Crusaders of the Lost Mark - Actual Review · 5:23pm Oct 10th, 2015
Okay, so... calmed down, watched the ep again now that my head wasn't exploding for the last five minutes of it.
Overall, a great episode. Very strongly reminiscent of Magical Mystery Cure, and considering what happens it's an appropriate parallel. The numerous songs, the transformation at the end, the letter to Celestia. This felt like a season finale, in a good way, because it was grand and world-changing.
I think it was a bit of an easy way to take, making DT's mom (apparently her name is "Spoiled Rich") a bitch that puts pressure on her, as a way to let DT be redeemed by breaking free. But at this point with how rotten DT has been in previous episodes, they needed a dramatic excuse to pull her back and make her likeable, and this did it. We heard DT sing, she had a couple lines in Pinkie Pride but they hardly count. This episode finally made her a likeable, sympathetic, developed character, and I am so thankful the showrunners finally broke her out of that shallow 2D bully mold. I'm actually interested in seeing her appear in more episodes with this new persona. How crazy is that? I want to see Diamond Tiara more.
And then... the CMC. We've been building up to this over 5 seasons. Are some folks gonna be disappointed? Yeah. But let's be honest - there is no cutie marks they could have gotten that would have pleased us. Even giving them marks for the previous talents they've displayed, I would call it predictable and question why it took them this long when they had those talents all along. I'm happy they got it, a long-running subplot comes to a close. And the epiphany they learned made sense - they stopped trying to focus on finding out what they're good at, and decided on their own what they wanted to do with their lives for the joy of doing it. That's how I always interpreted cutie marks, a sign of what you want to be, the destiny you choose for yourself.
Some more notes. I find it fascinating the DT is conflicted over the meaning of her cutie mark and who she really is, much like "Nopony Special," one of my first pony fics. Diamond redemption and feels aside, it was deeply satisfying to see Silver Spoon shut her up. "You spent your life acting like a high horse," heh, "high". DT gave us so many faces. They pretty much confirm the Apple parents are dead, AJ says "if Mom and Dad were here" to Apple Bloom. Though the absence of Scootaloo's family may confirm she's an orphan, we also see no Rarity and Sweetie parents, so hard to say. The colors used for the badges are the same as their manes, by the way. My only nitpick - they should have sent the letter to Luna herself, after her trilogy of episodes with the CMC.
And finally, I realize my CMC fic, with the ultimate conclusion it was leading up to, is now entirely invalidated. I will state, for the record - I've had the ending in mind, if not written down, since the start. I've known all along what the last three chapters or so will be, though I've only just now gotten to writing them. I'm gonna stick to my guns and see this through, and ultimately let's say my story just took place earlier in the season. And hey, Rainbow Rocks screwed over Twilight Falls, Sunset Dawns, so I guess it's tradition that Season 5 screw over my next fic.
So, a recap:
DT is redeemed.
Silver Spoon finally does what she should've done years ago.
The CMC get their marks... Which are awesome... And practically match... Which is awesome!
We see DT's snobby mother. (Headcanon, RIP)
We still have no word on the Apple parents. (Headcanon still going... For now...)
And a lot of songs that made High School Musical look like a silent film from the 50's.
This was a wonderful way to celebrate their fifth anniversary!!!
Loved the episode. Glad to see some DT (and minor SS) character depth. Great songs all around. And at first I was a little offput by their cutie marks, seeing as they have displayed some obvious cutie mark potential in their other talents. Though I do like that they've combined it with the crusaders past episodes, rather than with their original talents. In the end, the decision to get their cutie marks via helping redeem DT and realizing what they had learned earlier from their nightmare episode (cutie marks don't define you, you define the cutie mark) is really great writing.
Also that little nod to the AJ's parents. Not really subtle, but I'm glad they mentioned it somepoint in the show (probably the best way they could've too).
I like how they didn't sugarcoat what DTs special talent was. "It totally means getting others to do what I want."
Thanks, I was sitting here for like 5 minutes thinking "okay, but why the hell are their cutie marks on a reverse Italian flag??"
Sometimes I feel I'm stupid.
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I love that we have this now instead of having to stick with whatever abstract meaning we may have each assigned it
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The thing I love about it is that it fits with what we already know about her perfectly. She's so terrible, but she's so good at getting other ponies to listen to her, and was leader of the school paper in Season 2. It also gives a dash of Cutie Mark Psychosis to her failure to win the election.
3457977 It is nice to have it official now. I did read a fic where this was DTs special talent. I wonder what Silver Spoons is? I hope we get an episode with her in it a the center point. I adore Silver Spoon.
3458003 Do you think this will lead to her being friends with the CMCs or will this be something long forgotten and only mentioned briefly from time to time?
I hope, considering the show centers around very particular ponies recently, ApplejackRarirtyandtheCMCs. Big Mac was a nice change of pace in Brotherhooves Social. Now I personally hope the Filly 5 becomes official.
3458024 I pray it sticks. This is the best way they could have attempted her redemption, if it doesn't stick from this episode, they're never gonna pull it off a better way in the future. Besides, her being friends with them opens up many more potential stories than keeping her as the filly.
Filly 5, aye. I was wondering who the sixth could be. Pipsqueak, I guess, or Dinky maybe.
3458058 I hope so too, oh by the way sorry your fic cannon was blown out of the water.
It happens. If I had to hope anyone would be a sixth member of the group I would want either Babs back or Rumble/Official Button Mash. Seriously! He's in the show now! I damn near died seeing him a second time after the 100th episode special!
3458071 Oh, it blew up everyone's headcanon and CMC fics. However, mine is actually quite salvageable. I can't say how or why, of course, but it isn't ruined - it just means there's a specific timeframe between Season 4 ending and this episode that my story can take place it.
*facepalm* Of course, Babs! Filly Six confirmed.
3458102 We need to write about the Filly 6 now.
Now that season 5 is done, I can say this with confidence:
Best episode of the series. Bar none.