Friendship is Card Games: Better Together, Season 2, Part 4 · 11:27am Jul 14th, 2019
Another week’s worth of EqG shorts to look into, and this week, it’s all about that music festival we’ll be hearing more about in two weeks (assuming you haven’t already watched that special, because American release times are just a suggestion.) Let’s tune in.
I know hearts are kind of a motif for MLP in general, but the way Rarity is looking at Applejack in the title card, it’s hard not to draw certain conclusions.
Of course Rarity pouts as she adjusts the camera. Why wouldn’t she?
Somehow it has taken me this long to realize the appropriateness of YouTube-themed EqG shorts being posted on YouTube. I am sincerely ashamed of myself. And reminded why Best Pony is my spirit animal. 
Huh. Hats will help with sun protection. Genuinely practical advice from Rarity; nice.
… and then she promptly goes overboard. 
I do love how Applejack’s discussing how to make porta-potties habitable in the middle of Rarity’s endless list of luxuries. Excellent contrast.
Given Opal being on the privacy screen, Rarity clearly made it herself. Which is fantastic.
Oh, they could’ve gone in so many other directions on the topic of body pillows… which makes me wonder what might be lurking in Rarity’s closet.
Rarity’s family is definitely in the higher socioeconomic niches given the bespoke four-poster. I maintain that Hondo Flanks is a former pro football star who did some wise investing.
I hate “glamping” as a portmanteau. It grates on my ears. As a concept, I can get behind it.
Well, AJ, you clearly like glomping. It’s just a one-letter difference. 
I appreciate Applejack being the voice of the generation gap. Especially when I find myself agreeing with her.
Also, apple glasses. Because brand consistency is a must.
So… shapes are in right now in their culture? Really don’t get that one. Though the hearts speak for themselves.
I wonder if Fluttershy’s ever complained to the makers of the Flora/Fauna filter for unrealistic behavior. Also, now I want to see her reaction to browser ponies.
“We’re in a band.” “Uh, we do that already.”
Seriously, I empathize with Applejack so much here, it’s embarassing.
When Best Human uses the Fish Eye filter… Well, actually, the app crashes. Derp overflow error.
A shared hairstyle filter would be a lot more interesting in a world with chromelanin.
Huh. Calling the detective filter “Watson” implies Sherlock. And the name Sherlock, which is honestly a bit disappointing. Still, I suppose they needed to keep the name as is for recognition factor.
I won’t lie, the Bigfoot filter amuses me. As does the fact that Fluttershy apparently knows him personally. And how Applejack is the only one who seems to be even remotely surprised by that. I can only assume that the whole group has encountered a Sasquatch at this point.
I have many questions about the Ponet filter. Was G3 a thing in this world? My Little Pony or something similar as a media property? Did news of the girls’ exploits inspire that filter? Does Sunset recognize these primordial equinoids, or is this just firmly in her uncanny valley?
Ah, Pinkie. Who needs filters when you can just alter reality to fit your every whim?
I see the selfie drone has progressed to the vlogging drone. It’s honestly a very impressive piece of programming. I wonder if it still has the capacity for fear.
I definitely feel for that security guard. I was also rolling my eyes at this one at first.
Sunset trying to make the socks sound cool straddles the line between unbearably cringy and hilariously adorable. When she falls over, she lands in the latter camp.
It is nice to see respect for the people behind the scenes. Respect the stage crew, folks. There wouldn’t be a show without them.
… Yeah, not much to say about this one. There’s only about ninety seconds of actual content.
I feel like this should go earlier, but this is when it came out, so here we are.
Hmm. The presence of Sweetie Belle and Vignette Valencia on that contact list seems to imply this is Rarity’s… but she’s on the list herself. The one who isn’t is Applejack. Strange.
“A steaming pile of fashion emergency.” I’m going to need to remember that euphemism. And Rarity’s face as Applejack says that is amazing. Heck, even the pig is concerned.
Fluttershy, I don’t think the hatchlings’ mother is going to be very happy with your choice in accessories.
Wait, what am I saying? Of course she cleared this with the parents first.
Also, I’m pretty sure this is the first glimpse we’ve ever gotten at human Fluttershy’s bedroom. A lot of wood, pink-yellow-green color scheme, bunny motif, all pretty much what you’d expect.
You hatched them, Flutters. You’re responsible for them now.
Rarity knows football and football alone, Dash. You can’t expect her to tell the difference between one football and another.
It may seem like Pinkie violated time and space, but really, she just planted party mines in all of her friends’ bedrooms. For confetti emergencies.
That is an absurdly spacious fanny pack. It’s a shame Magic already has a Bag of Holding.
So… this was some other person? Some kind of group video chat, possibly for Rarity’s high-tier Patreon contributors? It’s not like it was presented as a YouTube video. I have so many questions.
Five Lines You Need to Stand In
“Computernet friends” is amazing. And makes me suspect that this may be pony Pinkie.
I do appreciate how people in the background are more than a little disturbed by Pinkie’s antics.
Wow. And I thought Twilight’s fanny pack was impressive. The security guard went more than elbow deep into that coin purse.
Though the fact that this kind of checkpoint exists has some concerning implications about recent history in this world…
I don’t care if they’re the best nachos on the planet, I’m not waiting two hours for them.
Ah, Summer Solstice, a.k.a. Celestia’s next human incarnation. I maintain that this girl, seen in several of the shorts and dubbed Space Camp by the fine folks at Derpibooru, is the next Luna.
Do not ask why Pinkie ordered nachos with broccoli, cookies, acorns, watermelon, and a sprouting potato. Ask why the nacho truck even offers those options.
Background Rarijack, nice. “Don’t mind Pinkie, darling. Come along, I simply must show you this…”
Photo booths in the age of the smartphone do seem a bit ridiculous.
… The sad thing is that I could totally see people forming a circular line to nowhere by accident.
The last thing I would ever want while enduring a full bladder is a surprise conga line.
And now we reach the point where Hasbro’s official channels (by which I mean the MLP official YouTube channel) haven’t reached quite yet, but they’re viewable on mobile, and that counts for my purposes. We also hit a CYA short, which means that the next one should probably go before it, but… Well, we’ll get there when we get there.
Besides, this is a music festival. You should’ve expected a few bootlegs.
(Note from the future: Well, now the official release is out, but I like that joke too much to change it.)
Dang it, Pinkie.
Huh. Fluttershy’s nowhere to be seen in this opening. I wonder if she went deep into the woods to get away from the noise.
I do love how horsey Sunset gets when she’s asleep. Shields are down, mask is off, ponisms are on full display.
The fact that Princess Celestia personally woke up Sunset says a lot about their relationship. That’s not just mentor-student. That speaks of something closer to mother-daughter, as we’ve often suspected. Though Sunset does still refer to Sunbutt Sr. by title, so there’s that.
I, for one, am in favor of a brain-fogged Sunset, if only because humans with pony mannerisms amuse me.
Rainbow Dash
Huh. I don’t think anyone expected Dash to be an early morning yoga person. Though this definitely seems like her interpretation of “nice and easy.”
Oh, that’s where Fluttershy was all night. Though I have no idea where she found the llama.
I do love the soundtrack for this one. Sitar intensifies.
This is a beautiful shot, but I find it very hard to believe that Celestia’s former student has never seen a sunrise before.
Pinkie Pie
I don’t think it should be legally permissible to give that many desserts to a single person at once. Heck, Sunset is so surprised by the pile of sweets, she forgets how to hand for a few moments.
Full disclosure, I did go to Dunkin’ Donuts for breakfast this morning, so I’m not exactly in a position to judge, but still, even then I managed to find the one thing with vegetables on the menu… which is a kind of cream cheese.
I am a little disappointed that the time card didn’t come with a French accented narrator. I’ve developed certain expectations for these things.
Dilated pupils on eyes that big are more than a little disturbing.
You really have to feel for that poor guitarist.
Wow. I guess Pinkie pulled out all the stops for Sunset if even she couldn’t handle that crash.
Applejack
Huh. I would’ve expected Applejack to build the fire pit ahead of time. Possibly during that sleepless night.
I can’t tell if telling a unicorn to “hoof to” is appropriate or speciesist.
Real nice letting the other girl put the stones in position while you’re the one with the super-strength, AJ.
Heh. Applejack is Rarity’s private chef.
Oh hey, Big Mac is here apparently. At least in this timeline.
This one. This one raises so. Many. Questions:
• What have they been doing all this time?
• How have they recovered their singing skills?
• How did the gems get reassembled?
• What’s the significance of stepping out of and away from the green fog that likely symbolizes negative emotional energy?
• What about drawing people out of shadow?
• Who approved Sonata’s taco dress?
The lyrics offer some hint: They’ve been living in a day-to-day haze for much of the time after Rainbow Rocks. Accepting the loss of what they had allowed them move on to something greater, a pure artistic passion rather than exploiting their talents for negative-sum personal gain. But that’s just a supposition. If this is the last we hear of the Dazzlings, I’ll personally find it less satisfying than just letting them run offstage after the Battle of the Bands, never to be seen again in canon. Still, this does lead in a number of interesting directions…
All told, a crapton of Rarijack fuel, a mysterious reappearance, and quite a lot of fun. Let’s see what I can remix from this:
Scion of the Sun 1W
Creature — Human Wizard
Partner with Scion of the Moon (When this creature enters the battlefield, target player may put Scion of the Moon into their hand from their library, then shuffle.)
1W, Remove a +1/+1 counter from Scion of the Sun: Put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature.
2/1
Sanitation Engineer 2W
Creature — Human Artificer
T: Remove a -1/-1 counter from target creature.
Metalcraft — As long as you control three or more artifacts, all creatures lose infect and wither and can’t have or gain infect or wither.
“I’m not afraid of anything that’s held together by its own filth.”
2/2
Crown of the Grove Queen 2WW
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
When Crown of the Grove Queen enters the battlefield, create two 1/1 white Bird creature tokens with flying.
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 for each creature you control.
Tales of the yellow goddess traveled farther than Fluttershy ever knew.
Confetti Everywhere 1U
Instant
Each player proliferates. (Each player chooses any number of permanents and/or players, then gives each another counter of each kind already there.)
Draw a card.
Befriending Pinkie Pie means stepping inside the blast radius.
Thoughthaze 1U
Sorcery
Target player puts the top three cards of their library into their graveyard for each tapped creature they control.
“Some days I look in my pantry and wonder why I’m out of hay.”
—Sunset Shimmer
Tech-Savvy Donkey 2U
Creature — Donkey Rigger
Whenever Tech-Savvy Donkey or another Donkey enters the battlefield under your control, Tech-Savvy Donkey assembles a Contraption. (Put the top card of your Contraption deck face up onto one of your sprockets.)
No technology is too absurd for Asinia.
2/1
Sugar Crash 2UU
Instant
Creatures target player controls get -3/-0 until end of turn. Those creatures don’t untap during that player’s next untap step.
You pay for concert food twice: once before, once after.
Vlogging Drone 4U
Artifact Creature – Drone
Flying
At the beginning of each other player’s draw step, draw a card.
“If everything is everyone’s business, that means it’s also mine.”
—Twilight Sparkle
1/3
Scion of the Moon 1B
Creature — Human Wizard
Partner with Scion of the Sun
1B: Target creature gains undying until end of turn. (When it dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.)
1/2
Concert Security 2B
Creature — Human Soldier
When Concert Security enters the battlefield, target opponent reveals their hand. You choose an artifact card from it. That player discards that card.
”Sir, I’m going to have to confiscate that skullclamp.”
2/2
Midnight Drummers 3B
Creature — Human Shaman
Whenever you lose life, you may have each opponent lose 1 life.
The beat goes on until your heart’s doesn’t.
3/2
Ancient Abomination 3BB
Creature — Pony Horror
Menace, deathtouch
Sunset’s friends worried how she felt about the atrocities of human history. She assured them that ponykind had its own share of past regrets.
3/5
Overstimulated Exuberant 1R
Creature — Human Warrior
Trample, haste
Whenever Overstimulated Exuberant attacks, it gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the number of attacking creatures you control.
At the beginning of your end step, sacrifice Overstimulated Exuberant.
1/1
Inversion Badger 2R
Creature — Badger
Haste
When Inversion Badger enters the battlefield, switch its power and toughness until end of turn.
Summoning is a disorienting experience for most beings. For a few, it’s an infuriating one.
1/4
Campsite Survivalist 3R
Creature — Human Warrior
When Campsite Survivalist enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice any number of lands. Draw that many cards.
“Making do with the materials around you is half the fun.”
3/2
Nylea’s Retriever 1G
Enchantment Creature — Hound
Bestow 3G If you cast this spell for its bestow cost, it’s an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it’s not attached to a creature.)
Nylea’s Retriever and enchanted creature can’t be blocked by more than one creature.
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2.
2/2
Silent Sage 3G
Creature — Human Shaman
Flash
At the beginning of your end step, if you didn’t cast a spell this turn, draw a card.
In an age of endless chatter, he calls on the wisdom of a simpler, quieter time.
3/3
Reclusive Sasquatch 3G
Creature — Yeti
Whenever Reclusive Sasquatch becomes the target of a spell, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
1G, Remove a +1/+1 counter from Reclusive Sasquatch: Reclusive Sasquatch gains hexproof until end of turn.
”This world doesn’t have much magic, but it does have mysteries.”
—Sunset Shimmer
3/3
Backstage Pass 1
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature can’t be blocked.
Equip 3
A piece of paper and the right attitude can do more than all the invisibility spells in the world.
Glamping Van 3
Artifact — Vehicle
Whenever Glamping Van deals combat damage to as player, proliferate.
Crew 3 (Tap any number of creatures you control with total power 3 or more: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)
4/4
Sleuth Filter 1(gu)
Sorcery
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player this turn, investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with “2, Sacrifice this artifact, Draw a card.”)
“The overlay doesn’t actually provide any more information. It just makes me feel more like Fetlock Holmes.”
—Twilight Sparkle
“Find the Magic” BGU
Enchantment — Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a verse counter on “Find the Magic”.
BGU, Exile “Find the Magic”: Put the top X cards of your library into your graveyard, where X is the number of verse counters on “Find the Magic”. Put X cards from your graveyard on top of your library in any order, then draw a card.
Flexible Initiate 1UR
Creature — Human Monk
Hexproof, trample
Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
For her, every pose is a warrior pose.
1/3
Reprocessed Platter 3BG
Enchantment
When Reprocessed Platter enters the battlefield, exile all cards from your graveyard.
At the beginning of your upkeep, choose a card at random exiled with Reprocessed Platter and return it to your hand. If you can’t, sacrifice Reprocessed Platter.
Flora G//Fauna 3W
Sorcery//Sorcery
Flora: You may play an additional land this turn. Scry 1.
Fauna: Create two 2/2 white Elk creature tokens.
Oh my god, yes
You will, if you know what's good for ya. >:V
5088725
Personally, I think it looks better without the tacos. *Waggles Eyebrows*
5088732
pfffhahaha
Camping Must Haves
Don't forget the fact that, for a split second near the end, Rarity made kissy lips at AJ while she was in super close proximity ;)
Festival Filters
Oh look, they did it again with the heart-shaped ;) Censorship? What censorship?
“Betcha can't make a face crazier than thiiiis!”
How to Backstage
Cool socks, indeed ;)
Swag, swag, swag, swag, swag
I'm kinda surprised you didn't comment on how AWESOME it was that they snuck in a Pro-Trans message into this one
Festival Looks
What was the last thing that Twilight pulled out of her pack?
Also, LOVE Pinkie's hairstyle :D Pinkie Buns are the Best Buns :3 Like Sailor Moon!
5 Lines You Need to Stand In
“waves” Hey, Maud!
Oh, I think I saw Wallflower in the background at 0:20, in the line! And again at 0:51! And...wait. IS that Wallflower? If so, I LOVE her knew style :3
We have actual confirmation on the way other people experience Pinkie Pie's Reality-Defying Shenanigans
That nacho girl looked a LOT like Celestia...
Bulk Biceps for the win!
Wake Up
I'm Sunset at the start of this episode. Full stop.
I like Rainbow's the best, but Sugar Rush!Spike is just so darn adorable. And then, of course, Big Mac.
Find the Magic
You know, now matter what direction this takes, I'm kinda happy to see the Sirens again in canon :)
It amuses me that you occasionally feel the need to clarify via link "yes, this is a supported creature type" when you've already needlessly invented Pony. (I point towards Leonin and Loxodons as precedent here)
I still pains me that name was settled on.
According to a book they use autotune. Well, Aria and Sonata does. I think Adagio is legit?
5088737
Sadly, it isn't - this is Sweet Leaf, who has a similar hairstyle to Wallflower.
5088716
I'm definitely going to need to work "Computernet" into pony Pinkie's dialogue at some point. Honestly, now I regret the missed opportunity in the Feghoot Festival entries.
5088737
I'm afraid I missed it. Some color combination somewhere?
A drawing compass, used for making circles and arcs, often on maps.
Sadly, that appears to be the background human known as Sweet Leaf, who's existed since the first movie. Though Wallflower would look good in that hat.
5088738
As a counterargument, Viashino, Naga, and Aetherborn. Yes, Viashino got grandfathered in and would probably just be Lizards these days (or Crocodiles for the ones on Jund,) but naga were introduced years after snake people were established in Kamigawa Block and aetherborn are literally industrial byproduct elementals.
And let's face it, if you had only a passing familiarity with Magic, would you believe Badger was a supported creature type?
5088753
What would you have picked for Luna II?
5088763
Naga fall under the Minotaur and Harpy precedent instead (with Aven as the counterpart to the Orochi shenanigans), and Aetherborn were created entirely for the sake of having a black characteristic race in a world that couldn't fit the usual ones.
If it included awareness that Un-sets existed, then I would likely be more surprised that there's only the one penguin. Also, you do realize you're eventually going to have to design a Brushwagg, right?
The implication seems to be that they've learned to use positive emotions with their song magic. And they did that by healing their hearts, which healed their gems. Which, well, I really want that story but at least it seems metaphysically straightforward.
Which means that actually they may be some of the most magical people on the planet now, aside from the Rainbooms.
5088763
Selena.
Brings it full circle.
5088762
Hmmmmm, gotta wonder if they're related now...
5088763
The third member of the band Sunset met. Green skin, hat, very deep masculine voice, commented on Sunset's socks?
Also, you think Sweet Leaf and Wallflower are related?
Ha, that's genius actually. We knew that AJ offered to be Vignette's second friend, but Sweetie Belle being on the list is cute because it implies how close she is not just to Rarity but to her family. (Or it could just be that Sweetie is one of AJ's little sister's best friends, but I think we should default to the Rarijack-shipping explanation whenever possible.)
The flavour text on Concert Security made me giggle out loud. And Reclusive Sasquatch looks good for a Naya Feather heroic deck.
I'm not familiar with the current list of characteristics. What does Proliferate do in MtG?
Doesn't it just!
To be honest, when I watched Find The Magic my first thought was "Hasbro knows everyone wants to see the Dazzlings again, but half the audience want them reformed and half don't. So they're trying to keep it ambiguous."
The shot of Adagio smiling over a cup of tea was adorable, but she's not singing "I've found the beauty in the little things" or "I have to find the beauty in the little things", but "Can I find the beauty in the little things?" It was incredibly intriguing and left things very open. The partly-reassembled gems similarly - a number of people think they were just symbolic, as things in music videos often are; on the other hand if they're literal that also raises many extremely interesting possibilities (/potential for fanfics). And either way it could point in a redemptive direction or in a malevolent one.
On a different note: are you generally keeping up with the EQG releases as they come out anywhere, or sticking to US release dates? The 45-minute special was very interesting but I'll say no more than that if you're avoiding spoilers.
5088788
We've gotten timber wolves and lumber bears. The moment they give me a tumbleweed puma, I will happily make a Brushwagg.
5088789
That definitely sounds like a siren redemption plot I could get behind. The question is who, if anyone, helped them on the path to positivity.
5088860
I could see Wallflower and Sweet Leaf being related... but that does mean that even Wallflower's own family ignored her at school. At least Fuchsia Blush would be occupied with either Trixie or nonexistence.
5089117
The issue there is that Applejack is herself part of the group chat, which seems to imply that the viewer is some mysterious eighth person.
Very nice analysis of "Find the Magic."
For shorts, I'm going with whatever's available. For specials, I'm waiting for their TV release, though I have managed to spoil myself a bit for that one. Still, thanks for holding back.
5089459
I always make sure to include reminder text once for each non-evergreen (deciduous?) mechanic I use in a card blog. Check Confetti Everywhere.