Episode Reviews Season VI: To Where and Back Again

My apologies for this coming out so late, but my free time tends to dwindle the closer it gets to the end of the year. To that end, Americans, we love you (or at least tolerate you most of the time) but seriously, the f***? (And that's as close as I'll get to politics, so enjoy it folks.) Anyway, now's the time for the last episode review of the year with the Season Retrospective (and maybe previous retrospective retrospectives) at an undetermined point before the New Year. For now, have the review after the break.

"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." Sir Winston Churchill spoke those lines many years ago, and they shall, probably for the duration of humanity, ring true. More to the point, this episode is about something many people want, and few people realize that they have: leadership. Be it a nation, a coalition of nations, not being the bottom of the chain at work, or on the student council at school; everyone in their lifetime is given a leadership role of some description at some point. How they handle it determines if they continue that role or grow to something more. Being a leader in some form is inescapable and those who shy away from it will find they are forced into it against their will. So... what happens when you force someone into a leadership position who had one previously, but did terrible things and is regretful, even fearful of them?

Twilight Sparkle may be a princess, but she is the QUEEN of bad poker faces.

To Where and Back Again (Part one) begins its journey in Ponyville Castle where Twilight and Starlight are carrying some older books into storage when, suddenly, Spike notices approaching the castle at high speed. She crashes into the group and produces a letter for Starlight before flying off. Apparently, the ponies of her old village are holding a week-long "Sunset Festival" (finally, best human/pony gets noticed!) and are inviting her! However, despite being forgiven by them, Starlight cannot forgive herself and considers not going. Upon returning to the village, she finds the ponies there dismissive and cruel of her... and you know this is a dream, and so does Luna who comes to comfort her and suggest that she should share her concerns with her friends. The next morning, Starlight goes to the mane six and shares her misgivings. They try to point out that they have forgiven her and that everything is fine, but Starlight isn't buying it. With some gentle encouragement, Twilight suggests that she take a friend with her to help boost her confidence, hinting that she wants to go. Trixie, meanwhile, is delighted at the idea of going and how Starlight picked HER over Twilight Sparkle. Some time later, Trixie and Starlight arrive at the festival, much to the excitement of the villagers she once enslaved. However, in their enthusiasm, they quickly overwhelm her and trigger a serious panic attack when they want her to judge events or help with the festivities and she's just not up for it. Seeing impending doom, Trixie rushes forth and uses a smoke bomb to help Starlight make a quick escape.

As they leave the town behind them, Starlight laments her inability to face them despite how they have forgiven her and that returning and leaving the way she did was a mistake. Trixie, though she is loath to do so, says that everypony, including The Great and Powerful Trixie makes mistakes. When they return to Ponyville, they run into some of her friends... but something is amiss. Pinkie Pie has no idea who she is or where she went, Applejack and Rarity openly mock her running away and Rainbow and Fluttershy whisper to the others in secret and they all spirit away with no explanation. When she goes to bring this up to Twilight, Spike refuses her entry and almost slams the door into her face after demanding she make an appointment, but Twilight stops him. When she explains what happened, Starlight is surprised to hear Twilight recommend she "cut her losses" and never go back. That night, Starlight has another nightmare where the villagers ignore her and her friends appear to scold her for coming back, but once again, Luna intervenes... but with a warning: changelings have captured her and Celestia! She implores Starlight to get help; but to be careful who she trusts since the changelings could have taken anyone! Luna then disappears as she fades from the dream, only breaking free temporarily in the dream world.

Upon waking, Starlight sneaks out of the Castle and goes to Trixie for help... but she can't be sure if she's actually Trixie, so she prods her into re-admitting that she can make mistakes, to the annoyance of Trixie. Satisfied, Starlight brings her up to speed on the situation and they return to the castle to find the "Mane Six" and "Spike" in the Map Room using some weird devices to get into contact with Queen Chrysalis, who berates them for their silly appearances. The changelings drop their disguises and the meeting goes as planned as they report compete success. Chrysalis is pleased and criticizes her old plan for thinking too small: why control the affection of one stallion when she could get it from ALL EQUESTRIA? All the most powerful and beloved ponies are now her prisoner and there will be NOTHING to stop the main invasion from coming! However, Starlight nearly gives them away as the meeting ends and she and Trixie flee back to the caravan. As Trixie has a considerable panic attack there is a rustle in the bushes as a changeling emerges. However, after verification, this changeling is Thorax! Sadly, Cadence, Shining Armour and even Flurry Heart were captured, so Sunburst sent him to Ponyville for help, but he laments that it appears he is too late. They look to Starlight for help as they are certain she is the only one left with the greatest magical power. Then Discord shows up to chide them for forgetting him. After being vetted to not be a changeling, they brief him on the situation as well and, at first, he seems disinterested. But then Starlight tells them of how Twilight and her friends were captured, Fluttershy included, and he gets PISSED and teleports them immediately to the outskirts of the Changeling Hive.

"Nopony sees The Wizard! Not no way, no no how!"

Part 2 leaves off with the two mares, Draconequus and changeling at the border of the Changeling Kingdom. However, Discord is confused why they aren't staring Chrysalis down in her stupid moth-eaten mug. Discord tries to storm the hive on the back of a flying pig he makes, but it evaporates after a brief existence. Thankfully, Thorax has the answer; basically, Chrysalis has a throne that nullifies ALL magic (save changeling magic) within a certain perimeter, as marked by the decidedly barren landscape around the hive. With three quarters of the group virtually useless, Starlight decides to press on anyway, since they're the only ones who even stand a chance and letting knowledge of the capture of all the princesses, their families and their friends public would just cause a panic. Everyone looks to Starlight for guidance, despite her hesitation, and she comes up with a plan for infiltrating the hive and destroying the throne. They even agree upon a code phrase to use if they get split up to verify that they are legitimate ("clutzy draconequus" because Discord tripped once since he's not used to walking). Inside the hive, they find a labyrinthine cavern of tunnels and chambers, changing and flexing as Changelings do, making it a nightmare to any other creature to try and navigate. Thorax serves as guide, but even then, he hasn't been in the hive for a long time, so his help is limited. Discord and Trixie argue as they have all this time, even while trying to sneak through the hive and Starlight is finding it difficult to keep them all together. Trixie asks about how changelings feed, to which Thorax states that he hasn't felt hungry since befriending Spike despite the fact that changelings are ALWAYS hungry.

Discord then grabs the idiot ball and loudly proclaims that he will save Fluttershy no matter what, attracting the attentions of a changeling patrol. Starlight quickly devises a plan: have Thorax change into Trixie and lead them off while the real Trixie uses a smoke bomb and they run another direction. The plan is flawless and, after confirming that it's Thorax they meet up with, they follow some drones as he says with an intruder in the hive, the protection around the Queen will increase. Sure enough, they are lead right to a big door, beyond which the Queen cannot be far. However, there is no hope of getting past without a distraction. Discord volunteers and keeps them occupied for the others to get past, then himself flees... only to fall into the most EVIL changeling trap of all: a room of crying Fluttershy. (Fluttershy works as the plural more than 'Fluttershys' to me. xD) Starlight and the others shortly meet up with "Discord" who fails to properly recite the code. In whispered tones, Thorax says to do the opposite of what he says as the changeling Discord will lure them into an ambush. Trixie decides to go along with the fake to not rouse much suspicion and holds him while Starlight and Thorax continue on. She too is captured. Thorax and Starlight decide to split up in order to cover more ground and Starlight ends up finding the Throne. However, Chrysalis is there waiting with a massive swarm of changelings. She captures Starlight and boasts about her victory and how she knew of Starlight, but didn't find her threatening enough to consider replacing in the first place, and this failure is proof of it. But, it's revealed that Chrysalis actually captured the traitor Thorax, giving Starlight some time to try breaking the throne. Chrysalis tosses her around like a rag doll for a little bit before monologueing about how soon all her changelings will have all the love they could want.

Thinking on what Thorax said, Starlight realizes that by SHARING love, rather than stealing it, they can never be hungry again. Chrysalis dismisses this notion as it is a changeling's lot in life to never be satisfied. But Starlight continues, and starts to sway some of the swarm before directly confronting Chrysalis, telling her that she's done what she is doing; she's lead by fear and intimidation and that might get you control, but it will never get you peace or prosperity. Dismissing her completely, Chrysalis goes to steal the love that Thorax has accumulated for herself and, though he tries to hold it in, he's not powerful enough. So, Starlight tells him to share it instead. In a massive surge of energy, Thorax explodes and takes on a new, whole form that blows Chrysalis away. Inspired by this, other changelings share love too and transform, the combined energy destroying the hive, the throne and freeing the prisoners in the process. When Chrysalis emerges from the rubble, Starlight offers her a hoof in friendship and kindness... only to be slapped aside, with the former queen vowing a vendetta on Starlight Glimmer specifically before flying off into parts unknown rather than face the combined assault of all Equestria's most powerful magic users.Thorax is declared the new Changeling King, with Celestia eagerly looking forward to working with him and the changelings in the future once they have sorted themselves out. Discord proposes a celebration of tea at Fluttershy's cottage, but Starlight has a better idea. They all return to Starlight's old village where she apologizes and asks if she and her friends can participate. They villagers eagerly accept her apology and her friends and they all have fun. Starlight learns that it's okay to be in charge sometimes and the mane six have officially hit "useless" status along with Twilight. *SIGH*

The league is set... but none seem to have high hopes for success. I guess not even Discord knows enough about the 4th wall to know that they can't fail!

~*Talking Point*~

It's nice to see the show has evolved from just "friendship-rainbow blasting the problem away" as it was in days of yore with two part episodes. Previously, we've had newly-introduced tertiary characters take up the mantle of saving the day and now, with this episode, we have reformed villains; showing us just how badly things would have gone had the Mane Six not shown mercy or were willing to give their once adversaries another chance. Now, will Chrysalis join their ranks eventually? I... would hope not. Yeah, we have seen that some ponies (Flim and Flam) will never change, but compared to a vengeful bug who can look like anyone at a whim, they are almost paltry in threat level (Ignoring, of course, the Bad End with them from The Cutie Re-Mark.) To reform Chrysalis would be to make the suspense of a villain void because "Oh, they'll just become good eventually". At least in my opinion. Who knows? Maybe Chrysalis will be a recurring threat in Season Seven?

The changeling hive. Now, is it just me, or can anyone else hear Be Prepared?

~*Likes/Dislikes*~

+ Obligatory Trixie plus. I am no Sethistro, but I enjoy an occasional boastful unicorn every now and then as well.
+ I'm sure Starlight would have figured out the changelings eventually. Maybe in a day or two considering how bad they are at acting. Now, would that have been long enough? I dunno. I'm just happy Glim-Glam was not a total idiot.
+ Trixie's freakout is justified and adorable, plus Peanut Butter crackers AND discord being FURIOUS at Fluttershy's capture.
+ Love the changeling hive idea! It's interesting, easily on par with some of the few changeling-related fan fictions that I had read depicting a hive.
+ Calling it now, Discord and Trixie are, in future, going to be frenimies. I can smell the slash fictions already.
+ Chrysalis sure knows how to make creepy entrances! I am glad to see that tradition continues onward three seasons later!

- Twilight is once again left out on going somewhere fun and exciting. Are you tired of being a princess yet? Again, being royalty seems to have LIMITED her rather than offer much of anything new.
- Changelings are horrible at doing research on their victims, their mannerisms, and attitudes towards others.To be fair though, the Twilight one had it together the most... and that's not saying much.
- Celestia and Luna are, again, Warfed off-screen. Good god, who put them in charge again? It could also be that they have slipped with age.
- Discord is just a touch whiney, clumzy and stupid without his godly magical powers. Still, I can't fault DeLance. He still pulls off a great performance!
- Why? Why show staff? Why would you subject us to the horror and torment of a dozen crying flutter-butters. ;_; Why?
- No more buggy voice filter on Queen Bug-a-boo anymore. =/ That's a shame, it added to the creepy factor and made her sound less like a bitchy Trixie.

"They say your life flashes before your eyes when you're about to die. That's not true. All you have time to think is "... Aw, s***."

~*Conclusion*~

What Did We Learn Today?

- Changelings still suck at infiltration, even if queen bug-a-boo's plan got a little more refined.
- Fluttershy is Discord's greatest strength and weakness. Same with many a brony.

And so we have returned from being To Where and Back Again, and what sort of episode did we find when we got to Where? Overall, it's a finely executed episode that does justice to it's main characters and adds interesting new dynamics to characters who have never interacted on-screen (we all know Discord messed with Trixie in season two. Don't deny it.), though it does heavily nerf Twilight and company and makes the useless Celestia and Luna more so as well as detracting some hard-earned points from Cadance and Shining Armour. Aside from that, it's finely executed and hardly suffers from a rushed conclusion, which is something most two-part episodes suffer from! Overall, if you trapped me in a changeling hive with no map or guide, I would rate this episode a buggy 91/100!

Since this is the finale, there is no next week. So, next TIME, I will go over the season in superficial detail and talk about some of the noteworthy episodes and give my PERSONAL list of my favourite songs. Until then, this is Ciroton saying "Clumsy Draconequus, Trixs are for foals!"

You came to the wrong neighbourhood, motherbuzzer!

Comments

[RTStephens]

I was really satisfied with this finale, even more so than the season five finale. Trixie is my main mare so her getting to be the hero for once was a delight.

The off-screen abduction of all the most powerful characters doesn't bug me (heh) as much as it did other people. Honestly, I've come to expect it by now. I suppose there could have been a very brief montage of the kidnappings (maybe even through Chrysalis' glowing green viewing ball), but then it would have taken time away from the new heroes.

I'm really glad Chrysalis stayed a villain. I actually pumped my fist when she batted away Starlight's hoof. Yeah, Chryssy! Don't give into the herd mentality! So here's hoping she has something dastardly planned for season 7.

While Starlight annoys me in some ways, I can't find it in myself to dislike her. Neutral, I guess. I'm hoping she drops all the angst, though. So much time was spent with her freaking out over her past deeds. Take Trixie's advice and get over it!

So, I am looking forward to season 7, but I think the series is quickly petering out. Perhaps the movie will be the capstone. That would be a nice way to end it all.