MLP Marathon Bonanza S6 E19-21 · 5:25am Nov 29th, 2017
Getting close to the end of Season 6. Next up will be EQG: Legend of the Everfree. Heard one song from it so far, so no idea what it’s about or what it’s quality is.
The Fault in Our Cutie Marks
In the beginning of this episode there is a decent joke about a pony with an “unsettling” cutie mark, and there was a brief glorious moment in time that I thought it would be some kind of Eldritch horror, but I guess bones are good too. Also, I can easily imagine a comedy fic where some pony’s parents are horrified to find out their kid is an… archaeologist, and it devastates them. Anyway, let’s talk about the actual episode.
Used to have a crush on a girl in middle school called Gabby. She wasn’t a griffon.
Real talk though, this episode is really good. Gabby is undeniably cute, and her earnest nature and good heart makes her fit in perfectly well with, not just ponies, but the CMC specifically. This is of course reinforced by the ending of the episode when she becomes a crusader, but specifically it’s her cheery and helping attitude that makes her more pony like. I liked that the writers stuck to the rules about cutie marks, that only ponies get them, but I thought it was really sweet they finally did an episode addressing that. Gabby learns that you don’t need to have a cutie mark tell you what you’re good at. You just need to discover it for yourself and know it in your heart that it’s your purpose. Essentially, that’s how I’ve always thought about THE MEANING OF LIFE, not to get too dramatic. Life is what you make of it, and Gabby and the CMC have made the admirable choice to make others’ lives better.
Song’s good too.
Viva Las Pegasus
It’s a sort of weird coincidence I’m watching this episode now, having just reserved rooms in Las Vegas for the lady and I in a few weeks. Or is it a coincidence? Dun dun… DUN!
I guess that pony Elvis Presley is probably the obvious choice, although is Gladmane really Elvis? I mean, he has Elvis-like mannerisms, and kinda has the same hairstyle, but Elvis wasn’t a con artist businessman, so I dunno. In any case, this episode made me wanna see a return to Las Pegasus to see pony Frank Sinatra singing Witchcraft. I’d be pretty pleased to see an episode about lounge ponies in a band together. Oh well, someday…
I find it really cute that their gambling area is just an arcade room.
Regarding the actual episode and its story, it’s fine. Basically, it’s just fine. At the beginning, I immediately suspected Gladmane of fuckery because he’s a slimy lookin’ guy, but then I thought I was being too cynical. Well, fuck me, I guess, because I was totally right. I’m not disappointed by that, but it would be kinda nice to see “slick businessman is evil” trope get flipped on its head just once. Also, Flim and Flam aren’t really utilized all that well in this episode. All Gladmane had to do is go behind each of their backs and basically talk shit and then they hated each other. We didn’t even get a Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 song out of it. It’s all rather bland, unfortunately. Can’t hate it though. I did enjoy the circus ponies and the Siegfried and Roy ponies. There’s a topical reference, kids.
Every Little Thing She Does
So, I was going to do this entire review using Police lyrics, but then I realized a few things. People probably won’t get it, it’s pointless, way too much work, and probably a terrible way to review. So instead it’ll just be a lame normal review.
I mean, it’s not a spectacular episode, but it’s pretty good all things considered. I like how Starlight Glimmer is really similar to Twilight, except a lot more creepy in how she manipulates people with magic, and that’s kinda fucking cool (in a creepy way). In a weird way, Starlight slightly reminds me of Katara from Avatar:TLAB, specifically once she starts to use blood bending to force others to act like puppets. It’s someone who’s really powerful at a spells (bending is fucking magic spells, shut up) using them in a way that is meant to do good, but causes harm. Both Starlight and Katara use their magic with a little trepidation at first, but then gradually become more confident in it and eventually are forced to confront the pain it causes. Now, that last part hasn’t quite happened with Starlight yet, unless you count the finale episode from last season with Twilight, but I’m hoping that’ll be something that’s addressed in future episodes.
Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’d let Starlight rub her balls on me.
In any case, I think the lesson in this episode is pretty good. I sort of thought, based on the beginning, that she was going to use a speed spell to just run between all the different ponies at, like, Silver Streak-type speeds and then learn that she needed to do things slowly and take her time to get to know her friends, not save them from an exploding school—I mean, rush things. Instead we get the much more sinister idea that Starlight has the power to make mindless slaves. I genuinely don’t think that will come up again in the show, but it’s pretty fucking badass. Twilight might be an alicorn and extremely powerful, or whatever, but Starlight seems like the one who really knows her shit when it comes to magic. I kinda wish she’d been around in seasons 1 and 2. I coulda got so many good fics outta here and Twilight/Trixie. Where’s a time machine when you need one? Ah, right, ironically it’s always in the future.
Oh, I think you'd take it juuuust the right way...
Never made the Katara-Starlight connection. I was too busy linking her to Amon.
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Are you certain she hadn't traveled here through a magic mirror from another world?
4737350
I am not certain
By the end of this Every Little Thing she Does, I wanted Starlight Glimmer dead. I loathed her so much it's almost kinda funny. But yeah, fuck her. Fuck her. Fuck her.
Gladmane probably started as an Elvis impersonator and keeps up some of the mannerisms out of habit.
"Every Litte Thing She Does" may be one of my least favorite episodes of the show for the sheer horror of what's on screen. Not just the mind slavery, but also Starlight's utter failure to comprehend virtually any part of healthy social interaction as anything but a to-do list of NPC interactions.
There's always time to write more Starlight stories. Please.
>liking Every Little Thing
>while not liking Viva Las Pegasus
>pony please
Filthy Rich? :B If you ignore Legend of Everfree, of course...
4737481
Is there an episode where Filthy Rich isn't a huge dick? I don't remember that.
Viva Las Pegasus is what it says on the episode list.
4737456
Yeah, she does kinda need to learn the lesson from Apple Family Reunion, that doing stuff with your family and friends isn't always about doing the stuff, but about being with your family and friends. Even at the end, she's all "So... How long do we sit quietly?"
4737544
Hmm... looking at the list of his appearances in the main show, I can't really find any in which he's a huge dick.
4737670
Both you and present are correct. It's Viva Las Pegasus. Not sure why I was fixated on the Nicolas Cage film where he drinks himself to death with a prostitute.
4737544
He's never been a dick! That's why his portrayal in LoE pained me. :C He may be a tad conceited -- and his taste in mares is questionable at best -- but he's always come off as the kind of businessman who understands the need for integrity and ethical practices in running a business.
4737743
Huh, well fair enough then. I really don't even remember his character all the much, so I'm at least glad to hear he's not a total dick. That being said, Spoiled Rich is comically dickish (and I love it).