ETC Update/Thoughts on Season 4 (Spoilers, of course) · 12:32am May 13th, 2014
This is the greatest image I have ever created, ever.
So I thought I'd let everyone know my decision regarding ETC. After looking over what I have so far, I think it's going to be best if I split it into two chapters... one shorter one, one longer one. I'm just about done with the shorter one, then I'll be getting to work on the finale. So we have three updates to go: Chapter 18, Chapter 19, and the Epilogue.
Also, I understand that I haven't been the most expedient with updates as of late. I'm not gonna lie, a big reason for that is my mood. Two months ago I found out that my job would be ending this week, so since then I haven't exactly been in the best writing mood, not to mention I've had to spend time getting resume back together, wrapping things up at work, all that jazz. It's bad timing that this coincided with being so close to the end of ETC, but that's just how it worked out, I suppose. I appreciate the patience you guys have shown, and I promise, the end of ETC is coming.
That said, I'm getting really excited about finishing ETC. As much as this story has meant to me, I'm ready to move on to new projects, new one-shots, and more importantly, begin planning out my next big story (which I've decided will be Lulamoon.) In fact, I've gotten a head start on a few of them, including chapter 1 of Lulamoon. Don't expect it immediately, though... Gonna do a series of one-shots first.
Now then... Season 4 finale. Spoilers, of course.
I do not think you could have had a more perfect ending to this season. That finale was everything I want from this show: well-timed comedy (Twilight struggling with the alicorn powers was done damn well,) genuinely exciting action (That fight scene would have been "Fight of the weekend" for me if not for Matt Brown vs Erick Silva), and some surprisingly deep themes for a kids show (Not understanding your purpose.) Just loved it from start to finish.
Overall, Season 4 is easily my favorite season of MLP. I love the fact that for a kids show designed pretty much to sell toys, it takes actual risks. Something I have always disliked about shows is maintaining the status quo: characters stay the same age, the assets are always the same, stuff like that. MLP has actually created a world that actively changes and evolves. Yeah, some may say the changes are entirely done to sell toys (an argument that's always confused me because the whole POINT of the show was to sell toys), but look at what the team has done with these changes; they've made them logical and well-built, implementing them into the show perfectly. In fact, my only complaint about this season is that for all the hype it got, we saw all of like 2 minutes of the actual Equestria Games. Not that they were important, but I would have liked to have seen a little more of them.
Best episode is kinda a tough call. The finale was fantastic, Trade Ya was a perfect example of the team having fun with a more laid-back episode, Maud Pie was pretty much gold-plated comedy from start to finish, Rarity Takes Manhattan was one of the best stories told in the show (not to mention the debut of Coco Pommel, Instant Best Pony Contender)... but I think at the end of the day, I have to go with Filli Vanilli. Not only was it a showcase for Daniel Ingram (who I think is genuinely a genius when it comes to music,) but I loved the lesson in it; in fact, that lesson basically convinced me to break out of a funk I had been in and get back together with friends. Plus, best named episode in the history of episodes.
That said, an episode has to take the "worst episode" title, and for me, it's Twilight Time. Which isn't to say it's a bad episode, it's just that it didn't click with me at all. Thinking about it, the reason is that Diamond Tiara was.... well, she was too damn nice. She's one of my favorite characters on the show, because she's such a classic villain... seeing her get genuinely excited for Twilight, when I know that it's not gonna last/leave a significant change to her character just didn't do anything for me, I guess. I want DT to do mean and horrible things, then get her inevitable comeuppance at the end of the episode like she deserves.
But as I said, even Twilight Time was pretty good. It's just that this was such a fantastic season that something that was still enjoyable just didn't match up with the rest of it. This season was a perfect reminder of just why I love this show, and I cannot wait for Season 5.
And because I'm seriously proud of it, here's that gif again.
Seriously I bought 2 Funko Mystery Boxes and they were Vinyl and Tavi. I HAD to do something like this.
I could watch that gif for an hour. I'm not even kidding. It's like a lava lamp, only with an overcaffeinated DJ.
Also, I'm going to have to say Pinkie Pride is my pick for best episode of the season, because dueling polkas. Dueling polkas. Also confirmation that party pony powers are in fact a subclass of earth pony magic and not just Pinkie being Pinkie. But come on. Dueling polkas.
Real Life comes first. We can wait for ETC if it needs to go on the back burner.
That being said, I'm happy to lend a hoof if you need extra help looking for work.
Personal favorite episode for me? Castle Mane-ia.
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I appreciate the offer of help, I really do.
Also, there are NO plans for ETC to go on the back burner, none in the least. It may be taking a little longer, but I am nowhere near a situation where I have to put it on hiatus.
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Give me a holler if you want an assist in looking :3 It figures that I find good stuff for other folks, but have such a rough go of it myself when I need to job hunt. So, I try to put my skills to good use.
You have every justification to post that .gif as many times as you want, it's fantastic.
A good retrospective on season 4. And as always, looking forward to more ETC.
That gif could only be better if it had a reaction shot of Tavi freaking out. It's awesome.
Anyway. I enjoyed Twilight Time. I think it's worth remembering that Diamond Tiara isn't really a villain - she's just a bully, and even bullies have nice moments. They're still peo... I mean ponies. The actual villains, on the other hand, tend to be a lot less... pleasant.
I didn't care for Fili Vanilli. I liked the music and parts of it, but Pinkie ruined it for me. Pinkie does that a lot.
My favorite of the season is definitely Twilight's Kingdom, just because it had darn near everything. (And gave me the impetus to write a whole bunch of words about pony magic! Even my first blog entry!) My least favorite is Pinkie Pride. I'm terrible, I know - I love Weird Al, but I just don't like Pinkie very much. I love her as a support character but not as a primary focus and that whole episode was basically Pinkie on Pinkie Cubed action and it was utterly insane and I can't watch it.
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Thanks. Seriously, thanks! I finally got that song out of my head last night.
Filli Vanilli was one of the top episodes for me, but I'd have to disagree with worst… Daring Don't will go down as the all time stinker of Season 4 in my books.
Good luck on the job hunt front though
I actually saw that gif on Derpibooru yesterday, and had no idea that you made it.
I agree about season four. I thought it was pretty fantastic (and Oh. My. GAWD that finale!). My least favorite episode of the season was probably "Daring Don't". Not because it was bad, but just because it was... weird. And not necessarily the good kind of weird, either. I half-expected Rainbow Dash to wake up at the end, or something. But then, I've never seen an episode of this show that didn't have at least one redeeming quality.
I'll be sad to see ETC go, but I'm excited to see what else you've got up your sleeve.
That .gif is amazing.
Blacktavia_and_Vinyl_Blacktch.gifTesting Testing 123 would have to be my pick of the lot.
Because oh god the nineties rapping Pinkie pls
That .gif could cure blindness, I swear.
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Oh, you made that gif? :D It's a good time.
I've improved on that gif, sir.
http://gifsound.com/?gif=derpicdn.net/img/view/2014/5/11/624344__safe_animated_vinyl%2Bscratch_toy_octavia_dj%2Bpon-dash-3_octavia%2Bmelody_funko_tavi_annoyance.gif&v=ZnHmskwqCCQ&s=5
Not going to lie. That is an amazing .gif. My only critique is that Vinyl looks a bit like an alien. THOSE EYES!