Friendship is Card Games: Fluttershy Leans In · 10:57am May 7th, 2017
This week, we take a look at the first of the early bird episodes. Suitably enough, the head of the flock is a Fluttershy episode. In some ways, it is the Fluttershy episode, and an appropriate subject for my five hundredth blog.
Angel Bunny is the Six Million Dollar Bun.
I suppose Fluttershy would need braces designed for every species if she didn’t just use different widths of athletic bandages, which seem far easier to stock. Still, nice to see the mouse-sized wheelchair from “A Bird in the Hoof.”
The fisheye shot of Fluttershy is unfairly adorable.
The creatures stuck in the clinic seem to come from an insane variety of habitats and locations around the world. Either someone let out the residents of a zoo, as Oliver posits, or these are the aftereffects of Discord shuffling ecosystems back during his unreign.
That said, I spot both the raccoon waitstaff of Rarity For You and a trio of fruit bats. Apparently when Fluttershy said she spread the good word about Dr. Fauna to everypony, she meant every creature. That giraffe certainly came to the clinic of her own volition. I suppose the raccoons came in on the train. I hope they have enough sick days for this.
Speaking as a long-time Triptych Continuum reader, it is nice to see Fluttershy and the Ponyville vet have a better relationship here than they do in that worldline. (That said, Sweetbark Fauna is a perfectly cromulent pony name.)
Many people have questioned why Fluttershy doesn’t just apply the lesson of “It Ain’t Easy Being Breezies” and force the animals out of Dr. Fauna’s office. The answer is clear: She’s using the opportunity as an excuse to push the sanctuary. Evicting the animals is Plan D at best. (A: Ask pony friends. B: Call in favors. C: Call in Discord.)
By the same token, some have questioned this lifelong dream we’re only just hearing about, as though it were the aspirational equivalent of Shining Armor. I’d argue that Fluttershy’s been quietly living her dream since she moved to her cottage. It’s just that now she has the confidence and opportunity needed to scale it up.
I really do like how Dash tears and chokes up as Fluttershy describes her dream. Dashie’s just so proud of her best friend. 
Nice touch with Pinkie’s expert being a local. She does know everypony in Ponyville, after all.
Meanwhile, Rarity… Well, she certainly meant well.
Seriously, what even is the dream board? The concept sketch is helpful, but everything else is just… Yeah. One of the unspoken lessons of the episode: Organize your thoughts and present them clearly, lest no one else understand what it is you’re aiming for.
Oh dear. Fluttershy’s just too cute for the experts to say “no.”
So Fluttershy doesn’t want any walls… but she does want a gate. Okay then. Also, there is the question of predation in the sanctuary, but with Fluttershy overseeing matters, I suppose the lion laying down with the lamb won’t be too hard to pull off.
That being said, how is 'Shy paying for all of this? Or are all three working pro bono as a favor to their respective friends (or because of aforementioned cuteness?)
Dandy Grandeur doesn’t seem to grasp his clientele. I’m not sure how many of them can even see those colors.
All this talk of sheep wrangling really does highlight the weirdness of sapience among Equestrian animals. From the giraffe with pony eyes to the deer to sheep we’ve seen speak, the question of what qualifies as a person (and as a first-class citizen) is uncomfortably nebulous. And that’s saying nothing of the critter den with stairs and a stove from “Magic Duel.”
I won’t deny that this second act drags a bit. One of G. M. Berrow’s weaknesses; her pacing tends towards the sluggish end of things (c.f. the scavenger hunt from "The One Where Pinkie Pie Knows.")
Dandy, there is a time for curtain installation. That time is not while the construction crew is still building the skeleton of the building.
I do love how assertive Fluttershy is in this episode. Some have said that every season comes with an episode where she has to learn to be confident. Well, this season, she’s applying every one of them.
Apparently, the hospital is wrapped in some manner of cloaking field. I can’t think of any other explanation for why Dr. Fauna can’t tell that it’s not even remotely finished. Or why the giraffe runs eyes first into the door arch.
So… western Equestria is South America? I’m holding to my “Discord messed with animal population distribution” hypothesis.
Easy on the suggestions, girls. This isn’t “Suited for Success.”
Bringing in Big Daddy McColt shows one of Berrow’s strengths: She knows the canon well and is unafraid to bring in more obscure parts of it. Of course, the sheep wrangling does undercut that… 
Also, in addition to knowing construction and animal care, Big Daddy knows if he doesn’t obey Fluttershy’s wishes, Twilight will strike down upon him with great vengeance and furious anger. That’s a big plus and a handy explanation for why he didn’t bring in any of his other family.
In all, I really liked this episode. I won’t deny that it has its failings, but it’s a wonderful triumph for Fluttershy, and one with long-lasting ramifications. It’s her “Canterlot Boutique;” she defends her vision from those who would warp it to their own ends and comes out of it operating on a larger scale than before, fulfilling a long-held dream. Granted, Fluttershy wasn’t able to convert any of those who questioned her from adversary to asset and likely won’t keep up the expansionist momentum, but she isn’t Rarity. She’s not as skilled with manipulating her own species, nor is she as ambitious. Still, this is a major victory for her. I may be appreciating the idea more than the execution, but I still came out of this with a big smile on my face.
Now, time form me to work in one of my areas of expertise:
Curse of Good Publicity 1W
Enchantment — Aura Curse
Enchant player
Whenever a creature deals combat damage to enchanted player, that creature’s controller gains 2 life.
Fame demands sacrifices: your privacy, your dignity, and your personal space.
Defend the Dream 1W
Instant
You gain hexproof until end of turn. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you this turn.
Fluttershy’s goal was clear in her mind. Her voice was clear in her consultants’ ears.
Prisoner’s Pillow 2W
Enchantment
At the beginning of your end step, if an opponent owns a card in exile, you gain 2 life.
”They’ll be so comfortable that they’ll never want to move.”
—Wrangler, sheepherder
Nest Decorators 2WW
Creature — Bird
Flying
When Nest Decorators enters the battlefield, you may return target artifact or enchantment card from your graveyard to your hand.
Garbage is a subjective term.
2/2
Rodeo Wrangler 3W
Creature — Pony Artificer
3W, T, Discard a card: If Rodeo Wrangler is on the battlefield, create a colorless Cage artifact token with “When this artifact enters the battlefield, exile target creature an opponent controls until this artifact leaves the battlefield.”
When Rodeo Wrangler leaves the battlefield, exile all Cages.
2/2
Ambiguous Orders 1UU
Instant
Kicker 4 (You may pay an additional 4 as you cast this spell.)
You may choose new targets for target spell. If Ambiguous Orders was kicked, gain control of that spell. (If that spell becomes a permanent, it enters the battlefield under your control.)
Fluttershy didn’t even want to know how the snake got trapped in the ceiling.
Lazing Cupfish 2U
Creature — Fish
Lazing Cupfish can’t attack unless defending player controls an artifact.
Like a hermit crab, it selects a home for itself, often favoring those provided by civilization.
3/3
Dream Denied 1B
Instant
Remove all counters from target permanent an opponent controls. That player loses 1 life for each counter removed this way.
”If you’d kept it up, you would’ve only been more disappointed later on.”
—Dandy Grandeur, interior designer
Overworked Veterinarian 2B
Creature — Pony Citizen
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have four or more creature cards in your graveyard, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
”Bring in the next patient.”
2/2
McColt Forestallion 2R
Creature — Pony Rigger
Assemble 1R (1R: Create a colorless Contraption artifact token. Assemble only as a sorcery.)
Sacrifice a Contraption: The next nonartifact spell you cast this turn has improvise. (Your artifacts can help cast that spell. Each artifact you tap after you’re done activating mana abilities pays for 1.)
2/2
Eucalyptus Gatherers G
Creature — Bear
T: Put a storage counter on Eucalyptus Gatherers.
T, Remove X storage counters from Eucalyptus Gatherers: Add G to your mana pool for each storage counter removed this way.
If it isn’t a leaf, they aren’t interested.
0/2
Bathroom Bruin 1G
Creature — Bear
Whenever an opponent casts a blue or black spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Bathroom Bruin
Dr. Fauna didn’t mind cold showers, but she drew the line at sharing her mascara.
2/2
Daring Hare 1G
Creature — Rabbit
Daring Hare can’t be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less.
All rabbits are known for hopping. Some are known for hopping across rooftops.
2/1
Quest for Sanctuary 1G
Enchantment
Whenever a creature you control dies, put a quest counter on Quest for Sanctuary.
As long as there are four or more quest counters on Quest for Sanctuary, creatures you control have hexproof.
Serpent Servant 1G
Creature — Snake
Whenever another creature you control enters the battlefield, you may pay 1. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.
”Rupert is an excellent host. He makes having company such a pleasure.”
—Fluttershy, Bearer of Kindness
1/3
Voyager Sloth 1G
Creature — Beast
When Voyager Sloth enters the battlefield, if you control no tapped lands, search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Suspend 1 — 1G (Rather than cast this card from your hand, you may pay 1G and exile it with a time counter on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter. When the last is removed, cast it without paying its mana cost. It has haste.)
2/2
Observant Giraffe 2G
Creature — Beast
Vigilance, reach
Some animals are so intelligent, it’s unclear whether their lack of language and culture is a matter of inability or of choice.
2/3
Ponyville Architect 2G
Creature — Pony Citizen
You may play an additional land on each of your turns.
Whenever a land enters the battlefield tapped and under your control, untap it.
”We save Ponyville from major threats. They save it from the collateral damage.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
2/2
Rampaging Menagerie 4GG
Creature — Beast
Trample
Whenever Rampaging Menagerie deals combat damage to a player, destroy target noncreature permanent that player controls.
Countless species united under the banner of smashing things.
5/4
Canterlot Dandy 1WU
Creature — Unicorn Advisor
When Canterlot Dandy enters the battlefield, you may search your library for an artifact or enchantment card, reveal it, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it.
”I know just what will really tie this room together.”
1/1
Sweet Feather Sanctuary
Land
T: Add C to your mana pool.
T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if you control three or more creatures.
A shrine to Kindness, Bearer and concept alike.
As an Australian, this makes me incredibly furious.
I feel like the episode's biggest weakness is the - almost certainly accidental - moral of "Don't trust experts, they don't really care what you want done."
THAT SAID, bringing an interior designer into this was really pretty much all on Rarity.
But Hard Hat really should have simply tried to work out a working blueprint for a sanctuary design rather than simply build another hospital building.
And I am a bit surprised that a pony who is supposed to be an expert on enclosures in general is so keen to simply cage everything. You wouldn't really keep sheep, whether sapient or not, in a cage. She had a point about potential predator mishaps, though.
4523198
Clearly they were Drop Bears, who simply know not to get uppity around Shy.
I'm not sure what it says about this episode that I paid more attention to all the funny things the animals were doing in the background. It probably means there wasn't a whole lot going on.
As an adult watching this show, I have questions about this as well that effect my opinion about the way Fluttershy handled it. If they were volunteers, she definitely should have given the worker ponies a lot more freedom to do it their way. If she did pay them, all the details were glossed over, as I'm sure she would've had to take out a loan to build the sanctuary. And why wouldn't she make a point of telling the worker ponies that she was a paying customer and the customer is always right?
So, while it's good to see Fluttershy being more assertive and confident, I'm not sure how to feel about the way she dealt with the situation. It's an okay episode in an okay season, but nothing stood out to me other than the surprise cameo/callback at the end.
And yeah, Rarity is a lot more adept at salvaging her dreams and business partnerships at the same time.
At least I know I'll like next week's episode much better.
4523205
Because, in the opinion of some writers, handling money is what adults do, and children should not concern themselves with such things. Therefore mentioning how and who is paying for this work, or the idea that anyone is getting money for services at all, is anathema.
TV audience never grows up, do they? :)
4523235 Considering Grown-ups don't really exist? No, TV audiences don't grow up.
4523274
They probably don’t. But someone buys the toys, don’t they?
So, one thing that bothered me a little bit is that this episode confirms that Fluttershy is not a vet, but more of an animal hoarder (with her hoarding overspilling to other ponies) and even gets her supplies from the actual vet.
Now I wonder how she makes a living, I guess she mostly grooms pets and sells eggs and other random stuff. God, I hope her parents are not still sending her money after Flutter Better.
I mention this because you archive these posts.
I think this is the first episode that I actually cringed at as a whole. It wasn't terrible, per se, but how the 'experts' behaved struck me as quite contrived. Fluttershy told them no specifically, and they went and did exactly what she told them not to do (which was of no help to the animals 2/3 times). Sure, ponies can be jerks – and completely blind to the purpose of their work, I suppose – like that, but 3/3 friends of the elements? The mane six's presence didn't really add anything to the story but that question for me. Twilight bringing in Big Daddy helped, but I think the episode would've stood up a fair bit better relatively unchanged if the experts hadn't been recommended by Fluttershy's bestest friends, who also happen to be some sort of friendship council.
Also, I submit that those
bottomlessbuckets should totally have a card. They're deeper on the inside!4523289
We wouldn't want to accidentally teach the kids nagging their parents for toys (or anyone else watching the show) that the capacity to buy things isn't infinite, now, would we?
4523291 Fluttershy isn't a trained vet; she's a communications specialist; a diplomat.
And maybe she does a lot of grazing. Or maybe she's still getting royalties from Green Isn't Your Color?
It feels like Voyager Sloth shouldn't have a regular mana cost, just for the joke about slow sloths.
Not much else to say about this or the episode, but I did happen to find a fic you had a hand in a couple days ago. It was a fic wherein Clover the Clever was a Planeswalker, and she had a chat with Teferi. My first hint you had influence in the fic was when Teferi referred to Equestria's plane as Ungula.
It's one of the reasons this episode grates on me so much. It's an official part of the current pop-psy fad sweeping Southern California, which is also where the phrase "lean in" comes from. The recommendation is literal; people are encouraged to physically lean toward other people when they are trying to get their way. A dream board is the approved method of visualizing one's goals... scrapbooking elevated to life-plan.
A complete disdain for "experts" is also part of the fad. "Don't let experts deny you your dreams" is the phrase I've heard too many times. Hence a gate... without walls. Perfectly reasonable, no matter what those pesky experts say.
Now, "folksy/spiritual"
expertsfacilitators like Big Daddy McColt are an exception, of course. Feng Shui masters that will approve of your hillside yoga meditation grotto for a rather hefty fee are pretty common, and when it washes into the ravine during the next big rainstorm (as that horrible expert builder told you it would), it's the fault of negative vibrations from all of the folk who don't want you to "realize your potential." So... yeah, I think the actual lesson being conveyed here is a horrible one for kids that will have to eventually live in the real world.Also, actual confident and assertive people don't have to shout to get their point across, or remain firm in their convictions. In this episode, Fluttershy seemed to unlearn not only the breezie lesson, but the Iron Will one as well.
4523198
Sorry. I know I went pretty sketchy with the creature typing there. Sadly, the only marsupial in Magic is Rabid Wombat, and I always hesitate to make new ones. That left a choice between Bear and Beast, the "miscellaneous mammal" type, and I set a precedent with Skulking Drop Bear.
4523200
Yeah, for alleged experts, all of them seemed to be cripplingly overspecialized. Of course, Fluttershy explicitly said she was doing something that had never been attempted before. I can understand them falling back on what they understand. That didn't mean they were behaving in the least bit professionally, but I can understand it.
4523205
Yeah, when two thirds of the cards are creatures, that's a pretty good indicator that there weren't a lot of notable events.
4523235 4523291 4523387
Yeah, the question of Fluttershy's means of financial support rather hung in the air with this episode. Personally, I believe she's a municipal ecosystem manager, looking after the local "wildlife"—a highly relative term in as carefully tended an environment as Equestria—much in the same way that other government employees handle the weather. She does attend to some medical issues, but the cases she can't handle go to Dr. Fauna. Also, there's the whole "dealing with the Everfree" thing. Hazard pay is a beautiful, beautiful thing, especially when you can get nine monsters out of ten eating out of your hoof.
4523318
No one said the Mane Six were perfect judges of character, especially not when trying to recommend people for each other's specialties. Hard Hat isn't much more than a surface acquaintance to Pinkie, so she doesn't know him inside and out; indeed, she was surprised when he didn't follow Fluttershy's requests. Applejack bonded with Wrangler over herding livestock, a very different matter than what Fluttershy was looking for. And Rarity didn't seem to process anything of what was going on beyond "Fluttershy wants to do a thing." Given that she's about as outdoorsy as a hydroponic tomato, it's not that surprising.
As for the buckets, I did consider doing something with them, but it would basically be a more efficient Blue Mana Battery, and I already had koalas wearing that hat in a much more appropriate color. (And no, I have no idea what that art is supposed to represent. Mostly submerged tidal power plants?)
4523395
You can either summon the sloth directly or let it come in its own time.
Also, that story does sound vaguely familiar. Link?
4523410
I can see where you're coming from, but I have to disagree on the Iron Will lesson. Fluttershy didn't go from zero to shouting instantly. She performed progressively more forceful attempts to press her case, going to shouting as a last resort. It's basically the end confrontation with Angel over the salad in "Putting Your Hoof Down" writ large.
I'm not saying she was completely in the right, but I'd say constructive assertiveness was on display. And if nothing else, the McColts are a lot more effective than the average guru-for-hire.
4523467
Yeah, I can see that. Mis-communication was the biggest problem I think.
4523467
This is true. It almost seems like it could have been a set up for a lesson about first impressions, communication, and/or respect.
I suspect this can only be true if he doesn't live in Ponyville, though.
As for the card, you know I don't play Magic – at all – but I was thinking maybe something along the lines of modifying or flooding the battlefield. You know, rivers or lakes appearing at the turn of a really deep bucket. I suppose it'd also be useful for putting out really large fires.
I got nothin' on that art.
4523235 I guess this really is an example of the Depends on the Writer trope, because in "Lost Treasure of Griffonstone" the characters couldn't get anything without parting with some coin.
...Man, I miss Amy Keating Rogers.
Also, even with their rather high degree of sapience in Equestria, animals are different then fully aware, sapient beings like the Breezies.
Agreed. That plus, it's likely been a rather 'it would be nice someday' dream that she just ruminates on now and then. Rather then some driving life goal like Rarity and RD's were.
Also agreed, there were a lot of things to learn, and for all the contractors were at fault too, she really wasn't that detailed with what she wanted.
At this point, I just assume they get a "Saviors of Equestria" stipend to cover expenses while saving the world, cover lost wages when out on missions, etc... and she simply tapped into that.
Ummm.. the ponies installed those when they moved in?
Yet again, agreed, you can tell she is used to write, short, direct stories for younger audiences. And so needs to drag out the pacing to fit a full ep, and also leads to things being a bit to simplistic. But holy fuck does she GET the characters and world. And as you say later, she is steeped in the show lore.. she is basically the new M.A. Larson in that regard.
Agreed fully. The ideas, the characterization, all of that was SO phenomenal! Just so damn good. The execution..... not so much. Best way to say it is.. it's a bit to simplistic about things. But still a damn good story, if the weakest of Season 7 so far.
4523291 Government stipend for caring for the wildlife around town, supplemented by jobs grooming and training pets seems the most likely source.
4523410 I don't quite get that. The issue was not they were 'professional's' telling her how to do things, the issue was they were the WRONG professionals. They were used to building things for PONIES, even Wrangler, her 'enclosures' were based around how to help ponies manage critters. It would be like asking Rarity to design a Hazmat suit. Her normal skill is making clothing, so of course she's an expert. Right? Except, there are a lot of things that have to be right about a Hazmat suit she wouldn't understand, and what she usually does, make it stylish, would go against what is needed. You'd likely end up with a stunning, but ultimately useless piece of protective clothing.
That was the problem, none of these 'experts' were in fact experts in the field Fluttershy needed, the care of animals. And were to stuck in their ways to grasp this. Combined with Fluttershy's rather poor explanation of what she wanted.. talking as if they understood the idea rather then getting she needed to explain from the ground up, yeah they jut fell back on what they knew. It was fault on all sides.
Big Daddy McColt on the other hoof, IS an expert at both construction, AND dealing with animals in the wild. At creating things that are made with animals in mind.
So the issue is not 'Don't trust experts" it's "hire the right expert for the task." That even if two people are 'experts' in the same overall field. Say construction for example. There is a vast difference between how they may specialize in using that and so what they can do.
4523544
FLUTTERSHY FOR PRINCESS!!!
4523467
It's called "Fortuitous Path"
https://archiveofourown.org/works/7143749
Somewhere, a pair of Enduring Scalelords are crying.