I found Sounds of Silence to be pretty overrated. I kinda think the only thing that's REALLY good about it is Autumn and her song. I definitely prefer the 4 episodes that came before it.

One part didn't quite add up, though. So what was the deal with that railway conductor trying to scare Applejack and Fluttershy with ominous descriptions and an Overly Long Evil Laugh? :S Come on, they faced down Discord and Tirek and the Storm King.

I finally finished the two-parter.

I've finally freed my soul of this onerous burden.

Allow me to sum up my immediate opinions in three sentences:

1. If this two-parter has proved anything, it's that "larger is not better".

2. My eyes have not seen a more nonsensical ending from My Little Pony then this before.

3. So, if my ears and eyes do not deceive me, there is a "Starlight Glimmer" in the next season that is an object of contention because of her being "forgiven too easily".

I will be comparing that moment with discord's behavior here and if it isn't worse then discord, then I'm afraid we will have words.

Edited by fredhot16 on Apr 22nd 2019 at 12:01:06 PM

The conductor was just a throwaway gag. It came out of nowhere and didn't affect the plot, and was never mentioned again. It probably qualifies as a Big-Lipped Alligator Moment.

You know, this moment feels...odd.

With the new castle, Sparkles being a Princess of a thing, and there being a "Cutie Map" later, it feels as though I'm about to go through a door and step into a new yet familiar place.

Season Five is where there are actual changes (or, at the very least, we're going to make changes and maybe let them stick). And I'm curious about that.

I can't shake the feeling that what I'm going to see is not going to be a simple continuation of My Little Pony Seasons One to three as Season Four was.

By the by, I'm watching the Cutie Map- Part One today.

Edited by fredhot16 on Apr 22nd 2019 at 11:10:09 AM

Post of the Day #2493

Posted by storyyeller on Sat, 5th Jan '13 6:31:27 AM - Post #326122 in the old thread

Glad to say I just saw the 200th episode! I admitted that it was hard to top the 100th which is still my favorite episode ever.

I enjoyed this one more than the 100th. Maybe it was because most of the 100th was Fan Wank, whereas this one was a bunch of great ideas that all came together so well.

I liked the episode, but I didn't even realize it was supposed to be special. I guess that's because there weren't any fan shoutouts.

So, I've now gotten to the end of the opening.

Now, I do approve of Sparkles actually questioning why the magic tree gave her this. Any questioning about how and why this thing exists and how it can do what it's done so far can only be a good thing.

However, her word choice has me a bit worried. She says she's "been chosen" and she doesn't understand why the magic tree "would want them to stay in a castle in Ponyville". It sounds less as though Sparkles chose to be the Princess of Friendship of her volition and more as though she got the idea because she thought the magic tree wanted her to be the Princess of Friendship.

Sparkles, you're a Princess. You should not be taking cues from a tree.

You're curious about this thing and why it gave this castle to you? O.K. However, you shouldn't be assuming that it gave you anything for a purpose as though it has a will of it's own.

And after everybody got in their seat, what I presume is the Cutie Map popped up. Oh, sweet lord, please do not tell me that we're still going with the whole "Magic tree does whatever it wants with no foreshadowing or regard for narrative sense or any sense in the slightest".

Because there is no particular reason for the Cutie Map to be here now. It's not the first time they've had this argument and it can't be the first time all of them have sat in their thrones.

I think that was supposed to be the first time, actually. It is one time only, though. It will just pop up and send magic bootie calls to whoever it damn well pleases from this point on.

Twilight taking orders from the Tree, eh? Boy, you are in for a few long seasons.

Saw the new episode, and yay, Spike pulled off a big win. Seems like the last two seasons are giving Spike a bit more loving treatment.

The whole thing was clever in some jokes, but a bit awkward in places. I don't think the show is quite witty enough to do completely random and non-sensical plots, Pinkie and Discord's humour works against a more mundane universe, but the writers always can't quite go all out with a whole story acting bizarre and arbitrary, they always have to slow down to lampshade or analyse it to break the momentum.

I do like all the character moments, it's a shame they took this long to have the voice actors contribute story ideas really. I also love how nearly all the key family relationships have become naturally vitriolic and argumentative while staying playful, the Tastes Like Diabetes family values has slowly dwindled for something more humorous and relatable. Let's face it, the show works best when it's whimsy with a tint of playful cynicism.

I'm certain the parents had harmless intentions, but they harshly underestimated how kids can develop with these sorts of quota contests, with what is merely meant to be a harmless no-stakes game by the parents to make chores more fun turns into a vicious competition for approval for the kids (sheesh Shining Armour looks completely broken in that flashback). Starlight even lampshades the Fridge Horror in that regard to Twilight's current personality.

The ending felt cut short, but I do like it was a case they didn't need a big expositional speech for once. It kinda shows the succinctness of Twilight's relationship with Spike, that sometimes she can be neglectful and treats him like a piece of furniture, but that's Twilight, she's kind of spacey and inconsiderate, but she assumes it's obvious how much she cares about him. I admit I always wanted an episode that played this element more seriously, kind of a "Spike At Your Service" but from Twilight's POV, especially under earlier speculations that Spike viewed Twilight more as a mother of sorts than she estimated, but this way gets the point across as well.

Also a nice show of carefulness in that they make clear traumatising Fluttershy with her claustrophobia was not part of Spike's Batman Gambit.

Edited by Psi001 on Apr 22nd 2019 at 12:54:22 PM

-walks in-

-looks around-

Fuck no.

-walks out-

Speaking of Spike, I just finished "Father Knows Beast." I feel bad for Spike in that one. He got scammed hard. :(

I'm truthfully kinda hoping Sludge gets one more appearance before the show ends just to use up his Karma Houdini Warranty. What a sleaze ball.

Edited by Psi001 on Apr 22nd 2019 at 1:34:26 PM

Sparkle's Seven

Well, here it is, finally: the 200th episode!

"What's so exciting about a toy crown?" They make Hasbro a lot of money, for one.

So basically, Twi and Shining competed a lot when they were young, and their parents encouraged this by rewarding them for all kinds of good behaviour, and the winner would get a crown each week. I'm not sure pitting your children against each other like that is the healthiest upbringing, but it is a hook for the episode, at least.

I feel like this would have been brought up much sooner if it was so integral to their childhood, though.

Aww, look, baby Spike. Maybe we will get HIS backstory this season, too. I mean, it's about time. I'm honestly surprised they didn't do that like eight seasons ago.

"I always wanted to be sibling supreme one day." I don't think you are a part of this, Spike. Or ever was. I only saw TWO contestants on that chart.

Which raises another question: who DID raise Spike? Was it filly Twilight? What is the time table on this, anyway? Spike was still a baby at the start of season 1, after all.

Only, in the past he was apparently... even more of a baby? He even has a little diaper. I guess the "baby dragon" thing has now officially been retconned away, then.

"Meet me at Celestia's castle, and decide who deserves the crown once and for all." I wonder if they will explain why Shining suddenly wants to settle this childhood rivalry. You'd think they'd grown out of it by now.

Also, "Celestia's castle"? I think Luna will want a word about that. It's just called Canterlot Castle, as far as I know.

"Guess I'll watch the school?" Did you forget already, Starlight? You RUN the school, now. It's YOUR problem now.

And of course Twi and Spike just FLY there, like it is around the corner. This kingdom keeps contracting and expanding as the plot demands.

"With the return of Sombra, Luna and I felt it was time to reinforce the castle's defenses." Really, Celestia? REALLY? I mean, this was the SECOND return of Sombra. You've never bothered before, certainly not the FIRST time Sombra showed up, so why start now?

I mean, what, did Chrysalis and the Storm King not convince you?

"I said we could do it ourselves, but some ponies are a bit stubborn." I mean, I'm totally with Celestia, here. You two are RUBBISH at securing Canterlot.

"I'm taking security here to a whole new level." What... what IS that face Celestia is making, there? What emotion is this supposed to be?

"The only thing I need now is somepony to test it." "You want me to break into Celestia's castle?" There she is again with "Celestia's" castle. Luna is RIGHT. THERE. Twilight.

This is a great idea, though. Not sure why they had to invent that crown thing for it, but sure, good enough.

"Forever." Twilight is oddly stoked by this. Forget the Elements of Harmony. Forget being a Princess. Never mind having her own school. THIS is what REALLY excites Twilight.

Luna is being very huffy about this whole contest. Clearly SHE wanted to be the one testing the defenses.

"The castle is surrounded by shards of Queen Chrysalis' throne." Nice callback, but... these things block ALL magic within a wide radius. Even if the shards are weaker than that, how are they using magic to manipulate them? Shouldn't this be a job for pegasi? I mean, if a unicorn can PLACE these shards, then a unicorn could remove them, right?

Also, blocking any use of magic in the palace seems like a bad idea for two magic-using monarchs.

Or is this just supposed to be an anti-teleportation shield? The episode should make this clearer.

"You can't fly in, either. Giant fans keep anyone from flying too close to the castle." Then how did Twilight and Spike fly there? Also, this is a ludicrous idea that should not even remotely work. Also, once again, maybe not the best sort of defence for two rulers who can FLY.

And the underground tunnels have been sealed. I mean, shouldn't those have been sealed YEARS ago? Around the time Chrysalis attacked, for instance?

"I've doubled the ranks of security. Ponies protect every hallway and door, which can only be opened by royal guard medals." I think these guards need a lot more than sheer numbers, to be honest. Magic security passes seems like the best security feature on this list, though.

Geese? That's... oddly specific. Don't these ponies have some magical alarm systems or something?

There's a floor trap in the throne room, now. All we need now is a cannon and a box of bananas.

It's a bit of a shame Shining pretty much gave all the security measures away, though.

It seems the rest of Twilight's crew is joining in as well.

"Pinkie, you'll distract the guards with a surprise party." Well, with these guards, that probably WILL work.

"Applejack, you'll buck your way into the sealed tunnel." Why? Don't those tunnels just lead to the crystal mines? Also, Pinkie's digging skills would be much better suited for that. Though, Apples DID kick down Canterlot gate last time...

"Rainbow Dash, if anyone can outfly those wind turbines, it's you." Why, though? Can't they just WALK past them?

"Rarity, you'll sow us guard costumes so we can sneak past security." That's all fashion pony is good for, now: sewing duty. I'd be a bit insulted at the stereotyping if I were Rarity. Also, isn't Ponks already covering the guards?

"And Fluttershy will disable the throne room alarm by charming the geese." Oh, I see. All these traps are conveniently chosen based on the Mane Six's stereotypes. Pinkie's is parties, Dash's is flying fast, Apples is bucking things, Rarity's is sewing, and Flutters is animal control. Got it.

And then Shining Armor just guesses the entire plan by Spike-mail, and CHANGES everything. This is great. Shining is being Genre Savvy about the mane six.

"Nobody knows you better than your own brother." He knows YOU well enough, too, apparently, being able to anticipate what stereotype talent you all would apply to the challenge.

RARITY is going to make the master plan. This is awesome. I am happy the writers remember that she isn't just sewing pony, unlike a certain purple pony I could name.

Noir Rarity is back! This is great stuff.

Pinkie has an Imagine Spot about space surveillance... and tickling the rings of Saturn. That was... oddly disturbing.

Applejack has a story about being a secret country musician. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be true or not. Also, I feel like we've already been here before.

"Wait, did you just make all that up, or did that actually happen?" Yeah, what she said!

"Ummm..." An honest apple cannot lie, clearly.

Spike has an imagine spot about him and Fluttershy being a Mission: Impossible style spy team, and I'm surprised they didn't go with something like that in the first place. Also, Flutters probably COULD pull that off. That pegasus is never quite what she seems.

"Applejack? What are you doing?" Annnd he's not falling for this for even a second. Yeah, this was rather obvious.

Pinkie's balloon flyby goes terrible, which provides an actual distraction for Apples to steal a security badge. With her guitar. Where did she get THAT?

Meanwhile, Rares and Dash find a secret entrance into the castle, and it is guarded by... Zephyr Breeze? And he still has his impossible 5 o'clock shadow, too. HOW DO PONIES SHAVE?

Also, what's with the size of those guards? Some of them are only half the normal size. Are they foals? Is Canterlot employing children, now?

But why Zephyr? Oh. OHH. Oh no. No. Do not go there, episode. DO NOT GO- and they totally go there. They are totally going to exploit Zephyr creeping on Dash.

SWEET CELESTIA, what is THAT? Did... did Rarity really just turn Rainbow Dash into Rainbow Slut? What IS that look supposed to be?

And of course she goes to "seduce" Zephyr. Groan. Yep, we really are going there today. This is just... gross. I wouldn't be surprised if this was Haber's idea, to be honest.

Wait, the secret entrance was one of the sealed ones? Wasn't the whole point to find one that WASN'T sealed? And Rarity just magically yanks the bricks out, too. You'd think Shining would have anticipated that.

I don't know why they have Zephyr creep on Dash anyway, given how obviously gay he is coded. But whatever. Moving SWIFTLY on.

Meanwhile, Spike cuts a piece out of a stained glass window. And it's a solid glass disc. That is not how stained glass works. Also, I don't think the Princesses are going to be too happy about that sort of vandalism.

Spike and Flutters get spotted by the geese, but hide inside the trap door, and Luna writes it off as "another false alarm". Which begs the question of what the value of a security system is when you can't even work in the throne room it is installed in?

Also, why are these geese pink? And have... teeth? And really fat beaks? Have the animators never seen a goose?

Fluttershy has suddenly developed claustrophobia. Was this a thing before? I feel like this is new.

Spike has a heart to heart with Flutters about not really being seen as their little brother, and it is all rather heartbreaking. Also, I guess Spike is canonically Twi's brother, now? So the assistant/baby thing is now retconned?

Dash and Rares find them, and for some reason they decide this is a "dead end". I'm not seeing this. The throne room is RIGHT above them. Isn't it a question of just sneaking back in now?

Also, Rarity is grossed out by a couple rats scurrying past, which, being friends with Flutters, is a REALLY weird and out of place reaction. Especially when doing it right in front of Flutters. She is RIGHT. THERE. Rarity.

The four find a grate to the garden where Twilight, Ponks, and Apples are, which means Shining missed an entrance to the tunnels? This one would seem rather obvious.

Twilight decides to take Spike's advice and go with her predictable plan anyway.

"What are little brothers for?" Annnd Twi completely leaves him hanging there. Wow.

Pinkie throws a party, and the guards are immediately falling for this. These guards sure are easily distracted. No wonder security is awful. Like I said, it's not the NUMBER of guards that is the problem here.

Meanwhile, Zephyr is fired, and Apples bucks her way through solid rock to MAKE her own entrance.

Also meanwhile, Rarity sneaks in with her stolen badge, disguised as a guard... WITH her normal hairstyle. And a fake masculine voice. Which apparently works. Also, this rather highlights that there are NO female guards. At all. Why else would she need to impersonate a male guard?

Fluttershy soothes the geese, but only AFTER they start honking. Wouldn't that count as an alarm?

Shining stops them at the last minute though, but then Spike turns out to have stolen the crown behind everyone's back. With the help of Luna. Who is stroking a goose like she is a Bond villain.

So, elaborate plan said short, Luna and Spike cheated to one-up Celestia and Shining.

"I, um, apologize, for not listening to your concerns, sister. It seems we have to make adjustments to account for threats INSIDE the castle as well as outside, if you agree?" "If you think it's worth discussing." Wow. WOW. That was some passive aggressive mud slinging right there. And the mean looks they are pulling, too. They look like they are ready to have a cat fight.

Also, yeah, Celestia is right. This was cheating, and clearly not according to the rules of the challenge.

But Spike gets the crown because feels, I guess. So that's that. I can't say I was particularly invested in the sibling rivalry thing, especially with Spike, as it was only JUST set up this episode. The episode doesn't really do enough to set the conflict up to make the payoff work well.

Wait, that's it? The episode ends here? What about that passive aggressive shit from Celestia and Luna? What WAS that all about, anyway? Those two are acting like they are going to be at each other's throat any second, now.

Where's the Friendshipping now, Twilight? This is happening right in front of you. DO SOMETHING!

Well, that was the 200th episode. Was it good? For a regular episode, perhaps. It didn't feel quite special enough for such a milestone, though. I think the 100th episode pulled it off much better in that regard, even though it overdid the fanservice a little.

For having SO many writers work on this episode, it was a bit of a letdown, to be honest. I guess too many cooks have spoiled the soup.

Rainbow Dash being forced to flirt with Zephyr was the worst part of the episode, to me. Especially because while he was at least punished by losing his job, since he never found out (on-screen) that Rainbow only did that because Rarity made her, that's going to make him even more delusional about his chances with her than he already is. If it needed to be flirting, Rarity should've done it herself, since it was her idea. Although I'm not sure if that was Haber's idea since Word of God is that Ashleigh Ball wanted to have a scene where Rainbow Dash and Zephyr play off each other again. However, they could've played off each other in a way that didn't have to involve Rainbow Dash being forced to flirt with him. Maybe he could've been annoying in a different way, like if he wanted to try to design new outfits for the Wonderbolts. Although come to think of it, it makes sense that he'd appear in a story about sibling rivalry/disagreements, because of all the Mane 6's siblings, he's the one who has the most clashing disagreements with his sister (to the point that Fluttershy gets so angry at him she uses an Informed Obscenity).

On the topic of Fluttershy, one scene in this episode that I really liked was when she and Spike had their talk while they were in the catacombs. They pretty rarely have scenes where they are paired up together, which, now that I think about it, is a bit ironic since noticing Spike was what got Fluttershy to speak up and get excited in her first appearance. As for her new claustrophobia, she talked about it reminding her of the events of "Castle Mania" where she was afraid of Angel Bunny being hurt/lonely in the Castle of the Two Sisters. So it might be something that only started after that incident, and might be only more intense if she's in enclosed spaces in a castle/palace.

I've seen it mentioned on this site that Rainbow Dash's outfit looks similar to that of Megara from Disney's Hercules. I thought that was interesting because in that movie, Megara was ordered by Hades to flirt with Hercules to find out his weaknesses, which was similar to what Rarity made Rainbow Dash do.

As for who raised Spike, I think it might have been implying that Twilight's parents helped her raise him.

Edit: I was thinking about why Rarity would be insensitive enough to force Rainbow Dash to flirt with a stallion who she sees as an Abhorrent Admirer, and then I wondered if Rarity even knows what it's like to be the target of unwanted flirting. She's used to using flirting herself as a way of getting information or objects from other ponies (for example, "Putting Your Hoof Down"), and while she doesn't romantically reciprocate Spike's crush on her, she doesn't mind taking advantage of it to get things from him (which is probably what she wanted Rainbow Dash to mimic by flirting with Zephyr). And the two ponies she had unrequited crushes on both had some sort of high status (Blueblood and Trenderhoof), and especially with Blueblood she expected him to do favors for him (and then was shocked that he wanted her to do favors for him instead). Which makes me wonder if Rarity (on some level) sees flirting as a tool to get what you want rather than as a way of showing sincere romantic attraction, so it doesn't occur to her that other ponies might be uncomfortable with using it in the same way or even uncomfortable with being flirted with. This doesn't necessarily excuse her behavior, but thinking about it that way helped me understand where she got the idea to do that to Rainbow Dash.

Edited by Rainbow on Apr 22nd 2019 at 10:03:00 AM

Zephy being here because of the theme of sibling rivalries could work... if they actually MET each other. But they don't, and all we get is a very short call back. And the other Apples or Sweetie Belle are not even IN this episode, I think.

The thing about who raised Spike is rather confusing, as we JUST had an episode last year that reaffirmed the bond of PARENTHOOD between Twilight and Spike. This show just can't make up it's mind about their exact relationship.

Huh, Rarity using flirting as a tool being a flaw of hers makes great sense. Of course the episode doesn't go anywhere with it, let alone address it.

I get that the VA wanted the scene, but I think the end result did more harm than good.

Edited by Redmess on Apr 23rd 2019 at 11:37:52 AM

Post of the Day #2494

Posted by Crowind on Sat, 3rd Dec '11 5:08:19 PM - Post #48934 in the old thread

I have now completed the eighth season. :) Time to get started on the ninth.

So, I've finished "the Cutie Map" two-parter this afternoon.

I have to say, this was a fantastic story.

Maybe it's because I'm still shaking off the nonsense from tirek's rampage yet this was a such a breath of fresh air. It's probably the most logical two-parter I've seen, the threat is not so overt as "scary monster wants to destroy Equestria" and the problem is solved by the main characters giving everybody the chance to take back their lives and identities and not by magical one-hit buttons.

And Starlight Glimmer. She is a really good villain, leagues above tirek. For one thing, she actually has a motive for what she does: she's trying to enforce an ideology of equality that she seems to genuinely believe is for the best for everybody and will do whatever she needs to ensure this philosophy will persevere.

It also helps that she's so delightfully dark. Every action she does always carries this air of menace and almost everything she says has a threat behind it. I kept comparing her actions to that of a gang leader and I kept finding the comparison apt.

Capturing a Princess and brainwashing her so she could spread her ideology? Locking the main characters in a shed until all of them capitulate and become part of "Our Town"? Having Fluttershy try to point to any dissidents when she tries to become part of "Our Town" and then having Fluttershy stay with her until her cottage is made so as to keep an eye on any new converts to be sure they're being serious?

Wen Starlight Glimmer prequel story?

I also couldn't get enough of Pinkamena not liking this place in the slightest. Ever since she got here before she was stuffed in the shed, she literally almost always has an expression of contempt and suspicion. It was hilarious watching her almost never not despise this place in as open a manner as she could with no words.

Also also, why was there a random Wilhelm Scream when everybody was celebrating after Glimmer fled? Why?

Now, the Cutie Map stuff is not my cup of tea because it seems so undefined and unexplained. How and why could it know what's happening there and why would it care? How could it care?

Still, it's a good start.

Edited by fredhot16 on Apr 30th 2019 at 6:18:16 AM

Wen Starlight Glimmer prequel story?

Oh, you sweet summer child.

Enjoy it while it lasts, because Starlight Glimmer gets a complete personality change and backstory retcon the next time she appears.

Don't expect any more explanation on the Map, either. It is little more than a convenient plot generator, unless someone actively messes with it. In that case, it could pretty much destroy the universe.

Post of the Day #2495

Posted by storyyeller on Sun, 8th Sep '13 4:06:33 PM - Post #396577 in the old thread

Sigh, I really like Starlight Glimmer.

I don't even know why I'm so defensive of her. I just kinda am. 3 Years of debates have kinda rattled my soul.

I will say, in theory I don't think what we see of her backstory is "bad". It's just there should've been more of it. It should've been a pivotal inciting incident, but not all we see.

Edited by GNinja on Apr 24th 2019 at 12:57:55 PM