MLP Marathon Bonanza S6 E25 & 26 · 8:23pm Nov 30th, 2017
It’s the season finale!
To Where and Back Again – Part 1
So, I started watching this episode and was prepared for, y’know, a basic season finale with cool fights and friendship and whatever, but oh ho ho… little did I know. IT’S A FUCKING TRIXIE SEASON FINALE! This could not have worked out better. I am 100% on board the Trixie train.
Trixie is, of course, excellent in this episode.
There are so many good things about this episode, and I am so pumped to watch the conclusion to it. So, it starts off with Starlight being worried about going back to her old village and there’s a dream sequence where her fears come to life and it’s all very standard. It’s not spectacular, but it’s fine, and when Starlight says she’s bringing a friend I was fucking pleased that it was Trixie. When Trixie and Starlight got to Starlight’s old village and she freaked out and ran back to Ponyville, I was pretty sure that it was all just a dream, and I was ready to be annoyed by that since it would mean nothing mattered in the first 15 minutes, but instead Luna comes into Starlight’s dream and gives her a cryptic message. At this point, I’m totally hooked. I’m sure it was common knowledge leading into this finale when it aired, but I had no idea that changelings were involved in any way. I was genuinely surprised when they showed up and it did a lot to heighten the tension for me.
Trixie getting ready to go on an adventure is so cute.
A little bit of a confession real quick before we continue. A few years ago, when this stuff was coming out and I was out of the fandom but would hear about certain things tangentially, like Starlight becoming a main character, I thought it all sounded so fucking stupid. The background pony episode, the Daring Do convention episode, things like that just sounded like the worst ideas and made me feel irrationally angry about MLP even though I didn’t watch it anymore. That was the old, stupid, and cynical me. I have completely swung around on Starlight. I actually like her possibly more than even the other main characters (but nobody tops Trixie) and it’s because she’s actually a pretty complex and interesting character. Starlight is, essentially, a reformed villain and represents what Twilight might have become without her friends, and now Starlight is getting to become a better person/pony because of her friends as well. She represents something that I think MLP needed to go on. She’s an ex-villain who still does some things that are kinda dark if you think about them, like constantly trying to control others actions or emotions, and her having to confront that fear of responsibility that she abused before is one of the more interesting aspects of this episode.
I feel the urge to write an adventure fic with Starlight and Trixie.
In the end, this is a really great episode to get the finale started with. I’m hooked into the story. I don’t know where it’s going, and I can’t wait to see how Starlight and Trixie (and I guess Discord and Thorax as well) save their friends. Also, the fact that it’s a bunch of former baddies (except Thorax) going to save the world instead of the usual suspects is pretty fucking great. This episode is like Suicide Squad except that it makes sense and follows logical story progression and isn’t the cinematic equivalent of a muddy puddle of rat piss.
To Where and Back Again – Part 2
If someone had told me three years ago, right before I left the fandom, that there would be a season finale starring a changeling, Discord, some random new main character, and Trixie, I would have said, “That sounds like a terrible fanfic.” But instead, here I am watching that very final and not only liking it, but actually completely falling in love with it. There is just so much to like here. There’s a ton of worldbuilding surrounding the changelings. Their shape shifting castle is really interesting and a unique sort of idea that fits rather well with the changeling mythos. Speaking of that mythos, I love that they become different creatures at the end by finally learning to not steal love but to share it. I mean, that’s just a really sweet and good message for a show about friendship. I know “friendship is magic” is basically the thesis statement of the entire series, but I love the episodes when that is literally the case.
I didn’t really like changelings or Chrysalis all that much before, but I’ve really grown to like them.
Aside from the things I mentioned earlier, I thoroughly enjoyed the adventurous nature of this episode. When they arrived at the castle I was excited to see what they would do to get through it, and I was pleasantly surprised that they kinda bumble their way through it. That sounds bad, but I think it was great that they had to learn to use their innate abilities and not just rely on magic, or even solid planning. I can only imagine what this episode would have been like if Twi and Co. were the ones trying to stop Chrysalis. I mean, it would probably be fine, all things considered, but what we got instead feels so much more fun and a nice departure from the typical “Twilight gives a friendship speech at the end” episode. Well, in this case it’s Starlight who gives the speech, but that’s fine because it’s directly relevant to her character. She can relate to Chrysalis in a way that Twilight can’t. Both of them were defeated by Twilight and now Starlight is trying to save Chrysalis from failing again, like she did.
I didn’t fail to notice that the first pony Starlight runs to after they escape from the cocoons is Trixie.
I don’t know what else to say, really. This is a fan-fucking-tastic episode. It’s got some good humor and silly jokes. Trixie using smoke bombs in conjunction with Thorax playing doppelganger is really clever. Then we had Discord doing an open-mic night as a distraction and it’s all so silly, but in a good way. This is a group of characters who probably should not be the heroes, and yet they are, and it’s fucking great. There’s just so much good friendshipping in this episode between both Starlight and Trixie and Discord and Trixie. Also, it’s really nice to see Discord so concerned about Fluttershy. She may not be his only friend now, but she’s still the most important, and that’s really sweet. I think I”m gonna have to go write a “Trixie and Starlight go on an adventure” fic now. Their chemistry is just so ripe for great jokes and fun action. Man, I’m really looking forward to the next season with more Trixie and Starlight now.
I’m just gonna write a fic where Starlight and Trixie touch each other’s butts.
To Where and Back Again is one of the most underrated episodes in the entire show, and the chemistry between Starlight and Trixie was fascinating. Having Thorax and Discord along for the ride and playing off each other and the rest of the group was fantastic as well. In terms of MLP, I'm always fond of stories whereby supporting characters get a moment in the spotlight, especially when it concerns adventures since Twilight and company have done it plenty of times before. This episode shows why that appeals to me, as it's charming and hilarious with its character interactions, but knows when to get serious without feeling too out of place. It's also something different when it comes to two-part adventures with high stakes, which usually appeals to me.
While it's not my favorite two-part episode, To Where and Back Again is lots of fun and shows why I love characters such as Starlight, Trixie, and other supporting characters. I'm glad you enjoyed it as well.
The biggest issue that fans had with this two parter was that the main good guys (Twilight and pals, the princesses, etc.) all got captured off screen. People were not happy that no explanation other than, "the plot demanded it" was given. I, on the other hand, had no problem with it because it wisely granted the time it would take to explain all that to characters that were a ton of fun to watch.
Most of the goings on with this finale weren't known ahead of time (other than the episodes airing early in other countries), so the changelings coming back was a fairly big surprise. There was a lot of speculation of who the new team would be that would save the others: Ember, Thorax, Spike, Maud. Hell, even Lightning Dust was thrown out as a possibility.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I squeed when Trixie showed up and remained squeeing until the very end. Trixie and Discord arguing pretty much completed every wish I ever had for this show. It could have ended here and I would have been fine with that.
But there's still more! Season 7 has some great episodes in it as well and I look forward to your thoughts on them.
4738631
For me, To Where and Back Again is now my favorite two-part episode, but I'm curious about what yours is now.
4738639
When I started watching these two episodes, I had a feeling that people were going to be annoyed that all the main characters disappear off screen (including the princesses), but you're right that they instead used that time to get to the actual meat of the story. What's more, why or how they were taken really doesn't matter. That's not what the episode is about. It's about Starlight letting herself have some control again and about learning to rely on her friends instead of magic, especially with regards to Trixie. Glad to hear the whole plot wasn't spoiled before it aired though. That probably made it a lot more fun to watch.
Also, greatly looking forward to season 7 now.
4738646
My favorite would be the Season 7 finale, but To Where and Back Again is still a fantastic and fun episode.
4738654
Oh sweet, then I'm definitely looking forward to that. No spoilers
I still cannot fathom why or how the residents of the village forgave Starlight so quickly. Yes, I know. I'm a horrible, unsympathetic person. I've been told that many times. But hey, it's still a mystery to me.
You're going to enjoy the Trixie quotient of S7.
Any opinions on the design of the changedlings? That's usually a hot button topic.
I admit, I'm one of the folks who got really bothered by the plot sweeping the main cast and the princesses aside to let the Starlicide Squad take center stage. Aside from that, I agree that is a lot of fun and makes excellent use of Starlight's history and capabilities.
(Still, what were the changelings impersonating Celestia and Luna going to do when the time came to actually move the sun and moon?)
4738670
Panic, pretend they were kidnapped and hide in the bushes until someone else fixed the problem?
I really enjoyed this finale as well, getting to see how this little suicide squad worked together was a lot of fun, and the anti-magic field was great to keep the OP characters from just fixing everything instantly.
My only real gripe with it (and this is one that has sadly continued through S7) is the new design of the changelings and especially Thorax. Their weird neon-ish mix of colors is really off-putting and King Neon Bambi, I mean Thorax, just looks so much worse with the oversized antlers, the 3 gem? things in his chest and the terrible looking dragonfly wing as a tail.
All of that certainly isn't helped that only a few episodes earlier when Thorax was first introduced they had a wonderful moral of just because he looks evil doesn't mean that he actually is bad and they just completely ruin it by forcing all of the changelings to turn into those garish neon designs now that they are good.
That pic of Trixie with her saddlebags reminds me the random can make a meme out of ANYTHING
https://derpibooru.org/search?q=to+saddlebags+and+back+again+
Also tell me that you of all ppl caught the joke with Trixie taking in her sleep.
What I loved a out the finale is the four acted smart - confirm identities, stick together, use a password.
And now for S7, with moar Trixie, moar Changelings, moar family feels, moar dragons, and the best season finale yet. Eager to see you take it on.
4738667
I'm fine with the way they look. I'm not head over heels in love with it, but I think it was necessary for them to change their appearance to represent that they weren't the same love-starved creatures as before. I have no real problems with the bright colors either. I mean, it fits right in line with the rest of the show... so y'know, whatever.
4738706
I think there's a fair complaint to be made about altering the changelings appearance and how that might ruin the "don't judge a book by its appearances" thing. However, I think there's also a case to be made that the appearance ponies were judging was the fact they were changelings, not that they were black and green. So, they're still changelings, just different colors. I can see the argument either way, but personally it doesn't bother me.
4738720
The joke about peanut butter crackers? Yeah, I caught it, and I laughed. It's silly and cute.
I also shout yay every time Trixie comes on screen.
More than a few people are bothered by the changelings' new form. Some simply hate the colors, but I dislike it because it implies that an individual's physical appearance determines, or reflects, whether they're a good person or not. It just feels kinda superficial.
I do hope that hypothetical adventure fanfic's gonna include Spike. I've been saying for years that Spike and Trixie matching snark and wit would be the greatest thing. I've been saying it so long that you've probably written a fanfic or two about exactly that so long ago that I've forgotten it.
4738746
If that were actually the case and ponies were still worried about the new changelings I don't think that I'd have a problem with it, but no, in the very first episode of S7 we see that everypony is perfectly fine with the new changelings now that they are technicolored.
vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/6/6a/Ponies_and_changelings_listening_to_Twilight_S7E1.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/640?cb=20170416120859
Changelings straight up went from "Don't judge a book by its cover" to "Everything is okay if you're pretty"
Yes.
YES!
i.gyazo.com/dfd32506e6772898a07f97c36dd0d3fa.jpg
I personally think that this finale is the absolute best of the entire series. It wasn't your typical Twily and Company save the day, it was four of the least likely characters you would ever expect. Now I'm most likely biased because Starlight became my favorite character during the season 5 premiere....yes I know that sounds odd but I thought she was a unique villain. I didn't care much for Trixie until "No Second Prances" but once that episode aired, she became a fave and of course StarXie immediately became a ship of mine.
Yes a lot of people have complained that they "swept Twilight and her friends under the rug" so these four could save Equestria but I think that is what made it so great. It was a nice change of pace for Starlight to be one of the saviors and of course that ending, we know that Chrysalis will return again and I'm guessing it will be an epic showdown between her and Starlight....the type of showdown that will make the 2 part episode it will take place in as the absolute best in the show's history....and of course I'm hoping my fave will become an Alicorn.