When the Cutie Mark Crusaders are magically transformed into grownups,they discover that growing up the right way means gaining experience and wisdom that simply can’t be rushed.
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When another author releases his own version of the events in AK Yearling’s Daring Do books, Rainbow Dash is furious, while Fluttershy is curious to know the truth.
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Starlight decides to hire a Vice Headmare in preparation to take over the School of Friendship from Twilight. But she soon realizes that hiring the right pony for the job is going to be a lot harder than she thought.
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Twilight's hopes of keeping her Trivia Trot winning streak alive are waylaid when she's unexpectedly paired up with Pinkie Pie, who has never been to a trivia night before.
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Starlight Glimmer and Trixie visit Thorax at the changeling hive and meet his brother, the only changeling still unwilling to share love and transform.
mfw looking through the trixie and glim tags on DB ordered by score
4655704 Given that this after Thorax's talk with Ember, it's in tge realm of possibiliy that Thorax was able to use what he learned and convince the majority.
4655707 You can only use the Mane6, the CMC and Spike seven seasons in without coming off as repeating your self. This is the proper timeline. You can't get off it, but there's the door to leave the fandom, don't let it hit you on your way out.
I've been seeing it since the episode analysis went up let alone in the past week and I still don't think I'm fully ready to handle the flimsy reasons people are going to be giving for "why can't he just stay like old form" rather than them just saying they don't like the new look and moving on.
I still hate what they did to the changelings. If anything I think they should allow the changelings to remain themselves. It unfortunately does show the decline in the show that they are so much on repeat.
wtf happened to the show? now we got a changeling who will probably be portrayed as evil just because he refuses to TRANSFORM and all this other armony bs at this point it sounds more like a forced idelogy
Overall liked this episode. Favorite part? BABY CHANGELINGS! (well, young ones is probably better term...) SO TINY AND CUUUUUUTE!!!! (Much more like how I imagined them in my head canon for when they are newborns/few months old.) Did anyone else see the 'drone' changelings that looked just like Thorax except without the antlers? Also, since Pharynx changed to look like Thorax -in that he gained the horns and is bigger than the others- does that mean he is the prince of the changelings now, or just 'royal' because he is Thorax's brother? Or probably just bigger so he can protect them better... *shrugs*
Let's start by talking about just how weird this episode was in a meta level. In very many ways, this was an episode about how pony methods might not work with other species. It had Starlight being incompetent simply because she couldn't get into other ponies heads. It had Trixie being... well, basically being obnoxious and effectively spitting all over her friendship with Starlight all the time. It had in many ways the Changelings solving their own problem, which actually had Phalanx at least partly in the right and and the putative heroes at least partly in the wrong.
It is this inversion of most of the usual tropes that makes this episode stand out to me. Starlight is shown, somewhat unusually, as being at sea and out of her depth. We can actually see a rare example of objectively negative emotions being held up as sometimes being necessary. Being peaceful does not mean being pushovers and it does not mean that you suddenly are not responsible for dealing with their own problems.
The over all quality of this episode was good (although this is the single most annoying portrayal we've ever had of Trixie; I suspect the writers were over-exaggerating her bad traits in order to emphasise the friendship problem at hand). However, I found the climax satisfying and I am glad that Starlight and Trixie didn't get free passes for their mistakes. I hope that they both have to spend some time making up to Thorax for this one.
BenRG's Rating: 7.5/10
Oh, and bonus half-point for Starlight's channelling of William Wallace.
4655803 My thoughts exactly. Probably part royal, part protector. The second I saw the beginning of the transformation I was like, "He's gonna look different too, ain't he?" And the fact that he's darker gives him a good way to show his clear individuality, even with him being the only other one with horns. I think that's a good compromise for him.
Pharynx is new best changeling. He's that asshole big brother who's still got your back when you really need it.
Seriously, I had some major reservations about how they were going to resolve this episode, so it's nice to see that even martial-minded characters have a place in the new hive. If even ponies have their royal guards, so can the ascended changelings. I'm gonna miss the fangs, but I'm glad that they let him keep a somewhat more intimidating colour scheme, as befitting a warrior class. I'll take whatever I can get at this point.
As usual, Trixie and Starlight just play amazingly well against one another. Toss Pharynx into the mix and it's the perfect trio of misfits.
"Trixie got used to being second best, and I stopped being an evil dictator."
"I guess things didn't start all that great between us—" "I caught you in a bag. I thought it went well!"
Great stuff.
Here's to hoping that he'll make more appearances in the future. And if not, it's time to launch those fanfics!
4655814 I hope that he get the title "Lord Protector" or something similarly badass. Or you could just make him 'General Pharynx' and later see him, Spitfire and Shining Armour arguing over some fine point of tactics around a map table.
Huh. Turns out the #Notallchangelings hashtag I made has more than one application. Who knew?
Despite some issues I had with the pacing, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Oddly enough, there was never a moment where I found Pharynx unlikable, despite his aggressive attitude. If anything, the transition from militaristic parasites to peaceful insects feels a lot more natural here. There's nuance in how being a peaceful nation doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to defend yourself. Way to educate future leaders, DHX.
I do find it kind of intriguing that Starlight is shown at her best and her worst in this episode. She gave up on Pharynx way too easily for my taste, and her plan, while not the worst she's come up with, still managed to make things worse rather than better. However, that rousing speech she gave to the hive was epic and stirring. I just wish they didn't try to fake us out with the "that was amazing! Too bad no one cared." cutaway gag.
4655814 Same here, the moment he entered 'the cocoon' I was thinking the same 'wait, the other drones didn't do that? Something is going to be different.' I actually am 'fine' with his new color scheme. It stuck closer to his original than the others (obviously) and like you said shows him as a clear individual that he is. It is a good compromise indeed. Might need to draw some dawww pics of the two brothers together now, lol.
I just wish they didn't try to fake us out with the "that was amazing! Too bad no one cared." cutaway gag.
I dunno, man. I thought that was great. It served a comedic purpose, and sometimes people need some time to stew in their feelings before they get their priorities straight.
4655823 I shall have to try that out. *giggles* *cough* I mean I will always be a 'Queen Chrysalis's #1 fan' kind of ling, but the 'changedlings' are growing on me.
I mean, Pharynx didn't actually change or anything, he clearly always loved the hive and Thorax never intended to send him away, so basically, Starlight and Trixie weren't necessary. All that needed to happen was... that scene at the end where I guess Pharynx claims he's changed even though he really didn't? I mean just wait until the Maulwurf attacks and then presumably things would have gone down exactly the same with or without Starlight and Trixie. The changelings weren't worried about "needing protection," they were worried about Pharynx being a jerk about it. Which I suppose is enough to keep you a nasty black love-eating creature. Everyone just says something magical and life-changing occurred, but really all that happened was Pharynx stopped caring the changelings were all wimps... which they clearly are.
Also why did everyone have this weird "outside" voice? Like they're purposefully exaggerating just to make sure everyone watching understands "I'M THE JERK" or "I'M THE HIPPIE." This whole episode felt like the childishness was cranked up to 11... including disregard for story consistency.
Also obligatory "HA HA Starlight says she used to have a cult for the eleventy billionth time but it's not funny anymore."
4655836 Personality-wise, Pharynx would probably get along swimmingly with Luna. In terms of accomplishments, though... "Princess Celestia, it is said that you once sent your sister to the moon. Tell me more!"
4655843 He reminds me a bit of Twilight's worry that the changelings are still given to mischief, or at least some too much so. It does seem that while they've gone to an extreme to express themselves (because that's sorta logical after being oppressed for however long they were), there is that mildly playful edge to them in some cases. So ... he could sorta be a call back to that. Sorta like "Yeah, sure, sharing love is great and all ... wanna see me jumpscare that rich mare by turning into a timberwolf while she's not looking?"
4655825 I guess when you put it that way, it's not as egregious as I thought. Maybe it's because I saw the joke coming a mile away that I didn't find much humor in it.
Was I the only one wondering through the episode "how does Starlight put up with Trixie?" Sure Trixie has her moments where she comes down off her typical self absorbed self and is a pretty good pony at those times but they aren't frequent. Most of the time she is just oblivious, arrogant, and self serving. Yeah it makes her actual good moments stand out more but she is still insufferable most of the time.
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Such a great picture
I wouldn't mind waking up to those sultry looking eyes in the morning
Oh, so it went from "a group of rogue Changelings" to "just Thorax's brother"?
Nice
lack ofconsistency there, writers.Yay, more bug pone.
4655704
Given that this after Thorax's talk with Ember, it's in tge realm of possibiliy that Thorax was able to use what he learned and convince the majority.
4655707
You can only use the Mane6, the CMC and Spike seven seasons in without coming off as repeating your self. This is the proper timeline. You can't get off it, but there's the door to leave the fandom, don't let it hit you on your way out.
4655712
And frankly my dear, I don't give a
YAY
, more StarTrix.
Never watched the show so idk what's going on c:
4655704
Pretty sure it was Ember's advice about being assertive that cut the number down.
I've been seeing it since the episode analysis went up let alone in the past week and I still don't think I'm fully ready to handle the flimsy reasons people are going to be giving for "why can't he just stay like old form" rather than them just saying they don't like the new look and moving on.
4655736
derpicdn.net/img/view/2013/9/12/426047__safe_solo_twilight+sparkle_image+macro_reaction+image_door_lowres_artifact_roflbot.jpg
I still hate what they did to the changelings. If anything I think they should allow the changelings to remain themselves.
It unfortunately does show the decline in the show that they are so much on repeat.
wtf happened to the show? now we got a changeling who will probably be portrayed as evil just because he refuses to TRANSFORM and all this other armony bs at this point it sounds more like a forced idelogy
"Unscarable" Trixie forgot about the incident with the Ursa Minor.
I have a feeling that Pharynx is an allegory for the Season 1-2 hardliners.
Why is Trixie giving me the bedroom eyes while Starlight plays with a ball and Maud lays seductively like one of my French girls in the background?
MY SOUP'S TOO HOT!
Hey, didn't they do this lesson back in Season 1? Cutting ties with a toxic person? I forget if it was Trixie or Gilda -- maybe both.
This Trixie is Pharynx, I'm sure.
4655763
Because you like it.
4655781
Can't deny that.
4655725
In fact, they explicitly stated that in the episode itself. Nice consistency after all, writers.
Fun episode, and the big battle transformation Pharynx did a couple times was pretty cool.
Overall liked this episode. Favorite part? BABY CHANGELINGS! (well, young ones is probably better term...) SO TINY AND CUUUUUUTE!!!! (Much more like how I imagined them in my head canon for when they are newborns/few months old.)
Did anyone else see the 'drone' changelings that looked just like Thorax except without the antlers?
Also, since Pharynx changed to look like Thorax -in that he gained the horns and is bigger than the others- does that mean he is the prince of the changelings now, or just 'royal' because he is Thorax's brother? Or probably just bigger so he can protect them better... *shrugs*
And thus the last cheeselegs holdout falls. Stay strong, Chrysalis! Keep fighting the good fight for hole couture!
Anyway, Royal Sisters and Morpheus Bros double date when?
Let's start by talking about just how weird this episode was in a meta level. In very many ways, this was an episode about how pony methods might not work with other species. It had Starlight being incompetent simply because she couldn't get into other ponies heads. It had Trixie being... well, basically being obnoxious and effectively spitting all over her friendship with Starlight all the time. It had in many ways the Changelings solving their own problem, which actually had Phalanx at least partly in the right and and the putative heroes at least partly in the wrong.
It is this inversion of most of the usual tropes that makes this episode stand out to me. Starlight is shown, somewhat unusually, as being at sea and out of her depth. We can actually see a rare example of objectively negative emotions being held up as sometimes being necessary. Being peaceful does not mean being pushovers and it does not mean that you suddenly are not responsible for dealing with their own problems.
The over all quality of this episode was good (although this is the single most annoying portrayal we've ever had of Trixie; I suspect the writers were over-exaggerating her bad traits in order to emphasise the friendship problem at hand). However, I found the climax satisfying and I am glad that Starlight and Trixie didn't get free passes for their mistakes. I hope that they both have to spend some time making up to Thorax for this one.
BenRG's Rating: 7.5/10
Oh, and bonus half-point for Starlight's channelling of William Wallace.
Starlight: "Trixie has come to terms with being second best."
Trixie: TFU say?
This episode basically feels like SJW (the feelings forum, etc) meets extreme traditionalists.
The only difference is that this is a fantasy so they were actually able to meet in the middle somewhere and realize they both love where they live.
4655803
My thoughts exactly. Probably part royal, part protector. The second I saw the beginning of the transformation I was like, "He's gonna look different too, ain't he?" And the fact that he's darker gives him a good way to show his clear individuality, even with him being the only other one with horns. I think that's a good compromise for him.
Pharynx is new best changeling. He's that asshole big brother who's still got your back when you really need it.
Seriously, I had some major reservations about how they were going to resolve this episode, so it's nice to see that even martial-minded characters have a place in the new hive. If even ponies have their royal guards, so can the ascended changelings. I'm gonna miss the fangs, but I'm glad that they let him keep a somewhat more intimidating colour scheme, as befitting a warrior class. I'll take whatever I can get at this point.
As usual, Trixie and Starlight just play amazingly well against one another. Toss Pharynx into the mix and it's the perfect trio of misfits.
Great stuff.
Here's to hoping that he'll make more appearances in the future. And if not, it's time to launch those fanfics!
4655814
I hope that he get the title "Lord Protector" or something similarly badass. Or you could just make him 'General Pharynx' and later see him, Spitfire and Shining Armour arguing over some fine point of tactics around a map table.
Huh. Turns out the #Notallchangelings hashtag I made has more than one application. Who knew?
Despite some issues I had with the pacing, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Oddly enough, there was never a moment where I found Pharynx unlikable, despite his aggressive attitude. If anything, the transition from militaristic parasites to peaceful insects feels a lot more natural here. There's nuance in how being a peaceful nation doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to defend yourself. Way to educate future leaders, DHX.
I do find it kind of intriguing that Starlight is shown at her best and her worst in this episode. She gave up on Pharynx way too easily for my taste, and her plan, while not the worst she's come up with, still managed to make things worse rather than better. However, that rousing speech she gave to the hive was epic and stirring. I just wish they didn't try to fake us out with the "that was amazing! Too bad no one cared." cutaway gag.
4655814
Same here, the moment he entered 'the cocoon' I was thinking the same 'wait, the other drones didn't do that? Something is going to be different.' I actually am 'fine' with his new color scheme. It stuck closer to his original than the others (obviously) and like you said shows him as a clear individual that he is. It is a good compromise indeed. Might need to draw some dawww pics of the two brothers together now, lol.
4655822
Please do. Particularly one of Pharynx doing the "Stop hitting yourself!" thing to Thorax, despite still being smaller than him.
4655820
I dunno, man. I thought that was great.
It served a comedic purpose, and sometimes people need some time to stew in their feelings before they get their priorities straight.
4655823
I shall have to try that out. *giggles*
*cough* I mean I will always be a 'Queen Chrysalis's #1 fan' kind of ling, but the 'changedlings' are growing on me.
I feel the need to point out that this is the first episode in the entire show to not feature a single one of the main cast: mane 6, cmc, and Spike.
4655832
Really? Wow that is pretty insane! Not sure how I feel about that...
4655825 I kinda like how protective Thorax and Pharynx are of one another and the hive, even when they disagree. Really similar to Tia and Luna.
Also, who wants to hear about the time he made Thorax hit himself? :P
I quite enjoyed this episode. Plus I love the colors they chose for Pharynx new form. I have always been a sucker for dark blue with red.
I mean, Pharynx didn't actually change or anything, he clearly always loved the hive and Thorax never intended to send him away, so basically, Starlight and Trixie weren't necessary. All that needed to happen was... that scene at the end where I guess Pharynx claims he's changed even though he really didn't? I mean just wait until the Maulwurf attacks and then presumably things would have gone down exactly the same with or without Starlight and Trixie. The changelings weren't worried about "needing protection," they were worried about Pharynx being a jerk about it. Which I suppose is enough to keep you a nasty black love-eating creature. Everyone just says something magical and life-changing occurred, but really all that happened was Pharynx stopped caring the changelings were all wimps... which they clearly are.
Also why did everyone have this weird "outside" voice? Like they're purposefully exaggerating just to make sure everyone watching understands "I'M THE JERK" or "I'M THE HIPPIE." This whole episode felt like the childishness was cranked up to 11... including disregard for story consistency.
Also obligatory "HA HA Starlight says she used to have a cult for the eleventy billionth time but it's not funny anymore."
4655836 Personality-wise, Pharynx would probably get along swimmingly with Luna. In terms of accomplishments, though...
"Princess Celestia, it is said that you once sent your sister to the moon. Tell me more!"
Nice header. The soup was one of the best parts
4655843 He reminds me a bit of Twilight's worry that the changelings are still given to mischief, or at least some too much so. It does seem that while they've gone to an extreme to express themselves (because that's sorta logical after being oppressed for however long they were), there is that mildly playful edge to them in some cases. So ... he could sorta be a call back to that. Sorta like "Yeah, sure, sharing love is great and all ... wanna see me jumpscare that rich mare by turning into a timberwolf while she's not looking?"
So... Was I the only one who thought 'Zerg Rush!' when the Changelings all piled onto the Molewurf?
4655825
I guess when you put it that way, it's not as egregious as I thought. Maybe it's because I saw the joke coming a mile away that I didn't find much humor in it.
Was I the only one wondering through the episode "how does Starlight put up with Trixie?" Sure Trixie has her moments where she comes down off her typical self absorbed self and is a pretty good pony at those times but they aren't frequent. Most of the time she is just oblivious, arrogant, and self serving. Yeah it makes her actual good moments stand out more but she is still insufferable most of the time.
4655849
I've just finished watching a recording of BerryTube stream. There were definitely others making that comment in the chat section.