Friendship is Magic

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 12:32 am

Just started watching the new episode. If Spike has that much of a compulsion to eat, then 1) how did he save them up? and 2) he should be much more rotund...

Ted the Flayer · Post by **Ted the Flayer** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 4:36 am

I have a bullshit answer for #2: He's a D&D dragon and doesn't metabolize things in that way. The extra calories are stored as magical energy in his draco fundamentum rather than as glycogen in adipose tissues as a normal being would.

And I mostly like the episode. And Spike episodes in general, Spike's my bro. (I wonder if that's a shirt yet, because i would totally wear it). I thought Zacora was being needlessly mysterious but was right in the fact that Spike was letting his greed get away from him. And I have always wanted to see Spike and the CMC's interact more; I see Spike to be closer to the CMC's in age and mindset than the rest of the cast. Granny Smith was being a bitch for no reason, but honestly she's old enough that she can just do that if she feels like it.

Angel was a dick as usual, but it's nice to see him being justified for once.

I thought the rehabilitation of discord felt rushed a bit. Could have been a two-parter. Good, but not great. Despite losing some points for all the fluttercord shipping I've seen lately.

I'll contradict something I said and say that I didn't like Spike At Your Service. The episode was hilarious, but why did Spike all of a sudden get stupid when helping Applejack? Spike seems more competent than some of the mane 6 normally (Not as together as Rarity and Applejack by any means, but I'd put him nearly even with Twi and a bit ahead of Fluttershy and way ahead of Rainbow Dash in terms of general competence. Pinky is only competent as a plot device, so she's hyper useful when the plot demands it and not so much otherwise.) And someone writing the show likes mustaches...

Voss · Post by **Voss** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:32 pm

Ted the Flayer wrote: And I have always wanted to see Spike and the CMC's interact more; I see Spike to be closer to the CMC's in age and mindset than the rest of the cast.

He pretty much has to be, though they're admittedly waving away the possibility that the species age at different rates.
Remember he hatched when all of the mane 6 got their marks, and as far as we can tell from AJ and Rarity's stories, neither Applebloom nor Sweetie were around. (Though it raises a hell a lot of questions about where applebloom comes from, since it was just Mac and Granny seeing AJ off and welcoming her back). So depending on the where you want to put ages (I believe semi-official, the main cast is in their early 20s), and when cutie marks happen, I'd guess that the CMC/Spike are somewhere between 10-15, with Spike leaning slightly higher. simply because there is no evidence the CMCs were even born when he was hatched. He's probably about 10-12 years younger than Twilight.

I thought the rehabilitation of discord felt rushed a bit. Could have been a two-parter. Good, but not great.

A bit?
Celestia: Fluttershy will make him good again!
Other five: No way!
Fluttershy: Way!
Done.

About the only thing I liked about it was Twilight found a line where she will completely lose her shit, even if Celestia is involved.

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:12 pm

here there may be spoilers?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... 3kMGDHrqFg
perhaps a bit?
if you don't mind?

"My Little Pony Friendship is Magic" follows the studious young unicorn Twilight Sparkle and her five pony friends as they teach one another about the most powerful magic of all, the magic of friendship! In the special coronation episode "Magical Mystery Cure," Twilight Sparkle accidentally casts a spell that switches the Cutie Marks and destinies of all her friends, and the only way she can reverse the spell is by writing her own magic. Little does she know that by achieving this great accomplishment, she will fulfill her destiny and emerge a princess.

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:36 am

That last line of that spoiler is something I was pondering when I rewatched the Season 3 opener again yesterday.

Voss · Post by **Voss** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:38 am

Hmm. It seemed pretty much a given in Season 1 Episode 2 when her eyes went white and god mode was unlocked. And then again in 'Cutie Mark Chronicles' (also season 1) when God Mode happened without the Elements in any way at all, when she was still just a filly. Especially alongside the line

'I don't I have ever come across a unicorn with your raw abilities'

because that is a fuck of thing for an (nigh?)-immortal to say to her faithful student.

Though as far as season 3 goes, the beginning and end of Crystal Empire felt like I was being bludgeoned by something blatantly obvious.

Ted the Flayer · Post by **Ted the Flayer** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:46 am

I always felt there was an undertone of "Princess Celestia has take Twilight as her student because that much raw power is dangerous if not watched closely". Lesson Zero, to give an example.

Maj · Post by **Maj** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:22 am

Voss wrote:Though as far as season 3 goes, the beginning and end of Crystal Empire felt like I was being bludgeoned by something blatantly obvious.

Yeah, that being Twilight Sparkle is frickin' smacktarded because she actually thinks saving the crystal kingdom is some sort of school exam.

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:22 pm

i propose this instead:

Ted the Flayer · Post by **Ted the Flayer** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 11:47 pm

/kneels

But seriously, am I the only brony that is alright if Twi becomes a princess? I'm wondering if bronies are actually a toxic influence on the series, because let's face it: most of us are kind of fucked in the head (glances at Count Auroch).

If I wanted to read a story dictated by bronies, I'd go read/write a fanfic. In fact, I've got a mind to ship an 18 year old version of both Spike and Sweetie Belle together, because I think Rarity would be an unbearable nag in a relationship (hurr, get it?)

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:04 am

I'm cool with Twilight becoming a princess. I think it's a bit trite and heavy handed, but not surprised or averse to it.

virgil · Post by **virgil** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:08 am

I'm alright if she becomes a pegacorn, and I'm certainly a brony. The fact it makes people furious is downright bewildering to me.

As an aside, 'tis a shame that John Lancie's brony video didn't at least mention the people who predate FiM; the collectors (of which my girlfriend is one).

Voss · Post by **Voss** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:52 am

Ted the Flayer wrote:But seriously, am I the only brony that is alright if Twi becomes a princess? I'm wondering if bronies are actually a toxic influence on the series, because let's face it: most of us are kind of fucked in the head (glances at Count Auroch).

Nah, to me, it is just common sense.
As for the toxicity of bronies, well, yeah. It isn't all of them, but the rape/murder/gore fetishes are deeply entrenched, in ways that can't be healthy. Though that is as much a general social thing as it is an MLP thing. It just stands out more when people juxtapose friendship and harmony with 'raped to death'.

Maj wrote:
Voss wrote:Though as far as season 3 goes, the beginning and end of Crystal Empire felt like I was being bludgeoned by something blatantly obvious.
Yeah, that being Twilight Sparkle is frickin' smacktarded because she actually thinks saving the crystal kingdom is some sort of school exam.

Yeah, that was... weird. Originally thinking she was going to Canterlot for a test was acceptable, but then it started feeling more and more forced. But the whole setup was weird _anyway_, since PC was all 'you must do this alone. Just you, for serious. But, ah, take your friends. And meet up with your brother and sister-in-law. But it comes down to YOU! For reals. Even though this goes against every single thing you have _ever_ learned over the last two seasons.'

Ted the Flayer wrote:I always felt there was an undertone of "Princess Celestia has take Twilight as her student because that much raw power is dangerous if not watched closely". Lesson Zero, to give an example.

Well, yeah, to be honest, that too. But that really didn't start getting established until about half way through season 1, when she flipped the fuck about about Pinkie Sense

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Fri Feb 01, 2013 3:09 am

Princess Celestia wrote:'you must do this alone. Just you, for serious. But, ah, take your friends. And meet up with your brother and sister-in-law. But it comes down to YOU! For reals. Even though this goes against every single thing you have _ever_ learned over the last two seasons.'

Could be another test. Just saying.

Count Arioch the 28th · Fri Feb 01, 2013 3:30 am

Voss wrote: As for the toxicity of bronies, well, yeah. It isn't all of them, but the rape/murder/gore fetishes are deeply entrenched, in ways that can't be healthy. Though that is as much a general social thing as it is an MLP thing. It just stands out more when people juxtapose friendship and harmony with 'raped to death'.

I am unashamed of clopping, but the rape/murder/gore crap bothers me. Especially the rape, it makes me want to cry just thinking about it.

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:18 am

Memetic Content:
Pony!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... qNyMHKwzCc

Count Arioch the 28th · Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:21 am

I heard that they have leaked that there's going to be a MLP movie. The rumor is that the mane six will enter the human world.

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/7055162880/hF32B6435/

That looks photoshopped because pixels. Also I've seen a few photoshops in my day.

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 1:32 pm

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Sat Feb 16, 2013 9:24 pm

Finally got around to watching last week's episode (so I can see this week's episode).
It took me a moment to realize that, no, the youtube video wasn't mislabeled, the episode is chronologically concurrent with the previous, showing what the ponies were doing while Spike was destabilizing Ponyville's economy.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:01 am

Ok, the fact that the ponies poofing Twilight left a scorch mark in the shape of her cutie mark is a nice touch.

Also, the fact that ascension seems to occur with a great accomplishment of one's talent is kind of cool. Basically it means that if the rest of them might be able to ascend as well, it would just take something like Rainbow Dash outracing a weather system and altering it to save Equestria, Fluttershy could conceivably ascend through calming a mass stampede of animals, etc. Seems like it would kind of suck to be Rarity, as there's no real obvious "great accomplishment for "beautifying."

Stahlseele · Post by **Stahlseele** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:43 am

well, they could also gain this by using their element, not their talent.
Twilight has the bonus that her talent is her element simultanously . .

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:02 am

Well, Twilight is a min maxer, as Friendship is Dragons has shown...

Voss · Post by **Voss** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:42 am

That was seriously rushed, and kind of horrible from a story point of view, since there was zero drama, conflict or journey.

Don't get me wrong, there were some nice touches here and there, but the 'mix-up' only existed to be solved, and was solved with pretty much minimal effort (though padded out to half the episode with the musical number). It honestly felt like an almost D&D experience- killing that one last goblin [or more relevant, doing the RP rewards sequence from Order of the Stick] for the last 5 xp needed to hit the level cap. That it was also the unfinished spell of the greatest unicorn magician to date, and she fixed in under 24 hours was kind of facepalm worthy.

It also should have introduced or at least hinted at a princess-level challenge waiting in the wings, since season 4/3.5 (or 6, given the way they are selling it on iTunes) is more or less confirmed to be happening.

But hey, at least it will make the twinkie shippers happy, since the 'this is your life sequence' had several one-on-one moments with Pinkie, and nopony else (group shots for the rest), and almost opened with excessive cuddling

The cutie-scorch-mark was pretty awesome though, as were the white & blond chorus that they wrassled up for her.

But it definitely needed some meat, or conflict or drama. The emo sequence at the beginning was terrible and insufficient for that purpose, as is the fact that the girls all self-destructed in roughly half a day. And of 13 episodes, it was only connected to the first two. The other 10 were essentially pure filler.

The coronation speech was a nice moment, however.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 7:37 am

It was vaguely implied that the mix up basically erased their entire life memories, so they couldn't even think "Hm, I remember seeing some pony doing this, how'd they do it? I'll try that!" but equally stupidly did not give them entire lifetimes of memories so they could think "well, I've made it this far, apparently, so I must be able to do this!" The result was that the new reality, even if it was only a perceived reality, was that five ponies had become important members of the community while completely incompetent at their jobs.

OgreBattle · Post by **OgreBattle** » Sun Feb 17, 2013 8:06 am

Are there male ponies in MLP? Or is everyone a girl.