Caught up with the last 4 weeks of episodes · 3:26pm Apr 6th, 2014
To clarify, there may be spoilers, and they will involve the episodes:
18 - Maud Pie
19 - For whom the Sweetie Belle toils
20 - Leap of Faith
21 - Testing Testing 1, 2, 3
So, I say again, possible --SPOILER ALERT--
...Hopefully, I've padded out the length of the spoiler alert enough so that anyone wishing to avoid spoilers doesn't accidentally read said spoilers.
18 - Maud Pie
Loved the character of Maud. Perfectly understood Pinkie's need to have her friends be friends with her sister. Sure there was something else I had to say, but I've forgotten.
19 - For whom the Sweetie Belle Toils
First off, I prefered the gem to the dolphin shape, because now it looks stupid... If only they'd put the dolphin in another way. Going in blind, I expected Sweetie Belle to claim the glory for the dresses. Nice inclusion of Luna's dream travelling; good continuity right there. 'T'was funny seeing AB's tail used like with a zipline. No explanation as to Luna's presence... perhaps she expected to find Sweetie Belle there to suggest the stupid dolphin shape. Liking the mild irony (i think it's irony) that due to the need for the dresses, which ended up being the best part of the play, the crusaders' most desired audience, the mane 6, weren't able to come due to how said dresses meant Rarity was even more rushed with her work and required assistance. Sorry for that mouthful. That's about it with that one.
20 - Leap of Faith
This episode makes me think of that track with TheLivingTombstone called 'Magic'. It was abou Trixie returning to Ponyville for a new performance and the audience recalling her last visit. The reason for this reference is because, why'd nopony but the Apple Family think 'I remember these guys... they were kinda dicks last time'. Yeah, sure they had that actor helping, but surely everypony knows everypony in Ponyville. How would they not notice the injured new pone? Also, I half called this. My intention with the old 'To be or Not to be...' was to have Flim and Flam return with a tonic scam just like the one in the episode, but get possessed by Everto and in turn corrupt the tonic. Would be Omni's first true problem of many in his fight against Everto. Anyway, back onto the episode. Applejack did not LIE. She said, and I quote, "It seems to work for Granny Smith". Along with the fact that surely some of the other first ponies to try the tonic with more serious issues would be all "IT DOESN'T WORK YOU WANKERS!", this episode left me feeling annoyed. I refuse to accept that AJ counts other ponies twisting her calculated words as lying. It did technically work for Granny Smith, as a placebo. And the lack of a proper comeuppance for Flim and Flam? Bah! All those ripped of ponies who didn't get their money back... The escape, in reality, would make it considerably harder to forgive AJ.
21 - Testing Testing 1, 2, 3
That expression Rarity wore when AJ says the fancy fashion stuff wouldn't help her either... "I will cut you up." I liked this episode. A lot. Pinkie's rap was so well done, and in general, I've been happy to see how loose the animation style has become, while still feeling like the original episodes. Pinkie's dancing was a sure sign of this. Then you've got the Wonderbolt history we're finding out about. The pets showed more sentience with the play (especially the cat that I hate soooooooooo much). We learned something new about unicorn magic, with how RD deactivated Twilight's magic by placing a hoof on the horn's tip. Doctor Whooves was a backing rapper, and that made me chuckle. Also, notice how most of the Wonderbolts uniforms were of similar colours, yet none were blue like the modern, streamlined version they had today? In fact, the colours were closer to that of the Shadowbolts. Loved the cliche Aviator look of Commander Easy Glider. Also liked how they didn't end up proceedurely using everypony, cutting AJ's plan short. Heh, "You're up a creek." How mature. I much prefer "Up shit creek without a paddle." Makes one feel more... fucked. Lastly, RD's actual way of learning? Brilliant. Adds an entirely new element to RD's character. A higher level of intelligence.
And that's that. One of my skype groups brought up how the synopses for the remaining remaining episodes are available, but I couldn't care less. In fact, I care in the opposite direction. Even vague synopses are spoilers. When I told the one talking that he should be quiet because of spoilers, I had to word it out to him. Sure, I sometimes let things slide, but that's usually because they come up in blogs or pieces of art, and not a live message chat which can be halted part way through. Oh, and if the spoiled thing has a sequel, be it newer episode, or film, or book, I'm less bothered. It's to be expected. Still avoid the spoilers if I can. But, yeah, a spoiler's a spoiler. There's no grey area, really. I enjoy the pleasant surprises of going into an episode of something blind. Same with games. Sure, there may be times when I look up things about a game online, but that's mostly for completions sake. A completionist's gotta complete his games, dammit. Only reason I haven't got the FF X/X-2 HD Remake is because I'm less inclined to spend money on something I already have on PS2. The trophies would be nice as records of my completionism, and the additional bonuses are tempting, albeit less so, but I just can't afford to buy new stuff, especially when it's more or less the same. Same wonky dubbing. Same old graphics, the HD being more of a polishing. From past experiences, they don't re-animate the thing... stupid Beyond Good & Evil HD... good thing it was cheap.
As a last thing, life update: Still job hunting, the latest promising thing looking less so at the moment. Spent the entire weekend with Dad gone (he's keeping his dad company while the missus is visiting her own grandkids from the previous marriage), mostly playing FF X. I got past the point that three previous save files were stuck on, thanks to a lot more focus on exploration, and considerably less fleeing. Got me all the summonings! Got me all the Celestial weapons, with two of them looking like they'll never be of any use. I don't really feel like dodging 200 lighting strikes consecutively, and the butterfly minigame intensified with the new prize on offer. At least I got all the primary upgrades done, which is good for my aeons. I'll stop now, because half of you probably have no clue, and I know some people dislike FF... or at least certain ones. FF X got me INTO FF... hell, I'dsay it was a crucial part of my coming to like gaming in general. A friend had it, and well... being a simple pokemon player back then, with no tv console of my own, and only knowing Smash Bros. and GoldenEye on bro's N64... the turn based combat of FF X was a good first taste. Also an avid fan of FF X-2's dressphere system, and FF XII's general gameplay, mixing free roam with combat.
THAT'S EVERYTHING!
Toodlepip!
