Afterthoughts: Newbie Dash · 2:30pm May 14th, 2016
art by AssasinMonkey
Rainbow Dash is finally a Wonderbolt!
Woohoo! 
Her dream since the very first episode has finally been achieved!
That’s a wrap, everypony.
Time to celebrate,
sing a song,
fly off into the sunset,
and enjoy the happily ever after!
…except not, because that isn’t how reality works in this show, just as that isn’t how things work in real life.
I have lauded the growing maturity of this show, and for many of its elements, the episode “Newbie Dash” continues this trend. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has long taught that through determination and through hard and virtuous work, you may achieve your goals. But it also teaches that such success doesn’t mean the end of your struggles, and that getting what you want often comes packaged with difficulties and challenges of its own.
In a show that has become increasingly about growth and transitions, you could say this has been a theme.
I have to say that I loved how “Newbie Dash” opened and the how the notes that it went out on. Other writers would feel it required to make Rainbow Dash’s achievement of her childhood dream and show-long goal a finishing point, and dedicate an entire episode to The Event That Wins The Prize. But like “Canterlot Boutique” last season, the writers of MLP once again allow a character to reach their goal in a more natural way, and make the story one of dealing with the initial difficulties of having done so.
More below the break.
Ashleigh Ball must have had a blast doing this episode.
art by ElisDoominika
Instead of fanfare, Rainbow Dash’s moment of becoming a Wonderbolt is actually somewhat downplayed. The retirement of Firestreak was a very realistic set-up. And Dashes reactions were not flamboyant or over-the-top. (She saves that sort of behavior for later, giving it more impact.) I really liked this handling.
“What she said.”
However, there was one bit in that scene that deserves more attention. When I published the first real chapter of “Origin Story”, a few people got caught on the line “Daring Do just couldn’t keep her eyes on the young mare sitting at the far end of the table.” It is a line that says exactly what it is meant to say, and that makes perfect sense to the reader in hindsight, but is so off from what is expected that some people tripped up on it, or assumed the oddity was a typo. Likewise, in the scene above, I had difficulty parsing Spitfire’s comment “What she said.” After a moment of confusion, I decided Spitfire must be putting Scootaloo’s words in Rainbow Dash’s mouth for her… but that seemed very odd.
I’ll come back to this later.
art by ViralAcorn
This is an interesting episode to give my thoughts on as it isn’t an episode that I will ever watch in its entirety again. There are parts of it, however, that I expect to return to repeatedly. Particularly the beginning and the end.
However, the middle of the episode relied on cringe-humor that was painful to watch, and I have no desire to sit through that sequence again. The only scene I’ve found as unpleasant was Spike’s attempt to sing the Cloudsdale Anthem (which was much worse). I vocally thanked Spitfire when she stepped in and told Dash to knock it off. Fortunately, the Wonderbolts are cool enough not to let Rainbow Dash’s mid-episode antics do her any real harm.
Rainbow Dash can do an impressive Fluttershy impression.
Also, please nobody ever call her Care Mare. ugh.
Not that I blame Rainbow Dash for going a bit overboard in her attempts to change her nickname. The name her new peers had pinned on her happened to have hurtful past associations that the Wonderbolts clearly didn’t know about. (And that is a believable coincidence, as “Rainbow Crash” is an all too obvious mangling of her name, possibly the easiest to think of.)
Rainbow Dash has come so far, proving herself vastly better than the self-image that her childhood bullies tried to instill. Becoming a Wonderbolt is the crown on her achievements… how could she just allow it to be sullied by those old hurts and not fight against it?
The abuse of a child – whether from peer or parent, teacher or stranger – is child abuse. And no child abuse should ever be tolerated. It is never (no matter what the abusers might tell themselves) for the child’s “own good”, or to “toughen the kid up” or any other bullshit positive spin the perpetrators try to give it. Instead, it is damaging, and it leaves psychological wounds. One of the many great benefits of friendship is that friends can help those wounds heal, both faster and better than they would on their own. We have seen this with Fluttershy. But even then, there will still be psychological scars.
The toll of child abuse can have serious, detrimental affects on the victim’s psyche that impact them for the rest of their lives. And even those who come through it stronger and better, like Rainbow Dash, still carry wounds that can open unexpectedly, and provoke changes in mood and behavior that can be seriously harmful to their adult lives and to those around them. This is what we see in “Newbie Dash”. Her abuse was apparently relatively minor, and she overcame it early through personal fortitude and ego; but when her new nickname reopens old wounds, she reacts in a completely understandable way.
Likewise, I cannot fault the Wonderbolts.
In the small but key scene pictured above, Fleetfoot uses the new nickname while earnestly trying to comfort Rainbow Dash and boost her morale, proving there is no maliciousness whatsoever in the practice. These are adults with respect for each other, and this isn’t abuse. This isn’t even hazing. This is a group tradition, and is actually a sort of bonding. Traditions like this are actually very common in just about any sort of “fraternal” order.
“Also, if you are late on game night…”
“…you owe the GM and all the other players a Mountain Dew.”
And in the case of the Wonderbolts, it likely serves a positive purpose.
These are Equestria’s greatest fliers. Just getting into the Wonderbolts is described as the “dream of near every little pegasus.” Ego is going to be a problem, especially with those pegasi freshly tapped for the team. While Spitfire doesn’t know why Rainbow Dash starts acting so out-of-character, Dash’s bravado only gets the eyeroll of somepony who has seen that behavior before. In fact, after the disaster, Spitfire calls Rainbow Dash on showboating, although it really wasn’t ego that Dash let run away with her. And from the beginning, she had to warn Dash to be on the lookout for the showing off of veteran Wonderbolts.
“Most of the Wonderbolts like to make a flashy entrance, so stay alert.”
So having to bear a reminder of a newbie screw-up not only allows veteran Wonderbolts to view how far they have progressed, but it helps all of them keep their heads from getting too big.
I was expecting Rainbow Dash’s ego to be the problem that gave the episode its conflict. This sure seemed to be the trajectory Rainbow Dash was on…
…until a collision with a trash can sent things spiraling sideways.
Like the beginning, the ending of the episode was handled absolutely beautifully. A mature resolution. And one which included a moment that many of us have been waiting for more earnestly than we have been waiting to see Rainbow Dash become a Wonderbolt:
“Are you serious?! You're the most talented flyer we've ever had!”
“And you've saved all of Equestria like, a dozen times.”
Spitfire even admits, “Of course you're supposed to be a Wonderbolt. We've been waiting for a spot to open up ever since you joined the Reserves!” And now I return to that scene in the beginning, finally understanding.
“What she said.” She wasn’t trying to give a speechless Rainbow Dash the words that were failing her. Spitfire was echoing Scootaloo’s sentiment herself. Maybe, as Fleetfoot later said, Wonderbolt’s don’t get excited… there was part of Spitfire that was joining Scootaloo in celebrating finally getting Rainbow Dash on the team.
Final note: this scene was amazing:
“Altius volantis! Soaring higher!”
Congratulations, Rainbow Dash!
art by SarmaTeppou
Rainbow Dash, Care Mare M.D.
And that is one of the many MANY things I so so LOVE about the show. That it actaully realizes this and explores it.
Agreed.
Also thank you for this. Yes it's exactly what I've been trying to tell people that dis this episode.
But yeah agree 100% with all of this. And nothing more I can really add.
I'm still not enamored with this episode, but this does put it in a much more flattering light. Thank you for doing so.
That was the story of furfilling a dream, now we'll see the story of living that dream.
Congratulations, Rainbow Dash! Now go kill some zebras.
Yeah, I'm not sure I can say the same about this episode. It made me cringe more times than I think this show ever has, and not in sympathy. A little ribbing is fine, but when the woman is obviously having problems with something, you'd think these people would have the good sense to stop and see what the problem is. As a leader, this is Spitfire's responsibility, and she failed miserably.
wait..... R.D's a wonderbolt now? I haven't watched an episode since the end of season 3....... have I missed something?
3943898 They had two days to perfect a routine with a sudden, green addition to the team. And as leader, Spitfire had all the other duties associated with being in charge of a major event, and one that required managing not only the Wonderbolts but the Reserves.
Spitfire clearly noticed something was wrong. She pulled Dash aside, told her to stop and to concentrate on learning the routine. She even went out of her way to get Rainbow Dash's jersey done in time for the event as a morale booster. She had confidence in Rainbow Dash -- and it was a fairly-earned confidence -- that Rainbow Dash could hold it together for a few days. After that, I have no doubt that Spitfire would have pulled Rainbow Dash aside and gotten to the bottom of things.
So, could she have done things better? Sure. But did she do badly? Not in my opinion.
My job puts me in a position to watch people who are in charge of managing major events. Most people who haven't been there cannot appreciate the stress and the craziness that these people have to deal with at such times. Or how many people on a manager's staff seem to chose the last minute to have a personal crisis. If the manager drops everything for each one of them, the critical work doesn't get done.
Spitfire did what the good ones do. She acknowledged that there was a problem, and put forth an effort to help... without letting things grind to a halt or turning one mare's difficulties into her primary focus.
3943973 Also pretty much all the things she saw could have been chalked up to a combo of nerves and trying to make a big "Look how awesome I am" newbie need to stand out. There really was little reasons for her to think the name would be that big a deal for RD given they've all gone through this. But yes Spitfire was spot on awesome here.
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You don't have to stop everything to ask: "What's wrong? Can I get you a psychiatrist?" Because even though she noticed something going on, her attempts at telling Rainbow to calm her shit didn't work all that well, and I'll say that that was quite obvious. Spitfire left a lot to chance in letting something that could become more than some extremely odd, neurotic, and possibly indicative of a serious psychological break go and trusting Rainbow to deal with it. This is the kind of shit people commit suicide over, however ridiculous that may seem.
And, in Ponyland, where someone who lost their friend to extenuating circumstances can go insane and subjugate a whole village of people just to make sure she had friends, this would be even more of a problem. So, yes, Spitfire has plenty of room for improvement. Lots of it.
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Like so many things in life, the story is far from over. Where one chapter of one's life ends, another one begins.
Keeps life unique and fresh, so the struggle keeps us striving to better ourselves.
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Oh ho ho ho. You, my friend, have missed a lot. I mean really a lot.
3944105 Realistic.
How about the whole nickname thing that the Wonderbolts did in the episode?
Let me share you a quote from this fellow redditor from the episode discussion of /r/mylittlepony...
Source here
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RD an adult. And as an adult she could just say that she have problems with this nickname and explain why. Instead, you know, expecting that peo... ponies around you are telepath and could guess what are your troubles directly from your mind.
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Yeah, but she never did. That's in her character. So, it was up to Spitfire, or, at the very least, some other Wonderbolt to see the problem (which was pretty obvious) and work to solve it. There's no mind reading required, just a little communication.
With most of the more in depth reviewers having moved on, just want to say thanks for sticking to this and giving us more food for thought for each episode. I had just gone back to re-watch some of Tommy Oliver's old videos and it made me realize how much I miss being able to look in depth at MLP and appreciate an episode even more. While there are plenty of reviewers still around, I feel like we are lacking the more in depth analysis that we got from guys like Digi or Bronycurious (Tommy Oliver). If anyone knows of people that are still sticking around and doing cool stuff like this, please let me know.
3944190 But at the same time this particular problem could have quite a few different origins, many of which aren't quite as serious as childhood scars. Spitfire mistook it for showboating as she was trying to earn a better nickname. You couldn't guess that this was childhood trauma from the way dash was acting, all you could guess from an outside perspective is that this nickname is hurting her pride and she's letting it get to her. When she called out Soarin as "Clipper" I felt like she was trying to get Rainbow to take the hint. Rainbow was the one who jumped to conclusions and didn't pause to explain the situation. Also I think Spitfire's method of teaching is via experience rather than through lecture. She lets Rainbow learn a lesson in humility by giving her room to learn the lesson herself. Of course if Rainbow had asked she might have made things a bit easier on Rainbow, but overall I think that's just not something Spitfire is good at. If you believe that the comics are canon, there's a whole chapter on Spitfire needing Rainbow's help teaching foals because her verbal approach comes off as hostile and makes the young ponies cry. The resolution is that she shows them through action while Rainbow explains what it is she's doing to the foals.
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who picked up on that. While I'm not exactly a fan of the episode, I agree with many of the points you made throughout the post. And yeah, I'll also say that Spitfire having Rainbow Dash stop her impressions was definitely a relief for both the Wonderbolts and the audience alike. And contrary to what most people have been saying, I thought the Wonderbolts were among the more mature characters in the episode, even with the playful teasing and them not knowing about Rainbow's past like the audience does. The dramatic irony arguably gives some insight into the characters of both Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts.
3944743
When someone comes in to work and acts like someone completely different, then that's odd. But when someone comes in and has yet another personality, that should set the alarm bells off that there is, at the very least, something deeper than showboating going on. That doesn't take any special training, or even an innate ability.
Spitfire, as a leader, failed. And that's alright, because nobody's infallible. But, with respect to the situation, I think there was absolutely no excuse for her failure.
3944822 She tried acting different ways, nearly each time suggesting an alternate nickname, her goal isn't hard to guess. She wants a different nickname is what I would think and from the Wonderbolt perspective she wanted a better nickname than any of them. Personally I would feel too insulted and cringe to realize that there's another reason behind this, least of all something serious.
Sadly, this episode was not one of my favorites from this season. I will say, however, that I am glad Rainbow Dash has finally become a Wonderbolt! I've been looking forward to that for who knows how long.
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Actual competency this time around is what I noticed. And yet still here I sit puzzling my pony puzzler over why dash, or any pegasi, wants to be a part of that lot at all!
Okay... so, the bolts are supposed to be para military or even military, right" I'd imagine they were made, at first, as a recruitment gimmick, then got to the point they pretty much only did air shows. Stopped being Guard and went celebrity. Lost their edge. And how do they treat a national heroine and the pony who saved their bacon when they got knocked mid air by Rarity? Smoozed with the nobles and snubbed Rainbow. Ceberus? No shows. Spike going ape shinola? Got caught like bugs in a jar. Never mind their failure at assignment, their personal protocal is atrocious.
Wonderbolts academy, who do they give the lead pony mantle too? A borderline sociopath more concerned with personal glory then her own comrades safety. Making a tornado, which is probably an illegal act on its own, disregarding civilians and military personell, endangering civilians, and then pretty much blowing any good old fashioned courtesy or even any courtesy out the water with a so what to finding out her actions almost killed somepony. And how does Spitfire react? After nearly lossing her best cadet, she proceeds to publicly humiliate and berate a cadet as opposed to taking her aside and informing her of her dismissal, all to cover her own tail.
The Equestria Games where they try to get Rainbow on their team, then abandon Soarin the second he stopped being what they deemed useful, and then give the most horrendous atta girl to Rainbow at the end.
Rainbows first show, where they found her guilty until proven innocent before any facts are established, at all. And Dash has to go to them, hat in hoof, scraping and bowing to them when, with her record, she should be leading them. Yes, earning your place and rank is sacrosanct, but considering the Wonderbolts...
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So, instead of start an official investigation they give RD chance to prove her own innocence? And they don't even put any supervision over her so she could easily forge any evidences that she need and destroy one that point on her? Yeah, it's clearly show their great distrust in RD. Such evil, evil Wonderbolts.
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I'm not sure if they were ever really meant to be fighters. just a group that did 'wicked stunts".
They got pulled in now and then to be the symbolic "strong characters" that get easily beaten to show off how strong the threat is but Dash is passionate about doing tricks and stunts. I could honestly see her eager to join a cool fighting team but not the military itself.
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That behavior is indicative of an unhealthy fixation. Generally, people don't need to change their entire look and personality to tell someone they don't like a nickname for reasons other than it being unflattering. That is unless they are attempting to repress that memory, which could cause a whole bundle of problems by itself.
Rainbow needs Dr. Wolf.
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Even so, the justice system is built around that tenet because crucifying people isn't going to get you anywhere morally, socially, or governmentally. Case in point: the KKK or both Red Scares.
3944713 I have been most impressed with the reviews of Loquacious of Herd, particularly the written segments that LoH writes in the comments of his blind reactions after subsequent viewings. However, his production of these segments is notoriously slow -- at this time, the newest is for "On Your Marks" -- so you may have to wait a bit. However, they are definitely worth the wait. Also, Loquacious of Herd recently dealt with another video take-down, and may be changing the formatting of his reactions and reviews.
3944713 Actually, I just checked his channel again, and it looks like Loquacious of Herd is now hosting his blind reactions off of YouTube in a location that doesn't allow commentary. As a result, he has started posting short review videos that offer links to his blind reactions. Apparently, he will be calling his reviews "Afterthoughts" as well. His first one was for "Newbie Dash" and was posted about twelve hours after I posted my own review. Check it out:
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Only I don't see any crucifying. RD outright the main suspect in "Rarity Investigates!" because she benefit the most from Spitfire absence. Clues more or less point on her. But instead of sending RD to police/guards and let them deal with her Wonderbolts give her a chance to prove her own innocence. Without involving officials and off the records.
3945667 Thanks.
3945608 What you're saying is that there is absolutely no other reason Rainbow would act differently around the Wonderbolts. There's no way she's trying to fit in or making jokes in poor taste. I changed my personality when I made it into a school where fewer people knew me and it wasn't because I had some traumatic childhood experience but rather because I wanted people to see me differently. In middle school I drastically changed myself at least twice or three times trying to fit in and/or become cool, get attention, or become an attractive choice for a friend. Nothing has only one cause and correlation does not equal causation. If Spitfire jumped to one of these other conclusions and acted on that, it may have ended up making the problem worse. Also I agree with what Kkat replied to you earlier. You don't fail as a leader when you fail to recognize and/or attend to the personal needs of every member of your team. Was your principal a failure because he didn't address a specific problem a specific student was having? Or was this the teacher's fault? Both of these people have the ability to aid students, but only if they are first contacted by the student or a concerned classmate, parent, etc. Believing that someone you've interacted with about three or four times in your life should just recognize that you're acting different than usual is just plain unreasonable, even without taking into consideration all the other things they have to worry about, especially in a management/leader position. And she is neither Rainbow's counselor, nor is she her mother. This is not Spitfire's responsibility and certainly not more important than ensuring the Wonderbolts get this routine down and preparing for the event.
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This kid changed six times in a week or so. You don't change your personality, your look, your mannerisms, and then fixate upon one infinitesimal thing in the span of one week, or however long it was. Point is, it was too short a time to do all that and call it sane behavior.
But, I don't think you're getting my point: she does not have to waste her time. All she had to do was go: "Can I get you a psychiatrist?" That is the magnitude of this issue. Spitfire may not have the resources to deal with Rainbow directly, but she damn well does have the time to send her to someone that does, and let that be that.
That said, I don't think Spitfire manages the entire Wonderbolts schedule, just like a sports coach doesn't do marketing or event planning or whatnot. She's the leader of the Wonderbolts as a team, and if she doesn't have time for her team. then she's either overworked, incompetent, or so full of herself that she can't tell her ass from a hole in the ground. The first isn't really the case, because while we do see she has an office, she obviously doesn't spend much time there if she's out hobnobbing with the troops. There's evidence for and against the third, though I think her attempt to get Dash back on track helps her out on that. Then, there's the second. She has, as EbonyGryphon pointed out, failed to keep the Wonderbolts at a standard expected of whatever pseudo-military organization they are. They failed to do anything against greed-gorged Spike, and they screwed with Dash during the whole noble mixer episode thing.
And, of course, as the Wonderbolts' leader and coach, Spitfire is responsible for not giving them the skills they need to do what they need to do.
3947083 Okay, we're just going around in circles now so I guess I'll just agree to disagree and be done with it.
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but muh internet argument!
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curses, now you'll have to... go an do something worthwhile and productive with your time!
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here's an old meme
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I have a few nicknames myself, not all of them I am proud of (Doughnut though I did much PT to remove that from play) currently I am being referred to as LT Captain Yoda the Water Buffalo... I recall a few more but I honestly don't remember what they were. I have also been call Bald Eagle, Yogie.... (Don't ask) and a few others. And in the Military, Boy Scouts, am many other organizations people will often give many nicknames to their friends or co-workers. Just like I call my youngest sister Scootaloo, lol. They all come for a reason, so we must embrace them. Though admittedly Dash's was a tad harsh, though in retrospect it was tradition, and its those kind of traditions I love.
Lt Capt Yoda the Water Buffalo out.
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oops... Messenger derp, I just learned now of your message. Sorry to take so long,,,
Dude... the whole of the wonderbolts literally turned on her and demanded she prove she didn't do something with literally little to no evidence. At no point had Dash proven herself disloyal or a backstabber (as opposed to the retiree who framed her, or the wonderbolts themselves) and gave her a day to do so or be banned for life. No attempts were made to contact Spitfire, a mare we can see Dash deeply admires if not idolizes, its just "your out".