The Gift of (The) Maud Pie, various thoughts · 11:45am Apr 3rd, 2016

I rather liked this episode. To me, it was a slightly above average filler episode with sharp writing and good humour. Great character interaction, much fun, and a good moral. Not bad for the new writers.:3 Now then, let me see~

—I appreciate the addition of Maud. Rarity bonding with the two Pie sisters was also lovely. It seems Rarity is pretty much a part of the family now. Though I imagine she's hoping their parents never meet.
—Maud confronting the hustler was legitimately tense. The slight pause before the word "please" made it pretty clear that she was no longer making a request. Warning bells must have rung inside his head when Maud repeated herself a second time and abruptly cut herself off. The way she ended it really did seem to say; "This is your last warning". Her completely deadpan expression combined with that subtle emotion (and if Rarity spoke the truth, the other signs of her fury) it's no wonder the hustler broke down entirely. There was a silent rage conveyed through that one sentence, and it shows how scary this Pie can get where Pinkie's involved.
—Maud's skating was rather graceful. I wonder what other hobbies she has aside from everything geology.
—You know you've spent too much time around Pinkie Pie when you do this.
—Rarity has excellent eyesight considering how she spotted the pouch from that distance.
—The animators are still having fun with facial expressions, I see.
—Maud immediately came to the conclusion that Pinkie was missing her party cannon. Nice to see her sharp mind in action again.
—It seems that we're not quite yet getting into the supposed theme of this season, exploration. I wonder if the map is going to be relevant then, or whether our ponies will travel on their own accord? Still, it's great to see Rarity's expanding business to her favourite city.