No Second Prances S6E6 Recap · 4:06pm Apr 30th, 2016
FINALLY, TRIXIE HAS COME BACK TO PONYVILLE!!!
...Yes I did that joke in my fanfic, but screw it!
I'll start by saying that I am trying to watch these episodes blind, save for the press release plot blurbs. So when I accidentally spoiled myself and knew about Trixie's return, that kinda ruined the first half of the episode because of course I'm just waiting for Trixie. That said, the first half was good. Big Mac's bit was great (if OOC for a villain trying to reform), Rainbow Dash was funneh, Rarity and Fluttershy were kinda dull. I did like that Starlight's idea to make new friends were to ask the Mane Six who they may know, it's a simple but logical way to meet new folks. Also, Mrs. Cake deserved that for being so snappish.
I liked how Trixie and Starlight met, it was cute. That clip would have been better for a preview, tease us who it might be but don't confirm it. That aside, once I did spoil myself and got over Trixie's return, I was worried. Because there were two obvious ways this could go badly - either Trixie isn't really reformed and becomes a dark influence on Starlight, or Twilight hasn't really forgiven her and doesn't trust her. The showrunners went the second way. Which I guess is fine, they didn't overdo it. Twilight was more worried about Starlight than not trusting Trixie outright.
I loved Trixie and Starlight's interactions, they really did play off of each other well and I got the sense they were bonding. The moral of a villain really being forgiven is a good one to explore; forgiven, but not forgotten. It is something that a lot of people can deal with. Even if you do forgive someone for something they did, in the back of your mind you're always going to remember it and it may affect your decisions. I liked the cameos from Vinyl, Derpy, and Cranky were fun, and Vinyl got her name canonized as DJ Pon3. I found it funny how Celestia never actually talked but managed to be so funny. Her facial expressions were like "Twi, you need to get over this hero worship of me already, you've got your own wings now."
I have mixed feelings about the third act. It felt like Trixie's slip of the tongue was forced to create conflict in the last five minutes, when it wasn't needed. Twilight realizes Trixie was sincere about being Starlight's friend, all three make amends, Trixie does her (surprisingly dark) trick, and we end with a cutaway joke back to Celestia.
Overall a good episode, a few OOC moments I can let slide, a good moral, and good characterization. Trixie, Starlight, and Twilight all had their stories and character arcs continued in a satisfactory manner, there was good humor, and good cameos. My only complain is the choice of cameos may rub some as pandering, but pft.
I was definitely worried about this episode being a rehash of "What About Discord?" but thankfully despite a few moments it did not turn out that way.
God, I really wanted Rainbow to say "We can't be friends" during her skit. XD Never heard of the Wonderbolts? I mean, who does that?