044 Frenemies Talk: Slice of Life feat. Skeeter The Lurker · 6:10pm Jun 14th, 2015

044 Frenemies Talk: Slice of Life feat. Skeeter The Lurker

Welcome one and all to the show - surprisingly, we're on time! Imagine that.

So, we're leaving the land of griffons and make our way back to the most diversified village of Equestria: Ponyville! Not that we know much about the inhabitants or daily routines of other villages, but whatever. We've also managed to get another user on board, someone whom you may or may not recognize for his insane reading and commenting capabilities. Please give warm welcome to Skeeter The Lurker who joined us in celebrating the hundredth episode!

Warning: if you haven't seen the S05EP09 yet, don't go any further!

This week's exhibition at the Ponyville Museum of Contemporary Art: "Slice of Life" - a thought-provoking, neolarsonic arrangement representing the ever-increasing pace of pony life.

Prane: Like Twilight once said: I wasn’t prepared for this.

We all knew that the hundredth episode of the pastel ponies for which we fell in the late 2010 was going to be special. When I first heard that they’re putting the main cast aside to make room for some of the background and secondary characters, I thought that they might, just might show a couple of fan favorites, like Lyra, Derpy, or Octavia, but that’s about it. I did not expect the episode to include all of them! It’s official: by engaging the entirety of Ponyville (and its surroundings), they’ve produced one of the the most amazing episodes of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic!

Let me put it this way: if every new episode gives us the fuel to create more pony content, then this episode gave so much of it that if the show got suddenly cancelled (Celestia forbid!), the stream of quality stories, art, music, and all other pieces of creative contribution would go on and on. And on, and on. Like, for a super long time, just because of how much we can derive from this episode alone. I have a special notepad, you know, in which I scribble as I’m watching, to have a base for making these blogs. This time I ran out of space, which says something about how much goodness they’ve packed into this Slice of Life!

Make no mistake: what you saw was indeed a fanservice episode blatantly pandering to the fandom's needs and desires, and I've already seen people frowning upon that. That it lacked plot, that the narrative was incoherent, that it went against what the show stands for just to please the fans, and so forth. People, please. We are choosing to ignore those obvious cliches and lacks because we want to have fun. Is that a bad thing?

Anyway, let’s talk about the no-longer-just-background ponies. Which of the characters shined the most throughout the episode in your opinion? Did the now established canon changed the way you perceived some of them?

Skeeter The Lurker: My god, though… Where does one even begin? I’ll start with the definitive fact: Gummy made this. He made this so very hard. I’ll also say that anyone who does not see how this wanks off the fanbase is blind or simply didn’t watch it.

...Look, just… I don’t know. I don’t even know. After it ended one of the viewers in a Skype call I was in asked if it was “the best, or great” and all I could reply with was “it was” and I’ll leave you to figure out which I mean. Maybe we’ll know by the end of this blog…

One thing is that it certainly made it’s mark. Almost certainly a solid episode for the coveted episode 100 get.

Gulheru: : slow beeping of the cardiac monitor :

As I am writing to you and desperately trying to breath through the provided apparatus, I attempt to remember what put me here, in this hospital room, with this tasteless, pastel-green wallpaper everywhere. Oh, yes, that’s right – the latest episode.

What… like, where do we even start? What could we say about this? What is there to say?!

: faster beeping in the background :

If there was any, ANY doubt about the importance of the fandom and its ideas, it is gone… We were given an episode that was so extraordinary it actually hurt. Everything… everything in it was so bizarre. I do not know for sure, but I have my suspicions that Discord himself wrote this script. Chaos incarnate.

I cannot say who shined the most. It would be insulting to the remaining characters. I can just say that my jaw was on the floor the entire time. If one moment would speak to me a little bit louder – Celestia and Luna bickering. I was looking at the screen, dumbfounded, thinking: “Goodness… They are sisters. They really are!”

On a side note, always remember to breath, folks. Or you will end up amongst tasteless wallpapers, like I did…

: beep beep beep :

"All of time and space; everywhere and anywhere; every star that ever was. Where do you want to start?"

Skeeter The Lurker: I guess I’ll start by parroting what Prane above here said. So. Much. Fan. Canon. Well, I guess canon now...

The most glaring (at least to me) are the oh-so-obvious shipping of OctaScratch and LyraBon. Those eyes between them, they cannot be anything other dating. Of course, given the sheer volume of pictures and fics about them dating, it was kind of given they’d heavily imply it.

I do have to say, I did like the duality thing that Octy and Vinyl had with their house. I’ve seen that in other shows before, I think, but curses if I can remember it. I don’t buy into the Vinyl being mute theory, though, not every character needs a speaking roll.

Bon Bon’s backstory is highly amusing, to be sure, if a bit weird. And I fully support the fact that the writers didn’t tack on the oh-so-irritating fan canon of Lyra loves human. I shall fully admit that I would have quit the fan base right then and there. The joke ran its course, it needs to die.

Gulheru: Still, I think none of us suspected they will go with it quite so far.

I mean, there always were those stories about Octavia and Vinyl living together, but a house that looks like stitched together from two different musical dimensions? That is a whole new level of sharing a locum. I might have not been so incredibly into the couple’s musical number, but it was enjoyable to watch. It was missing the final “beat” though, as I was hoping for a clash between the cello and somepony’s head.

And then there were Bon Bon and Lyra. To be fair, I have to call the writer’s out on this one – it should have ended with Lyra mentioning something about her anthropological studies. Secret agent and a conspiracy theorist. Now, here is some fuel for us!

But, another “lovey-dovey” moment that I have enjoyed was Derpy’s affectionate “million bits” comment towards Dr. Hooves. Considering her character, I think of it as a most innocent and cute gesture and having the most emotional impact on me, at least when it came to the “couples” aspect of this episode.

Now excuse me while my dark side torments me over the usage of “innocent” and “cute”.

Prane: I never had a strong headcanon on Octavia, Vinyl, Lyra, and Bon-Bon, and I can’t say I’m a big fan of their respective shippings, especially regarding OctaScratch. It’s just that I believe a relationship between any two characters can be written and shown as interesting even if there’s no love in its classical meaning between them.

Portraying the first two as roommates sharing this peculiar house of two halves was a great choice in my opinion, and I find it amusing how hard it must be to them to balance some aspect of their lives. Let me take a small step into the field of overanalysis: Octavia and Vinyl are quite possible the two most demanded musicians around, and each of them can probably earn a hefty amount of bits for their concerts and gigs. Each of them could probably find a place of their own to live, so they must really enjoy each other’s company. They must be choosing to live together, for some reason.

Now, Lyra and Bon-Bon? Now that’s more like it. If I could choose only two mares to be together for life, engaged in a romantic relationship then I would probably pick these two. I haven’t read too much stories about them, but from what I gather they can have a good chemistry together, just like they had in the episode. In fact, according to one of EQD's polls, one-third of us considers them to be a couple, and closely behind, one-fourth thinks of them as just friends.

I’m glad there was nothing about Lyra - the more level-headed of the two, apparently - and her alleged obsession with humans the fandom had created back in the days. I generally like to have my ponies interact with other ponies, occasionally other species of Equestria, but not those nasty, two-legged hairless apes. If I need a dose of these, I go to Canterlot High. Also, there was that clever touch which explained the Bon-Bon/Sweetie Drops name conundrum. Both are applicable, so it seems. It just depends how deep undercover you are willing to go to protect Equestria from danger!

Eye contact, check. Raised eyebrows, check. Elevated heartbeat, check (I guess). Lyra's into you, Bon-Bon! Surely Equestria will take care of itself without you standing on the watch.

Gulheru: So many things to cover in this episode…

I always knew Gummy was an intellectual, just confined within his feeble, animal form. I would not mind having a conversation with such a deep-thinker. That is, if he was actually capable of sharing his thoughts and not stare at you like a paralyzed horse or something.

And, Steven Magnet, you monster (pun intended)! The wedding is not everything, why would you try and scare poor Matilda stiff? To be fair, I would let our serpent experience a massage by Bulk Biceps, that would stop him from scaremongering. Although his gesture with the moustache? Seems that good deeds resonate through time quite lengthly.

Oh, and the changeling at the wedding? Did anypony other than the children even notice him? I mean, sure, weddings tend to excrete large quantities of love, but this is pretty desperate, coming in without a disguise. Good thing Shining Armor was busy crying his eyes out. It makes me wonder – if he hadn’t been under Chrysalis’ spell, would he be sobbing at his own ceremony? Makes me grateful for mind control keeping up his appearances…

Never neglect mind control. It’s a good way of solving problems, kids.

Do tell me, which moment of the episode took you completely by surprise? Can you even name a specific one?

Prane: Among dozens of “how cool is that?” moments there was one that surprised me the most - Vinyl and Octavia getting on that bass-vehicle-thing and the subsequent ride through Ponyville. Considering that the episode was basically a mash-up of scenes about various characters, I kind of expected a moment when all of the background will be brought to the foreground at once for us to enjoy. It was an excellent way of pointing to those characters which did not get a speaking line, but were still noticeable, or important enough for the fandom - like Button Mash, Colgate, Thunderlane, and many others. The amount of positive craziness was rising with each group of ponies they’ve run into with the accompaniment of Octavia (who somehow managed to maintain her cool at all times). The crowning of the sequence with Gummy was also nice. I will never again look this toothless alligator in the eyes and think of him as a mere pet.

All in all, this episode fits greatly in the recurring theme of the season which I almost always mention in these blogs, and I think Mayor Mare did a great job wrapping it up: because it's not just the main characters in our stories that make life so rich. It's everypony.

Skeeter The Lurker: “Can you name a specific one” he says… In a word? Not at all. There’s simply too many crammed into this very episode to ever try to do so. Like, for instance, the flower sisters freaking out over the slightest thing. Or Derpy’s muffins (no, I’m not going to call her Muffins, darn it). Or Steven Magnet using a scale to give Cranky a new wig (actually… Is it me or did he use the exact same side as was seen in the first episode?). Or maybe the several dozen Doctor Who? Or even The Dude (which totally needed to be voiced by Jeff Bridges)?

...Actually. I do have one moment that surprised me. Well, not surprised, but found far more amusing than the rest… It was when Derpy slammed the door in the face of the Mane 6 as the wedding itself started. For some reason, I found that hilarious.

I think, however, we can agree… Gummy stole it all. He might not have been the defining moment for the show, but it was certainly the one that got the bigger laugh from everyone, I think. Makes me wonder… If Gummy is an intellectual… Do the other pets embody something similar to them? I hope so, it’d be a nice touch to counterpart the Mane 6.

Steven Magnet’s return was one I rather liked, to be honest. Even the scaremongering he did seemed perfectly in line with something he’d do. Not, mind you, intentionally but spur of the moment foot-in-mouth. The wig replacement he did was a great touch to him, too. Learning from one before him, y’know?

I seriously hope we see something about that changeling. I truly do. There is just way too much that can be done with it. Or he was just there for a free meal. I dunno.

Let me get this straight: when Octavia and Vinyl moved in together, they went for individual floors, walls, and ceilings, but they chipped in for a doormat?

Prane: Alrighty then! Now that we’ve praised Monsieur Larson enough for his amazing skills of pandering to the fandom, let’s put our cheering aside and ask ourselves this: will the show ever top this episode, or are we now eternally cursed with an urge to compare every new story to what we’ve enjoyed so much in this hundredth episode? Also, should they even try to top that, or has the pinnacle of all things pony been already reached and Slice of Life should be accepted as such?

Skeeter The Lurker: Nope. Not at all. Episode 100 was good. Really good. But it is not the best by far. It set out to give a nod to us and it did just that. It would be “the best” had they take the time to make the plot a bit more, mmm, focused. As it is, it’s just a nonstop barrage of references and inside jokes.

It’s a given they’ll attempt to top this. That’s what I would do, in any case, but the question is how? Will they do a similar thing, but in two parts? Or will they expand on a particular set of ponies and give them a plot that’s more tightened? I personally hope it’s the second one, myself.

Episode 200 is more than a possibility for them to do this for us again, I think. But if I’m honest I’d rather see them pull the stops out for the last of it all. The series finale. That is what would be the most deserving of being the best they can do.

Gulheru: The thing is, we do not have to compare this episode to others. The main premise of the show is the struggle of the Mane 6 with different monsters/friendship problems solvable in 30 minutes. Unless we wish to remind ourselves of the unfortunate event of RD being stung by the bugbear (sheesh), we don’t have to constantly relate them to “Slice of Life”.

Of course, we shall be looking at some of the background characters a bit differently when they shall be coming around, but, remember, we are going right back on track and into the fray! There are places to visit, villains to fight and problems to tackle, for the Map commands it! And, I think we can still expect far more grandeur episodes, ones that shall cause us to laugh, cry and visit hospitals.

And if any of those is destined to top “Slice of Life”? One shall, of course – the 200th! So let us go, my friends. There is a lot to do before that day arrives!

That's it for today! I wish I could give you a new story, or a new chapter for Dreamlocked Chronicles or Arcane Realms (thanks for the support, by the way - there will definitely be more to Spike and his friends!). I did not forget about either of them, or any of my other projects for the future, but I've been exceptionally busy lately. Still am, actually. This week I'm hoping to finish writing my thesis about the personality of video gamers which I mentioned some time ago, and Celestia know how long it's been since I've written pony words. Found a neat picture on dArt which begs for a story, as well. But, university matters take precedence, at least for a while longer.

Your panelists for today (drop by their profiles/stories/blogs and say hello!):
- Skeeter The Lurker
- Gulheru
- and yours truly.

Here's to another hundred Saturdays filled with ponies, friendship, and magic!

~Prane