EP 8: The Mysterious Mare Do Well
Rating: 2 2 3
Scootaloo is the head of the Rainbow Dash Fan Club. Afterwards, we get a montage of Rainbow Dash saving a bunch a ponies and it gets boring fast. Derpy sighting.
Over 5 minutes in, we finally get out of the montage thing and Rainbow Dash is talking to the Rainbow Dash Fan Club. Spike is revealed to be her ghost writer for her autobiography.
Eventually RD has to save another pony but another pony saves them instead and gets the recognition. Mayor Mare calls them the Mysterious Mare Do Well. Mysterious Mare Do Well saves more ponies in another boring montage thing that lasts too long. Holy shit this goes on too long.
Finally, we get to Sugarcube Corner where the other ponies talk about how good Mysterious Mare Do Well is. Rainbow Dash Complains and Twilight calls her jealous.
What watching this episode feels like.
Scootaloo invites Rainbow Dash to a thank you parade for Mysterious Mare Do Well. At the thing, Mayor Mare calls Ponyville a city. Rainbow Dash confronts Mysterious Mare Do Well and eventually it's revealed that Mysterious Mare Do Well is the other 5 ponies. This was all an op to teach Rainbow Dash a lesson.
This episode sucks. It's very boring with the montage things going on way too long and just is boring throughout. Only gets 2 EV. 2 VB because this episode is just a really shitty Green Isn't Your Color and Boast Busters. 3 DV because no interesting development.
EP 9: Sweet And Elite
Rating: 4 3 4
Rarity gets a suite in Canterlot and kisses Celestia's hooves. She then breaks a poor pony's back with her excessive amount of luggage.
After the theme song, Rarity and Opal are out drinking tea and Rarity states that she was born in Ponyville. She decides to make an outfit for Twilight's birthday. When two snobby ponies approach her to ask about her hat, a country pony who notices Rarity says hi and ruins the situation for Rarity and the snobby ponies disregard Rarity for being from Ponyville. The country pony thinks they're nice though.
Rarity designs a dress and getting the what I assume are materials for it, runs into Fancypants who is apparently the most influential pony in Canterlot I think. When Rarity mentions she's staying at the castle and knows the princess, he takes interest in Rarity and his partner Fleur de Lis acts real uppity.
Rarity considers whether she should make Twilight's dress or go to a Wonderbolts derby with Fancypants and chooses the derby. Fancypants and Rarity bet on who will win and Rarity wins the bet because of Rainbow Dash sperging out about the Wonderbolts. Rarity insecure about her friends lies about who Rainbow Dash is when the snobby ponies question who she is.
Rarity stays longer in Canterlot still not working on Twilight's dress. We then get a Rarity song and it's fine. Opal then tries to get Rarity to work on the dress and then has an ultimatum between attending high society bullshit or going to Twilight's birthday and chooses high society. Then Rarity writes a letter to Twilight lying about needing to stay in Canterlot. As she's about to set off to the high society thing, her friends arrive at her castle suite.
Twilight had decided to move her birthday party to Canterlot and Rarity lies more. She then abuses Opal to keep up her lies. Twilight finds her unfinished dress and likes it thinking it's actually completed.
They all arrive at Twilight's party location which is the ballroom from The Best Night Ever. There's another party outside which is the snobby pony party. Rarity then switches between Twilight's and the other one to keep up her illusions. Eventually her friends find out she's been at the other party and Twilight commends her for being a savvy businesspony like the real friend she is. Twilight also mentions that the Grand Galloping Gala is coming up revealing her birthday is close to the gala. Rarity goes with this and then the others decide to go with her when she goes to the snobby party and her friends ruin it.
Fancypants then asks Twilight who made her dress and she reveals it was Rarity which makes the snobby ponies disgusted. Fancypants reveals himself to be the only one that isn't a complete cunt and likes Twilight's dress and wishes to meet Rarity's friends and the snobby ponies because Fancypants said so, now like Twilight's dress and Rarity again like the uppity cunts they are. Rarity learns not to be a cunt, again.
At this point I noticed that a lot of this season's episodes revolve around the characters being cunts that cause problems for themselves.
It was another alright episode worth 4 EV. I was originally going to give it 4 VB but dropped it to 3 because I realized I'm mixed on the message of the episode stating you are a product of your home and friends. I simply cannot agree with this fully. Yes, it is true that 'home' and 'friends' affect your inherent state but the message of this episode assumes that those are a good thing. It doesn't acknowledge that your 'home' and 'friends' may be a negative influence on you and that influence is something to best diminish. It also states that they're things to be proud of which considering I hold beliefs against having pride in inherent traits, I can't agree with that. 4 DV for exploring Canterlot more and the implications.
EP 10: Secret Of My Excess
Rating: 4 4 3
Today is too important; it is important that Twilight reshelves her books. She just loves the knowledge they provide, and the endless entertainment their stories give. Her whole life has been spent reading and absorbing their endless wisdom, and she always wanted to spend the rest of her days lost in them. This is the time for reorganization, and no book will go unshelved, and no category will go unlabeled. It is time for her to reshelve and it is time for her to reorganize; her chores begin... now!
We learn that next week is Spike's birthday and Rarity manipulates Spike's birthday present to himself out of him. Rarity kisses him for giving her the ruby and he declares he'll never wash his cheek again.
It's now a week later at Spike's birthday party and Twilight chases him after his cheeks. She catches him and cleans his cheek. We then learn that it's his first birthday in Ponyville revealing that his birthday is sometime after Twilight's but before June 20.
Spike opens his presents and has apparently thanked Applejack 15 times for her present.
Spike then gets a cupcake from the Cakes and then Cheerilee gives him a hat. We then get a Derpy sighting. I haven't brought it up yet but Lyra and Bon Bon since season 1 have been frequently appearing in shots together.
Spike then gets the idea to con ponies out of their stuff by telling them it's his birthday. Twilight the next day finds that he's taken a bunch of stuff and then finds that he's grown. Twilight takes him to a doctor and then a vet that states she's never seen a dragon before, further showing Ponyville's isolation. Twilight takes him to Zecora and she makes him slap Twilight. Zecora reveals dragons are inherently greedy and hoarding makes them grow.
Spike then hits the town and starts stealing shit. He continues to grow. After awhile, while Spike is at full size, Wonderbolts appear trying to stop him but he just traps them in a water tower tank. Rarity, who he's also stolen starts womansplaining at him and he just mocks her with a yapping hand gesture which is pretty funny. Then Spike sees the gem he gave Rarity and he snaps out of it and returns to normal. They both fall from high in the sky and Spike confesses to Rarity since he thinks they're gonna die and then RD and Flutters save them. Spike realizes his wrongs and the episode ends.
This will have disastrous effects on the economy.
Yet another alright 4 EV episode. I think I gave it 4 VB for the ending message about giving only because I related it to publishing crap for free instead of trying to make money off it resulting in becoming beholden to parties like advertisers and publishing entities that will corrupt your stuff with monetization and censorship. Not really what the message was but still something. 3 DV 'cause nothing interesting happens in development.
EP 11: Family Appreciation Day
Rating: 6 4 6
We start with Granny Smith freaking the fuck out and we learn that the zap apples are coming. Apple Bloom is excited to help make zap apple jam and Granny Smith forgets what's going on. I find this pretty funny. After Granny tells Apple Bloom to sweep, we see the zap apple trees begin to grow.
Diamond Tiara and her father Filthy Rich come to Sweet Apple Acres and Filthy Rich calls Granny Smith "Mrs. Smith" implying she was married. We then learn that he has a business deal with the Apple family regarding the zap apple jam.
Diamond Tiara then tries to make Apple Bloom insecure about being around Granny Smith. And holy shit I just realized who Apple Bloom's bunny outfit reminds me of...
Filthy Rich then smacks a cauldron stuck on Granny's head and this is pretty funny. Later, Apple Bloom is insecure about being around Granny and then Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon find them and laugh at them.
The next scene, Filthy Rich is explaining to the school children his business's rise in Ponyville and everyone is either bored or asleep except Diamond Tiara who's absolutely enamored by her father's story showing that she loves him. Apple Bloom is then selected to bring in one of her family members to speak next week.
We then see the zap apples begin to bloom. Next scene, we're at the CMC clubhouse and we can see the zap apple blooms on the trees through the windows which is a nice detail of continuity.
We then see Granny Smith drill instructing a bunch of jars and 'court marshals' one which means court marshaling exists in Equestria. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle try to make Apple Bloom look sick to get out of bringing Granny Smith to her school presentation thing but this fails.
The CMC get the idea to try to change the zap apple harvest day. Sweetie Belle tries bucking the zap apples but gets electrocuted and thrown across the screen and it's fucking hilarious. Going back and forth frame by frame is even more hilarious and I spent a few minutes doing this on my initial viewing on my PS5. Too bad VLC can't go back a frame for some fucking reason. They try picking the zap apples but fail and get flung into a mud pit.
Next Cheerilee arrives at the Apple family home and what the hell is going on with her cutie mark?
She's there because Apple Bloom told her Granny Smith wanted to speak with her. We then get a bit with a sleeping Granny Smith being marionetted by the CMC to tell Cheerilee she can't come to the school presentation thing. Granny then wakes up and goes to talk to Cheerilee outside with her forelegs still tied to the rope and as she confirms to Cheerilee she's gonna be at the thing, she caresses and pats Cheerilee and then just levitates up being pulled by the rope that's now somehow outside and this is one of the funniest moments in the show so far.
The zap apples are ready for harvest and the CMC send Granny Smith away in another attempt to get her to not come to the school presentation. This works and Granny sets off. We then arrive back at the school and it's time for Apple Bloom's Family Appreciation Day is what it's called. Granny Smith then arrives to Apple Bloom's surprise and says the thing.
Granny Smith then pulls out a map with Latin script on it. Immersion ruined.
Granny Smith say the thing again.
Granny Smith then tells the story of the founding of Ponyville and how she helped found it. We also learn how zap apples were important to Ponyville's development. We also learn about Diamond Tiara's great grandfather Stinkin' Rich.
After her story, Apple Bloom and everyone understand how important Granny Smith is to Ponyville.
This episode was amazing. It was hilarious with Granny Smith's antics and thoroughly entertaining throughout. It is truly worthy of 6 EV. It gets 4 VB for Granny's character and the message of understanding the greatness that wacky people may possess. The learning of Ponyville's founding alone makes this episode worthy of 6 DV but we also get a few little lore details like Filthy Rich's business.
EP 12: Baby Cakes
Rating: 2 1 4
I'm not watching this episode again. My notes tell me just to mention that the episode after the theme song takes place a month later, the Pinkie song sucks, and to show this DeviantArt Pinkie Pie:
2 EV because I just wanted the episode to end. The only vaguely entertaining part was the horror thing with Pumpkin Cake and the chicken toy. 1 VB because I fucking hate the constant baby crying and I don't give a shit about the generic "babiez r big responsibility" message. 4 DV because the Cake twins now exist.
EP 13: Hearth's Warming Eve
Rating: 4 6 6
It's now winter again and we see a train that can drive itself instead of being pulled by ponies so I'm just going to assume the train in Over A Barrel had a broken engine or something so ponies were employed to pull it. Derpy's at the top too just like in this season's theme song. Also notice how they now take a train to Canterlot instead of just walking there. However this could be explained by the cold weather but this is the start of taking the train to Canterlot I think.
At the stage we get a Derpy:
The Mane 6 are starring in a reenactment of the founding of Equestria. We learn that this took place before the peaceful rule of Celestia so this took place over 1000 years ago. We learn that ponies used to be torn apart by hatred and disharmony just like humanity today. We also learn unicorns brought day and night themselves before Celestia and Luna.
So the play goes on with us learning how food shortages and uncontrollable weather caused the pony tribes to stop engaging in their trades with each other and decide to find a new land to inhabit. During the earth ponies' search for a new land, it is stated that the earth is round but I don't know if they also call their planet Earth or just use earth as a word to describe their planet.
Then the three tribes find the perfect land and claim it for themselves only to find they all claimed the same land. The earth ponies also want to call their land Earth which may imply that the planet itself is not called Earth. As they argue, the storm that ruined their former land comes.
They seek shelter in a cave and argue over territory. The winter storm seeps into the cave and freezes the tribe leaders with only their second-hands free. Clover the Clever reveals that Starswirl the Bearded is their mentor which means Starswirl is from over 1000 years ago and this means that this is the pre-classical era mentioned in Luna Eclipsed. Clover explains the Windigos which are causing the storm which is caused by the pony hatred. The three remaining declare they don't hate each other and stop the storm.
Herobrine sighting #6
After the storm was killed, the three ponies told stories and sang carols which are said to be the carols the ponies sing today. The leaders are saved and they all decide to found the land together and name it Equestria. The flag also portrays Celestia and Luna even though they either don't exist yet or aren't the rulers yet. This also gives me an idea for a theory about where alicorns come from but let's save that for later if you know what I mean. I know Gen 5 says alicorns come from a certain place but Gen 5 treats FiM's lore like Bethesda treats Fallout's lore so we can disregard the Gen 5 retroactive crap.
I'm not really into the ending song. The episode ends with the ponies arguing and realizing they shouldn't for the sake of harmony.
It was entertaining enough for 4 EV but still just alright. 6 VB for the harmonious founding of Equestria being the meaning that hatred will only cause damage to everyone. Equestria pretty much represents the opposite of humanity which is filled with hatred, killing, and psychological manipulation. The ponies harmonized and defeated the storm. Humanity revels in the storm of hatred and people pretend like their group will create the harmony that beats the storm when in reality, their ideas are just the result of hatred and propaganda that will actually just feed the storm more and create greater disharmony as societies fracture and groups isolate themselves in their own corners festering memetic viruses that only amplify the fracturing. 6 DV because we learn about the founding of Equestria.
MLP Commentaries IndexWritten 2024-10-22 Published 2024-11-1