Post-Finale Thoughts · 7:39pm Feb 16th, 2013
Spoilers.
Seriously, spoilers coming below.
You have been warned.
Really, last chance to turn back.
Okay, you're still reading? If you are, I hope you've already watched the finale, because that's what I'm going to be talking about.
...
Okay. Finale. It was an alicorn princess bombshell of show-changing proportions.
And it was BEAUTIFUL.
OH MY GOSH, I was crying. Not even going to cover that with a "liquid pride" joke, no, I was legitimately shedding tears.
By opening with a song and basically carrying out the episode as a musical, they set it all up as "something different". This wasn't going to be a normal episode, or even a normal finale. This was something special.
The cutie-mark switching fiasco was fun, and basically existed to do two things. One being, of course, to set up Twilight for her spell creation. But the other was to give us a showcase of what this show has been about all this time. We got humorous tidbits from each pony, and from Spike. We had fandom nods. We saw how important it is to be true to yourself, and that it is through friendship that these characters are able to do just that.
Each pony helped one another to see themselves for who they really are. And that's why it was so beautiful when they were able to show Twilight her own true destiny through all of their friendships.
Then came Princess Celestia, and that MONTAGE IN SPACE. I think that's where I officially lost it and started crying. And did anyone else notice that Twilight's walk through space essentially mimicked what each of her friends had just gone through? Each one had scenes from their lives passing through their heads as they came to realize who they really were (which, by the way, I'm desperate to see slowed-down versions of so I can see what each pony was thinking in as much detail as we saw for Twilight).
And then the wrap-up and coronation. That's probably the part of the episode I cared least about, but that isn't to say I disliked it. It's just hard to measure up to the emotional amazingness that the first 2/3rds of the episode brought. The last bit was clearly just meant as a celebration, and to set up Twilight for some epic let-downs and freak-outs when we get to parts 2 and 3 of this three-parter-that-isn't-officially-a-three-parter. As a princess, Twilight is going to be facing new responsibilities and challenges. I can't wait to see those in Season 4. She's naturally going to need her friends by her side to face everything coming at her, so I have zero fear the others are going anywhere.
In conclusion, this was a very different sort of episode, to handle a very different sort of change in the show. I think they handled it appropriately, and some of the musical numbers were amongst the most poignant I've ever heard in an animated show. Was this the best episode ever? No. But that's because it wasn't a normal episode. I don't think you can compare this episode to any of the others, because of the scope of what it needed to do. I think of this episode as a catalyst, rather than as a story itself. It's setting up the next season. It's moving Twilight's character forward in a way many typical cartoons are afraid to do. It's creating real change within the show--change that doesn't actually scare me at all, because I really do trust the writers (as cliche as that sounds, but seriously--to take something like Hasbro's forced toy marketing and turn it into a beautiful animated experience like this is a true mark of talent).
All in all, I'm pleased with the season finale. And excited to see what comes next.
Let's do this, Season 4!
Excellent review, I agree completely.
Agreed. Mostly. Very much liked music. Still believe there to be some shark jumping. But, you liked it, I liked it. That should be enough. Now, what to do about fanfiction Twilight? Requires much deliberation.
834484 I'm withholding shark-jumping judgment until I actually see Season 4.
Glad you and 834238 seemed to at least mostly like the finale. As for fanfiction, I'm personally just going to plow ahead with my original plans. There were already plenty of things in Season 3 that go "against" events in Of Age, but for the purposes of telling the story like I'd planned it out, I just sort of conveniently ignore those parts of canon and forge onwards. Twilight won't be an alicorn in my current fanfic, just as Shining Armor remains "Captain of the Royal Guard" at the beginning of my fic. I gave up long ago trying to rewrite to match the most current events of the show.
I suppose for bronies against alicorn Twilight, this will also give them a place to hide out in and pretend she's still a unicorn.
834544
A smart policy. Will attempt to follow suit. Will now pretend Of Age is missing episode from series.
I felt that everything was rushed. Just my opinion, though.
834684 Totally valid opinion! I generally feel EVERYTHING in this show is rushed, so I've just come to expect that each episode will feel that way. Especially the ones with larger-scoping plotlines.
I too felt the entire episode was rushed, but what with everyone singing every five minutes it was swiftly forgotten
It was better than I had anticipated. Now for the 7-8 month wait for season 4...
Man, the song the main six sang, "A True, True Friend", and Celestia's song...
...so many manly tears, man. It was beautiful.
I agree with your review 100%. :D