An update everypony should read · 6:08pm Dec 3rd, 2011
(Note: if you watch me on dA, these will be basically exactly the same. For those who don't watch my dA, have fun reading!)
Man, what is there to say?
First off, I'm still not sure where to place it on my favorite-episodes-list after three viewings. I'm sure it'll settle in somewhere later today. And to balance this out, I'm going to try and, uh, list off the cons of the episode. Then rave about all the good stuff because my god there was a lot of good. But I'd prefer to end on a high note.
>felt a tad rushed. In my opinion, it is the only episode of the season since 1 & 2 that were rushed. THOUGH IT WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY DON'T KILL ME.
>Uhm... this is a stupid point but I've seen it made: they broke a law of child's shows where they showed a character lying and basically getting away with it, though she was clearly- NO THAT IS FOR THE GOOD PARTS.
Okay now the good parts, in the order of which I think of them.
>Wonderful expansion of Canterlot as a city and part of the world, clearly showing that Ponyville is the stranger of towns in the country, so far - Manehattan and Canterlot are both filled to the brim with these "posh" ponies. I'm starting to think that Ponyville is more of a boondocks village than we think it is - they're superstitious, paranoid about outside/different ponies, and it's obviously very small compared to basically every other city we've seen.
>One of the best and most mature lessons from the show. I think everyone who has had to go to a college out of town has had to deal with this, or anyone who has moved period. Almost intertwined with this point is that Rarity didn't end up being caught up in her lies, which is a refreshing journey from the trope. She clearly was in enough pain herself to not need additional external stimuli to break her further.
>Speaking of tropes, I'm glad that Fancy Pants wasn't a hugely one-dimensional rich guy, but I'm not sure how others see him; I see him as someone who happens to have a kind heart, and when he realized the situation as he asked about Twilight's dress, he did what he could (knowing how obviously popular he is) to help out his new friend. I've see some say that he's just not stuck up, and actually meant what he said, but I'm not sure I approve of that - that seems almost more shallow to me, and makes it seem more like he simply has a different opinion than everypony else.
>Oh my god they have fucking airships
>The song was well done, just short enough to not overtake the episode (which, if it were any longer, would probably make the episode even MORE badly paced), with good video to go with it and a clear point to make. Rarity likes her fame.
>I must say, at least the reception is good this time. It feels strange being in the minority on the reception of an episode. I thought the fandom was going crazy.
>Meghan knows how to write her stories - she managed to show Rarity's imperfections without making the story focused on her arrogance, but more about her own desires. I'm reminded of Best Pet Win almost in that sense - sure, Dash was kind of a dick, but she realized her own errors by herself, without true external assistance (unless the turtle counts?). She wasn't necessarily "arrogant," she just had >a strict vision of something that she wanted, and it took her an entire episode to see that it can't necessarily be how she wants it.< If that doesn't already sound like something Rarity-related, I'm not sure what does.
Ah well. I'll probably write another essay tomorrow. Seems to be an odd surge of interest in me lately. It will most likely be comparing Rainbow Dash and Rarity as ponies.
1: May the Best Pet Win
2: Green Isn't Your color
3: Luna Eclipsed
4: Fall Weather Friends
5: Tied at: Bird in the Hoof, Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, and Lesson Zero
(For those followers who have not read my previous essay, here it is: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11AVvqiOWms3YvwNdSQ2nXwZVnOqtR8lbONMj1Td9AVo/edit?hl=en_US)
*sits with song on loop forever*
I really loved this episode. I felt the pacing was off at the start, it took a while to get going, but when it got into full swing it was great. Oh and yes fucking airships