Go, Go, Power Ponies! (SPOILERS also pictures and boring news)

Well, that episode happened.

I'll start with the bad: The moral, while nice, seemed both rather hypocritical given Spike's treatment in nearly every other episode ever, and was handled in an incredibly unsubtle way. As the title theme started, I found myself going "This is going to be one of those 'believe in yourself' situations, isn't it?" I mean, it is a great message, but seems almost oversaturated nowdays.

The second problem I had with the episode was the Flutterhulk thing. While not inherently bad, something about it just bugged me, though I can't place why just yet. Part of it, though, was that the sight of her smashing the hair-dryer cannon was just so surreal that it killed the immersion; I was suddenly reminded that I was sitting here watching an actual episode, and this... thing... was happening.

But with that out of the way, let's move on to what I liked about the episode. Everything Rarity did, of course, and Pinkie was pretty decent here. I was kind of curious as to why they were restoring the castle, but I wouldn't really count it as a negative, just a thing. Though the moral was a bit obvious, it still was a good one, and something Spike really needed. (especially after SAYS)

And, of course, there's the Mane-iac. The fact that I managed to puke out a story for her the night after seeing the episode, when my writing is usually measured in geological time, says something about her. Or at least, my opinion of her. Oh, she may not have surpassed Nightmare Moon or Chrysalis, but third-best villain is no small feat. She was just... brilliant. The backstory, the mannerisms, all of it!

Source 1

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Source 5

This needs to happen:

Source 6

And sadly, this describes me very well:

Source 7

Ahem, anyway.

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As for news, I finally have internet back full-time, though I'll be gone on a plane trip on Thursday. Also, I really don't like the new setup for user pages. Oh, well.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Comments

[Emeral Bookwise]

"This is going to be one of those 'believe in yourself' situations, isn't it?" I mean, it is a great message, but seems almost oversaturated nowdays.

I think it might also be about a season late, seeing as Spike already got to be the HERO all the way back in Crystal Empire Part 2; complet with his own stained-glass window.

something Spike really needed. (especially after SAYS)

Admittedly there is that, but that also seems more something the writers needed to be reminded of rather than the character. Still, Spike is just a BABY, so it's easy for him to fixate on the momment, regardless of past accomplishments. Even at that though, the setup for the moral was still a wee bit muddled and contrived, not so much the comicbook adventure (which was intentionally contrived), but more so the fact that no pony needed his help cleaning up around the castle despite Twilight herself having told him just the night before how important it was for him to get his sleepso he could help out.

The second problem I had with the episode was the Flutterhulk thing. While not inherently bad, something about it just bugged me, though I can't place why just yet. Part of it, though, was that the sight of her smashing the hair-dryer cannon was just so surreal that it killed the immersion

Well, it's important to keep in mind that again, the whole adventure was part of comicbook come to life and so as such EVERYTHING was kind of surreal.

[ColdGoldLazarus]

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I think it might also be about a season late

Mmm, good point.

Even at that though, the setup for the moral was still a wee bit muddled and contrived, not so much the comicbook adventure (which was intentionally contrived), but more so the fact that no pony needed his help cleaning up around the castle

Very much so. The comic-book explanation I could sorta buy, but the way they were really rubbing Spike's face in the perceived uselessness was honestly rather annoying.

Well, it's important to keep in mind that again, the whole adventure was part of comicbook come to life and so as such EVERYTHING was kind of surreal.

I guess you could argue that, but for some reason, the Flutterhulk thing stood out - enough to break my suspension of disbelief despite ostensibly being one of the more harmless parts of the episode. I honestly don't know.