Madehattin' [episode spoilers!] · 4:04pm Sep 26th, 2015
Something I didn't make a huge deal about with regards to Rarity Investigates is Rainbow Dash flying with the Wonderbolts. I mean, she starts off being "the lucky reserve", and she doesn't actually fly, but that still means she's in the Wonderbolts reserves. She's practically on the team! Her dreams are coming true! For all that I was bitching about her being worst pony and all, I'm really glad she's made these big strides towards what she wants to do. Not to mention this episode is far and away the "Wonderbolts actually appreciate what Rainbow's done for them" acknowledgement that's been missing in so many previous episodes. (Though they totally missed a "Rainbow broke the record by flying to the Crystal Mountains and back so fast" ending.)
Also, 101,085 tile counts. :B Just FYI.
So, today's episode is totally not Scare Master! Seriously, they've leaked episodes before, but usually it's the one airing that week. How do you screw up that badly? (I've heard it was Apple's fault, at least.) Anyway, Made in Manehattan. Awful lot of Rarity episodes these days, innit? And this one, sadly, is not that great. Oh, it's a solid episode, with a decent cameo, fun background ponies, and a good moral, but I can't say I was ever excited by it. It didn't even do what I was hoping, which was do for Rarijack what Rarity Investigates did for RariDash. Guess I'll have to stick with Trade Ya for best ship. :B
Rating: Okay
And since I watched the episode by myself, I live-blogged it, so that's the end of the analysis. Click the button for rambling non-sequiturs! :B
Spike's reading an Archie comic
that was kind of a dull opening
Cutie Map's being spaced out like the keys last season
oh my god Twilight JUST GO (seriously, why can't she just tag along? WE REQUIRE LAMPSHADING)
waaaaait is this pre-continuity with Brotherhooves Social? holy shit!
hi Katie Cook
that was a Rarity Takes Manehattan callout wasn't it?
also the trunk from last episode
so this is gonna be AJ dealing with being back in Manehattan
"butter my biscuits"
BIT SLAP
so this is gonna be Rarity being a dick to AJ the whole time
angry Willy Wonka pony
AJ eyebrow
>tfw Rarity honestly expected her cutie mark to be glowing
dat pink Velma pone; dat mustache pone; dat DJ pone
OH MY GOD CHARLIE BROWN
hi almost-Bon-Bon
BRONCLYN? R U SRS?
COCO POMMEL
thank you for the episode recap, AJ
oh man, there's the Jeanine secretary pony SO MANY PONIES
god I hate commercials
Yay Coco! why am I cheering I was never a huge fan
"many moons ago" god I love this stuff
haha wizard of Oz
oh god filly Coco the fandom is gonna be crazy
"moved away" I think that means she ded
at least they got an "I'm walkin' here" joke in
Applejack and I will get you help instead of helping
Coco can't handle the countryisms
I like this newspony
hey, it's the guy Fluttershy threw into the clock tower!
mustache! he's a park magician or something? what the fuck is he doing
alternate alternate title: A Midsummer Theater's Dream
"Ah kin knock shit together fer ya in a hootenanny!"
welcome to doom and gloom park
alternate alternate alternate title: Garden Party of One
OH NO HER HAT D:
now she knows how Rainbow felt at the Gala
oh dear, theater ponies
looks like shipping
why is everyone so goddamned focused on the fucking map
LOOKS LIKE SHIPPING
ahahaha hoof in mouth talking XD
dat hopeful face
so why is the play about that Charity lady
dat overacting
holy shit Bon-Bon's Hispanic cousin
did he literally say 'and scene'?
what the fuck is going on this is kind of boring
Trotter on the Roof :D
hello random Rich relation
author, etc!
haha, pony crowd surfing :D
oh god Coco pls
construction guy's gettin' laid tonight
"And how much I need a lozenge!"
the denouement is really dragging out c.c
golden horseshoes in a tree? do they sell drugs there or something?
BUTT TINGLES
NO YOU DO NOT GIVE APPLEJACK A NEW HAoh wait she won it bobbing for apples who cares :|
at least there's a good moral here
yep, gonna be cross-continuity again! I can barely believe this!
and suddenly banjo outro
Yeah, that was just kind of a Thing, really. :/ Here's hoping Friendship Games is better.
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
Made in Manehattan
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
That had to be the dullest episode I've watched in a long time. I mean, there are some cringe-worthy episodes (Princess Spike, anyone?), but this one just failed to elicit much of a reaction from me, beyond a hearty yawn.
Eh, what ever, time for bed.
She was mentioned as being a reserve member a while ago already, though I don't remember which episode.
iTunes releases in production order by default, and Scare Master's number is before Rarity Investigates.
That's probably not that one. I mean, AJ has dozens of hats back home.
derpicdn.net/img/view/2014/3/8/569595__safe_solo_animated_screencap_apple+bloom_hat_hub+logo_bow_hubble_hub.gif
I thought it was quite charming, thought, as you say, lacking in excitement. Honestly i wanted it to be about AJ and the Oranges.
This is probably the most neutrally friendly AJ and Rarity have ever been to each other, but that's ok i guess, since it was about them dealing with a situation external to both of them, rather than with each other, like in Rarity Investigates was for Rarity and Dash.
Rarity did have that Rarijack sign on her stand though, making this ship canon.
I think the Twilight thing is hilarious, I hope the next map episode is FS and Spike (Hey, he has a throne too).
I was worried it was just me because I was watching with dread of the episode being for RariJack what Rarity Investigates was for RariDash (It wasn't! Yay!) But I totally agree it was nothing special. Simple Ways remains the best Rarity and AJ episode.
Snoopy AND Midnight Cowboy? Come on, that's awesome.
It wasn't the best episode, sure, but it was cute enough.
I'm pissed about the hat thing. Such a good story setup, that they could've used to have a good conversation about her parents, and how you're supposed to deal with that sort of thing... And it wasn't even for a joke. It's just quietly saying "Nope, AJ just likes stetsons." People don't carry around items like that without some history.
3421055
I'll say this for S5, so far the episodes have been good, great or forgettable. There's very little to get mad at. So far.
3421098
oh-ho!
3421107
But he doesn't have a cutie mark
because he was born into a slave race. I wanted more "I was here once and almost lost myself" angst from AJ. :B3421313
God, it's gonna be Daring Don't all over again.
EXCEPT THIS TIME, WE WERE WARNED
3421313
Then again, if a piece of clothing is a heirloom, why would you wear it to do hard labor and risk ruining it? It doesn't even make sense. She might have a hat that was given to her by her parents or something, but she would only bring it out on special occasions.
Also, they have a closet full of hats and bows. Her hat is utility clothing.
3421378
Think about it though, FS being forced to go deal with dragons while babysitting Spike would be great.
Add some cuts back to the castle with Twilight trying (and failing) to make tea and stuff.
I found this episode very boring and dull, but I don't mind. We just came off of two amazing Rarity episodes in a row, and Rarijack has had plenty of interaction even in just Season 4 alone.
3421313
Maybe it keeps the sun out of her eyes.
3421313
...I have a pair of sunglasses that I've owned for many, many years. For about five-ish months per year, I wear them nearly every day. The history behind it is "I like it".
Anyway, this was a decent, dull episode. But I don't mind because MAGICAL HORSE WOMEN 3!
3421488
It's certainly the episode to air before the movie, so as not to detract from hype. :B
3421451
Yeah, the point of those hats is to work in them. It keeps you in the shade and the rain out of your face, since most of those hats are waterproof. They're gonna get banged up. If AJ's got a hat that's really special to her, it's likely only gonna come out for special occasions.
3421488
I've got a newsboy hat I've worn almost every day for nearly ten years now. It's my favorite hat and I'd be heartbroken if something ever happened to it, but there's nothing special emotionally significant about how I got it (Walmart, I think?). It's just a darn comfy hat that goes with everything, it's Patch's Hat. It's also getting kinda worn these days...I should find me a haberdasher.
I have to admit:
When this episode got to the second act break and went to commercial, I had no idea how the writer was going to resolve it in a way that would work within what they're allowed to do on the actual broadcast show.
The solution isn't terribly elegant: it seems sort of like a a pile of haphazardly stacked dishes where one good "But what about--?" is all it'd take to pitch it loudly over sideways. But that they came up with an ending at all--a variation, I guess, on the old bumper sticker, "Do what you can Where you are With what you have"--made me grin.
Mike
3422235
What sort of non-kosher-for-show-sher ending were you foreseeing? :O
3422402
All I could think of:
Was some sort of "mass shaming" thing with Our Heroines out in the streets. yelling at the neighbors and trying to guilt them into helping out. Which wouldn't've been at all ideal.
Mike
3423398
Ahh.
Yeah, that wouldn't have been a good ending at all. D:
Charming was the word, I think. What really made the episode for me - and I'm not using it as a disparaging lever against the rest of it - was actually the Being AJ is Suffering theme. Just something about that little piece of music that made me grin... pretty happy that I got to hear it again at the end! Heh.