Friendship University S8E16 Review · 5:37pm Aug 11th, 2018
F U
Oh good, Flim and Flam. I wonder if they're pulling a sleezy con job they sell with a song. Ah, yes, they're offering scholarships in Trump Friendship University.
Cool, Bookhorse continuity nod.
So, here's my problem - "so what"? Flim and Flam have their own school, EEA approved. Why does Twilight care? Wouldn't the Princess of Friendship be interested in investigating this school to verify it's on the level (even though she has no reason to think so)? Or wouldn't she simply state that she's the damn Princess of the concept and point out that Flim and Flam have nothing on her? Except Twilight has been given the conflict ball here, which even the crowd notices. Her mistrust and suspicion is sprung from simple jealousy and indignation. Star Swirl even points out she should know better about friendship to give the two the benefit of the doubt.
Our real contribution is establishing which brother is which, which let's be honest they almost never bother to do. Flam is the mustache one. I appreciate Neighsay is watching all "0_0" like he can't believe this is happening, because he can't, he's in awe over seeing Star Swirl. Twi and Rarity go undercover, Twilight is caught in a compromising photo and blackmailed into silence. She later realizes from Rarity how the duo are making money, catches them, and Star Swirl forces them to give back all the money. The episode ends with a not-so-subtle hint that Cozy Glow had a hoof in this.
I'm being harder on this episode than I think it warrants, but I wasn't impressed. Rarity thoroughly stole the show with lots of funny jokes, I appreciate they made Neighsay respectful of Star Swirl (though they seriously ramped up the racism; he ponders if other creatures are "infectious"). Star Swirl was just here, he barely did anything.
But man oh man, Twilight was insufferable. First, immediately presuming Flim and Flam are up to something, while fair given their history, is against the ideas of friendship and redemption and forgiveness, and Star Swirl even points this out to her. Twilight could have gone about this in more covert, clever ways, but had the Jerkass Ball shoved down her throat and spends the entire episode glaring at Flim and Flam until, shockingly, she's caught. She won a lot of points at the end of the episode where she doesn't care if Flim and Flam expose her as long as the con stops, and is even willing to let the school stay open if they stop charging, showing that she really was primarily concerned with their scheme and not a rival school. But the road to get there was awful.
Maybe Twilight asks if she can take a few courses at the University, just out of curiosity of what kind of curriculum Flim and Flam teacher. Perhaps she tells Star Swirl, even Neighsay, that she knows the two have a history of con jobs and she thinks they should take a closer look at things to ensure everything is on the level. What if she was the one who came up with the idea for Rarity to go undercover and let her gather intell while Twilight talks to Star Swirl to get info from his experiences? Seriously, Rarity did all the work actually exposing the two, Twilight was just here to be jealous and suspicious.
A friend of mine (who is very opinionated about things, not all of which I agree with) has argued that Twilight is actually a terrible Princess of Friendship, because she distrusts and is suspicious of reformed villains (Discord, Trixie, Iron Will), has trouble understanding and accepting friendships different from the ones she knows (Maud), and in "Gauntlet of Fire" is more interested in learning about dragon culture than concern for Spike, and refers to Ember as an "ally" and not a friend.
It's episodes like this that make me have to agree with him.
As the Princess of Friendship, I try to set an example for all of Equestria. But today, it was Spike who taught me that a new friend can come from anywhere. I guess everypony still has things to learn about friendship. Even me!
- Twilight Sparkle, "The Times They Are A Changeling"
Really, what reason would Twilight have to trust Flim and Flam? They have proven to be nothing but con artists and have rejected numoerus opportunities to see the light and put their skills to use for good. Twilight even pointed out to Starswirl their track record of fraudulent schemes. I just have to question why Rarity stupidly believes an eye-patch and a fake cutie mark on a sticky note is going to fool anyone, Twilight's wings would be a dead giveaway.
As for Iron Will, I despise the idea that he was ever a villain and he did not deserve to be labled one in "Once Upon A Zeppelin" (honestly that's the kind of extortion scheme Flim and Flam would run).
I do agree though that as of lately, the show seems intent on making Twilight look bad whenever there's a conflict in an episode. Episodes like "Non-Compete Clause", "Marks for Effort", and "A Matter of Principals" make it seem like they turned her into a bad parody of herself. And the only reason why I can fanthom them doing it, is because they took the advice of not radically changing Twilight's character after she became an alicorn too far, and compensated in the other direction, making her princess title pointless in the grand scheme of things.
I don't even think Neighsay was used well in this episode, and I was pleased to see him again. :/ It's like they just had a checklist of things to do and went right down it, heedless of the consequences.
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Because the last time we saw them, they took over a casino resort and went straight.
Twilight: "Don't you two run a resort now? Why open a friendship university?"
Flim: "Why, we're just turning over a newer new leaf and helping spread the magic of friendship across Equestria!"
Flam: "And here at our school you can learn everything you need about friendship from two of the bestest friends and brothers!"
Twilight: "Hmmm...."
Boom.
Good write up.
I find this episode weaker than Yakity Sax.
Yakity Sax could be argued as an attempt to bring up issues of depression and following your dreams, but within reason, Pinkie Pie.
F U was tiresome. As someone else in the chat stated - they just wanted to get through it.
And FRIENDSHIP has never been jammed down the throat harder.
Not the kind of episode that pulled us in during the early days. When characters were relatable, had meaningful Jobs...
That irks me. How do the Mane 6 find the time to lecture in addition to their standing jobs ?
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I think the issue with Twilight is that as the main character there still has to be some kind of conflict when she's involved in the story, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. If the fandom had their way Twilight would be completely infallible at this point which would only result in the writers pushing her further into the background with the other princesses.
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through the Magic of Fridge Logic
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I remember a tweet from someone on the show explaining that there is no explanation because it doesn't really matter. I know that tends to piss some people off but the show staff has never been concerned with maintaining a stable timeline or continuity.
4918455 It would've been better if Neighsay was more involved in this rival school, pulling at the strings to try and sabotage Twilight's school. But no, like Starswirl he's just there for the sake of being there. You could write him out and nothing would change.
I just have to say. Show really hates Flim and Flam. I mean they even had a dark time line in the Cutie Re-Mark and, if the position means anything, it was worse timeline than Sombra, Chrysalis and Nightmare Moon. Though last time they kinda weren't the antagonists of their episode.
Also I think Twi did tell Star Swirl about Flim and Flam having bad history to which he replied that the thing he learned from her of all ponies is to give others a chance. I mean if Pony of Shadow had some good in him then two flamboyant singing con artists couldn't be that bad? Oh except they are because they actually charge for education. Though granted Twilight was really unconvincing beyond saying "they are Flim and Flam" for the most part.
Also is the lesson that our education is evil because it is expensive? Or at least US higher education from what I hear.
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Starswirl is there to help legitimize Flim and Flam's school which explains why so many flock to it. It also helps make the conflict more personal for Twilight, yeah she's not happy about the school but the reason she get's so obsessed with trying to prove it's a scam is because Twilight doesn't like the idea of her hero and friend getting scammed by them let alone learning about friendship at someone else's school.
Neighsay is there because it's a school and it would be weird if he didn't get involved after what happened in the premier.
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Because of her conceitedness. I needn't bring up that the first benefits she thought of (or at least the ones she thought most of) in regards to Spike's wings were how they could help her. I needn't bring it up, but shit like this keeps happening, so I want to.
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The show also has something against Trixie.
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Show recognizes the greatness that is the Great and Powerful Trixie. Granted Trixie would prefer if they would let her be the lead as she rightfully deserves but Trixie is a modest and humble pony.
It is that conniving Twilight Sparkle who is envious of power and popularity of Trixie. Making Trixie look like a villain and planting unfounded mistrust into minds of innocent ponies. Trixie is frankly hurt by such behavior.
But yeah Trixie is treated fine now, she is a support character in her own right. And a great one at that.
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Not really, I mean she just exists to make Shitstain look better.
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Trixie was never any less egotistical than she was before Starlight became a main character.
She started off as a stage mare who couldn't back up her own words, became a villain for one episode out of misplaced vengeance even though Twilight technically saved her life, end up becoming friends with Starlight, specifically just to get back at Twilight at first (something even she confirms), and eventually realized she needed to adjust her own attitude if she wanted to get anywhere.
At this point she's a supporting character that does her job well, egotistical, but learning to be more humble in the grand scheme of things, kind of like a unicorn version of season one Rainbow Dash.
People like you really need to stop using Starlight as a crutch for your grievances with the show. The whole "we hate Starlight" fad has gotten old.
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Well Alphamon already responded to you so I'll go from different direction.
Let's assume that you are right that she is there to make Starlight look better. Why does that mean that show has something against Trixie? She still gets more screen time, positive portrayal and doesn't need to be shoehorned as a villain anymore (like first time). And best part is that Trixie retained her pre-reform personality which is more than we can say for Starlight and Sunset who got good pony lobotomy. Sure, Trixie has flaws that may get exaggerated but she has virtues too, that's what makes her compelling character.
Your argument is really more that show likes Starlight too much.