Luna Reviews FIM S3: 07. Wonderbolts Academy · 1:50am Dec 17th, 2014
After being somewhat peeved with Rainbow Dash’s character as displayed in “Sleepless in Ponyville”, she manages to completely redeem herself with her actions in this episode. The character of Lightning Dust is clearly meant to confront Rainbow with her past self, the completely self-absorbed pony she was at the start of the series. In the intervening episodes, she has learned the value of her element, and at some of the complexities of how to balance loyalties to groups with overlapping and conflicting interests.
Tomorrow’s episode is entitled “Just for Sidekicks”. It is rather depressing that this title leaves no doubt in my mind that Spike will be the main character, as that’s all the series’ portrayal of the character seems to be.
Notes
00:58: “I...didn’t get in...Gotcha!” Yes, Rainbow Dash, remind me at the start of an entire episode around you why I don’t like you right now. Also, where’s Scootaloo?
(Hope: They tend to leave out the youngsters for entire episodes in a row.)
01:37: Or, the entire episode could be about Pinkie as she waits by the mailbox. She looks due for another nervous breakdown.
01:52: I’m seriously running out of things to point out in this frame of the opening animation. Oh look, there’s a conductor. He looks competent at his job.
02:12: So, in that photograph that they always end the opening sequence with, Pinkie Pie’s pushing down Rarity’s head with a hoof, and Rainbow Dash is doing the same thing with Twilight, who is the rear-most figure in the composition. An interesting statement about power dynamics there. Also, Rainbow spreading her wing like that is borderline indecent. Or maybe I’m looking for excuses to critique Rainbow Dash.
(Hope: Would it really be inappropriate for a pegasus to pose like that? It seems like they just caught her mid-flap or something.)
03:29: Oh my. He’s a big one.
(Hope: Yeah, easily the biggest pony in the show so far, barring alicorns.)
05:08: “Let’s see what Twilight’s doing. I hear Princess Celestia’s got her looking into some new spells.” DOOOM.
05:41: Pinkie Pie’s meltdown. So in other words, you’re sticking by the mailbox?
(Hope: It’s amazing how she manages to get herself so excited before opening it each time.)
05:43: Darnit, Applejack—stop stealing my lines!
09:15: Rainbow Dash has to settle for second best? Hmm...there’s some hope for this episode yet.
(Hope: I do like the humility shown, it highlights her loyalty above her ego.)
11:56: I’m...going to hold my opinion of things for now. This could go many different ways. There are times when recklessness is the proper course of action, after all.
13:08: Applejack’s reaction to Pinkie Pie’s meltdown #2. I’m beginning to like this pony.
(Hope: Applejack is my favorite, to be honest. I’ve always wanted to meet her, but I imagine I’d just be another pesky tourist.)
(Luna: Just buy some apples from her the next time you happen to be in the same town with her. She’ll gladly give you five minutes of her time for that. Or try to go through the actual trouble of befriending her, which is far more rewarding in the long run.)
15:53: “Only the best of the best, right?” and Rainbow Dash’s reaction: Interesting…
16:32: “Yeeaaahhh!”. OK, that amused me.
(Hope: The most enthusiastic pony.)
18:49: Way over the line, Lightning Dust.
(Hope: Sorry, I’m still laughing over Fluttershy’s expression. Also, Lightning Dust is a jerk.)
20:06: “I quit.” I...am speechless.
20:11: Rainbow Dash realizes what she did: Wow, I completely underestimated her. I didn’t think she had this level of integrity in her. I mean...I should have known, after the Shadowbolts temptation...but...wow.
(Hope: She got to keep the outfit though, right? Wooh outfit!)
20:54: Lightning Dust loses her badge...and any hope of being a Wonderbolt. Well, I do hope that the reasons for her expulsion were explained to her. And yeah, it is kind of unfair that she only got the one mistake before losing everything. Part of this is the fact that she has the wrong attitude to be allowed in, and frankly, part of it is the Wonderbolts as an organization needed to cover up the fact that their initial response was to shrug it off. But that’s the way all organizations work. It’s too bad, but if the organization deserves to exist at all, it has to have the right to a very minor degree of cover-ups. And Hope, don’t you dare ask how this applies to the diarchy.
(Hope: I wouldn’t dream of it! Oh those are some stern looking guard ponies outside, aren’t they? Kidding, kidding.)
21:35: “You didn’t even get to open your care package!” Pinkie Pie, you have issues. Also, I wanted to know what abomination of magic Twilight was up to this week, and the episode never delivered.
Questions for Hope
1. After this episode, I can easily see Lightning Dust coming back to get revenge on Rainbow Dash. Has the show built up “arch-enemies” for all of the Bearers yet? Trixie for Twilight, Lightning Dust for Rainbow, those two con-artist ponies for Applejack...what about Rarity and Fluttershy? Don’t bother to answer for Pinkie Pie, as I’m pretty sure that Pinkie’s arch-enemy is Pinkie.
Hope: Well, Fluttershy could be said to have rivals in the minotaur who gives her assertiveness training, or in the dragon she chases off, but Rarity’s list would consist of her friends, her sister, and... Prince Blueblood.
Luna: I had to ask Tia about the minotaur. As for the Prince—how could I have ever forgotten him? Yes, he would make a fine foil for Rarity.
2. So, that one big pony...has he shown up before? And is he single?
Hope: I don’t even know if he is real, Luna. He could have been made up by the show. I’m sure you could find out, though.
Luna: Yes, I suppose. I’m just afraid that the animated fantasy could never match up to the flesh and blood reality...
Heh, Rarity wouldn't get her rival until season four. Before then, Photo Finish or Hoity Toity would be the closest she's got.
Prince Blueblood... I just don't see. He wouldn't care for the most part.
Enjoying these write-ups. Continue!
HUZZAH! New review!
I always got the feeling Spike'S role was downplayed in this series... how is he in real life? Seems like he runs the library in Twilight's place most of the time and does all the cleaning. If Twilight had a staff of servant he'd be head buttler!
Lightning Dust is basically a 'shadow' of Dash, a more flawed version of herself with similar talents, somewhat like Trixie who is also a mage. It would be interesting to see one for Fluttershy...not sure exactly how you could go about that though, I mean her flaws pretty much make her squeek in terror at everything and hide from views...
Maybe her rival is actually a ninja and nobody's ever seen it?!
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Luna: I imagine that my opinions of Spike will come out in tomorrow's review. Feel free to ask any additional questions then.
What I found most interesting this episode was Dash's method of rescue. Compress a cloud enough, and apparently anything will treat it as a solid. Or it's good enough for whatever faint vestiges of pegasus magic are found in wingless ponies, but that's a stab in the dark.
I agree that Pinkie is her own worst enemy. Really, when she makes friends with everypony, who else is there?
2658450 Zecora is Fluttershy's shadow, maybe? At least in the episode where she first shows up.
2658450 ... My gods that is the best theory I've heard all day. Full disclosure: It's around 2 AM as I'm typing this post.
Also: Luna, you plan on actually looking into "big boy"'s existence in reality? (IIRC they said his name was Bulk Biceps) If you do keep us updated on what happens. He seems ... interesting, yes, we'll go with interesting.
I noticed the lack of Best Episode in these reviews, McPoodle. I guess it makes sense to not depict a fictional reformation of Discord in a world where the real Discord remains unforgiven, but this version of FiM is a much different place for his absence.
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That episode hasn't even happened yet, though. They're only at s307... Keep Calm and Flutter On was s311.
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And yet Just for Sidekicks is next, which followed Keep Calm.
I only glanced at the season three episode guide before, but rechecking it after your comment, I now realise that we've actually skipped three episodes, not just Keep Calm.
I'd attribute it to confusing Just for Sidekicks with Spike At Your Service, but Spike At Your Service isn't even the next episode. Apple Family Reunion is.
I don't know what's going on anymore.