History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E18BrotherhoovesSocial

* CurseOfTheAncients: Granny smith says "oh, snicker doodle!" when she has trouble finding the blue ribbon from the first Sisterhooves Social.

* TheQuietOne: Zigzagged. As Big Mac, he keeps to his usual two-word dialogue, even if each word conveys so much meaning in them. Once he dresses up as Orchard Blossom, he speaks quite a bit, displaying quite a bit of depth in to his character. At the end, Big Mac almost goes back to his default mode, but after a bit of prodding, gives a long explanation of his motives to Apple Bloom.

* SuddenlyVoiced: Big Mac always had a voice actor (Peter New) but in almost every case his entire vocabulary consists of "Yep" and "Nope". He gets more dialogue in this episode than through four and a half seasons worth of content put together (though a lot of it is in a fake girl's voice; though he does get a fairly decent monologue as the episode ends in his natural voice too).

** This is not the first time Rainbow Dash competed with a member of the Apple family.

* InNameOnly: The Sisterhooves Social itself

** This is not the first time Rainbow Dash competed with a member of the Apple family.

* AbsenteeActor: Despite Applejack appearing in the first act, Rarity is totally absent, despite having a hook with both Sweetie Belle for the Sisterhooves Social and also being summoned to Manehattan.

[[caption-width-right:350:"[[IncrediblyConspicuousDrag Big Mac?]] Why, as charmed as I am that you find me in the slightest resemblance to such a, a, [[ButHeSoundsHandsome a fine and noble product of the Apple clan]], I am astonished in equal measure." ]]

Despite everypony seeing through Big Mac's disguise immediately, he's allowed to complete with Apple Bloom as Orchard Blossom. Unfortunately, because he had no time to prepare, every routine Big Mac and Apple Bloom try inevitably fails. Finally, the last event is the obstacle course race, which Big Mac is determined to win. He rushes through the course with Apple Bloom, smashing through the obstacles instead of climbing over them, and bucking other teams out of the way to cross the finish line first. After managing to pass Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, Big Mac and Apple Bloom cross the finish line first, his disguise falling off as he celebrates. However, because of all of Big Mac's destructive behavior, as well as unsportsmanlike conduct in the race, he and Apple Bloom are disqualified.

* ADayInTheLimelight: After four-and-a-half seasons of playing second fiddle, Big Macintosh finally shares an episode with his baby sister.

* EveryoneKnewAlready: As part of Big Mac's PaperThinDisguise, no pony is taken by his Orchard Blossom get up (save for the elder male judge); the lead judge even states this before disqualifying him.

* TheVoiceless: Zigzagged. As Big Mac, he keeps to his usual two-word dialogue, even if each word conveys so much meaning in them. Once he dresses up as Orchard Blossom, he speaks quite a bit, displaying quite a bit of depth in to his character. At the end, Big Mac almost goes back to his default mode, but after a bit of prodding, gives a long explanation of his motives to Apple Bloom.

Upon returning, Applejack informs her family that she's been summoned to Manehattan, and will be missing the Sisterhooves Social. Apple Bloom falls into a slump, upset that she and Applejack won't get to participate this year. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo drop by, inviting Apple Bloom to cheer on Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash, who are participating in the Social. Apple Bloom agrees, with Granny Smith wondering how to cheer her up. This gives Big mac an idea: he'll dress up as Apple Bloom's cousin, Orchard Blossom, and participate in the Sisterhooves Social with her.

* CrossReferencedTitles: To ''[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E5SisterhoovesSocial Sisterhooves Social]]''.

* WardrobeMalfunction: Big Mac's "Orchard Blossom" disguise progressively shows more wears and tears as he's barreling his way through the obstacle course, to finally falls off completely in one go after they cross the finish line.

* CrossReferencedTitles: To [["Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E5SisterhoovesSocial Sisterhooves Social"]].

->'''Sweetie Belle:''' That's Big Mac in a dress.

->'''Sweetie Belle''': "That's Big Mac in a dress."

Applejack and Apple Bloom are preparing for the upcoming Sisterhooves Social event, with Apple Bloom extolling Applejack's better qualities, confident that they're going to win blue ribbons. Unbeknownst to Apple Bloom, Big [=McIntosh=] is watching from the barn, upset over not getting as much time with his little sister. As Granny Smith searches for a blue ribbon from a previous Sisterhooves Social, she comes across a dragonfly toy that Big Mac used to use to impress Apple Bloom. He brings it outside to show her, but is brushed off in favor of Applejack. Big Mac sadly sulks off to the barn when Applejack's cutie mark begins to glow, being summoned by the Crystal Map in Twilight's castle.

* ADayInTheLimelight: After four-and-a-half seasons of playing second fiddle, Big [=McIntosh=] finally shares an episode with his baby sister.

* AttractiveBentGender: The one judge who's fooled by Big [=McIntosh=]'s disguise seems to find his "Orchard Blossom" persona attractive, flirting with her and trying to bring her flowers after the competition.

* CoolBigSis: Apple Bloom thinks Applejack is one, as usual. Rainbow Dash acts as this to Scootaloo, even participating in the Social with her even though they're not technically related.

* CrossReferencedTitles: To "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E5SisterhoovesSocial Sisterhooves Social]]".

* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Big [=McIntosh=] laments at the end of the episode that Applejack's heroism makes him feel unimportant, and he was desperate to help Apple Bloom win because he wanted her to look up to him.

** When Big Mac pulls out the flying bumblebee toy to show to Apple Bloom, she dismisses it as an odd remembrance of their past. Applejack realized that Big Mac was trying to reconnect with his youngest sister.

* MeaningfulEcho: Shortly after Applejack left, Granny Smith says "They've always had a loose definition of the term 'sister'" with regards to Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash competing in the Social. The head judge repeats this term word for word at the end, pointing out that Big Mac could have competed as himself instead of dressing up.
* MoodWhiplash: The episode goes from serious and heartfelt development for Big Mac and his realationship with Apple Bloom, to CringeComedy, and back again.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Played with; when the usually monosyllabic Big Mac is extremely verbose when in character as Orchard Blossom, not much is made of it. The trope is invoked later on, long after the charade has broken, when he pours out his heart to Apple Bloom about why he did what he did.
** Big Mac also is an uncharacteristically poor sportspony in desperation of winning a blue ribbon for his sister so she'll look up to him again.

* RealityEnsues: Despite his best efforts, Big [=McIntosh=] and Apple Bloom's team doesn't do well in any of the competitions due to him being a last moment replacement and not practicing for weeks, unlike pretty much every other team. He only manages to do well in the race because of his CharlesAtlasSuperPower, and overusing his brute strength (almost hurting some of the other teams) gets him and Apple Bloom disqualified.

* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: "Orchard Blossom" speaks in drawn out sentences littered with fancy words, a complete contrast to Big Mac's usual "eeyup/nope" routine.

* SynchronousEpisodes: With "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E17MadeInManehattan Made In Manehattan]]", with both episodes taking place at the same time. We see what goes on in Ponyville while Rarity and Applejack are away in Manehattan.

* TheVoiceless: Zigzagged. As Big Mac, he is kept to his usual two word dialogue, even if each word conveyed so much meaning in them. Once he dresses up as Orchard Blossom, he speaks quite a bit, displaying quite a bit of depth in to his character. At the end, Big Mac almost goes back to his default mode, but after a bit of prodding, gives a long explanation of his motives to Apple Bloom.