CarolC
Since: Mar, 2010
12/12/2011 00:00:00
Yes.
The fact that one would expect the writers to have Spike be too nervous to tell Rarity (even on the brink of death) as a throwaway joke. The fact that Rarity cries, those tears fly away.
It takes simple expression and an gesture of Rarity. That all it took. It's not romantic, but it's a deep platonic relationship that Rarity is aware of and appreciate deeply.
Exarian
Since: Jul, 2009
12/12/2011 00:00:00
I always thought it wasn't eplicitly platonic or romantic in her reaction, and that they did it vague because they didn't want to say either way at the moment.
Masem
Since: Aug, 2010
12/12/2011 00:00:00
It's not necessarily important on the exact nature of the relationship, but that it is the first time Rarity's acknowledged something more reciprocal than "That's a good boy, Spike, be my pin cushion".
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The difference of just one scene...
"The Secret of My Excess" captures everything that Faust had said she set out to do with the revised series: it provides good entertainment for the target audience, an apt moral ("it is better to give than receive"), it has merchandising potential (through Rarity's robes), a lot of funny lines and scenarios, a good sense of adventure without falling over the "scary" line (Spike's growth spurts are wisely tied to funny events as to reduce the scary factor), a great deal of visual eye candy, and a lot more. Plus while the episode has Spike, Rarity, and Twilight in the limelight, the other Mane cast are given their own heroic moments instead of pushing them off to the side.
But the addition of one scene - Spike professing his crush to Rarity as they fall, and her simple tearful gesture - is what separates this episode as one of the best in the series, perhaps of many other animated shows.
It is a completely throwaway scene. Take it out, instead, have Spike and Rarity cling to each other as they fall screaming, and you have a nice "RBD + Fluttershy save the day" result. (They still do have that, but it is diminished under the power of the aforementioned scene).
But having that scene, and extrapolating that Rarity has known all along (within this episode, but perhaps even before) but has played dumb to it is a huge emotional moment, pushing this episode not only from being awesome, but a heartwarming and tear-jerker as well. It gives a lot more depth to Rarity's character, and helps to vindicate Spike from being the normal Butt Monkey that he often has to serve as. It's very difficult to watch past Rarity/Spike interactions (such as "Dog and Pony Show") without considering that Rarity knows of Spike's crush, but it's also a change they don't have to explicitly talk about in future episodes either; heck, no other pony needs to know about it. And while it strictly will be a platonic relationship, it is now something that the viewer will be interested to see grow and develop.
And that's a rather complicated idea for a children's cartoon, and yet pulled off perfectly. That's a hallmark of the great writing and animation that the team Faust has pulled together is able to accomplish.