Some thoughts on the big two-double-zero. · 2:07pm Apr 21st, 2019
Just finished watching Sparkle's Seven...and I didn't think it was a terrible episode.
First, the good things I took from this.
One, this is the two-hundredth episode for the series (including the Best Gift Ever special). How awesome is that? There are prime time television shows that don't last beyond their pilot episodes, and here MLP is getting a series with two hundred plus episodes! It's fantastic!
Two, I think it's great that the voice actresses for the Mane Six and Spike were the ones to work out the story for this one. That the writers were able to take all their ideas and put them together into one story is excellent. Special props by the way to Cathy Weseluck - Spike's a younger brother, folks!
Three, I'm glad that the writers are thinking things through and making use of continuity. Granted, what I'm specifically referring to - improving security in Canterlot and so forth - is long overdue and clearly still needs to be worked on (I'm hearing the weeping from Josh Scorcher already, especially given Chrysalis already demonstrated how an inside mare could cause trouble), but as I'm prone to saying, some of something is better than all of nothing. Also, more individual designs for Guardsponies - this is always a plus, especially now that we're seeing mares in the Royal Guard.
Now, however, I get to the part I take issue with - the sibling rivalry. I want to think that Night Light and Twilight Velvet had the best of intentions behind the Sibling Supreme competition and trying to keep things friendly, but still, I'm not sure that encouraging competitiveness is the right thing. Also, Shining Armor came across as something of a jerk at the beginning, which I kinda take issue with. I'm fine with him being flawed, but there's a difference between flawed and unlikable.
And speaking of brothers, Zephyr Breeze. I'm glad the show hasn't forgotten him, but his role here felt forced. Plus it implied Aesop Amnesia, which I also have problems with.
In any case, this wasn't a bad episode in the slightest, and rest assured that it's gonna get nods and acknowledgements in my stuff as time goes on, but yeah, I'm gonna have mixed feelings over it.
I really hate this attitude. Competition doesn't cause people to be jerks for the same reason video games don't make people violent.
5047637
My concern is more that it will lead to resentment that one sibling somehow outperforms another.
Maybe I'm just looking at it from a different angle, I don't know. My relationship with my only sibling didn't really involve rivalry.
5047669
Yes, there sure is resentment there. Mhm. Lots of resentment from Twilight for her BBBFF.
(sighs) With all due respect to the cast and crew... I will always see Twilight/Spike as a mother/son relationship. Maybe it's just the fanfics I read that tend to swing them more that way, but she freaking hatched him, and has been his primary caretaker for most of his life.
Nothing against the episode, but that part just doesn't fit with me.
Until next time...
Anon e Mouse Jr.
5047671
Okay, resentment is clearly too strong a word. Annoyance might be better.
5047884
The issues that led to Starlight going "Cutie marks are bad!" had nothing to do with competition. They had everything to do with Starlight's warped interpretation of what happened and a deranged notion for "revenge." And a few weird decisions from the writers. Starlight's explanation still feels weak to this day. Finale was otherwise sweet, and Starlight's character arc since has also been sweet, but that moment? Ugh.