Line #96 Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E6BoastBusters


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3	%% SEEN IT BEFORE?: If it happens in different episodes to the same character, you could put the trope in that character's description on the Characters page.
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6	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/trixie_boasting_s1e06.png]]
7	[[caption-width-right:350:"Behold the Great and Powerful [[Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz Oz]]... er... Trixie!"]]
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9	->'''Rarity:''' Just because one has the ability to perform lots of magic does not make one better than the rest of us.\
10	'''Rainbow Dash:''' Especially when you got ''me'' around being better than the rest of us!
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12	-> Written by Creator/ChrisSavino
13
14	After a bout of magic practice, Twilight is busy modestly shrugging off praise from Spike, who is impressed by the variety of magical spells she can accomplish. Suddenly, they learn from [[ThoseTwoGuys two excitable unicorn colts]], Snips and Snails, that "The Great and Powerful" Trixie is in Ponyville to perform her magic show. Twilight and her friends go see the show, but some of the others quickly grow tired of Trixie's boasting that she's the greatest magician in all Equestria and her tall tales about her defeat of a bear-like monster called the Ursa Major, and Rainbow Dash starts heckling her.
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16	->'''Trixie:''' Well, well, well, it seems we have some ''neeeigh''-sayers in the audience!
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18	Trixie retaliates by challenging Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity to test her claim that "anything you can do, I can do better!", then proceeds to turn their challenges against them and humiliate them one by one. Despite urging from Spike, Twilight Sparkle refuses to do anything because she's afraid of being mistaken for a show-off herself.
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20	Snips and Snails are impressed by the act, but Spike tries to convince them not to take Trixie's stories at face value:
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22	->'''Spike:''' Look, unless an Ursa Major comes walking up the street for Trixie to "vanquish", I am ''not'' going to believe a word she says, and neither should you!\
23	'''Snips:''' Hmmm... [[ComicallyMissingThePoint an Ursa walkin' up the street, eh?]] Snails, you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?\
24	'''Snails:''' [[AreYouPonderingWhatImPondering Why is it they call it a flea market when they don't really sell fleas?]]
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26	The two unicorn lads sneak into the Everfree Forest with the intent of luring an Ursa Major to Ponyville so they can watch Trixie take one on. This proves to be a bad idea: the giant bear monster goes on a rampage, Trixie nearly panics at the sight of the beast, and when she does try to defeat it, she barely annoys it. With Ponyville at risk, Twilight finally decides to make with the magic and... lulls the Ursa to sleep by rocking it and feeding it with an improvised bottle of milk, made by telekinetically ripping open a water tower, milking a barnful of cattle, and affixing a makeshift nipple to the end. After returning the Ursa from whence it came, her friends ask how she was able to defeat a creature considered to be invincible, where Twilight reveals the titanic Ursa "Major" was only a ''baby Ursa Minor.''
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28	Trixie runs off while Twilight and company deliver the Aesop: taking pride in your abilities and using them when they're needed isn't showing off. Twilight also tasks Snips and Snails with helping out the town as punishment for waking up the Ursa Minor, but is generous enough to give them (and Spike) fashionable mustaches as well.
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30	----
31	!!Tropes:
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33	* TheAdjectivalSuperhero: She's "The Great and Powerful" Trixie.
34	* AnAesop:
35	** Don't hide your talents under a rock. And don't worry about others being jealous of your talent. Because as a matter of fact, good friends support you to use your talents to the fullest.
36	** There's a fine line between celebrating your talents and boasting about them, especially when your boasts aren't true.
37	* AnimalisticAbomination: Used as a punchline. Keep in mind that the following conversation concerns a creature so powerful, it nearly destroyed Ponyville because it was in a bad mood. Might Equestria be a more [[CrapsaccharineWorld terrifying world]] than meets the eye?
38	-->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' That wasn't an Ursa Major. It was a baby, an Ursa Minor.\
39	'''Trixie:''' THAT was just a BABY!?\
40	'''Twilight Sparkle:''' And it wasn't rampaging. It was just cranky because ''someone'' ''[glares at Snips and Snails]'' woke it up.\
41	'''Spike:''' Well, if that was an Ursa Minor, then what's an Ursa Major like?\
42	''[cut to a monster large enough to cradle the Ursa Minor in its arms and rock it back and forth]''\
43	'''Twilight Sparkle:''' [[YouDoNotWantToKnow You don't want to know]].
44	* AnythingYouCanDoICanDoBetter: Trixie ''claims'' to be able to do this, but she just interfered with Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity's tricks to humiliate them. Oddly, it's only in the latter two cases that the tricks could be taken as being impressive, given that every unicorn we've seen using magic has telekinesis.
45	* AreYouPonderingWhatImPondering: Snips and Snails mimic [[WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain the trope namer]] almost to the letter.
46	-->'''Snips:''' Snails, you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?\
47	'''Snails:''' Why is it they call it a flea market when they don't really sell fleas?
48	* AsideGlance: Twilight gives an amusing one in the vein of [[ComicStrip/{{Garfield}} Jon Arbuckle]] when Spike slams the conjured door in the TheExitIsThatWay example below.
49	* BearsAreBadNews: The Ursa Major (and Minor). Not just any bears: [[JustForFun/RecycledInSpace bears made out of]] ''[[CelestialBody stars]]''.
50	* BeYourself: The aesop is that if you use your abilities for good, then it's not really bragging.
51	* BigWhat: Twilight after Snips tells her he and Snails brought an Ursa to Ponyville. Seconds later, Snips and Snails also get one when Trixie admits she never vanquished an Ursa Major.
52	* BoundAndGagged: Trixie wins over Applejack by tying her up with her lasso and shoving an apple in her mouth.
53	* {{Bowdlerise}}: On Creator/TreehouseTV airings of the episode, an entire line said by Trixie is silenced.[[note]]This unintentionally made the line seem dirtier than it actually is, only being censored because Treehouse TV has stricter standards and believes the word "loser" is too profane for preschoolers.[[/note]]
54	-->'''Trixie:''' When Trixie is through, the only thing they'll call you [Rainbow Dash] is "loser".
55	* BrickJoke: Spell number 25 grows a mustache on whomever it is used on, at first demonstrated with Spike (to his pleasure). At the end of the episode, Twilight uses it on Spike again, as well as Snips and Snails, which all three say is cool.
56	* ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes: When Snips and Snails enter the cave.
57	* TheCameo: Cheerilee appears for the first time as a background pony in this episode, though she wouldn't actually play a role in the show until [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E12CallOfTheCutie six episodes later]].
58	* CelestialBody: The Ursas are bears made of stars.
59	* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: Spell number 25 grows a mustache on whomever it is used on. Snips and snails are unaware of its effect, but when it is used on them, they both think it's cool.
60	* CurbStompBattle: Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity each challenge Trixie who easily wins over the three of them.
61	* DisproportionateRetribution: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity heckle Trixie for her boastful performance when they first meet her at one of her shows. Instead of ignoring or telling them not to disrupt her act, Trixie uses her magic to publicly humiliate the three of them by belittling their talents and embarrassing them in front of the Ponyville residents.
62	* DubInducedPlotHole: The Japanese dub accidentally has Snips outright state in front of Spike that he plans to bring an Ursa Major to Ponyville, but he doesn't do anything to try and talk them out of it, which is probably what he would have done if he heard it in the original version.
63	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The episode handles unicorn magic a bit differently than the show would settle into, going on the premise that unicorns are born with a concrete set of magic abilities rather than it being something that can be learned.
64	* TheExitIsThatWay: Slamming the door just created in the middle of the room isn't an effective way to make an exit.
65	* {{Fake Ultimate Hero}}ine: Trixie presents herself as a powerful unicorn who saved another city from an Ursa Major and has the personality to go with it. The first thing she does when a ''real'' Ursa shows up is to scream and run away, then when she ''tries'' to stop it, all she does is annoy it more, causing her to reveal her story was a lie to make her look tougher than she really was.
66	* FelonyMisdemeanor: The episode itself towards Trixie. She hypes up her show by bragging, is shamed for it, then has her home destroyed and her reputation (vital for her line of work) destroyed. This is played as a LaserGuidedKarma.
67	* {{Foreshadowing}}: The spots on the Ursa's flank and tail form the Little Dipper. Not the ''Big'' Dipper, the ''Little'' Dipper, because it's not an Ursa Major, it's an Ursa Minor.
68	* FreezeFrameBonus: The spots on the [[http://images.wikia.com/mlp/images/7/76/Trixie_facing_the_ursa_minor_S1E06.png Ursa Minor's flank and tail]] form the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursa_Minor Little Dipper]].
69	* TheHeckler: Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Spike all complain about Trixie's attitude loudly in the audience, [[LetsSeeYouDoBetter pivoting her challenge]].
70	* HoistByTheirOwnPetard: Trixie counters Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack by turning their own tricks against them.
71	* HoldYourHippogriffs: "It seems we have some ''neeeigh''-sayers in the audience!"
72	* HumblePie: What Trixie doles out to those who challenge her claims, by taking whatever task they challenged her with and twisting it to her own ends. And at the end of the episode, she stoutly refuses to accept the slice that's served up to her, running away instead.
73	* HypocrisyNod: Rainbow Dash, being as much of a braggart as Trixie, isn't in much of a position to lecture her, though even she knows that.
74	-->'''Rainbow Dash:''' There's no need to go showing off like that. That's ''my'' job.
75	* {{Hypocrite}}: Rainbow Dash is the last pony who should be complaining about anyone being a loudmouth or a showoff, see HypocrisyNod.
76	* IJustWantToBeSpecial: Seems to be a driving point of Trixie's boasting. Twilight plays with this since while she is insecure about showing off to her friends, she is visibly bummed when thinking [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter she has been surpassed in magic]].
77	* ILied: Trixie continuously boasts about defeating an "Ursa Major". When she is faced with one, she ends up confessing that she made the story up for attention. To add insult to injury, she then learns that the giant bear was actually an Ursa ''Minor'' a cub version of the ''real'' Ursa Major.
78	* INeedToGoIronMyDog: "I think I hear my laundry calling."
79	* InsecureProtagonistArrogantAntagonist: The episode is all about contrasting the bookwormish, shy Twilight (one of the most powerful sorcerers among unicorn-kind) against the flashy, hotheaded Trixie (who's not ''incapable'' of magic, but is nowhere near Twilight's league), and having Twilight ultimately save the day.
80	* JerkassHasAPoint: Though Trixie is forced to admit she never vanquished an Ursa Major, she still calls out Snips and Snails for bringing the Ursa to Ponyville. What were they thinking: waking up a Ursa "Major" (when it was really a Ursa "Minor") just to see Trixie vanquishing it?
81	* LetMeAtHim: Rainbow Dash tries to do this when Trixie runs away after the "Ursa Minor" problem, [[CloserToEarth but Twilight tells her to let Trixie go]]. One of theses days, Trixie ''will'' learn her lesson.
82	* LetsSeeYouDoBetter: Trixie issues this after being heckled by the other ponies. Granted she doesn't quite play fair.
83	* LoveMakesYouDumb: [[ThoseTwoGuys Snips and Snails']] PrecociousCrush on [[CuteWitch Trixie]] is often cited as the reason they went to such extremes to see her perform and help her reputation as a mare who defeated an Ursa Major. Of course in the end, it really didn't work out as planned.
84	* LoudGulp: Twilight lets out one when confronting the Ursa.
85	* MagiciansAreWizards: All unicorns have some degree of magic, but Trixie augments hers in her stage act with fireworks and smoke bombs.
86	* MatchlightDangerRevelation: Not done with a match, but when Snails uses magic to create light in the Ursas' cave, he and Snips find out they are just under the nose of the giant monster.
87	* MeaningfulName: Trixie is a unicorn who does magic tricks.
88	* MilesGloriosus: Played with. Trixie claimed to be powerful enough as to defeat a powerful monster called an Ursa Major, and when Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity challenged her to a skills duel, she defeated them by interfering with their own tricks rather than by displaying superior skill. May come with a side of SmallNameBigEgo, since when Snips and Snails lead an Ursa into Ponyville, Trixie attempts to fight it; only after failing does she admit that all of her amazing tales were just lies to make her look more important.
89	* MonsterIsAMommy: {{Inverted\|Trope}} -- after soothing the "Ursa Major" to sleep and sending it back to its lair, Twilight reveals that treating it like a baby worked because it ''was'' a baby -- an Ursa Minor. A real Ursa Major is briefly shown rocking the Ursa Minor, and it is appropriately-sized in comparison.
90	* MouthCam: At one point during the Ursa Minor's rampage through Ponyville, there is a shot seen through its drooling maw, framing Snips, Snails and Trixie confronting it.
91	* MuggingTheMonster: When Trixie challenges the audience, the first pony she picks to go up against her is ''Twilight Sparkle''. She doesn't receive an immediate flank-kicking because, again, she's picking on [[NiceGirl Twilight Sparkle.]]
92	* MusicSoothesTheSavageBeast: Twilight's first move against the Ursa Minor is to create a wind that produces music by blowing through cattails, seriously mellowing out the monster.
93	* NonIndicativeName: The Ursa Minor may be the baby of the species, but it's still the size of an elephant.
94	* NoSell: The entire Trixie vs. Ursa Minor "bout", if it can even be called that, consists of Trixie employing every genuine spell she can think of and none of them doing doing anything more than mildly irritate the Ursa.
95	* OffScreenTeleportation: While Rarity challenges Trixie, Spike stands by himself in one shot. In the next cut, he's standing in front of Twilight, Applejack and Rainbow Dash.
96	* OhCrap: Trixie when Snips and Snails bring the Ursa to Ponyville.
97	* TheOnlyOne: Spike's prompting nudges to Twilight after Trixie reveals she can't handle the Ursa are a clear non-verbal expression of "you're our only hope".
98	* OrphanedEtymology:
99	** As Spike is appreciating the mustache given to him by spell number 25, Twilight calls him "Romeo". Like with the "Casanova" of the first episode, it's unclear which pony she's referring to.
100	** And at the end, Spike is pondering about a "Fu Manchu" mustache. One wonders what Eastern unicorn sported that name...
101	* PunBasedTitle: [[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} Who ya gonna call?]]
102	* RentAZilla: The Ursa Minor, a bear-like creature larger than a two-story building. It is at first thought to be an Ursa ''Major'' because of Trixie's boastful claims, but no — the Ursa Minor is just a baby. The mother Ursa Major is an absolutely massive monster who can cradle the Ursa Minor in its arms; it's probably the biggest creature ever portrayed in the show.
103	* RobeAndWizardHat: Trixie's magician uniform consists of a broad-brimmed pointy hat and a cape clasped by a blue gem, both purple and adorned with stars.
104	* RunningOnTheSpot: Trixie, when she sees [[BearsAreBadNews exactly]] [[RentAZilla what]] is stomping its way through Ponyville towards her.
105	* ShooOutTheClowns: Pinkie Pie only has brief appearances in the crowd along with Fluttershy, and does not speak.
106	* ShoutOut: Trixie's self-title is a reference to ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'', and, like the eponymous Wizard, her supposed greatness is nothing but cleverly used stage magic and acting.
107	* SidetrackedByTheAnalogy:
108	-->'''Snips:''' The Great and Powerful Trixie vanquished an Ursa Major. Can your Twilight claim that?\
109	'''Spike:''' Oh, really? Were you guys actually there?\
110	'''Snips:''' Well, uh... no, but--\
111	'''Spike:''' But nothing! The proof is in the pudding!\
112	'''Snails:''' Huh huh huh huh huh... I like pudding!
113	* SkewedPriorities: Rarity is more worried about her hair becoming green than the fact that Trixie made it a ''literal bird's nest'', much to a green-maned pony's offense.
114	* SmokeOut: Though it doesn't last long enough to completely cover Trixie's exit.
115	* SnakeCharmer: Trixie "charms" a rope and then uses it to tie up Applejack.
116	* TheSoCalledCoward: Though no one directly accuses Twilight of being a coward when she refuses to rise up to Trixie's challenge, her development in this episode otherwise fits this trope.
117	* SpellMyNameWithAThe: Trixie often [[ThirdPersonPerson refers to herself]] as "The Great and Powerful Trixie".
118	* SplitScreenReaction:
119	** Snips and Snails screaming, and the Ursa Minor roaring.
120	** And later, Snips, Snails, and Spike receiving mustaches.
121	* StealthPun: Trixie goads Rarity into challenging her by calling her mane a "rat's nest". After Trixie changes her mane, it actually has two rat's tails poking out, making the earlier insult literal.
122	* ThirdPersonPerson:
123	** "The Great and Powerful Trixie!"
124	** Rarity gets into it too.
125	* TooDumbToLive: Snips and Snails, for disturbing an Ursa Minor's slumber and bringing it to Ponyville, all because they believed Trixie could "vanquish" it, and wanted to see it happen. At worst, this would lead to them and lots of other ponies getting eaten, had Twilight not put it to sleep and brought it back to its cave.
126	* UnwantedAssistance: Trixie's reaction to Snips and Snails bringing the Ursa Minor to Ponyville so she could "vanquish" it.
127	* WipeThatSmileOffYourFace: Twilight literally puts a zipper on Spike's mouth with her magic to stop him from boasting in her stead and further antagonizing Trixie.
128	* WordSchmord: How Rainbow Dash disapproves of Trixie showing off, following a glare from Applejack when Rainbow herself starts bragging.
129	-->'''Rainbow Dash:''' Yeah! Uh, magic schmagic! Boo!
130	* YouDoNotWantToKnow: When asked by Spike what an Ursa Major looks like, Twilight gives this response. Not [[ScareChord without showing]] the audience, however. Twilight's right, that question is best left unanswered.

Context Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E6BoastBusters