History Recap / MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS6E4OnYourMarks

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

** The Creator/SalvadorDali pony paints a surrealist picture using references to the real Dali's paintings such as ''[[http://uploads5.wikiart.org/images/salvador-dali/the-persistence-of-memory-1931.jpg The Persistence of Memory]]'' and ''[[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/43/Dali_Elephants.jpg The Elephants]]''

* ChangingClothesIsAFreeAction: While casually discussing their options, Sweetie Belle changes into a square-dancer outfit, Scootaloo into a Tyrolian getup (think Apple Strudel), and Apple Bloom into a mix of the two, just in the time it takes for the camera to change focus.

* AbsenteeActor: For the first time in the show's history, none of the Mane Six appear in this episode. Rarity gets mentioned twice by Sweetie Belle, but that's it. This is also the first time that Twilight Sparkle has been entirely absent for two episodes in a row.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** Much as one might expect given the nature of cutie marks, ponies with cutie mark problems or worrying about not getting a cutie mark are not actually all that common. They do exist (such as Tender Taps and Bulk Biceps) and it is an important thing to help them, but it's not going to happen every day.
** The lumps and holes in Sweetie Belle's first scarf will be extremely familiar to any first-time crocheter. She points out to Scootaloo that this is her first time trying it, and she has to practice before she can get better.

* AdultFear:
** The episode touches on a lot of fears that a child might have as they grow into an adult.
*** Fearing that you and your friends are slowly drifting apart due to different interests, and there's nothing you can do.
*** Believing that your talent isn't as important or useful as you thought it was.
*** Being unable to cope with being alone and craving friendship.
** For a moment, Big Mac came very close to stepping on his much smaller sister.

* RealityEnsues:
** Much as one might expect given the nature of cutie marks, ponies with cutie mark problems or worrying about not getting a cutie mark are not actually all that common. They do exist (such as Tender Taps and Bulk Biceps) and it is an important thing to help them, but it's not going to happen every day.
** The lumps and holes in Sweetie Belle's first scarf will be extremely familiar to any first-time crocheter. She points out to Scootaloo that this is her first time trying it, and she has to practice before she can get better.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** When Apple Bloom temporarily forgets that they already got their cutie marks, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo remind her of that by lifting their skirt up/pulling lederhosen down respectively. Had it been humanized...
** Tree Hugger's poses in the drawing class are those commonly used by nude models. The art class also appears to be a life drawing class, where nude modeling is quite common.

* NotAllowedToGrowUp:
** Pumpkin and Pound Cake are no older than they were in "Baby Cakes".

** One pair of ponies during the recital are dancing as in the finale of ''Film/DirtyDancing''; the mare even has an obvious bump on her nose, a reference to Jennifer Grey's rather predominate one prior to surgery.

** Much as one might expect given the nature of cutie marks, ponies with cutie mark problems or worrying about not getting a cutie mark are not actually all that common. They do exist (such as Tender Taps and Bulk Biceps) and it is an important thing to help them, but it's not going to happen everyday.

* RealityEnsues: Much as one might expect given the nature of cutie marks, ponies with cutie mark problems or worrying about not getting a cutie mark are not actually all that common. They do exist (such as Tender Taps and Bulk Biceps) and it is an important thing to help them, but it's not going to happen everyday.

** Sweetie Belle's first crochet attempt is, by her own cheerful admission, terrible. The scarf's holes and lumps are extremely familiar to any first-time crocheter.

* HollywoodToneDeaf: Sweetie Belle tries to have Scootaloo and Apple Bloom perform together as her attempt at figuring out an activity for all of them to do. They do not impress (Sweetie Belle even snaps her baton in annoyance). Strangely, the show has Apple Bloom do her solo song, "On My Own", virtually one scene later.
* ICantDance: How Apple Bloom feels about her attempts at dancing.

* RealityEnsues: Much as one might expect given the nature of cutie marks, ponies with cutie mark problems or worrying about not getting a cutie mark are not actually all that common. They do exist and it is an important thing to help them, but its not going to happen everyday.

* SanitySlippage: Apple Bloom goes through a brief one, but one might think that she took lessons from Twilight Sparkle (or Pinkie Pie, given the catalyst).

* SoWhatDoWeDoNow: The Crusaders have succeeded in fulfilling their dream of getting their Cutie Marks. Problem is, they used to do almost nothing ''but'' try to get cutie marks, so now they're [[DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife at a loss as to what to do with their lives]] all over again.

* ThereWasADoor: Bulk Biceps crashes through the floor of the Cutie Mark Crusaders' clubhouse. He then pops his head up through a different part of the floor to ask a follow-up question.

Now that the Cutie Mark Crusaders finally have their cutie marks, they struggle to come up with something to do in order to fulfill their destinies. At first, they come up with the idea to go around Ponyville, looking for other ponies to help get their destinies back on track. They come up with nothing, since everypony they talk to is already very self-assured. As they sit on the swingset at their school, they come across Bulk Biceps, who laments that he has a cutie mark problem: his cutie mark is a dumbbell, but he's lifted every dumbbell in Ponyville. The Crusaders suggest he lift things besides dumbbells, and teach other ponies to do the same. He leaves satisfied, but the Crusaders lament that solving his problem seemed far too easy.

* AbsenteeActor: For the first time in the show's history, none of the Mane Six appear in an episode. Rarity gets mentioned twice by Sweetie Belle, but that's it. This is also the first time that Twilight Sparkle has been entirely absent for two episodes in a row.