Kazooie Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Predictable isn't the same thing as bad though, and I enjoyed the episode, especially the ending. It was nice to see all of them agree the castle looked bad instead of each one fighting to defend what they brought in as harshly as I expected them too. It was predictable yeah, but it was a nice little episode with a really nice ending, and honestly I expected something along the lines of this episode with the new castle, makes sense with Twilight being attached to her old home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake the Sage Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Oh yeah, I don't think anyone would disagree that this was a bad episode. This was very enjoyable and there are things I still saw on my second viewing, just a few minutes ago, that I still find funny. Fan art never ceases to amaze me: Though this one sums up the episode nicely . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Progenitor Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Predictable isn't the same thing as bad though, and I enjoyed the episode, especially the ending. It was nice to see all of them agree the castle looked bad instead of each one fighting to defend what they brought in as harshly as I expected them too. It was predictable yeah, but it was a nice little episode with a really nice ending, and honestly I expected something along the lines of this episode with the new castle, makes sense with Twilight being attached to her old home. Never said it was bad. Said it wasn't great. There's a difference. The fact that I literally could have stopped after the first 5-6 minutes of the episode because I knew exactly what was going to happen due to them following the textbook cliche completely docks the episode a few points. But other than that it was a standard episode. Nothing wrong with that. I'm just saying they could have actually done something creative with the middle of the episode instead of following the trope from point A to point B without any deviation. It's fine to go from Point A to Point B. It's how you do it that makes or breaks the episode. The episode was very unoriginal. Sweet, but unoriginal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepy Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 I agree that the episode has been done before. Though to its defense, this plot needed to happen after Twilight lost her house and because fans overall liked the old tree house better, so it needed a proper departure. I think the tree house was blown out because realistically Twilight would have still kept on living there if it wasn't, and now that she's a princess I guess they eventually wanted to try giving her a castle like with all other princesses. I personally think Twilight did not need a castle to begin with, and Luna already was somewhat breaking this pattern by living at Celestia's Canterlot castle rather than her own at the Ever-free Forest. In fact now that I think about it, what was the purpose of Twilight and company repairing that old castle again? Anyways, I'm getting side-tracked here. The episode is still not a bad one (so yeah, I disagree that this is a bad episode) since it did have a few instances in which it broke free from the usual course of action these take. They didn't fight over their plans and actually were cooperating pretty nicely as shown when AJ feeds Fluttershy's animals or Rarity decorates Pinkie's cupcakes. It was only after looking at the end result that all of them agreed that it wasn't a good job. Besides, I enjoy it when these characters interact in mundane settings once in a while, and after the fights with Tirek for the sake of Equestria and freeing a town from communism, I think they needed something like this. There are a couple issues too. Applejack's lack of honesty was weird considering her previous season's lines were often pretty blunt, even if they ended up risking getting someone offended. I understand Spike lacks as much Justifiable screen-time as Applejack does, and that they needed to find an excuse to have the one holding back Twilight communicate with them, but still. Or how did Rainbow know exactly where Spike was sitting? Are all beds near the windows?, and how small can that store be? One would expect them to still believe Spike and Twilight to be at the Spa. I think Spike should have gotten the message of "keep stalling" without the girls realizing he spotted them and certainly without giving him feedback. Things like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobax Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHl3p-Wml60 Don't forget the moment in this scene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake the Sage Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 So I think we'll be getting a birthday episode tomorrow/today. Also remember how we were talking about the fact we were getting a comic book about the villains back story? Well I managed to pick up two of the three that's already out- Tirek and the Sirens; missing the one I really want, King Sombra. Apparently Tirek is a prince and eventually becomes King after he, probably, kills his father. Nothing really very interesting about him or anything out of what we'd expect from his back story. It was the Sirens that were more interesting. For starters they were hilarious! Oddly enough Starswirl attempted to defeat them using the same method, harmony music, but he could only keep them at bay and . . . Oh God I'mma just let it speak for itself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepy Posted April 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAuiS7JvXec&feature=youtu.be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Progenitor Posted April 18, 2015 Report Share Posted April 18, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny59kjNfuZA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toffee. Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 As usual, we can never make up our minds about Cutie Marks... Guh... Also, I'll leave this here: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shalltear Bloodfallen Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 [spoiler=Hiding it for now since spoilers]I wont lie, this episode just snuck its way in near, if not on top, of my "worst episode" list if only since I could call it immediately that she was dreaming whenever they revealed that she had a cute mark since it's become so much of a defining trait for all three of the cmc characters that they dont have one, ultimately making this feel like a complete waste of my time (the moral even feels half-assed to me even when you remove the metaphor being made and put it bluntly) If there's one thing I hate in storytelling, it's "It was all a dream". It's the most basic step ever to allow whatever happened to have absolutely no impact on the characters involved. Add that on top of also knowing what spawns said dream(s) (getting a cutie mark you dont want, having friends/family shun you for your cutie mark) and the plot as a whole just feels verry basic and predictable :I One saving grace did happen however. Call me crazy, but everything about the shadow (voice, "what it did" and appearance) reminds me quite alot of Starlight Glimmer (minus the lack of a equall sign cutie mark, though it would've been a dead giveaway). Would be a interesting callback, considering that she effectively got away (and my hatred for her aside)[/spoiler] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake the Sage Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 I won't lie, this episode just snuck its way in near, if not on top, of my "worst episode" list if only since I could call it immediately that she was dreaming whenever they revealed that she had a cute mark So in other words because you, a full mature twenty year old male, could tell it was a dream the moment Apple Bloom got her cutie mark the episode instantly becomes "the worst"? If so then my dear friend you have way too high of expectations . . . Since it's become so much of a defining trait for all three of the CMC characters that they don't have one, ultimately making this feel like a complete waste of my time. (the moral even feels half-assed to me even when you remove the metaphor being made and put it bluntly) Yes it's true that most fans don't see the CMC getting their cutie marks at different times, it's still a possibility. As for the moral what's wrong with the moral "be true to yourself"? It's a damn good moral to have and teach so in the end I don't think it detracts at all from the overall episode. If there's one thing I hate in storytelling, it's "It was all a dream". It's the most basic step ever to allow whatever happened to have absolutely no impact on the characters involved. Yeah, because the CMC haven't learned anything at all. You're right in most "it's all a dream" scenarios that ends up being the case. That said in MLP Luna made each of the CMC conscious of their problems so that they could understand why they were having nightmares- thus actually having an impact on them. Add that on top of also knowing what spawns said dream(s) (getting a cutie mark you dont want, having friends/family shun you for your cutie mark) and the plot as a whole just feels very basic and predictable :I That I won't deny. This was very by-the-books and in a way that had no surprises for me or older audiences. So for me while this isn't one of my favorite episodes and I don't think this will be one when I see replaying I'll be sure to have a second sit down with, it doesn't make it a bad episode. It had some good moments, which I'll expand upon in a moment. I actually watched this episode with my niece, who is a big fan of MLP and is of the target demographic age. She actually liked the episode more than me and didn't figure out it was a dream until it was said in episode. So . . . yeah . . . One saving grace did happen however. Call me crazy, but everything about the shadow (voice, "what it did" and appearance) reminds me quite alot of Starlight Glimmer (minus the lack of a equall sign cutie mark, though it would've been a dead giveaway). Would be a interesting callback, considering that she effectively got away (and my hatred for her aside)[/spoiler] Yeah looking for continuity beyond the first episode with MLP? You MUST be knew (XD) Okay all sarcasm aside the moment Luna revealed that it was Apple Bloom's shadow, or in other words her insecurities, I take it as just that. It was her shadow, nothing more . . . no matter how fucking awesome it would've been if the shadow was Starlight Glimmer (>>) If it does end up being Starlight Glimmer then by Starswirls' hairy balls that was a good trick they just pulled! But, until then, it was a pretty lame set up for a very lack luster episode. [hr] Alright, my personal thoughts. I honestly didn't like this episode. Is it the worst the series has ever made? Hardly- that dubious honor goes to "The Equestria Games". I just think it was handled poorly. The basic synopsis of this episode is as follows: The CMC discover Babs Seed has gotten her cutie mark, raising fears and doubt about what would happen if they finally did get their cutie marks. Naturally, dreams are the best way to go about this as it causes each one to give us a "what if" scenario for the worries the CMC, specifically Apple Bloom, is facing. Not getting a cutie mark you want Loosing your friends Not being accepted by your family I'll say out of the four the first was my favorite. It actually played into Apple Blooms psychology a bit as initially accepting her cutie mark before in a very fitting way, via Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, that the cutie mark she got wasn't the one she had hoped for. It's then that Gloom, her darker side, comes in and convinces her that she doesn't need this cutie mark and removes it after having gone through a traumatic scenario of seeing Ponyville ruined because of her mistake. The second and third dreams I can also see working for someone of her age. The CMC state that since Babs has her cutie mark now she can't be a Cutie Mark Crusader anymore, a fact I'll touch upon later. So it isn't a big leap to have Apple Bloom think that since she isn't a member of the CMC that her friends wouldn't want to spend time with her- illogical to us old enough to know better, but a believable jump in logic for someone Apple Bloom's age. It's the fourth nightmare that I'm finding hard to accept. Even if she hasn't figured out at this point that she is having a nightmare- which she doesn't, in fact she believes it's a spell. Only Luna reveals it's really a dream. That said, the Apple Family has such a tight bond that I'm finding it hard to believe that even in a nightmare Apple Bloom wouldn't be able to put two-and-two together the moment everyone is telling her to leave because of her cutie mark. Sure you can make the same debate that it's the same believable leap in logic as the second and third dream . . . but it holds less grounds here since this is her family and it's been shown the Apple family sticks together through thick and thin. So all in all I'll give this episode: C- It is an interesting concept but could've been executed a lot better. [hr] Now a few things I saw that I think are worth mentioning . . . While I don't understand the concept of "can't be a Cutie Mark Crusader if you have a cutie mark", I dislike that the entire situation is left unresolved. After all if comics are canon then Discord is an honorary Cutie Mark Crusader. I dunno . . . I just dislike that they're so willing to kick Babs out now that she has her cutie mark. I wish the lullaby that Applejack sang was the "Hush Now Quiet Now" one that Fluttershy sang all the way back in Season One. I mean do you know how much we, the fandom, would've flipped out for that? I mean it's continuity, it's already a nice song, and to hear Applejack sing it would've been a-fucking-mazing! I love Apple Blooms original reaction to her first cutie mark- screaming so damn loud even ponies outside and probably in Canterlot can hear her! The reaction we all were expecting. Apparently everyone is thinking Bane All I can think of is the Pyro from Team Fortress II If twittermites are real then they're a cool concept. Also: I like the second cutie mark is actually believable . . . I think it's funny that the most we hear of Big Mac talking is in a damn dream! (XD) Heh . . . Finally I love that Scootaloo begins to fly around the moment she realizes that she's dreaming. I mean that's so fucking adorable!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepy Posted April 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Personally, I think it was a very predictable thing to notice that she was dreaming, but I could still get past that without trouble. It was overall fine. It is harmless. It did have some scenes I would have liked them to do differently. Some of these could even have had a little more time to them. I liked the concept of getting a cutie mark that you don't like since it is on pair with the IRL world (outside of MLP) where we the adults know that we won't always get to have our dream job. Some series in the past have touched on the subject. Yes I know in MLP it isn't really possible because your cutie mark is something that represents you and what you are passionate about. Maybe this topic is a little too mature for this show? I still think it would have been a pretty cool topic to go for. They kind of glanced over it with Applebloom's first dream cutie mark, and she ended up mastering it and not hating it AS much, until Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon showed up that is. It had to be cut short because they wanted to present the other two scenarios plus the overall resolution. This needed some more time. As is, Applebloom wouldn't have a satisfying conclusion until the end of the episode. The way it could have ended is with Applebloom getting that mark back, saving the day, and no longer let herself be ashamed of what it represents by Diamond Tiara or anybody else. That would have made her live out her fear and overcome it when she realized life is not necessarily hell when you don't have life go absolutely ideal. I would have probably picked a different CMC for each scenario because after the 4th time Applebloom woke up I was about fed up with it. Being rejected by family wouldn't have happened without them still having some degree of worry for her well being left, but the nightmare family was kinda more mean spirited than what I could believe. I'd probably leave the family-related one to Applebloom with the potion cutie mark, and the first scenario to Scootaloo since she can use that scooter for quick transportation and even sort of mix it into that job. The rejection by friends part is kind of there if they were thinking about it IRL with Bab. I know she had to be the trigger but using the same trigger for all of these made it all be short on time. They could have tackled that one outside of dreams with an actual appearance of Bab, even with an entire episode for that.... Then again, that's a pretty silly lesson even if not a bad one. As a side note, it'd be great if the skills from the first dream were eventually useful outside of the dream. It'd be an amazing touch for me. On the "dream = pointless" argument: In this show, Luna being able to interact and connect dreams as a fact makes dreams as relevant as their time awake, and just as real. They pretty much are on another world but still hanging out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Progenitor Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Luna got screentime. All arguments on the legitimacy of the episode are rendered. invalid. :Kappa: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shalltear Bloodfallen Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 *snip* To be fair, you do make a good point in that most of my issues with this episode is in all likelyhood that yeah, simply put, I'm to old (and developed bias against this show once S4 wrapped up), despite the all to popular argument of how this is a show for "both a younger and older audience" (in terms of plot,) But make no misstake, I dont hate this episode only because "It was all a dream" (and if my wording made it seem as such, then apologies) I hate it because to me, the way the plot is executed makes it fall flat on its face. Particularly on the moral since they bring it across to us in "tell, dont show". My reasoning being that I'd argue we never truly see Apple Bloom even beginning to accept that no matter what her talent is, as long as she accepts it everyone else will to, instead the one moment the show had to truly deal with such a topic, we're immediately wisked away into the next dream untill Luna reveals herself and explains it all. I dunno, maybe I've just gotten to cynical for this show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Warden Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 I'm just of the opinion now that Luna just likes screwing with Fillies in their dreams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobax Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 at least Apple bloom got a a turn with luna now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Dude Posted April 23, 2015 Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 Grrrrrrrr. I WISH THERE WAS AN EPISODE WHERE DIAMOND TIARA GETS BULLIED BECAUSE HER FAMILY SUDDENLY BECAME POOR! I even have a pony lined up for it: Gold Nugget, a young male pony whose as mean as, maybe even more meaner than, Diamond Tiara. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Progenitor Posted April 23, 2015 Report Share Posted April 23, 2015 Grrrrrrrr. I WISH THERE WAS AN EPISODE WHERE DIAMOND TIARA GETS BULLIED BECAUSE HER FAMILY SUDDENLY BECAME POOR! I even have a pony lined up for it: Gold Nugget, a young male pony whose as mean as, maybe even more meaner than, Diamond Tiara. But then that would cause her character to develop beyond "bitch" :Kappa: It's 3 am why the hell am I still online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Dude Posted April 24, 2015 Report Share Posted April 24, 2015 But then that would cause her character to develop beyond "b****" :Kappa: It's 3 am why the hell am I still online. It's not that I'm a fan, it's just that I wish she would have a taste of her own medicine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake the Sage Posted April 25, 2015 Report Share Posted April 25, 2015 It's not that I'm a fan, it's just that I wish she would have a taste of her own medicine. I'd actually like to see an episode that explains Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon in depth. I mean not replace them with some new filly or colt but instead have them kind of get fleshed out more than the routine "school yard bully/rich snobby kid". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepy Posted April 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6wiWUKaSmw&feature=youtu.be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Progenitor Posted April 25, 2015 Report Share Posted April 25, 2015 I mean.... Most animals Hibernate for around 6 months Tortoises only do it for 10-12 weeks, if even that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toffee. Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Dash destroyed everything I guess you could call it a Rainbow Factory :kappa: No, seriously, this episode is a goldmine for images/reactions/gifs/etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro Dude Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 Dash destroyed everything I guess you could call it a Rainbow Factory :Kappa: No, seriously, this episode is a goldmine for images/reactions/gifs/etc Hard to imagine she got away with it and no one was all: "Rainbow Dash, for destroying the winter cloud factory, you are hereby Banished from Cloudsdale." And some ponies cast a hyper gravity spell so Rainbow Dash can't get off the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobax Posted April 26, 2015 Report Share Posted April 26, 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZQ9684bT7c this is the moment of time when it time to give her some ice cream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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