Present Perfect vs. The Best Gift Ever · 2:48am Oct 29th, 2018
I feel justified in talking about this, since it's a special and not an episode. I mean, it's not even two episodes. Whoever labeled it "Season 9 Episode 0" on Youtube is a silly filly. :V
Yeah, i didn't watch it until today. It aired at a dumb time yesterday and I had more important things to do. And the one question on my mind, the one that has yet to be answered: Why are we getting a Christmas special mere days before Halloween?
So, straight up, it was all right. Not amazing, definitely had some stuff I didn't like, but nothing I outright hated, and plenty that was entertaining. Granted, a lot of that was one-note character jokes and gratuitous fanservice. Ugh, the fanservice. It makes Slice of Life look like a masterpiece of discretion. Although they had a full-body shot of Hugh Jelly, so I can't be that mad about it. :B Because I have needs, too.
But yeah, I think maybe the one thing I really didn't like was the Spike storyline? Like... This thing was 100% ship fuel, but it's 2018 and Sparity can fuck right off. He's over her, he's been over her for at least two seasons now. I've been over them since about 2012. When I said one-note characters, this is the shit I was talking about. They just can't come up with anything new that isn't also dumb. >:B
And that part where Applejack tried to reassure us her dad gave her her hat was bullshit. >:V
The songs were all right. The first one irritated me because it was almost "Here We Come a-Wassailing", but it just never got there. It was like, melodic blue balls. The second one, I fast-forwarded through.
"Okay, PP, what the fuck did you like, you shitter?"
Actually, quite a bit:
- Pistachio. Like, damn, they got some random new OC who's a colt into fashion. There are male fashion ponies, sure, but... Something about this just struck me really the right way. And Rarity coming to terms with somepony who needs the hat, rather than who she wanted to give it to. Like, seeing her pass a torch that way, that was honestly more satisfying than either of the episodes about her setting up a new boutique, and not to knock either of them. That was just a really positive addition to the overall story.
- "Don't say that." Fluttershy being mortified/embarrassed for Applejack's sake made the whole damn thing worth watching, I shit you not.
- All the shipping. Did I mention this thing was 100% ship fuel? I mean, TwiPie has never been a favorite, but if it gives me Rarijack, Flutterdash and not Sparity, I will take it. :V (Though there was also good TwiJack fuel, for those into that.)
- Shining and Cadence. I don't often get excited to see these two, but... C'mon, fuck, that moment where Cadence is bedroom eyeing him and she goes, "You're not so bad yourself," and she's goddamn fanning herself. That's the kind of shit that makes for good Shining/Cadence erotica, okay? That was great. (Also, Flurry's star costume was adorbs.)
- The Flim-Flam plot. Admittedly, seeing them show up again out of the blue was disconcerting at first, but as the special went on, I found myself enjoying this particular storyline more and more. AJ and Fluttershy's dumb show to get people to stop buying the dolls was amazing. And then Flim and Flam got to take the train home by themselves. They were the only ones who didn't get a happy ending on Hearth's Warming. :C I expect fanfiction about this.
- A lot of the comedy. Yes, I said much of it was one-note, but like the above bullet point, it seemed to get better as the thing went on. I can't remember any particular moments aside from the one I already mentioned, but I was dying over numerous spots. Fuck's sake, I laughed at yaks. Prince Rutherford's "Not here" is maybe the funniest thing a yak has ever done. That's some magic right there. (Though when did he start referring to himself in the third person?) Also, whatever the hell it was the changelings were doing. XD
- More Limestone. I mean, do I even have to explain? If she shows up in S9, you fuckers better let me know. >:V
- THE REINDEER. Okay, you know how the fandom has lost their collective shit over the kirin? Of course you do, your shit probably got lost right along with it. Well, mine wasn't. But those reindeer muses? Holy fuck, that's the good stuff. If nothing else, I just really, really love the animation and effects of them running on air. And what did we get? A few names, some demonstration of magical talents, both innate and external, and that's it. No further explanations. That's what fuels fanfiction. I don't have any ideas yet, but I feel like I could, and I have not felt that way for quite a while. Okay, since the movie. But still. :B
And whatever else I forgot. :B
So, yeah, not perfect, but I think the good really outweighed the bad here. I'd hate to think this was the Equestria Girls of season eight. (You know, how we got half a season, whatever you might think of its quality, because most of the show staff were busy trying to figure out how to movie?) But even still, it's an okay thing.
Just... Y'know, why now? <.<
What were your thoughts on Spike's song? Say what you will about Sparity as a ship, but Spike's crush on Rarity never felt like a TRUE kids' first crush until that moment. I mean, Cathy Wesluck deserves a lot of F's for respect, because that was an amazing song.
Also, thoughts on Rarity's visit with the acorn farmers?
Now because they gotta get it out of the way before they reboot, of course. Need to have everyone on the pr tour for Gen 5 by the new year, not still thinking about these horses.
4959676
I mention both of those things in this blog. <.<
4959690
Whoops. Didn't Know his name was Pistachio.
4959690
Was Spike’s song the one you fast forwarded through?
I just love the deadpan way Applejack says, "I don't have Rarity." Had to pause it there. Snerk.
(Seriously, I liked it.)
Sparity Sparity Sparity
*Runs away giggling like the jerkwad I am*
I haven't watched anything since Slice of Life. I'm way behind lol.
Aww... but it was so good though! My wife and I googled the lyrics and sung it over and over again about ten times after we finished the special. I LOVED the amount of Spike we got in this episode.
Gotta agree with Sparity though. There are so many better ships than Sparity, they both deserve better than each other.
Also! THAT CHINCHILLA!
Like... I just want to put this picture on my wall. It's me and all my absolute favorite characters in one spot altogether. And just... AAAHH!!! I love it so much!
Don't you know? Christmas and Halloween are the same thing! Oct 31 = Dec 25, after all.
(It is a math joke
)
4959740 yo catch up you're missing some good stuff.
4959791
Spoil it for me. I work all the time, ai won't have time to watch it anyway
This is one of the first pony things since season 6 that didn't make me feel bad. At least we get something like this before it all ends. It's pretty obvious this kind of quality is only in it because it's an extra long special outside the "storyline" they have going in the main show but you take what you can get.
It was pretty good, just not quite as great as Hearth Warming Tails that had way catchier songs. Shining and Cadence being actually competent for once was definitely great, and you could tell they were about to make another demon baby right then and there.
You forgot to mention the Rainbow & Discord part, which I'd say were alright. When you don't want to kick Discord in the balls at the end it's usually a net plus.
Hm.
One of the funnier things to come out of "The Hearth's Warming Club," yes.
And yeah, this was some quality pony. Though I will note that the reindeer are Norns, not muses. There's only three of them and they've got the past-present-future thing going (as opposed to the spin-measure-cut thing if they were Fates.)
4959695
Yeah. Sounded too much like "A Changeling Can Change" right at the start.
4959766
I'm sorry they decided it needed to be a problem of some kind so we could have 'friendship' as the moral at the end. The base model for it was cute. :)
4959848
I could have done with Discord. :| I so could have done without Discord.
4959865
Aren't Norns from Babylon 5? <.< And the middle one was totally cutting stuff while they were all prognosticating! Muses! >:V
Yeah, this was definitely a refreshing episode for me personally. I actually thought it was better than most of Season 8's output, and I say this as a guy who legitimately liked about 1/3 of the season. "Best Gift Ever" might've been fairly average, but it was so well-executed averageness that I couldn't help but smile while it was on.
The weird thing is, why are Flim and Flam so bitter? We know they already got chestfuls of gold in the first half of the episode, and they didn't actually give any money back, just were unable to finish selling all of their dolls for maximum profit. Are they bitter they'll only be able to afford half of their resort expansion?
4960109 Yes.
To scare you, naturally. Few things are more terrifying than having to shop for gifts for friends and family.
4960343
You...
You have a very salient point. c.c
Just watched it!
Honestly, between the extended running time and the focus on the mane 6, this special had a lot of room to focus on the stuff that makes the show what it is.
Plus, GI JOE NINJAS WHAAAT. I may have to write a ninja-Dash fanfic now just so I can use that screenshot.
For all I'm pissed about a Christmas special before Halloween... I liked this pretty well. It took a while to grow on me, with three fairly front-loaded issues: I didn't care for the song at the start (which wasn't super well incorporated because it's the cold open rather than developing from the action, and went pretty long), the set-up took a long time, and I really didn't like the Derpy scene, in part because the voice just seemed so off.
Anyway, after that there was a lot to like--and more for me than you, because for all it's been absent/over for a while (without ever getting much in terms of resolution, especially considering how pushed it was S1/S2), I've always liked Sparity. :V
Rarity's plot line was a standout portion, I liked the reindeer, and the F&F (though kinda played out, and a retread of a comic) had really good lines for the doll. "Commercialism is the greatest gift of all!" might have been the best line of the episode. :P Oh, and Discord got to use his powers of being awful for good! Truly a Hearth's Warming miracle. :D
4960726
Pretty much agreed here. Derpy's voice irritated me, but that scene was worth it for the "Break time!" and subsequent descent into retail hell thereafter. XD
...In my house, on the day of my daughter's wedding...
4960825
I think you're right, I was being a bit unfair to the scene, where the only real negative is the voice. Even leaving that aside, though, it's worth noting just how much better the Rarity/Derpy scene here was than the (Pinkie & Sheldon)/Rando one was--including using the break as a punchline rather than source of forced drama and having the clerk be humorously incompetent rather than just an inflexible jerk punishing Pinkie for the fact Sheldon is terrible.
...Also, I feel like I have to have mentioned that to you before.
4960878
You talking about Maud's dumb boyfriend? <.< I don't think you have. Though that episode was so bad, I've put a lot of effort into forgetting it existed.
4960911
No, Sparity. Though I gather you put a lot of effort into forgetting it exists, too. :V
4960918
Bitches won't let me. V:
4959890
The Norns are from Norse mythology; mother, maiden, and crone. Spinning, weaving, and cutting the fabric of fate.
So... lots of good stuff there! I really liked the Yaks.
Shipping? Rarijack is so darned confirmed! Just look at their cheek-to-cheek snuggle near the end. Even Lyra and Bon Bon haven't gotten that "friendly."
And Marble Pie watching Mac & girlfriend smooching and then just about crying? Wow!
4964639
Man, I dunno where I got Babylon 5 from. c.c I'm talking about Clotho, Atropos and Lachesis, anyway. Not Muses. :B