RARIDASH SHIPPERS REJOICE [spoilers!] · 6:48pm Sep 19th, 2015
Man, I just adore the hell out of Canterlot Boutique's opening scene. Rarity and Pinkie never get quality time like that. Usually, it's more "Rarity, catch me!" or "YOU FORGOT TO FASTEN THE RAAAAOOOOPE!", i.e., Rarity getting caught up in Pinkie's shenanigans. And, well, I guess this qualifies as shenanigans, too, but at least she didn't have to eat one of the cupcakes. I think I really hate Sassy Saddles, though; it's totally because of the catchphrases. :B Fashion Plate and Pepperdance make up for it somewhat, at least. But yeah, I'm still kind of feeling like this episode is just a retread of every Rarity episode ever. Also, the real villain the superficial, princess-obsessed members of Canterlot's low-standards, fashion-buying upper crust.
Before I get to the episode, I just wanna say, haha, fuck, this goddamn channel, wtf is wrong with them, why are they showing G3 instead of rerunning last week's episode? If you ever wanted to see Runaway Rainbow or Princess Promenade, now's your chance. They're gonna be showing them a lot for some reason. I am gonna poop on Discovery Family so hard one of these days. >:B
So, today's episode. I found myself trying to compare it to other episodes where a liberty is taken with someone's character, making them interested in something that's never brought up again. The closest I could come was Spike at Your Service. The point is, those episodes tend to suck. This one? Opposite of suck. Awesome. Amazing. I am so happy for so many reasons.
Rating: Top-Tier
Okay, so, this one was more or less amazing from minute 1. Not since Just for Sidekicks and Games Ponies Play have we had THIS MUCH CONTINUITY without "Previously on My Little Pony". I was astounded. I still wanted Sassy Saddles to STFU, but I was pleased.
Those costumes, though. So, okay, this is my one needful criticism of the show. Can I believe Rarity is into noir novels? Yeah, I think they made a good case for that. Would she take on the role of one, like Rainbow Dash playing Daring Do, acting out something like solving a mystery? For all that I recently exhorted someone to write a Rarity detective story, no, I find that hard to believe. And yet, ultimately, it did not matter. I did not care. Because this episode was so great.
It's like MMMystery on the Friendship Express without all the stuff that made it a snore. You've got the old Tom Cruise Wonderbolt. You've got Wonderbolts, period, and Rainbow Dash actually flying with them, if not onscreen. (I realize Rainbow's recurring lesson-to-be-learned is "never meet your idols".) There was so much good noir stuff, from the soundtrack (dat ending theme!) to the black and white animation to Rarity narrating out loud.
And she was actually doing investigating! That's maybe the best part of this episode. Every time Rainbow's criticizing her for focusing on fashion or cake or what have you, I'm thinking, No, you stupid rainbow horse, these are clues! She's the eye and the sharp mind for this kind of thing!
And that's why this is gonna stay in my top episodes for the season, I think. Raridash, your time has time. (SoarinDash shippers need not apply.)
Amending Fences
The Cutie Map
Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?
Rarity Investigates!
Make New Friends but Keep Discord
Castle Sweet Castle
Canterlot Boutique
Appleloosa's Most Wanted
Tanks for the Memories
Slice of Life
Princess Spike
Party Pooped
The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone
Bloom & Gloom
Our Town
I'll Fly
The Rules of Rarity
Hush Little Sister
Make This Castle a Home
Dream Flower Song
As a Raridash shipper, can rejoice.
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It really was pretty great.
The episode really does make a good case for sleuth Rarity. Between her attention to detail and social acumen, all the tools were already there. She's more Agatha Christie protagonist than noir detective, but it still works well.
That said, I honestly got zero romantic vibes from this episode. Friendship and esprit de corps, but no romance.
I would agree, but I feel this was lampshaded by Rarity having just designed a line of clothes inspired by it. Acting it out gave her the chance for costume changes to show off all the outfits in the collection, which I think is totally in character for Rarity. She wasn't so much self-inserting as she was playing dress-up while she helped a friend.
This was such a brilliant episode. The continuity was a great introduction, and I'm glad to see that Sassy's attitude has improved. She's more or less the perfect assistant now.
I was so worried that everything was going to fall apart. The noir scenes did begin to annoy me juuuust a little bit, but they're really good when I properly think about them. Whether Rarity was actually finding clues or just getting distracted with her reflection, it felt very her.
I suspected Wind Rider from the beginning, fyi.
Spitfire's mother is just that cool, middle-aged supportive mare. Like Miss Harshwhinny without the stick up her butt.
Manaphy has raised a great point in his blog: let's see some fics about what happened between Rainbow and Spitfire: what was going through Rainbow Dash's head while on the way to find Spitfire, and what happened on their breakneck journey back from the Crystal Empire?
This was such a fun episode. Always great to see new characters and I was super glad to see Misty Fly and Blaze finally get some lines. Also there was noir and jazz and hats. At least three different types of hats.
They did, but it was before the G3 movie.
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FOME pls
They were in the same scene. Shipping ensues.
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It's one of the weakest criticisms I've ever levelled against an episode. I ain't mad. :B
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Ooh, yeah, that's a great basis for fics! Spitdash can make a return at last! ;_;
And my immediate thought was Windrider because it's usually gonna be the new character, but after realizing immediately that Rainbow was being set up, my thoughts were consumed by "Spitfire was trying to get away" and I sort of forgot. Plus, I couldn't figure out his motive, even if it was sort of obvious in hindsight.
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Buttholes!
This episode takes high marks for the closing credits alone. The continuity was excellent sleight of hand, totally did not expect the Raridash or especially the transition to noir. And such a smooth transition all the way to those delicious closing credits. A wonderful bit of storytelling.
Of course:
This now moves Thanqol's A Study in Rainbows one step closer to canon, too...
Mike
And it's got more Sexy Saddles in it, too.
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I wish I could write Noir well. It fits Rarity so well.
PRAISE THE RARIDASH! OH MY GAWD! IT ONLY TOOK FIVE FUCKING SEASONS BUT IT FINALLY CAME! WE FINALLY GOT RARIDASH! NOT THE RARIDASH WE WANTED, NO! BUT THE RARIDASH WE NEEDED!!!
*fangirl screams for hours*
BEST EPISODE IN SERIES! BEST SHIP! BEST EVERYTHING! OH MY GAWD THEY PRACTICALLY JUST WROTE THE GREATEST SHIPPING STORY WITHOUT STRAIGHT OUT ADMITTING IT! THEY EVEN GOT RD TO BLUSH OVER RARITY BUT COYLY HAD RARITY LOOK TO WIND RIDER SO AS NOT TO MAKE THAT LOVEY-DOVEY LOOK WHILE RD IS BLUSHING BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE SHE WAS ALL "You got WRECKED Wind Rider, none messes with MY Rainbow Dash!" and I was like "AAAIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!" because I've been waiting for FIVE FREAKING SEASONS FOR THESE TWO TO GET AN EPISODE AND THEY DID ONE! AND RD WAS SUPER DUPER CUTE AND INNOCENT AND HEART OF GOLD THAT NEEDS A MARE LIKE RARITY TO MAKE SURE NONE EVER RUINS HER BEAUTIFUL AND INNOCENT BELIEF OF PONIES NOT HAVING SUCH HORRIBLE BLACK HEARTS LIKE WIND RIDER!
Rarity and Rainbow Dash. FOR FUCKING EVER!
SPOILERS BELOW!
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This episode had virtually non-stop flow of favorites material. Dashie's "Was it because I took the last of the potatoes because you REALLY wanted them?" *squee* DASHIE YOU'RE TOO BEAUTIFUL! XD
This was the best episode since season 3.
I was so happy.
Rarity playing a NOIR DETECTIVE was just beautiful, and frankly, she sold it marvelously.
Though to be honest, I have no trouble believing she'd like such things - it really does seem right up her alley, to be honest. I mean, her playing it out, maybe a bit less so, but on the other hand, she pretty much always wears a mask in public, and her acting a bit is certainly well within character.
And it lead to some truly great gags.
Rainbow Dash mostly just got taken for a ride, but I never minded one bit.
Draw me like on of your french mares. Oh Rarity.
Eh, the episode was okay for me. The noir stuff was fun, but the plot was a snore. I was hoping for something of higher stakes than a absent Wonderbolt captain.
Wind Rider's method and motivation of getting rid of RD is a bit of a head scratcher as if he's retired and only performing as a special guest then why should he be all that concerned of his record. Is it pride? Fear of team integrity? Something he just does? Who knows! Also his whole plan relied on the rest of the team thinking that RD faked a letter. Why was he so sure that they would? Not everyone is going to look in envelopes to find hair clippings. What if they thought it was some deranged Spitfire fan instead?
If Wind Rider wanted RD gone then he should've gone after Rainbow with blackmail or a real frame up. She still hasn't suffered the consequences of blowing up the weather factory after all.
Why is it that with each appearance I like the Wonderbolt's less and less? =(
I miss Coco....
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I love this comment and I love you. Don't change. :)
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This was actually a notch up for the Wonderbolts for me. They've kind of been sucking as a unit since season three.
And, well, they couldn't exactly do a murder mystery on a kids' show. The fact that they played the whole thing straight made it work, though, I feel. The stakes were high because they were important to the characters, and I definitely got into that.
I absolutely loved the noir vibe in this episode. The animation was amazing, and Rarity was cute, charming, and 1940s dame classy! I reckon she could Charleston until her horseshoes fell off, wine and dine the finest, and solve Canterlot's most notorious crimes/mysteries.
In the earlier seasons, I feel Rarity would've been very suspicious of Rainbow Dash, seeing as she had opportunity, motive, and it seems like something she might do (if you want something bad enough...). But to Rarity there was no question about it: Dash was innocent, and she proved it. Great character development for Rarity. Also to Rainbow Dash too, who was able to set her own goals aside to retrieve Spitfire. Oh I could go on... I made a blog with screenshots of Rarity's most
adorableclassy moments.