Covering Season 3, for what it's worth. · 3:52pm Dec 22nd, 2015
In general, there’s not as much to say on the individual episodes, simply because a lot of them are situation-based, rather than character or world-based. For shorter stories, that can be enough, but the downside is it doesn’t do much in terms of worldbuilding.
Season 3 was the first season I followed completely as it came out, so it’s the first time I started blogging shortly after episodes came out. It was also the last season I followed as it came out.
A lot of the points I’ll have covered in stories, more so than before.
Crystal Empire
Oh, Berry, how did you end up there?
Remember back in Canterlot Wedding, I pointed out that Shining’s shield had to be recharged at times? Cadence’s shield doesn’t, and she suffers for it. She is constantly leaking magic and she cannot afford to sleep, or eat, or the magic tap is switched off and the kingdom falls. Poor girl.
Hey, at least the weight loss from not eating makes her lighter and easier to chuck, right?
Sombra’s sense of security seems to involve a lot of glamour and illusion magic. Hard to say if he put that on the book, though.
The songs in part 1 are pretty useless. Not bad, just useless.
I only noticed now that Shining’s got a little artistic quirk to show off his muscles: his shoulders are drawn further up, so you can actually see where the broadness of his arms goes down into the narrow parts, whereas in other characters that part isn’t drawn at all. Will be stealing that when I redraw Whimper for the umpteenth time.
Even if Cadence’s magic didn’t have to keep out Sombra, there’s still the matter of the Arctic cold creeping up.
Look at the Crystal ponies’ cutie marks, particularly on the stallions. A lot of them have different coloured bows and arrows. On one hand, possibly it’s lack of resources from the animators. On the other, it makes sense that a civilisation from a thousand years ago doesn’t have all that much variety, or not that much in ways of tech. The mares run around with fleurs de lis on their flanks, implying that there was a French Empire back in their day, or at least a French-speaking population. Seeing as they have griphon statues on their library, and knowing Gustav le Grand is a thing, maybe that’s where they got it.
Crystal ponies have the same language and writing of modern-day ponies. One advantage of having an immortal ruler with an interest in education, I suppose.
Same way of determining how deep the staircase goes as Beast Boy and Cyborg did when Raven’s past was revealed.
The door stops moving when it’s blasted with negative magic. It then captures and returns that negativity in a slow release, before feeding on the emotional fallout of depression. It is, essentially, a self-feeding trap. Guess you need to be into magic to understand, it’s all very technical ^^
Rainbow Dash getting even for Mare-Do-Well: I think we can finally officially cross out Fluttershy for that. Since, you know, what reputation does Rainbow Dash need to maintain? She’s never been here before, no one knows her (except Berry Punch, presumably the one who called her by name), oh, and the place has been gone for a thousand years.
Cadence gets a nice bit of acting while they’re walking to the train. Also, her cutie mark glowed when she put the Crystal Heart in place. Are we ever getting background on that? Anything? No? Expanded Universe, okay, then. Sorry, Star Wars kinda made that an iffy point for me. You will be missed, Corran Horn.
See, the closing song is the only one I like, because it’s functional. I guess. It’s hard to explain.
So far we’ve had villains purged of evil by the Magic of Friendship, imprisoned in stone (or the Moon) by the same Magic of Friendship, incinerated by the Magic of Harmony, blown away by the Magic of Love.
And then there’s Sombra.
Killed by the Magic of Nationalism.
There’s a politically incorrect joke there, but I forget what.
Too Many Pinkie Pies
Situation-driven instead of character-driven, like I said. Slash and burn writing, too, fun for a quick laugh but not a lot of depth.
It is heartwarming/breaking to see Pinkie Pie being so torn up about how she spends her time. Kinda like Twilight with her schedules. You can see why they’re friends in this.
I always kind of figured the cloning just split up Pinkie’s soul into different parts, and with each iteration each Pinkie was more and more diluted. The original being dispelled wouldn’t have killed her or even banished her to the Pool, it would have just snapped her back to a copied body. It’d be pretty unsettling to have that happen, but not deadly.
It would also explain why Pinkie Pie is calmer once she’s split up: all her energy is spread too thinly. Makes one more prone to depression, too.
Anyway, that’s the prelude, watching now.
So… is turning apples into oranges part of Twilight’s now advanced curriculum? She’s learning Discord’s magic. Celestia is doing the work for him at this point.
Ponies drink hay juice. Duly noted.
So there’s a woodland critter Fluttershy talks to, they’re using that critter’s den, and it’s a critter with a stove and a table.
Did Fluttershy find a human?
One Bad Apple
Babs Seed is my favorite pony in terms of design: a little bigger than the other foals, just enough to be physically intimidating.
Other than that, I’ve covered this episode before: it is something that can happen with regards to bullying, but it’s not the norm.
If you really want to see this as a message episode, then consider the following: suppose the CMC weren’t blank flanks, but overweight instead. And then they rush to get this other fat girl to join and help lose weight. They unite, create an identity of Self and Not-Self, based on what they perceive is a flaw to be fixed. And then they pretty much attempt to pressure some poor girl into joining because she has the same flaw as them. That’s something to consider.
Also, Apple Bloom says ‘they’re always lookin’ to expand’. Really? So they’ve actually been going around Ponyville, asking fellow blank flanks to join? Why the blazin’ saddles ain’t we seen’em do that, ever?
Wait a second, I just realised: Scootaloo folds her wings to her sides in this episode. I’m tempted to say that’s a first, but that can’t be, right? Is it?
Applejack’s an idiot. Not especially idiotic, just about as useful as any adult in any series that tries to show this sort of issue. Just throwing that out there. And she’s self-righteous. If she’d told the truth about Babs right from the beginning, it wouldn’t have gone wrong, either.
See, the issue with the ‘snitches get stitches’ attitude is that it’s pretty accurate. If you tell on a bully, what’s going to happen?
*ahem* Just going to pitch a little dialogue here, for future use, lemme know what you think.
“You wanna know what it’s like being bullied, AJ?” Rainbow flew up and bared her teeth. “I’ll tell you what it’s like. I had to sit next to boy who kept bullying me for two years. One day, when I sat next to him, he threw paint on me, so I finally slapped him. And I got in trouble, not him.”
“Well, then why didn’t you go to the teacher to explain yourself?”
“I did. I told the teacher about everything he’d done. Everything he’d do once her back was turned. I told her on a Thursday. You wanna know why I remember it was a Thursday?”
“Why?”
“Because on Friday, he was suspended. And I was happy going to school, for once. I was happier than I could even remember. On Saturday and Sunday, when my dad took me out for flight practice, I was flying faster than I ever thought I could. I even smiled when I did my homework afterward. But then once Monday rolled around, I had to sit next to that same boy again.”
Applejack furrowed her brow. “I don’t get it.”
“The teacher turned her back again. And I got it worse than before.”
“Well, I still don’t get why you wouldn’t go to the teacher again, then, if it was that bad. That’s what they’re there for.”
“No, of course you don’t get it. You never got bullied. You think bullying means somepony pulls your mane or picks fights with you, and that’s the only problem. It’s not. It never was. It’s not the fighting, or the teasing, or the name-calling that eats away at you. It’s the fact that nothing you can do will stop it.”
“Oh, come off your high horse, Rainbow. No teacher’s ever gonna allow bullying like that, if they know. It’s kids keepin’ quiet that’s the problem.”
“You really don’t get it, do you? There’s only two things you can do when you’re scared, when something’s out to get ya: fight or flight. You’re not allowed to fight in school, and you’re not allowed to skip school. If somepony decides to make your life miserable, you can’t do anything about it. The only thing you can do is take it, and just knowing that is awful enough. You think telling a teacher helps? What’s the worst they can do? Send the bully home for a day or punish them and make them even angrier. Unless you can make them go away and never let them come back, a bully will always be able to put stitches on snitches.”
“W-why can’t Apple Bloom just-”
“Just what? Make the bullying stop? You really wanna know? The reason she can’t is because she can’t make those bullies go away forever. Because that’s what it takes.”
And so on and so forth.
Magic Duel
Another scene/situation-driven story instead of a character-driven one. Not that much depth to it, if I recall correctly, but it does bring to mind the idea that Ponyville is completely lawless and there are no police ponies, anywhere. Nice place to raise your kids.
Oh, and the town doesn’t just lynch Trixie for casting body horror spells on small children. I sure hope no other major threat comes along that requires a concerted effort from ponies to fight it, because it looks like they just don’t have that in them.
Let’s watch and see if I’m remembering it worse than it is.
Oh, hey, reference to Winter-Wrap-Up.
And the file is corrupted. Dangit, that’s gonna muck up my whole schedule.
In the meantime, I’ve consulted my book on the topic. Anyways, it’s a scene-driven story. Trixie comes back to Ponyville, and beats Twilight in a magic duel. That’s the scene. In and of itself, not a problem to have that kind of story. The issues come in when the plot drives the characters and not the other way around. In Dragonshy, the ponies all have distinct ways of reacting to the same problem: the dragon. Here, everypony is pretty much equally bland and powerless. Even Twilight.
It also sets a very uncomfortable precedent for magic, publically used magic, essentially cursing two children without any repercussions from the rest of Ponyville. In Daring Don’t, I could kind of understand the lack of intervention by the girls because of the whole spectator aspect and all. But here? That’s a public attack on little kids.
More reason to think Zecora is racist. Consider this for a second. If Twilight trains with Zecora, she’ll be strong enough to take on Trixie. Zecora pretty much claims she can take on any pony in terms of magic.
Why doesn’t Zecora lay some whoopass on Trixie, then?
… thought so. Stripey racist bitch.
“Unlearn what you have learned.” So, err… you’re telling her to disregard the teachings of Celestia, the friendship lessons of the past few months which have stopped at least two national catastrophes, and whatever little tricks her Captain of the Royal Guard big brother taught her. You’re gonna top all that, Zecora?
If I were Twilight, I’d be asking for some credentials right about now.
Wow, Rainbow Dash, you’re getting even with Fluttershy, twice?
Just so we’re clear: Trixie saved up money to buy that Amulet. It’s called theft. Anyone writing that fanfic yet?
Trixie outright states “You can forgive me, can’t you?” Wow.
Sleepless in Ponyville
Ah, yes, the second Scootaloo episode, after Cutie Mark Chronicles. I remember liking this one for being both silly and giving a modicum of depth to little Scoots. And I remember being numbly annoyed by the writing staff not giving her any family background. Not even a shot with her anxiously asking her guardian (I hope she’s not a confirmed orphan, but nowadays mub rule decides everything, so she might be by now) if she can hang out with Rainbow Dash and her friends.
The good stuff brings a smile, and the bad just a resigned groan. It could have been worse: had she been confirmed an orphan or handicapped, I’d have given up on the fandom, most likely. That threat still stands, with only a few minor addendums.
Watching the opener… yup, still no grownups addressing Scootaloo by name.
And the first time Rainbow Dash does it is to ask for firewood. Well, could’ve been worse. She could have given Apple Bloom flying lessons already. Oh, wait…
Scootaloo’s wings keep buzzing when she falls asleep. Now, horses can sleep while standing. Can pegasi fly while sleeping? I mean, granted, she can’t fly in this episode, but the principle stands.
Applejack is a lot more observant in this than she was with Babs. Good on her.
Scootaloo’s horror story: “It has to be horrible.” It was.
Scootaloo’s situation with Rainbow Dash here is pretty much Rainbow Dash’s situation with the Wonderbolts at the Gala. “This isn’t hanging out,” remember? Scootaloo wanted to show off her moves. She never gets to do that.
The final talk between them is probably one of the highlights of the entire series. It’s a good show of character for both Rainbow and Scoot. It also brings to mind the idea that if Scootaloo needs someone to ‘take her under their wing’, it might be a subtle implication that she’s a mixed-race child, and/or the pegasus parent isn’t around all that often.
That scooter must have a homing device of some kind, probably linked to the helmet. That thing really takes a beating this episode.
Well, halfway the season in one day, finish up tomorrow.
Wonderbolts Academy
It’s only a week or so of flight training. More like a summer camp than anything else. Sending someone home is the only real punishment you can dish out in that timespan.
I remember feeling sad for Pinkie Pie in this one, more than annoyed.
Anyways, on to the viewing.
Huh. You know, I hadn’t noticed the Dizzitron was 3D rendered before, but the linework on the right leg (viewer’s right) gives it away. Little blinking in post.
Really, what we’re seeing is Rainbow Dash’ reputation as ‘lazy’ haunting her. Remember Sonic Rainboom? Come to think of it, what is Lightning Dust’s day job?
And again, Pinkie Pie acting like Twilight with that fretting over nothing. Kinda heartwarming, I must say. Shame AJ has to ruin the moment by staring at the camera.
I used to follow the reasoning that they shouldn’t be able to stand on clouds, and the girls probably had a cloudwalking spell going, but the opening shot of the Academy reveals the track and grass are actually on a mountain, not a cloud. I’m guessing Rainbow Dash made some sort of airpocket using the clouds, then. Meh, pegasus magic, I’m willing to let that slide.
The idea that for pegasi, confidence translates into raw power (again, taking a cue from the Niko movies, which did it a lot better/more seriously and plot-relevant), keeps getting more and more plausible. Which would add some context to the Wonderbolts being such jerks: if they weren’t, their performance would actually suffer.
Is Lightning Dust wrong, though? Well, yes, but not for the reasons spelled out. The episode only covers pushing your limits versus being reckless. Lightning Dust’s problem is something else entirely: she believes that only the best can become Wonderbolts. She’s not wrong in that. Where she is wrong is acting like anypony beneath her is never going to improve. She doesn’t care about her wing pony, or her team mates. She’s not interested in helping them or getting them to improve. She doesn’t consider them future or even potential team mates. In every event, even the ones where Spitfire literally says it’s not a competition, Lightning Dust makes it a competition.
If the Wonderbolts are to be role models, then Lightning Dust’s attitude needs to be adjusted. But that’s a big ‘if’, and Season 4 kind of portrays the Wonderbolts a little on the, err, how do I put this delicately, dried meat side. Maybe Season 5 redeems them somehow. I’ve heard spoilers that it doesn’t.
Edit: it kind of leaves things implied as a recurring problem, which is a design choice I can get behind.
It’s nice to see some morals beyond the spelled-out ones, but it does make the show look a little bit blind at times. Still, nice episode.
Apple Family Reunion
Does AJ say ‘Gesundhoof’?
‘Feathers on a goat’. I’m going to have to look up the terminology for that one. Feathers are the hairs around the hooves, right? Do goats get those?
Locations, locations, locations: Yonder Hill, Hollow Shades, Galloping Gorge, Ole’ Mountain (?), Tall Tell Tale.
The Apples drink cider from a trough. How country.
*insert keeling sounds and gurgling here*
Okay, back from the hospital. Sorry, forgot about the insulin shock in this episode.
Important to note that the Apple family apple fritters are made with honey, apparently. Will need to remember that for when Bastion gets some sequels.
The Apple family has flying ponies. Seems kind of out of place, until you realise they were pilgrims originally and flight is a good way to get around. Also, good place to put an ad, that blimp.
Babs changed schools. Remember what I said about bullies not going away? Yeah…
Worst. Wilhelm Scream. Ever. Apple Bloom doesn’t even sound like Wilhelm, even when she’s dizzy.
Two other blank flanks at Babs’ school. I remember there being a rumour, or a story, regarding Babs having turned her CMC branch into a pretty much industrial cutie-mark-granting organisation, and the girls getting stuck in Manehattan and having to redo their Show Stoppers routine, but with the roles switched, and that’d get them their cutie marks. It was listed as a Season 4 episode, but obviously that didn’t go through. Maybe that’s how it went in Season 5? Yes, I did catch that spoiler, despite my best efforts.
And again, Applejack is acting like Twilight, pretty much. Overly organised and obsessed with detail.
That was the barn. So where’s their house?
Never been much of a fan of this episode’s song. I can understand musical and dance numbers, but this is too much for me.
Spike at Your Service
Princess Celestia trusts Twilight to read twelve books. Really? Must be those ‘advanced studies’ again. Huh, wonder what that’s leading up to. Well, at least we know Twilight won’t repeat the mistake of not completely reading a book that contains vital information, like the Cutie Mark Crusaders did in Hearts and Hooves day and like she did in the Crystal Empire. She’s definitely not going to repeat that mistake ever again, right?
Spike’s scales are heat-resistant. Even friction burn doesn’t hurt that much.
Oh, hey, 3D renders again on the Timberwolves. Doesn’t look that bad, actually.
It’s not a dragon code he’s following. It’s the ‘Spike the Dragon’ code. I never caught that distinction before now.
One has to wonder why Rarity would refuse a meal by her own sister (Sisterhooves Social), but take a bite of something made by Spike ‘I found these cupcakes in the trash’ the Dragon.
As for Spike’s sudden holding of the Idiot Ball, it doesn’t bug me nearly as much as it does other people. He’s confused, and not just looking to do good, but looking to do anything. He overthinks everything now. That’ll turn anyone into a blithering idiot. He might even be sabotaging himself just to stay busy.
Why do you think he started collecting comic books in Season 4? Grabby kind of touched upon it, but if dragon nature is to make a hoard, then the closest way to integrate that into normal pony society is by making a collection of sorts. Comic books are as good a place as any to start.
If no one else has written Rainbow Dash and the Shameless Self-Insert novel, I’m doing it. I already have some character sheets and a sweet, sexy plot.
Spike’s actual problem was present before he got the life debt: he doesn’t have anything to do. And since he’s constructed his whole identity as a helper, that means he has no sense of self, or self-worth, without something to make him feel useful.
And the reason he has this problem is kind of a neat character trait, too: his near-endless stamina. Seriously, he doesn’t stop. He’s slow, but when pacing himself, he doesn’t get tired. At all.
That rock hits AJ’s leg when she’s prone. Can’t imagine that didn’t hurt. A little peeved at the animators/storyboarders for not making it a bigger rock or even a bigger pile, but that’s not my biggest issue with the episode.
I don’t hate it like most do, but I do take some grief with one particular omission, and that’s how the Timberwolf is finally defeated. It’s a Spike episode, it’s supposed to be an excuse to show off his character, and they neglect to show the single most important thing about Spike. The major distinctive feature about him. No, not that he’s a boy.
Spike is a dragon.
Don’t see the problem? Try this line of dialogue:
Katon! Goukakyuu no jutsu!
Okay, for those of you who haven’t seen Naruto, I’ll put it plainly.
Spike is a dragon. Stop thinking Disney family-friendly deaths (Vermithrax Pejorative notwithstanding, that one was deliciously gorey) and start thinking Whicker Wolf. Spike, open your damn mouth and make charcoal out of his ass.
There’s also the idea that Spike’s mind works like that of a reptile: it sheds its skin every now and then, resetting him to an earlier emotional age. If that’s the case, poor guy. Just a headcanon to consider. Getting him toilet trained must have been a nightmare, then.
Episode 10: Keep Calm and Flutter On
Before watching, I have to say that, again, I don’t understand the levels of hate or contention or even debate this episode gets. If anything, it’s a nice little hint that Discord wasn’t just created omnipotent, he was born and raised. There was a time when he was helpless, and he remembers that time in the end, same as the dragon in Dragonshy.
Everything else is your bog-standard plot-first episode instead of character-first, along with the morally ambiguous ‘reformation spell’. I have to wonder what that would do, how it works.
But rewatching this season, I think I have actually learned the full meaning of those four little words that bronies around this time learned to despise, hate, or fear. I don’t share any of those emotions, but I understand them. Those four words?
“Story editor: Meghan McCarthy.”
It’s not bad, I think, but it’s certainly different. And this Season does have some issues, but they’re issues at conception, not execution. At least for me.
Anyway, just this episode to go before the two-parter finale.
Celestia has use for Discord’s magic if it can be reformed. Not him, it.
One thing I dislike thoroughly in this episode, or the series in general: spells that do just about anything, with no effort or study required, or testing. Yup, spell on the Elements so Discord can’t take them. Releasing spell, sure, whatever. Reformation spell that’ll instantly make him good, why not? Honestly, I hate to be that guy, but this is what happens when you let an Earth pony write a plot about magic.
Actually, is that a fanfic yet? Sounds like it should be a fanfic. Someone write a fanfic about that.
“Use the Elements if he gets out of hand.” Getting out of hand, not hoof. Duly noted.
The water in Sweet Apple Acres is stagnant before the dam is broken. It’s not actually overflowing anywhere, it’s just a bigger pond.
“Get him to use magic obediently of his own free will.”
Err…
“Obediently.” “Of his own free will.”
I’m guessing aside from the history books, Celestia’s been tinkering with the dictionary, too?
Twilight’s eyes don’t glow during the dispelling.
And again, we see this is a plot-first episode, not character-first. Have I gone over the difference yet? I feel like I have, but it’ll warrant a separate blog post, most likely.
So that reforming spell was in several books, not just one. We’re not talking about forbidden knowledge here, then. Commonplace sort of spell. I don’t know how I feel about that. If it’s related to the memory spell Twilight used in Return of Harmony, no reason she wouldn’t be able to do it now. Ditto ‘Want it, need it’ spell.
The whole dinner party chaos dies down the second Discord realises Fluttershy is sincere. Nice touch.
In Spike at Your Service, the CMC were said to be getting fitted for waterskis. In this episode, Discord goes waterskiing. I guess that sort of ties in with the comic he apparently shared with them?
The thing that gets Discord to ‘agree’ is somepony taking off a necklace. Never considered that, but: well played. That is some fine foreshadowing to Tirek right there.
What actually causes Discord’s reformation? I think it’s simple, really, basic conundrum of a magic-user, and one I like to resort to in my stories, fanfic and original.
Any character is looking for happiness. Happiness comes from different things to different characters. If Discord really wanted Fluttershy to go skating with him, why not make her?
Because that would mean having to accept the fact that he has to make her.
Being able to use magic to get what you want always comes with some emotional baggage, and it is this: the realisation that you have to resort to magic for it. For little things, that’s not such a raw deal. For love magic, it’s pretty depressing to think that no woman/man/anteater will ever want you, or that the one you want, the love of your life, will never care for you of their own free will.
In Discord’s case, what Fluttershy did, tossing her skates out onto that wide, open ice rink… it was a very potent bit of imagery to show that Discord would always be alone.
He can have all the fun he wants, cause chaos across the land, laugh it up, but he’ll still be alone.
He can force ponies to see things his way, have fun with him. But he’d do so knowing he had to force them.
No one will look out for him if anything should happen. No one will care when a bigger fish eventually shows up to steal his powers or even kill him.
If anyone ever managed to get the Elements to destroy him - and since the current bearers are mortal, that’s something that can happen eventually - no one would speak up and say “No, wait, he doesn’t deserve that.”
Hell, no one did when he was sealed away for a thousand years. While conscious. I’d ask to write that fanfic, but I’ve already got sort of a concept going. Not a big or good one, but a concept. It’ll probably get featured once it’s done.
But back to Discord, just so we’re clear: in this episode, no one cares. Celestia wants only his magic to be used for good. As far as Discord knows, in his twisted worldview, Celestia would just as likely suck the magic out of him if she could, and he might be right. Everypony else sees him only as a villain, an image he enjoys.
Besides, have you seen how ponies treat their so-called friends sometimes?
The only one who honestly does right by him is Fluttershy.
The idea that he ever turned truly ‘good’ was tenuous at best. He’s given a reason to behave, but no reason to forgive anything that’s been done to him. He has good reason for his resentment. But that’s a different discussion.
So, then we get to the two-parter that closes off this Season: Just for Sidekicks and Games Ponies Play. Looking forward to this.
Just for Sidekicks.
Before the viewing, again a reminder that Zecora is a racist character towards dragons. Not saying that’s a bad thing, mind you. It creates some interesting moments. It’s kind of a shame it’s only ever left superficial, though.
I also remember the Cutie Mark Crusaders being at their cutest in this episode, right down to their facepaw-inducing skydiving off a bridge.
Well, onward I go.
Poor Spike. He can’t help his dragon instincts. Isn’t there a support group for individuals like him?
Huh. Spike going to a Compulsive Eater Meeting. Has anyone written that fanfic yet? Feels like it should be a fanfic. Someone write that fanfic.
We have a saying in Flemish: “Beestje trekt op zijn baasje.” It means “Animal takes after its owner.” Considering Tank’s track record of flying into things, I’m inclined to believe it.
Rainbow Dash and Tank are adorable. Just thought I’d throw that out there.
Rarity’s gem, though tiny, was probably worth the most.
Zecora’s… oh, never mind, that tune’s getting old by now.
Scootaloo doesn’t even think twice about readying a feather for Apple Bloom.
“You wouldn’t dare.” It’s funny because she moves her head up and down like she’s nodding in reply.
It takes a lot to make Angel Bunny look sympathetic for a change. Well played.
Huh. So it’s Sweetie Bell now, not Sweetie Belle? Look at the credits.
Games Ponies Play
So this one’s, again, kind of railroading the characters in one aspect, but it’s still character-first, not plot-first.
The stallion filly Rainbow is standing on was listed as her mentor in the card game, not her dad (name’s Rainbow Blaze, if I recall correctly). Not entirely sure why, but hey, it leaves Hurricane Hue as an option, so no complaints from me.
This one’s basically a sitcom plot, with all the trappings thereof. If you don’t like those, you’ll not like this episode. I happen to like them, and this episode to boot. It helps that I’ve seen most of the old Addams Family series.
I like how they’re all concerned with traditional mane style and the inspector doing her homework when… what homework? Most ponies didn’t know the Empire even existed. If it was traditional a millennium ago, it’s forgotten now. I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating: consistency is not this show’s strong suit, never has been.
And as for the stylist having the flu, that’s what happens when you miss about a thousand years’ worth of diseases evolving and modern medicine. My Little Pony, everyone: Vaccination is Magic.
Holy cow. Here I’ve been saying saddlebags were marked with cutie marks as a means of identifying the owner. I’d forgotten that was a plot point in this episode. Well, colour me embarrassed.
Why does this mare think it’s normal to be welcomed like this? Realm’s been gone for a thousand years. Not a lot of reference for old customs, and the counter of visitors has reset. She might think it’s just a ‘millionth visitor’ type of deal. We see the Crystal ponies sell cinnamon buns in the train station. That’s tourist food, going by where they sell it. They must get most of their revenue from that now.
The Mustang having mild claustrophobia and restlessness was a neat touch. Said it when this first aired, saying it here. As far as sitcom characters go, that’s a good’un, right up there with the biker stereotype from the Addams Family. I need to watch that old episode again. One of the best things ever.
Anyways, there’s also a good chance that Mustang girl is, well, famous in her own country. Like she says, she’s travelled far and wide.
Why is no one saying hello to Harshwhinny? They’re all busy sprucing the place up. Why doesn’t Harshwhinny just drop the place as a contestant? Well, for one thing, maybe she was doing her job and inspecting the actual arenas, stadiums, and other such trivial things without the distraction of a welcome committee with their own agenda.
Shining Armour’s gagging expression. Priceless.
She says she’s a wild Mustang from Mustangia. Wild Mustang. Wild.
What the hay is that supposed to mean? Not domesticated? Maybe it just means she doesn’t have Equestrian lineage. Equestria is considered civilised, the continent the ponies left frozen is the wilds now?
I’m thinking she is famous for something back home. Has to be. Also, her cutie mark is a chicken, which looks like it’s sitting on a nest. Yeah, yeah, Scootaloo’s mom, hardy harhar, stop and think for a second. I’m not 100% familiar with English expressions, but isn’t there one that goes “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched?”
Which is kinda the trap the girls fall into here?
Oh, and Pinkie even says those are cinnamon buns. Huh. I just recognised them by the swirls (again: thanks, Great British Bake-Off!). Nice detail.
So that was that, then. Nice little TwiDash episode, both getting some progression in their character. And it’s not a bad episode once you get past the obvious matter of not asking a pony their name, which is actually not that much of a surprise if you keep track of the details in past seasons. I’ve heard it said that maybe this season was meant to be the last one at one point, and while I do feel the series had more in it, this would have been a fine enough way to end it.
Good, heartwarming episode, silly but not ridiculous (except Pinkie taking her Pinkie self up to eleven), with a decent enough moral of giving something that you always wanted, but never had.
Yeah, good dignified way to close this season. Would have ended the series on a high note, too.
Wait, what? Magical Mystery Cure?
What’s that?
The episode where Twilight becomes an Alicorn Princess, duh.
Whether one cares for it or not doesn't change the fact that it happened.
As for G4 Spike, don't hate him, but honestly, G3 Spike was best Spike. At least he was knowledgeable/wise. And voiced by the Original English Dub voice of Vegeta.
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I know the episode, I'm only kidding. Thing is, it's the only episode I have a bona fide aversion to, and the first time I saw it, I spent about two or three hours writing a long ramble of a blog about all the reasons I dislike it.
I don't need that kind of negativity in my life right now, so I just don't speak of it. Even if I don't enjoy it, others do, and it's not my place to take away someone else's enjoyment.
And was he, now? That's interesting. I'm going to have to remember that if I ever get around to watching that. I know where to find it, just finding time will be an issue. I've heard good things about G3 from people in the Filly fandom, but I can't attest to it myself. I seem to recall that version being older, for one thing, and possibly immortal. If nothing else, Spike as a wise dragon would be pretty appealing, for obvious reasons.
In this Generation, besides the problems different writers have given him, I'd say he represents the popular geek. He's in his own little world, he has his own interests, but he's social and sensitive. He's the type who'll stick up for someone even if he knows he's outmatched. And being a geek, he knows a lot about a little; he can make gem cakes, he's become an expert on comic books, he probably knows a lot about magic just from osmosis.
I'm still waiting for an episode titled 'The Dragon Who Wasn't', just for the movie reference. It's a Dutch film about a duke (instead of a princess) who finds a dragon egg and accidentally becomes the hatchling's adoptive father, not realising it's a species that grows when stealing. The egg is spotted and everything. And it's a wingless dragon, and he hails from a place called 'The Black Mountains'. Oh, and they take the little baby dragon to a doctor to get an injection that should stop his stealing urges. There's more, but it's fanfic fodder that might get used soon-ish.
Anyways, ramble aside: yes, you are correct, the episode did happen, and there's no point in denying it. But from my perspective, there's nothing for me to say about it that would be any good to anyone, either. So I don't. I guess I could remark that Celestia's song was very heartwarming, and the Mane Six reacting to this new change came off as very smooth and again, heartwarming. But that's about it.
Two more Seasons to post about, and some announcements on future fics, inspired by this latest binge.
3636535 Fair enough, I try and go with a similar philosophy myself. As for Twilight and her princessness, I always imaged that Cleo De Neil and Jewel Sparkles would have very interesting things to say to her coughchewheroutfornotowningherprincessness
Looking back at the three spikes, G3 Spike had the most consistent personality, (helped by his older age/maturity), even if he had the least amount of screen time. G4 Spike, while I don't hate em, strikes me as such of a blank slate style character that you can do pretty much whatever you want with him and it will work on some level.
As for his age, he does mention merely being a thousand and not very old by dragon standards. G3 Spike I mean
As for the G4 ponies, the more the show goes on, the more I am convinced that there are no shrinks in Equestria, nor does Equestria have any concept of them. Explains the overthetop reactions ponies have at times if nothing else. Then again I'm one of those jerks that 'victim blames' Luna for Luna Eclipse (Did you give ANY of the ponies any sort of head up that you were coming, or that you wanted changes made to your 'holiday' as it were? Any sort of royal messenger?). People always blame Pinkie, but it's not as if Pinkie;s a mind reader or anything. Given Luna's crazy sentence, she probably thought the Princess was in on it. ) So what do I know?
What I do know is that people are too hard on the current writing team. For every dud episode (because of course there have never been episodes in other TVs that were ever duds before) there's still a lot of solid stuff. Plus as much as people complain about the usage of comedy writers over fantasy/other type of writers, Faust herself isn't a fantasy writer by nature. She's mostly a comedy writer, having worked on mostly humor or humor liked shows and movies.
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G1 Spike could put up with Lickety-Split and was willing to help her out, and that's definitely saying something.
[youtube=RUKJh77bCrI]
We're talking about an earth pony dumb enough to leap off a cliff thinking she could fly if she really wanted to, after all.
MMC has its problems. It was originally intended to be the final episode at the time it was written, and then got massively edited to allow it to not actually be the end of the show without MA Larson's involvement. All in all, I'm glad it wasn't the end of the show, though.
I've been finding the notes on each episode interesting, incidentally. It's just by the time I get to the end of each post, I've usually forgotten the things I wanted to comment on.
--arcum42