Apr
28th
2018
Thoughts on: Horse Play · 4:31pm Apr 28th, 2018
Been a while since I’ve done one of these, huh? I unfortunately missed out on the last couple episodes, but now I’m back to give my quick thoughts. Spoilers, as always.
- This ep apparently has a lead writer that’s entirely new to the staff, Kaita Mpambara.
- A princess Celestia episode? About time we got another one of those. It’s nice seeing her humanized a bit. (Equinized?)
- Seeing Celestia fangirling is possibly the best thing to happen this season.
- Aaaaaaaand she’s also a theater kid. This somehow started out amazing and managed to keep getting better.
- Huh. The backstory given for the play here is pretty similar to the Journal of the Two Sisters, so this is probably the first time we’ve seen part of it be adopted into actual canon.
- Wait... the sorcerer that Yona’s playing is dressed as a green-and-blue unicorn with a clover cutie mark. Is that who I think it is?
- You’d think after the prank she pulled in Forgotten Friendship, Celestia would be better at acting.
- And we get to hear Celestia using the Royal Canterlot Voice for the first time. I don’t know how this episode keeps topping itself, but it does.
- Somehow I get the feeling that if Twilight had gotten the actual Star Swirl to play himself, he’d have been brutally honest and this whole plot wouldn’t have happened.
- Applejack being the voice of reason is something that should definitely happen more often. Given how grounded she is compared to the eccentricities of the other ponies, it’s probably the role she’s best suited to.
- “That’s different. You’re not a princess princess.” <--- Strong contender for the funniest line in the show right here.
- Alternate episode title: “Rainbow Dash Ruins Everything.”
- Raspberry Beret? Does she work at a secondhand store?
- Uh... can we talk about this for a moment?
- I have to say, the backstage shenanigans with the Mane 6 are really well written. These bits are one the best illustrations of how their personalities should bounce off each other when left to themselves.
- ...the fact that Trixie sells illegal fireworks isn’t remotely surprising, but raises a few questions that I don’t think can be answered in a TV-Y show.
- ...Yeah, Twilight having an outburst right in front of Celestia is pretty much the only way this conflict could have been resolved in a thirty-minute space. Predictable, but they pulled it off well.
- Not gonna lie, the scene of Twilight and Celestia sitting together on a cloud against the night sky? Legitimately one of the most visually beautiful things the show has ever done. Kudos to the storyboarders and animators here.
- If there’s one complaint I have, it’s that I feel Celestia is being a bit too quick to judge, given how long she and Twilight have known each other. Then again, this whole play deal is something would realistically would have great emotional importance to her, so it does sorta work in that context.
- And here we have the best lesson of all, “Applejack is always right.”
- Somewhere out there, the “Spike Owned Count” just went up. At least he got some free tomatoes.
- Flutterlestia’s back? That’s a callback I never expected to see, but it works.
- On that note, I love how easily Celestia is able to calm Fluttershy’s stage fright, and how well she’s able to administrate the the play long enough to save it. In just a few seconds the episode managed to show us exactly why Celestia’s such an effective and widely-beloved leader. You don’t get such a high level of effective characterization that often in this show.
- The way Celestia is able to apply her acting lessons for things that aren’t acting is also an oddly brilliant touch. I guess it goes to show that you can always learn something from trying something new, even if it’s not a thing you’re good at.
- ...I get the feeling that something about raising the sun early is going to mess up quite a few circadian rhythms, but that’s a question best unanswered.
- So Celestia actually can act, but only if it’s for the purpose of pulling a prank. Somehow, that actually makes sense.
- The lesson being delivered here isn’t new, but I feel it’s flowing from the ending dialogue a lot more naturally and less awkwardly than it has been over the past season. Very strong note to end on, either way.
So, yeah. In case you couldn’t tell, loved the episode. It’s too early to tell, but it may end up becoming my favorite episode of the season. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what Kaita Mpambara does next.
This episode was great.
This would probably have been one of those few situations where Starswirl's utter lack of tact would have been a net plus.
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(DA credit)
Who better to act as a drama coach for The Actress Formerly Known as Princess?
Celestia herself seems to have a case of Ajani Syndrome: She's at her best when she's working for the benefit of others. On her own or for her own interests, she's... less than effective. (Except pranks, but one could argue that those are for everyone's enjoyment.)
This was certainly a fun one.
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Fun, heartfelt, and quite a few other things, too. I’m glad I decided not to miss this one.
Someone else on a forum I frequent also pointed out here that Starlight seems a lot more afraid of offending Celestia than she did in A Royal Problem, where her utter lack of decorum made her the only pony suited towards confronting the Royal Sisters directly about their problem. She must have gotten chewed out really badly after the whole cutie mark swap.
Also, minor spoiler for a couple of my upcoming stories, but the strong possibility of Clover literally being green-and-blue in canon is a very striking coincidence.