Season 3 Episode Reviews: Magic Duel · 6:54pm Dec 1st, 2012
This is it. The episode that would make or break the fandom. Today, a thousand fanfictions will burst into flames as the writers actually do something unthinkable: bring back an old antagonist. So let's check our guts and look at the new episode, “Magic Duel.”
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TECHNICAL SPECS:
Season: 3
Episode: 5
Written By: M. A. Larson
First Aired: December 1, 2012
SUMMARY:
Deep within the darkest alleys of a major Equestrian city, a cloaked figure rummages through a curios shop in search of something. The shopkeeper interrupts her in the act, but still points her towards her target: the Alicorn Amulet, an artifact that can make anypony who wears it incredibly powerful. One giant bag of bits later, and our villain is ready to get her revenge...
Back in Ponyville, Twilight is getting ready for a visit from delegates from Saddle Arabia by practicing her magical animal juggling. Shortly after perfecting her act, however, Rainbow Dash comes flying in, telling her that something's up back in town. They arrive just as Rarity has been forced to wear a horrendous outfit, and meet the perpetrator quickly enough: Trixie, now clad in a black cloak and wearing the Alicorn Amulet. After using her newfound dark powers to mutilate Rainbow Dash's wing, fuse Snips and Snails together, and turn Spike into a basketball, she finally tells Twilight what's up.
Turns out things haven't been going too well since the end of “Boast Busters.” Word got around that Trixie was a fraud, and she became a laughingstock across all of Equestria. She even had to get a job on a rock farm just to make ends meet. Now she wants revenge on Twilight, the pony who upstaged and humiliated her, and challenges her to a duel. The winner gets to stay in Ponyville, and the loser has to leave forever. When Twilight initially refuses, Trixie steals Pinkie's mouth and flips the library upside-down. Faced with the possibility of all of Ponyville being destroyed, Twilight relents.
The duel starts out evenly matched, but then Trixie uses an age spell to turn Snips into a foal and Snails into an old pony. Twilight tries to counter, but cannot manage to pull the spell off, and thus loses the duel. She is unceremoniously tossed out of town just before Trixie magics up a dome that covers all of Ponyville, separating her from her friends still inside. With nowhere else to go, Twilight heads into the Everfree Forest and talks to Zecora. With her help, she trains in new ways of magic, but still can't get Trixie out of her head...
Meanwhile, things have gotten worse in town. Trixie has ordered that the place be plastered with her image, and anypony who dares to speak out against her is punished severely. The remaining Mane 6 sneak into the library to find some way of stopping her, and Fluttershy (and Spike, who steals the credit) finds a book that explains what the Alicorn Amulet is. Turns out the artifact brings great power, but also corrupts whoever uses it. Even worse, nopony can remove it from Trixie, meaning our heroes have to make her take it off willingly.
Using some beavers and a hollowed-out log, Fluttershy reluctantly manages to sneak out of the dome, and has to be literally dragged to Zecora's place to deliver the news. Unfortunately, even with her new training, Twilight cannot overcome Trixie's new powers in a duel. That's when Zecora gives her the hint she needs: “Use the six.”
The next day, Twilight and Zecora return to confront Trixie. Obviously, Trixie isn't going to just turn off the dome and lose what she's won for another duel...until Twilight shows her the much more powerful amulet she just got. A little bit of goading is all it takes for Trixie to lower the dome and accept the challenge. Back in the town square, Trixie immediately breaks out the age spell, turning both Snips and Snails into babies. But this time, Twilight manages to do the same to Applejack and Rarity. Repeatedly. And at different ages, too. Even better, she duplicates Rainbow Dash, makes Pinkie play ten instruments at once, and turns Applejack into a stallion briefly.
This sudden change in power throws Trixie off-balance. Enraged at being upstaged again, she pulls Twilight's amulet right off her neck, removes the Alicorn Amulet, and places her new jewel in place. Rainbow Dash swoops in and nabs the dangerous necklace, and Trixie responds with lightning...but all it does it tickler her. Her power level has dropped all the way back to where it used to be, and with Zecora and Dash locking the Alicorn Amulet away, Twilight finally reveals the con. Turns out she never had a magical amulet. The spells she was using? She was actually just creating a smoke screen so that her disguised friends could switch in and out. And so Trixie's reign of terror comes to an end.
On the night of the visit, Twilight performs her usual assortment of magic, but what really pushes things over the edge is a sudden fireworks display...provided by a genuinely apologetic Trixie. She's still as arrogant as ever, but at least seems sorry for what happened. Twilight forgives her, and Trixie runs off into the night as the story ends...
Oh, and Pinkie Pie finally gets her mouth back, just before the credits start.
REVIEW:
Welcome to Season 3's “Luna Eclipsed.” Just like that episode, this features the return of a character who had built up a huge fanbase despite having only a smidgen of character and never appearing after their initial romp. Both episodes laid waste to a huge chunk of fanfiction in their wake, disrupted headcanons, and forced everyone to start thinking differently about the characters. The big difference is that Luna's appearance generally conformed to most expectations of the character; she sought redemption and to belong to the group, and struggled to overcome her past as Nightmare Moon. What most Trixie fans wanted was her to come back and be proven completely guiltless over “Boast Busted,” or to instantly be forgiven and become a permanent character. This episode does neither of those.
The first scene actually does a great job setting the mood for the rest of the episode. Trixie, cloaked in shadows and never once speaking, rampages through one of those old shops that sells incredibly dangerous items to the unwary. The shopkeeper even dresses in stock Chinese clothing, although I'm pretty sure it's meant to imply he also sells frozen yogurt (which he calls Frogurt). And like all such entrepreneurs, he keeps the incredibly dangerous and possibly illegal artifact in full view of anypony who wanders in. Then again, he's in a dark shop in a dark alley in the bad side of...whatever town this is, so I'm pretty sure his clientele are either already insane or pure evil. He puts up the token resistance, but a big bag of bits is all it takes to win him over. (Um, Equestria? Perhaps you should look into a paper currency at some point. I'm pretty sure hauling a big bag like that would be a pain on your back.) And just before the opening credits, we see Trixie look into the bell jar, her mouth twisted into a smile not unbefitting of a slasher movie villain.
And then we're right back in Ponyville, where Twilight is practicing that most ancient and powerful of the arcane arts: animal juggling. For the most part, the scene's just there to establish that Twilight has some show to perform for a visiting delegation from – and my brain screams just saying this – Saddle Arabia. (True story: I actually misheard this as “relatives” instead of “delegates” the first time I watched the scene. Given that one of the books coming out has Celestia related to a Seapony, I'm not entirely off my gourd here.) What makes this scene, however, is Fluttershy herself. She gives her critters a pep talk about how good Twilight is with magic...and then immediately spins around and threatens to make Twilight die one thousand deaths if she hurts any of them. She even bites her hooves like they were nails (with shavings coming out). It's a bit extreme, but it's also pretty funny. We even get some extra continuity, with Spike reminding the two of Twilight's snowplow mishap in “Winter Wrap-Up.”
But this is when Trixie makes her move. First, she makes Rarity wear an incredibly gaudy, if not downright hideous, outfit. It's actually sort of like how she took her down in “Boast Busters;” perhaps Trixie's still smarting over how she ripped off her curtain to make a new gown. Making Rainbow Dash's wing grow was...not really that funny, but acceptable. And then she fuses Snips and Snails – who have reverted to being her fanboys – together by their horns. And through the rest of her goading and taunting, she takes Pinkie's mouth (and nostrils) away, and even flips the library over (giving us our first look at Owlowiscious this season).
Now's as good a time as any to bring up what's happened to Trixie between episodes. She managed to get a new hat and cape, and even a new wagon, but she became a laughingstock across Equestria. Unable to get any work as a performer, she had to work on Pinkie Pie's old rock farm just to make a living. Of course, that doesn't explain how she managed to have so many bits left over to buy the Alicorn Amulet to begin with; perhaps that was the last of her life savings, and she's literally cashing everything in for this one last chance at revenge. Still, while it might be harsh and horrible to say, Trixie kind of had it coming. This is what happens when you build your career on lies and then buy into them. If she wasn't such a flankhole, she probably would have made out much, much better than before. And before any of you start pointing fingers at the Mane 6, remember that she was a jerk off stage as well.
The duel itself is pretty brief, but also fun. Apparently duels in Equestria aren't laser beam battles or trials by combat, but rather tests to see if you can counteract what your opponent dishes out. Apparently they subscribe to the Leopardmen rules of magical warfare. (And I know there are versions with references people will actually get, but...that was the first thing to pop in my head. Sorry, I'm old.) The first thing Trixie does is cause an explosion that launches a cart towards another pony, which Twilight then catches and carefully sets down. Next comes a set of pies, but Twilight stops that by summoning a Parasprite to eat them both, and just as quickly dismisses both it and the new one it spawned. And to top off the reference parade, she even gives Trixie a big moustache, which she then snips off.
But then Trixie pulls out an age spell, again targeting Snips and Snails. I guess she knows who really was responsible for ruining her career. Twilight can't counter this, since the spell is known only to the most powerful Unicorns in Equestria and far outstrips even her abilities. This is when her friends finally decide to do something useful and try to step in, but it's too late. Trixie throws her out before setting down a bell jar over the town, cutting it off from the rest of Equestria. Now that she has her little fiefdom to rule, Trixie immediately becomes an insatiable, egotistical, downright Caligula-esque ruler. (As long as Bob Guccione stays far away, we're good.) Oh, and all her damage is reversed...except for Pinkie's mouth, which was apparently click-dragged into the Recycle Bin of life.
This is when Zecora finally makes an appearance this season. Twilight can't overcome Trixie with her current skills, but Zecora knows a few tricks that ponies don't. This actually ties into the original role envisioned for her, as she becomes Twilight's newest mentor and teacher. She can even make tea pop into existence, which is good when Twilight keeps spilling it. Unfortunately, time constraints mean we only get to see her training once, standing on water while levitating a bunch of rocks. So if Trixie's a Sith Lord, I guess Twilight's a Jedi?
We also get some hints that Twilight's defeat is messing her up psychologically, as she can't focus on anything but Trixie's bragging. While this isn't really followed up on, it does show how something like this can make even a pony like Twilight Sparkle start to feel resentment and want revenge. Perhaps that's why she's so understanding towards the end; she almost gave into the same lust for vengeance herself.
Back in Ponyville, Twilight's friends...are utterly useless. This is one of the episode's big stumbling points; it places all the emphasis on Twilight overcoming Trixie and relegates her friends to mere second fiddles. Yes, Twilight is skilled, but she shouldn't be all her friends have to rely on. They're all capable ponies in their own rights. On the other hand, Trixie's rampant abuse of power is amusing to watch. The Cakes hauling Pumpkin on her new throne was a funny little nod, but the real highlight is how she tortures the Mane 6. She subjects Applejack to a tickling session, forces Pinkie to dance, and Rarity cuts her hoof while sewing her new flags. Meanwhile, Trixie is growing more and more insane, wanting an applesauce facial and ordering Applejack to grow apples without peels.
In any case, Fluttershy finds the book, but of course is talked over until Spike grabs it and gives the whole spiel on the Alicorn Amulet and how to counter it. Unfortunately, this is where Fluttershy starts to grate on my nerves quite a bit. Yes, she's timid, but here she's a full-blown coward who tries to bail repeatedly, and has to finally be dragged off by her animal friends once she's outside the dome.
Of course, they have to get her out first, which is where we see what horrible fate Snips and Snails have been subjugated to. They have to pull Trixie's chariot...which has no wheels, because she doesn't trust them. Given how ridiculous this is, and how far gone she seems to be mentally, I'm just chalking this one up to the Alicorn Amulet seriously scrambling her brains, making her increasingly paranoid and more than a little insane. But wait, she lets the beavers leave with the log! That instantly means she's a wonderful pony who was totally right to take over Ponyville! And when she turns her chariot into a golden bed, it's just to prove how much she appreciates Snips and Snails' hard work!
Actually, the whole log thing is a pretty clever trick. It's pretty much the only time in the episode any of the Mane 6 (besides Twilight) gets the chance to shine, so take it while you can. I also love Fluttershy's bunny-spy costume.
Back in the Everfree Forest, Zecora finally gives Twilight the clue she needs to save the day. Honestly, I'm really digging this “Zecora as a mentor” thing. Here's hoping they'll keep using it in further episodes. There is, however, a bit of a problem here. The plan hinges on Fluttershy getting back into Ponyville to set things up...and we never see how she does this. It's a bit of a disappointment, that's all I'm saying.
Thus we get to our “fake amulet” ploy. I do like how Trixie is initially smart enough not to fall for the trick; after all, she's already won, so why should she gamble with losing everything? But then Twilight hits her weakness: her ego. She flaunts her new jewel, telling her just how awesome her newfound magical powers are and how they are far superior to anything Trixie's dinky little Alicorn Amulet can muster. After just a little bit of pressure, Trixie finally can't resist anymore and lowers the dome, thus setting us up for the final battle. And in yet another glorious bit of villains behaving intelligently, Trixie immediately breaks out the age spell, the one thing she knows Twilight cannot duplicate.
But then Twilight calls Applejack and Rarity over and turns them both into foals. Trixie is initially shocked, but then passes it off as no big deal...until Twilight starts rapidly changing their ages over and over again, even causing them to switch positions. It's right around then that our showmare realizes she's in serious trouble. And then we get to the other feats of power: Twilight creates another Rainbow Dash, forces Pinkie to play a bunch of instruments at once, and even turns Applejack into a stallion. These thirty seconds or so are my favorite part of the entire episode.
Trixie being herself, she can't resist not having the most power, and telekinetically steals Twilight's amulet before removing her own. I do like how her eyes and horn flash red briefly as she removes the Alicorn Amulet, followed by her magic returning to its normal color. Unfortunately for her, Trixie's powers are...not quite so impressive once the evil has been removed, and her Force Lightning isn't very effective. That's when Twilight reveals the con. She didn't use any spells the entire time; instead, she had Fluttershy gather her friends and everypony dress up to pull a sleight-of-hand trick. It actually makes a great deal of poetic sense. Trixie arrives in town with the intention of humiliating and defeating Twilight, not just by beating her in a fight, but by outclassing her at the one thing she was best at: magic. To stop her, Twilight returns the favor and uses her friends to pull off a massive stage magic trick. They both beat each other at their own games.
The night of the show, we finally get to see the Saddle Arabian delegates, and...they're horses. Not ponies, but actual horses. Huh. We also get a nice final touch for all those who wanted Trixie redeemed, as she first helps Twilight with a fireworks display, and then apologizes for what happened. Given all that's happened, Twilight has to think about it a moment, but she still forgives her. Of course, Trixie is still boisterous as ever, but has seemingly started to finally learn to be a bit humbler about herself. She still leaves Ponyville (although her tripping and ruining the dramatic moment was funny), but it seems she'll be all right this time.
And just as the episode ends, Pinkie jumps through the closing iris to remind us that she still has no mouth and she must scream. Fortunately, one of Zecora's lessons was how to break the fourth wall; Twilight enters the dark space and restores her to normal, she takes in a deep breath, and...cue the credits.
CONCLUSION:
I...actually liked this one. I really, truly did. There were still some weaknesses, but most had to deal with the show's age old nemesis of only being twenty-two minutes long. The magic duels were creative enough, and I loved how our heroes eventually won out. It wasn't through overwhelming power, but friendship that Trixie was finally brought low and freed from the Alicorn Amulet. We got some good use out of Zecora as well, and I hope to see her again in later episodes. As for Trixie herself, she was somewhat redeemed, but still allowed to be her usual loudmouthed self. So many writers in the community seem to forget that a character can still change for the better and not lose what makes them unique in the process. While things were...rushed to say the least, this is still a pretty solid return for Trixie. Perhaps we'll meet again...
Also, age magic is now canon. “My Little Alicorn” is yet another step closer to full acceptance. Things are falling into place...
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Well, that wasn't particularly painful. Perhaps things won't be so bad after all...
Oh, and I want someone to take the second duel and cross it with this thing:
...I'm sorry for posting that. Just makes you appreciate FiM so much more, doesn't it?
I can pretty much agree with that... ok I was hoping that Celestia and Luna come in to deal with upstart... amulet or not I don't think she would be able to stand up to two demigoddesses.
I . . . I actually liked this episode.
I mean, Fluttershy was painfully irritating, but otherwise things were all right.
This kept playing in my mind,
Interesting fact is that Zecora was originally supposed to be Twilight's second teacher in magic (maybe that's why she and princess Celestia have similar cutie marks) and yeah I agree that Fluttershy's timidness was over done.
I actually interpreted it more on Twilight still focusing on the fact that Trixie seems to be acting off, and slowly realizing that the way to stop her isn't by becoming more powerful with magic herself, but rather figuring out what's wrong with Trixie and then fixing it.
But, that might just be me.
Fascist Trixieville is the best thing ever.
Maybe the spirit of the Alicorn Amulet doesn't trust them for some reason. Still, there's a fanfic begging to be written here.
Actually I think it's because otherwise Fluttershy has no way out of Ponyville. We could also interpret it as Trixie not feeling like getting into an argument with a beaver over something simple like this; or Trixie owing those beavers in the past for helping her find pinecones when she was starving; or a genuine nice moment from Trixie because no one is 100% evil 100% of the time.
(Yes, yes, I know, that was a shot at the Trixie Apologists...just sayin', though).
Interestingly, lavender, as in S1E6; with most unicorns since S2E3 they've tried to match it up to cutie marks instead.
It means that L!Trixie's natural magic color (blue, which I did becasue of the S2E3 thing) is different from M!Trixie's. Will this be a plot point in Crisis? Maybe!
...
...now I'm wishing I had made L!Twi's magic a different color from M!Twi's...
You're right that Twilight's friend were mostly useless, and Fluttershy was way more cowardly than she normally was
.. and te ending was way too rushed. 
On the whole I enjoyed it as well. So I'd say it was a good episode but it could have been better.
Hey I just had a thought what if Luna used the amulet a thousand years ago and that's what made her turn into Nightmare moon?
Oh hey and what about king Sombra?
559787
He is what I was thinking about when it said it could corrupt and the fact that the power aura looked so similar.
I want a wooden gun, now.
So... you don't think the age spell ruined your MLA series?
I am fairly happy with this episode, especially that Trixie's redemption came without a personality transplant.
I'll be curious to see if there's is much raging about it. I think that, somewhat similar to Luna in her episode, they did a good job of letting Trixie hit plenty of different fanon roles (good, evil, competitive with Twilight, helpful to Twilight, etc.).
This episode was all right, I guess. The visuals and gags were pretty good, and I loved the callbacks. That Summon Parasprite spell was ingenious! Overall, though, it didn't do much for me. It really just felt rushed, like they were trying to cram too much into the episode. Seriously, what was the point of the Saddle Arabians? And Trixie got off way too easily; Corruption or not, she should've at least been punished for using the stupid amulet in the first place!
I liked this episode too, mainly because of the massive amount of references.
Although Fluttershy was a bit annoying because I expected her to be less cowardly by now.
And Trixie is redeemed but still retains what makes her Trixie, which is pretty impressive.
Snips and Snails weren't too bad, which shocked me more than anything else.
I'd say that this was Zecora's best appearance by far, and I'm actually looking forward to her returning in later episodes.
Despite all the praise this episode seems to be getting though, I think Too Many Pinkie Pies is the best episode of S3
so far anyways. Isn't it ironic that arguably the best episode of S3 so far was written by arguably the worst writer?
Granted, I now know that Dave Polsky can be a pretty good writer so I guess I forgive him for his past mistakes.
Next episode . . . is the Scootaloo episode . . .
559831
Not really, at least not in a way that I can't explain my way out of if need be.
This is also the first time that the word "alicorn" is used to describe a pony with both wings and a horn.
This episode was a 22 minute fangasm for me as a fanfic writer. The character of Trixie was perfect, being savvy, intelligent, and her own self, while still showing that there is more to her character after the amulet was removed. And the best part! She FINALLY made that bucking blabbermouth Pinkie shut the hay up. Just for that, Trixie is one of my fav ponies. (Yeah, I hate Pinkie.)
559845
One could simply put normal aging spells as very short lasting or nonfunctional on immortals or
Nevermind, you dont need us to tell you, your probably doing a better job with MLA than i ever could
The age spell was even reminiscent of how you described it!
It felt like the writers were trying to set up something big and epic, and then realized that they had two minutes left to wrap everything up.
I'm happy with how this episode turned out. Heavy on the Star Wars references but they were pleasant to see all the same.
About the only complaint I have is that there seemed to have been some off camera development because Trixie was quick to apologize for being beaten a second time. I have a feeling some soul-searching happened with her but due to time constraints, it had to be cut.
The best part? Now that Trixie has more or less been brought to the good side of the Force, it will be easier for the show staff to bring her back, should they desire it. Or this could all be one massive statement to the Brony community of, "There. We brought back Trixie. Now get off our backs about it." I guess we'll see.
Ta ta for now!
560006
That seems to be a common problem with M.A. Larson. He sets up these amazing villains, gets us all pumped and eager to see how the heroes will triumph... and then it just... ends. The limitations of the medium, I'm afraid.
559840 The saddle arabians were there to get Celestia out of the country, making Twilight turn to Zecora.
That said, I agree with you; it was jerky and choppy and rushed and failed to address a few consequences of the events, (Though that's unfortunately one thing I've come to expect from the show; if they had an took the time to explore the fallout of a lot of what goes on in there, well... it probably wouldn't be a kid's show anymore.) plus Fluttershy started to get obnoxious.
That said, it was a fun episode that handled Trixie better than I expected, and that's the important thing, right?
T...that clip, WHY!!!!!! I had finally gotten the episode and the series of the fantastic four out of my head and now you had to remind me of it! Why? What did I do to you, I like your reviews, I think I am a nice guy here. So whyyyyyyy
560211
...S-Sorry. I didn't mean...I mean...
But seriously, someone needs to ponify that thing. We've got a golden opportunity with this episode.
560228
Its ok,as a marvel fan I have been traumatized by that episode especially since Magneto is one of my fave villians. Still, you are right...it would be kind of awesome to see that clip.
I find myself wondering if Trixie is off on a Redemptive Voyage of some sort where she's going to try to find an honest way to booster her power levels. "Who was that masked pony?" "That was the Great and Powerful Trixie! The Lone Magician!"
I have no doubt that the amulet will be locked in the deepest darkest vault of Canterlot Castle but I also have a sneaking suspicion that we won't see the last of it. Power like that has a tendency to draw the vulnerable, ambitious and inadequate to it.
No Sombra connection. My Season 3 overarching story hypothesis is dead.
I liked Trixie being redeemed at the end, but it could've been done better. It felt forced. The amulet had corrupting powers, but when she removed it she went even more insane. She wanted to depose the Princesses, for crying out loud! She was just defeated, plain and simple. And then she shows up asking forgiveness? After all the horrible things she's done?
Removing the amulet should've had a more direct impact for a redemptions cenario to be feasible imo.
560168
Oh and they should've had Celestia lock away the amulet at the end, saying she had "top mares" dealing with it
560320 Eeyup. And hopefully!
560315
Actually, her remaining as insane as ever made perfect sense to me. She wasn't possessed, she was corrupted. That's the kind of thing that takes a little while to wash off. I do agree that it was rushed, however.
560320
That's what I hope every week. Good or bad, the show should keep pushing forward to make itself better.
559767
Wheels within wheels, my friend. Wheels within wheels.
560411
Ooh, well said! That's definitely a mindset more people could stand to have, myself included.
I mostly agree with this sans the view that Trixie deserved to have her life completely ruined, I'm not saying she wasn't a tool, she was, but I've known plenty of jerks and I wouldn't wish that on them.
About Trixie, I'd say that she did it to herself. If she had kept within the limits of her magic the FIRST time, she'd be fine as is. Also, did anyone else notice the use of rather... disturbing soud effects for when they fell or got hit?
>a curios shop
Well after last week filling my heart with sunshine and rainbow, restoring my faith and reminding me why I love this show so much, todays episode was just kind of meh. Don't get me wrong, I actually by and large enjoyed this episode (second best of S3 even). Trixie's return was glorious, not everything I could have hoped for, but really nothing they could have done would have been, so I just took the episode for what it was.
Despite what we fans have done with her, Boast Busters really never gave Trixie much of character to work with, yet this episode built of it remarkably well. Right up until the very end that is, when just about everything that's been established about Trixie is thrown out the window for a cheap reconciliation that just comes effortlessly out of nowhere. Not once in either of her two appearances had Trixie shown even the faintest glimmer of a good side and there is absolutely zero buildup to her suddenly asking Twilight to be friends (and after the brilliant job they did with the subtle details by which Babs Seed was presented as a multifaceted character there is really no excuse for screwing up like that). The story of Trixie's redemption could have made an entire other episode unto itself, instead it's ham-fistedly appended to the end of this end and in so doing left devoid of any meaning or significance.
And so our first ever recurrent antagonist is just as quickly shoved off to the side, with no meaningful reason to ever show her face again, save maybe the occasional cameo. Seems like such a waste. Trixie was the perfect foil and shadow archetype to Twilight. As The Rival she could have had so much potential, but now that's all gone and her narrative use as a character is left empty and without purpose.
...
Then there is the whole thing with the Saddle Arabians (who are horses for some reason). Much like Trixie redemption they seem like something that could have had an entire episode built around them, but instead just feel kind of pointlessly tacked, and for even less reason since they have fuck-all to do with the plot and serve only to eat up screen time that could have been better spent facilitating Trixie's abbreviated heel-face-turn. Also, how does slowly juggling a dozen animals with basic unicorn levitation qualify as even remotely entertaining? That's just about the least spectacular thing I've ever seen Twilight do, not to mention I don't understand why practicing it seems to tire her out so much. Other episodes have shown Twilight picking a whole ochard of Apple in a single pass and simultaneously levitating ever book in her library so she can reorganize the shelves.
...
Oh and then there was Fluttershy. She's as far from my best pony as it gets, but the degree of flanderization she suffers in this episode is just painful to watch.
559767
Maybe her magic really is blue, but she still had residual read amulet magic left over and mixed in, making it purple.
...or more likely, this is still just a cartoon for little girls and the production crew didn't bother put that much thought into the aura color. The just reused the color from S1, while forgetting about the changes from S2. (Not surprising as aren't we on on our third executive producer or something now?).
559840
Agreed on just about every point save Trixie deserving to be punished, that said her suddenly going 'good' at the end was poorly handles and not matching at all with the fact that even if most of what she did in this episode was under the corrupting influence of the amulet, she still would seem to have bought it for the sole purpose of taking revenge in the first place, and her lingering issues that led her down that path were ever resolved. It just ends up feeling like when the amulet was removed it took half of her ego with it.
560006
This
560033
Huh...
Looking over his list of accomplishments I don't see M. A. Larson having any such problem, a few other writers certainly, but not him. In fact, while I still mostly like this episode, I would have to label this as his absolute worst contribution to the show.
560168
They could have established Celestia as out of the country without need to actually show the reception of Saddle Arabian delegates, especially as the time would have been better spent resolving the actual relevant events of the episode.
562569
Maybe this is a difference of opinion, but the resolution with Discord and Flim and Flam (both M. A. Larson episodes) I felt were resolved overly quickly. Once the characters were restored and gotten their elements back, Discord just sat there and let them win. Same with Flim and Flam where they had won but instead of being smart and serving the good barrels of cider, they give the crappy stuff and suddenly decide to skip town. Both sets of villains got booted in less than a minute. It just screams of running out of time and rushing to the conclusion. I guess you feel differently.
562730
You have modestly fair point about Discord. The ending was a little rushed, but it kind of had to be. the show was still working under e/i guidelines at the time so they where heavily restricted in regards to the type of on-screen conflict that could be shown. More importantly though is the fact that there probably never could have been a epic final battle. Without the eliminates Discord's god-like powers are the equivalent of an instant I-win-button. Conversely, once they've got the Elements back the M6 are the ones with their hooves on the win button.
As for Flim & Flam, sorry but I can't agree with any of that. If they had been smart to begin with they'd have just made a fair deal with the Apple family and every one would have profited. No they where always just recklessly greedy conmen, and blatantly over confidant at ever step of their so-called plan. That story pretty much played out flawlessly from start to finish.
Still, that's all just my opinion, and you are of course entitled to your own.
562569
...Why is it that when I like a Season 3 episode, you find it meh, and when I find one meh, you really like it?
In any case, I agree with your criticisms for the most part, except for Trixie asking to be friends. She never asked for that; she just wanted to know if Twilight forgave her for what happened. There's a pretty sizable difference between the two ideas. I can forgive someone without being their friend. Also remember that Twilight had to actually think it over before she said yes, which speaks volumes of how she feels about Trixie right now.
Also, this can't be his worst contribution to the show as long as "Ponyville Confidential" exists.
560315
Well, Twilight knows Funky Zebra Shaman Magic now. Gee, I wonder if that'll be relevant for this 'destiny' thing that's supposedly coming up?
563725
The whole scene still plays as a rather shallow case of Defeat Means Friendship, even if the word friend is never used. I just can't see the arrogant stagemare who bought the amulet to get revenge in the first place suddnely begging for forgiveness like that. Maybe it could have worked if her tone or body language suggested she was putting on something of act just to get out of trouble, but having her be so genuinely repentant out of nowhere with zero build-up doesn't feel believable. I guess we have to take it as canon that underneath her jerky exterior Trixie was never really so bad to begin with, but because such was never even so much as hinted at before hand it still comes across as forced and unnatural.
Also, I don't think Twilight actually had to think about it; seemed pretty obvious that she was just faking faking the effort draw things out (Her shifting expressions just don't look real to me, and that "Hmm" seems especial forced out). Still, that's all matter of highly subjective character interpretation.
563907
It actually didn't bother me that much, although I admit that it would have been much stronger with more foreshadowing.
Also, when did we switch roles? Normally you're the one calling me out for being overly nitpicky about a children's cartoon.
562837
Reckless, greedy, and overconfident, sure, but not conponies. Based on the 'oh shit' face Granny makes when she takes a sip during the song, the cider is legit good.
563917
I have no idea really; I'll get back to you if I ever figure it out.
...though to chance a guess, this is the first time we've ever discussed our initial views on episodes. Your older reviews were all written months after the premier of each episode, while these newer ones have been written within mere hours. I know for a fact that a day-one review of Luna Eclipsed would have found me much more cynical, and I do believe you've mentioned a few episodes you liked the first time around, but changed your opinion on with the some hindsight of hind sight.
Maybe six months from now things will be back to normal?
563921
Oh their product was legitimate, no doubts about that. What makes them conmen though, is that they only ever made a pretense at fair negotiation. The way they were working the crowd and the speed at which they shifted to running the Apples out of business, plus that the whole plan hinged on getting the Apples to bet the farm. They were pulling a pretty obvious scam from the start, not to sell shit cider, but so that they could get all those apples for free and then sell the cider without sharing any of the profit.
It was one of the best episodes I have seen.
Thanks for the review.
And, wow! Age magic is canon and is the highest level of unicorn magic.
I also wonder if there is also the rule "This magic is not suitable using to an alicorn"
i.qkme.me/3pf7tu.jpg
And yeah, that was the first thing I thought of too. The curio shop also reminded me of QfG.
That's actually one of my favorite parts of that whole series.
It kind of made sense for the equines of Saddle Arabia (the existence of which fills me with joy) would be horses. I am pretty sure horses come from Asia and the Middle East. (Ok, originally the evolved in NA, but then moved into Asia and onward. At some point horses became extinct in NA, and were only reintroduced by Columbus.) Also, did anyone notice the total lack of cutie marks on them? Seemed odd since even zebras have them.
564003
Ironically, if they had just made a fair deal with the Apples, they would be rolling it it right now.
564003
They never tried to get the Apples to bet the farm. The bet was about the rights to sell cider in Ponyville, and then Applejack claimed that without the cider sales, they'd have to sell the Acres to them. Which may or may not actually be accurate.
559750 Let's be honest, THAT fight was better than the duel in the episode
well, the first duel anywys, the second one was pretty clever.
"I'm going to fight you, and I'm going to kill you until you are dead."
That part gets me every time!