to say nothing of what I’m assuming is the absolute maximum limit of violence S&P let them get away with (i.e. the snowball fight.)
That being said, Allura does raise some fascinating story potential. It’s just frustrating that all of Chapter 6 has comprised a desperate scramble to cover all the ground that previous parts of MYM chose not to. And I can't even do my usual "summarize the series" Saga; Make Your Mark is already a card. An ironically forgettable one.
In any case, let’s see what I can make from this:
Imposing Facade 1W
Enchantment
Whenever a creature attacks you or a planeswalker you control, put a stun counter on that creature unless its controller pays 2. (If a permanent with a stun counter would become untapped, remove one from it instead.)
The best defense is a good argument against offense.
Nova Charm 1W
Sorcery
Choose one —
• Planeswalk, then draw a card.
• Return target artifact or enchantment card from your graveyard to your hand.
• Destroy any number of target artifacts and/or enchantments with total mana value 3 or less.
Touched by the Aurora 1W
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and has ward X, where X is the number of enchantments you control. (Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays X.)
Invasion of Starlight Ridge 2W
Snow Battle — Siege
(As a Siege enters, choose an opponent to protect it. You and others can attack it. When it’s defeated, exile it, then cast it transformed.)
When Invasion of Starlight Ridge enters the battlefield, until your next turn, creatures you control gain lifelink and snow creatures you control gain vigilance.
5
Crystal Snowball Squad
(W) Snow Creature — Unicorn Warrior
Vigilance, lifelink
Whenever Crystal Snowball Squad blocks, it deals 1 damage to each attacking creature.
Individual auroricorns were easily subdued. They just didn’t stay that way.
2/4
Twitch, Chittering Costar 2U
Legendary Creature — Rabbit Rogue
Partner with Allura, Star Seeker (When this creature enters the battlefield, target player may put Allura into their hand from their library, then shuffle.)
At the beginning of combat on each opponent’s turn, up to one target creature that player controls gets -3/-0 until end of turn and attacks you this combat if able.
1/4
Polar Opposite 3U
Snow Creature — Shapeshifter
You may have Polar Opposite enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield, except it’s still snow.
When Izzy’s ice sculpture greeted her back, only the auroricorns were surprised.
0/0
All-Day Pass 4UU
Sorcery
Take an extra turn after this one. Open an Attraction. (Put the top card of your Attraction deck onto the battlefield.)
Exile All-Day Pass.
The auroricorns made the most of any reprieve Allura gave them.
Kleptocratic Coup 5UU
Instant
Gain control of target spell or nonland permanent. You become the monarch.
“In hindsight, ‘whoever owns the unsecured bauble is our ruler’ was kind of a silly rule.”
—Violet Frost
To the Last Drop B
Sorcery
Bargain (You may sacrifice an artifact, enchantment, or token as you cast this spell.)
Lifelink
To the Last Drop deals 2 damage to target creature. If this spell was bargained, it deals 4 damage to that creature instead.
Entranced Auroricorn 1B
Creature — Unicorn Minion
Lifelink
When Entranced Auroricorn dies, put a lifelink counter on target creature you control.
The worst part of Allura’s rule isn’t having to obey her every command. It’s being forced to enjoy that obedience.
2/2
Star Harvest 1B
Enchantment
Whenever Star Harvest or another enchantment is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, draw a card.
1B, Sacrifice Star Harvest: Each opponent sacrifices an enchantment.
The auroricorns and their greatest treasures were both reduced to Allura’s tools.
Ominous Whispers 3BB
Sorcery
You draw X cards and lose X life, where X is the greatest mana value of a commander you own on the battlefield or in your command zone.
“Back to square one for the new villain. And there may be someone worse behind her.”
—Princess Zipp Storm
Dragonfire Aspirant 2R
Creature — Unicorn Warlock
Trample, haste
At the beginning of your end step, sacrifice Dragonfire Aspirant unless you control a Dragon.
An alicorn can steal fire from the dragons without consequence. Everypony else becomes fuel.
4/3
Oddity Aficionado 2R
Creature — Unicorn Shaman
Paradox — Whenever you cast a spell from anywhere but your hand, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
T: Exile target noncreature, nonland card from your graveyard that you discarded this turn. You may cast that card this turn.
“Where’s the fun in ‘normal’ magic?”
2/3
Furious Interrogation 3R
Sorcery
Furious Interrogation deals damage to target player equal to the number of cards in that player’s hand. Investigate. (Create a Clue token. It’s an artifact with “2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)
Zipp has yet to combine detective work with tact.
Breach the Realms 4RR
Sorcery
Breach the Realms deals 5 damage divided as you choose among any number of targets. If a creature or planeswalker dealt damage this way would die this turn, exile it instead.
Star Swirl has banishing spells for every occasion.
Magus of the Path 1G
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
T: Add C.
T: Each player gains control of all creatures they own.
“It’s never too late to go back home.”
2/1
Will of Harmony 1G
Sorcery
Look at the top six cards of your library. You may reveal a creature card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order,
Retrace (You may cast this spell from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Inexplicable Bounty 3G
Sorcery
Search your library for a land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, shuffle, then discover 3. (Exile cards from the top of your library until you exile a nonland card with mana value 3 or less. Cast it without paying its mana cost or put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom in a random order.)
Isolation’s End 5G
Sorcery
Undaunted (This spell costs 1 less to cast for each opponent.)
Each player may put a creature card from their hand onto the battlefield.
Centuries after the Crystal Empire fell, the rest of Equestria reminded its descendants that they were part of a wider world.
Guiding Star 3
Artifact
T: Add one mana of any color.
T: Roll the planar die. Activate only as a sorcery.
The Crystal Heart broke into countless shards long ago. Most simply heal the mind and body. A few have more specialized purposes.
Ice Slide
Artifact — Attraction
Visit — You may return a creature you control to its owner’s hand. Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control this turn, it gets +2/+0 and gains haste until end of turn.
The most fun you can legally have at below-freezing temperatures.
(3 lights)
Comet, Cocoa Specialist GUR
Legendary Creature — Unicorn Citizen
Whenever you cast a multicolored spell, untap Comet and create a Food token. (It’s an artifact with “2, T, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life.”)
T, Sacrifice X artifacts: Add X mana in any combination of colors.
“Sorry, I’ll make you a fresh cup.”
2/3
Violet Frost, Joybringer 1GWU
Legendary Creature — Unicorn Performer
When Violet enters the battlefield, shuffle your junkyard into your Attraction deck, then open an Attraction.
Whenever you visit one or more Attractions, you gain that much life and put a +1/+1 counter on each of up to that many target creatures.
3/3
Valorscale Valkyrie 2RW
Snow Creature — Dragon Angel
Flying, double strike
1RW: Valorscale Valkyrie gets +1/+1 until end of turn. If SSS was spent to activate this ability, put a +1/+1 counter on it instead. (S can be paid with one mana from a snow source.)
Noble memories soar among the auroras.
2/2
Allura’s Trance 2WUB
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
You control enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature has vigilance and lifelink.
“Find the star. Find a portal. And remember to have fun while you’re doing it.”
Aurora Flare 3RW
Instant
You gain 3 life. Aurora Flare deals X damage to any target, where X is the amount of life you gained this turn.
From afar, it’s a beautiful expression of joy and delight. Up close, it’s still a massive electromantic discharge.
Eerie Lockstep 3RW
Sorcery
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. Creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain haste until end of turn.
“It’s not so bad when you get used to it.”
—Princess Pipp Petals
Allura, Star Seeker 4WB
Legendary Creature — Sphinx
Partner with Twitch, Chittering Costar
Flying, vigilance, menace
Whenever a creature attacking you or a permanent you control dies, return that card to the battlefield under your control unless its controller pays 3 life.
4/5
If you do a rewatch of MYM, this is practically a drinking game
At almost a fortnight since I saw this, the details are a little foggy. Mostly I remember not finding it as much of a drag as the series' first special or "Bridlewoodstock", but reading through your play-by-play, the padding is still very much present. Comet was cute in that adorkable Sunburst sort of way (I was surprised to learn they didn't share voice actors, he sounds quite similar), but otherwise, the reluctance to physical content, gaping plot holes, and complete rejection of fantasy awe the scenario would seem to insist on, as per usual in this gen, makes it a whole lot of nothing. I'm too numb to MYM's failings to have been disappointed by it, but it's a fitting end for the series, if not in a good way.
And that's even before we consider the new villain introduced with hints of a continuing story (that brother she telepathically talks to at the end), that TYT, if it chooses to continue this, will not be remotely equipped to do so.
One fact of interest: at UK PonyCon two months ago, during the Voice Actor panel, Elley-Ray Hennessy revealed that she auditioned for Opaline, getting close enough to have a few callbacks. She treated us to her take on the character (something just about everyone who heard it seems to agree is better than the take we actually got, though I blame the show's voice direction more than Athena Karkanis' take on the character), but more importantly revealed that Opaline was not a pony when she auditioned for her! Instead, she was a snow leopard/white tiger/big cat (I can't 100% remember the specific words she used).
Whether this means Allura only used that rejected design to save time in the wake of the show not getting renewed, or the script was written around using other unused concepts throughout the show's run, it's unclear. But certainly very telling of what the production of the show is like, no?
Inside Baseball Alert: Charms have pretty much always been a choice of three things that combined make something you might consider putting in your deck. This is sufficiently well-known among Magic players that we've had stuff like Charming Prince reference it further.
Inside Baseball Alert: The gift of the magi (which is the actual plural of "magus" I swear English makes sense) continues to be referencing existing cards.
The most recent episodes of TYT have followed up from the special, with Comet, Starlight Ridge, and Allura all present, which... I don't know what that means really, but it seems like TYT is continuing the story in some form or other, at least for now.
Maybe we'll end up in a bizarre funhouse mirror world where stories that were planned for MYM continue only in the form of those TYT episodes that summarized MYM's major plot developments, like shadows on the cave wall.
A port town that has been established as not having had snow in many years, possibly even within multiple generations. (I know ice skating doesn't require snow, but they went to the trouble of having a special that established a lack of cold weather in Maretime Bay so...)
Exceptionally, and yet it barely breaks the top 5 for this episode.
Has Zipp ever actually solved anything? She does a lot of chasing answers but only ever seems to get them after they're no longer relevant and/or somebody else figures it out.
Yeah, this is the point where I just threw up my hands and surrendered. This is not even trying. My best guess is that they started with wanting to end the episode with a snowball fight and worked backwards from there, but even then it's a lot of stupid.
See, I found it absolutely infuriating. It renders so much of the plot completely irrelevant and it (plus a few other elements) establishes Allura as a bumbling moron from the start. Not how you want to launch a new antagonist.
I'm mostly just cynically entertained that Opaline, the main villain for almost the entirety of G5, got taken out with a mid-season episode and replaced by this weird cat thing for the actual finale. I refuse to believe that they couldn't have arranged the plot around Opaline instead of Furaffinity for an actual series/season capstone. It boggles the mind.
Have we seen Sunny go rollerblading since the initial movie? That's all I've got.
As for the episode? I think that was the most frequently I've ever glanced at the clock/remaining runtime. If "Secrets of Starlight" hadn't been tied to a franchise that had a successful adaptation last decade, it would have had nothing going for it.
5758505
Fixed your little mistake there.
No charge, my friend!
Wow. You know, I was kind of morbidly curious what they'd do with the Breaker of Fanbases, even though I could see no way in which involving her would end well. Still, I did, it seems, subconsciously give them enough credit not to suspect the title would be an unabashed, cynical fakeout (given that there I can't see any earthly possibility that it was a coincidence).
Guess the joke's on me for being naive! Thanks, show - what a note to go out on!
Someone was raised on Batman (1966) I think.
5758505
Not that it really matters, but Sunny did have a few roller skating scenes in TYT. The scene, if I recall correctly, is when she became pony-Internet famous for crashing into a barrel of bananas or something like that. It was an early TYT episode so my memory is spotty. Otherwise, no, I don’t think we ever saw her rollerskate in MYM.
5758686
Monster Hunter did cat puns better and more often, to say nothing of the fact that Berrow apparently wasn't born until 1985.
Is it intentional that Ominous Whispers is very nearly a functional "reprint"?
5760922
No, no it is not. I checked for the effect, but I can see now that I was specifically searching for "greatest mana value" when Stinging Study allows you to choose.