Friends Forever 37, spoiler commentary

Well, Sweetie Belle makes an off handed remark about being friends with Diamond Tiara now, and Babs doesn't even react to it. Feels like a miss opportunity, oh well.

Jarkes warned me that I wasn't going to like this issue.

Which is a drag since Trixie, Rarity, and Sapphire Shores in Manhattan for the real final issue? (Next month, the actual final issue, is gonna be I'm guessing a set up for the new prequel comic run.)

For over three years I've been reading this comic, I'm sad to think that I won't enjoy the last true story driven issue.

I've come up with half a dozen ways this issue could blow up in my face.

The biggest one is the Villain Sue Cassie The Kelpie showing up.

And below that?

-(Another is Sapphire being engaged in a cliche cult.)
-(Trixie having downed a whole BOTTLE of the character-development-regression-pills that makes Crystal Heart Spell look well written.)
-(Sapphire Shore having been upgraded from amiable pop star to out and out antagonistic blind-minded jerk.)
- The 'where am I?' cliche being given out like candy (Seriously writers, why the hell do they keep using that? It feels like it's used to truly inane levels these days.)
- Sapphire style being changed to fit more with Rara's with a similar plot line, completely destroying the point of each artist's style being unique. When everything before showed Sapphire ENJOYS the glitz and glam window dressing for her music.
- Rarity being turned into a out and out strawmare that doesn't even truly fit her character, only the cliche version of her (the tropes she was supposed to subvert).
- Rarity tossing out the idea of her and Spike with such intensity or casual nature that you'll be left wondering if this is really the same canon as the show.
- Rarity dismissing the idea of being a princess appeals to her where her projecting with Twilight shown before in the show leaves out scratching your head in sincere confusion. (No, seriously, that hot minute really left me scratching my head in sincere confusion. Then again, I've long since realized I'm a freak.)

That's all the big ones.

Let's find out if it's the Villain Sue, or if I'm not psychic after all.

*turns the page*

Trixie gets called by her last name, cool.

So far nothing rotten.

Sapphire's new song was TOO popular, so they had to upgrade the setting, but that means upgrading the entire act too!

Hm. So is that it?

The writers done goofed, this should be a FLASH BACK story if anything, given that Rarity, in spite of the two times Trixie caused trouble for her, she and Rarity worked together and helped catch a thief and clear hers and Trixie's name last time they met personally.

So yeah, this is kinda awkward writing wise. But it's not rage inducing. I wonder if the bomb is later along.

And Trixie HAS moved up if she's doing special effects for a pop star rather than being the center of attention herself, that is growth.

We also learn this takes place AFTER Trixie had made friends with Starlight and AFTER Trixie helped save the world!

Okay, I'll admit, it is kinda dumb to see Rarity acting this way when Trixie's done everything to prove she's matured. (That she even TOOK the job of being someone's SUPPORT rather than the main act says EVERYTHING.)

AND Trixie offers to walk rather than cause any bad vibes with Rarity! 0-0

Sapphire again shows she makes a good conscience to Rarity by pointing out Rarity is now friends with "I hate how everypony sleeps during the day, so I'll take the day away completely!"

Sadly, during rehearsal, one of Trixie's fireworks catches fire on the train of Sapphire Shore's new dress Rarity has made for the show.

This is sad, but also sadly realistic, Rarity refused to communicate with Trixie. Remember Mighty No. 9? What ACTUALLY caused it to be lack luster, wasn't any con game, it was the different departments didn't communicate with each other!

So this disaster happening is sort of what could easily happen. Rarity not thinking to make her dresses fireworks resistant.

And Sapphire darkly tells Trixie that Rarity wasn't the first, or the second pony to tell Sapphire that Trixie was bad news. And tells her how this debacle has cost her one dress, the stage needing repairs which means rehearsals are screwed. And loudly asks Trixie that if she was her, what would SHE do?

Before Trixie, clearly heart broken, can answer, Rarity steps in to defend her.

Rarity rightfully takes her fair share of the blame, and for ignoring Trixie's contribution.

Sapphire coldly admits that she might be right to fire BOTH of them, but they're so close to deadline that finding replacements would be suicidal. In fact, even the stage is too screwed to be ready in time.

"If there's anything Trixie and I have in common, it's an almost irritating persistence!"

"Yes!"

(That applies to Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, all sans Fluttershy. Not knowing when to give up IS a strength and weakness of these girls.)

Personally, I never got how blue and orange compliment each other in spite of their opposite positions on the color wheel.

We also learn Trixie can cast a charm to make the dress flow in the wind with light (like Celly's hair), and she can easily remove it too.

The show goes off without a hitch (Lyra and Bon Bon are in the front row).

We also see Berry Punch and Dr. Whooves are in Manehattan.

Trixie splits up from Rarity before she can into Babs again. Which is again, a sad wasted chance for the two to talk again, oh well.

Sweetie is given the most crazy hairstyle ever, but Rarity is polite about it (she's not AJ),

"Did you have a good weekend?"

"My dear, it was as colorful as your hair."

Next month, Celly and Lulu once again chaff, it looks like,
"This is MY side of the kingdom, and this is YOUR side of the kingdom!"

I did not hate this issue. I think the writer bungled on when this narrative should have taken place, and that Trixie is still considered bad news in some circles in spite of helping save the world, but all in all, it was a colorful story, the art was nice, it had a beginning, a middle, and an ending, and did the best it could with the page space it had.

Trixie has remained my favorite G4 pony. And I'm happy we FINALLY got a chance for her to interact with Rarity. (Seriously, Trixie is like a mix of RD and Rarity without any friends to her name to help reign her in like Rainbow Dash has. All she needed was someone to treat her as a person.)

So next month, last issue.

P.S. Sapphire Shores uses hair curlers.

Comments

[howard035]

Other than Rarity having forgotten a lot of character development regarding Trixie, this was a fairly good issue overall. I get they needed to come up with a reason Rarity and Trixie couldn't get along, but they should have done better than "enslaved a town." Not only was Trixie under the effects of dark magic, Rarity did the exact same thing! To the exact same town! Heck, there was a lot more cleanup needed after Inspiration Manifestation. A better conflict would have been Trixie thinking she knows more about fashion than Rarity, and Rarity thinking she knows more about showmanship than Trixie. But Trixie was so darn adorable throughout this story I forgive it.

Also, Trixie really is surprisingly knowledgeable about fashion. I wonder if Rarity has ever considered a traveling salesmare?

[Alex Warlorn]

4425258

I imagine Trixie couldn't give up the fact that she's a show pony and lives for it.

[howard035]

4425519 Of course, Trixie would never give up being a showmare. I just meant having an additional line of merchandise to sell after shows.