Friendship is Card Games: Marks for Effort · 11:17am Jun 3rd, 2018
This week, the Crusaders recapitulate their journey from pests to professionals.
So, we have confirmation that Cheerilee’s classes are still a thing for those who need a more practical education than basic socialization and applied elemental harmonics. I’ve seen some confusion over that point, so it’s nice to get some concrete data for it.
Pinkie’s classroom appears to be a combination of band and home ec, especially given the bagpipes on the wall. Remember, those are only to be used in self-defense.
It always feels so weird to hear Fluttershy try to shout, especially since Andrea Libman has to be careful not to cross into Pinkie Pie’s vocal territory.
Huh. Applejack and Dash are both doing physical activities? It makes sense, but that’s way more PE in a curriculum than I’d want to go through.
Interesting to see that the Student Six don’t share all of their classes. Though it says a lot about the social fabric of Equestria when most students at the School of Friendship are ponies of apparently adolescent or young adult age. (It’s almost like this is a shoehorned, poorly thought-out plot device or something…)
Friendship through the ages? But Twilight, you don’t even have a piano in the room, much less Sunset Shimmer!
Neat to see a picture—presumably a portrait—of Chancellor Puddinghead. Not only does this confirm she existed—a tricky question given the friction between the founders of Equestria and the Pillars—but it also establishes that she was pink. That “Pinkie is a direct descendant of Puddinghead” hypothesis just got some credit. Heck, we might even see how Pinkie will look in her sixties, though some of the gauntness might have stemmed from the lean years before and during the exodus of the three tribes.
I’m honestly surprised to see Starlight sidelined like this. You’d think a frinedship school would have a massive need for a guidance counselor. Poor understanding of interpersonal accord is going to lead to a fair number of fights. I suppose the Mane Six keep taking conflicty resolution upon themselves and never forward it to Starlight.
The Dead Poets’ Society reference was definitely one of the highlights of the episode for me. Especially the speed at which Spike got the class reciting Walt Whitpony. I wonder what section of the friendship textbook he had them tear out.
My first thought when we saw Apple Bloom shirking off… well, it was actually, “Oh boy, here we go…” But when she starting mouthing off to Applejack, that was when I thought, “Oh no, the Crusaders have become moody teenagers!”
Also, Apple Bloom’s apparently old enough to go on harvest duty. I continue to hold by my “Ponies experience a series of discrete, Pokémon-like growth spurts” hypothesis.
Shimmering Spectacles, the librarian with a mysterious past, makes a return from “Hard to Say Anything.”
If your characters are telling stories more interesting than the one they’re in, you have a problem.
You know, when you compare Celestia’s acting to that of her subjects, whether it’s the Crusaders or even professionals like the Method Mares, it’s not like she’s that much worse than the average Equestrian.
Also, kind of funny to see the Crusaders feign a disagreement only a few episodes after the Mount Aris incident. I suppose it’s a good thing Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle didn’t pick at that particular scab. Still, it’s honestly kind of sweet to see that they appreciate each other so much that the ruse unravels prematurely.
Ah, the trusty Crusader chart.
Pony Shirley Temple, ladies and gentlemen. A particularly piteous one, given the gratuitous violins.
Okay, seriously, who buys a cactus? And for what possible purpose? And who packages one as a face-stabbing pendulum? Though given that it’s Lemon Hearts, it’s possible that this is some sort of revenge scheme for taking away her magic school sweetheart.
Furthermore, given that it’s Bonbon buying it, I may not have the security clearance to learn the answers to those earlier questions. (Also, amusing to note that the solution to this problem was putting something in Bonbon’s bag.)
On the bright side, Mrs. Cake is now fully prepared for when a band rolls into Ponyville and demands rainbow sprinkles with all the brown ones removed.
I’m going to assume that Big Mac failed to notice the marked lack of apples in the trees because his mind was on Sugar Belle. That or the basket’s blocking his view.
The Mane Six flashcards confused me when they first showed up, but it is an interesting way to prompt Elements of Harmony.
“Intelligence?” Silly Cozy Glow. Rarity is obviously the Bearer of Charisma. (For those keeping track at home, Applejack bears Strength, Dash Dexterity, Twilight Intelligence, Fluttershy Wisdom, and Pinkie bears Constitution. How else do you think she manages the lung capacity for all those belly laughs, all-sugar meals, and run-on sentences?)
Twilight calling the Crusaders into her office was more than a little bizarre, given that the show went to commercial before the revelation. “How dare you try to help someone study?” As for her assuming sabotage… I’m split. On the one hand , it does seem pretty bizarre that Twilight would jump to that conclusion regarding the CMC… until you bear two things in mind. One, she knows they’ve been trying to appear bad enough at friendship to get admitted to the school. Two, I’m not sure if Twilight can even conceive of someone deliberately choosing to fail a written test.
The other wonderful thing to come out of this episode: This face. Also, if you’ve impressed Starlight, you’ve probably done something truly terrible.
“Wonderful world of cleaning,” eh, Cheerilee? Cozy Glow isn’t the only devious one this episode. And I can hardly blame the Crusaders for seeking other education opportunities.
By those criteria, Twilight could give honorary diplomas to just about every Ponyvillian. And Sunset, though she might get funny looks if she tried putting it on a resume. Still, given Twilight Time, the Crusaders certainly have more claim to the degrees than most.
In all, this is padded to all heck, doing its best to fill out a plot that doesn’t really get going until the second act. Taking into account what I’ve osmosed from spoiler exposure, including information about the season finale—this is your warning, folks—this is meant to be an episode that will take on new context when Cozy Glow reveals her apparently sinister nature. Though given how she assumed quid pro quo when she first met the Crusaders and guessed Magic was the Element of Control, it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise. This is pure setup, an unlabeled “Part 0” to the finale. Unlike, say, “The Times They Are A Changeling” or the episodes that introduced the Pillars, it doesn’t do enough to stand on its own merits.
Too soon; didn’t read: I understand what they were going for, but it could’ve been done in a much better way. Hopefully I do a better job with the cards.
Chain of Cupcakes W
Sorcery
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control and target creature you don’t control. The controller of the creature you don’t control may pay 2. If the player does, they may copy this spell and may choose new targets for that copy.
Coordinated Swarm 2W
Creature — Insect
Flying
Whenever Coordinated Swarm attacks or blocks, creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Fluttershy never dreamt of being a Wonderbolt, but she was still inspired by their choreography.
1/1
Sympathy Plea 2W
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature you control
Creatures with power greater than enchanted creature’s power can’t attack you or planeswalkers you control.
2: Put a +1/+1 counter on enchanted creature. Only any opponent may activate this ability.
Control Elemental 2UU
Creature — Elemental
U, T: You may tap or untap target creature.
4UU, T, Sacrifice Control Elemental: Gain control of target creature.
A command seeking anyone who will listen.
2/4
Resonant Unicorn 2UU
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
Flash
When Resonant Unicorn enters the battlefield, copy target instant or sorcery spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
2UU: Return Resonant Unicorn to its owner’s hand.
2/2
Thought Elemental 4UU
Creature — Elemental
Flying
Thought Elemental’s base power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand.
When Thought Elemental enters the battlefield, choose an opponent. If that player has more cards in hand than you, draw cards equal to the difference.
*/*
Sprinkle Sorting 5U
Sorcery
Choose a color. If you control more permanents of that color than each other player, you gain control of all permanents of that color.
From the moment Twilight ascended, every pony with a special talent in organization became a potential threat to Equestria.
Beneath Winged Shadows 1B
Instant
As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may reveal a Dragon card from your hand.
Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. If you revealed a Dragon card or controlled a Dragon as you cast this spell, that creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn instead.
Midnight Confession 1B
Sorcery
Target opponent discards a card. You gain 3 life.
”I know at least one of us feels better after that.”
Saguaro Hex 3B
Enchantment — Aura Curse
Enchant player
Whenever enchanted player casts a spell, Saguaro Hex deals 1 damage to that player.
Some plants go past defending themselves and hit outright sadism.
Sundown Spiral 1R
Instant
Until end of turn, target attacking creature gets +1/+0 for each attacking creature and gains first strike.
”Don’t worry if you throw up. You’re already pointed at the ground.”
—Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty
Draconic Captain 3RR
Creature — Dragon Soldier
Flying
Battalion — Whenever Draconic Captain and at least two other creatures attack, you may pay XR. If you do, attacking creatures get +X/+0 until end of turn.
Some battle standards are emblazoned. Some simply blaze.
3/3
Harvest Shift 2G
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has vigilance and “T: Add two mana of any one color.”
No member of the Apple family has ever said “I’m too tired to applebuck.”
Stage Combat 4G
Sorcery
Until end of turn, two target creatures gain “Whenever this creature is dealt damage, put that many +1/+1 counters on it.” You may have those creatures fight each other. (They must survive the damage to get the counters.)
Some hunts are for applause.
Friendship Diploma 2
Artifact
4, T, Discard your hand, Sacrifice Friendship Diploma: Draw a card for each creature you control.
”it may not be a pair of wings, but trust me, they’re not all they’re cracked up to be.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Harmonious Grater 4
Artifact
Tap an untapped artifact you control: Target player puts the top card of their library into their graveyard.
”Some say using magic rainbows to shave cheese is frivolous. I say it’s the only safe way to harness the stuff.”
—Discord
Crash Course (ur)B
Sorcery
Draw three cards. Discard your hand at the beginning of your next upkeep.
”All this friendship makes my brain hurt.”
—Cozy Glow
See the Headmare WB
Instant
Exile target creature. At the beginning of the next end step, return that card to the battlefield under its onwer’s control with a -1/-1 counter on it.
Only when she called the first student to her office did Twilight realize she’d learned from more than one Celestia.
Teetering Trio GWU
Creature — Pony Pegasus Unicorn
When Teetering Trio dies, create a 1/1 blue Unicorn creature token, a 1/1 white Pegasus creature token with flying, and a 2/2 green Pony creature token.
Scootaloo thought it was the perfect plan. Sweetie Belle wasn’t sure if she even wanted to see this movie. Apple Bloom just wanted the others off her back.
4/4
Empathy Cocoa 1WB
Instant
Choose one or both —
• You gain life equal to the amount of life another target player gained this turn.
• Empathy Cocoa deals damage to target player equal to the life you’ve lost this turn. (Damage causes loss of life.)
Friendship Tutor 1GW
Sorcery
Search your library for a creature or planeswalker card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
No one can survive the Multiverse alone for long.
I managed to avert my eyes in time, but your spoiler tag broke there
Ah, you already fixed it.
So, does Chain of Cupcakes end at the first copy or when someone runs out of Mana?
...exactly why Starlight makes the worst guidance counselor! :V Twilight's just been humoring her all this time.
I have to say, I do love that Mac's immediate thought after "No apples?" was to blame the basket.
And great, now I know -- without looking at your spoiler, I should add -- that I have been completely spoiled on an upcoming episode, thanks a fucking lot, fandom. >:|
you picked out that but no mention of this?
derpicdn.net/img/view/2018/6/2/1747950.png
I think you mean 'Magic' in the spoiler text.
Yeah this ep wasn't amazing, but was fairly solid enough, not really bad, but not great either just, meh. Starlight was by far the best part. Does also confirm one thing I figured, that the School of Friendship is a 'higher learning' level of school. Every student, except oddly Cozy Glow, is clearly older then the CMC and other foals in Cheerilee's school, and Twi made a point the CMC need the more basic stuff taught in Cheerilee's class, again showing this isn't a regular school but one for advanced studies in a specific field.
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This episode shows to me that with all the teachers in this school dedicated to helping people with their feelings and relationship problems, a student would only go to the guidance councilor when they've screwed up royally. Starlight's just a confidant and midnight confession booth.
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It copies itself entirely, so it stops when someone doesn't want to pay the mana.
I don't know why people are surprised that Twilight believed Cozy Glow about the CMC am I the only one here who has seen Cats Don't Dance? because she totally gives me a Darla Dimple vibe. The idea being that she's so sweet and innocent that everyone automatically trusts her.
I would assume someone who likes houseplants and is looking for one that won't wilt and die if they forget to water it for a couple of days in a row.
My friends taught me magic: the gathering yesterday so now I vaguely understand these.
I did like the subtle suggestion that there might be more to Cozy Glow through she having a "Chessmaster" cutie mark. She is clearly more devious than the episode conclusion appears to show
Cacti, including the saguaro, produce fruit. Unconventional fruits make potentially unique new flavors of candy. Bon Bon's just experimenting with her craft.
Headcanon reconciliation achieved.
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Many cactus species make gorgeous flowers, too, if you care for them properly:
i.pinimg.com/originals/e1/eb/91/e1eb91a42e3d4e4efe890d8de6853a1b.jpg
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Echinopsis_cactus_flower_02.jpg
pmdvod.nationalgeographic.com/NG_Video/261/119/Freaky_Flowers_20_640x360_518927939706.jpg
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I was rewatching the episode a few minutes ago and there's a single, blink-and-you'll-miss-it frame in the scene where she's telling the Crusaders she failed her test, where she closes her eyes and smirks to herself right before she breaks into tears.
Starlight's Empathy CoCo sounds delightful, but the Midnight Confessions has me worried
Not just a Shirley Temple expy, but an expy of the Shirley Temple villain from Cats Don't Dance.
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Man I see it. I see it so clearly. Though granted I forgot her name until I read your comment.
Finally someone who thinks like I do.
As much as I love every life-gain white spell with reference to food you make, Sprinkle Sorting might be my favorite this time. It's devious and on-point.
Hm. I knew that there was a future episode in which Chrysalis infiltrates the Friendship School in disguise, but I didn't know (or remember) that Cozy Glow was her disguise. I somehow missed that. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention; I didn't like the episode much either, so much of it passed me by as if in a daze.