Spitfire, You're Killing me Here... (Rainbow Falls Spoilers!) · 5:02pm Jan 18th, 2014
Hello all,
Just watched the latest episode, Rainbow Falls. Overall a good episode, but man did I have a hard time with the antagonists, namely the Wonderbolts.
Long story short, Spitfire and Fleetfoot only care about winning the relay race. Soarin' gets injured, and want Rainbow to replace him. Cue inevitable 'I'm torn between my friends who really aren't that good, and the elite team that is sure to win'. Rainbow makes the right choice in the in the end, but where I really take issue was with the execution with the Wonderbolts.
Now to be clear, this is kinda of a lose lose situation for the Wonderbolts. The episode needs some kind of antagonist, but Fleetfoot, (and to a lesser extent Spitfire) came off as more than just a little devious. Especially after we learn that both of them lied to RD about Soarin's condition (they said that he wouldn't be ready, when in fact he was later on). Now in the end both Spitfire and Fleets recognize their failings, and make it up to both Rainbow and Soarin'. Spitfire gives Rainbow a Wonderbolt pendant (which turns out to be Rainbow's key), and she apologizes to Soarin'. So really, for having to play the role of the 'bad guy', they still got off alright in the end.
I guess what bugs me is the lack of loyalty in Spitfire and Fleets, specifically to Soarin'. If the Wonderbolts are psuedo military like the show has implied, then Loyalty is absolutely crucial. Being in the military myself, I know how important this is. It's all the worse when as Captain, Spitfire should be at the forefront of this, its part of her job to foster this kind of an environment on her team.
Now, this was a competition. This wasn't war. And while I haven't met any Air Force fighter pilots, I've been told they are extremely arrogant and cocky (apologies to those that are not) and have a do whatever it takes to win attitude. And, there is a bit of silver lining here. This episode further shows that the Wonderbolts are huma- regular ponies. They have faults. This makes them three dimensional. Even better, they learned in the end as well. And, connecting this all to my own works, I believe this bolsters Legacy of the Pegasi's culture of the Cloudsdale Pegasi that I've established. Aggressive, confident, cocky fliers who will do what it takes to win. Those that have read all the chapters know that Soarin', Spits and the rest of the Wonderbolts think quite highly of themselves, especially when compared to Canterlot and co.
I guess it's just frustrating that the Wonderbolts had to be the plot device for the episode so to speak. And all the inevitable hate that everyone is going to jump on Spits and Fleets, despite the fact that they weren't the bad guys in the end. But I suppose I shouldn't care what others think. Spitfire still holds the same position in my mind as she did before this episode. And Soarin' got a much needed boost.
So, in closing, the episode was good. Despite some of the jarring scenes with Spits and Fleets in the early part of the episode, it did well to hint at the type of culture that Cloudsdale pegasi might have, and creates a more three dimensional characters in the Wonderbolts.
Writing continues. I'm trying to pick things up a bit. Kinda realized that my story actually lacks action. Never thought I'd have that problem.
P.S. Here's a simple little story that sort of mirrors how I feel. It's called Spitfire Stumbles, by Metool Bard, and it definitely does a good job of looking at things from the Wonderbolts side.
Until next blog.
-secret89
Is it bad that, when RD and Soarin where un the medical facility, that i wanted them to smush their faces together and kiss?
1731837
Umm, no I guess not. It just would have been incredibly random and out of context given the situation.
I would've loved to see at least some blushing between the two
On the bright side, Soarindash received a nice little boost. Spitfire and Fleetfoot were both kind of dicks, especially with the whole "nobody's come to see me" comment from Soarin. Poor Soarin. Spitfire's really taken a beating since the Gala. First the "I'm gonna stand around and do nothing while the water tornado nearly kills Ponyville's pegasi," then the "let the Elements of Harmony nearly get killed by reckless rookies," and now this.
And hey, might actually see some evil!Wonderbolt stories. I don't think I've ever seen any before so this could kick off a whole new genre
1732189
I agree, good on the Soarin'Dash front.
And also agreed for Spitfire. Her character unfortunately has either been neutral, but perceived as harmful (Gala, Hurricane Fluttershy,) to unintentionally antagonistic (Academy, Rainbow Falls). Though in the latter two Spits always turns out well in the end (Rainbow teaches her both times), everybody seems to cling to initial mistake. Ah well. I still like her.
This episode's plot actually really hammers you in the face with the question "why isn't Rainbow Dash a Wonderbolt yet?" If Spitfire was trying to bench Soarin in favor of Rainbow Dash, that means that Spitfire considers Rainbow Dash a better flyer than Soarin. So... why hasn't Spitfire picked up Rainbow Dash for the Wonderbolts yet if she's--at least in Spitfire's opinion--better than the guy who's apparently one of their top flyers?
1738298
Well, I think for the sake of the show they're not about to make Rainbow Dash a Wonderbolt simply because the assumption would be that it would take her away from Ponyville. But that's only speculation. And really, maybe this sounds kinda bad, but I hope that Rainbow Dash doesn't become a Wonderbolt, at least not until the end of the show. It's such a big theme with her character, that it would feel odd to resolve, almost like 'well I've achieved my dreams, now what?' effect. Plus it would have a similar effect on fanon as well.
Plus I still like to think that Rainbow Dash is still a little too young to be a Wonderbolt. And, just cause I'm nit picky, Spitfire said that Rainbow Dash was as good as any Wonderbolt, Rainbow was the one who said Spitfire wanted a better flier, not Spitfire herself. I know it's picky, and that Spitfire's actions infer that she wanted Rainbow Dash over Soarin', implying Rainbow is the better flier.
I guess as more of a head cannon thing, but I can't really believe that Rainbow is ready for the Wonderbolts yet. Not trying to diss her by any means, but realistically speaking, an amateur doesn't go pro just because they've got talent and have been to flight camp. It takes work. She may have the skill, but if the Wonderbolts were represented as a more respectable organization, they wouldn't let a rookie upstage one of their own (Soarin'), that's just bad form.
Of course, at the end of the day, this is all thinking way too much into a children's show. All the things I've mentioned aren't the focus of course, all the plot points of Rainbow Falls worked out the way they did to lead toward a lesson of Loyalty, for both Rainbow and Spitfire.
Apologies for the wall of text.