Random Thoughts: The Washouts · 10:19pm Aug 19th, 2018
Warning: Spoilers abound. Proceed with caution.
Let me just start off by saying great googily moogily, what a weekend this was! I thought Season 7 had scheduling problems, but this was just insane! Well, at least it's still trackable. Unlike some other shows I can mention *cough*TheLoudHouse*cough*.
Anyway, yeah. I can see why this episode is generating far more buzz than the other two recent episodes released early abroad, considering who they brought back. I've kept out of the conversation until I could see it for myself, and now that I have, I'm throwing my met hat into the ring. So, follow me below the break as I gush about how awesome this one was.
1. No joke: When I saw the opening scene, I legitimately thought that someone just uploaded The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well and was trolling people over the early release schedule. Well played, storyboard artists.
2. Considering that Scootaloo made the Rainbow Dash fan club in Rainbow Dash's honor, I don't think it's weird for her to eavesdrop on the proceedings. In fact, why hasn't Scootaloo ever invited her to one of these meetings? Especially since the club has supposedly been around since Season 2, well before Dashie became a Wonderbolt. 
3. If I see any memes of Applejack firing Apple Bloom to the moon because she's a b
tch who likes bananas, I am going to lose a lot of respect for this fandom. 
...
I just gave someone the idea to make that a thing, didn't I? Dang it. 
4. I like how Rainbow Dash is legitimately impressed with the Washout's performance. Good on her for not letting her biases cloud her judgement (for the most part).
5. Short Fuse is hilarious. And reminds me of Anger from Inside Out. That is all.
6. I said it before, and I'll say it again: This is the best way to bring back Lightning Dust. After seeing so many stories of her becoming depressed or bitter, I like that she decided to make a name for herself in her own way. And while she's still sore at Rainbow Dash, it's clear that she doesn't have an real animosity towards her. I used this analogy before, but she's more like the Gary Oak to Rainbow's Ash Ketchum. Not exactly an evil person, but clearly a rival and kind of a jerk. And do I even have to go into how I predicted that in my story The Truth Hurts?
7. Spitfire trying to dissuade Scootaloo from joining the Washouts was hilarious. Then again, the comics have shown that she doesn't really know how to deal with children.
8. I love how Rainbow Dash's ego and her responsibility to Scootaloo essentially want the same thing, but the former keeps tripping her up. Just goes to show you that you can have multiple reasons for doing something, good and bad. 
9. Also, props to Twilight for using what she learned in No Second Prances to convince Dashie to back off and let Scootaloo make her own choices.
10. So, Scoot. How long have you been holding onto that little nugget of low self-esteem? Seriously, this hasn't been fully addressed since Flight to the Finish, and I'm glad to see it again. For so long, people have just accepted that she wants to be a copy of Rainbow Dash, but she's clearly grown out of that mindset. And part of that seems to be her accepting her limitations.
Even so, Scoot. You might wanna schedule an appointment with Dr. Wolf. Just saying.
11. I remember getting a lot of flack for my portrayal of Lightning Dust in my stories and how I implied that she doesn't have a shot at the Wonderbolts anymore (namely from one particular user. You know who you are. 
). Well, two things. One, LD seems genuinely happy with what she's doing. I say let her have this. And two... c'mon. Would you trust this mare in Equestria's military after what she did to Scootaloo? She's still a reckless loose cannon who has no regard for the safety of others. It's great that she found a career path where that's encouraged, but the Wonderbolts would not and should not consider recruiting somepony who thinks that strapping a young filly to a rocket is a good idea! I concede that there was no malicious intent, but that's irrelevant!
So, in conclusion. My thoughts on the episode can be summed up thusly:
Love how they brought back that little gag from Season 4, by the way. 
Well said. This is definitely one of the strongest episodes of the season.
7. That scene ALONE is reason enough for me to put this episode as one of the best of the series. I don't enjoy it QUITE as much as On the Road to Friendship or a few other episodes from this season, but this is definitely in my top 10.
8. THANK YOU!
10. I still hold onto the hope that we'll eventually see Scoots fly. After all, "can't fly" doesn't mean "will never fly"
I liked a lot of the content in this episode a lot. I think it showed a pretty good return for Lightning Dust (and you make a good point about how they were smart to have her make her own career and not obsess over revenge on RD or something)…
My only complaint about this episode? I'm seriously gonna regret Short Fuse, because as hilarious as he was, I had an idea for a pony OC named Short Fuse, except he was a mellow dude with an ironic name (his talent was in making explosives and fireworks, hence why he had the name "Short Fuse")… XD Oh well.
Anyway, I think you made some good points about the episode here. ^_^
9. I read this as an overcorrection, and certainly the wrong thing to do. Scootaloo is a small child and has no business making life-or-death decisions. They should be made for her.
4922616
I can't help but feel like he's a reference to Josh Scorcher I mean it's same color scheme and everything. Also I can't help but think she isn't flanderize in the episode I'm not entirely sure why so many people liked her.
4922636
Probably because she made a good foil to Rainbow, and in some 'fans' minds, she didn't deserve what she got.
4922634
Hmm. If we're talking strictly in the context of her joining the Washouts, then yeah, I'm totally with you there. But she should still be allowed to like whatever she wants, which is what I feel the episode was trying to get across. Honestly, I'm not sure how I would've written that differently.
4922634
True but Sometimes kids will do opposite of what adult want, even if it's their best interest . And they can get stubborn, That and LD should have gotten arrested for admitted endangering of a minor .
4922654
LD was found splattered in bits. You could arrest the bits if you want, much good it'll do you.
4922655
...
Well, to each their own headcanon, I suppose. Still, that's a bit dark.
4922655
Yeah she ain't dead she's Pegasus she can maneuver out there or maybe she ends up in cast at the most.
Okay, haven't watched the episode, and I don't have a legit opinion of this episode.
4922634
Ponies have a very...relaxed attitude towards child rearing.