History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E16RarityInvestigates

* ADayInTheLimelight: Rarity and Rainbow Dash are the main characters of this episode. Neither Spike nor anyone else in the Mane Six appears.

** Needless to say, after Wind Rider admits he framed Rainbow, she loses all the respect she had for him. Rainbow also had no problem with Wind Rider, despite being a retired veteran Wonderbolt, getting kicked out of the Wonderbolts for good.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Wind Rider is seen as the greatest Wonderbolt in Equestrian history. However, he frames Rainbow Dash for a crime she didn't commit, out of spite.

* ArtisticLicenseAnimalCare: Some horses actually do like broccoli as a treat, but equestrians know not to set it out for them as part of a buffet. A plateful of broccoli like the one Rainbow Dash pigs out on would give a horse painful (though usually not life-threatening) gas colic. But then again, horses are not supposed to have chocolate either.

* SplashOfColor: During the first black-and-white sequence, the tuft of hair Rarity finds is still rainbow-colored.

* BunnyEarsLawyer: Rarity may be a prim and proper fashionista, but she eventually cleared Rainbow Dash's name through her [[EagleEyeDetection eye and attention to detail]].

* CoolOldGuy: How Wind Rider appears at first.

** Sassy Saddles reappears at Canterlot Carousel.

* CrazyPrepared: Rarity has a whole ''trunkful'' of spare dresses waiting [[BehindTheBlack just offscreen]] at the function just when she needs to change, which isn't too much a stretch considering her history [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E26TheBestNightEver with dresses being]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E7MakeNewFriendsButKeepDiscord ruined at Canterlot parties]].

* DoomedNewClothes: Rarity's silk dress that she just made as part of her Shadow Spade-inspired line gets stained at the dinner.

* DramaticThunder: Thunder and lightning punctuates Rarity's dramatic entrance (as well as yet another switch from color to B&W) when she announces she found the culprit. And another illuminates Wind Rider when Rarity designates him.

* EvilOldFolks: Wind Rider, of course.

* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Wind Rider uses this trope (and the exact phrase) as an excuse for his actions, claiming "you have to play dirty" to keep his position in the Wonderbolts. Soarin and the others don't buy it, stating a real Wonderbolt looks out for their teammates.

* ManipulativeBastard: Wind Rider is the real criminal mastermind.

* PrivateEyeMonologue: Every one of Rarity's FilmNoir scenes, occasionally [[DidIJustSayThatOutLoud overheard by others]]. Bonus points for Rarity alternately playing the role of both the HardboiledDetective and the FemmeFatale.

* UnlimitedWardrobe: Rarity changes outfits constantly during the course of the investigation, which Dash [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] at one point.

* WronglyAccused: Rainbow Dash is accused of Spitfire's disappearance with the possible motive being to take her place in the Wonderbolts. Unlike most examples, Soarin does give her the benefit of the doubt and the chance to prove herself innocent.

* FemmeFatale: While Rarity has never been shy about flirting, this episode takes her charm UpToEleven with her flirting and charming pretty much everyone.

* GoodCopBadCop: Rarity and Rainbow, respectively, do this when interrogating the guards.

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Rainbow Dash and Rarity take this dynamic UpToEleven, most notably in the GoodCopBadCop scene.

* YouHave48Hours: Rainbow Dash has until the start of the show to prove her innocence, or else she'll be permanently banned from the Wonderbolts.

-->'''Soarin:''' (''dropping in'') Uh, you'd be talkin' to me.

** An episode where Rainbow Dash is framed for a crime she didn't commit? Sounds like ''WebAnimation/TurnaboutStorm''.
*** And as long as we're on the subject of ''Franchise/AceAttorney'', Wind Rider bears a striking resemblance to [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Manfred Von Karma, someone who also tried to do anything to maintain his perfect record.]]

** Rarity getting on Rainbow's nerves by constantly asking seemingly pointless questions is similar to ''Series/{{Columbo}}''.

* FriendsWhoNeverHang: A rare episode with Rarity and Rainbow Dash pairing up.

* FacePalm: Rainbow facehooves when Rarity accuses Wind Rider of the crime. Turns out the accusation is correct.

->'''Rarity:''' (''narrating'') Rainbow Dash was questioning my methods. But I knew what I was doing.\\

** Rainbow Dash stays in the same room that Rarity did in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E9SweetAndElite "Sweet and Elite"]]. They watch the event from the same observer's box too.

** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E26TheBestNightEver "The Best Night Ever"]] established that Soarin' [[TrademarkFavoriteFood really enjoys pie]]; he's shown eating one just before the performance.

* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Rarity keeps doing this in her detective mode.

* FemmeFatale: While Rarity has never been shy about flirting this episode takes her charm UpToEleven with her flirting and charming pretty much everyone.

* LoudGulp: Soarin makes one when Rarity announces she found the culprit. Although that might be because he was [[TrademarkFavoriteFood eating a pie]] in the previous shot.

* {{Expy}}: Wind Rider is an expy of [[spoiler: Professor Callaghan]] from Disney's "Big Hero 6". Both are [[spoiler: handsome, humble old men who are idolized by the main hero. But deep down, they stoop to amoral acts that compromise their honor and their reputations in the process. It even [[BrokenPedestal costs them the respect]] of the main hero. Though while Callaghan went through with his plan to avenge his daughter, Wind Rider did it out of ambition.]]

* OutOfOrder: It was scheduled to be the 15th episode of season 5, despite being 16th in the production order.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: The three Pegasi Royal Guards assigned to watch the entrance to the east tower rooms are not of the standard design that is usually seen in the series (white coat, blue mane, and blue tail). Guard #1 has a light brown coat with red mane and tail, Guard #2 has a tawny coat with blue mane and tail, and Guard #3 has a green coat with purple mane and tail.

* RewatchBonus: During the practice, Rainbow Dash manages to fly even faster than Wind Rider, who tries to beat her back; if you watch him closely, he is clearly angry that she'll try to break his flight record.

[[{{Jazz}} *Cue Hard-boiled version of credits music*]]

* PrivateEyeMonologue: Every one of Rarity's FilmNoir scenes, occasionally [[DidIJustSayThatOutLoud overheard by others]]. Bonus points for Rarity alternately playing the role of both the HardBoiledDetective and the FemmeFatale.

*** And as long as we're on the subject of ''{{Ace Attorney}}'', Wind Rider bears a striking resemblance to [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Manfred Von Karma, someone who also tried to do anything to maintain his perfect record.]]

** Wind Rider bears a striking resemblance to [[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney Manfred Von Karma, someone who also tried to do anything to maintain his perfect record.]]

* ArtisticLicenseAnimalCare: Some horses actually do like broccoli as a treat, but equestrians know not to set it out for them as part of a buffet. A plateful of broccoli like the one Rainbow Dash pigs out on would give a horse painful (though usually not life-threatening) gas colic.

** After Wind Rider admits that he did it to preserve his legacy, Rainbow and the Wonderbolts immediately lose all respect for him. Also, after Rainbow gets Spitfire back, she immediately kicks Wind Rider out of the Wonderbolts for pulling such a pathetic and dirty trick.