Follow-up Fun Time: Friendship is Magic part 2, or, Through the Looking Glass · 10:10pm Apr 13th, 2018
Our descent into madness continues! An episode in, and I was genuinely intrigued. Yes, the writing was a little cheesy at times, but these ponies were cute. And now, we're dealing with some eldritch evil that wants to create an everlasting night.
Or as the citizens would later recall it as, Tuesday.
Thunderbolt, critical hit!
I'm surprised he's not dead.
Crap, Nightmare Moon just took out the royal guards like they were nothing! She must be powerful!
Nope!
As we'll find out later in the show, the guards are just... really bad at their job.
I spy with my little eye...
Now that the world is ending, maybe Twilight can finally do some research!
Reading and all related activities were actually outlawed earlier that week thanks to Rainbow.
Poor Twi can't catch a break with these ponies. Is reading about the unstoppable, deadly alicorn too much to ask?
Good friends don't let other friends read things.
Why is Fluttershy here? Like, she's still a cowardly, shaking mess in the first season... and in the fourth season... Point is, why did she follow them? You think she would have gone home.
Because, destiny!
You mean plot?
Because, plot!
"Hey look, the heroes are planning to stop me... I should do something about that... like, right now."
... Because, plot!
Welcome to the forest, it gets worse here everyday!
Remember before we had an official map? When we thought Everfree was the edge of Equestria and just continued on forever until you got to some exotic land? Or walking into it spelled certain doom unless you were the protagonist. Or Zecora.
It is kinda disappointing that the actual forest takes up only like, an eighth of the map. Still, there are plenty of dangerous things in there that would make great pets!
Rainbow, this is no time for mating practices!
Although Rarity is clearly aroused.
Rainbow and Fluttershy: "Flying master race!"
Twilight, can't you teleport? I mean, I know you can't just jump around like a space-bending frog yet, but you can teleport. Stupid.
I know they're too busy panicking to pay attention to the Nightmare smoke, but can they actually see it? Or is just there for the audience?
"Pinkie, why are you so heavy?"
"I just had five cakes and a pie. Also, I forgot to empty my mane this morning."
*Plays Tiranic music*
"Let go, Twilight."
"That's not how this scene works!"
Also, I just noticed, her pupils are different sizes. It's kinda creepy.
"Now, thank your flying overlords."
You're a disgrace to the unicorns, Twilight.
Boo!
Look how lethal and adorable it is!
Shit, little ponies are fighting a manticore? This show does have everything.
A proper lady knows how to fight.
Can we stop and appreciate that Rarity from season 1 kicked a manticore in the face?
Yes... but why didn't she use magic? You're all disappointments!
"All yours, partner."
I don't know what it is, but the way it's delivered, it's the cutest line Applejack has in whole show. I don't know why it took so long for Applejack to climb to my second favorite spot. She's kinda amazing.
When she's not being a dumb, apple loving, tradition smothering hick.
... Because, plot!
Yes.. let's all charge at the manticore with its sharp claws and tail. It can't hit all of us. It'll just be one or two casualties.
Oh my god, two of you have magic! one of you is a prodigy! Don't make me go back in time and slap you!
You didn't exist yet.
I'll find a way!
"Yo, bitches, cool yo jets!"
Oh hey, the quiet one is doing something.
Ded.
I mean yeah, I'd be cranky too if I had a spike impaling my hand!
Aww, the poor wittle manticore has a thorn in its paw. Don't worry, Fluttershy can fix that, you poor thing.... Can we get a—
No.
"Cool, problem solved."
"Should we wait for Fluttershy?"
"Nah, she'll be fine."
They never saw Fluttershy again.
Boo.
That's a face not even a mother could love.
Seriously, Nightmare? This is what you've resorted to? Simple scare tactics? They just faced a manticore, there's no way this'll—
"Aggghhhhhhhh!"
I hate all of you.
"Girls, wanna hear a song?"
"Not really."
"Too late!"
This was the defining moment of whether or not I would keep watching this show. I did not like random singing in cartoons back then. Pinkie was already a hit or miss with me. Then, the beat picked up and she started bobbing her head. 'Oh no, this show has everything.'
And then Twilight freakin Sparkle and Rarity had to lampshade this with wonderful deadpan.
You have restored the honor of the unicorns.
And that is the only reason I sat through that song, which, to date, is still my least favorite.
What about—
The Cloudsdale anthem does not count! We don't speak of it!
Sobbing sea serpents splashing in the stream.
As I would come to learn, we in the fandom have a tendency to name everyone. This is Steven Magnet. Why... not sure.
Look at the fabulous mane though. Too bad about the mustache.
I wonder how much sea serpent scales go for?
Rarity can't let such a crime again fabulousness go unpunished. The serpent must die.
Or that.
I mean, it's not a bad look for her.
The mustache is still uneven lengths. Really throws the symmetry off.
Also, his mouth ends below his eyes. That's kinda weird.
So, imma chalk this one up to Nightmare Moon just having a flyby and cutting him on accident, because there's no way she thought cutting of a serpent's mustache would actually stopped the girls from reaching the castle. Up the game Nightmare!
All right, moving in the right direction.
You're just going to listen to the creepy pegasi dressed in purple that fly for the one place in Equestria nopony lives?
No one ever said Rainbow was smart.
"Talk dirty to me."
If you want Rainbow to do anything you say, butter up her ego.
"Hey, Twi... you wanna teleport over and help?"
"No."
You know, Rainbow was willing to take the Shadowbolts' offer as soon as she fixed the bridge. If Nightmare Moon had just led her away from her friends after that, they'd be short one element and then screwed. Ah well.
Applejack is just happy to be here.
That castle looks more like a tiny fort. Glad they expand upon it in later seasons.
You're still missing two Dragon Balls to make a wish.
I know they're useless, but just leaving them out there in the open like that feels like a dumb idea. What if someone coughNightmarecough came and snatched them away?
Yeah, like that.
"Somepony remind me why we decided to wait outside for her?"
Because, plot! You're right, this is fun!
"Oh, did you need these?"
Look at that smug smile. I'm sad we don't get to see more of her here.
Boss fight! Twilight vs. Nightmare Moon!
For Equestria!
"... I could have just shot her..."
Oh, now you wanna teleport!
You're so lucky I didn't exist back then.
"Nooo! My plans have been..."
"...Foiled? Oh hey, I'm not banished. Cool!"
That's not good. Well, I guess this is the part where Twilight pulls something out of her ass to save the day.
"This is the most fun I've had in a thousand years!"
Well, shit!
Did she... break the mcguffins? Wow, I didn't see that coming! How often does that happen? I got really excited here. If the elements were broken, did that mean that the girls were going to have to go on some season long adventure around the world to try and find some way to beat Nightmare Moon and save—
Nope. Friendship.
Oh right... friendship... hooray.
"So this is what it feels like to be monologued at."
Literally my face the first time hearing Twilight's speech. I wanted some epic adventure, but the I remembered, right, cooperate media doesn't think 8-year old girls want an epic adventure. Friendship speech it is then.
"But I don't wanna go back to the moon."
And here, we get our first taste of the rainbow! Goodbye, Nightmare, we hardly knew ye.
Fun fact: look where she's standing. I'm pretty sure that's Luna's old throne.
Welcome to the herd. Friendship is magic. Resistance is futile.
Whoops, the elements killed them. Oh well, time to find more bearers.
Behold, mama swan!
Sigh. Looking perfect, even after being locked in the sun for a few hours.
Her mane is missing its sparkles.
Waning moon!
Get it? 'Cause she's tiny.
Boooo.
Ahem. Here is a pony who needs no introduction. Before Sunset dropped onto the scene, she was my favorite pony. Hope you enjoy her, 'cause you ain't seein' her for a whole season.
8/10. Not enough tears.
A thousand years, guys! A thousand years! Cannot comprehend! Two sisters that have been separated for a millennium! Even through my first time watching it, I thought this was extremely heartwarming!
I'm surprised Celestia is holding together for so long. If that was me, I'd be blubbering like a baby.
So, how do we celebrate this momentous occasion?
Duh.
And thus, Pinkie's defining character trait was established. I'm surprised it took so long for people to like Rarity. Compared to Pinkie in the first two episodes, she's pretty 3 dimensional.
Here because, cute.
Don't worry, Spike. Soon, you'll be swept up in the adventures too.
Here because, cute!
Here because... well, you know.
And that was our introduction to Wonderland. Little did I know, I was gonna be here a long time.
These two episodes did everything they were supposed to. Set up the world, both current, and some of its backstory. Introduced all of the mane character's minus the CMC. Gave us laughs, adventure, action, and... a song. Sure, it's not a perfect narrative, but hey, clearly it did something right if it brought in an entirely unintentional fanbase!
Though, we're preaching to the choir at this point. We're here, you're here, ponies are here. And they were here to stay. While I wasn't 100% convinced of the show, I was intrigued enough to keep watching. It would only take one more episode for me to go 'Yep, this is great! I'm in."
For being the start of everything, the episode kinda deserves a 10/10.
I missed doing these. Definitely going to try to do more in the future. I still have the Equestria Girl specials to go through, and the season seven finale. Might do some more older episodes too. Don't ask me about season 8, I haven't bothered watching yet. I probably will eventually, I just don't feel like it yet.
But, you guys go have fun, and we'll see you in the next follow-up.
Later!
Yes, Pinkie. We've never been so excited.
Right, she can break the fourth wall.
So she does have more dimensions than Rarity.
Ahhh Roadverse Sunset... How I enjoy your snark and mild sociopathy. Only MADverse Sunset is funnier.
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This is one of my favorite versions of Sunset...
Seriously though, Giggle remains one of my top favorite songs, entirely because of how many things were done with it in the brony music scene (Which is the only reason I stayed at first...)
Lot of broken images here.
EDIT: Opening the page in Chrome seems to have fixed the issue.
Very enjoyable follow up. The idea of Sunset yelling at them for the obvious or whatnot would make an interesting fanfic. It was good to read one of these again and I hope you continue to have fun as you work to get better. I hope everything is going well for you.
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What is this MADverse that you speak of?
I welcome you to the church of Applejack. Sermons led by Bookplayer once in a blue moon.
Wow, Luna so smol.
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Read Justice3442's "Sunset Shimmer is MAD About Everything". You'll see...
Because of YouTube's auto closed captioning being shit and saying "sea serpent" was "Steven magnet".
Oh my this was hilarious!
Cool thing you are having fun too The Albinocorn. 
Shame that the pictures don't work in all browsers and devices. How odd.
That's a great overview here. Please more episodes?
Uhm... Reminds me about consequences of a short-cut tail
Yes, the tags. Fanfiction, what have you done to me...
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In an interview, Lee confirmed that that was the name in the script IIRC.