My Review of the MLP Season Seven Finale: 'Shadow Play' (Contains Spoilers) · 2:05am Oct 29th, 2017
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Season 7, Episodes Twenty-Five and Twenty-Six
Shadow Play, Part One and Part Two
Fascinating... the first thing I can say about this season finale was that it was simply fascinating. A near-perfect episode in and of itself, and a completely perfect conclusion to the season! The worldbuilding and continuity done throughout the pair of episodes was greatly appreciated, and most certainly welcomed, as was the wonderful, and completely unexpected story itself. And how this was all done... how we received all that we did in but two great bounds is amazing. Without a doubt, Shadow Play is one of the show's greater episodes overall. Maybe not the absolute best of the series, but I can safely admit that it is up there in my top ten list.
The plot for this storyline was straightforward, yet at the same time complex, leading directly in from Sunburst's discovery of Starswirl the Bearded's journal in the episode previous to this one, Uncommon Bond. The first half of the two-parter was meant to firmly establish the setting and effort in bringing Starswirl and his cohorts and precursors to the Elements of Harmony - the Pillars - back from the frozen-in-time realm of Limbo, and did well enough to show how they wanted to do it. Just about everyone in the group travels through various parts of Equestria to collect the artifacts needed for the ritual, sometimes coming across places and characters they encountered or aided in the past, while others visited places only described in the legends from prior season seven episodes, including Campfire Tales. A good call back, as well as a good use of the characters! Good indeed...
With the items gathered and the six legendary ponies brought back at the end, and then with the inclusion of the dreaded Pony of Shadows they had unwittingly also reintroduced, it ends upon a cliffhanger.
Opening with the Elements and Pillars chasing off the Pony of Shadows, the second half focused more on the characters interacting with one another more so than showing any actual havoc being caused by our newest antagonist, and just what the current situation meant for both Twilight and Starlight. Twilight, having thoroughly embarrassed herself and disappointed Starswirl by releasing him and the others in her zeal, tries to make it up to him by creating a spell that will banish the Pony of Shadows, but keep the Pillars from having to trap themselves with him again, though still at the cost of the (freshly-retrieved) Elements of Harmony. Starlight, however, has second thoughts on the plan itself, especially after uncovering who the Pony of Shadows once was - a weak unicorn named Stygian who was formerly the founder and friend to the Pillars - and his reasons for turning to evil. Feeling that there may be a friendship problem in need of being dealt with the being instead of a pure evil fiend in need of banishing, she talks to Twilight of her thoughts before they set out.
In the end, all of the ponies engage their foe in a distant, abandoned area. After Twilight and Starlight physically enter the dreaded shade and converse with the supposedly evil Stygian held bound and broken within, they all manage to discover his innocence to the supposed 'crime' that got him cast out in the first place and his reasons for doing so. With Starswirl and the Pillars now working together, they all pull him out and banish away the darkness that had once consumed him. Starswirl sees the error of his judgement in causing his friend's start of darkness, and after apologizing to him, chooses to wander Equestria while the other Pillars decide to try and reacquaint themselves with the world that had evolved without them for over a thousand years. Not only that, but the Elements of Harmony are again back in the hooves of their rightful owners. A fact that I'm sure will be played up at some point or another in the next season...
I knew of the summary and its description of Starswirl's return, but I had little idea that we would also see the characters shown from the other tales told over the season. I was immensely happy to see Somnambula once more, and I became downright euphoric when she was voiced with an appropriate accent. I can already see at least one episode for the next season will most likely deal with how some of the Pillars are adapting to modern life, and not only that, but also a world that had only known ancient legends about them. And just as well, I can see the ships that due to set sail between them and some of their present counterparts, given the fact that they all share similar personalities with them. I see you over there, Flash Magnus and Rainbow Dash.
Also, there's that little fact that the 'Pillars', as the Original mane Six are called, planted the seed that would form the tree of Harmony, and later build Twilight's castle. So I guess there's that, too. Hmm.
If there's any real complaint I have, it's that the main antagonist was very... brief. Quite interesting to look at and listen to as he was, he actually did not appear all that much. This... 'Shadow' character that Stygian refers to meeting and fusing with in his anger and despair is a character with almost no fraggin' background to his name, but I can see him resembling an umbrum from the comics; what, with his shadowy equine visage, malevolent motive of raining down hopelessness and destruction, and ultimately getting banished to another realm via suction. Suction, mind you, that seemed quite similar to the Lord of Darkness' defeat from Legend. Stygian may have been a good character, but while the Pony of Shadows was an intimidating-looking villain wit' fantastic animation in his movements, a perfectly eeeeeevil voice, a most devilish laugh, and a GREAT AND POWERFUL leitmotif to accompany him, he was greatly underexplored in the background department, even somewhat for those who did read the comics.
While it has disrupted the continuity with the comics by a small margin when it was revealed that both Celestia and Luna were apparently quite young when Starswirl vanished (I still believe that Fiendship is Magic the Crystal Empire arcs are canon. They're too good!), instead of his vanishing taking place at some point after the Nightmare Moon incident, I don't really mind the plot hole. His personality was intelligent and proud with a highly self-righteous mindset, which seems rather fittin' for one so revered as he. Though his relationship with other Pillars, from what I've observed, is for the most part close, it was easy to see how he supposedly did not understand friendship in the same manner as Twilight. Given his track record of 'banish threat to Equestria first, ask questions later', it's no small wonder he wasn't awarded a set of wings, Red Bull style. Also, how Starlight Glimmer urged Twilight to go with her own teachings on solving friendship problems to solve the dilemma at hand instead of blindly following the instructions given by her most favored idol was a good lesson to show. It truly has exemplified Starlight's character that much more as a worthy of her position in the show as Twilight's apprentice, and her spot in the main character slot. Brownie points are awarded to her henceforth.
This episode was truly worth the season of buildup, and the entire show's worth of the material for Starswirl's appearance. It paid off in full, and rewarded us with a real treat in the form of bountiful lore, magnificent worldbuilding, and more, interesting characters to surely be expanded upon soon. If there is anything more to mention after what I said, it's further proof that the series is still going strong, teaching bigger and more magnificent lessons with every new episode, and those responsible for the next season have my full trust and confidence. Well done!
Can't wait to see it when it comes to netflix
I really liked the episode it was heartwarming worldbuilding and creative... But the use of Starswirl and his own Pride... I once had envisioned something different... to be frank I always loved the idea of an Reverse Gender Role Equestria world and in it a "Starswirl the bearded" that in truth was deeply disturbed by All mares pushing males in the role of magician as a 'weak' profession and so costumed herself from "Marelin" to "Starswirl the bearded" trying to get Ponys to change their view of his passion and profession... Later being displaced through time to the present and ultimately shocking Twilight because without 'his' disguise they almost look like twins...
But this is an idea that now will be scrapped completly -.-"
Anyway good episode loved it only a little bittersweet for me and nice review you made about it. Sincerly
J
4809081
Aww... thanks, dood!