What I Thought About "The Ticket Master" · 6:59pm Jun 5th, 2015
Episode review
I still remember seeing this episode for the first time a little over two years ago. I recall being pretty impressed with it. It's a good episode with a great lesson. I have to say that, initially, I wasn't keen on the whole "friendship lessons" aspect of the show. I knew about them ahead of time, so I did expect them, and was happy to see that the first one was pretty nice. Almost all the lessons delivered in the show have been pretty great. Some seem obvious to most of us adults and have the subtlety of an anvil to the braincase, but some anvils need to be dropped. Besides, it never hurts to be reminded of a few ways to be a better friend.
I noticed a few details, this time around. Notably that Spike has a snacktime, which goes along with the themes of him being very young. His childlike side has been pretty inconsistent since this point, but that's another discussion. Also, that apple that he tossed due to claiming it had a worm in it actually had a worm in its model. Nice detail, there. We also learn for sure that Canterlot is their capital. Though, I wonder why Twi seemed so upset that Spike ate that awesome apple he finally found. Like, does she not want him to eat? He was clearly talking about being hungry, so it should be apparent he was looking for food for himself. Kinda odd, that moment is.
"I don't want any of that girly, frilly frou-frou nonsense."
I wonder how many of us have identified with that claim. I didn't. Hell, I figured I was gonna become a brony after first hearing about them. But I'm a weirdo.
Now we get to something that I'm sure others have talked about: everypony's reason for wanting to go to the Gala. Frankly, most of them are bogus.
Applejack's makes the most sense, but only if you don't think about it. It's the biggest party of the year, and she really thinks it isn't going to be catered? Come on, AJ, use that brain of yours. I know you have it. You're such a silly pony.
Rainbow's actually seems pretty legit, for the most part. She could certainly crash an airshow and do some stunts, and she's pretty awesome. She'd probably get thrown out of the party for doing it, though. Not sure if the Wonderbolts would want to take in a troublemaker like her, since they've been a bit inconsistent throughout the series. At the time, though, it could go any way, so Rainbow might actually have a shot with this idea.
Pinkie Pie... well, she apparently doesn't realize what kind of party it is. Not much else to say about it, other than that her expectations are several astronomical units off base. Pin the Tail on the Pony? At what Rarity says is the height of sophistication and glamour? Really?
Rarity reads too many cheesy romance novels. Get your head out of the clouds, filly. Also, I bet Blueblood is related to the royals by marriage instead of blood. Maybe he himself is even the reason he's a widower. Someone write that.
Fluttershy's reason for going is, hooves down, the best one. Seriously. All she wants to do is go to the gated garden, look at the beautiful plants, and hang out with all the cute critters. Considering her connection with animals, she has every reason to expect that she really will become easy friends with the creatures there. Her expectations are completely sound. It's nothing profound like with Dash or Rarity, but it's perfectly reasonable. Best reason to go.
There's one big thing that I recently realized about all this, though. The conflict could be totally destroyed with one minor detail changed: Spike lying. As becomes implied at the episode's end and throughout the actual Gala episode, Spike really does want to go to the party. If he had just admitted it from the start, the whole conflict could've easily been solved by Twilight saying, "Sorry, girls, but I'm taking my Number-One Assistant." He's likely her closest friend (aside from her easy-bake brother that comes in later), so it would be perfectly reasonable to give him priority if he would just admit he wanted to attend.
But anyway, what was up with Angel snatching the tickets? Does he just do that? Is that... holy crap. Is that how Fluttershy makes her money? I've wondered for a long time about where her income comes from, because she doesn't actually seem to have a job. Does Angel just run around and pickpocket ponies? Wow. Also, I love that little musical sting when Flutters is trying to ask if Twi will take her to the Gala. Like, soft guitar and maybe celesta playing the old MLP theme. I'd love to hear that as a full cover, and the same goes for Fluttershy's simple "ahs" like she was doing while cleaning the library. Ear candy, that.
"... we are the best of friends, are we not? And you know what the best of friends do."
One of those moments when I realize how much this fandom has destroyed my mind, because I can't help but take those lines in a dirty way.
People often are like, "Why didn't Celestia just give her all the tickets in the first place? Is she a troll?" I think she sorta is. Less trolling and more trying to teach Twilight Snarkle about friendship. Makes even more sense in hindsight, what with the princess grooming and all.
This episode was just great. I can't even think of anything bad to say about it aside from some animations not being all that great. Also, that Benny Hill gag... I'll let it go because it was fun, but it's hardly anything new. The show just felt more derivative in general during Season One, though. I'd give this episode... ah, hell, 10/10. It does exactly what it sets out to do and does it in a manner most awesome, with a great lesson alongside it. Just an awesome episode.
I think the reason Twilight was annoyed at Spike eating the apple is because of the fact that he lingered on it instead of eating right away, which caused her to think he might have been offering it to her.
As for Spike lying, I think he just didn't want to be at the Gala with just Twilight. Once everyone else got a ticket, he thought he would be left behind.
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Those could both very well be the case, yeah. Good catches, there.
Hey, if this show had subtlety, Zecora wouldn't be an awesome witch doctor alchemist with really cool tribal designs.
NOPE! Not ruining Fluttershy for me! I will no longer linger on this subject, and you will take it far away from me.
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3125458 Thanks
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Well, Fluttershy may not be aware. Angel may claim that he has a legal job, and comes home with money from the stolen goods he fences. Flutters just thinks he's really good at his job. Actually, that explains why she puts up with all his bad behavior. He brings home the bread, so she feels like she should give him some slack.
... can you hear that? That's the sound of me loading my headcanon. Angel is a professional thief.
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He's a bunny....
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And Fluttershy is a little horse with wings.
3125878 A completely sentient little horse with wings.
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Sapient, too. And Angel can make salad, read a pocket watch and inform Fluttershy that she's late, play charades to communicate, and act like a petty child and abusive boyfriend. Just because he doesn't speak doesn't mean he isn't intelligent.
I see where you're coming from, but who in their right mind would hire a bunny? Before you say Pinkie, I don't think the Cakes want a rodent in the kitchen, and he and Discord aint exactly tighter than bark on a tree. Plus if Fluttershy treats him as so helpless, why would she be fine in letting him get a job?
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Hmm. Dunno. I guess Fluttershy is in on the theft ring, then. Or something. Really, though, where does her money come from? Animal sitting? We've never seen her do that, I don't think. It's a question that has bugged me for a while.
3125943 Well, if you ask me, I'd say she makes profit off of things produced off her animals. Honey from bees, silk from worms, or since she lives around a lot of flowers, maybe she has specialty in dyes. Plus she can sew, so maybe she helps Rarity part time. But wait, Rarity didn't know about that until, shit what was the episode called? Art of the Dress? Or is that just the song name? Whatever, you know what I mean. And Fluttershy seems to live well off nature anyway, with a straw roof and the ability to communicate with birds fluently. I swear it has to be something she produces.
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Massive payoff from a lawsuit against the flight camp, for allowing fillies to run around unsupervised and knock each other off clouds.
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She gets a stipend from Canterlot under the Pony Welfare Act of 358.
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Secret double life as host of the popular filmstrip series "Isn't Nature Wonderful: Equestria's Deadliest Critters".