Fan Art and Sleepless in Ponyville Review · 4:53am Dec 11th, 2012
Now, before we get started, I know what you are asking yourselves. "Ciro, what are you talking about when you mention fan art?" What I mean is receiving art inspired by one of my stories. Yeah, I know it sounds far-fetched for someone like me, but it's true; I kid you not! In fact, just the other day, I got something and I thought it was amazing. Then again, most art is amazing to me since I have the artistic skills of a preschooler (yet somehow I did okay in my blueprint courses for Engineering. Go figure.) None the less, I appreciate every scrap I get. Even stories that take elements of mine, such as a Princess Twilight being referred to as "Eos" or Derpy being a secret genius or what have you. Anyway, the other day I got this and felt like sharing because, as I said, it is awesome.
"Magic of Flight" by 1110Soulite (on Deviant Art)
If you haven't guessed, or can't remember, it's from the beginning of the chapter "Eclipse" from Sunset. The pink fire over the forest is new though, but pretty awesome! If I did not say it before, then consider this a million billion thank you's and a hope that I do not swamp you with requests by making you the forerunner to one of my episode reviews. =P Speaking of, it's high time I got into gear!
Going into this episode, I had two things that I wanted to see out of it. For one, I wanted to see Scootaloo in her home with the potential of family members to finally torpedo all of those orphan stories. Not that I have anything against them, but it got pretty old pretty quick. Secondly, I wanted Rainbow to not be a jerk around her and kill off those works I have seen where she either treats her with benign neglect, or actively makes her life much, much worse. Also, since it was obviously going to be another CMC episode, I did not have high hopes for it in the "awesomeness" regard. Not to mention that pun in the title. I mean, Sleepless in Ponyville? Whatever.
So, to make it short and sweet (heh, short. As if.) we start off the episode with a call back to the second CMC episode ever in season one. I speak, of course, of The Show Stoppers. That is, until we see Rainbow Dash fly by while Scootaloo is in mid-jump on her scooter. After telling her she has some sweet moves, she fangasms and falls into a bale of hay where a cow chews on her tail. Not the best opening ever, but the deja vu earns it a couple of points due to the nostalgia factor. Not by a lot though, since it has not been too long. Eh.
We cut to the CMC and Scootaloo talking about how Rainbow complimented her and her dreams of being taken her under her wing, she laments that she does not have the opportunity to get her alone and talk to her. Applebloom then steps up to the plate a suggests that she comes with her on a camping trip she and Applejack are having up to a place called "Winsome Falls" or something like that. It was not very clear in the video, even after going over it a few times. She then says that she will get AJ to invite Rainbow along. At this point, Sweetie looks downtrodden that she is being left out until Applebloom extends the same invitation to her and Rarity. Now, knowing Rarity, it will be a tough sell, but apparently Sweetie has become quite... manipulative. After a subtle call back to Sisterhoof Social, Rarity agrees to go along. Even with all that nature and stuff. Better not let Fluttershy hear that when she's ticked off. ;P
Soon.
We rejoin the group as they start off the next day, or whenever they were going. It is never said how much time passes between the first scene and the next, naturally. Scootaloo starts obsessing over why Rainbow Dash isn't there yet until AJ tells her that she'll meet them further up ahead at the first campsite. However, this is not before Rarity and Sweetie Belle arrive on the scene. As you might expect, Rarity decided to bring everything with her excluding the kitchen sink. Oh, and guess what? She's making her little sister pull the heavy cart for her. That's right, Rarity endorses child labour! But darn it all, why does she have to be so fabulous? Some people have said that they don't like her outfit, but considering that she is 'roughing it' I think it actually looks nice. Not her best, and a little dated, but vintage is in! /Comic reference.
"Don't worry, Sweetie. It's just another dozen miles or so!"
When they finally arrive at the camp, Rainbow show off her awesome moves by cutting the trees in perfect lines despite ramming into them like she did to AJ's barn back in Lesson Zero. Minecraft physics hold for about a split second before they fall back to the ground and she scoops up some rocks from the river bed to make the fire pit. But then she asks Scootaloo to get more firewood... or the tinder, at least, but they never made it clear. Oh, and Rarity scores more obnoxious points by bringing along an inflatable, two-story tent along for the ride... With a vase and no doubt other pointless junk like that. Can you tell that I did not like the marshmallow pony in this episode?
Later that night, they all gather 'round the campfire and sing a campfire song. A C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E-S-O-N-G song... Spongebob reference aside, Rainbow decides to tell a titular scary story filled with plot holes and jump scares and other cheap tactics that totally work. How come no one has done a fic about ponies telling scary campfire stories yet? At least as far as I know. The point is, Rainbow serves at a Nightmare Fuel Station Attendant during these shenanigans and scares the living crap out of Scootaloo and the other fillies. Or, until they embrace their sisters, at least. Scoots isn't so lucky.
"You don't snore, do you? XD ... Seriously. -.-"
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!
After a traumatizing nightmare and an even more scary awakening, Scootaloo becomes a temporary insomniac and sleep-deprived pony that leads to hi jinx all day. This is included, but not limited to a Bugs Bunny-esque romp through the forest on her scooter where she only evades danger due to good timing and dumb luck before falling asleep in the bush. Literally. AJ looks suspicious of her a couple of times, but nothing ever comes of it, which is a shame because I thought she deserved a little bit of a bigger role as the straight mare (not shipping!) of the group. Alas, it was all for a good cause for what is hinted in the first nightmare.
The group settles for the second night outside of a large cavern and decide to not bother with tents and just sleep inside it. By now, however, darkness has fallen and poor scoots has gone into full-on chicken mode. Chicken as in coward: not the meme! After getting some more firewood (and screaming and crying the whole way) Rainbow launches into another scary story, after Scootaloo tries to derail the activity, that is legitimately a bit more frightening than the previous one. I mean, an old mare missing a rusty horseshoe? What's scary about that? At least a headless horse is interesting. (And a subtle callback to Look Before you Sleep?) After the story, Scoots decides to delay the inevitable as much as possible, suggesting a song around the campfire. Sweetie Belle is more than happy to deliver the... entertainment. Let's just say when she wants to sing in public, her skills deteriorate rapidly, but her volume does NOT.
"NINETY NINE BUCKETS OF OATS ON THE WALL!"
After the disaster sin against signing concert, the girls decide to call it a night despite Scootaloo's vehement protests that they stay up all night long. Eventually, she succumbs to the wisps of sleep and quickly finds herself in a nightmare. Screaming and running for her life, she becomes trapped by the body of the Headless Horse and cries out in desperation for a saviour as the moon silhouettes the monster behind her. All is doomed... until the moon answers her call. I know I made a Luna joke in my last review, and I am sorry about that, but this is just too good to pass up. It might also answer where Luna was during the Grand Galloping Gala, now that I think about it.
"T'is about bucking time!"
Seriously though, the writer - a new guy called Corey Powell - did a great job putting Luna into this episode and not making her feel shoehorned in by any meaning of the word. Tabitha St Germain reprises her role as Luna in this episode too. This is surprising becuase she sounds SO different when she is not screaming and this is the most we have heard from her since Luna Eclipsed back in season two. As expected, she is formal, regal and grand in her voice but loves and cares for all her subjects like Celestia. To wit, she explains to Scootaloo that her nightmares might be the byproduct of her real fear: disappointing Rainbow. The dream then ends as Luna slips back into her harder tone of voice and bids her good luck and farewell.
Awake once more, she is calm and rational at first, if a little shaky and spooked by the story, but then the reverberating whinny of Rainbow's snores spooks her, causing her to flee from the cave and abandon all reason. Given her previously noted sleep deprivation, this is pretty much par for the course. She runs, crashes and falls into the river and goes over the cliff. But then, in a flash, Rainbow Dash suddenly appears and scoops her to safety. How did she know she was gone? My theory is her screaming woke her up and she followed, but otherwise it is never hinted or even asked. Scootaloo reluctantly confesses to Rainbow that she was scared from her storird, after a light prompt from Luna. Rainbow confesses she was scared when she heard it at first until she realized how silly it was. She then agrees to take Scoots under her wing and, though I do not recall it actually being said, act as a spiritual big sister.
D'aww Factor: One Million.
Now then, what did I think about the episode? First, let me go over the stuff that I did not like first, because it is quite forefront in my mind right now. I really hated how Rarity acted in this episode. The only time she showed any sort of meekness was during the reference to Sonic Rainboow and the only time she was not obnoxious was the two or three instances when she calmed down Sweetie Belle. Maybe I am exaggerating a little bit, but it just irked me. Also, at first I did not like how unassuming the episode was, but after a few watches, I came to realize that it did not NEED to be grandiose or epic. It was perfectly fine being low key so I retracted my opinion on that front.
Now, as for what I liked, I am sure most of you are going to shout "LUNA!" and while she was a pleasant surprise, she was not the best part of the episode. For me, I liked the screen time that Applejack got and the subtle interactions between her and Applebloom and the same with Rarity and Sweetie when the former was not being so overbearing. What really got me though, is that once upon a time, Lauren Faust said she did not think Rainbow would make a good sister. On her own and as the show was up to that point, she was absolutely correct. However, in this episode, Dash was not a jerk: she was cocky and headstrong, but that's just who she is. She even showed a bit of her often neglected softer side when Scootaloo confided in her and at the end when she held Scoots on her hoof in flight.
As is, she would not make a good sister, but I have a feeling that the events of the episode will make her want to TRY to be as awesome a mentor and friend she can be. There may well be bumps in the road, but given how Dash is, I am certain that, in the end, everything will work out fine. So there you go: outside of alternate, darker universes, the idea that Dash would actively abuse Scootaloo is DEAD. Now, as for her being an orphan or not... that is still up for debate.
What are my final thoughts on this episode? It is a homely little slice of life story that deals with something I am sure we have all felt at one point or another. For the most part, all the ponies were in character and the visual effects and jokes were well done. Despite a couple of hiccups, I found it to be enjoyable for what it is and something I am sure I will find myself watching again and again as the months and years pass by. This could be the beginning for something great between Rainbow and Scoots, and I look forward to seeing how events will unfold.
Lifting me higher! <--- This is a link you should really click.
So, time for the scoring. If you had me dangling over a vat of acid, I would rate this an 80/100.
Next week, we have Wonderbolt Acadamy and the introduction of a new pegasus mare that I am sure will be shipped to death with Rainbow. Fun times to be had, fillies and gentlecolts! Until then, this is Ciroton saying "I can't be bothered to do an insightful quote tonight. Bugger off!"
you know it's evil to drop tvtropes terms in the middle of your writtings without a warning. What about those who didn't know the term, googled it and got stuck on tvtropes for hours? ^^
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Some review I must say. Well thought out and rather analytical on many key points throughout the episode. I may have not watched the episode yet, but I will be sure to now considering that it has a fair amount of "d'awww" factor right near the end.
And you deserve a mustache for that insightful quote.
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also, this isn't the first time Luna wasn't shouting (end of S2E4 and S2E25/S2E26) yet she sounded different there. Quite interesting what you read from that tone of voice ... for me it was just bothersome since it sounded like a different VA (and therefor, wrong)
Not sure where this has happened, if not on this site (as this is the only one I use for MLP reading material), since even though wasn't here from the beginning or at times, as heavy of a checker as I am at this point, don't think have read any stories maybe like that (did read one at least though, with Scoots doing something to Rainbow Dash
). And what about this pun you meant? Was it something like I said in my own review, about the Silent Ponyville fanfic(s) or stuff based off it? Since this episode was kinda creepypasta/horror-centric, in a way. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Rainbow_Dash.png Or actually, about how Scootaloo is practically sleepless in this episode, even though they aren't actually IN Ponyville and we see little of it, outside the very beginning?
Technically, Show Stoppers could be counted as the third, even if Cutie Mark Crusaders weren't formed until very end or didn't see those other two until then (well, if you watch Mare in the Moon with Nightmare's appearance, you can SEE the three huddled together at one point dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_rainbowderp_flip.png ), but anyway. As for the ramming thing, maybe trees, while heavy, aren't as wide as a shed that while may've been weakened by exposure to the elements of nature, still requires less hits and Dash is possibly stronger now than at that point. And yeah, thought it was weird how Applejack questioned the story this time, if it's in fact the SAME story she heard from Twilight at her sleepover with her and Rarity. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/sillyfilly_Applejack.png And even though expected new song and such, didn't complain as much (first time) about Rarity's bad singing. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Sweetie_Belle_lolface.png Plus imo, I think Luna speaking modern Equestrian being canon as of this point (if not in previous episodes).
Yeah, was confused by the sudden appearance of a Rainbow, almost like Deus Ex Machina as you or somepony pointed out for the convenient book thing in Too Many Pinkie Pies. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Rainbow_Dash_lolface.png Remember though, that she had earplugs the second time around (wtf, why not the first time as well? And also, whinnying the second time, compared to just snoring like the first). But yeah, loved that scene where we get a bit of Dash/Scoots affection, even though episode didn't break a lot of fanon; but we DID get to see a bit of Dash and Scoots' softer sides, compared to a lot of canon/fanon stuff that's already been done quite a bit. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Rainbow_dealwithit.png
Loved it as well, a nice bit of humor here and callbacks to earlier episodes, like previous episode with Trixie and a few moments quickly referenced, etc. Sorry to have ranted and such. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Twilight_crazy.png
Indeed, Luna in this episode is the proverbial "rose-tinted glasses", although I can't blame her... :3
There is a lot of positive interaction between pairs of sisters and finally Scoots get her own "sister"
I, for one, enjoyed Sweetie Belle's song. Everyone, sing with me!
"Ninety-nine buckets of oats on the wall, ninety-nine buckets of oats! Take one down, pass it around, you got ninety-eight buckets of oats on the wall! Ninety-eight buckets of oats on the wall, ninety-eight buckets of oats! Take one down, pass it around, you got ninety-seven buckets of oats on the wall! Ninety-seven buckets of--"
*a flying horseshoe hit the cat on the face, knocking her unconscious*
My favorite part of this episode was Scootaloo's confession to Rainbow. The vocal work, animation, and bgm were so well done in that scene that it made me really feel for the pain and worry she was going through.
Direct quote from my earlier comment on Lucky Dream's blogpost:
As much as I love both of them as sisters, the episode proved that Rainbow seriously has to learn to deal with children and not be oblivious. She doesn't seem to care or note Scootaloo's well being. In fact, AJ does. Rainbow needs to work herself into the sister role and see through child eyes before being a sis.