"No Second Prances" Review by the HeroofBergen (Spoilers) · 4:41pm Apr 30th, 2016
It was a two week from "Gauntlet of Fire" and "No Second Prances" so the anticipation for the first appearance of Trixie since Season 3. Was the wait worth it? Well... a little of column A and a little of column B.
Ok, let me explain. I wasn't really that big of a fan of Starlight Glimmer in season 5. She was ok in "The Cutie Map" but I really didn't like her appearance and reformation in "Cutie Remarked". I am a firm believer that last year's finale would've been perfect without her. Regardless, this season with the premiere and now her first real centric episode. I have grown to like her better. There are going to be many comparisons between Starlight Glimmer and Sunset Shimmer.
Anyway, onward with the actual review.
The episode starts out with Twilight preparing for a dinner with Princess Celestia, a scene I will address later. Twilight giving Starlight her another lesson in her friendship training. This time, her having to find her first friend. It is good to see Starlight having to break out of her shell and having to make her first friend that isn't one of Twilight's.
Starlight searches throughout Ponyville trying to find a new friend. Each of Twilight's friends helping her out. From Pinkie with Mrs. Cake to Fluttershy with Angel. My personal favorite out of all them being the scene with Big Mac. That scene was so funny, maybe one of the funniest scenes in the entire series. I love it that Big Mac has gotten for dialog in the last two seasons. "Brotherhooves Social" by having the best monologue in the series, the irony is awesome, and now in this episode used for beautiful comedy.
Starlight is about to give up when she goes to the spa in town and comes across another pony that had gone through a similar experience as her. This pony being Trixie. I personally do like Trixie and while her two appearances have been might by mixed reviews. They were both centered around how Trixie was shown. This episode was the same way. Something I will into later.
Starlight goes back to Twilight and introduces her mentor to her new friend. Starlight surprised to find out that Twilight already knew Trixie and that the two had a past. I could see the animosity between both Twilight and Trixie during their first scene together and throughout the rest of the episode. It is an animosity that is both believable and understandable. As Trixie had humiliated her friend's on two separate occasions. The second time almost separating her from them forever.
I loved Twilight trying to get Starlight into 'finding' a better find. Both of the friends being a massive shoutout to the fandom with Vinyl, Derby, and Cranky. But even through I found the scene funny, me a little reminded of Starlight spying on Twilight during "What About Discord" I still have one moment that bugged. It was when Twilight called Vinyl DJ Pon3. UGH! why did you have to make her terrible fandom name canon? Anyway, it's not that important and doesn't really detract from the story.
I love all of the interactions between Trixie and Starlight. My personal favorites being when Trixie became the Queen of Guilt Trips, and the scene when Starlight chooses Trixie over Twilight only for Trixie to "Dun Goofed" nearly ending their friendship.
The dinner scene had the right amount of awkwardness in it, and it gave one side of Celestia that I didn't know I wanted until I was shown it. Celestia being bored and Twilight trying to entrain her former mentor. I found the scene both funny and even better by having the very last scene being Cranky asking Celestia the same thing the fandom has four six years. "How does she make her mane so waving?" My answer, a lot of shampoo and conditioner.
Starlight helping Trixie complete a magic act that no pony other than the great magician ever had pulled off was great. Trixie and Twilight both reconciling in the end. Twilight hopefully going to give her oldest rival an actual second chance. The moral of the story. Everypony deserves a second chance. Unless their like Sombra, Tirek, the Sirens, or the Flim Flam Brothers. Those are just too evil.
Overall, I consider this episode a win and a great addition to the series. Giving some great development for both Trixie and Starlight. But this episode makes me wishing for a follow-up. A follow up that might not happen. When the credits began to roll, I remember thinking. "Wait is that it." And no movie, episode, or book should make you think that. So I give this episode an 8.5 out 10. A good episode, but not perfect. As usual, I am the HeroofBergen signing off.
