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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (Live Reactions & Discussion)

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A thread to discuss My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and the tie-in media.

All of the usual forum rules apply. In addition, please remember that the thread is discussing a kids' show, and it's primarily focused on the work itself, not the fanfic — in particular, we don't want to see lewdness creeping in.

     Original OP text 
I don't know WHAT the Hell happened (I blame shenanigans) but we're going to start from scratch. Post your feels for this awesome show again! Naow!

Edited by Mrph1 on Aug 26th 2024 at 10:24:26 AM

Wryte Since: Jul, 2010
#34926: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:05:52 PM

My problem with Power Ponies (besides not liking any of the costume designs) was that with the exception of the henchman re-paralyzing the girls on an egg timer, the episode was basically just a superhero tropes played straight. It was predictable, and therefore dull. That, and for all the build up about Spike feeling useless, it didn't feel like he accomplished enough to break that feeling by the end of the episode, since once he freed the girls it was pretty much all just them kicking butt. The episode failed to justify its lesson.

For everything wrong with Mysterious Mare Do Well, I actually prefer it to Power Ponies as a superhero episode.

Also, relevant.

edited 3rd Jan '14 8:07:13 PM by Wryte

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#34927: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:09:27 PM

Also, Fillysecond was pretty stupid to charge so slowly with the rest of them straight into the hairspray.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
Seraphem Since: Oct, 2009
#34928: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:11:06 PM

Except Power Ponies managed to get through itself without massacring the setting, or characters.

And how often are the plots NOT predictable? That's never been something big, it's always been about the fun of going along, and power ponies was nothing but pure awesome fun.

Starscream759 Since: May, 2013 Relationship Status: In denial
#34929: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:13:17 PM

@Seraphem Damn right.

"Transform and Roll out!" Optimus Prime
JapaneseTeeth Existence Weighed Against Nonbeing from Meinong's jungle Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Mu
Existence Weighed Against Nonbeing
#34930: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:15:48 PM

Honestly, MMDW is barely even a superhero episode. I don't think you can really compare them too closely.

I do agree that Spike could've had a bigger role in the Mane-iac's defeat, though. I was kinda surprised when Fluttershy ended up being the one who dealt the final blow.

edited 3rd Jan '14 8:16:40 PM by JapaneseTeeth

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Swasfewses Hermit from New York Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Staying up all night to get lucky
Hermit
#34931: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:17:39 PM

and power ponies was nothing but pure awesome fun.
...if you like superhero cliches.

animal-loving
IkeAndMike Exists for some reason from Earth Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: Love is for the living, Sal
Exists for some reason
#34932: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:21:00 PM

As a fan of comics, I most certainly do.

http://h0useb0und.tumblr.com/
JapaneseTeeth Existence Weighed Against Nonbeing from Meinong's jungle Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Mu
Existence Weighed Against Nonbeing
#34933: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:21:47 PM

Yeah, it was a bit predictable, but it was fun, so I don't care too much.

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Eagal Since: Apr, 2012
#34934: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:22:40 PM

Just because something is predictable you don't have to find it dull.

With every passing Naruto chapter I accurately predict that Kishimoto will continue to jerk off Madara with the fury of a thousand shut-ins, but I still go back every week. Seeing Madara thoroughly outclass one or two of the heroes one at a time while the rest stand around and watch from the sidelines is hilarious in its badness.

Wryte Since: Jul, 2010
#34935: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:23:22 PM

I don't know, maybe it would have been better if the episode hadn't been focused on Spike. The episode tried to split its attention between showing how cool the ponies were with their super powers and showing Spike feeling inadequate, but that juxtaposition means I can't enjoy the superpowers because I'm supposed to be sympathizing with Spike's depression, but there was never any real pay off that plot.

It's like if Sokka's Master from ATLA had spent half the episode on that opening scene with the meteorite, and then the benders beat up his mentor for him at the end.

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#34936: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:24:27 PM

And how often are the plots NOT predictable?

Sweet And Elite and Daring Don't weren't predictable.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
CDRW Since: May, 2016
#34937: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:25:43 PM

Bats! on the other hand was disappointingly predictable in very depressing ways.

Seraphem Since: Oct, 2009
#34938: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:25:45 PM

Yes, there are exceptions but on the whole, surprising plot twists have never been a big thing.

[up]?? How was THAT predictable?

edited 3rd Jan '14 8:26:11 PM by Seraphem

Swasfewses Hermit from New York Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Staying up all night to get lucky
Hermit
#34939: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:28:01 PM

I'm not sure about predictable, but nothing that happened was that surprising.

[up][up][up]Daring Don't was pretty predictable IMO.

edited 3rd Jan '14 8:31:26 PM by Swasfewses

animal-loving
CDRW Since: May, 2016
#34940: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:29:42 PM

Flutterbat was the first thing that popped into my mind when the first synopsis that hinted there was more than Fluttershy vs. AJ going on appeared on the scene. But the depresssing was my spot on prediction that Fluttershy was going to be the idiot, but still treated as right by the writers.

edited 3rd Jan '14 8:30:00 PM by CDRW

Crowfall Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
#34941: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:31:02 PM

I think it might have suffered a bit from needing to spend so much time coming up with a reason for them to suddenly be superheroes, and then establishing what all their powers were. There wasn't really a lot of time to develop complex villainous plot. I wonder what it would be like if there was a sequel episode to that which could focus much more on the setting and the villain.

IkeAndMike Exists for some reason from Earth Since: Jan, 2013 Relationship Status: Love is for the living, Sal
Exists for some reason
#34942: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:41:56 PM

"But the depresssing was my spot on prediction that Fluttershy was going to be the idiot, but still treated as right by the writers."

I don't follow. Elaborate?

http://h0useb0und.tumblr.com/
JapaneseTeeth Existence Weighed Against Nonbeing from Meinong's jungle Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Mu
Existence Weighed Against Nonbeing
#34943: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:46:51 PM

I think what he means is that he knew ahead of time that Fluttershy would be treated as the "correct" one for sympathizing with the bats, even though the episode didn't give a realistic reason for why anyone should side with her. I.e. she was treated as being "correct" not because her solution was the most reasonable, but because she's the one who was nice.

Basically, the show has a tendency to dodge the fact that sometimes being overly compassionate can come back to bite you in the ass. As far as the episode goes, I wasn't really put out that Flutters was right, I just wish they would have made an effort to justify it beyond "you should be nice to animals".

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CDRW Since: May, 2016
#34944: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:47:54 PM

Fluttershy's plan was completely nonsensical. That's it. It was to plans what Salvador Dali is to photography.

JapaneseTeeth Existence Weighed Against Nonbeing from Meinong's jungle Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Mu
Existence Weighed Against Nonbeing
#34945: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:51:01 PM

I wouldn't say that it's nonsensical so much as ill-thought out. The idea of "we'll train the bats to stay in a certain area" is something that could work, the problem is that doing so would take a lot of effort and it has a notable risk of failure. The problem isn't that the plan is flawed (e.g. why would the bats stay in one section of the orchard and why should AJ sacrifice her apples for it), it's that the obvious flaws were never addressed and the plan was treated as being the best solution anyway. If Fluttershy would have said something like "I'll take responsibility for making sure the bats stay in their enclosure" or something it would have been a bit more palatable.

It's just that there's a big gaping hole (why should AJ sacrifice the fruits of her labor for an ill-defined and non-guaranteed payoff) that never gets addressed.

edited 3rd Jan '14 8:52:28 PM by JapaneseTeeth

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storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
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#34946: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:51:02 PM

Daring Don't was pretty predictable IMO.

Once the reveal happened sure, but the halfway plot twist came out of nowhere IMO.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
Crowfall Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
#34947: Jan 3rd 2014 at 8:56:41 PM

Really? I thought it was pretty obvious. Course I had seen images of Daring in her writer's garb before hand, so that sort of tipped the plot's hand that Daring was in disguise writing her own stories.

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#34948: Jan 3rd 2014 at 9:01:55 PM

Fluttershy's plan was completely nonsensical. That's it. It was to plans what Salvador Dali is to photography.

Hey, it works in Cookie Clicker.

Also, even if it was unappealing initially, by the end of the episode they were pretty much out of options, so it makes sense that AJ would try any plan being offered.

Really? I thought it was pretty obvious. Course I had seen images of Daring in her writer's garb before hand, so that sort of tipped the plot's hand that Daring was in disguise writing her own stories.

Ah. I went in unspoiled, so the first few minutes made it seem like the episode would be about RD pestering AK Yearling and then eventually learning a lesson about leaving her alone, etc.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
Seraphem Since: Oct, 2009
#34949: Jan 3rd 2014 at 9:06:37 PM

No, they still hadn't even tried to simply get the bats off the farm.

Crowfall Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
#34950: Jan 3rd 2014 at 9:09:30 PM

Does AJ even have the authority to give up part of the field to the bats? You'd think her brother and Granny Smith would want a say in that.


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