• Member Since 13th Apr, 2012
  • offline last seen Sep 9th, 2021

SR Foxley


More Blog Posts6

  • 232 weeks
    I'm not OK

    I'm not OK.

    But this is also not a cry for help or comfort.

    Dang it, I want to feel heartbroken! When good things come to an end, I think it's right to mourn their passing.

    And I am. And I do.

    Read More

    4 comments · 333 views
  • 441 weeks
    About my favorite episode from season 5 (so far)

    Every once in a while, I get an especially poignant reminder why I fell in love with this show in the first place.

    In last weekend's episode, "Crusaders of the Lost Mark," Diamond Tiara finally got her redemption. I hear there was something about some other ponies getting their cutie marks as well, but I only want to talk about what was important in that episode eh...

    Read More

    3 comments · 449 views
  • 579 weeks
    On that whole Season 3 Finale thing...

    Since I've yet to see any other blog posts on this just yet (and oh yes, I know they're coming), I thought I'd record my reaction here first...

    Well... yeah.

    Read More

    3 comments · 533 views
  • 586 weeks
    2012: Year of the Pony

    For me, 2012 was definitely year of the Pony. So as I reflect on the last 12 months I want to share how MLP changed me.

    * I started eating better and exercising. I've lost about 20lbs since starting to watch MLP.

    * I have a girlfriend now, first since my divorce, who I met through our shared interest in MLP.

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    2 comments · 404 views
  • 587 weeks
    Still alive!

    Hey y'all!

    Just wanted to write a quick note to let you know that I'm both still alive, and still working on "Excerpts." I think a bit of an explanation is in order:

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    6 comments · 470 views
Oct
12th
2015

About my favorite episode from season 5 (so far) · 7:43am Oct 12th, 2015

Every once in a while, I get an especially poignant reminder why I fell in love with this show in the first place.

In last weekend's episode, "Crusaders of the Lost Mark," Diamond Tiara finally got her redemption. I hear there was something about some other ponies getting their cutie marks as well, but I only want to talk about what was important in that episode eh...

It is always a little bit freaky to write stories that "fill in the gaps" of unexplored characters, timelines, or plotlines-- there's always the chance that something that happens in a new episode not only destroys your headcanon, but josses any stories you may have written. I thought I picked a fairly safe space to work with-- showing Filthy Rich's past up to the "present" with Diamond Tiara and the Rich family's complicated relationship with the Apple family. So, it always freaks me out a little bit when there's a new episode featuring the Rich family in any way, or the Apple family in a way that talks about their past.... even though I tend to relish these episodes the most. I know it shouldn't matter-- people should feel free to write whatever their heart desires. But, I dunno... I just think there's something pretty cool about being able to wedge your story or narrative in there in a way that is canon-compatible, rather than being alternate universe.

Well... a little bit of my headcanon was destroyed with the introduction of Diamond Tiara's mother Spoiled Rich (invented as a foil to Diamond Tiara, obviously-- but one wonders why she's never been seen in Ponyville before), but I'm already figuring out ways to make that work with parts of my story that I've yet to write. (For example, I'm going to go with her maiden name being "Roteen," and have her decide to buck some tradition and take her husband's last name when they're married... but I digress.) I'm pretty sure probably the biggest thing the show writers could do to destroy my story premise would be if they were to show Filthy being knowingly heartless, cruel, or inconsiderate, or using his wealth in unethical ways. That would be the "typical" rich person trope, and I really hope they don't go there... But, I'll finish my story with Filthy Rich as I see him no matter what happens.

Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk about in this post, really: I was absolutely *thrilled* with this episode and Diamond's redemption because it fits so well with where I'm going in my story:

* Diamond's mother is a terrible influence on her (check)
* Diamond is shown to be jealous of the CMCs (check)
* Diamond's inner turmoil over societal expectations not matching who she wants to be causes her distress (check)
* Diamond admits that all her life she's wished she were somepony else (check)
* Diamond is redeemed through the help of an Apple (check)

But most importantly:
* Diamond realizes that her talent and social standing bring her the most joy when she uses them to help others. She realizes it is her choice to use these things selfishly or selflessly, and that this choice is probably one of the most imporant she will make in her life (especially since she's not a villain anymore, it's unlikely we'll see the show giving her much air time after this-- so we can assume she remains as she is at the end of this episode.) (Pinkie Pie imagination-sized felt check)

(In another bit of freaky serendipity: One of my parents actually *was* the School Board President. For 16 years.)

Now... just to prioritize making time to finish writing this thing... Before new show canon makes my story idea impossible...

(I'm actually a little freaked out about the finale, since it'll involve a time loop and going to Twilight's past, presumably so that Starlight Glimmer can prevent the Mane 6 from meeting each other and forming their strong friendship... there's a remote chance we'll end up visiting the time period of the Mane 6's parents, which could totally destroy my story setting...)

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Comments ( 3 )

I was immediately curious on watching the new ep what your take on it would be! Glad you enjoyed it enough to counteract the jossing!

Dreams are coming true all over this season, which is going to make it all the more frustrating when Starlight fscks them all up. As though we needed reasons to up the hate ante for her.

Now... just to prioritize making time to finish writing this thing... Before new show canon makes my story idea impossible...

I know this feeling. I'm in the middle of writing a story that deals with Applejack's parents and what happened to them, and this episode has me scared silly that the show's going to get there before I can finish writing.

Also, I'd never noticed you have a story up! I should probably do something with that newfound information.

I've been getting comments on my own story (which is in the future of the CMC) congratulating me on "predicting" how they redeemed Diamond Tiara... I think it was inevitable. Pony is about redemption, and it was bound to happen. That's one of the thing I really love about writing fanfic in this canon. Some things are just "obvious" even years in advance, but that just makes the world more solid to me. That my fanfic ideas manage to line up with canon only proves that the early writing in the show was spot on with where things were going. So yeah, my story is canon-fodder, but in all the best ways. That's why I love this fandom!

Also, I had a giant world tree spring up magically in Ponyville long before the show did. :pinkiehappy:

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