Friendship Games Liveblogaganza (all the spoilers) (all of them) · 10:18am Sep 27th, 2015
My expectations for this movie are somewhat lower than for the previous one--I find myself doubting DHX's ability to turn every single Shadowbolt into a distinct, interesting character, plus the stakes do feel lower--so I'm going to try liveblogging it instead of watching it as a single smooth experience. I liveblogged the first one back in the day and that was positive funtimes except for when I started yelling at the movie for how stupid the cutting-photos-with-scissors thing was. So hopefully this will work out well!
Disclaimers: I think I've seen everything that was released prior to about a week before the movie came out, which I think means one trailer, a lengthy "sneak peek" that was the first ten or so minutes of the movie, and several shorts, plus a few commercials with dubiously authentic footage. The Shadowbolts seem to have some authority figure but I've only seen her for a fraction of a second in the trailer. I think Cadance is supposed to be involved somehow? There are a bunch of familiar faces at Crystal Prep but I've stated before that my guess is that Suri Polomare is the only one who'll matter to the plot, if any of them do. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and guess she won't, considering how many other characters there are to deal with already.
Beyond that, there have undoubtedly been rumors aplenty about who will or won't make an appearance, and the end result is I really don't know. Coco Pommel? Shining Armor? Twilight's parents (lol no)? Pony Twilight? Pony anyone else? I don't know! Does the dark dimension from the trailer have anything to do with Apple Bloom's nightmare, or "Legend of Everfree"? I don't know! Do the sirens make a reappearance? I don't--you know what, I'm just going to call it here that they do not. A yearlong break is an awfully short time for a reappearance in DHX world.
I do not have a strong sense of the overall plot of this movie. Clearly at the beginning the Shadowbolts are the antagonists, but I get the impression from miscellaneous promotional material they may end up more as friends. That leaves SciTwi and Sunset to clash over magic, which is presumably where "Midnight Sparkle" (which seems to be a much less fanon-built name than "Sunset Satan") comes in. Will she get blasted with rainbows? LET'S FIND OUT TOGETHno wait you're probably only reading this if you've already seen the movie haven't you well I'M GOING TO FIND OUT MYSELF HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT
HMMPH!
starting the movie now :3
Sunset Jogger! Jogset Shimmer? Jogjog runjog... yeah I don't see any potential here. If only she had a slice of toast in her mouth.
Oh wait now I remember, I've already seen this part. Probably going to be a bit low on commentary for a while then.
I do wish there was a little more consistency in characterization, because sometimes I get the feeling the EQG girls are definitely intended to be different from their pony counterparts, but other times I'm not sure. Here everyone's criticizing Rainbow Dash, who's acting immature, whereas we just had Rarity Investigates where Rarity and RD got along pretty well. But then in Scare Master wasn't she kind of a dick the whole time? So I don't know how much I should read into this.
Sunset Shimmer why do you carry guitar strings with you anyway
aren't you a power singer?
Oh right, ponying up is still a subplot. And here comes SciTwi to throw a wrench into things. Wrenches are sciency... right?
I'm with SciTwi. How DOES the portal work now? Is it still open? Apparently you can touch it without instantly flying through... but CAN you fly through if you try hard enough? What if you REALLY BELIEVE?
Maybe SciTwi is a siren and that's why she can fit all that hair in a hood. That's totally a siren power, right?
Oh I don't think this credits sequence was in the sneak peak! This is neat!
A bit slow, but still neat.
SUNSET IS IN FRONT AND TWILIGHT IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN yesssssss
well there's scitwi I guess
hi scitwi
Okay but realtalk I don't even mind Twilight as much as I used to, she's been written better last couple seasons, but I watch EQG for Sunset Shimmer thank you.
Ooooh Spike just got a voice credit. That's... intriguing.
Next on Sunset the Vampire Slayer: reseach in the library!
"Not everything has to be magical to be important." Hmm. This is a real concern and I guess I'm glad they brought it up, but I'm not sure how I feel about it here. Especially with the source show having such a weird dance between Adventure and Slice of Life. Oh well.
Okay but I do like that Some Blue Guy and not!Featherweight are still hanging out together. EQG1 made a big point of giving students friends outside their original cliques, and the later movies/shorts/etc. have been surprisingly good at keeping that up!
"Every four years." And there's the reason Sunset Shimmer doesn't know about any of this. Ah, absence of institutional memory, what horror stories you can produce.
"And that is exactly why I've asked Rainbow Dash..." Really? This was Celestia's idea? She thought Rainbow Dash was the perfect pony person to inspire the whole school? Well okay I guess it does work whatever.
MAKING GUESSES IN PUBLIC TIME! The cute majorette with the red hair buns getting all the cameratime! Is she in fact Sour Sweet in disguise? I'm casting my lot for NO. Let's see how wrong I am!
"You think they'd at least tell competitors what they're competing in." Yeah. I mean, yes, you would! This particular plot device feels like bullshit.
Sunset Shimmer Teaches You How To Read
wait
does her book have a ringtone???
You know these people are evil because they're purpl--wait.
PUBLIC GUESS PART 2: There will be no reason given why Spike still looks like a dragon.
The WHAT independent study program? That sounded important.
Dean Cadance is actually a pretty cool name
Oh right I forgot this whole show was about friendship for a moment there
SciTwi I know it's the song making you move so slowly but Twilight is better at walking than you are
srsly
Anyway this is actually kind of interesting? Like it would be really easy for SciTwi to rest on her laurels and just be the best at school, but no, she wants MORE. Neat! Sure she's going to learn that she needs friends to really feel whole, but still, ambition!
Also the architecture is implausible but nifty.
ALUMNI IS PLURAL DEAN CADANCE YOU ABSOLUTE MONSTER
SHINING ARMOR IS AN ALUMNUS
ALUMNUS!!!
Principal Cinch is so evil to the core, isn't she, bless her for it
Anywhere near as MANY DAT--ohhhh forget it :(
Oooh Sour Sweet is living up to her name isn't she.
Sugarcoat not as much. Not, as, much.
And Lemon Zest is being oddly... friendly?
"Where it comes to magic ah'm sure you'll figure it out!" Hey Applejack remember how well that boundless confidence worked out for you last movie?
I am oddly pleased to see any version of Luna having a friend in any universe o.O
Okay I am starting to like Sugarcoat. And I am blanking on blue-and-purple's name! Aaaaaaah
Special Agent Sweetie Drops is not doing her best at reading the situation
SO MANY BACKGROUND HUMAN VOICES
excuse me just gonna replay these few seconds a few times
i am a perfectly functional human being
okay moving on now
Ponying up! IT'S A CLUE.
Wait Twilight's device eats magic? That's...
hmm.
EVIL?
Thank you, Pinkie Pie, we did kind of need this explanation to speed things along.
OLDER WOMAN WHO TOUCH YOUR CHIN ARE EVIL
Sunset remember what I was telling Applejack a few minutes ago??
Wait is something actually wrong with Twilight? Is this a season finale thing?
We haven't had a song in a while, Sunset. Can you help me out here?
SciTwi ATE THE PORTAL
Suddenly everyone is wearing new outfits! Could these be... MERCHANDISE TIE-INS???????
And I still can't remember the fifth Shadowbolt's name.
Vinyl and Pinkie have some sort of arrangement.
It's raining party hallelujah it's raining party~
Wait is that the first time we've ever seen a CHS student in a class? I think it is.
maybe I'll just call her Blue Meanie for now. it's not like she's even had any lines!
Competition song is good no deep commentary just good song
Heeyyyyy you can never go wrong with jackalopes
And voice credit!
"Also I am succumbing to unfathomable snausages"
Sunset, they are embodying their elements of harmony. What's not to get? Seriously.
Actually, does Sunset know about the elements? Like, in detail? I don't know if Twilight would ever have explained that. Huh.
"Maybe her pendant stole the portal too!" It's okay, say it ate the portal, I won't mind.
Sunny Flare! Thank you Principal Cinch everything is forgiven spying is totally a-okay now.
It isn't just me, is it? She hasn't spoken? At all?
Applejack: Master of archery. Master of ice sculptures. Master of apples.
Master of helping the enemy.
Oh well.
SciTwi have you ever considered just not carrying that pendant with you all the time? Just a thought! Okay it looks like you've got everything under control byeeeee
I am suddenly really curious to learn why Sunset knows how to ride a motorcycle
Do the CHS kids just not care about weird magic happenings anymore? At all? That's what I'm getting out of this.
Tell you what, though, Rainbow Dash is being really cool right now
Is this the return of mean Sunset Shimmer? Huh. Iiiiiinteresting.
Sunset, on the one hand you make some good points about why you should feel sad, but on the other hand you look stunning in that outfit.
This is... not the most inspiring final event.
Dare I say it gives a certain advantage to the home team?
Villain song?!
This is the whole reason Principal Cinch even exists, isn't it? So she can have a song?
Also this suddenly feels a LOT like Cellblock Tango :3
Also Blue Meanie (...oh well) can only talk in songs I guess.
Look at that magic skirt. Or don't look at it that's also an option.
Iiiiiiinteresting. Midnight Sparkle looks better animated than as a doll.
This is kind of worrying. (Also confusing.) Before the portals led to some dark nightmare place, and now... Equestria? So does that mean Equestria was the nightmare all along?
BLUE MEANIE CAN TALK
WHAT A TWIST!!!
Hmm, okay, I guess Twilight did give Sunset The Talk about harmony.
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat
to repeat: whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat
They'll forgive you, but only if you're a badass singer in a rock band. You can do that, right? Right!
Yes I am still 100% team Sugarcoat.
THE SCHOOL BOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wait but seriously? They're hinging the resolution on... nobody believing anything about magic? When this has been going on all semester (EQG timeline is weird)? Don't any of these students--any of them!--have parents they'd be talking to?
"Mom mom a girl turned into a flying demon and mind-controlled me and then she got shot by rainbows!" "Okay but under no circumstances am I breathing a word about that to the school board!"
And this is when... Derpy finds the pendant? I call Derpy.
Sunset I gave you the answers why don't you ever listen to me
or return my calls
or do my nails
?
Wait what time travel loop? That sounds... futurey.
Is this really a FAIC montage. Okay. Sure.
It's the majorette! She wasn't a spy. I'm doing great at this!
Ohhhhh this is why we would get those random shots of Photo Finish taking photographs. Now I get it. Those weren't just to tell Photo Finish dol--hahaha who am I kidding.
Huh, I have... no idea what's supposed to be going on this Flower Child photograph. Oh wells.
THE END!
Huh. So. Okay, first things first, RANKING THE SHADOWBOLTS!
1. Sugarcoat. Is she a one-dimensional character at best? Sure. But she's adorable and clearly has no interest in social niceties.
2. Sour Sweet. I feel bad because I'm clearly just giving the most points to the characters who got the most characterization, but let's face it, they're all one-dimensional. And she gives me Vidia vibes.
3. Indigo Zap. Who still isn't Lightning Dust for some unclear reason. She didn't do too much, but I liked... her enthusiasm?
4. Lemon Zest. Honestly 3 and 4 are kind of a tossup, and it doesn't hurt that Lemon Zest is prettier. They're both the only ones who were at least arguably friendly with Twilight. But Indigo felt just that tiny bit more characterized.
5. Sunny Flare. Look, she's probably a lovely person. Well, okay, not really. She's probably a Crystal Prep student. But she had one line and I don't feel like I know her at all.
And ultimately, the movie... eh. It feels like kind of a mess. :( The ending works only as a point in Sunset Shimmer's life story, not on its own. The only things that were ever explained were the obvious ones. The writers still have no plans for poor Flash. I don't think there was a reason for Spike to be able to talk. The Shadowbolts went largely unrealized. There are a lot of cute character moments, and I definitely appreciate them, but I have a lot of trouble accepting the movie as a whole.
THANK YOU. It's good to know I wasn't the only one who was bothered by that.
And yeah, the Shadowbolts were nowhere near adequately developed.
In fact, let me be explicit about this comparison (the group sections only), because seriously:
Unleash the Magic:
If we lose, then you're to blame
They all have used it, maybe abused it
So then why can't we do the same?
...
If we lose, then it's a crime
But we can win it if you begin it
It's up to you to not fail this time
Cellblock Tango:
He only had himself to blame
If you'd have been there
If you'd have seen it
I betcha you would have done the same!
...
And then he used it
And he abused it
It was a murder
But not a crime!
And then the first Friendship Games doll I've gotten ended up being Blue Meanie. Err, Sunny Flare. Oh well. She was cheap, okay? :#