even though I have to watch the premiere again in order to judge it properly,I am mentioning one thing that caught me by surprise and made me emotional:

THE CASTLE OF THE TWO ROYAL SISTERS

HOLY shit, I think I may be the only one that loves that they have reused a place I wanted to see again and they left behind in season 4.
I love how it's easy to go there without caring but warning that Everfree Forest is still dangerous. That's a very little detail to point out but I cannot be happier that they have had that place in mind.

Also,I see that a certain character loves it more than me....so much that she cannot avoid her fetish for something as simple as....

Stairs.Eeeeyup,stairs.

meanwhile I am leaving this for some room of discussion. I thought it was interesting to screencap the content the anon replied in the thread about the EEA doing nothing wrong.

>>1062
also to clarify it,I posted ironically "fuck the EEA,we communism now" for making a bit the retard.
However,I didn't expect something of that value in that thread.

>>1060

Nice to have a season discussion thread. Make things a little more organized

As for the Episode itself. I am right in between Meh, and Liking it. It wasn't horrible, there where somethings I was confused by, though it's hard to separate nitpics that shouldn't mater in a kids show with actual problems. Like the new characters way more then I thought I would. Will see if that stays throughout as they develop. Still won't be making any judgments on the school concept until I see more episodes and get a feel for the flow of things.

As for the reaction around the fandom, from what I've seen right now it's overall mixed positive. Will have yet to see if that will stay. /mlp/ was split. Some of course happy. Some hating SJW morals. Some thinking they were really subtle redpills, and some hating our Dolores. Though I did see a lot more mixed reactions rather then outright negative butthurt like I was expecting. I even saw an Ancap on /mlpol/ happy over it having what could be interpreted as an anti-government run education message. I personally think the new student characters helped it a good bit, because among even people who liked outside of chans I saw some butthurt/confusion on Chancellor Neighsay. Though were still a fair bit that liked him.

>>1062
I honestly do think that is a message that can be taken away from that. It's not even the first time we've seen a message on "everybody learns differently" from MLP.

>1061
>HOLY shit, I think I may be the only one that loves that they have reused a place I wanted to see again and they left behind in season 4.

It was nice seeing it again. I will say that one of the criticisms I partly agree with is that the show has lost of it's more romantic and mysterious feel. Though agian I'm not in the hater camp, there was some implications and themes that were left behind a bit from the first 4 seasons. I'll post more about this and more detailed thoughts on the ep once I get my thought togather a bit better.

>Stairs.Eeeeyup,stairs.

A meme has been born!

For some reason this made me laugh quite a lot. I suppose you could losely fit that to the ep well, at least as a joke.

I may have to make something stupid related to this

>>1062
https://youtube.com/watch?v=YR5ApYxkU-U [Embed]

>>1064
>I am right in between Meh, and Liking it. It wasn't horrible, there where somethings I was confused by, though it's hard to separate nitpics that shouldn't mater in a kids show with actual problems.
It has much less plot holes that could bring a mess than The Crystal Empire or The Crystalling. You can try and check where the line is between your nitpicks and the problems you see though.

>Like the new characters way more then I thought I would. Will see if that stays throughout as they develop.
Surprisingly,they are pretty well defined for their debut,no way I would imagine I would enjoy their moment. so quickly like the Castle of the two sisters or the lake race between each other
.

>Still won't be making any judgments on the school concept until I see more episodes and get a feel for the flow of things.
The concept is under judgement,both inside the show and in the critic eye. It may not the be the most original setup but it's the most accesible one for reuniting all the species together.


>from what I've seen right now it's overall mixed positive. Will have yet to see if that will stay. /mlp/ was split. Some of course happy. Some hating SJW morals. Some thinking they were really subtle redpills, and some hating our Dolores.
Well, better than The Crystalling and around the same for Celestial Advice. Just as you would expect from them. I am chill about this,mostly because by the looks of the song of being together(in the preview),I thought this was about progressivism and stuff,but turns out it has ended pretty much in its own rule and context. Nor one side nor the other,just what they thought it was convenient or felt like doing it.
Dolores was again a sidekick for Twilight,just like Spike,she has served for some Twilight's reflections since her redemption. Even though I scream wow for the memes and laughs, she was an observer and just told her some advice.No deus ex machinas,mary sue nor she doesn't do anything wrong.She just gave her thoughts.

>Though I did see a lot more mixed reactions rather then outright negative butthurt like I was expecting. I even saw an Ancap on /mlpol/ happy over it having what could be interpreted as an anti-government run education message. I personally think the new student characters helped it a good bit, because among even people who liked outside of chans I saw some butthurt/confusion on Chancellor Neighsay. Though were still a fair bit that liked him.
Wow,an ancap having wet dreams,that's new. I mean,there are lots of interpretations about it but putting it as a form of rebel.... I am in for freedom of decisions but it's a must for everyone to keep the values and show what could be learnt from us.
The Chancellor did something of ambiguous. On one hand,he was right about having fears and paranoia of not following the patterns that have worked for a millenia. However,his values are pretty strict and while it may contain the best values out there,they are obnoxiously placed and forced because it has to be exactly that method.Also,he looked down at other species because his values don't serve for other species(and his morals or lessons could be universal,applying to everyone) but he excluded the "foreigners and almost created a world war because of that ego. That might explain why some find him confusing.

>>1065
>It's not even the first time we've seen a message on "everybody learns differently" from MLP.
Eeyup,Testing Testing 1,2,3. Rainbow Dash learns by flying and not because of studying. I mean,learning from the books,while not the most inspiring method for nobody(appreciation grows over time,look at the 2nd song of this episode,they were interested),it's least bad method to learn it.
The problem comes when some are elitists about one way of learning or the other to the point where in real life,students with a career find themselves superior than others that haven't gone to university.

I remember someone saying that Asians hated that episode because they don't see it effective or they are obssesed to fill their minds with a book.
I mean,personally I think it's a great method but over time I think it serves for nothing if you cannot learn anything useful nor interesting from them that could be used for something. Learning is endless and infinite but when it's practical and experienced,the thing becomes much more accesible or affordable mentally,you see it clearer(Ocellus scene reading about the Castle of the Two Sisters and then Gallus said that school at least served for something).

So it actually serves I personally speak that while I have failed some technical subjects in my career, I have passed almost all the labs because I have experienced them and putting myself into the concept I am trying to learn.

>>1066
>It was nice seeing it again. I will say that one of the criticisms I partly agree with is that the show has lost of it's more romantic and mysterious feel.
It was lost since the Power Ponies episode happened. When you see the mane 6 going there so calmly alone,it means it's not all of that dangerous place but it's still surrounded by some passing menaces at times. It was pretty hostile in season 1 but it feels that the harmony effect has left a certain aura it. Not the safest place nor hostile.

>Though agian I'm not in the hater camp, there was some implications and themes that were left behind a bit from the first 4 seasons.
Babs Seed,Cadence's past, dragons and changelings were kind of left behind until season 6, so it was Iron Will and the cloning lake until season 7, Lightning Dust... there are things left and things that I would see them kind of pointless(Parasprites,Dragon Code...)
>A meme has been born!
And the next target for Rule 34. Expect some pictures that shows the stairway to heaven.

Her sudden transformation kind of caught me out of guard, I thought the seapony form was only applied when hippogriffs touched the water, not completely on earth. Novo transformed by splashing some water but this one had nothing of it. Still a quote and oh boi,the stairs....

Oh boi

>>1067
that's when you play with the metaphors hard. But it oddly fits so,someone could make a parody of this episode by applying that interpretation. Also,Twilight has had actual influence on US politics...phew
>>1068
Build the wall,Trump. We are another brick in the wall,kids learning like robots and the anarchist revolution happens because of constant pressure or order.
It seems like a joke but this actually fits for the episode,that happened after the first song when they were skipping class. It's like a lighter or kid friendly version of that rebel side.

What does our /end/ leader say about this? Do not burn the book,throw it to the water. The EEA is shit,go for what you know,not what they want you to know.

And that's how the school was born.

>>1067
>mlpol doesn't love necontwily

>>1069
>It has much less plot holes that could bring a mess than The Crystal Empire or The Crystalling. You can try and check where the line is between your nitpicks and the problems you see though.
>Well, better than The Crystalling and around the same for Celestial Advice. Just as you would expect from them. I am chill about this,mostly because by the looks of the song of being together(in the preview),I thought this was about progressivism and stuff,but turns out it has ended pretty much in its own rule and context. Nor one side nor the other,just what they thought it was convenient or felt like doing it.

Yeah. Certainly wasn't the best. I can't say I hated it and it was slightly better then I expected it would be at some parts. It wasn't progressive shrilling, it was about tolerance + screw the rigid school system both as subtexts.

Okay, first I'm going to say what I liked. I liked the new characters (I mean, there is a possibility some of them could be annoying at times but I'm hopeful). Liked Dolores' moment with Twilight, she briefly popped in without feeling shoehorned in the plot and it actually was kind of sweet. Like many of the side moments, but I always like the tiny moments before stuff happens, so that's a given. I thought Twilight's character was handled okay, you could level some criticism at it, but it was stuff I would expect/could see their reasoning for. Natural evolution direction, it was actually interesting to see her use her authority as princess completely at her own at the end and her leaning to take charge a bit. though I suppose some would argue that she should already have some experience in that, I think her obsessiveness to follow the rules makes sense for how they handled it.


Now onto the otherstuff. This is probably going to be more of a ramble, but here it goes. EEA is... strange, not bad on paper, but it does feel a bit arbitrary. First off, Twilight Sparkle not knowing about the prime regulatory body for the Equestrian School system makes no sense to me, but I'm going to stop there. This point is a nitpick, because in the series she has had a few other moments like this. If you are going to give too much flank over that you have to remember her not knowing about stuff like the starswirl the bearded section in the canterlot library. Another thing odd about the EEA is how much power its implied to have. Now I really don't have a problem that there would be some bureaucracy that Celestia couldn't fix by degree on the get go well, they kinda implied that IDK , I mean with the hits even all the way back at the first gala that there was some royal duties that Celestia hated, but it sure seems strange how they conducted their power with a high level of impunity. He didn't even seem intimidated by the higher Princesses at all. Neighsay's attitude towards Twilight I actually think was a good writing choice. Though I think if this had been a few seasons back, Neighsay would've been paying faux politeness around the Princess and Twily would feel trapped in a different but similar way (Celestia, told me I need to get appoval from the EEA, but this guy's a total jerk, I don't know what to do! vs This guy is a total jerk who controls the EEA, I don't know what to do!). That actually could have made for an interesting dynamic in itself. TS feels that she hasn't to please him, then goes aganst him, and perhaps thinks she's going against Celestia too, Princess Celestia tells her that she has learned that a Princess had to take charge at times... bla bla bla.

I don't really as much about the bureaucracy as much as I felt they could have been more interesting with the dynamic here. At least another Twilight talking to Celestia at the end moment, celly saying I was pru=ound of you or something. Minus the Celestia and Twily not having a moment at the end, this isn't really much of a criticism as much is it me being confused by how all this works in their world.

>>1074
There only one true criticism I do have on that topic to Neighsay. At the very /end/ how he just attacked "everycreature" in front of Celestia. That... I just. He nearly started a major diplomatic incident and he wasn't fired for it. I mean you can say that he did back off. I just can't believe the impunity he showed at the end. Even if you could say he wasn't fired because many other ponies likely hold those views in authority, still the way he acted was beyond the bounds of the atmosphere of all that we have seen before with other government figures, who were all part of the "we secretly hate each other but we must act prim and propper" from everyone from Ms. Harshwhinny to the Canterlot elite and the few other higher up bureaucrats we've seen.

I won't have much a problem with him otherwise. I guess the thing was that they wanted to give him an aura of intimidation like a villain. I think they could've still had the same problem but it making slightly more sense, but Oh well, the only part I truly didn't like was how it was resolved.

Random other note: How was a pacing? The story for me actually flowed a little smoother then other times in mlp. Which surprised me because when I thought about it, did weeks or even months pass in setting up the school? What's that gonna do to the timeline? Ha ha!

>Her sudden transformation kind of caught me out of guard, I thought the seapony form was only applied when hippogriffs touched the water, not completely on earth. Novo transformed by splashing some water but this one had nothing of it.

Me too.

>>1072
>that's when you play with the metaphors hard. But it oddly fits so,someone could make a parody of this episode by applying that interpretation. Also,Twilight has had actual influence on US politics...phew

Considering the fact that I was an someone who started to pay attention to politics around the early Obama years as a kid it almost brings back memories to me. Necon Twily is best almost meme.

>Build the wall,Trump. We are another brick in the wall,kids learning like robots and the anarchist revolution happens because of constant pressure or order.
It seems like a joke but this actually fits for the episode,that happened after the first song when they were skipping class. It's like a lighter or kid friendly version of that rebel side.

Kid friendly version of the rebel side is anoher import though lesser subtext of the ep methinks. Which could
probably be inferred in this order. Diversity > Screw Rigid School Bureaucracy > Kid friendly we need to buck the system.

>>1073
she cannot be Trump for them, you know but eh,it´s entertaining enough

>>1075
>At the very /end/ how he just attacked "everycreature" in front of Celestia. That... I just. He nearly started a major diplomatic incident and he wasn't fired for it. I mean you can say that he did back off. I just can't believe the impunity he showed at the end. Even if you could say he wasn't fired because many other ponies likely hold those views in authority, still the way he acted was beyond the bounds of the atmosphere of all that we have seen before with other government figures, who were all part of the "we secretly hate each other but we must act prim and propper" from everyone from Ms. Harshwhinny to the Canterlot elite and the few other higher up bureaucrats we've seen.
That´s some kind of eerie and I hold the same views as yours. Even if he believed he was doing it for preventing future menaces for not educating properly; the egocentrism and superiority that annoyed the others (in front of a figure like Celestia nonetheless, wow) made his views fall apart. Like the paranoia took him beyond the consequences and remained untouched for saying that the 3 races of ponies are superior.

The diplmomatic views in the centre of Equestria seem elitism and that might explain view Celestia and Twilight are the friendly figures for external relationship, also explaining why ponies never went beyond the Everfree Forest nor had any interest to visit those far away places.
Ms Harshwhinny like you have said, showed that elitism and always looking down over the others until they change their minds. Not everything is so pinkish and colourful stuff in Equestria and that comes with a price of genuine racism.

>I guess the thing was that they wanted to give him an aura of intimidation like a villain.
or an antagonist. Some are making headcanons that he releases Tirek as revenge for the finale. I wouldn´t be surprised if that happened?

>How was a pacing? The story for me actually flowed a little smoother then other times in mlp.
Surprisingly well and not rushed at all for the resolution. The Crystalling had a lot of trouble with this, FiM, The Crystal Empire and The Cutie Map had certainly a rushed resolution. But this one flowed naturally and there were not only a clear moral but some interesting essages throughout the episode. That shows the different levels we have reached in this ride. From simple letters to actual problems that irl we discuss and have trouble facing certain things currently.

>did weeks or even months pass in setting up the school? What's that gonna do to the timeline? Ha ha!
Magic happened. Surely the creators can answer this...>>1079


well,maybe not

>>1076
>Necon Twily is best almost meme.
BREAKING NEWS on the CNN!
Twilight has broken the rules of the EEA!
Neighsay confirmed for hate speech in front of Celestia!
Changeling almost deported for being homo weirdos!
World War almost happening!Blame that neocon alicorn for ruining the fun!
Celestia confirmed as a less authoritarian figure than the EEA and she in theory, rules Equestria!
Chancellor Neighsay secret plans revealed. Building a wall from the Everfree Forest to the Crystal Empire confirmed. "Those species are inferior" as posted in his latest Ponitter.

So many clickbait headlines could be made from this.

>>1076
>Kid friendly version of the rebel side is anoher import though lesser subtext of the ep methinks. Which could
probably be inferred in this order. Diversity > Screw Rigid School Bureaucracy > Kid friendly we need to buck the system.
All this stuff complaining about the race and superficial yet tiring topic as that one when you get the message of kids getting fed up of the bureaucracy. Only to serve the EEA purposes, ponies built and educated to do the usual things andf not getting out of the path.
Making them as future mindless bricks in the wall.... and skipping classes skipping happens.Bam, part 1 of the opener.

>>1077
>that are accused of being hugboxs I've seen a bit more negativity then I'm used to. Time will tell.
they are used to hearing their own eccochambers, which funnily enough we do. Anyway those reactions are worth to see and point out sometimes. Sometimes the reflections about how a desirable society for an individual should work comes into this innocent things.
The episode actually went with some rebel spirit and putting some competiotion on education between Twilight and the EEA. As the Chancellor said, let´s see how it works but I think Twilight has got morals and values that the EEA didn´t have.
And that could lead to some really divergent views on seeing how a society should work. Twilight acknowledges how a school should work and see that there has to be some principles but not as far as the EEA had gone with it.
Dolores was right. Twilight HAS DIPLOMATIC values and morals while the EEA didn´t bother on advancing in that point. This means that the view from the EEA won´t be the dominant view anymore and that Twilight holds a much external and universal view on how to give values from her experiences.

It´s ancap but it also comes from systematic criticism. Breaking the rules for what was done in the past means a new system and maybe, the new mainstream of how things should work. That has happened with art,music and lots of things, rebuilding the idea from nothing and give a future guide for a new generation.

I have to mention that discussing about this episode is deeper than expected and damn, I usually forget that we are discussing about a thing like MLP. That has escalated quickly again in 2018.

>>1079
>she treats the books as her religions and she has always been obsessive about certain things.Lesson Zero, What about Discord, the movie to put some examples proves that she cannot handle it as perfectly as she should but she has definitely gained some confidence over time.

Exactly.

>Consideering that she knows about how Equestria works, it´s really weird to see her surprised about that.

Again, the show has done this before, so I'm not going to hold it aginst them too strongly, but she has displayed a familiarity with Government before and was the type of pony who seeked out knowledge on the most mundane to advanced things on a subject. You'd think she'd know about them, at least there existence. She went to the School for gifted unicorns, if they are such a regulatory body you'd think there would be "time for the EEA inspection" EEA approved stamps or something of the short she had to have seen. Not to mention asking Celestia about all forms all the various operations of Government.

>Indeed,it could have lasted a few episodes for the build up and some duels between each other to see how deeply diferent views they have.

It would have been interesting if his xenophobia was more subtle, and put more emphasis to him seeing Twilight as somepony who was too young and reckless and needed to be reigned in/managed. Agreed, he could have been cooler as a consistent political enemy.

>The diplmomatic views in the centre of Equestria seem elitism and that might explain view Celestia and Twilight are the friendly figures for external relationship, also explaining why ponies never went beyond the Everfree Forest nor had any interest to visit those far away places.

Elitism of the top, plus fear considering some of the threats we've seen. Equestria itself is not fully untamed either at least it used to be Monsters in the everfree. And hostile actors acting within walking distance to Ponyville such as the Diamound Dogs, along with not the best relations with some of their neighbors until recently in the form of the buffalo. A head cannon I used to have too was that long range transport wasn't that well developed do to us use to seeig them only walking on hoof or on train for at least a day and night, but with all the outings recently to other counires and far off lands in a single ep, I'm not sure how well that holds up. Though I suppose we do have the answer Cartoon Logic

>>1080
>That´s some kind of eerie and I hold the same views as yours.
>Like the paranoia took him beyond the consequences and remained untouched for saying that the 3 races of ponies are superior.

Again, I could picture a bureaucrat who can't be removed at the flick of a pen, or I guess in this case a quill. I'm still trying to wrap my head at where this leaves things in terms of Equestria's government structure. Though not the most detailed thing that has everything spelled out for us, the EEA seems to conflict a pretty good deal with what we've seen before.I'm not even just talking about in terms of the political powers of the Princesses either. I will detail my thoughts once I check through the cannon to show ya what I mean.

>or an antagonist. Some are making headcanons that he releases Tirek as revenge for the finale. I wouldn´t be surprised if that happened?

That could be interesting.

>>1083
>It´s ancap but it also comes from systematic criticism. Breaking the rules for what was done in the past means a new system and maybe, the new mainstream of how things should work. That has happened with art,music and lots of things, rebuilding the idea from nothing and give a future guide for a new generation.

Sometimes in ways not even the original revolutionaries envisioned. It could also lead to the acceptance of this form along with the old still existing, but not absolute any more.

>I have to mention that discussing about this episode is deeper than expected and damn, I usually forget that we are discussing about a thing like MLP. That has escalated quickly again in 2018.

I know the fandom runs with things, but man there is a lot more deeper implications and meanings then one would expect for a show of this caliber. I mean I never thought I'd watch a show about ponies teaching about friendship, and then I never thought I'd speculate how there government and society function, not to mention actually having some stuff to actually make a fair guess on a few things.

>>1081

Will Princess Twilight Finally tackle education reform?
Local School Boards criticize handling of Friendship School controversy
Fancy Pants long a champion of education reform and school choice, applauses Friendship School in opt-ed to the Equestria Daily
Survey, over 80 % of Equestrian Educators have never heard of the EEA. EEA spokespony blames lack of resources for enforcement of rural schools.

>>1087
>I will detail my thoughts once I check through the cannon to show ya what I mean.

Equestria's Government never was really the most defined thing in the world, but the assumption that most of the fandom held was that it was an absolute monarchy of some sort. We've seen that the Princes granted land to form ponyville to the Apple family.We have seen Equestria apparently having no leadership and the guards freakout without the presence of Princess in Princess Twilight Sparkle. We've also seen the Princess serve roles of both minor and significant arbitration over ponies Trade Ya! and more importantly in A Royal Problem with the dispute Fillydelphia and Baltimare as if they would be the final authority on such matters. Though I actually can buy ponies that Celestia can't remove easily, I would think his conduct way more then justified it, so it does make me question how much hard power the Princesses do hold.

Now I've heard of examples being mentioned in the past in reguards to the comics having a few things that suggest more checks and balances, but I wasn't able to find anything in my search at the moment though I hadn't followed the comics the best. I can't recall anything off the top of my head other then the good, the bad and the ponies arch where Twilight said that she couldn't use her magic against citizens of equestria. Which was done in a very arbitrary and weird way for the sake of the plot to last longer, and maybe contradicted by her use of magic in The Hooffields and McColts. The comics are secondary canon that are oftentimes ignored and sometimes directly contraindicated in the show, but I won't fully discount them.

Though honestly what I find more strange is how centralized the EEA seemed. Again, not completely impossible to exist, sense this show obviously wasn't going to spell out things for us . But most other high level bureaucratic functions have been implied to be divided on both between both what race you were and also regionally. The Clouddale authorities controlled the weather, yet with things such as Spike saying in winter wrap up that the unicorns use magic to clear the weather and implications that various towns have their own traditions at least between the pony races . Plus the fact that Ponyvile itself seeming to have some authority on how the weather schedules is handled suggested some anatomy here as well. Usually the highest bureaucratic reperitives outside of the Princesses were either some authorities for race specific things or just on a city level. My theory on Equestria's government before this was that it was some kind of very flat pyramid structure, with not much in between the Princesses and the various towns and cities that existed. The Princess had a bunch of individual obligations to various towns both small and large that seemed to reinforce this notion. The aftermentioned dispute in A royal problem is what really finalized it for me, though my thoughts had drifted in that direction all the way back in It's About Time, where Twilight Sparkle sent the Ponyville Pegasi to warn the cities on a individual basis. The EEA seems to conflict with both those ideas, seemly authority that is both rigid and extremely centralized, rather then Pegasi being the ones in charge of flight certifications and weather and Unicorns being the ones in charge of magic, and earth ponies either being on a town by town basis or having some sort of bureaucracy that is in charge of there schools.

Welp, I felt like I was a bit rambly, but I think you get my point. Though I suppose there is something somehwere that could perhaps conflict with everything I said, but that's what you get for over analyzing a little girls show.

>>1089
>Welp, I felt like I was a bit rambly, but I think you get my point. Though I suppose there is something somehwere that could perhaps conflict with everything I said, but that's what you get for over analyzing a little girls show. I think I see where you are going into with your interpretation but
this will take a while to reply properly.But yeah, we are going to levels that even DBZ would like to have this level of depth.
And funnily enough, that anime also involves friendship in Super.

Anyway,I am replying now just to give a sign of having read your posts but it will take a me a bit for making non shitposting replies.
I am leaving these six newcomers over here

>>1090
>Anyway,I am replying now just to give a sign of having read your posts but it will take a me a bit for making non shitposting replies.

No rush, not like I'm been 100% in replying to everything you post in a timely manner.

>I think I see where you are going into with your interpretation

This btw, isn't a headcanon that I held near and dear to my heart, just kinda the way I imagined it based on what I saw on the show.

>we are going to levels that even DBZ would like to have this level of depth.
And funnily enough, that anime also involves friendship in Super.

Never saw much of DBZ, but knowing that style of logic, things happen because reasons, I'd almost be willing to wager that while not being as interconnected from episode to episode, MLP has a harder continuity in some ways. Also, though I know friendship is a trope MLP did't invent, it's still hilarious when I hear of the concept being used someplaces else to me.





>>1089
> We've seen that the Princes granted land to form ponyville to the Apple family.

Yeah, ya know the Princes? Blueblood and maybe Fancy Pants, totally not a mistake made I my part. Most fans just remember the ep wrong. {/sarcasm}

>>1086
>she has displayed a familiarity with Government before and was the type of pony who seeked out knowledge on the most mundane to advanced things on a subject
she would have probably heard about something during the periods as a princess in Canterlot. She studies everything before doing anything. Twilight doesn´t know how to improvise orat least, not her strongest aspect for such confidence in their regulations.

>you'd think there would be "time for the EEA inspection" EEA approved stamps or something of the short she had to have seen.
Or probably like I heard somewhere in /mlp/, maybe it´s recommended to get the approval in order to have recognition and official image, as a certificate to porve that it´s approved by their standards.
When you want to have a laboratory or industry, you can have it. However, you have to pass some tests during certain periods of time in order to check the quality of your products. It´s NOT mandatory but it´s absolutely recommended and highly encouraged just for receiving good publicity, an image of guaranteed quality and some external help for contributing and making an effort for keeping your products safe by health measures. If you don´t have it, your lab/industry can exist but your image and security standards wouldn´t gain the trust of many potential customers because they want the products already tested and approved before consuming them.
This is what more or less,applying this analogy to the EEA what I can get from it.

>he could have been cooler as a consistent political enemy.
we have yet to see his background context or motifs. We only know that he almost fucked it up.

>Equestria itself is not fully untamed either at least it used to be Monsters in the everfree.
Everfree has ended up as big forest.Maybe the highly menacing image from it was because ponies hadn´t had the courage to visit it a lot of times like the mane 6 and exxagerated its a image by a mile.
Again, going to the Castle of the Two Sisters alone or to Zecora house without blinking is basically pissingly easy. Instead of being friendly, it´s just a wild place that has genuinely dark places but those aren´t so random as they have feared(the swamp fever lake, the dragon hidden in a cavein season 1, the Diamond dogs or the furby creatures. They are kind of predictable and located, but when you have visited it so many times, you stop caring.

>that long range transport wasn't that well developed do to us use to seeig them only walking on hoof or on train for at least a day and night, but with all the outings recently to other counires and far off lands in a single ep
Train transport is the shit in Equestria and t´it´s a shame that they had to do like Majora´s Mask with the owls,until you don´t active them, no teleport. Here it´s the same, once you visit a new area,bam train station for whenever you want to use it. New place, new accesible route for all the family. Not sure if they have established one with Griffonstone, the Changeling hive or the Badlands but I will tell you(very light spoilers)that they visit Mount Aris with a train. It seems pretty far from Ponyville but they visit it like nothing in comparison to the movie.
>Cartoon Logic
Of course darling.

>>1087
>I'm still trying to wrap my head at where this leaves things in terms of Equestria's government structure.
We all do,we have speculated about Celestia for years and this comes late in the show to reveal that what something implied worked turns out it isn´t what it seems.

>>1088
>It could also lead to the acceptance of this form along with the old still existing, but not absolute any more.
Agreed
>there is a lot more deeper implications and meanings then one would expect for a show of this caliber.
Not even Faust would have thought about this back in 2010. Literally nobody, neither you and me nor all the pony boards could have expected this potential from a laughable franchise.

>I never thought I'd watch a show about ponies teaching about friendship, and then I never thought I'd speculate how there government and society function, not to mention actually having some stuff to actually make a fair guess on a few things.
That´s what most plebs and people in general tend to believe at first, but instead of being an innocent show,it´s us who are the innocents about looking down on it before. Sure it´s not Game of Thrones, but damn specualting about the lore and how the system works has made us talk a lot more than expected. This episode receives a high rating from me in terms of creating discussion and finding a critique about the education system. All of this with the typical students who are just getting to know each other and simply like to have fun. Amazing that the show is able to be simple yet, clever on certain details.

>Survey, over 80 % of Equestrian Educators have never heard of the EEA. EEA spokespony blames lack of resources for enforcement of rural schools.
That´s a good one. Those who critisize are like music critics to albums, they are failed musicians that got into critics. More of the same,those are failed teachers.

>Fancy Pants long a champion of education reform and school choice, applauses Friendship School in opt-ed to the Equestria Daily
We have some polarizing opinions here. Damn, this seems like the Last Jedi reviews.
>Will Princess Twilight Finally tackle education reform?
We will see in the next episode of Dragon Ball Super.

>>1089
>but the assumption that most of the fandom held was that it was an absolute monarchy of some sort.
Everything is made of implication,what could we expect from an implying site?

>so it does make me question how much hard power the Princesses do hold.
Maye she is like a figure but she cannot hold too much in order to not have rebels or seem authoritarian.

>Maybe contradicted by her use of magic in The Hooffields and McColts. The comics are secondary canon that are oftentimes ignored and sometimes directly contraindicated in the show.
She used magic on them but it was a move to make them stop, not use it as a weapon. She has used it with the mane 6 before. Again, there is not a holy bible nor solid principles to clarify what should be done or not. Using the comics is certainly not the most indicated way to inform, just treating them as some bonus or optional addition to some random things.

>Though honestly what I find more strange is how centralized the EEA seemed.
>unicorns use magic to clear the weather and implications that various towns have their own traditions at least between the pony races . Plus the fact that Ponyvile itself seeming to have some authority on how the weather schedules is handled suggested some anatomy here as well.
>The EEA seems to conflict with both those ideas, seemly authority that is both rigid and extremely centralized, rather then Pegasi being the ones in charge of flight certifications and weather and Unicorns being the ones in charge of magic, and earth ponies either being on a town by town
There is certainly some conflict to their purpose. Not going to say that it´s flawed but this seems that while the EEA checks the standards of education for the three races, it has more power than the princesses when it comes to this.
I would focus more that the EEA had mixed and treated Ponyville as the place of harmony between the three races just to remember that Ponyville was the place they got together. Meanwhile,Canterlot, Appleloosa and Cloudsdale seem to be clearly separated between them.
I swear that maybe ponies were complete elitists and that many of them cannot hold the mixture between them that well as if it was implied. Maybe the pink paradise was the result of giving themselves a chance first and more of an established harmony as seasons have come by.They know each other an can treat themselves fine but those separate locations and the first visits to their places save certain events could actually mean that they have hold some elitism until they have seen menaces like the Changelings or Tirek. When those disgraces and hard moments happen, they get more empathy and their little (but potentially used as an elitist weapon) are left behind and mean nothing to their friendships.

Phew lad.
>there is something somehwere that could perhaps conflict with everything I said, but that's what you get for over analyzing a little girls show
everything is somewhat convenient for the plot but what show doesn´t have those conflics(in a show about conflicts and morals nonetheless). Overanalyzing it and taking it too seriously have driven us to this point. Maybe it´s not a healthy practice but let´s keep going to see what happens. Maybe WoW or Tolkien could fear and envy about the pony lore at some point(oh boy, I hope I get to be alive if that happens)

>>1092
>I'm been 100% in replying to everything you post in a timely manner.
well, for >>1089 you have postponed the headcannons for the next day. Not going to say that mines are rushed, but sure I have to be focused on what I am saying. It´s going naturally these days, but writing properly a foreign language that you barely talk in real life, makes someone to put a bit more of attention on it.

>I'd almost be willing to wager that while not being as interconnected from episode to episode, MLP has a harder continuity in some ways. Also, though I know friendship is a trope MLP did't invent, it's still hilarious when I hear of the concept being used someplaces else to me.
MLP has received a boost on continuity since A Canterlot Wedding. I consider from season 3 onwards involving some continuity and this reaches its peak with season 4 premiere and finale. Once in that point, everyhting involves some context(not a complex one though).
In DBZ, you can enjoy an episode of two having a battle most of the time, just like a normal episode with a slice of Life lesson. For example, despite being so advanced in the show, you can enjoy Secrets and Pies,Discordant Harmony or The Saddle Row Review with hardly or no context at all. However, some eps like To Change A Changeling or Shadow Play are developed after certain events.
I however, see that MLP and DBZ are much close than one could think. DBZ seems like a serious show on sight for everyone but has a sense of comedy or chill moments between the serious battles. MLP is in reverse, a childish setting with the most girly species considered in the industry with over the seasons, dark stuff implied between its "childish" soul. A Health of Information is dark as hell(no seriously, it gave me genuine fears after thinking about it,it´s surprisingly much darker than what it´s shown), School Daze has proved to stand as a genuine critique to the education system, the Cutie map, Flight to the Finish......for the kids, in theory.

I let the digits post to you.

>>1095
>she would have probably heard about something during the periods as a princess in Canterlot. She studies everything before doing anything.

That as well. If she hadn't have heard of it before you'd think that, considering how obsessively she studies, she would have then at least.

>Or probably like I heard somewhere in /mlp/, maybe it´s recommended to get the approval in order to have recognition and official image, as a certificate to porve that it´s approved by their standards.

I heard that as well, but it just seemed that they were a bit more than that by how they shut the school down.

>Maye she is like a figure but she cannot hold too much in order to not have rebels or seem authoritarian.

I honestly could buy that. Perhaps more of commander in chief and the highest arbitrator but has relatively little non ceremonial power besides that.

>1098
>There is certainly some conflict to their purpose. Not going to say that it´s flawed but this seems that while the EEA checks the standards of education for the three races, it has more power than the princesses when it comes to this.

I won't call t flawed either, just a quite different then what was implied/assumed before. It doesn't really bug me that much. In some ways a joint authority would make a lot of since from a unity of the races perspective. The show before just showed only authorities such as the flight school and magic school being between the races. With stuff like the Grand Equestria Summit, Equestria Games, and the dispute between mayors in A Royal Problem leading to such a feel of a decentralized system. Not to mention the little conflicts we saw on Equestria's frontiers. But hey, it's a kids show. so it has to be simple in its presentation (though that logical thread is what lead me to that conclusion in the first place, figuring that would probably the only way I'd see it on screen). We weren't ever intended to see much of the internal politics and things would be broken down into simpler concepts. The EEA was designed to teach a lesson and service an episode rather then lore.

>we have yet to see his background context or motifs. We only know that he almost fucked it up.

True. He is supposed to appear again I hear. Wonder if will get more background that may help explain things?

>I let the digits post to you.

Thanks, though ya take the next one, Okay? I think this is the 3rd time in a row ya given them to me. You deserve them too. Yay for digits!

>>1097
>That´s what most plebs and people in general tend to believe at first, but instead of being an innocent show,it´s us who are the innocents about looking down on it before. Sure it´s not Game of Thrones, but damn specualting about the lore and how the system works has made us talk a lot more than expected.

There was just enough thought put into it to give us tidbits to speculate on. Faust wasn't trying to create a deep lore, but she did have set rules on how the world worked and some possible secrets which she never thought would get any attention . Just enough to start to theorize and connect dots early on. Then post Faust they started to leave fan service, then later on full on lore.

>>1099
>MLP has received a boost on continuity since A Canterlot Wedding. I consider from season 3 onwards involving some continuity and this reaches its peak with season 4 premiere and finale. Once in that point, everyhting involves some context(not a complex one though).

Season 1 had a few rules and subtexts that Faust put in a background ambiance.
Season 2 had fan service.
Season 3 started to give us breadcrumbs of lore
Season 4 was the fulfillment of this linear path. With anything past more at the whims of the who was writing in service of what. Either lore, fan service or something that they'd think would be a good lesson and sometimes all the above

>>1098
>She used magic on them but it was a move to make them stop, not use it as a weapon. She has used it with the mane 6 before. Again, there is not a holy bible nor solid principles to clarify what should be done or not.

The problem was she wouldn't do any force whatsoever. Not even magical diplays or threats despite the fact that the gang was attacking them. It was just an stupid thing to keep the plot going.

>Using the comics is certainly not the most indicated way to inform, just treating them as some bonus or optional addition to some random things.

That's the best way to treat them for sure. Especially ones with stuff like Nightmare Rarity.

>>1099
>Not going to say that mines are rushed, but sure I have to be focused on what I am saying. It´s going naturally these days, but writing properly a foreign language that you barely talk in real life, makes someone to put a bit more of attention on it.

You're doing a better job then me. I often am rushing myself because of the possibility of interruptions and catch the errors later!

>MLP is in reverse, a childish setting with the most girly species considered in the industry with over the seasons, dark stuff implied between its "childish" soul. A Health of Information is dark as hell(no seriously, it gave me genuine fears after thinking about it,it´s surprisingly much darker than what it´s shown), School Daze has proved to stand as a genuine critique to the education system, the Cutie map, Flight to the Finish......for the kids, in theory.

For me its always darker when something is in the background or a subtext when you think of it long enough you go "Oh, well now my I will proceed to have nightmares" A Health Of Information creeped me out more because of how subtly integrated and well it worked in that world. I agree 220%.

>We all do,we have speculated about Celestia for years and this comes late in the show to reveal that what something implied worked turns out it isn´t what it seems.

I wonder if this will have any ramifications on how they portray things or will it just be an arbitrary force confined to a couple of eps. Guess will just have to wait and see!

>>1100
>it just seemed that they were a bit more than that by how they shut the school down.
well, that ruins my headcanon of being optional.
>Perhaps more of commander in chief and the highest arbitrator but has relatively little non ceremonial power besides that.
A figure more than anything. It happens with the contemporary monarchies. They are the first subject for the land but also, the one that has to represent and give example to others. No wonder Celestia happens to teach and give good values to new generations.

>The EEA was designed to teach a lesson and service an episode rather then lore.
A simple plot device... most likely yes. It´s up to future episodes featuring the Chancellor and his motifs. Maybe he could have cheated on Celestia before in order to get that position. MLP introduces a lot of short term plot devices that after some time, get expanded or more relevant the less you expect it. The EEA explanation is up to his next roles in season 8.
>Wonder if will get more background that may help explain things?
Before I have managed to reply this, I have thought the same.

>I think this is the 3rd time in a row ya given them to me. You deserve them too
inb4 a random poster takes them while I am making a detailed reply.
Also checked

>>1101
>Just enough to start to theorize and connect dots early on. Then post Faust they started to leave fan service, then later on full on lore.
Money comes into the party and that progression comes slowly by the time you realize the audience interested on the show. you see that season1 had random things that were never intended to explained but those little random things got more advanced and even essential to upper the quality and give some flow to the show. Gilda was a random friend, Trixie was just a random pony to test Twilight on magic tricks, Snails was a complete idiot because idiots have to exist in every show,the Pie family was just a simple family and Maud wasn´t not even there in Cuite Mark Chronicles...

>With anything past more at the whims of the who was writing in service of what. Either lore, fan service or something that they'd think would be a good lesson and sometimes all the above
Well, everything seems to be connected these days. Now, nothing is as random as before and if it seems so, most of the times has a certain background applied into it that reinforces the simple idea. Season 7 for example, Campfire Tales is just an episode about old fairy tales and legendary stories of very old figures, far away from the dynamic of the curerent situation, just to teach morals to the kids...and then, bam they were real and they come back to life in the current timeline and that implies the so awaited Starswirl.
Just old campfire stories right?

>It was just an stupid thing to keep the plot going.
The best thing to come out from Hoffields and Mccolts was Fluttershy,a reference like the Troyan horse tactic and serve for the episode of Flutershy Leans In. The rest was nothing special.

>Especially ones with stuff like Nightmare Rarity.
I wonder how much effect the comic characters have by introducing them into the gameloft pay to consume game. Nightmare Rarity would have been a good arc. A Royal Problem was based exactly on the plot from a comic, just that instead of featuring the princesses only, Dolores goes there with the map plot device

>>1102
>I often am rushing myself because of the possibility of interruptions and catch the errors later
the posts don´t give the rushed vibes to me. Or at least, I cannot get what it´s rushed or not so easily. I however, notice when a post is cheap. Explaining something with more details can be solved easily with another post.

>A Health Of Information creeped me out more because of how subtly integrated and well it worked in that world.
I am always mentioning that episode a lot because it seems like filler that who would the hell would care. But when you let it enter into your mind genuinely, the experience doesn´t end when you have finished the episode.

>when you think of it long enough you go "Oh, well now my I will proceed to have nightmares"
Eeyup, basically this. It puts a lot of plot devices into a 22 one. Introducing Meadowbrook(lore), the swamp fever lake, the menacing part which is nobody but nature being a bitch to everyone(nobody to blame), Fluttershy going beyond her fears and efforts in her last steps, both Zecora and FS under the worse than death consequences and the moral of taking care of yourself (a very realistic and simple one).
Add to it that humans can absolutely relate to this and that a virus or epidemic illness could remove all of us without seeing nor capable to kill the source of it. MLP being an 80s show.

>>1103
>I wonder if this will have any ramifications on how they portray things or will it just be an arbitrary force confined to a couple of eps.
We may never know but seeing Celestia for bigger roles in the next episodes is always welcome.

WE ARE NUMBER ONE ONE ONE ONE

technically

>>1111
We reached one one one one! A proud achievement indeed.

I have a lot of stuff to reply to, plus looking up the new episode. Sorry I didn't reply to your stuff yesterday, I wanted you to get the trips.

Things have been a tiny bit hectic but Tommorow or the next hopefully I'll have cached the newest episode and I'll put down my thoughts on it. Along with the aforementioned stuff I need to reply too.

>>1116
>Sorry I didn't reply to your stuff yesterday, I wanted you to get the trips.
No problem. I had perfectly noticed that you wanted to let me some digits but not these ones so soon. So I put a very seemingly random image that it's relevant on the episode.

No need to go that fast on replying if you can't. We are pretty much served with what we have.

well, I have rewatched the Maud Couple and missed the stream of Fake it Until You Make It.

The Maud Couple, while polarizing, some anons have described it pretty well with being like a Big Bang Theory episode without the laughs behind. There were some sick and hidden dirty jokes in that episode. My highlights are the same as the others: Limestone was kino in this episode and the down side....Pinkie at times,not Mud Briar. At times, Pinkie gets to be funny and other moments, she goes into an insane point but not as insane as Party of One, soo instead of bringing laughter, brings some kind of paranoia.

Fake it Until You Make It is definitely better and more in the line of what we have watched. The concept of Flutteshy´s acting feeld weird. I guess this happens when her stereotype is so one dimensional. We all have thought about her becoming assertive again but instead, it´s about roleplaying too much into role. I thought it would go the predictable route, fucking it up because of her shyness but after the 8th minute or so, the standards are overcome.

I can´t certainly say if Season 8 is better than the rest, but damn, they are going really experimental with the established material and shiny and innocent setup.

Also, I blame Sunset for creating this trend

I guess, these will define the line of MLP for the future.

My digits are reserved for them with a friendly pic like the mane 6 did 8 years ago.

>>1200

Nice digits.

I wonder how there story will go at the Twilight of the Friendship is Magic series? Will certainly be watching to find out!

>1169
Been avoiding this thread until I see them though I am partly spoilered. Haven't had a chance to see either ep do to general life chaos but I will post my thoughts when I do.

>>1206
>Been avoiding this thread until I see them though I am partly spoilered. Haven't had a chance to see either ep do to general life chaos but I will post my thoughts when I do.
Oops sorry about the little spoilers but yeah, feel free to watch anytime you want.

About Grannies Gone Wild....
I expected to be a shit or filler episode,even more so than the previous two episodes judging by its cover.
However, I just couldn't but laugh and smile throughout the episode. It's like really weird and random,but at the same time, Berrow delivers a lot of comedy.
Nothing too amazing or outstanding but I must say that I have enjoyed this episode waaaay more than expected. It starts slow but then, it's MLP featuring the Golden Girls and referencing a lot of things in the background (I am not going to spoil them,but indifference about them,absolutely not)

I must say that in terms of enjoyment,I have found this one better than the last two because goddamn,those elder ponies sure know how to have fun and make sexual moments for their age.
It's like the writers want to convince us that age is nothing but a number. Elder ponies don't get the cake for porn because of their old skin but oh boy Granny Smith.....oh boy.

7/10. A really fun episode and definitely Berrow shines in this one.

>>1214

Sounds fun! Then again, I am someone who unironically could enjoy Golden Girls at times I am hoping to get caught up this week if my life stuff will subside some.

Note: Don't worry about spoilers, I already knew of the basic premises ad all that jazz and some of the reactions.

>>1215
>I am someone who unironically could enjoy Golden Girls at times
is there anything wrong with that? I mean, MLP doesn´t fit into the cool things list to be proud of enjoying either for the outsiders.

>I already knew of the basic premises ad all that jazz and some of the reactions.
Well, yeah. You can see perfectly that /mlp/ has gone nuts about Rick and Morty and Chris Chan ponified. What a rollercoaster and tears to enjoy from the reactions.

>>1230

To be fair, Chris Chan was on the ride before we were.

https://youtu.be/Iw9IybMbsI8?t=155
>Some best things you should definitely try before despising is some of the hobbies of those of your own opposite gender like for example if you're a young gentleman I recommend buying yourself a My Little Pony figure.
>And also uhhh you can pretend that the pony is that girl you uhhh want to you want to take out too.
Sorry

Well. Where were we? Your perspective on the Surf and Turf ep really hit it home for me on the divorce themes and how they could mean to someone. While I guess that is something I perhaps would've honed in more if I had been more awake, I really am more of a lore/background subtexts person over just paying attention to the lessons themselves.

You probably already saw it but I did manage to catch Grannies Gone Wild. Had a similar opinion to yours on it. Liked more then I would expect. Never thought I'd be wanting to see Dash team up with a bunch of old mares. The end I especially found cute.

So, what are your thoughts on Horse Play? I honestly am curious as I have heard Twily fans for years saying that Twilight needs to have a disagreement with Celestia for her character development. Though I wonder if this would be considered acceptable by some or not since it is a relatively non serious matter. Though honestly I have no idea how the ep will go. For all we know it may not eve go that direction.

Anycase glad the site is still up today knocks on wood

>>1257
> Your perspective on the Surf and Turf ep really hit it home for me on the divorce themes and how they could mean to someone.
Well yeah, while that existed. I can reflect those thoughts again but it´s what makes it a stand out among the rest. The implication of such taboo theme for children while playing with it in a very subtle manner,is a true paradise of thought and a mundane but powerful moral to show within the episode.
The episode while goign in the usual pace, delivers the antithesis of a letter. Every event is important to Terramar´s decision because he tries to solve a personal problem which he is not able to solve. Said problem was created by himself and his parents didn´t put any pressure on him. Their love is there but he psychologically struggled to put his own perspective about his family to not let them down.

>I perhaps would've honed in more if I had been more awake, I really am more of a lore/background subtexts person over just paying attention to the lessons themselves.
Yeah, it´s perfectly understandable, in fact, this episode reintroduced and continued hippogriffs´lore.
I have caught the moral.....because I had watched the leak 4 months ago. I knew it was a good episode and I enjoyed. However, I didn´t think it was truly that deep until I realized how powerful its moral was the last week before its official release.
When the episode was officially approaching, I started to wonder what made the ep so great and I had plans to check it agian. Those previous days made me realize about the situation of my cousin and I found out between some anonymous opinions that this episode deserved a better score than the rest.
It was a 7 or 7.5 episode but whenever it comes to its theme of divorce, my personal rating went up as soon as I reaffirmed my own statement.

I love it both for the superficial reasons (the new species) and its moral (the divorce and a teenager struggling with his own personal issues about his family)

>Had a similar opinion to yours on it. Liked more then I would expect. Never thought I'd be wanting to see Dash team up with a bunch of old mares. The end I especially found cute.
Yeah, I thought Granny Smith would mean a boring/filler episode like some Apple family member...However, judging a book by its cover isn´t always effective. Grannies Gone Wild is like he Flurry of Emotions of season 8. Expected to be shit because of the character (in theory) and then, it becomes much more enjoyable than the premise told us to think.
Such a cool mare like Dash combined with a bunch of grannies wouldn´t work on paper. Until you see her comical faces, worth of a sitcom show, all the misadventures become really funny and there were a couple of sexual innuendo in the episode.
These old ladies really know how to have fun and prove that age is nothing but a number(Granny Smith showing her mane was a really unexpected bit).
And even with all the comedy, the episode showed some background pony fest and deliver some heavy lore. Introducing Trixie´s father and the reappearance of Svengallop during the dancing scene.

The end is cute indeed. It starts as a "ew, it´s one of those episodes right?" to "I want to see more, why are you leaving it here?" vibes

>>1259
>what are your thoughts on Horse Play?
for now, nothing. The only leak I have watched is Surf and/or Turf and I prefer avoiding any spoilers/trailers from any future episodes. Sure I had watched something out there in /mlp/ but I honestly don´t care to remember anything from it.
>I have heard Twily fans for years saying that Twilight needs to have a disagreement with Celestia for her character development
Twilight isn´t made of metal. Sometimes you have to disagree or critique with your idolized ones just as a sign of admiration or love. Not because of bad intentions but because both grow mutually.
This is like Dash with the Wonderbolts. At first, you admir ethem blindly. When you join them, you critique them but love them as well. So Twilight would do. The Best Night Ever showed her blind admiration for Celestia and these days, she loves her but she points and discusses with Celestia as any other normal pony. Time changes perspectives and I believe the idea could happen at anytime.

>I wonder if this would be considered acceptable by some or not since it is a relatively non serious matter.
depends on how much it has been repeated and how the discussion about it went for such topic. I think like in real life, ponies get into serious things over time.

>glad the site is still up today knocks on wood
knock it knock it. It´s never enough when the /end/ is coming. Still, I wish the mods could make me more relieved about the board´s state.

Celestia knows what can happen next.

So, I have to say something very important. Something really deep, something that requires a lot of thought to say and most importantly, keep my forms while saying it...


WHY IS CELESTIA TROLLING AT US? DID SHE HAVE 1111 YEARS AND SHE ISN´T GOOD AT ACTING?

ONE LITTLE THING AND ONLY ONE JOB AND SHE STILL FAILED AT IT FOR ONE SINGLE LINE FOR THE PLAY?

1 1 1 1

1

1

1

WORST ACTRESS, USELESS AND SERVES ONLY TO RISE THE SUN. GODDAMN , SHE IS A HACK. WORST PRINCESS OF THE ENTIRE MILLENNIA . WHERE IS LUNA WITH HER REPUBLIC?

the episode is top notch, a strong contender along with Surf and or Turf. I like that little detail of calling her Celestia instead of a Princess. I will review it after yours

Without seeing your thoughts I will post mine on Horse Play as last time.

First off. Wow, there was a whole lot going on this episode. I'm not sure I'll get to cover all the questions I have. Probably will have to give a rewatch.

I honestly enjoyed this quite a bit. I'd probably say my enjoyment was 8.5/10 at least. Not sure if a critical eye will bring that down or up later. (Something that often happens for me in both directions). Celestia was cute. They gave out a fair bit of screen time without feeling too crowed. Pacing didn't feel off. The lesson wasn't quite what I thought it would be. But it still showed development for Twilight as a character. The moment between her and Celestia was wonderful. The only thing I could even half way complain of was that the show doesn't have as much Celestia and Twily as it should have, but that has been partly fixed as of recent seasons. Interactions like this would have been nice to have happened sooner and with a bit more build up though. As opposed to how Celestia faded into the background rather then being a force in the plot. Often reduced to fan service and what-excuse-do-we-have-to-write-her-out-of-this-problem?

When is the last time we've seen this smile?

>>1284

Now onto my many questions and other thoughts

Was Celestia trolling? It almost seems like it. Sure it was nice to see her actually save the day for once but she sure seemed to know a lot about threader and getting everypony together compared to her comical level incompetence for most of the ep. Plus it seems rather odd that Celestia wouldn't know how to act some considering all the ponies she has to put up with as Princess for various political reasons. I know putting up a facade wouldn't necessarily translate 100% to theader but man you'd think she'd be better... she is freaking better, we saw it in the ep. She trolled us.

How the heck does this translate to canon. A lot of lines that could be interpreted in various ways. Interesting they brought cannon from the Journal of the Two Sisters. Wasn't a fair bit of that book discredited in the last couple of seasons? Also, there could be a bit of a conflict with hearts warming eve's story on the whole five scourers being in charge of the sun and moon as opposed to all unicorns. Though this could easily be a post discord measure, but the timeline is a bit wonky

Interesting that Luna didn't step in during the tomato throwing and whatnot. Though I completely understand why and it is something that doesn't bug me, I know there are some who will really hate that. Also is she friends with Flur?

Apple Jack sure proving the premise of the Princess Apple Jack threads this episode.

Loved Pinkie's antics this episode. Especially the marshmallow!

>>1283
>WHY IS CELESTIA TROLLING AT US? DID SHE HAVE 1111 YEARS AND SHE ISN´T GOOD AT ACTING?

I KNOW RIGHT? COMPLETELY ARTIFICIAL COMFLICT!

>I like that little detail of calling her Celestia instead of a Princess

Me too. Hope we get to see some causal interaction later this season.

>I will review it after yours

Post away!

>>1284
>Wow, there was a whole lot going on this episode. I'm not sure I'll get to cover all the questions I have. Probably will have to give a rewatch.
So I will tonight. There are a lot of things to judge.....after watching Blade Runner 2049 with a friend. Finally I am going to see it.
>They gave out a fair bit of screen time without feeling too crowed. Pacing didn't feel off. The lesson wasn't quite what I thought it would be. But it still showed development for Twilight as a character.
Yep, a random anon of /mlp/ said that this felt like an episode from season 2. And with all the new students and better animation, it felt like that. Cute, simple and spontaneous with the comedy.
>The moment between her and Celestia was wonderful. The only thing I could even half way complain of was that the show doesn't have as much Celestia and Twily as it should have, but that has been partly fixed as of recent seasons.
I will get into it down below....
>When is the last time we've seen this smile?
Twilight has been pretty chill this season. I swear that cuteness is reaching levels that shouldn´t be allowed to question. Surf and or Turf was her vacation and this play was her wet dream becoming a reality.

>>1285
>Was Celestia trolling? It almost seems like it.
Kind of. It´s pretty ambiguous.

>it seems rather odd that Celestia wouldn't know how to act some considering all the ponies she has to put up with as Princess for various political reasons. I know putting up a facade wouldn't necessarily translate 100% to theader but man you'd think she'd be better... she is freaking better, we saw it in the ep. She trolled us.
it´s more like she likes to lead the things and prefers for others to act than acting by herself. Does she know how to act? She does. However, she pretended to be bad because while the gesture from Twilight seems to be nice, she didn´t actually wanted to be the protagonist. She prefers staying in the background like she has always done before. She knows how to act, just that her acting is spent on trolling rather than playing a role.
>How the heck does this translate to canon. A lot of lines that could be interpreted in various ways.
Well yeah, eveything that involves Celestia and the timeline before the Mane 6 is kind of confusing basically because writers didn´t know what to do.
Still,it´s nice to see some parts of the Journal placed in the show >>1286.
>Wasn't a fair bit of that book discredited in the last couple of seasons?
I didn´t follow it closely but it seems that some fans discredited it mostly because of random tweets or misconceptions between their interpretations. I honestly don´t know how its position was before this episode.
>the timeline is a bit wonky
because it is unavoidable to create one out of nowhere even if that makes important plotholes.
>Also is she friends with Flur?
We don´t what Luna does in Canterlot in her free time, but yeah, she has a bit of social life out there.

>Apple Jack sure proving the premise of the Princess Apple Jack threads this episode.
Writers confirmed to be lurk and being huge followers of the Princess Applejack. It wouldn´t surprise me if they posted some screencaps from it in their Twitter profiles or mention them in some convention........

it could happen...

>Loved Pinkie's antics this episode. Especially the marshmallow!
Yeah. For me the best moment from her was buying the illegal fireworks from Trixie. Boy that part was a highlight.

so now, here it comes my review from the episode.
The episode itself is pretty enjoyable and we have received a good streak of episodes, two of them being really strong contenders for the best of the season.
Comedy was at its pure point, everyone was in character,especially the Mane 6 in general. Pinkie delivered her chaotic ideas, AJ was the reasonable one, Dolores slapped Twilight´s princesshood so hard that it could be heard from the other side of the screen, Fluttershy showed her stage fear (referencing Filli Vanlli) and the students collaborated for the interpretation, Spike sure showed his will and ironic phrases in the stage and Rainbow fucked it up by telling everyone the upcoming play.

With all the secondary characters aside, putting their part on this episode, it´s time to focus about the two stars from here....

So, more like an review, these are more my thoughts that the fandom has considered when it comes to these two protagonists.
After watching it, I´ve come to realize that we (both the writers and fandom) have been immature and really dramatic in the canon topics.
This episode made me realize that the Twilicorn shitshow was unnecessary. Mostly because princess hood is viewed as a different line to be a character, so it changes everything and the powerful position implies a different contact, lack of warmth after the celebration and loss of identity because of privileged positions that no one will ever have.
What has happened in this episode is the same as the Netherlands monarchy have celebrated their own birthday, they are people despite their position.
So it means that we all thought that Twilight being relatable and a cute pony would be lost from season 4 onwards. With Cadence that didn´t happen, neither was Luna, nor Twilight has done after MMC......and in the end, it isn´t for the the so claimed deity: Celestia.
Celestia has lived a lot and has been considered immortal and a demiGod.....when she, along with her sister, was a student from Starswirl. Who is the ultimate God here? Starswirl is also revived from its sacrifice and he hasn´t shown any sign of being a God either.
The headcanons about alicorns or deities have not been found, nor they are different from the rest of the ponies. Luna felt closer despite her position because she had an episode like Luna Eclipsed or Magic Sheep where she showed her personal emo but funny side. That leaves Celestia being the one responsible for everything that happened during those 1000 years, to the point we have asked ourselves if she was a good princess to hold everything. Well, she is not the only one nor the founder of everything. The Wonderbolts exist and so the Royal Guard, at least, they were able to protect by themselves by not going to unknown places.

But here is the catch:

Celestia is not the ultimate deity to follow, just because she has a good amount of years from his back, that doesn´t mean she has all the answers nor she is able to wipe out everyone from existence. She is a Royal figure and the peak of self defense.

Celestia isn´t the Goddess we all have desired or looked for. The one who makes everything relevant......is Twilight, in front of our faces since the first second.
Both in the show and in the timeline , Twilight and the Mane 6 have developed themselves and have been the focus of this show. Their actions are more relevant than the rest and they by accident or intentionally, serve as a plot device to make everything else important. They are the key for everything. So the CMC came after, the species(griffons, seaponies, changelings,dragons...) came after because of their open mind to travel and have new experiences, Luna redeemed herself because of them, Candy and Shining Armor hone because of being related to Twilight all of a sudden.... basically everything they touch or the screen decides to be touched starts to get relevant.

Celestia however, while seemingly being above Twilight and Equestria.....she is not. In fact, she was not a character from the start, but an ARCHETYPE. Yep, a model for Twilight to follow just like Faust wanted. Celestia was considered as the ultimate position at first because she seemingly gave those vibes in the first seasons. Her character and context was not developed, she has been more incomplete than Luna and maybe Cadence.
That´s why I feel confused about her in trolling completely. She wanted to feel in touch with the mane 6.....and so with the audience because her royalty was really overhyped. She admitted that she has learned a lot of things from Twilight (in Celestial Advice) and in seaosn 7, that´s definitely the twist where Celestia becomes an actual character. Writers didn´t know how to make her down to earth so her trolling abilities would put her as a more relatable character.
This episode has deconstructed that being a leader doesn´t mean you are different form the rest. In fact, I think while trolling the mane 6 at the end, she was partially saying the truth. She enjoys from the inside some usual things that happen in the routine outside her princess role. Probably because of boredom or feeling tired about seeing her image being so praised and elevated into top levels (like Twilight does)
Celestia has always been an incomplete character in the end. The Mane 6 and what followed them do. Celestia was considered as them while she didn´t offer anything interesting in front of us. She does when she gets closer and meets the mane 6 more, now integrated in the cast like she has been fakingly considered one of them.

You cannot say that Celestia has been out of character...because she has not had one despite her apparent deity image. We only knew that she liked to troll and have conflicts with her sister, but that´s it. All of this comes...because of the mane cast. They are the ones who have given Celestia a chance to shine and so, make her complete.

I however, must show my amazement about the huge fan content involving Celly without literally nothing on her. Now,it feels that her material is paying off. Celestia having episodes and an actual character.....is ironically fanservice.

>>1296
>This episode made me realize that the Twilicorn shitshow was unnecessary. Mostly because princess hood is viewed as a different line to be a character, so it changes everything and the powerful position implies a different contact, lack of warmth after the celebration and loss of identity because of privileged positions that no one will ever have.

I had thoughts like this when it happened to an extent. More so though I was scared that the writers would do that. Not necessarily that I expected to have ta be that way. Even then though the level of drama was way way over the top. Agreed.

>>1297
>Celestia however, while seemingly being above Twilight and Equestria.....she is not. In fact, she was not a character from the start, but an ARCHETYPE. Yep, a model for Twilight to follow just like Faust wanted.
>You cannot say that Celestia has been out of character...because she has not had one despite her apparent deity image. We only knew that she liked to troll and have conflicts with her sister,

I mostly agree. Though I would like to add something to that. Many of the other characters were build up to around what little there was around their earlier appearances ended up being molded into what they where later. Celestia never was. She was stuck (and still is to an extent ) to her archetype and image in terms of personality. Too be fair I never regarded her as a goddess. But she was intended to be at least somewhat powerful and competent. Compare how Chrissy was suprised at defeating her in season 2 to her being seemly dragged away by changing drones in season 6. Her undoing Twilight's want it need it spell compared to her some of her more recent appearances where it almost seems to have some trouble with more advanced magic. These implications slowly died as the show continued. As Twilight's studies in magic became a fact about her character rather then an active plotline. And having her being implied powerful became more of a plot inconvenience. Basically the way I see it, unlike the most of the other characters, she suffered from nerfing the other princess had but also never had any of what was implied shown or her roles expanded any (Luna with deep dream dives, Cadence as ruler of the crystal empire.) So she just kind of was reduced to prop. She was only there because she had to be there. They didn't make her be much of a force in Twilight's life as an alicorn. They didn't show doing any secondary royal duties. Her regalness became a prision that prevented her from being ever having any small problems and slice of life stuff with her and so she rotted.

I do agree this ep felt very much like a season 2 ep. It was nice to see Celestia in a fun simple situation

Note I may expand/reword some of my stuff later when I'm more awake but I think I managed to convey the gist of my thoughts.

so, while we may be open to discussion for all this season. there have been several topics about it. That means the show is good at that point. All the talks we have pointed out about the last 4 episodes and School Daze show that this season is doing alright and sometimes, it goes with implied things to keep things interesting, even with completely new characters they manage to make it really entertaining without any nostalgia in mind.

That´s fine and I can say the show has received a very nice streak from Grannies Gone Wild to The Parent Map. There´s no problem when new writers appear into the staff because these 4 episodes were written by newcomers (except Berrow for GGW) and hey, quality doesn´t necessarily goes downhill with it. I don´t doom say as much as some loud shitposters. I recognize that the show has had up and downs and it´s not perfect nor it shines all the time. We shouldn´t be praising it all the time....

all these explanations, for what exactly?Well....

Note: had a busy weekend funeral stuff, you get the picture and I haven't been to /mlp/ nor any of the other places I lurk and seen the reaction, but I take it it was quite negative. I only read your replies partly, because if there is something negative and I'm comming in fully blind I feel like it could be good to have a perspective that was untainted by any collective reactions. Not saying yours was, as I haven't read your post fully nor have a understanding of whats going on. Now with the dark stuff mostly out of the way I'll probably have enough time to catch up with ya. Expect my thoughts on whatever happened soon! Just making this post just in case I don't get to it super soon (as in next 24 hours).

>How long has the school been going!?
>Okay so the school has been going on for months and they still haven't had one fieldtrip?
>Everycreature seems so forced at some points. Though this is our first episode outside the season premier really focused on the school so I'll see if I get used to it.
>AJ and RD are acting completely retarded.
>Students seem already good at friendship in all limited instances we've seen so far.

Yeah. I can see the negative reaction. Though the base concept wasn't bad the execution was awful. It shouldn't have been more subtle with a slow build up to a point where they done goofed. Rather then having it blow up in their faces completely three times and it being blatantly in front of the students from the start. Another thing that is of a slight concern is them never having time to flush out the student's much as we are going to have only one third of the season devoted to them as a group. They should have one episode per character at least, so this is one wasted. They only showed them as a group and RD and AJ had the POV for most of the episode. Also it having been going on for several months kind of making them having new experiences and being excited for things seem really weird. It would be kind of strange to have them in future episodes being shown new parts of ponyville and what not. Now I know the show doesn't always have a linear timeline (episodes set in fall then spring then winter then spring again), but with the recent exposition about the movie and them setting up with a theme this season it seemed like this season would be more so with a new transition feeling they'd be going for in the earlier episodes.

3.5/10 for me. Though I can't say it was the worst, I didn't really enjoy it much at all.

>>1369
>Basically, the student 6 is great by itself and we saw that in the opener, they could learn and have adventures between each other nicely. However, the potential gets reduced to cute and funny moments in some lines and gets dragged down by Aj and Rainbow and this problem gets carried during all the episode.... for some reason.

That's what I mean. Such a waste considering are limited time with'em.

>Whenever you see the episode, you can draw your own potential plotlines and make on your own which way the episode should have gone. I warned some fags about this one( I watched the leak) and some innocents wasted their illusions and hype about this episode.

Basically this.

>Anwyay, if you are going to see it, I would recommend just to point out the good things from it and that´s it.
The Student 6 delivered what they could, Pinkie with one line just stole it and these cutie pies that I am posting.
Didn't read down this far. That would've been better I suppose because this episode wasn't bad in a fantastic way but a mediocre one.

I guess there is not much else to say on the episode itself. Hopefully it's just a fluke. Welp, I have yet to catch last week episode but probably will do so tomorrow.

>>1371
>I haven't been to /mlp/ nor any of the other places I lurk and seen the reaction, but I take it it was quite negative.
Well, it was negative but not too dramatic. The leaks helped to not make it a complete shitshow. Instead, they went for something else to get entertained. I personally was asking for Ocellus art because that´s a better entertainment that this one.
>I feel like it could be good to have a perspective that was untainted by any collective reactions.
It´s completely fine and in fact, it shows a truly personal view. But for this one, it was for the better to know the expectations. For good episodes, I won´t spoil until some reply or something else.
>Just making this post just in case I don't get to it super soon
you posted them later. The thing is me because I have been busy as well during these last 3 days.

>>1372
>the school has been going on for months
sooo, the timeline explains that we have been going for several months in less than 8 episodes...weird. Unless the Mount Aris trip was long to take or that background stuff happens to point out a sign for it, then I don´t know how time went so fast over there.
>AJ and RD are acting completely retarded.
after 8 seasons. The gif >>1374 is well deserved
>a slight concern is them never having time to flush out the student's much as we are going to have only one third of the season devoted to them as a group
well, yeah. This was supposed to make them grow a bit and shine because you know they are going to become relevant sooner or later. but nope, conflict and duel to see which pony has the biggest brain for going full retard mode.
>They should have one episode per character at least, so this is one wasted.
There are but this one was the biggest let down of the bunch. They were supportive in the background in Horse Play though.

>it having been going on for several months kind of making them having new experiences and being excited for things seem really weird
it would have made sense to put this episode as the 3rd or 4th one and instead of saying months, say that it´s been weeks. That short period would have helped to fit these interactions.

>It would be kind of strange to have them in future episodes being shown new parts of ponyville and what not
At least, we the audience,know that they are going to be the focus. What you have said, it´s going to happen.

>with the recent exposition about the movie and them setting up with a theme this season it seemed like this season would be more so with a new transition feeling they'd be going for in the earlier episodes.

Party of One with Silver Stream when?
Nah seriously, I certainly agree with your lines. But it gives those vibes because of the retake on simple morals but with a different perspective than the original seasons had. The show is going in a cycle on purpose but the lessons delivered are very different. Your line could justify somehow why we went back to Fall Weather Friends all over again but still doesn´t justify the let down.

>3.5/10 for me. Though I can't say it was the worst, I didn't really enjoy it much at all.
The expected rating. Those who were rating it 8 or higher in the poll must have trolled to us

>>1373
>Such a waste considering are limited time with'em.
who knows? Mr. Bones doesn´t tell us where this is going nor where we can stop. Put your seat belt on because we still have season 9.

>this episode wasn't bad in a fantastic way but a mediocre one.
it´s mostly uninteresting....for a slice of life series in which nothing is filler and yet, it´s hardly rewarding. The closest to a reward are Ocellus as a seapony and some funny reactions that could serve for shitposts

>I guess there is not much else to say on the episode itself. Hopefully it's just a fluke. Welp, I have yet to catch last week episode but probably will do so tomorrow.
The Parent Map is a good episode. You are going to like a very specific detail very much. About the next episode, I have heard very good things about it. The best episodes come next to each other in this series for some reason.
Pinkie Apple Pie--> Rainbow Falls and then Three´s a Crowd and Pinkie Pride
Somepony to Watch Over Me-----> Maud Pie
The Saddle Row Review----> AJ´s Day Off
Honest Apple -----> A Royal Problem
Somehow MLP never ceases to amaze me the roller coaster it has been through these years.

Wow I loved the parent map. Probably my favorite episode of the season so far. I liked it mainly for the town. It felt like its own little corner of Equestria. This place truly felt isolated to me for some reason, considering how interconnected things have gotten in the later seasons (It took us at least a day and night by train to get ta Appleloosa, but now we can ride on a hot air balloon just standing all the way to Las Pegasus farther down on the map!). There was just this /confy/ vibe from it that I really loved. Also the Dad really works for Dolores' bridge building backstory doesn't it? The fact that Stellar Flare is such a capitalist and that Firelight is such a traditionalist being only a minor deal in the background just cracked me up. It wasn't old vs new or capitalism vs the little guy like so many would have made it. I can't think of much of a complaint other then that the Cutie Map felt just arbitrarily thrown in there to serve the plot again. I feel like this though could be more in service to the cutie map itself, trying to keep it relevant amist all the other things they have to jungle around now. I mean, their trying to keep it around with both all the crap of season 7 final, season 8 premier, the movie, and various other plotlines from over the years. Honestly something is going to have to give or get sidelined at this point.

Also I wonder what happened to Dolores' Mother and Sunburst's father, I doubt will have it answered, but it is something that I will ponder away.

Well, anyway a good episode 8/10 for me.

>>1375
>sooo, the timeline explains that we have been going for several months in less than 8 episodes...weird. Unless the Mount Aris trip was long to take or that background stuff happens to point out a sign for it, then I don´t know how time went so fast over there.
>it would have made sense to put this episode as the 3rd or 4th one and instead of saying months, say that it´s been weeks. That short period would have helped to fit these interactions.

Just leads to a lot of questions. Whether or not they acknowledge it or stuff comes up that conflicts later on in the season. Agree, they could've completely avoided it if they had gone with teacher of the week rather then month. I wonder with all the stuff they have to manage now if the timeline and lore are going to go insane.

>The show is going in a cycle on purpose but the lessons delivered are very different. Your line could justify somehow why we went back to Fall Weather Friends all over again but still doesn´t justify the let down.

Exactly, it's not that they retreaded old ground it's how poorly it was done. Because even with all the supposed character development with AJ and RD they could have had them still competing without them being retarded from the get go. Or made it focused on some of the studet6 themselves instead, or a mix. Urg. You get the picture.

>after 8 seasons. The gif >>1374 is well deserved

Oh boy it is.

>>1376
>You are going to like a very specific detail very much. About the next episode, I have heard very good things about it. The best episodes come next to each other in this series for some reason.

That Dolores has a controlling father in Firelight and that Stellar Flare being such a capitalist means perfectly explains her turn to communism and bridges? Even somewhat in show. Because she'd associate capitalism with what helped sent Sunburst away. or that Dolores was a goth? Indeed I liked many small details from it.

>who knows? Mr. Bones doesn´t tell us where this is going nor where we can stop. Put your seat belt on because we still have season 9.

season 9 could be a complete mess if they try to do all possible fanservice while trying to bring every single plotline to a close. Buckle up indeed

>>1374
>you posted them later. The thing is me because I have been busy as well during these last 3 days.

I know the feeling fam and good luck!

>>1380
>Yeah, it´s ironic. The map and the places get expanded, they feel like closer to home over time yet, the original place where Dolores and Sunburst came from felt slightly off than Dolores´s village after The Cutie Map with less expensive buildings. Modern or good looking places don´t always fill that sense of being at home.

I suppose the modernness plays a part. As opposed to a fantasy with some modern tech and analogs thrown in, such an enchanted magic powered engine. As the seasons past they where more willing to thrown in modern stuff without an steampunk or magicpunk theme. Though I don't hold this as a full reason or too much of a complaint as long they don't copy paste earth American culture cut and dry with no horse themed attributes to the motifs and tech they decide to use. As I've pointed out before, we've seen things like modern paper, hoofheald video games, a hydrodams in the first two seasons. Though I do agree that sometimes it has been a bit much in the more recent seasons. I think it is more with the sense of distance, which I would partly attribute to modernness, but also out of a desire to make new and interesting things more accessible for plot's sake. I can understand that they never really established set distances so why could't they do it? Though I remember thinking during season 4 that since the series was starting to really develop a set lore and at the time more fantasy/steampunk stuff as fanservice we'd be going the other way.

>Or getting into the Dragonlands would take Spike entire days and in the Guanlet of Fire,he got there without getting tired.

That's a real good one. Though I don't hold it against the slow too strongly I will say that they have made too many places familiar and uninteresting as a plot convenience. But that's what happened with the Everfree early on. Still it lowers the fun you could have with lower/mid tier hostile forces like they used to have even in some of the slice of life ponyville eps.

>especially Sunburst. But oh well, it´s a complaint that will be pointed out as well for other episodes. We have talked about it earlier and we, for sure, complain about that when the map calls....I don´t know, one of the students.

It probably is a bit early to judge but it seems like the tree is going to become the plot device in charge of secondary characters. Oh well, if we get more episodes like this I can't really complain but it just feels a little forced and unorganic.


>But then, the map is God. I wonder if the series finale shows that using the map too much becomes in negative energy in pony mode. Full of anti friendship just like happened in Dragon Ball GT with Shenron using the Dragon Balls constantly. If the map is doing that as a living being and not just magic, the possibility of creating its other side could potentially happen.

Show has already gone DBZ once, so why not?

>I hope it´s not death, again.
Agreed. Well I hope its not vaguely implied death/there gone now. I guess wouldn't mind it there was some variance to it, one died and one just had a divorce or separated in some way.

>>1380
>Also, we can guess that Dolores went (ironically for the /end/) full Robert Smith in her teenage years.

I so want to make some OC because of this. This is awesome on so many levels. I mean, your interest in music and even my exposure to it. Bat ponies and the bat cadence green it just fits the /end/ so well.

Surprised that this got turned into a contest between Dolores and Twily. I would've expected Pinkie to have a better showing, along with RD but she isn't as much of a fan fanforite as she was in the early days. Maybe it was a buch of people who didn't want Dolores to win that that tipped it like this.

>>1379
>or that Dolores was a goth?
mostly I was going for that one. But I like yours better.

>I know the feeling fam and good luck!
same,even we need the lucky bridges every day.

>season 9 could be a complete mess if they try to do all possible fanservice while trying to bring every single plotline to a close.
you know, Slice of Life for 26 episodes in which every crazy headcanon becomes real? That would be crazy and an absolute disaster for everypony...

where do I have to sign? Count me in

>>1381
>I don't hold this as a full reason or too much of a complaint as long they don't copy paste earth American culture cut and dry with no horse themed attributes to the motifs and tech they decide to use.
Las Pegasus though. Manehattan though. Appleloosa though, Twilight using a polygraph on Feeling Pinkie Keen though. You know magical places and stuff.

>we've seen things like modern paper, hoofheald video games, a hydrodams in the first two seasons.
I should have read this, yep, you got it.
>I do agree that sometimes it has been a bit much in the more recent seasons. I think it is more with the sense of distance, which I would partly attribute to modernness, but also out of a desire to make new and interesting things more accessible for plot's sake
we are probably seeing that MLP has received so much fantasy and happy rainbows into their world that it´s going in reverse, fantasy is looking for real things and the real world wants fantasy in their lives.

I guess technology makes things easier (the train is still getting overpowered as fuck, you cannot beat that). Though I don´t see that much of modernness in some episodes. It pretty much depends on the episode,the setting and random things in the background. However,save Grannies Gone Wild, I haven´t noticed that much of technology advancements and going further than the standard steampunk era. What makes it feel real,.....are the little details on the morals and ways to tell the story. The diplomatic and dialogue way to solve things in order to expand their places has a pretty close view of actual reality. Instead of feeling magical, the magical/tech things complement for something real, that´s why you feel that way.

>I remember thinking during season 4 that since the series was starting to really develop a set lore and at the time more fantasy/steampunk stuff as fanservice we'd be going the other way.
I said it in my project post. From season 3, nothing is canon because the series could have ended at that point. Princess Twilight Sparkle is the new take of the series that has had its roots on being fanservice. Season 3 was the awkward transition and Season 4 started another direction with the same train.
>I will say that they have made too many places familiar and uninteresting as a plot convenience. But that's what happened with the Everfree early on
Let´s say that ponies frew up. They are not pink innocent creatures. They are used to seeing random and constant menaces coming into their lives. See the parody of the bug bear in Slice of Life, I think Octavia looked down on the mane 6 for repeating these fights over and over.
>it lowers the fun you could have with lower/mid tier hostile forces like they used to have even in some of the slice of life ponyville eps
It isn´t The Mane Thing made fun of it and A Health of Information reminded us what´s so actually horrifying behind it. Nor menacing nor a cheerful place, it has to be dealt with some respect.

>I can't really complain but it just feels a little forced and unorganic.
as long as I enjoy the episodes by themselves I don´t care either. it´s actually 40 seconds for it. They get rid of that plot device pretty quickly. Season 8 has called them two times and they were pretty short with some lore behind it.
>Show has already gone DBZ once
One does not simply repeat DBZ so carelessly and not making it awesome
>one died and one just had a divorce or separated in some way
I guess we have to eat the 2nd dish from the menu to have a chance....someday. Oh well.

>>1382
>I so want to make some OC because of this.
Don´t hurry up m8. You can do it perfectly...but if you feel like doing it, go without hesitation.

>This is awesome on so many levels. I mean, your interest in music and even my exposure to it. Bat ponies and the bat cadence green it just fits the /end/ so well.
It´s ironic isn´t it. The bridges have covered us in darkness. I mean, she was the mascot for a wordfilter....but making her a full goth in her teenage years goes beyond than anything I could expect. Now, this is canon and oh boy, what a surprise after seeing the conversations taken over here.

>>1386
>Surprised that this got turned into a contest between Dolores and Twily.
Mostly because they have something interesting to talk about. Twilight has read a lot of books and sure, her knowledge either bores you or entertains you for a long period. It´really helps when you are meeting with someone who always has something interesting to talk about.
Dolores has a very complex backstory so there could be hard hitting empathy moments when someone is down psychologically. She and Sunset can tell a lot of life advice and introvert thoughts to talk about. They have lived in loneliness and so...does a lot of fans.

>I would've expected Pinkie to have a better showing, along with RD but she isn't as much of a fan favorite as she was in the early days
She is an external ambassador like Spike but while Pinkie is great at establishing relationships or setting a nice party even in the darkest places to chill up, she isn´t certainly the deepest most of the times. However, when she gets into the feelings territory like the last part of Maud Couple, Heartbreakers, Pinkie Pride....oh boy, she really gets into them.

Rainbow has always been a mascot personality than a character and whenever she does something, she always ends up getting the TOP CUNT title.
Is Rainbow actually interesting by herself? Well, the Daring Do books and some episodes like Grannies Gone Wild, Secrets and Pies or Tanks for the Memories make her somewhat less of a cunt and more like that asshole friend that you need to hang out with because of feeling cool and having an adventure with someone who loves that.


>Maybe it was a buch of people who didn't want Dolores to win that that tipped it like this.
Basically what you would expect. There are people who still hate her despite that since the season 5 final, a ton of stories have happened in between.

>>1389
>we are probably seeing that MLP has received so much fantasy and happy rainbows into their world that it´s going in reverse, fantasy is looking for real things and the real world wants fantasy in their lives.

I like this thought for some reason.

>However,save Grannies Gone Wild, I haven´t noticed that much of technology advancements and going further than the standard steampunk era.

I think I stated this a long time ago when we were taking about the overhype for season 1: in reality the show has had this mix of tech from the get go, it's only been emphasized to varing degrees. Sometimes I feel like a few things maybe a bit much but I feel like if anything it's more of the interconnectedness over any actual tech shown that does harm to the simple /comfy/ factor that so many blame on tech and meme faces. And you are right, there really hasn't been that much this season.

>I guess technology makes things easier (the train is still getting overpowered as fuck, you cannot beat that).

The train at this point is warping reality if we consider that there is multiple cases of it reaching places that used ta take days.

>Season 3 was the awkward transition and Season 4 started another direction with the same train.

Agreed. Season 3 is when the show shed it's formulaic letters and simpler plot structure, but it was going into uncharted waters. Season 4 is when it was put into pratice.

>It isn´t The Mane Thing made fun of it and A Health of Information reminded us what´s so actually horrifying behind it. Nor menacing nor a cheerful place, it has to be dealt with some respect.

A Health of Information is truly horrifying isn't it? True, and I say this again, for me any criticism of the show is tempered by the fact that we really shouldn't have gotten this at all. As you say, meaning out of nothing. I mean if you went back to the season 2 days and showed them just one of what is now normal faservice they'd be freaked. Even if the show became a dumpster fire it is still our dumpster fire of epicness.

>>1390
>Don´t hurry up m8. You can do it perfectly...but if you feel like doing it, go without hesitation.

Don't worry, I'm in no rush. Rushing is what ruins the fun and turns simple things into burdens.

>>1391
I agree you 100% on dash. I guess I was just thinking back to the season 2 day height of her fandom. Though honestly I'd thought Twily would be somewhere around 4th or maybe even 5th place if everyone voted truly with their best pony. I mean, I would thought something along the lines of Pinkie getting a combo of her fans and those who would just think of her being the obivious choice because of her being a party pone, then FS or RD, with the Dolores block perhaps holding strong enough to win anyway with the split vote.

>>1395
>in reality the show has had this mix of tech from the get go, it's only been emphasized to varing degrees.
Manehaten was introduced in the 1st season...so there you go with the tech department
>Sometimes I feel like a few things maybe a bit much but I feel like if anything it's more of the interconnectedness over any actual tech shown that does harm to the simple /comfy/ factor that so many blame on tech and meme faces. And you are right, there really hasn't been that much this season.
I see where you are going. It´s just that maybe the tech has been more persistent in the episodes as a whole but in the background or too similar to real life. Combine that with the realistic way to deal the morals and stories over the recent seasons....it feels much more advanced than what it is.
>The train at this point is warping reality if we consider that there is multiple cases of it reaching places that used ta take days.
It will be the key for progressing in an open world RPG. Discover a place by hoof and then you gain the instant access. I don´t know if they can access instantly with it to the the hive or the Dragonlands but I bet Dolores or Discord help a bit for that.
>it was going into uncharted waters. Season 4 is when it was put into pratice.
because season 4 had more time to prepare it. S3 felt rushed because they thought they were going to end the series and they changed the scripts in the last hour for continuing. It´s understandable why it´s considered the worst and the most awkward in terms of pacing save for a couple of episodes.
>A Health of Information is truly horrifying isn't it?
For me at least. Becuase it reminds me of those 80s shows in which they leave a little bit of spookiness in the background.

>any criticism of the show is tempered by the fact that we really shouldn't have gotten this at all. As you say, meaning out of nothing
that´s what the fandom did as well,writing fics, making music and art out of nowhere.... for a children show. Much more childish back then than what we have received in the latest seasons. The fandom doesn´t appreciate enough that we are reaching levels that no one expected and with every episode that happens, it reflects the influences from its audience more and more. Out of fucking nothing, literally dust in pinkish rainbows, you create this.
>if you went back to the season 2 days and showed them just one of what is now normal faservice they'd be freaked. Even if the show became a dumpster fire it is still our dumpster fire of epicness.
Well, the perfect example is Derpy talking in the Last Roundup, which made the fandom explode. Now, she is a recurrent character and we take her as a nice pony to watch everytime but not with that excessive hype.
By the way, the dumpster fire still rocks even with its ashes....because the ashes are something compared to nothing,there is something created. Now there is potential for everything and a complete world that while it doesn´t reach WoW levels of big, it´s pretty admirable and worth to exploit for decades.

>>1396
>Rushing is what ruins the fun and turns simple things into burdens.
there are some exceptions to that rule but it requires a lot of sacrifice and passion to do that. Basically,time.

>>1397
>I guess I was just thinking back to the season 2 day height of her fandom
I wonder how many fans would rate her back then as a character, and not a cool visual mascot for the pony material. 20% cooler because her mane is attractive and she had the swag glasses on back then.

>I'd thought Twily would be somewhere around 4th or maybe even 5th place if everyone voted truly with their best pony.
/mlp/ has constantly circlejerked about her without any lose of rhythm nor autistic love for her. Alicorn or not, she is the protagonist and her nerdy personality leaves a lot of room for suggestive fics with her. Consider that she has certainly shown some questionable signs (like in the Cutie Remark, talking to Rainbow Dash as a filly; moving several times while reading a story to Thorax....). Also she has received the majority of fanart and fictions about her, the 1st character that you are introduced to see and know about in the show. Besides, she has always kept her snarky and cute moments all the time.

>Pinkie getting a combo of her fans and those who would just think of her being the obvious choice
nope, not that obvious
>with the Dolores block perhaps holding strong enough to win anyway with the split vote
only enough to prevent her the victory. I guess that those who voted her was because of her role after To Where and Back Again and getting warmed up with her appearance. Those who had liked Sunset, would probably vote for Dolores as well because of their similar contexts.

I have seen the new episode and I have to say one thing. Just a very tiny minor thing that doesn´t matter at all.....

LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON

Thanks M.A Larson, Haber followed your steps

>Wow peewee is back!
>Awww he's gone!
>Puberty awkwardness + school setting brings 1990s/2000s show flashbacks.
>Village to terrorize?
>Wow, Twilight actually doing something without being able to fix the problem rather than being randomly nefted or OP.
>>The Rocs being able to resist Twily's laser makes a lot of since they pray on dragons.
>Ending was cute.
>Loved Rarity's hearing problems.

Well, this ep is the one we've always been waiting for (kind of). The first of Spike's progress/development as a dragon. Depending on how you look at it, this may have been the first time we've seen some development for Spike personally as a dragon for a fair while depending on how you regard his episodes with Ember and certain comc appearances. This episode started a bit sour for me, as the puberty plot early on felt too much like a typical school show, sometimes point for point, though I would've have let that drag down my ratting that much on it's own because that would be more of a pet peev. But once they got out of the school I loved it.Everything from the Rarity to the Roc bird attacking. This episode too gave me a season 2ish vibe with how localized it was despite having some action involved. Spike growing his wings didn't feel that odd/out of left field in a bad way , and the pacing flowed nicely. 8/10 for me.

>>1442

I do find it interesting about them bringing up the whole terrorizing villages, and dragons being kicked out after the molt since that goes with the dragons more decentralized society that we could infer from the previous seasons. Also, poor Scootaloo.

>>1442
>Wow peewee is back!
Dragon Quest continuity...and they said they never watched previous episodes

>Wow, Twilight actually doing something without being able to fix the problem rather than being randomly nefted or OP.
it´s a giant bird that requires something else than lasers. In fact, if he was looking after Spike, then it would know that it was the real menace.....and in the end, he was.
>The first of Spike's progress/development as a dragon.
in terms of physical appearance, oh yeah, he did. In terms of personality, he has gained confidence over time, especially after the Crystal Empire events. We are just seeing the results from everything that has happened to him.
>this may have been the first time we've seen some development for Spike personally as a dragon for a fair while depending on how you regard his episodes with Ember and certain comc appearances.
his personality grew in some episodes. While he was stuck with a platonic love about Rarity, he has depended less and less on the mane 6 and making his own stuff with his own actions. This has happened in Inspiration Manifestation, The Crystal Empire, his friendships with Big Mac and Discord, the diplomatic views over Ember and Thorax (by giving up his famous image) and staying as a separate entity from being Twilight´s and Rarity´s assistant.

>the puberty plot early on felt too much like a typical school show
with a school setting on it...
>but once they got out of the school I loved it.Everything from the Rarity to the Roc bird attacking.
it feels like Owl´s That Ends Well with a slightly different context. Not because of his jealousy but because his dragon nature may cause his rejection from the mane 6 and the ones who loved him.
>This episode too gave me a season 2ish vibe with how localized it was despite having some action involved. Spike growing his wings didn't feel that odd/out of left field in a bad way , and the pacing flowed nicely. 8/10 for me.
It didn´t feel that odd because there were actual signs (Rarity´s cutie mark in his entire body) and that change didn´t have any rush to show it (unlike the infamous Magical Mystery Cure). Just a plot device in which explains the dragon development that we didn´t get......in Dragon Quest. Smolder is used here as the voice of reason to explain to us what happens to the dragons when they grow older and reach that puberty phase. It doesn´t come as a nice phase, so puberty for them is not free of hard periods in comparison to ours. This explains why we have seen huge dragons in Dragonshy for example, who have isolated lives and don´t care about others.

>>1443
>I do find it interesting about them bringing up the whole terrorizing villages, and dragons being kicked out after the molt since that goes with the dragons more decentralized society that we could infer from the previous seasons.
Dragons confirmed for having experience in immigration and taking random places by their own will.
The challenge for Spike was: will they kick me out for this? will I become what nobody cannot stand from dragons?
They are mostly decentralized but we have seen that a few of them stay in their homeland (at least, with what we know, Ember, Garble and his crew haven´t moved from there). They take that path because their tough personality lets them to cause fear somewhere else and allow them to take on everything they want. The molt just encourages those actions because the phase is undesirable in all aspects for the dragon itself to the ones who are close to the victim. Tough times that change lives.

>Also, poor Scootaloo
I thought we were going to see more Magical Mystery Cure drama ( I cannot avoid the Thanks M.A. Larson phrase whenever it comes to giving a character wings, that tradition is a must).

However, more like comparing to Magical Mystery Cure and the alicornification, anons have focused on Scootaloo. Giving wings to Spike has ended up with some abuse images about that little crippled filly.
Wings have not changed Spike because they were a sign that he has grown up but that doesn´t imply he changes from overnight because of them. Nonetheless, the purpose of Scootaloo, beyond her cutie mark desire before season 5, was flying. This was shown in Flight to the Finish and Diamond Tiara went too far by using her disability as an argument.
Now, you see that episodes like Bloom and Gloom, Magic Sheep, she dreams about flying and having big wings. The most genuine example arrived recently, with Surf and Or Turf. You can see that swimming for her was almost as equal as a dream come true, hence she argues with Sweetie Belle by choosing Seaquestria over Mount Aris.
She wants to feel that freedom that she isn´t allowed to and all the other pegasus have flown at some point in their lives.

I must say though that her disability has opened to door for some genuine plot devices and insert subtle messages of: "Follow your dreams, have illusions and someday, you will have them" appreciating such basic things like wings much more than the average pegausus.

>>1444
the /end/ approves your trips. 3 polls, three repeated digits...nice.
>during then the Elements of Harmony attributes of them were more emphasized too, hence my logic in thinking Pinkie Pie, though honestly you are right about today, it's just my oldfagness showing.
nah, even though you could be talking about from an old perspective, for Pinkie Pie, that doesn´t apply. She is still popular because her comical and core of happiness comes mostly from her, no wonder she causes a difference and still doesn´t age. She only comes as an annoying pony at times but that´s nothing new. She recognizes that she is too over the top but she keeps doing it anyway. Hell, she has been reference in Deadpool 2. Pinkie while not my favorite, delivers that funny or innocent part of the show. She had fans and she still has for mostly the same reasons she had. I haven´t been there but I can tell when a character has reasons to be liked or not.

However, as for Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, especially the latter, the reasons have changed a lot.

>I found an old poll from 2011 that I barely remembered where Fluttershy did indeed win first place and pinkie second
when you love a character at first, you look for the most appealing reasons, basically the most obvious ones. Fluttershy was considered cute and her development has caused critique like "This is not the Fluttershy I remember, she cannot be that bitchy". These arguments were shown in Fame and Misfortune and they nailed it on that part (because I saw some of them in season 5 and 6).
>I did some further looking around from there and found a second poll from 2012 where Twily did win and Seth was surprised, and thought that RD especially would've done better (I guess a combination of vocal fans plus her being the mascot gave people that).
Well, Twilight had episodes like Lesson Zero, A Canterlot Wedding, It´s About Time and Luna Eclipsed. She had plenty of reasons to be a fan favorite. Rainbow Dash had less brilliant episodes than Twilight´s. I guess fans voted more by show standards than the first impressions or fan content.

>I also know Fluttershy won the hubtv online vote but I'm not sure how much the fandom counted in that one.
well, that´s worth to consider.
>my memories of a fair bit of folks who thought the show was too focused on TS and my own memories of polls long gone in which she didn't always get number 1 or 2.
and then, they complained had too little content around season 4. I mean, I get that she was all over season 1 for some reason but while staying as the protagonist, she had her breaks from the TV spotlight as the rest of the crew.

>But things where different then, and even then I suppose you are still pretty right for that time, and fully right on the present.
wow, I haven´t witnessed that part of the timeline. I just analyze with what I have and what I can think with my own experience, nothing else.

>I'll try to do more digging around and see if there is any other little interesting things/trends I can find
it will be interesting to see at least. Good luck on that!

Also, Celestia had 1% of votes in 2011,back when there weren´t that many characters around. Not even a 7th fraction of her sister´s popularity......that should say something.

>Keep the brdge crossed and it's gates golden, I'll reply to your other post later do to still having a fair bit on my plate.
Not golden....but celestial this time.

>>1450
>in terms of physical appearance, oh yeah, he did. In terms of personality, he has gained confidence over time, especially after the Crystal Empire events. We are just seeing the results from everything that has happened to him.

I was referring to him as dragon. Not as a character. I recognize he has character progress, just was unsure of how much progress he had relating to his "dragonhood" the fact that he is one. Agreed though, this is like a manifestation of Spike growing as a character.

>it feels like Owl´s That Ends Well with a slightly different context. Not because of his jealousy but because his dragon nature may cause his rejection from the mane 6 and the ones who loved him.

That's exactly it.

>Just a plot device in which explains the dragon development that we didn´t get......in Dragon Quest. Smolder is used here as the voice of reason to explain to us what happens to the dragons when they grow older and reach that puberty phase.

That was a pretty good use of the charater honestly. I hope to see more interactions between the too. It would sure be interesting if they play up Smolder's experience as a dragon and Spike's experience as a dragon among ponies, as in Spike being more well versed in equestrian traditions and customs that Smolder is unfamiliar with and Smolder being used to offer advice (both good and maybe bad) and them learning from each other. Though I'm unsure since they've been there months already and the show show them hitting the ground running rather then some culture shock between each other and equestria and them getting to know Ponyville. Though until the season is up I wont entirely say that won't happen.

>>1451
>I must say though that her disability has opened to door for some genuine plot devices and insert subtle messages of: "Follow your dreams, have illusions and someday, you will have them" appreciating such basic things like wings much more than the average pegausus.

She has gotten the short end of the stick a bit hasn't she? Still haven't gotten to see her parents and only recently got confirmation on her family status. It would be intereting if they showed her taking advantage of her limited ability and developing it. Say scooter stunts and such, but development a fine degree. Being able to dive from a high point and using wings to bring her to a good landing . Like a unicorn with hardly any magic learning fine control, being able to pick locks and cause ponies to pass out directly manipulating there blood vessels.

>>1452
> Hell, she has been reference in Deadpool 2. Pinkie while not my favorite, delivers that funny or innocent part of the show. She had fans and she still has for mostly the same reasons she had. I haven´t been there but I can tell when a character has reasons to be liked or not.

That is a very good point you have on all three of those characters.

>Well, Twilight had episodes like Lesson Zero, A Canterlot Wedding, It´s About Time and Luna Eclipsed. She had plenty of reasons to be a fan favorite. Rainbow Dash had less brilliant episodes than Twilight´s. I guess fans voted more by show standards than the first impressions or fan content.

Rainbow Dash's development has never been awful but there has been some not so episodes and sometimes she has benn boneheaded. I can also understand fans also who thought it was gong in a bit different direction. RD having a harsher time with the joining the wonderbolts and perhaps not joining at all. While it wasn't bad for her arch, it just felt a little swept under the rug, alright, that's off our todo list kinda feel.

>and then, they complained had too little content around season 4. I mean, I get that she was all over season 1 for some reason but while staying as the protagonist, she had her breaks from the TV spotlight as the rest of the crew.

On /mlp/ certainly. season 4 I saw both perspectives in abundance believe or not in the general fandom. Some angry that TS was super DBZ nothing can go wrong Princess and others worried that her being a Princess would turn her into a Celestia.

>wow, I haven´t witnessed that part of the timeline. I just analyze with what I have and what I can think with my own experience, nothing else.

Didn't mean it to come off as a complete surrender of my perspective as it did. I was just really sleepy when I wrote it and it was just awkwardly worded.

>Also, Celestia had 1% of votes in 2011,back when there weren´t that many characters around. Not even a 7th fraction of her sister´s popularity......that should say something.

Oh man it should. Also, Rarity was way less liked too. She was seen as a whiny diva who didn't deserve to be the element of generosity by quite a few. Not saying perspective doesn't exist now sometimes but it is nowhere near the level it was then. In season 2 it started to turn around but it wasn't until season 4 when I stopped really noticing it. I'll have to see if I can find anything on it.

>it will be interesting to see at least. Good luck on that!

Thanks. Some places are easier then others but it actually can be a little bit tedious at times. Not to say I'm a pro or anything.

>the /end/ approves your trips. 3 polls, three repeated digits...nice.

Actually didn't intend that. As I said I was a bit sleepy at the time and I didn't even realize that was trips until today!

>Not golden....but celestial this time.
May the celestial light of the sun shine upon us!

just a quick reply to show a minimum of activity and maybe tomorrow I will be answering to the replies properly.

For now,I may not pass the Golden Gate the way it's intended, but luckily,it's still there until the end for us,with a comfortable view to look at it.

>>1459
Take your time fam. Don't have to reply to everything at once. I imagine in the final days before summer you'd be pretty busy anyway. POLSP (Proof Of Life ShitPosts) every now and again is fine.

>>1460
>POLSP (Proof Of Life ShitPosts) every now and again is fine.
so be it. Yeah, I am basically having certain important stuff to go next so that could explain my inactivity. However, I have written another part of the Comforts of Darkness. I have no idea where to drive the concept....but I know how it /end/s, partially. I have projected it all over the day and I am reflecting it for now. However, I need a certain mood to write the 2nd part of it but the idea is written at least.

>>1461
update: I don' t know how I have written this. Music is essentially beautiful and I can prove that sometimes, when you get those songs with true impact,they do deliver an impact whenever you listen to them and put those emotions into paper.

I don't want to hype it but I must say that I haven't cried writing a fanfic so far and putting some references to a painter like Goya.

The other clue from it is that I have been listening to a "pretentious" comical artist that has given me the reason to try this tonight.

I think with that,I can leave you thinking about it.

>>1461
>so be it. Yeah, I am basically having certain important stuff to go next so that could explain my inactivity.

Yeah I've been in a somewhat similar boat, though I think things have stabilized a bit. Just gotta let things go with the flow, good luck to ya.

>>1462
>I don' t know how I have written this. Music is essentially beautiful and I can prove that sometimes, when you get those songs with true impact,they do deliver an impact whenever you listen to them and put those emotions into paper.

Turn around turn around it's on the other side.
Here the sound here the sound it is coming from deep inside.
It will feel you with emotion if you let it be your guide.

I get this, at least the rush of emotion and intend, you let go and being critical of the work and thinking things ahead and just write. I've sometimes been surprised at where such states led myself, but it sounds like you had quite the rush of emotions there, and were caught off guard at what you wrote, both from the quality in the penmanship and more so to where it took you.

>I don't want to hype it but I must say that I haven't cried writing a fanfic so far and putting some references to a painter like Goya.

I understand, because overhype can kill anything, but nonetheless I must admit I look forward to seeing it when you get around to posting it. Also, Goya? Hmmmm... I can think of several directions with that.

>The other clue from it is that I have been listening to a "pretentious" comical artist that has given me the reason to try this tonight.

I think I might have an idea who this is but I could be wrong. Though altogether this sounds interesting to say the least. A mix of motivations and inspirations (or perhaps a single motivation and a mix of inspirations? Or visa versa), is it all leading to one meaning or are there several layers to it? Lot of questions, you have my interest that's for sure. I will be thinking.

>>1463
>I've been in a somewhat similar boat, though I think things have stabilized a bit. Just gotta let things go with the flow, good luck to ya.
Everything goes through phases. I am just having a stressful one certainly just to not disappoint those who care.
Thx but we will need that luck.....even these little fillies....in a certain future

>>1456
>I was referring to him as dragon. Not as a character.
well, at least he has grown more in a shorter period than a certain protagonist who always magically for some reason lives eternally as a 10th year old.
>this is like a manifestation of Spike growing as a character.
the analogy of Peweee made it clear and it felt like a nice touch to his award later in the episode.
>it would sure be interesting if they play up Smolder's experience as a dragon and Spike's experience as a dragon among ponies
unless they happen to do that in some scene of three minutes, I see Smolder telling that to the student 6 than him.
>in equestrian traditions and customs that Smolder is unfamiliar with and Smolder being used to offer advice (both good and maybe bad) and them learning from each other
truly a top tier idea that could have replaced Non Compete Clause but oh well. However, I think Smolder by this point has noticed how the dynamic in Ponyville works.
>until the season is up I wont entirely say that won't happen.
One can only dream.....but we will get a couple of unexpected things for sure. The show disappoints with certain things but then goes up like magically and out of nowhere with some hard hitting impact.
Let´s wait until the series ends.

For now we have Spyro the Drag.....ehem Spike with them and it seems that the fanbase hasn´t made any drama, even praise for the episode in general. So, there it goes, another one into the counter and a certain redemption on his episodes in terms of writing.

>>1457
>Still haven't gotten to see her parents and only recently got confirmation on her family status. It would be interesting if they showed her taking advantage of her limited ability and developing it
only a couple of aunts that were in a book and guess what? /mlpol/ made the same response as Tumblr: triggered posts about them just for being lesbians. It was definitely a time for good popcorn. I think her family though is mainly limited to Rainbow Dash and taking her as an implied little sister. Her backstory could be pretty well exploited just like the writers did with AJ´s parents.
And yes, showing the families from the main characters is considered as a fanservice request and season 7 delivered a great number of them.
>Being able to dive from a high point and using wings to bring her to a good landing
that action is pretty badass by itself but even more when it comes with a high speed, because you splash everything around you, fly into the sky and then fall into the ground like saying that you are here without any word told during that moment.

>being able to pick locks and cause ponies to pass out directly manipulating there blood vessels.
Scootaloo could have fans in the end, following Rainbow Dash steps. The closest thing to reaching something important in her career was introducing Ponyville in the Equestria Games.
Little by little and then, everything will arrive.

>>1458
>Rainbow Dash's development has never been awful but there has been some not so episodes and sometimes she has benn boneheaded.
just like Spike,not a bad character but the plot somehow manages to fuck with them. The worst moments from her don´t come in her episodes. She just acts as an idiot when it´s not her turn. Sometimes it sticks and a few handful of times just comes as saying: "Yep, she is definitely a cunt". When she plays as a cunt but then explains it (Secrets and Pies or Newbie Dash, Tanks for The Memories (partially) hell and the recent Daring Do episodes) she solves her flaws.
>RD having a harsher time with the joining the wonderbolts and perhaps not joining at all. While it wasn't bad for her arch, it just felt a little swept under the rug, alright, that's off our todo list kinda feel.
the truth about that episode was that Dave Rapp wrote it to feel like he felt when he joined in the writing staff, like a newbie where everyone calls you one. It´s certainly not a direction would have wanted because making dreams (The Best Night Ever) come true could not come as you would have desired (Newbie Dash). Those dreams end whenever reality comes into the game. Some consider Newbie Dash as an atrocity but I get why some people defend it (and season 6 in general).
And no, RD wasn´t ruined because of that episode. Notice how Top Bolt or Parental Glideance went for her, respected as another one into it. It´s just that you cannot feel special when you add a little grain to a huge thing like the Wonderbolts.

>Some angry that TS was super DBZ nothing can go wrong Princess and others worried that her being a Princess would turn her into a Celestia.
As if Celestia was boring or that some action episodes were bad. Again, it depends mainly on the execution, not on the idea. Although I have to agree that the fear was understandable. All lore focused on power levels would be really boring and make this as another average anime to see who is stronger.
>I was just really sleepy when I wrote it and it was just awkwardly worded.
oh well, no problem.
>Oh man it should. Also, Rarity was way less liked too
I will speak more about Celestia whenever the moment comes but I think I have said enough for now when Horse Play aired.
About Rarity...
>she was seen as a whiny diva who didn't deserve to be the element of generosity by quite a few. Not saying perspective doesn't exist now sometimes but it is nowhere near the level it was then. In season 2 it started to turn around but it wasn't until season 4 when I stopped really noticing it
yep, that was me as well. Until Sisterhooves Social, she didn´t come as anything attractive but as annoying bitch complaining about everything. The episodes that followed and even previous ones like Suited for Success or Green Isn´t Your Color were judged with a different perspective in mind.
You realize that Rarity would have been a villain in any other series with that archetype of feeling obsessed with fashion, but when Rarity Takes Manehattan or Canterlot Boutique punch everybody´s expectations, then you conclude that she is a very original character. Or at least, one that you wouldn´t expect to be so great when on paper, she should have naturally followed the annoying path yet she didn´t.

Only for that effort, she has constantly made through my top 3 characters quite often.

>Some places are easier then others but it actually can be a little bit tedious at times. Not to say I'm a pro or anything.
Nah, they come fine. I don´t think they are too tedious. Just additional parts to judge and analyze. You never know if any little detail could draw unexpectedly the interest here. Better having more than incomplete things.

>I didn't even realize that was trips until today
even if they feel wasted...
>May the celestial light of the sun shine upon us!
it´s never too late to praise the sun.

>>1472
>only a couple of aunts that were in a book and guess what? /mlpol/ made the same response as Tumblr: triggered posts about them just for being lesbians.

It's not like this fandom has been shipping lesbian pairings for years or anything. Funny enough, they have made hardly a appearance in anything yet Lyra and Bon BOn were already shipped way harder before this point, do they need a confirmation from Hasbro or something before they spurg out about these things? Certainly was popcorn worthy.

>Little by little and then, everything will arrive.

Exactly, Scootaloo could still be a stud performer in her own right and still has untapped potential in story ideas. Perhaps more so then the other CMC...

>>1471

>well, at least he has grown more in a shorter period than a certain protagonist who always magically for some reason lives eternally as a 10th year old.

Rainbow Ash?

Jokes aside, even if the show has perhaps squandered a few opportunities and didn't always bring it's A game when it came to some of it's handling of things: I still am glad it tried to take risk and evolve as it realized it's status. Can you imagine how boring it would be if all it was Twily still in her tree horse writing letters to the princess? Retreading all the plots with lile character development what so ever?

>>1473
>just like Spike,not a bad character but the plot somehow manages to fuck with them. The worst moments from her don´t come in her episodes. She just acts as an idiot when it´s not her turn.
Exactly. That is how there character developmet has been in a nutshell.

>Those dreams end whenever reality comes into the game. Some consider Newbie Dash as an atrocity but I get why some people defend it (and season 6 in general).

I don't consider it bad. Something like that would require a more laid out plan anyway to make such a thing feel right. For me I do understand those who say that Dash's charcater arch could have been more like a story than a fanservice check list.

>As if Celestia was boring or that some action episodes were bad. Again, it depends mainly on the execution, not on the idea. Although I have to agree that the fear was understandable. All lore focused on power levels would be really boring and make this as another average anime to see who is stronger.

That's my thoughts. Certainly wouldn't have minded a bid more battles/fights if they could pull it off right (as in not too many, not too show changing). Also, Twilight as a teacher could have worked well too, especially if they had layed he groundwork for it. (Rather than her being arbitrarily underpowered/stupid for a couple of seasons at some spots and being in a bit of a limbo state between the older Princesses on one hoof and Dolores in the other).

>yep, that was me as well. Until Sisterhooves Social, she didn´t come as anything attractive but as annoying bitch complaining about everything. The episodes that followed and even previous ones like Suited for Success or Green Isn´t Your Color were judged with a different perspective in mind.

I used to feel sorry for the hate she got in that time. Too be fair it wasn't something that was at the forefront of everyponies' minds, but it was a very common attitude. Nice too see how much she has grown since than. The character that I held some criticism for back in the day was Twilight, though I honestly still liked her. Just that I felt some of her fans being too militant about her (perhaps true to an extent, but it was more of a defensive line against Twicorn drama).

>Only for that effort, she has constantly made through my top 3 characters quite often.

I sometimes am really drawn to Rarity, though not as consistently. Honestly though there is a lot of fun that can be had with her in the right hooves from a thematic standpoint.

>even if they feel wasted...
Nah, there still good trips, just wish I had know so I could have done something a little more special.

>>1480
>hey have made hardly a appearance in anything yet Lyra and Bon BOn were already shipped way harder before this point, do they need a confirmation from Hasbro or something before they spurg out about these things? Certainly was popcorn worthy.
It definitely was. /mlp/ was falling into their own creation. Shipping them is fine but then all of a sudden, you have lesbians.....one of the most popular tags in Derpi...

I think that alone speaks by itself.

>Rainbow Ash?
Bingo.
>I still am glad it tried to take risk and evolve as it realized it's status.
There was almost no status. It has now the status but yeah, nothing is forever.
>Can you imagine how boring it would be if all it was Twily still in her tree horse writing letters to the princess? Retreading all the plots with lile character development what so ever?
the letters were fine. For example, in Rainbow Rocks they did a good use of them or in certain things like Lesson Zero or Leap of Faith. I swear I cannot understand how can anyone bring the letters back. It takes a whole minute of the episode or even more for just nothing. If the character doesn´t progress or it´s repeating the same lesson, why would you need another reminder?
I mean, we all have to learn the same lesson in the hard way in the end sometimes, but in terms of entertainment, it isn´t.
Implied morals or open up to interpretation leave you thinking a little bit instead of having everything thrown at your face.

The status has gone beyond that point and we learn by experience. The letters could be a reminder of noticing how you have been defined like they did in MMC or in Return of Harmony.

I would be bored of stagnation unless there was something entertaining to catch like questions or deeper messages that bring us something else.

But again, that would be asking too much. I prefer the way it has been done.

>>1485
>I do understand those who say that Dash's charcater arch could have been more like a story than a fanservice check list.
in a way, 3 members have a had a story through the series: Twilight, Rarity and Rainbow. All three have had to make sacrifices to reach something that has meant a step for their objective.
Not everything is fanservice nor it should be classified as such, but when they are the main characters, their story is not what has to please everyone. They establish high and lows for what comes next, not for what someone likes. A certain portion liked Twilight´s alicornhood but the rest....well. Nobody liked the idea of revisiting Manehattan for another episode of Rarity having a 2nd boutique yet, there you have Saddle Row Review. Not many liked the way Rainbow joined to the Wonderbolts but it fits her. They act like cunts at times, and so she does.

>Twilight as a teacher could have worked well too, especially if they had layed he groundwork for it. (Rather than her being arbitrarily underpowered/stupid for a couple of seasons at some spots and being in a bit of a limbo state between the older Princesses on one hoof and Dolores in the other).
well, Twilight has ended up....teaching others. So, I guess half of your point is certainly accomplished while you would have liked to see that in season 6 or so. And yeah, the power levels back then were chaotic, the Cutie Remark hurt a lot and created useless discussions to see who was better (it didn´t only hurt Twilight´s image a bit but also the backstory of Dolores for having such magic capabilities. Thanks Celestia, the slice of life episodes turned off that flame.

>The character that I held some criticism for back in the day was Twilight, though I honestly still liked her. Just that I felt some of her fans being too militant about her (perhaps true to an extent, but it was more of a defensive line against Twicorn drama).
Twilight wasn´t that perfect either. I see why you could have had trouble with her in season 1 in episodes like the Scare Master or Green isn´t your Color where she is shoehorned everywhere for some reason. Sure, her adorkable attitude was kind of missing during season 4 and maybe 5 but she still has kept that charm after all. But the drama, oh boy, not only the princesshood make the fans consider her as a boring princess like they projected(comparing her to a Cadence clone), but also EqG with Flash Sentry. Twifags were the Glimfags of 2014 and 2015. Until wings weren´t accepted after season 5 or so, the memes and constant shitposting was the norm. Nowadays, Twifags don´t care which way you post her but they were divided in their own thread.

>there is a lot of fun that can be had with her in the right hooves from a thematic standpoint.
well, she has hardly have any bad episodes. I cannot point in which episodes she has been annoying (or at least for me). The fun out of her comes from her overdramatic breakdowns or fiascos. It´s hard not to see that her phrases were intended for the comedy effect.

>just wish I had know so I could have done something a little more special.
I think you have made that today.

Just a little update. Will not be able to watch episodes just yet though I think by monday I will be caught up and post my thoughts on the latest two episodes then.

>>1533
>Will not be able to watch episodes just yet though I think by monday I will be caught up and post my thoughts on the latest two episodes then.
Don´t worry, we have no problem at all. We are on hiatus, we don´t have to go with the episodes´ rhythm, we can take a break after this.

My bet is that you will stay mostly indifferent with one and the other, you will most likely like it a lot. Have fun with them!

Well, we are going back to the show discussion again, the mid-hiatus is almost over but we have a new episode to judge.
Not episode 14 but the 18th one for some reason, it has aired officially and here we have it again.

Now, what do I think of it? How do I reflect my thoughts on this one?

For the first time ever, I have had serious doubts on how I should judge it, neither the positive opinions nor the negative ones have managed to convince me despite having some good points on both sides.

Some say that they liked it and other claim it as one of the worst episodes ever.....that confused me a lot because while it´s not a masterpiece at first watch, I didn´t see it as a Non-Compete Clause nor an apparent atrocity so I guess the episode has quality or not depending even more by subjectivity. That alone causes a lot of polarizing opinions and you can see it in the future either as a good episode or an animated atrocity. My review is based on experience and how I have felt watching it.

In the first watch, I...don´t know if I enjoyed it much because while it was interesting to see Pinkie going mad and depressed again (with a grey insanity), I didn´t feel how this episode had the objective to transmit a clear message. I didn´t know if it played with the subtlety or if it´s the complete opposite of Horse Play because the mane 6 (in particular, AJ) had realize and pointed that out, saying the truth that Pinkie was a bad musician at playing the "sax" (both the viewer and the cast notice how horribly she plays despite the fitting tense music at the start).

But I have had several questions because I hadn´t rated it at all nor I wanted to judge with heat. I could say it was shit but I couldn´t point out why or I could give a positive view but without a solid explanation.

How is it that it has been the Summer Special? Why exactly this episode? Why do they try to highlight Pinkie with this episode as something unique when it doesn´t deliver nothing extraordinary at first sight?

>>1753
So here it goes:

Let´s say that it´s bad and purely shit and could bring down the 8th season. Why are we wasting effort on the yaks for some reason and why is Pinkie the only one attracted to them? Maud does not fit for the comedy nor she does intend to do that, the reference to Horse Play could be a cheap trick for the bonus points but that gets completely ruined by saying that both episodes have been written in the same year, so that´s not worth in theory to consider. The episode wastes a lot of time by showing how Pinkie is annoying with the sax or how she is depressed in any situation but that doesn´t advance the story at all. She is selfish and for some reason, she prefers having the sax over her friends or at least, near to her.

Obsessed with it for some reason and just not worth it, that´s not a concept that has a lot to be discussed, it feels like a B tier story (and somehow like season 1) and the yaks barely add anything to the story. Bringing the Non Compete Clause excuse just serves to justify the writing for ruining a character because the plot says so, Pinkie acts really over the top and this episode could serve as a weapon against a character that has been pandered or has served her purpose. The final part feels somewhat ruined because it seems that everyone is happy all of a sudden.

On the other hand, let´s put it in the other sight.
She wants to play the sax but why? She is bad at it and the lesson in theory, says the old cliché of whatever makes you happy, it´s what you want to do, a really overused plot device that sometimes it´s useless. You cannot be happy with whatever you want to do because you will get annoyed and disappointed at some point for anything that you don´t like. This moral has been used in 2000s and you have in the end...a millennial.

>>1754
However, I saw a peculiar post in /mlp/ in which that anon explained how Pinkie wanted to have an interest on Yak culture and why the sax feels important to her. It´s almost like a headcanon but it could be that she feels static and doesn´t have any future plans unlike Twilight (princess duties and teacher), Rainbow Dash(joining in the Wonderbolts), Rarity (with her boutiques) and Fluttershy (with a natural park for her to take care). So, she could have felt tense and wondering what she could do for herself. The yak culture, the official pony ambassador for them and now this instrument could explain subtly that she also feels nervous or uncomfortable how her friends progress in their lives and she doesn´t.

I am not paid nor a shill who wants to defend this show at any time, but in the 2nd watch, I didn´t feel uncomfortable nor had something in my mind that prevented to me to enjoy it. It shows the development and reactions about how Pinkie feels with her friends´reactions. The Mane 6 acted very reasonably and thought about how to tell her that she is bad and they knew how Pinkie takes her emotions. However, here it´s subtly dark because it shows in some scenes how someone in a depressed state, cannot enjoy anything even if you have always enjoyed it. Feeling an emotional void and not having your personal preferences in the right positions could drive huge misunderstandings and it feels that Pinkie is annoyed with her friends.

She feels empty and she hasn´t looked down her friends just that she personally isn´t capable to fill her mood nor overcome a bit her sad mindset (not even by listening to it). The moral, in theory, is that she can do whatever she wants. Nonetheless, there are two important details to consider: the mane 6 admitted that she was bad constantly and Pinkie herself confessed that she wasn´t good so she asked why they were clapping; and secondly the yak said that if they saw that Pinkie was happy, they would follow. I imply here that they all knew she was bad but encouraged her because the yaks have not a pony playing their sax and they feel proud of seeing some interest on them despite the quality. So, this support is more of a cultural thing if we consider this.

So here they are my own observations on it. I haven´t been capable to give it a rating.
I will say that I have been confused for the first time and for the 2nd time, I rewatched it today and it felt alright in terms of personal enjoyment but I still don´t know where to rank it (like it happens with Fake it Until You Make it).

Waiting for your own thoughts now.

>>1755
Had a long unexpected (though not awful) day. Leaving this here as a proof of life shitpost just in case. Though I will say now that I fully get you on the ratings. It's a conflict I am quite familiar with.

Also I can't believe this is finally out and not abandoned!
Haven't checked EQD in a few days.
https://www.equestriadaily.com/2018/07/ponyvania-officially-released-full.html

>>1771
>Had a long unexpected (though not awful) day.
well, the next one will be alright for sure.
>I will say now that I fully get you on the ratings. It's a conflict I am quite familiar with.
I didn´t see any other choice on reviewing this episode but putting two wildly different perspectives and asking for its purpose.

>I can't believe this is finally out and not abandoned!
Breaking news! Normally these projects remain unfinished but it seems that they get into the obscurity until they finish them and let everything out before any C&D comes to that. This is a hopeful sign for those developers who want to try and end their own.
There have been so many disappointments over the years...

It seems that you are pretty hyped with this one. The comments say that the link doesn´t work but they put the right link in the comments box.

well, between that and the comic I have posted over here (a good one), there we have a fairly reasonable material to be entertained before the 4th August.

I can perfectly wait for your posts. Take care anon.

I have been a bit confused and conflicted at this episode as well. I personally loved all the jokes and such, but it does raise some questions. I can see those who say it feels like a waste. It felt like a B plot from an earlier season in many ways. It wasn't necessarily bad, but there is a certain group of student ponies with a yak that seems like a waste to focus on just Pinkie Pie. It does make ya wonder a little how there going to jungle everything around.

A question I personally raise: does every episode have to be in service of something else now? Some new location, character development, ect. Or is it alright to have little semi-pointless episodes like this now and again, because this episode was a charming one that's for sure. Is it a disservice for them to make an episode like this with all the plot points they have? The legends, the Student 6, the school, while still having to put in as much fanservice for a bunch of backgroud characters. Also Dolores is still a thing. And the tree of harmony. And the Princesses There is a lot of lose threads to jungle around and I can see those who hate the episode from what little it brings to the table amist all this chaos that is our little horse show. Yet honestly I can't hate it for that. I like little charming episodes like this. Though I ca understand the perspective and I think that is a partial driving force to some of the people who hate it.


Though how was it as a episode? That is the most fair way to judge it. Personally I loved the jokes. I LOL'd a couple of times even. Not the funiest episode out there but I liked it a lot. I think though the motivations themselves are what are a little wonky. You'd could argue that Pinkie Pie had an extreme overreaction especially considering that many ponies have acted annoyed before with all her antics. Yet being told by one of her friends so directly I would honestly understand cutting deep, but I still feel a bit conflicted over how extreme she ultimately acted. It seemed like a lot in service for a little.

>>1775
But I honestly think all and all I liked the epsisode. Even if it doesn't bring too much to the table I still found it fun. I like having episodes with simple plots, but I felt like this could have been done a little better. 6/10. Not offensively bad, but it wasn't spectacular. Jokes were enough for me to say I like it though.

On a completely different topic. If I ever make an MLP RTS I will make Pinkie Pie with that sax an air defense unit; look at what she did to that bird and the fact that she managed to disorient even the wonderbolts. Though she did cause things on the groud some pain and caused apples to explode her most impressive feats where in the air.

>>1755
>So, she could have felt tense and wondering what she could do for herself. The yak culture, the official pony ambassador for them and now this instrument could explain subtly that she also feels nervous or uncomfortable how her friends progress in their lives and she doesn´t.
It will be interesting to see if they address this in the show perhpas season 9 . It'd be cool to me if they do and specifically call back to this episode too(even cooler, though unlikely, if they sprinkled tiny hints in a few other ones before they addressed it) It almost gives me a tiny bit of a haunting feel to when it is put in that context. It would explain everything better than the surface explanations.

>I will say that I have been confused for the first time and for the 2nd time, I rewatched it today and it felt alright in terms of personal enjoyment but I still don´t know where to rank it (like it happens with Fake it Until You Make it).
I often struggle with this question. I have a hard time giving something a rating because I often get lost on what measures I should judge it. For example: I really love this character/concept/moment and I am absolutely blown away, yet maybe the story kind of sucks, but I personally enjoy this one concept. Do I give it the rating of how I felt or do I knock it down a few points because I don't think it would be fair to give it such a rating. Personal enjoyment vs quality.

>>1772
>well, the next one will be alright for sure.
thanks anon. I wish the same for you as well.

>It seems that you are pretty hyped with this one.
Not sure if I'll ever get around to playng it (I succked at castlevia), but I just remember this project from years ago. I had forgoten about it and then I see that they actually pulled it off. Brought a smile to my face, with a little hit of disbelief that they got this far. even some of the best pony games never got outta beta.

>There have been so many disappointments over the years...
You bet. A personal one that is both sad and almost a little creepy was a restively obscure RPG maker project, Curse of the lost kingdome. It got some coverage in early on in the fandom days but faded into obscurity in the face of larger projects and drama (it was around 2012 when it started I believe). I followed it off and on from the earlier years and I remember being shocked that it was still in development in 2014. It went through a lot of changes, he switched up the game engine from 2003 to VX something the wiki has never been updated on . Yet he persisted, towards around 2015 you could tell he was starting to grow tired of it, and he had probably bien off more then he could chew. This game was huge in scale... if it even had bee released at half the size it would been a larger game. The crazy and almost frustrating part was that it was almost finished when he just stopped updating mid 2016. His posting had showed down considerably before that. I kept track of that since then, till finally sometime around late 2017 it changed to whatever this is.
https://thebeansehreport.tumblr.com/
I suppose he could have just deleted the blog and someone else got the name, but why would someone take such a name for that? Almost creeps me out a little.

>>1777
wow I got trips for that
Now personally there are too main factors as to why I believe this was canceled. One is the fact that he had just recently moved back to Hawaii to help take care of his mother, which of course was understandable why a project your slowing growing sick of gets tossed to the wayside. And two, he was a bit of a perfectionist. He was constantly changing things and making new game mechanics on the fly... while working on several other things on the side. Still, despite the hugeness of his game he mostly finished and just trying to touch up spots and finish the beginning sections of the game.

It wasn't that it had the best story or anything, but it was massive. Even when he cut it down there was still 40 or so playable characters. There was the main settig of the game, plus a dream world, plus side chapters. And he had been updating multiple times a week on his tumblr blog from 2012 to early 2016. The fact of how long it lasted plus the fact that he actually got close to his goal it's real sad it didn't get released.

http://mlpfanart.wikia.com/wiki/MLP_FiM:_(Curse_of)_The_Lost_Kingdom
http://mlp-gaming.wikia.com/wiki/Curse_of_The_Lost_Kingdom
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/CurseOfTheLostKingdom
Here is what documentation there is left. Most of it was not or only partly updated to the changes he made. Both of the wikis are mostly dead fyi

Sorry for going off on a bit of a tangent. But this game project has always fascinated me both for its scale and its obscurity and its later disappearance and I've just been digging around the net again, so i have a lot of memories of the years watching this project fresh in my head. (I outta check Derpibooru) for stuff related to it. Hopefully in the next few days I can get my own story updates posted here. See ya around fam!

>>1775
>It does make ya wonder a little how there going to jungle everything around.
yeah,agreed. It´s all a bit a mess and kind of hard to digest or see where they are projecting on. Even with previous thinking, I have a lot of struggle to see the intentions. However, I don´t know if this is a shitpost but I have read i a thread that season 8 seems to be a transitional season.....does that mean we are going to have another season 3 or 6?

>does every episode have to be in service of something else now?
question of the year. FiM universe is so huge and has so much lore out there that now the fans see a lot of potential to exploit that not many franchises can set up that easily. They feel disappointed that they are focusing on little things instead of the huge scheme of this magical land.

>this episode was a charming one that's for sure. Is it a disservice for them to make an episode like this with all the plot points they have?
they wanted to go back to season 1 or at least a certain vocal group. They get a simple episode and one that remains in Ponyville most of the time and follows a little story for one main character.
The ironic thing is that if you watch Party Pooped, Not Asking For Trouble and this episode in order, you do get a subtle arc for introducing the yaks and some lore while having simple slice of life morals for Pinkie without taking that subtlety into account. Sometimes we look at the grand scheme and we are ambitious as hell. Either the fans are asking for Avatar standards or the writers don´t put much effort for their audience....or both.

>Also Dolores is still a thing.
oh boy, I won´t review the episode for now but checking the main sites, you can see certain attitudes that are....mixed to sum it up.
>And the Princesses
the majority of the fanbase would circlejerk again about Luna if she had another episode despite its quality. The Princesses are mostly a fanservice these days, yeah.

>I can see those who hate the episode from what little it brings to the table amist all this chaos that is our little horse show.
but the hate, does it come from the actual episode? or their expectations? This is why I recommend seeing an episode more than once and with a cold mindset before reviewing it seriously, even though the common practice is posting your first impressions and leave without giving a fuck anymore.

>I can't hate it for that. I like little charming episodes like this. Though I ca understand the perspective and I think that is a partial driving force to some of the people who hate it.
it´s a matter of taste in this case. This is why this episode could be underrated inn the future and yes, I also had that inch of trying to hate because other told me so but I couldn´t.

>>1779
>that inch of trying to hate
meant: like a driving force of trying to hate it

>>1776
>Personally I loved the jokes. I LOL'd a couple of times even. Not the funiest episode out there but I liked it a lot.
yeah, in fact your pic shows a over the top moments from Pinkie and the little sequences of Pinkie being depressed serve to set up all the failures and make them comical.

>You'd could argue that Pinkie Pie had an extreme overreaction especially considering that many ponies have acted annoyed before with all her antics.
the overreaction comes because of her motif. I think that when the reasons behind her anger are not that effective, then it carries some weight and could make it less enjoyable. They wanted to bring this side again and they tried to fit in with the yaks. It went with a pretty good pacing though, the rhythm didn´t feel forced.

>I still feel a bit conflicted over how extreme she ultimately acted. It seemed like a lot in service for a little
yeah, they could have put a couple of details out there behind but I think this episode is more of seeing the actions than explaining them. When you make it too subtle or too focused on her expressions, these questions happen.

>>1776
>I honestly think all and all I liked the epsisode. Even if it doesn't bring too much to the table I still found it fun

and that´s alright. In fact, if you watched the whole Pinkie-Yak experience (PP,NAFT,YS) in order, you would have a pretty nice slice of life arc to watch. The episodes themselves don´t offer much but they are there in the background to fill it and even feel immersed in that dynamic of jokes and serious business.
It´s more like people get bored of the yaks easily but you don´t feel bad watching these episodes. I did like Not Asking For Trouble as well (and it´s considered a low point for season 7) but enjoying little slice of life episodes these days, it seems that you lower the standards/writing quality in the fandom´s eyes for asking that.

>I felt like this could have been done a little better. 6/10. Not offensively bad, but it wasn't spectacular. Jokes were enough for me to say I like it though.
much like the rest of the yak episodes. The 6/10 rating was the most popular choice for the poll even though it had a great number of 1 rating, meaning that it will be remembered as a very low point for this season just behind Non Compete Clause if you take the average.

But like the movie reviews in Rotten Tomatoes, if you are capable to enjoy something that others can´t(bonus points if it has logical reasons), then that´s fine. In fact, having a variety of opinions is also encouraged in order to learn something else.

>>1776
>I will make Pinkie Pie with that sax an air defense unit; look at what she did to that bird and the fact that she managed to disorient even the wonderbolts.
and the fandom laughs at earth pony magic....she didn´t have these powers in Swarm of the Century but behold to this seemingly innocent pony. The enemies better not have any air instruments at sight.

>Though she did cause things on the groud some pain and caused apples to explode her most impressive feats where in the air.
and she could perfectly cause things in the sea as well, she didn´t step into the zone fortunately. Air, earth and sea are not free of what she can do. They´d better not laugh at earth ponies and much less Pinkie Pie, the one who you cannot question her actions.

>It will be interesting to see if they address this in the show
>It'd be cool to me if they do and specifically call back to this episode too(even cooler, though unlikely, if they sprinkled tiny hints in a few other ones before they addressed it)
it is actually fairly unlikely to happen. They could mention what she has done with the yaks but not the way we are imagining (sadly). Unless they make a punch on the table like Larson did with Amending Fences, an average writer doesn´t usually go that far in terms of emotion or passion. This is why the fandom doesn´t have high expectations because they don´t go much further (despite that the show has gone beyond the initial concepts).
The correlation between Pinkie and the yaks is almost definitive but your petition is pretty unpopular because the yaks barely bring any interesting for the fandom´s eyes, only Yona is well liked. But again, dreaming about it is free for anyone and it would be nice if it actually happened.

>It almost gives me a tiny bit of a haunting feel to when it is put in that context.
definitely.

>I have a hard time giving something a rating because I often get lost on what measures I should judge it.
You have mentioned this in the past with my two latest fics and yes, I am not that fan of ratings either. They are more like a reference in order to set the expectations or views on it but not enough to describe the complete thoughts on it. I prefer the observations as well or certain comments.

There are "professionals" out there that rate something with the first contact and masterfully have a view on it, leaving it behind without looking back. Music reviewers are like this and a few years later, they suddenly reconsider their views. In this fanbase, it gets intensified. One watch at it (or just lurking in the episode threads), and voila, profit, the ultimate review that illuminates the rest.

>Do I give it the rating of how I felt or do I knock it down a few points because I don't think it would be fair to give it such a rating. Personal enjoyment vs quality.
the big eternal debate that definitely will accompany us when it comes to any review. Rating it lowly or highly because I like it or not despite its quality or giving it a technical score despite its enjoyment?
Many have rated Yakity-Sax or the recent episode because it didn´t fit their expectations or taste. Many experts recommend to give something more than a watch in order to have a mindset and notice the details behind it and leave the personal mindset aside.

If we have such trouble with a kids show, then we are fucked for justifying and explaining precisely existential things such as the origins of the universe or any future event.

>>1777
trips checked.

>Not sure if I'll ever get around to playng it (I succked at castlevia)
it´s not that hard though. It´s based on the Ecclesia NDS game and that one had a pretty fair difficulty. I am just in the middle of it. The levels are not huge but you will die a lot if you don´t have a water of Life in the final boss of each level. If you struggle a lot of times, the Fausticorn asks if you want to skip it. I have personally beaten all of them by doing the usual method in the normal difficulty. I am not good at playing with the keyboard though.

>I had forgoten about it and then I see that they actually pulled it off. Brought a smile to my face, with a little hit of disbelief that they got this far. even some of the best pony games never got outta beta.
mostly because the creators lose interest or don´t hold the attention to drive them into the final product. A little victory in this case, this game is in the 1.03 version with possible updates. A good of sign of relief between the wastelands of unfinished games.


>Yet he persisted, towards around 2015 you could tell he was starting to grow tired of it, and he had probably bien off more then he could chew. This game was huge in scale... if it even had bee released at half the size it would been a larger game. The crazy and almost frustrating part was that it was almost finished when he just stopped updating mid 2016. His posting had showed down considerably before that. I kept track of that since then, till finally sometime around late 2017 it changed to whatever this is.
Uff that hurts. Yep, definitely a case of being tiresome or lack of interest. Why he would stop before finishing it? That´s just....when one hiker is about to reach the peak of a mountain, he received a good boost of energy because everything is ending and it feels satisfying by seeing it complete. Couldn´t he just ask for someone else to move the project forward instead or release the archives online? If I didn´t have the energy to end something but it´s worth to publish, I would do that.

>https://thebeansehreport.tumblr.com/
what the actual Tantabus? Really? Just that profile.... anyway, what a waste.

>why would someone take such a name for that? Almost creeps me out a little.
one could make the conspiracy that Hasbro would C&D him but that warning is not strange at all so I basically cannot conclude anything but him having personal issues that only Celestia knows what happened.

>>1778
>One is the fact that he had just recently moved back to Hawaii to help take care of his mother, which of course was understandable why a project your slowing growing sick of gets tossed to the wayside.
alright, fair enough. A personal issue to consider.

>And two, he was a bit of a perfectionist. He was constantly changing things and making new game mechanics on the fly... while working on several other things on the side. Still, despite the hugeness of his game he mostly finished and just trying to touch up spots and finish the beginning sections of the game.
his ambitions basically destroyed him. I would have suggested to make a few number of perfected areas or mechanics and after releasing the game, finish the other things he had in mind but with much less stress for making them real. I mean, we have seen professional developers (Activision, SEGA, EA...) releasing alphas by the face and even be proud of claiming it as the best thing to come out of existence with the full price and micro transactions. Worse than that, impossible. I would have suggested him a little break or focusing on the things. But what´s worse is that he was almost there....uuffff

>The fact of how long it lasted plus the fact that he actually got close to his goal it's real sad it didn't get released.
indeed. 40 playable characters is not a bad number at all in fact, you have the characters from the 1st two seasons right there.

>Here is what documentation there is left. Most of it was not or only partly updated to the changes he made. Both of the wikis are mostly dead fyi
and the assist characters became main ones.... Also, the wikis have been really inactive, it looks like there has not been barely any update at all.

>this game project has always fascinated me both for its scale and its obscurity and its later disappearance and I've just been digging around the net again, so i have a lot of memories of the years watching this project fresh in my head. (I outta check Derpibooru) for stuff related to it.
well, hopefully there is another with the full gen 4 cast in the future or get the archives somehow. Maybe an RPG will come instead but this one just plain sucks because it was being made during the golden era hype and I don´t think there will be such passionate people to make that soon. At least, the intentions were there but the story behind it sounds frustrating.

>Hopefully in the next few days I can get my own story updates posted here.
this one however, can get its full product. See ya.

>>1779
>However, I don´t know if this is a shitpost but I have read i a thread that season 8 seems to be a transitional season.....does that mean we are going to have another season 3 or 6?

It very well could be. Depending on what we're heading for could also factor in on the judgment of this one. It'd almost be strange to try to have another shake up of the formula so close to what we guess in the final season (and since this already is a shake up, albit they seem to be trying to keep thing running as if there hasn't been much of a change). I have seen a theory put forward more then once about the CMC/students getting a lot of the spotlight next season, judging from the description of the final. But they don't seem to be putting much groundwork in that, at least from what we've seen so far. Also would be a strange move if season 9 is the final.

Note: I will give a full reply later. Right now trying to recover from a wild weekend. Surprise family outing and a surpise 1 am ER trip that took all night (not me) Not going to blog about either everything is fine now. I be posting some more when I can think straight though I may shitpost some beforehand.

>>1784
>Depending on what we're heading for could also factor in on the judgment of this one.
definitely. Time will tell anyway.

>I have seen a theory put forward more then once about the CMC/students getting a lot of the spotlight next season
I wouldn´t be surprised at all. i think that the technique they are using is by introducing them slowly but without replacing the main characters and after warming up with them, they get the spotlight so they don´t steal the show as quickly and they feel like they were integrated before anything relevant happens to them.

>they don't seem to be putting much groundwork in that, at least from what we've seen so far. Also would be a strange move if season 9 is the final.
yeah, you can tell that with episodes like Non Compete Clause, A Matter of Principals or in the background like in Horse Play or Marks for Affection. I think they will do that because they most likely are going to send the message of transmitting harmony to future generations all over Equestria, so the future depends on the diverse civilizations instead of ponies saving the world all over again. If I am not wrong with the concept, it´s like a celebration of expanding everything from My Little Pony to My Little Equestria. Ponies always save the day but I guess, they want to have (merchandise) an entire world worth of an RPG game.

>Surprise family outing and a surpise 1 am ER trip that took all night (not me)
oh, nocturne trips...that sounds "fun" and tiring at the same time.
>Not going to blog about either everything is fine now
leave it at there, the important thing is that you can go back on track without any problem and feeling good.

>I be posting some more when I can think straight though I may shitpost some beforehand.
I have had some periods of inactivity as well so don´t feel any rush because I am not doing much from my part either so far.

>>1788
>If I am not wrong with the concept, it´s like a celebration of expanding everything from My Little Pony to My Little Equestria. Ponies always save the day but I guess, they want to have (merchandise) an entire world worth of an RPG game.

I'm personally mixed. Part of me thinks it could be coolest thing ever while part of me fears that if they pull it off wrong it could make things feel wonky and weird. Though I won't judge until I see it.

>oh, nocturne trips...that sounds "fun" and tiring at the same time.
Yeah. Still some fallout I have to deal from that (helping said family member for subsequent doc appointments post ER while also having other obligations). I still count these as proof of life replies. Though I still intend to fully reply, it maybe a bit before I can fully upload my updates.

>>1788
>I am not doing much from my part either so far.
thanks fam. There is no part to play. As I am, just post when you can.

also of all things I still keep encounter these after 3 server moves

>>1791
>Part of me thinks it could be coolest thing ever while part of me fears that if they pull it off wrong it could make things feel wonky and weird. Though I won't judge until I see it.
for now, we are not seeing many results out there because the students for now are facing passively different and weird situations that before having the protagonism, have to know how to deal with them. We are going to have a couple of episodes more about them before the finale and we will see that Silver Stream doesn´t like action as much as her cousin and prefers studying harmony instead.
Nonetheless,as your other side of your mind says, the new characters can feel weird and not bring any interest to the show, translating it like a failure to keep the interest. The wonkiest part we have seen so far has been Non Compete Clause and if there has been a messed up thing, the school basically doesn´t set up the long term strategy that well as the creators would expect.

I have to mention though that if they were capable to entertain with an episode like To Where And Back Again, then they can jump onto making something new.

>Still some fallout I have to deal from that (helping said family member for subsequent doc appointments post ER while also having other obligations)
ouch that doesn´t sound as fun as the previous lines. I know that feel as well whenever my parents have to make any appointment through the internet mostly because they don´t control the computer as much as one would like. I cannot complain about that though.

>I still count these as proof of life replies
like the ending bridge, it seems that this line is taking its own place (or meme) just to keep this board with a minimal activity. Instead of bumping a thread, proof of life shitpost.

>>1792
>I still keep encounter these after 3 server moves
either update the page or get out and alternate between .net and .xyz. It has appeared to me as well and I simply updated it. It´s definitely the worst part of endchan and definitely deserves the thumbs down so far for having so many technical issues or bugs with this aspect.
It´s a miracle that we have activity, there are other boards that are rducing their activity because of that and we have beaten /mu/ these days. We deserve the medal of patience in a way for beta testing.
At least, we are here after all and that´s the most important aspect.

>>1793
>Nonetheless,as your other side of your mind says, the new characters can feel weird and not bring any interest to the show, translating it like a failure to keep the interest.

I feel like the main question is will it feel like they are adding to the shows world or will it feel like they are just taking away? If we get interesting scenarios and lore with a well written arc that touches nicely upon everything I could see it being mind blowing and fun. If it's unfocused, new characters not well developed and it trying to bounce around a cluster of unresolved plot points and every question of the previous seasons it could be a disaster of a final if it is a final . I also could see some characters easily getting sidelined. I could see Rarity or Apple Jack not getting a solo episode that season. I somepony like Sandbar being left behind as well.

>I have to mention though that if they were capable to entertain with an episode like To Where And Back Again, then they can jump onto making something new.
I have no doubt they will try to put all there effort. But I could see the road ahead being bumpy with what ground work is around right now.

>I know that feel as well whenever my parents have to make any appointment through the internet mostly because they don´t control the computer as much as one would like. I cannot complain about that though.
Though I specifically was helping soembody out who has mobility problems on the short term, yeah I know that feel very well with my grandfather and next door neighbor who I hep with tech stuff. can't complain but man sometimes it is hard to get them to understand what I am doing. can't complain either.

>either update the page or get out and alternate between .net and .xyz. It has appeared to me as well and I simply updated it.
Oh I do. I haven't encountered a fully accessible endchan since they switched to te 3rd server 2 weeks ago or so, but with the other 2 even doing that sometimes wouldn't work before.

>It´s definitely the worst part of endchan and definitely deserves the thumbs down so far for having so many technical issues or bugs with this aspect.
Yeah. Though the /end/ is still my preference, since spring things haven't been smooth sailing.

>It´s a miracle that we have activity, there are other boards that are rducing their activity because of that and we have beaten /mu/ these days. We deserve the medal of patience in a way for beta testing.
I can tell from the influx of visitors that our litte side of the site is getting noticed a bit more.

>At least, we are here after all and that´s the most important aspect.
Exactly. We are the branch of the fandom here and we have gone above and beyond what other small segments in maintaining our presence here while also not letting it be a burden on us or being obnoxious about it and making our own OC. 2 or 3 metals I think we deserve at least

>>1782
>what the actual Tantabus? Really? Just that profile....
I know. though it's a small thing it does lead to almost give a creepy factor for me. Not suggesting anything outlandish, but why is it that profile? That profile directly related to a character and it seems unlikely that someone would just randomly choose that name. I also wouldn't thik he'd just randomly give that account to somebody else. Was it abandoned and later hacked for a phishing scam?

>his ambitions basically destroyed him. I would have suggested to make a few number of perfected areas or mechanics and after releasing the game, finish the other things he had in mind but with much less stress for making them real
That's my thoughts. He worked on it so much and posted updates on his blog mutiple times a week. Still from the way he was taking he had mostly finished it, at least for a beta. you'd think if he'd invested years on it he'd try to see it through or release what was there. Oh well. If I can find it I still have some stuff from there laying around somewhere (including the beta of the earlier version), May upload some pics and such if I find it.

>>1799
>will it feel like they are adding to the shows world or will it feel like they are just taking away?
I would like to answer that question properly and I would be dashing with conclusions too soon.
It´s a good question though that we will have to answer with the after thoughts.

>If we get interesting scenarios and lore with a well written arc that touches nicely upon everything I could see it being mind blowing and fun.
>new characters not well developed and it trying to bounce around a cluster of unresolved plot points and every question of the previous seasons
fortunately enough for you, a new episode has aired this weekend that will chill out us in the meantime and for sure, What Lies Beneath will deliver something else before the finale.

>I could see Rarity or Apple Jack not getting a solo episode that season. I somepony like Sandbar being left behind as well.
Sandbar is not being forgotten, he´s just an average pony that brings the expected cliches that other species would make about the pony race. He will most likely appear for the comical situations...just like Vincent Tong did in the past with other roles.
About AJ and Rarity, they will have something else to say but the least surprising one to give us will be AJ. The background orange has been the perfect role model since the beginning but certain gossips are predicting a new challenge for AJ in this season...time will prove that statement right or wrong.

>I could see the road ahead being bumpy with what ground work is around right now.
the road may be bumpy but I have mentioned that finale because those characters weren´t in the beginning either and they delivered great moments. It´s not the first time they experiment this and the background....doesn´t need to be that complex as we would imagine.

>I specifically was helping soembody out who has mobility problems on the short term, yeah I know that feel very well with my grandfather and next door neighbor who I hep with tech stuff
oh shit, that´s serious stuff. Alright,understandable and something to dignify. I cannot say much beyond that.

>man sometimes it is hard to get them to understand what I am doing. can't complain either.
I have known that feel with my father as well and that´s because the brain get lazier with age and we reject everything that is new or out of the comfort zone for us.
Literally,occupational hazards which cannot be fixed much but overcoming them every day.

>>1799
>I haven't encountered a fully accessible endchan since they switched to te 3rd server 2 weeks ago or so, but with the other 2 even doing that sometimes wouldn't work before.
as you shitposted in the other thread. That movement from /sp/ just proves how unstable this site has been these months. That sure will show that if you want to be successful in a site, at least, keep it going or announce maintenance sessions so all the anons make other plans instead of updating and checking the site all the time.
We live at the end of the times.....and ponies will go with them. They better get ready to run because here we come.

>the /end/ is still my preference, since spring things haven't been smooth sailing.
and it still is because I feel like an oldfag these days and I know how it works. Not many people are patient to tolerate this inactivity but for sure, they are making the road easier for reaching the top....if our patience doesn´t leave us behind and implying the servers work though

>I can tell from the influx of visitors that our litte side of the site is getting noticed a bit more.
if visitors come here, then we can get confused by using any tripcode or different name. I imply that you are the Bridgefag so we don´t get too confused but yeah, someone shitposted in the edit thread last week. We even had an unexpected conversation with a fag that liked Tempest in the end (and I posted her image by incident at first). So yeah, we are getting some silent relevance.....with just two faggots leading the path. No comments really.

>We are the branch of the fandom here and we have gone above and beyond what other small segments in maintaining our presence here while also not letting it be a burden on us or being obnoxious about it and making our own OC. 2 or 3 metals I think we deserve at least
I honestly didn´t expect this to last beyond the 300 post target. From there, everything else was improvised saving the greens we have been planning during the road.
I would do the math of 2 *3 = 6. The metal 6 that we deserve.

For now, an episode about Hearths´ Warming to talk about, with presents included....

>>1801
and now, I am replying to the sad part of your posts...

>it's a small thing it does lead to almost give a creepy factor for me.
a photo with a real with no info to explain anything. Little to nothing to speculate about. I could assume that the horse represents his past on MLP but that´s just worthless speculation. His Whatsapp profile doesn´t give any sign of him being a bad person but damn, it looks somewhat pessimistic in a way.

>That profile directly related to a character and it seems unlikely that someone would just randomly choose that name.
I honestly don´t know how he picked that,I have no idea where that could come from.

>I also wouldn't thik he'd just randomly give that account to somebody else. Was it abandoned and later hacked for a phishing scam?
it could possibly hacked but for what reason? Out of all the profiles you would hack, you would do it with an important account or any politician before a former dedicated MLP fan. Unless it´s personal or was accidentally hacked in a kidnapping wave, I don´t see how it would be the case. What´s the benefit of fucking up with that?

>He worked on it so much and posted updates on his blog mutiple times a week. Still from the way he was taking he had mostly finished it, at least for a beta. you'd think if he'd invested years on it he'd try to see it through or release what was there.
psychology and passion are two big bitches that one has to be careful about (am i speaking about myself here?). He gave up and said fuck everything....literally by seeing these results. Not everything ends up with parties. There have been youtubers who have fallen in grace or have ended up being unnoticed because they wanted a normal life, aside from any fame or digital plan. Life goes on but when you are dead digitally these days...it´s like you don´t exist for the most part. The right of being forgotten has to appear at some point.
>Oh well. If I can find it I still have some stuff from there laying around somewhere (including the beta of the earlier version), May upload some pics and such if I find it.
Good luck with that m8.

>>1807
>Sandbar is not being forgotten, he´s just an average pony that brings the expected cliches that other species would make about the pony race. He will most likely appear for the comical situations...

I consider it a possibility of character like him being sidelined or underdeveloped next season if it indeed to be the last. Though I agree that is the most obvious route to take.

> It´s not the first time they experiment this and the background....doesn´t need to be that complex as we would imagine.
True, as I say, in season 2 we'd be salivating at even half the stuff the have given us. Can't complain too much.

>oh shit, that´s serious stuff. Alright,understandable and something to dignify.

It ain't the worst thing fam. Just some back problems that needed pain meds and a change in life style a bit. It's only on the short term that I have been on standby for 2 people, which is why my posting has been slower than usual. Next week or so things should be normal(ish). Though I certainly have that sentiment with my grandmother and anybody put in that position of care.

>>1808
>We even had an unexpected conversation with a fag that liked Tempest in the end (and I posted her image by incident at first). So yeah, we are getting some silent relevance.....with just two faggots leading the path.
Don't forget >>1714 shitposting and this shitposting exchange I had with this guy >>1530 >>1531

>We live at the end of the times.....and ponies will go with them. They better get ready to run because here we come.
or die...

>Not many people are patient to tolerate this inactivity but for sure, they are making the road easier for reaching the top....if our patience doesn´t leave us behind and implying the servers work though
It would be both sad and funny if we survived longer than ths site. Though it hasn't been unbearable I can almost smell blood in the water with all the issues and a hnt of tiredness at times from the staff.

>For now, an episode about Hearths´ Warming to talk about, with presents included....
Still behind on my eps, though as I say I think Ill be able to get things in relative order soon.

>>1809
> I don´t see how it would be the case. What´s the benefit of fucking up with that?
I honestly considered it unlikely. My thoughts being something low tier, like a phishing operation hacking abandoned accounts.

> Not everything ends up with parties. There have been youtubers who have fallen in grace or have ended up being unnoticed because they wanted a normal life, aside from any fame or digital plan. Life goes on but when you are dead digitally these days...it´s like you don´t exist for the most part. The right of being forgotten has to appear at some point.
True. In fact to many of my own more distent family I almost don't exist, Always being questioned why I lack a facebook... But that's a wole other can of worms to unpack and this is the season 8 thread.

> Good luck with that m8.
Thanks, if I do I'll post some stuff on it. (maybe a game thread?). I've been going thrown stuff a lot anyway in my spare time and think i have an idea where it is anyway.

>>1814
>or die...
Ment to say to die, as in you better get ready to die.

>>1813
>consider it a possibility of character like him being sidelined or underdeveloped next season if it indeed to be the last.
it´s not like he needs much development for each personal character either....until one of the episodes happened. They seem to get the development as a group but with a few details her and there. I prefer to describe their situations as students when you catch on.

>in season 2 we'd be salivating at even half the stuff the have given us. Can't complain too much.
the things is that complaining is free and it´s an universal sport to put in practice. In season 2, you get Luna, Derpy first speaking lines and a little sample of Eye of the Tiger and the fandom would go nuts about it. However, the standards have changed much more than we realize. Things have happened so fast that the things we complain about it´s not of a kids show but a fairly experimental one.
Experimental because like I said in my personal project opening posts, this show has been focusing on creating a sophisticated fanservice. It could have ended in s3, s4, s5 (twice) and we are getting rumors to end it in season 9. When you want ponies to last forever, they also show a tomorrow in the show timeline as well. The spirit is there but a lot has changed. We are asking for better written episodes and more genuine all the time, to the point where I have heard that a bad episode of FiM is the equivalent of a mediocre episode in any other one.

Post anything positive about season 8 in /mlp/ and you´d better prepare the flaming shield. Some actually defend and discuss season 7 these days with less shitposting though.

>It's only on the short term that I have been on standby for 2 people, which is why my posting has been slower than usual. Next week or so things should be normal(ish)
yeah, like me having laboratory sessions or exams periods. Nothing can prevent those changes.

>I certainly have that sentiment with my grandmother and anybody put in that position of care.
empathy and passing through the 5 phases of losing a loved person. These periods usually have ups and downs(mostly downs because there is an absolute loss) and while, everything feels different, it´s because you carry on something you have detected worth to pass on from her to your daily life. Time will prove what it will be and you will eventually figure it out. That position of care may be one of those reasons to make yourself a little bit more humble than before her death.

And that´s a beautiful thing to feel despite the pain, it makes us humans in the end.

>>1814
>Don't forget >>1714 shitposting and this shitposting exchange I had with this guy >>1530 >>1531
oh yeah that first absolutely "wonderful" shitpost I hid and someone thought he was on /s/.

About your duel with the Japansefag, I wouldn´t have had that much patience but you managed to have a fairly long duel that ended up pretty alright surprisingly. I was surprised how things turned out.Normally shitposting fights lead to an infinite cirlejerks.

I guess there are some exceptions to that rule.

>to die.
they´d better party hard along with Pinkie Pie. If not, we´d better get ready to kill.

>It would be both sad and funny if we survived longer than ths site. Though it hasn't been unbearable I can almost smell blood in the water with all the issues and a hnt of tiredness at times from the staff.
the site has been working fairly well but yeah, two faggots surviving in the wastelands is just sad. I do get their tiredness, moderating sucks the patience out of you (and I have experience the peak of an iceberg). There´s no benefit nor reward for trying to attend all the issues or problems everyone complains about. Besides, the troll posts that bring little to nothing. I know how they feel.

>I say I think Ill be able to get things in relative order soon.
well, if I am honest, there is a whole mess with the episode airings so feel free to watch them when you actually feel like. Mostly because I don´t know which one is the official thread in /mlp/. Like Yakity Sax, it will take time because oh boy, prepare your popcorn, we are going to have polarizing opinions with these episodes(I am watching the reactions from episode 17 and I am noticing very varied opinions)

I swear that they aren´t going to be boring to talk about whenever we get into them. I suggest to stay patient and instead of rushing them, asking where we are going.
I liked a lot the questions from Yakity Sax and really, that level of skepticism will be needed, very needed for a wild ride.

>>1814
>I honestly considered it unlikely. My thoughts being something low tier, like a phishing operation hacking abandoned accounts.
yeah, it´s okay to guess for the typical things that could happen anyway. One could wonder what happened but you have pretty much said the assumption of him being hacked in the end.

>In fact to many of my own more distent family I almost don't exist, Always being questioned why I lack a facebook...
if you feel better, I do have one but I don´t exist because I haven´t posted anything, so it´s basically a ghost as well. Besides, social media are way more dangerous than one would believe...and not only because of cyberbulling...
I can feel that pressure, because if your contacts rely on way too much on it, the importance about anyone outside of it becomes more irrelevant
>But that's a wole other can of worms to unpack and this is the season 8 thread.
that´s a topic that if you still desire to discuss and go deeper again,we do have the other threads for it and move over there with another mindset.

>I'll post some stuff on it. (maybe a game thread?). I've been going thrown stuff a lot anyway in my spare time and think i have an idea where it is anyway.

uh, a revelation of ideas happens whenever you think the least about ponies. Novo´s fic was created while I was hanging out with a friend and I was walking around the streets. Godspeed if you actually find something. It´s pretty much welcome.

>>1826
>About your duel with the Japansefag, I wouldn´t have had that much patience but you managed to have a fairly long duel that ended up pretty alright surprisingly. I was surprised how things turned out.Normally shitposting fights lead to an infinite cirlejerks.

It went far better than I expected. Almost friendly...

>the site has been working fairly well but yeah, two faggots surviving in the wastelands is just sad
It does feel more alone. Though If we had a visitor every once and while it wouldn't be too bad. Also if we perfect things like the cadence fic and posted them on /mlp/.

>Like Yakity Sax, it will take time because oh boy, prepare your popcorn, we are going to have polarizing opinions with these episodes(I am watching the reactions from episode 17 and I am noticing very varied opinions)
I've actually stayed off /mlp/ and only visited other places minimally do to me having a gut feeling of that happening with what I saw in the descriptions and such. Next week I'm planing to have a Mare-a-thon couldn't resist and will post my thoughts on all of them.

>that level of skepticism will be needed, very needed for a wild ride.
I will try to be a healthy skeptic over a pessimist on this. Sounds like they could be pretty interesting with such varied reactions.

>>1827
>uh, a revelation of ideas happens whenever you think the least about ponies. Novo´s fic was created while I was hanging out with a friend and I was walking around the streets. Godspeed if you actually find something. It´s pretty much welcome.
I sure hope I do. I know I did download some screen shots from his blog as well with the game in progress. It could be interesting to just reexamine everything or at east what I have

>>1826
>There´s no benefit nor reward for trying to attend all the issues or problems everyone complains about. Besides, the troll posts that bring little to nothing. I know how they feel.
If ya ever need me to take over the administration here or nextchan I wouldn't mind taking a shot at it though I never severed that roll before .

>>1828
>It went far better than I expected. Almost friendly...
mostly because ponies aren´t the hot topic or shitpost weapon to trigger, so it´s kind of expected to happen,I guess? But yeah, I expected an eternal circlejerk and then, ending the shitpost session with a smug face. The times are a changeling

>It does feel more alone.
Indeed, just check the board list, almost no one is posting save maybe /jp/ and /am/. There are like 5 or 6 active boards over here....and we are not that far from them.

>If we had a visitor every once and while it wouldn't be too bad.
yeah, it would freshen the board a little bit with new blood lurking around here.

>if we perfect things like the cadence fic and posted them on /mlp/.
I have posted Midnight´s fic, Novo´s and Rarity´s in /mlp/, the latter almost got no attention sadly but the first two got very positive replies.
Oh boy, you have to end that Cadence fic because while you think you are more of a joking shitposting anon that doesn´t take things seriously, those greens felt inmmersive and for sure, reading the whole product at once will boost that immersion. If you ever post that one, add yourself a name or trip because it´s by far, the most serious work you have been writing so far.

>I've actually stayed off /mlp/ and only visited other places minimally do to me having a gut feeling of that happening with what I saw in the descriptions and such. Next week I'm planing to have a Mare-a-thon couldn't resist and will post my thoughts on all of them.
yeah, you have not lost anything save useless shitpost about the show claiming to be shit, glimspammers vs triggered anons, clickbait threads...; while there were a few genuine responses, it has gone through a very masochist phase. That break you have taken will help a lot.
If you are taking a Mareathon, then I suppose the reviews will consist between A Matter of Principals until The End in Friend.

>I will try to be a healthy skeptic over a pessimist on this. Sounds like they could be pretty interesting with such varied reactions.
this is why I recommend avoiding hot reviews and take time to figure out the balance between enjoyment and quality. I will need to watch twice and post with what the episode actually delivers instead of my expectations.

And yes, it sounds like we are going through interesting episodes to judge and look forward.

>>1829
>I know I did download some screen shots from his blog as well with the game in progress. It could be interesting to just reexamine everything or at east what I have
well, that´s nice. We will see.
Also, did you create the Ponyvania thread in /mlp/? Because they have recently noticed about the game as well.

>If ya ever need me to take over the administration here or nextchan I wouldn't mind taking a shot at it though I never severed that roll before .
it´s somewhat tiring, especially when you have actual faggots, spammers and trolls whose humor is beyond my understanding. I don´t know how to pass the moderation to another user. For now, the board is calm and inactive. It´s just there to make a little mark. I prefer focusing on this one and I have mainly forgotten about nextchan. I think you can claim to be a moderator or something, I don´t know how the process goes.

Anyway, the gesture is welcome but moderation kind of sucks even though you have all the tools for you. it´s really hard to be a good moderator, especially in these sites.

>>1829
>If ya ever need me to take over the administration here or nextchan I wouldn't mind taking a shot at it though I never severed that roll before.
Though, now that I think about it, why don´t you apply to be a moderator in this site? I think that if ask in /operate/, they will let you to claim the board and take a try. It´s nothing out of the ordinary but this board has remained unclaimed and without any owner at sight. So if you have that interest, you could take care of what we are leading.

Watch out whenever you have the powers though because it looks really attractive to use it as a double edge weapon.

you are all a bunch of dick sucking faggots

>>1839
we love you too, anon.

>>1836
>Oh boy, you have to end that Cadence fic because while you think you are more of a joking shitposting anon that doesn´t take things seriously, those greens felt inmmersive and for sure, reading the whole product at once will boost that immersion. If you ever post that one, add yourself a name or trip because it´s by far, the most serious work you have been writing so far.
Though it hasn't been moving at a fast pace, it hasn't been forgotten.

>That break you have taken will help a lot.
If you are taking a Mareathon, then I suppose the reviews will consist between A Matter of Principals until The End in Friend.
Working on it. I'll think towards the /end/ of the week I'll have the reviews up unless something else comes up unbeknownst to me.

>And yes, it sounds like we are going through interesting episodes to judge and look forward.
Even if things suck it still could be fun analysis how they suck, same for the comic.

>>1837
>Also, did you create the Ponyvania thread in /mlp/? Because they have recently noticed about the game as well
Nope, only briefly checked in once this week so far, nice they are noticing it though. There should be at least a few oldfags who remember the game in its earlier development back in 2012 that maybe surprised to see it alive like I was.

>Anyway, the gesture is welcome but moderation kind of sucks even though you have all the tools for you. it´s really hard to be a good moderator, especially in these sites.
Well, will talk about more later, once I get things a bit more sorted out with everything that has happened this year I would be interested in it, especially to help you, even if its just being vanguard on /next/.

>>1848
>it hasn't been forgotten.
that´s nice to hear
>I'll have the reviews up unless something else comes up unbeknownst to me.
I will have to watch them as well on Saturday, not sure if I will have them prepared though.

>still could be fun analysis how they suck, same for the comic.
yeah, agreed. Even with the worst episode, the fandom has always brought a few things that are enjoyable despite its quality. Not all the episodes are going to be bad anyway.

>There should be at least a few oldfags who remember the game in its earlier development back in 2012 that maybe surprised to see it alive like I was.
indeed. One anon exclaimed that it was about time they released it because they had everything prepared save the final boss. Others are enjoying it so far, so that thread has sparked a little bit of interest.

>once I get things a bit more sorted out with everything that has happened this year I would be interested in it, especially to help you, even if its just being vanguard on /next/.
well thanks. Even though I don´t know if I have that much of an interest for the /next/; if you are interested, I will follow. It doesn´t have any rules established and one rule that I value the most is: no spamming, nor flooding nor anything that prevents the normal activity of the site. Believe it or not, even when you have the freedom of expression, there are faggots who abuse too much their own liberties. That site has improved a bit in terms of their settings but there are a few unwritten problems there as well. I have left it as a standstill project as for now. The /end/ however, since the change of their servers and /sp/´s withdrawal has tried to put more effort.
As you said, we will see.

>Me on saturday
>had watched A Matter of Principals and A Hearths´Warming Club
>alright, let´s rewatch them and watch Friendship Univerty and The End in Friend next
>fine, let´s jump into the marathon as said here
>I had heard these episode save HeartsWarming were compared with Non Compete Clause, especially Principals and The End In Friend
>expect to have a rollercoaster of emotions and probably rage quitting any of those

>watch A Matter of Principals
>hey,it´s not as bad as I remembered. Discord has gone a bit backwards into his character but Dolores delivers a good message in the end. A fine one, better than the first watch.

>see Heart´s Warming Club
>no problems with this one, it´s great and I knew it.

>watch Friendship University
>oh an episode about corrupted business,propaganda and copyright data
>Twilight goes full CSI, Rarity is a fun infiltrator and they had tricked Starwswirl.
>a nice song from the Flim Flam brothers
>again, why did this one had mixed reviews? was it because /mlpol/ had interpreted that this show was against private schools?
>anyway I enjoyed it, let´s end with the doomed one

>heard The End in Friend was a slightly better one than NNC but why?
>they told me Berrow ruined Rainbow and Rarity and that WOW Umbridge comes to save everyone
>watch it for myself
>actually two times(afternoon and night) to secure my own opinion
>enjoy it as hell like the two previous ones and even become a personal favorite
>they told me that it was a low point, even Derpi and some EQD users didn´t rate it higher than a 6 in general
>again, is there something wrong with me? Because this feels like Grannies Gone Wild again. Shit publicity or premise, enjoyed it (ironically from Berrow)
>/mlp/ has been telling that the show is going through bad times and that has ruined the mane 6...
>constantly trolling and shitposting against it and I find out for myself personally very different results

If I had to dedicate some words to /mlp/, it would be this line:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DxWkfJ4uvV0 [Embed]

This is why you form your own opinion first before judging the episode because of other anons...

>>1878
so, let´s spice the things up a little bit with the show discussion.

I had actually mentioned that these episodes would be really hard to judge at first, but then I found out that I had a pretty entertaining afternoon while watching them to my surprise. Not sure if that´s because of the expectations or because the season may be picking up but here it is.

So, let´s start with a mixed one: A Matter of Principals.
I actually had some struggle watching this episode at first because like Non Compete Clause, I expected this to be a shitshow as well and more or less, that´s what happened. I didn´t get really surprised by it at first save by Dolores´s magic spell to wipe out Discord´s body and her lesson at the end.

Giving this episode a 2nd watch made it really more tolerable. The biggest downside is that Discord is more of a jerk here than in Break Up Breakdown so it would have been much less confusing to see this episode first and then, Big Mac´s one. I watched it saying:yeah, Discord it´s at it again back on track, acting like a jerk.

The upside is that this actually served as a little challenge for the students and at the same time, for Dolores, not using magic by force in order to solve the things (kind of like All Bottled Up). I liked how the moral ended up with a really humble way to solve it. They have been friends before, just that Discord wanted to be part of the fun, in fact, the chaos caused was just really focused in order to challenge Twilight´s substitute.

I guess she has received her own Three´s A Crowd, where everything is set up to put you on a test. Out of the 4 episodes, this one is the least satisfying one because of my first impressions on it. The 2nd watch helped and it delivered some nice enjoyment.

Now, with that episode out (the least interesting out of them in comparison), this season is actually picking up in quality with the other three and oh boy, it definitely shows.

A Heart´s Warming Club, the pure definition why I don´t like judging a book by its cover.
When someone says that this show has lost its charm because of the new characters, new writers or because the fantasy is gone, yes, things are different, we are not going back to the simpler times. If you wanted to keep this show forever, we would have to move somewhere else and here we have it, the student 6. Not only discussing about who was the guilty that ruined their vacation but delivering the world building with a very correct placement.

Non Compete Clause failed to give them a fair chance but this one did it instead.
Sandbar is defined as the annoying character and stereotype of one would imagine from the pony race. His backstory and over the edge stories define how funnily uninteresting he is, intentionally. Also, he fails at singing as well. However, he has a chill personality and very down to earth (literally) for any decision, so that´s an advantage for the whole group in terms of coexistence.
SilverStream, even more chill and overly happy about literally anything. Cuteness overloaded when she tries to smash the bucket with her light weight by imitating Yona. Promoting her village as a touristic place and probably the most complete Heart´s Warming out of the bunch.
Smolder: she is an angel in comparison to the other dragons. The whole race tradition has consisted in doing a Game of Thrones dynamic, betraying and manipulating each other in order to reach the power, despite the leader´s good will. Not saying that with Ember has changed but they have fortunately reduced that tradition to a lesser extent but oh boy, Scales, the pure definition of a seemingly innocent traitor.
Yona: NOT PERFECT! YAK SMASH!In Heart´s Warming too? As expected, even the other students got bored of her story because of that repetitive act. One cannot deny that the yaks are together and join for that destruction party with so much passion.
Ocellus: Changelings have changed a lot, aren´t they? Like with Silverstream and Yona, Ocellus and company do not fail with cuteness. They literally followed Twilight´s indications for celebrating the event (facepalm with the tree part) and she seemed to have a strong desire to repeat it. Not sure if that´s the most proper way to celebrate it but hey, they are not attacking Canterlot like in the past.

But as always, one would expect to have a clear guilty, just that Gallus, save for a couple of gestures from his own eyes in a few scenes, you wouldn´t notice him. His backstory is to say the least, heart wrenching. He turns out to be an orphan and he describes that gryphons are from having a prosperous society. Really anticlimatic past for a Christmas episode and he was prepared to take the vacations on the school because in his town, he wouldn´t be happy at all.

This is how you define new characters, even if it´s by random cute stories, but you warm up with them, you get a clear vision from what you would expect. This tradition showed their own human side for a collective event and we got to know where they actually come from and how they differ between them-

In 22 minutes, you get charm from the new 6 characters, lore, funny and cute moments everywhere and an emotional resolution at the top of the cake. One of the best episodes of this season.

Now, moving onto Friendship University, more like the tutorial on how to make disloyal competence because of somepony´s ego.

Flim Flam are back with their tricks but guess what, when they actually did everything for money, they were being subtly used by the Chancellor. He made a very smart move by using Cozy Glow for stealing Twilight´s book and delivering it as his own with the approval of Starswirl.

This is probably the most realistic episode because that corruption and disloyal system is shown in everyday life, just that we get it in the education term. Twilight knew that something fishy was going on and it definitely was, because what could one expect from the Flim Flam brothers?

Meanwhile, Planity delivered a good distraction to detect what´s going wrung with the school by infiltrating in their classes and you can notice that the university does have subtle flaws with it.

Flim Flam´s jewish way to sell the books unequally(that scene says a lot with the torn paper for that poor pony) , the favoritism they have in order to bring a forced good image for the private school, the plan of not teaching the values in an honest way but with a lucrative purpose(when they actually have their own business in Las Pegasus) and Twilight´s discovery that the values from their guidebook of friendship sounds too familiar for her (the two little scenes of Cozy Glow hint the reason why).

The Chancellor took a huge risk as well because Twilight could have denounced him for copyright, admitting that Twilight´s values actually work but his proud vision blinds him for giving the reason to her. Basically a contest to see who is the best at delivering friendship by using enemy´s sources with a few veritable excuses (using Starswirl as alibi).

Overall, I am way too used to this dynamic in real life and it doesn´t surprise me a single bit.
I liked that Rarity reminded us why this is an entertaining show, how Flim Flam convinced the ponies (by the way, those ponies were in the EEA in the season premier) to show an alternative from Twilight´s school with a catchy song, and while there is nothing wrong with having some competence or complementary place to her school, the intentions behind count a lot. They denigrate Twilight´s image in order to take over her and while legal, it´s a really dirty strategy that the market usually does everyday.

A very strong episode in general.

and now (I have been gone for a while),the critical episode that I expected and witnessed polarizing opinions. The one that claimed that writers are ruining the mane 6 on purpose just to make the new characters look good: The End In Friend written by G.M. Berrow.

Alright, where do I begin with this one? I commented the polarizing reactions because of those opinions who actually watched it earlier.
And I think that after this, I prefer not getting too carried away for those who shitpost about anything, in fact, I discovered that some anons shitpost for trolling without having watched the content itself, just want to see the shitshow, annoy and cause some chaos out there for the lolz. Not the most artistic shitposts because most of them end up in disguised pretentiousness and ignorance, lack of care in general. With all that said, I am not saying that my views are the best, not even close, just that at least, I personally know that my view is constructed by checking it first and not giving an opinion before.

So, here we go. I expected to shit on this episode, like a slightly improvement of Non Compete Clause (how many times do I have to reference that episode in my posts?), but nothing to throw fireworks.

I had to watch it twice (the 2nd watch after a few hours so I wouldn´t have any hype for it and judge it critically) and I...ended up loving it.
Call me a shill or whatever, much like Yakity Sax, more like shitting on it, I couldn´t and I found out more positives on the road.

But okay,let´s compare it to NCC. Is it similar? More or less but those changes pay off very differently. Rarity and Rainbow Dash have a complete contrast in their personalities, while AJ and Rainbow, compete blindly against each other to see who has the biggest one.

There have been several general complaints about this episode:
-The Students being too harsh in asking and making the situation worse
-Dolores saving the day
-Ruining Rarity and Rainbow save for the last third of the episode, hinting at the writer for not knowing how they act.

First of all, in real life, a student when he doesn´t know, his ignorance raises up questions and sometimes, they feel hungry for more knowledge. There is no conformity because he looks for something else to learn besides the usual lessons. And sometimes, by not being used to the usual vicious circle between the experts of knowing everything, they ask uncomfortable things at times that break molds. That´s what happened with the plot device. The students feel like the fandom asking why Rarity and Rainbow are together (it would be more fitting if it were a ship). They got the responses from Rarity Investigates and Sonic Rainboom (episode callbacks by the way) but they wanted the actual proof in front of their faces.

About Dolores saving the day. As much as we meme her bridges over here and analyze her in a more relaxed way in comparison, no, Dolores doesn´t save the day. She just serves as a medium to make them understand between each other, point out the problem and set up the final test along with Spike and Twilight. That´s it but she is not the central point but a supportive character.

And now, we are getting with the root of this episode. Rainbow and Rarity actually collide in terms of taste and here it is why I love the most: they actually have time for themselves despite all the things they have to do, it´s time just for them, no obstacles between them and they are encouraged to do what they usually would do in the daily life very clearly, so there is no biased friendship between them nor any fake action from their personality in any special circumstance. Just them, even if the students and Twilight are watching.

The humor is sassy from Rarity´s part and Rainbow actually complains like the usual cunt she is when she is shopping with Rarity. And the humor from it, I found it funny or enjoyable, call me crazy. The two things that are fair criticisms from this episode is that this should have aired earlier in S2 or S3 and that the "no friends anymore" was a bit over the top and childish. Besides that, I don´t see anything else.

Berrow actually does care and she shows what she knows the best, put the plot for a book fan club in the middle of it, the zone she knows the most (including Daring Do obviously). It served to pay off with the last third. That theft was clearly fake but it was made for strictly for them. The title references it, the end is not what matters but the relationship between you and your friend and that´s the actual objective of that quest.

They go like the old times for a simple quest and rediscover how they can appreciate each other despite their differences and tastes. This is like Uncommon Bond but applied to these two main characters. Friendships get consumed over time and don´t know how they are there at some point.

A few fans said that this episode ruined Raridash. I don´t believe that´s true at all, the episode reinforces it because they have accepted each other without anything in the middle. It´s true that this should have aired earlier but we haven´t had many episode dedicated for these two together. In fact, it fixes the complaint of the mane 6 being friends by force and destiny. This one delivers the actual opposite, Rainbow and Rarity act like actual friends and despite arriving late in the game, they have left the room open for those who love to see them together.

Basically, an episode I didn´t expect to love so much and continued my enjoyment. It may have an average writing but like Surf and or Turf, the episodes I consider the best may not the be the popular masterpiece choices.

Still working on catching up so I haven't read your posts here to otherwise influence my opinion. hopefully will be done soon.

>>1961
> I haven't read your posts here to otherwise influence my opinion. hopefully will be done soon.

yeah,that´s for the better. In fact, /mlp/ from the inside tells this every time, they don´t want newfags to be influenced by their opinions but judging on your own, I think that the unwritten rule we should all follow without saying.

Have fun whenever you watch them.

Just got through watching What Lies Beneath.

Before I go into it, I will say that I am caught up with USA/Australia sans one ep and maybe a couple I missed earlier season. I have not looked up spoilers n the subbed final.

This episode was great. Though it depends on where they take it before I can say I 10000% love it. Story was great, it was nice to focus on one group of ponies in one location for once rather then all the fanservicey jumpng around worked with Trixie and Dolores our bridges episode though! I don't know where to go and will certanly need to give a rewatch to try to get caught up on all the lore and concepts introduce here. It feels so weird like season-4-we-actually-have-a-plan logic has taken back over. Everything else felt like a bunch of plot elements that they may not know what to do with. (sans their endgame for the final of course.) A lot of episodes have just felt cluttered a bt as they tried to stuff in as many references and such as possible.

LORE

I don't know what to say. The tree/ possibly elements of harmony having intelligence of their own is a concept straight outta many fanfics. So many questions: how connected is the tree to Twly? Is it just appearing as her or is part of Twilight, being the princess of friendship and all, actually a bit of her essence. Is, as you briefly mentioned earlier, its intentions pure or could it have a dark side. One thing that I could see as entirely possible is it, while still going by it's nature, ding something that is bad for somepony or harming someone. Perhaps it could even gain enough intelligence to have it's own free will that may allow for a confict it's nature? Still too soon to tell.

Another note. Is this a setup for future elements of harmony? Not all the test corrisponed with a element off the top of my head. Sandbar being loyalty, Yona perhaps frendship, but eveypony else just seemed to have to face a fear/admission of it. I'll have to think.

Another other note: the student6 not telling about the crazy adventure doesn't bug me. They are acceptably young and inexpedience enough for that little bit of blackmail to be enough for me in this world of sometimes stupid horses. Though if it had been the mane6 being held on trivial blackmail for something high stakes it'd be a different story.

Me too random /mlp/ anon.

As for the other epsiodes I'll give my quick thoughts. Though the eariler bug queen one I will being post my thoughts on at some other point, being the other notable episode of hype.


A Matter of Principals
Good enough. not a fav, but okay fanservice. loved that Discord literally used the Cutie Map as an excuse to gt the plot moving as it has been reduced too this season.
The_Hearth's_Warming_Club
Haven't seen this one. Partly spoilered but I didn't really care if I do. I was just considering saving it later for winter. Though if there is some important student6 stuff in there as I understand I may have to give it a watch before the season's final.
Friendship University
I could see this being annoying to some, though it isn't somethng that really care about i the log haul. Though admittedly it is a little weird about Stairswirl going to some random university first, and not the freaking Princess of Friendship!
The End in Friend
I liked this one a good bit. Perhaps it was a little weird to have TS insistent on having the students fallow them around but it isn't anything I'd complain about. It had some fun moments and a cute little adventure. my personal complaint would be just as it was getting to a climax the resolution was introduced, rather the having a climax point and the big oh-uh moment. That's been my main problem with this season, things feel way to cluttered at times and trying to have to many characters have lines/be mentioned/locations and story elements show off. Somtmes makes pacing weird.
Road to Friendship
This was pure fun. Loved it. Trixie Moonwalking, creepy stars, there was a bunch of little things I loved about it. Though the ultimate question is how does travel work? They had this long montage, seemed to have reintroduced the concept of distance in this episode. Yet at the end there Dolores had a montage travling back by herself and then feeling guilty and showing up in less than a day!

>>2121
The Washouts
Interesting Episode. I was surprised that they showed Lightning Dust being not either trying to redeem herself or get vengeance. She still hated the wonderbolts, but wasn't out to destroy them or freak out at the mention. I liked how she was portrayed with that bit of nuance. Additionally was surprised they didn't make it solely be on Rainbow's jealousy with the washouts turning out to be somewhat okay. Overall a pretty good ep and one that I have written a bit of notes on and will watch again. Wonder how it will affect Scootaloo's development if at all, since I have been wondering how far the CMC would explore their original hinted hobbies, and this could almost shut off scoots from stunts and such. ** Also heard about this being a continuity error with Parental Guidance but have yet to check it out.
A Rockhoof and a Hard Place
I loved this one comedy wise. Though it did give off feeling of clutter with jumping around so many places and showing what the other pillars with up too real quick. Though I don't consider the jumpng bad but it can make pacing feel weird/take away a bit of the charm of a simple setting. Still, it's nice that they fit in some good stuff. I do wonder about some of the stuff implied, like the hipogriff navy. Or TS talking about the stars as if there Celestial objects and not in a classical fairytale sense (not a complaint, just curious considering earlier lore, pic related).

>>2119
Did sompony say LORE?

Welp, that's about it for tonight. I will read your stuff later and reply according. Nice to finally talking about ponies 'eh?

>>2123
wow,you have watched. What Lies Beneath and Rockhoof before. I haven't been able to watch them because of lack of accesibility (accessing on MEGA 1080p just consumes a lot for even watching fluidly) so it seems that I have to speed up my rhythm this weekend.

I have to rewatch On The Road To Friendship and The Washouts to make sure about my views on them.

>Nice to finally talking about ponies 'eh?
uff you didn't know how much this board needed to go back on track,just for ponies again and feeling a bit of joy. You sound really passionate while writing these posts and that shows.. It seems that What Lies Beneath is a highlight not only for you but the fandom as well,. I have to catch up. and gain a bit of optimism after checking your posts.

Giddy up! This is the /end/, post pone!

>>2127
>(accessing on MEGA 1080p just consumes a lot for even watching fluidly) so it seems that I have to speed up my rhythm this weekend.
Those never load for me either. My habits are a bit more haphazard Rarely have access to TV. Sometimes just looking up fragments and clps and clips or worse... Reactors Good luck and don't feel rushed ta keep up.

>uff you didn't know how much this board needed to go back on track,just for ponies again and feeling a bit of joy. You sound really passionate while writing these posts and that shows..
Me too. Things are still a bit chaotic on my /end/, but I think I will be able to keep up now. and hopefully if time allows it else something else special

>Giddy up! This is the /end/, post pone!
I will post pones and their LORE

Well, back to season 8 discussion while I am loading the next episode and seeing it without any lag in between.

On The Road To Friendship is kind of the reverse friendship episode in the sense that everything gets worse and worse by pretending that nothing happens between two friends. A friendship can be (great and) powerful in order to make obstacles easier and when in the song, it seemed like cartoon physics, the road was actually dangerous and Dolores admitted it.

Saddle Arabia wasn´t planned to be designed for this episode actually but that unicorn sure made an annoying background company (in the funny sense) for these two.

There´s not much to say about this episode save saying that it was a pretty enjoyable one, pretty similar to All Bottled Up but instead, it´s Trixie the main protagonist and the one who receives the biggest part of the misadventures.

Another challenge of friendship for them, they prove that friends have conflicts even if they pretend that nothing is going wrong, they try to overcome that but at some point, it becomes unbearable. Even at their worst, they manage to bring funny lines and they don´t stop their cuteness.

A few details that I have noticed were: the moonwalk from Trixie, how the Sunshine Sunshine moment was actually brought back (being relevant for the resolution by the way), how a couple of background ponies at first, then they become more relevant later for the plot and how Trixie is willing to fight for her wagon, she is capable to give up the world just for her precious home.

I may not put the correct words in describing the moral but sometimes, friendship are not just made for the best moments, you have to deal with the worst ones too. Also, the resolution also brings how intimate stupidity proves that only friends can do that, you wouldn´t be capable to do it with a stranger.

Not sure if I should include this one at the top but it ranks with a very high mark. It probably fueled a bit of shipping but no one cannot deny that both Dolores and Trixie brings a great chemistry between each other.

Now, on the road to the Washouts.

Well, The Washouts.

Not that I have much to complain about this one. It seems that the second half of this season is delivering some morals that are reasonable and not too much out of context.

I have to mention one little thing that prevents it from being a top tier episode, despite enjoying it more in the 2nd watch: the resolution seems like it was made for Rainbow Dash to look good or the better hero.I enjoyed much more the first part and the 2nd, the last third seemed a bit rush with that Team Rocket take off.

However, I have to mention that the rest felt as charming as ever. I believe that this episode has had rock music the most, besides Iron Will´s appearances, in this series so far. If that wasn´t enough, holy shit Spitfire, calm down a bit, Scootaloo is a little filly, not your qualified soldier. That was an unexpected highlight. Another one was how Twilight also likes the risk and the image of looking badass. The bookworm pony likes fun and danger

Another detail that made the episode to stand out was how Scootaloo confirmed in front of the screen, so explicitly, that she cannot fly so she desires to conquer the sky with another methods.

Even with that Rainbow inch of her looking better in comparison to Lightning Dust, the episode served to show which way you prefer taking the things: sacrificing security and risk your life or putting security on everything yet it doesn´t sell nor sounds appealing.

Basically,responsibility and awareness on that decision, Scootaloo regretted that when she joined the club she was looking up to the most, a little bit too late.

About Lightning Dust, I don´t think she has received a bad image, she is just the rival for Rainbow now instead of causing danger to outsiders. She is aware about what she is doing and both Rainbow and Dust agreed at some point in the ep that they were fine with their own ways of thinking. It´s nice to see her again with a proper identity and remember her like Trixie, instead of ending up as a one-off pony, she has come back....and something tells me that in season 9,well have something planned for her. At least, she is not forgotten.

Anyway, I have liked the episode a lot (much more in the 2nd watch) but not love, mostly because that feeling I get of the plot benefiting Rainbow somehow. I don´t know...I think that I will appreciate this better when LD comes again. For now, it has served as a transitional conflict for a big rivalry that we have to keep an eye on.

Moving onto Rockhoof and Hard Place....

A Rockhoof and a Hard Place

Alright Gallus: "We never ever get homework, but we like stories..." uh, I wish I lived like that. Also, I wouldn´t be surprised that Yona invited Rockhoof to Yakyakistan and smash random things altogether.
I think Rockhoof likes telling stories with so much....action, a bit too much I guess. He would be a neat content creator in any chan and write some greens...or Stygian I don´t know. The entertainment is guaranteed with him. The hippogriffs sure have had some inspiration from the Royal Navy, isn´t it?

Anyway, I thought Rockhoof was the least interesting of the pillars, mostly because he is just reduced to some strength and felt like the least inspiring story out of the 3 in Campfire Tales. What collided his stereotypical character was that....he is the only one who hasn´t found its purpose on modern times. Trying to be a postman, a massager, a sea wolf or using his strength for carring on things....just didn´t work, although that didn´t prevent from having the funniest moments out of these episodes. Also, I would like to mention that all these episodes I am reviewing have that blend between humor and deep message so effortlessly, especially On the Road to Friendship and this one in which I have had some genuine laughs.

Now, on the other hoof, it hurts to see that you feel like shit when you realize that you don´t belong in any place and how the other ones who stayed with you have managed to adapt themselves and even shine in modern times. And because of that lack of identity, objectives or constant failures, you feel like a living statue, feeling like you don´t shouldn´t exist.

Many teenagers or people who are going to commit suicide and fail to look for jobs, are miserable for their families reach these depressing mind states because they don´t know what they can do nor offer to this world while others are succeeding in front of your eyes.

This is the closest genuine episode of expecting one thing and watching a very different result, as with Surf and Or Turf or No Second Prances, you expect a tough stallion doing these things and he does but that lack of personal force to move forward and feel at home like your old glory days, don´t fit anymore and he cannot help but feel empty.

That moment of desiring to be a statue seems like an analogy for catching the rope and hold your neck into it. While this episode has had its funny moments and it seemed like a light hearted one, the message sure feels powerful the more you think about it. Thankfully enough, Yona served to make him see the light at the end of the tunnel and feel like you are important despite your own personal pessimism.

Top 5 of the season? I don´t know but it surely beat my expectations about him, the writers have gone through the psychological side for this story and I´ve got to admit that I cannot help but appreciating these kind of stories a lot.

What Lies Beneath

Alright!About time I am catching up on the episodes even though I am doing it while sick, I guess I have not felt like watching them until now for some reason, I have to still feel disappointed but damn, they are putting it hard to dislike or even nitpick on anything.

What Lies Beneath basically proves how Cozy Glow is the one who claims that the creatures cannot understand friendship and while the students may fail the text in theory, they have proven by experience that friendship is not something magical or extraordinary, but something that you have to prove in varied situations and circumstances to make it stronger and forge the same values as ponies did in these past seasons.

Along with On The Road to Friendship, this episode beautifully shows how the fears of each student can be overcome and passed with the help of others. That selfishness isn´t the answer in order to leave someone behind. If you are going to die or stay trapped, at least, one last hug and say that you are friends makes you feel at home even if the ambient around you feels discouraging and confusing.

The tree of harmony has become an identity with this season.It´s the voice of destiny and has decided to challenge them in order to prove them for future events that will prove how much they feel like the new mane 6 group.Not only friendship is understood with just ponies, but those values are kept for any civilized society even if it feels against their nature.

They weren´t uncivilized before this episode and even had charming moments from the start, just that Cozy Glow has that same elitism that the Chancellor does.

My sweet Celestia, 4 great episodes in a row, I wish we had this level of quality for the next season at least. There is not much to complain and I feel like I am watching natural episodes that set up for other arcs and morals. This challenge felt like a personal adventure and >>2118 I mostly share your thought on how great this is. I will reply if I can to your questions.

But no wonder these new characters hold on the same spirit as we all knew from the start. Just because one has different cover....doesn´t mean you cannot carry the torch for the future generations with different pillars, ponies or students. They all may have different chemistry but for sure, MLP has a fetish on putting 6 characters as the main protagonists. Between A Heart´s Warming Club and this ep, I find it hard to put a bad word about them.

It had lore and above all, that old charm all over again.

I will get into details and answer your post...because I will need to watch it again...as a setup for the finale

Now, on Discovery Family, hello darkness my old friend, jumping onto Sounds of Silence.

also posting a screencap out of it.

Gallus, please, we know that you like jewish gestures, but don´t bring the meme of "Just as planned" so explicitly.

>>2118
Sleep well my little creatures...you will need those energies soon...

Sounds of Silence

Words hurt...and it ruins societies. Literally as offended as any Tumblrina out there.

Also, do I have to mention the songs and background music? Because wow, that sure is a highlight for this episode, not all pop songs are that varied in terms of singing and for a moment, feeling like rapping in one part and then sing in a high tone. One of the best post season 4 songs out there definitely (not counting the movie of course). I thought 4channers were exaggerating but they weren´t.

What can I say about this one? It felt truly satisfying to watch and my goodness, every little thing about that happened in this episode contributed for the resolution. Nothing was made out of nowhere.We got a good introduction, feeling like they are visiting a hostile village, that Fluttershy was losing time with the squirrels, how the episode title came because of a stream that just stayed you silent and the actual menace wasn´t that they would be angry and transform into kirins.
The actual menace was about losing your temper and cause more chaos and a bigger mess because of that. This is why it reminds of Tumblr, being an immature living that cannot handle disagreement nor have any discussion with opposing views.

The moral was that one cannot stand that silence and the loss of having a voice into this world and feeling like giving your personal view even if others don´t like, that´s where arguments start and one collides with the other.
However, that anger was proved to be another feeling that we should know how to handle it and take it into account. This episode takes into the extreme case of everyone being offended so the solution is not having that voice ever again. Autumn Blaze was exiled and a kirin non grata for the village....and unlike Chrysalis, she knows how to roleplay and have fun with her loneliness.

About the kirins, I don´t know if they are cuter when they look at you with that serious face or when they are actually happy. Also the leader Rain Shine was a queen, I guess Hasbro has reversed the cliche of queens being evil and princesses staying as the good ones (Eris in the latest comic).

Sweet heart (pic related), arguing with someone else may be complicated but that´s how we grow and develop ourselves. We are social beings and so you are even if you are fictional. Societies fail because of this and we end up in a totalitarian regime for feeling like teenagers or children because we hear what we don´t want to heart. If that happened, freedom would be just another word and not even silence can cure it forever. Sure words hurt (and sometimes even more than violence) but if you know how to deal with it, everything will be fine and even learn something out of it.


Taking this ride into a higher note, I am sure enjoying these episodes before the finale airs officially on Discovery Family and put this season into an end.

I believe that the morals so far show much more about contemporary societies and I feel that they show subtle messages that we should take into account. Yes, adults are only grown up children and this episode proved that even adults cannot stand the words from others.

Top 5? We´ll see...

And now, dealing with Spike´s "father", Father Knows Beast before the finale comes up.

Father Knows Beast

Okay, what a curious appearance from Sludge isn´t it? You know, like a meteorite and colliding just right at the moment for the plot?

Well, if the previous episode was about how to deal with the trush and arguing, this one is about how detect someone whenever he is lying. Oh boy, back to politics favorite´s weapon.

It´s immediately obvious that the faces he is doing show that they are not true and this leads to funny moments like feeling too lazy to fly, just drinking cider or eating all the cupcakes with gems. A real truant ladies and gentlemen with use of tears and pity in front of the rest.

Now, about the father title (this is a good one). Sure, that crash wasn´t an accident and for sure while showing himself to feel pity and some kind of sympathy, he doesn´t hide that he only wants what ponies offer with good will.

He exaggerates it a lot and it truly represents what beggars do in my capital city, taking advantage of people for a little bit of money. That´s actually an injustice because it makes other people look bad when they truly need it.

Really, just with the Mount Aris, you would have to put a red alarm or at least question it and it´s too exaggerated that it actually shows the worst plot stories from Hollywood, an with an obnoxious sad tone. This episode shits and laughs at a ton of real life stuff out there believe it or not.

About Spike´s list moment, yeah,Sludge at least nailed and faked it pretty well. You can´t troll so easily if you don´t let some kind of genuine spirit in front of the gallery.

I will say that the Heart´s Warming fake setup felt really genuine though.

Again, this episode plays like as Dragon Quest, how Spike feels more pony like rather than a pure dragon. This is set up pretty well with the feathers detail in the beginning.

The song, alright, while Sludge may not be the most likeable nor as design wise as nice as the kirins, he brings a lot of comedy around, especially on how picky he is with the stuff around Spike. The songs are usually for cute things but for this one, it serves its purpose at least on how corrupted the average dragon usually is (besides Spike, Ember, Torch and Smolder).

Also, wow, pic related has to be one of the closest sexual innuendos there has been ever in the series hahaha. Why should a horsefucker draw clop if we already have it here?

Thanks Twilight for raising up those questions but damn Spike, you broker her heart. Literally.

And Smolder, well, she proves again that her character is not only worth to show it up for the students but for any slice of life situation, she sure has learned enough lessons to bend between what dragons are and what friends/family should act.She has proved that dragons while rude and "ambitious", they don´t reach those levels as her story told back then in Heart´s Warming. I am surprised that Sludge was so easy to leave with that resolution but what easy comes, easy goes.

A lesson that one should learn, you may not have the family you wanted but for sure, you feel more comfortable and more like you when you live with the ones who have loved you for years. A typical lesson for any show but with a greedy character this time.

A filler episode? Probably but I enjoyed it more than I thought because of the comedy it brought, how Smolder was supportive again to Spike, how Sludge represents a certain kind of people that take advantage from everyone and doesn´t care about the helpers and how one shouldn´t trust on what one stranger says so easily.

So, here I end my own marathon of season 8. I am reviewing School Raze later....

So, what do I have to conclude about my own thoughts about this?
It´s been a fun day while watching and reviewing these episodes. I didn´t expect to enjoy them so much like the good old days.

Maybe it´s not the show what´s changed but my vision about it. Well, it has partially changed because the protagonists may not be the same all the time nor morals are written in the same way as the first seasons did, feeling so simple to write in the last two minutes of each episode.

I kind of felt discouraged to review or even watch them because I have had a complicated month and there hasn´t been a single day in which my mind felt like doing it, even less when my Wifi loads 1080p so slowly that it lags. I guess I have spent too much time for the community in my free time and not for myself and enjoy the root of it.

Sometimes I even asked myself: why bother? I often wondered if I would feel forced by watching them, like an annoying task that I shouldn´t care or that consumes my time for nothing. Feeling tired or fed up of it.

I was proved wrong, I am glad it went this way. I have been somewhat ill with a pallid face for these two days (maybe three) and I had no idea what to do. I decided to jump directly on this and I may have rediscovered what´s the show I love while sick and staying home after so much activity IRL.

Season 8, while it may not have had the most memorable nor greatest episodes out there nor the most admired for the fandom, it sure delivered a strong 2nd half. Along with season 7, it delivered solid episodes in my opinion. There hasn´t been a point in which I have wanted to avoid them nor cringe, just have a nice time. Maybe my standards have set a low bar without noticing it, but I...cannot complain much about these. Maybe Yakity Sax if anything and it wasn´t that horrid as others said.

No Non Compete Clause this time and they left the best for last. All the messages shown for the episodes reviewed hold a subtle yet deep lesson that one should take into account. All of this combined with adventures, challenges, comedy, lore and diverse interactions between the protagonists for each episode.

No matter what character they shoehorn in, they have made it like a natural development for the show.

I am not getting paid for saying this and even when I look at the MLP logo, I question if MLP is all that great as people say, but here, I cannot prove that statement wrong. I wish it had a few better episodes in the 1st half but the 2nd half shows virtuous aspects from this show, as fresh as ever despite having 8 years on its back.

Again, I have restored finally my faith and have a bit of time for myself. These thoughts are just improvised while watching them.

I may reply to your thoughts as well and sorry for not giving any sign of life in this thread but I am finally here....ready for the finale and take it off with the top best and top worst episodes.

That´s for the future but what has happened, won´t change. I have had a great time watching these 6 episodes and hopefully season 9 keeps that level of enjoyment.

Pic related: the protagonists for School Raze....

>>2130
I was watching your thoughts while downloading the season finale and it seems that you haven´t explicitly disliked any episode so far and that you personal highlight is What Lies Beneath.

I have to agree with your postive thoughts overall because there is not a single episode that has bothered that much to me.

Cluttering a lot of places and characters is somewhat hard these days with so many characters but whenever you see the intro of this season, one cannot believe that this is as intimate as before....and still at times, the show manages to go for personal moments between two characters,even three that feel genuinely personal. The End in Friend actually set up that resolution despite the school watching how Rarity and RD acted, this is why I like the episode a lot.

But yeah, I get that criticism.

>Those never load for me either. My habits are a bit more haphazard Rarely have access to TV.
I don´t have TV....well, partially lying, I have it for the PS3 but I don´t have any TV control nor I have tuned in on my TV.

I have got to admit that this season feels a bit weird to watch but there you have the two links put in the main general. I have watched these 6 episodes in Nightmaremoon.xx and they are on 1080p. Very smooth by the way.

They have yet to upload School Raze, it´s in German so far and I am not streaming it in MEGA, it lags way too much and even cancels the load, recommending me Google Chrome....*yay* them

>Sometimes just looking up fragments and clps and clips or worse... Reactors

JUST
JUST
JUST NO
https://youtube.com/watch?v=umDr0mPuyQc [Embed]

School Raze (Season 8 finale)

Alright, how do I sum up this finale with one line?

Uhum uhum...

BREAKING NEWS! FILLY GETS ARRESTED FOR DRAINING ALL THE MAGIC IN EQUESTRIA AND TAKING OVER THE SCHOOL OF FRIENDSHIP. MORE NEWS AT 11!

You know, there are times when adults cannot even get that evil nor reach those cold plans to the point where you are a psychopath with no remorse at any moment.

Episodes needed before this finale: School Daze, What Lies Beneath, Marks for Affection and Friendship University.

The definition of Cozy Glow becomes somewhat confusing about what her backstory is. A little detail that lot of fans skip is that we all knew the backstory from the mane 6 and the CMC(we knew them from the start obviously but I want to remark it), the students with A Heart´s Warming Club, Surf and Or Turf (for Silver Stream), the two Spike episodes (for Smolder), What Lies Beneath (for Ocellus); and Dolores teen years with the Parents Map, so they had nothing left to hide and their intentions were pretty clear. No mysteries left around them.

The only two CHARACTERS that didn´t show all the reasons behind them were Neighsay and Cozy Glow. You only knew that Neighsay was competing against Twilight for proving his vision right and that Cozy Glow....the only two signs you would notice are the little gestures, how she is attracted to the Tree of Harmony and that her answer for the 6th element for her was power, not magic.

I swear, you cannot leave behind background or subtle things at any moment because they will caught you out of guard for a few aspects. Sure, they deliver a pretty predictable plot but that predictability doesn´t mean that it doesn´t hold surprises for your own expectations.

If you paid attention to Friendship University, it subtly hints that Cozy Glow had worked for Neighsay as a spy but it turns out that Neighsay didn´t even know her in the first place and even looked at her down when she was in charge of the school when Equestria was in great danger with the lack of magic around the continent.

The EEA "racist" vision would have worked in season 1 (this explains why the mane 6 acted so harshly with Zecora) and the bubble that preventS for anypony to leave the places they know and dwell. Basically, an education for them exclusively because the other species have caused trouble in the past, so in theory, they wouldn´t get those lessons. However, that doesn´t mean the EEA doesn´t teach the values of friendship, just that it´s for ponies.

This last line becomes relevant when Cozy Glow captures him by using Neighsay´s view against his own creator.

The partner for this plan is Tirek and he accepted that deal just for capturing the mane 6 in the Tartarus and leaving Cozy Glow with all the power. However, Tirek is also stupid for not thinking that he cannot escape from the Tartarus so he has to endure Pinkie´s jokes all the time. GG, well played buddy.

So this leaves us to the actual character that matters: Cozy Glow.
There were hints that she was planning something evil inside her mind.....but not THAT level of evil and that´s where the predictability becomes a joke and you analyze how manipulative she is.

There are some funny reactions and even arguments in which a few fans say that Cozy Glow is redeemable, that the authorities were too harsh by capturing her into the Tartarus and that they left no room for her.

Well, guess what, you had a filly in the past that was selfish as well but she didn´t harm beyond a certain group and saw how her actions had consequences: Diamond Tiara. Even in Flight to the Finish, she had to use the crippling argument to make Scootaloo feel bad and when that happened, DT was insecure about doing it because going into that route passes the normal limits. Not all the times she was that bitchy with CMC (Twilight Time) and her actions only put her class at her service (Ponyville Confidential) but after that, she was getting more infamous and that´s why Pipsqueak won the elections in Crusaders of the Lost Mark, with Silver Spoon´s vote behind him.

What I mean is that she knew the limits, she did have a room for feeling remorse about her actions and got redeemed because she figured out what her problem was with the help of the CMC.

Here, the process is in reverse. Cozy Glow has had all the friendship lessons in front of her, she learned all of them and became an exemplar assistant/student for the school, to the point Twilight relied on her even for the equipment for going to the Tartarus. She was a reference for the entire school but all of that was a slow process, they all were a means to an end.

Pretending to be fine by studying all the concepts of friendship to twist them, gain friends (more like gaining an army of ponies) in order to become the ultimate leader....but she doesn´t know what to do with it. However, the manipulation went very slowly in a seemingly innocent way. It´s beyond the usual level ordinary of politics the skill of manipulation she has offered in this finale. She was going to show it sooner or later, but the execution just crosses a black zone. No wonder other fans whitewash all the other villains in comparison because sweet mother of Celestia, some lines sound like she is a renegade of the society when she has had all the facilities and skills to apply them correctly.

The analogy is that those lessons give power. Nonetheless, this is like using a knife: either you use it to cut food or you use it to kill people; or chemistry: either for medicines and industrial products or for making drugs and nuclear weapons. It´s up to you to decide what to do with that knowledge. That´s the final result with friendship, the actual concept pushed in this show. What´s worse is that by her being a pegasus, all the ponies betrayed Neighsay and the ones who rescued him were the subpar creatures he had feared.

In contrast, there were other 6 students who were taught with the same lessons that Cozy learned during this season. Just that we knew their development, where they came from, how they act together from the start and how over the time understand what the concept of friendship is with different experiences. The finest example for it, besides School Daze, is What Lies Beneath, in which they prove how to overcome that challenge from the Tree of Harmony itself.

And here we are, with the protagonists and saviors of the finale.

You said that Sandbar wouldn´t become that relevant for the group but turns out that he plays an important role with his pony status. He manages to trick Neighsay in order to get free by pretending he is not related to them. That development from What Lies Beneath was stuck with him and he came with the help of the CMC. These 3 fillies serve to sacrifice themselves in order to leave some time for the students to resolve this threat.

They weren´t aware at all that magic was disappearing and even Smolder felt that Cozy Glow was up to something for leaving Dolores out of the way. Neighsay just unexpectedly interfered Cozy´s plans by keeping an eye over the school with the EEA principles. Not only Cozy had to get rid of Dolores, but the Chancellor and the CMC as well....just that the Student 6 showed how friendship actually was with the help of the Tree of Harmony (an entity by itself by the way) by showing the elements and aspects of how friends actually are forged.

One scary line from Cozy was: "If I don´t make friends here, I will make them somewhere else", meaning that her rook cutie mark defies the central principles of harmony, replacing them with her manipulative skills.

I also forgot to mention A Matter of Principals. This is where the two parter feels like the season 4 finale with the little objects as keys for the chest. Here they work for containing all the magic inside down below the school.

Here, the students glow (pun intended) different colors for each element (I may be implying on this part, correct me if I am wrong):
Purple- Magic for Gallus
Orange- Honesty for Yona
White- Generosity for Ocellus
Yellow- Kindness for Sandbar
Pink- Laughter for Silver Stream
Blue- Loyalty for Smolder

The Tree of Harmony checked that they were worth of those titles and so, they released the magic of Equestria. However, like in To Where And Back Again, just because you save the world once, it doesn´t mean you have learned everything you will need in the future. So it means that we are left with the same setup for season 9. However, the school was pointed to be not only a school, but the students residence, ready for any situation that happens in Ponyville.

So what do I think about this finale? It put a whole lot of characters for this story, only a few secondary ones were left behind, but the relevant ones are here. Nothing new, considering that we have had this plots in The Crystalling or Shadow Play. I think there will be no more save maybe another villain, there´s enough cast for any episode that will happen in season 9. The intro gave us an idea of all the cast that are into this show and so, I think we have almost reached the limit for it.

Solid finale, I expected that because I was spoilt because of some leaked images on /mlp/ but I enjoyed it anyway. Not as epic as season 4 nor as dramatic as season 5 but I´ve got admire how it compelled a lot of lore and subtle things for it. It´s not difficult at all to get it but the try is welcome either way, it makes the episodes entertaining whenever you repeat them.

If I had to mention a flaw, it would be that the Mane 6´s part in the Tantabus felt like filler, the comic relief part in comparison to the rest of the episode. It was necessary for Cozy´s plan though.

As for the rest, I admire those little details and how the manipulative words can take all the power for one single innocent filly that in the end, went beyond the EEA vision and the magic from the royalty.

I don´t know how to conclude these reviews but I will never get tired of saying that the 2nd half of this season saved it from being average. In the end, it offered more things than expected fortunately, but it took a while to pay off.

There is still stuff unresolved and unexplained, especially surrounding Cozy Glow and tha cliffhanger....no wonder, there could be another villain behind her....

>>2265
>compelled
*compiled

Okay... just got through with the first part of season 8 final.



WHAT IS GOING ON!?

>>2267
What was all of that!?

I don't know what to say, caught me off guard, a lot of things where said and done that have interesting implications, some awesome some confusing. And now my scattered thoughts:

Like how the handled the mane6, thy were nerfed and tricked but not selectively stupid or incompetent. Probably the first time that they have been nerfed in a high stakes situation and I didn't feel any arbitrariness to it. Tirek's drain of them didn't count because I only consider nerfing to apply when it is to remove them and their skills to make a plot situation more convenient
I LOVED the complex politics with this episode. The fact that Neighsay was a independent actor in all this blew me away. Cozy's manipulative tactics and they way she switched tactics and tried to manipulate everypony really surprised me in a very good way. Maybe the best aspect of this episode.
I really felt a strange feel with the mane6 part of tis episode. I don't know how else to put it that an ascended season 1 or 2. It felt like how the fandom would've imagined things from that time, mane6 traveling alone going off with some fantasy and mythical references, but it felt to me as if I saw a alternate universe where even season 4 didn't happen the way it did. I don't know how to fully explain it.
I liked the tree save at the end. It surprised me with the fact that this episode had so much long term set up (magical artifacts, investment in setting up all the characters and story elements right, tree of harmony, etc) and the fact that this was still a set up over a conclusion to all elements presented. The story, though I do not know what the future holds, was handled excellently from a technical standpoint. I say this not just for this episode but for the season.
The episode's pacing was extremely good for all the myriad of characters involved.

>>2268
Though I was still left with a lot of questions some major some minor.

What exactly is Cozy Glow? How would, from what I understand it as, draining all the magic help her? She siad that she'd be able to take over yet wasn't all the other artifacts gone too?
it seemed be that Dolores was having to actively maintain a cloud walking spell, I know this was done to have the drama but it still is a little strange.
I don't understand tartarus. So there is Tirek and a bunch of mid level monsters that sometimes were treated as part of the ecosystem? I understand it from a meta perspective, recycling creatures is easier then making a whole bunch of new villians and it them not wanting to make it a hellish, but it makes little sense from universe, as these monsters were both prevalent in the everfree and had been relegated to a mid level threat at most. There is a potential interesting path with this though; what if Equestria starting locking these monsters/the few monsters who made it out and attacked towns? It could be a good Fluttershy episode though it still seems a bit ridiculous for this to happen in the first place.
Though what is weirdest to me is that Tirek was pin pals with a foal. Why is there even mail to that place?!? How did Cozy Glow get all this knowledge and lust for power? Is she really just a foal? I was kinda expecting her to be good ol' chrissy or some kind of evil creature of some type. Now I'm back to my first question.
They did a good job with the set up, but I do wonder how are they going handle all of this. With so much from previous seasons it seems like something is going to get left out if 9 is indeed the final It seems like they had different things planned at season 7 final with what happened at that end but it seemed to be all pushed aside for the school. The pillars are just in Equestria now. Pony of Shadows is still a thing I guess. I admit, in some ways I could even like the school better over what they could have done, because it just felt wonky to me to have the pillars in equestria alive in the modern day, and I think if they played a larger role they would've been more of a problem from a plot standpoint (hey, you know all these old mysteries and spells that we have always attributed over the years to these old figures, well we can ask them right now!).
As for my thoughts. I loved some of the stuff within this episode, I was even blow away, but it ultimately depends on what happens with the elements introduced in this before I can say that I loved it as a work itself. Tough with all the stuff that was introduced and plenty of time to ponder and wonder, this opinion could easily change, but this is my first impression.

>You said that Sandbar wouldn´t become that relevant for the group but turns out that he plays an important role with his pony status.
I was fearful for his future developmet, I though he did awesomely in this. Pleseantly surprised.

>meaning that her rook cutie mark defies the central principles of harmony, replacing them with her manipulative skills.
She makes friends without a heart. She has kindness, generosity, laughter, loyalty, honesty, but she only uses it for her own purposes. But in this world, most of equestria's villains were completely devoid of it and acted out completely opposite to them, she could embody them at times. With a rotten twisted concept of friendship to glue it all together into something that maybe pretty uncomfortable to look in the minor.

> Here, the students glow (pun intended) different colors for each element (I may be implying on this part, correct me if I am wrong):
Actually didn't get catch that. Thanks for poitig that out!

>If I had to mention a flaw, it would be that the Mane 6´s part in the Tantabus felt like filler, the comic relief part in comparison to the rest of the episode. It was necessary for Cozy´s plan though.
I actually liked it for the most part though I feel those criticisms. Could that time have been used for better?

> Solid finale, I expected that because I was spoilt because of some leaked images on /mlp/ but I enjoyed it anyway. Not as epic as season 4 nor as dramatic as season 5 but I´ve got admire how it compelled a lot of lore and subtle things for it. It´s not difficult at all to get it but the try is welcome either way, it makes the episodes entertaining whenever you repeat them.
Sounds similar to my thoughts. From a technical standpoint it is well done and different, though it's not my fav. It is a whole other animal compared to season 6 and 7 in terms of complexity and it's villains were at least different.


>There is still stuff unresolved and unexplained, especially surrounding Cozy Glow and tha cliffhanger....no wonder, there could be another villain behind her....
I mean there has to be. It'd be pretty crazy if it was just some crazed filly. though honestly that is possible I do wonder how all this is going to factor in season 9, because if 9th is indeed last and they try to do this endgame plus EVERYTHING else and bring back every one off and minor character and solve every question it could be a wild ride.


>

>>2268
>caught me off guard, a lot of things where said and done that have interesting implications, some awesome some confusing.
I predicted it. Yep, this is one of the strongest aspects of this season in fact. If you don´t pay attention to those little details, no wonder someone gets caught by surprise.
>Probably the first time that they have been nerfed in a high stakes situation and I didn't feel any arbitrariness to it.
keep in mind that they have nerfed not only them, but the entire continent. So, they were in the same conditions anyway. They still know how to deal with the adversities, they are not little ponies anymore. Even without magic, try to stop Pinkie, I dare you to do it.
As you said, they were and are competent. In fact, I think the experience of how these things work are what made them partially solve the situation in the sense to save themselves from the trap.
>LOVED the complex politics with this episode.
do you think we got rid of politics after September? Kek, it turns out that the show also delivers...phew lad.
>The fact that Neighsay was a independent actor in all this blew me away. Cozy's manipulative tactics and they way she switched tactics and tried to manipulate everypony really surprised me in a very good way. Maybe the best aspect of this episode.
I´ve mentioned a few times in my previous posts >>2263 >>2264. Whether you predicted or not that Cozy was evil, the ability to manipulate everyone on her way is masterful and the show has entered in a somewhat uncommon trope with her. Truly a highlight to consider and discuss a lot.
Neighsay, contrary to what it seemed, wasn´t the one who collaborated with Cozy Glow. His EEA view came from himself and no one else and he went to the school when Equestria was in an unusual threat. The little clip or image from SDCC tricked us to believe that Cozy Glow was at service for the Chancellor and his evil plans. At his worst, he only wanted to communicate that he was right about his view....just that he didn´t realize he was pointing at the wrong target. His redemption doesn´t consist in a change of attitude but a change of point of view after these events.

>It felt like how the fandom would've imagined things from that time, mane6 traveling alone going off with some fantasy and mythical references, but it felt to me as if I saw a alternate universe where even season 4 didn't happen the way it did.
Keep in mind that having lore back then in season 1 or season 2 was like fireworks for a little girls show, cutting edge for its league. However, this show has gone through a lot of phases throughout these 8 years. They are as used to dealing with villains and having Ponyville in constant attacks as we do nowadays. Fantasy and myths are just another thing that adds something to this world AND integrate them over time.

This reminds me as well about how the fandom misses the early days because there was potential for everything, it was new and you had a sense of mystery. What this show has done is not only add more material (myths, races, places) but saying: "Hey, it´s over here. You have discovered it and you visit it at any time, not a secret anymore". This has happened to the Tartarus in this finale, we never knew how it was exactly but now, we see it as a typical prison. This show gets rid of the mystery after the introduction of anything and even, it gets to play with the new added things for more slice of life stories

>It surprised me with the fact that this episode had so much long term set up and the fact that this was still a set up over a conclusion to all elements presented.
I had mentioned that there are 5 mandatory episodes (from this season) in order to get what everything comes from. I know that the season 4 finale is a must watch as well, but that´s obvious.
>The story, was handled excellently from a technical standpoint.
agreed
>The episode's pacing was extremely good for all the myriad of characters involved.
Like 21 characters or so for a finale. I wonder how one would handle that.

>>2269
>What exactly is Cozy Glow? How would, from what I understand it as, draining all the magic help her?
if you knew her context behind, then she wouldn´t hold any surprise. She is one of those characters that works without context, look at how picky this season is for all the characters involved except for Neighsay and Cozy. We knew the backstory of everyone but them. That should make you think. I am needing a comaprison and a little bit of politics to explain why it was written like this

>I know this was done to have the drama but it still is a little strange
traitors never warn. Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three is the enemy.

>I don't understand tartarus.
>So there is Tirek and a bunch of mid level monsters that sometimes were treated as part of the ecosystem?
>these monsters were both prevalent in the everfree and had been relegated to a mid level threat at most.
maybe that explains why the Everfree Forest feels like another forest? Maybe they use it as a medium to prevent that ponies gets hurt because of those creatures while going through it. A little extreme though. What we know is that the Tartarus (despite its Greek name)is just another prison but I wonder what standards hold for putting anything in jail

>There is a potential interesting path with this though; what if Equestria starting locking these monsters/the few monsters who made it out and attacked towns? It could be a good Fluttershy episode though it still seems a bit ridiculous for this to happen in the first place.
I had to see these lines before replying... But that would mean that Fluttershy is actually more powerful for being able to control them. Oooooh boy, I think having Discord on her side wasn´t a coincidence after all.

>Though what is weirdest to me is that Tirek was pin pals with a foal. Why is there even mail to that place?!? How did Cozy Glow get all this knowledge and lust for power?
Those are pretty good questions. No answer for this unless they used magical artifacts for the mail like the teleports from Chancellor´s medallion.
>Is she really just a foal? I was kinda expecting her to be good ol' chrissy
No, I don´t know why everyone expected that she would be Chrysalis. She remains in a grey zone where the writers have no long term plans for her. Her resolution will come in the last hour. However, I ask myself if we are dealing with an actual filly because goddamn, what a child. This ep gave "I need an adult" vibes.

>I wonder how are they going handle all of this.
They have dealt with a few holes created in the past but they aren´t stopping in creating new ones. I ask myself how many characters or questions will we have to await and resolve because there is not much left? Unless they are lying and they are preparing season 10 as an answer for the leaks event.
>I admit, in some ways I could even like the school better over what they could have done, because it just felt wonky to me to have the pillars in equestria alive in the modern day, and I think if they played a larger role they would've been more of a problem from a plot standpoint (hey, you know all these old mysteries and spells that we have always attributed over the years to these old figures, well we can ask them right now!).
this season has tried somehow to fix this with two episodes, which is not much considering that they are living history but this show somehow manages to make everything integrated. As if anything that was special at first, the spark of novelty and mystery gets lost as soon as it enters to the current timeline dynamic. We are used to seeing epic characters and epic situation for more epic content but here, it goes in reverse. What it´s epic, it becomes the routine and what it seems boring, it drives to an unexpected adventure.FiM plays a lot with that
>I was even blow away
>this opinion could easily change, but this is my first impression
well, that´s nice to hear that one can enjoy it after 8 years on the ride

I wanted to add some extra thoughts about this season and I think this will speak for the political side of this material analyzed.

MLP- Friendship is Magic
Season 8- Guide Book for a Civilized Contemporary Society

There is a very peculiar pattern from this show that could be really exploited in order to judge it and we seem to have seen it in that way: politics.

MLP has entered into politics as /mlpol/ predicted...just that it isn´t the simple way like the US elections in 2016, where the SJW and progressive forces would win in the end. Here, the show has taken a political path that goes beyond the cliches expected, it takes an universal view about our society.

Not saying that this show is profound or that deep nor groundbreaking to create an important influence. In fact, one great achievement is that it doesn´t always take itself too seriously and it rotates the message with tons of humor, mundane character interactions, legends and myths, a school setup and tons of different characters.
Yet, whenever you watch it, while here we have described the message hidden, it subtly displays it while you are comfortably watching it and you feel good for finding an escape to the usual routine. FiM has survived tons of challenges and this one is no exception: they have managed to find a natural dynamic to blend its universe and send a realistic message that represents a certain sector of any audience that is easily interpreted as such for the viewer.

If you notice the episodes, they vary from:
-Punch in the face and question the education system (School Daze)
-How parasites act and take advantage of good people (Father Knows Beast)
-How to grow up and say hi to your unavoidable maturity (Molt Down)
-How you take responsibility and run a business you may not be an expert (Fake it until you make it)
-How to overcome your fears,alone and in company, staying together (What Lies Beneath)
-How you act when you see a family member change and prefer one over you (Maud Couple) or even struggle at the beginning of it (Breakup Breakdown)
- How an excess of elitism can drive to grave dangers after a while (Non Compete Clause)
-How you should have your own voice and control it in different situations(Sounds of Silence, On the Road to Friendship)
-Remind yourself that you have to refresh and find charm over your old friendships because they also get consumed (The End in Friend)
-How competence works, disloyal even (Friendship University)
-How you are willing to accept and sacrifice yourself in order to learn about other culture (Yakity Sax) or universal values (the entire students arc)
-When the system works, even when it´s theoretically perfect, one can create a monster and be aware of ourselves (Cozy Glow arc)
-How you adapt yourself into a modern society despite having a relevant name that hardly matters anymore (A Rockhoof and A Hard Place), learning new things that you didn´t take into account (Starswirl)
-How to accept that your parents will love you in any situation because you are his child and they have raised you(Surf and or Turf, Parent Map)
-How loneliness can drive you crazy if you don´t control it (Mean 6)
-How even the elders take part on anything mundane despite their distant exclusive title (Horse Play)
-How to accept your annoying friend/partner and order him a few productive activities for the system (A Matter of Principals)
-How one should be aware and take responsibility about the power your society has (School Raze).

This could all be projections from a personal view and overanalysis of a little children show.
Did I say little children? The fact that these lessons can be easily interpreted as a certain social groups, stereotypes, interactions,sacrifices... makes you wonder if that´s the only target audience here.

If this season was so uninteresting, I wouldn´t have written all these paragraphs nor we could have concluded realistic views of them. Yet, that charm still remains without any apparent change, the show is still as cute as ever and the deep messages are brought through subtle gestures, details, obscure lore, attention to certain lines, etc; it rewards the audience who keeps an eye on everything. Then, Hasbro knows that this show is not limited to one single age limit. As we have grown up, the characters and the writers have grown up as well with us. This show has a tomorrow, feels like we are watching a reality show (Coronation Street) but with all the fantastical stuff and magic behind. There could be months between certain episodes.

FiM has definitely stepped, while not into the deepest zone of animation, into a territory that in theory, no one would have put a penny. The real world is as uncertain as the next arc/menace that could happen over there. However, along the way, these lessons are not written in a book/letters like in the past but through experiences, very diverse ones.

Every slice of life episode faces a challenge for characters that should have certain principals or common sense from the start and it only works when everyone looks for the greater good and want to leave something in this world, no matter who you are or even, what you did in the past (sometimes).

I am taking the title of this Unwound album from 1998: Challenge for a Civilized Society. In it, we see ourselves in a world map, how all the globe has enough power to drive ourselves into chaos and blow ourselves by any argument we have.
Here, it´s the same. They could all fight and take over between the races, fighting each one over the other. However, there is just one world for all of us and we have to deal with ourselves one way or another. The magic is lost because diplomacy has become relevant in order to find something magical for all of us.
The show optimistically with a sense of humor, tries to convey and encourage us that it´s possible to move forward and apply values that are universal and bring a common idea of what our past, present and future generations should overcome at anytime,carrying the torch no matter who you are. Keeping our legacy alive for a new event.

That doesn´t mean it forgets the real stuff. It doesn´t rely on magic and rainbows like previous gens opr seasons but psychology, diplomacy, cultural values, experiences, challenges, fears...all kinds of circumstances for convincing us that we should understand us and prevent ourselves to get hurt in the future. Even then,there will be failures that will cost some property damage and have a messed up head. That means this system is flawed but it´s the least worst that we have found and one that the majority can find peace with one self.

Information and lessons for a new generation. The elders represent our ancestors and old historical figures, the protagonists are the adults who are entering into the world and the students will carry the torch and knowledge of those who left us behind.

That´s what I have been thinking during this afternoon, a show made for the 21st century (mostly the West). Reminding ourselves that each other is all we´ve got here in this universe....and that´s alright.

>>2261
>I was watching your thoughts while downloading the season finale and it seems that you haven´t explicitly disliked any episode so far and that you personal highlight is What Lies Beneath.
>I have to agree with your postive thoughts overall because there is not a single episode that has bothered that much to me.
I think this trend is in part do to my tendency breakdown, perhaps overly, things I like/didn't like in a episode. I rarely ever hate individual episodes themselves but trends across seasons that I pick up on. Also, I try not to pass judgment to quickly on the school and such. I remember twilicorn and when EQG first arose and how everypony thought that was the end in quality and their even was holdouts during season 4 who nagged on about the show being ruined, yet now season 4 is held in a reverence only behind season 1 and 2 by most of that crowd today. (Did you know that during season 2 their were even season 1fags who hated season 2 for it's fanservice and how the show changed, they were much tinier then twilycorn and later hold out groups though). Honestly, I'm still not fully sold on the school idea but I feel like that the season was just above average, mostly okay with a few cool surprises, and some things that were well done.

>JUST NO
I am darker than I let on, arn't I?

>>2274
>MLP has entered into politics as /mlpol/ predicted...just that it isn´t the simple way like the US elections in 2016, where the SJW and progressive forces would win in the end. Here, the show has taken a political path that goes beyond the cliches expected, it takes an universal view about our society.
>Not saying that this show is profound or that deep nor groundbreaking to create an important influence. In fact, one great achievement is that it doesn´t always take itself too seriously and it rotates the message with tons of humor, mundane character interactions, legends and myths, a school setup and tons of different characters.
Good observation. The show realizes that the people who watched it are growing up, while their are still obviously new fans who are little girls and boys there are also tweens and even teens now who grew up with this show from the early days on the hub. Now that I thik about it, they could even count as a third audience group besides the children who have the surface plot and adults who get the fanservice, with perhaps some of the lessons for us too.

>>2275
> This could all be projections from a personal view and overanalysis of a little children show.
Did I say little children? The fact that these lessons can be easily interpreted as a certain social groups, stereotypes, interactions,sacrifices... makes you wonder if that´s the only target audience here.
There is a lot to look into. I'm going to have to give this season a rewatch. It amazig me how sometimes I discover stuff after it's been out for years and me having seen it already. I agree with you on that, ad though perhaps some of it could be projection, I really think that this has more then one layer to it.

>I am taking the title of this Unwound album from 1998: Challenge for a Civilized Society. In it, we see ourselves in a world map, how all the globe has enough power to drive ourselves into chaos and blow ourselves by any argument we have.
Here, it´s the same. They could all fight and take over between the races, fighting each one over the other. >However, there is just one world for all of us and we have to deal with ourselves one way or another. The magic is lost because diplomacy has become relevant in order to find something magical for all of us.
I'd say they've been building up the diplomacy angle for awhile but this season is where it is really starting to show.

>If this season was so uninteresting, I wouldn´t have written all these paragraphs nor we could have concluded realistic views of them. Yet, that charm still remains without any apparent change, t
I know. There are several elements that I could write little mini essays on. Perhaps I get around to it at some point. Even then

>>2283
>I think this trend is in part do to my tendency breakdown, perhaps overly, things I like/didn't like in a episode. I rarely ever hate individual episodes themselves but trends across seasons that I pick up on.
well, trends in writing also matter a lot and in fact, that form of analysis includes if the show goes in the right/wrong direction. I could rate the episodes by little parts and lines as well but I tend to do a global analysis instead in terms of enjoyment and feeling about it.

>I try not to pass judgment to quickly on the school and such. I remember twilicorn and when EQG first arose and how everypony thought that was the end in quality
wise words so the first impressions don´t drive you into rushed conclusions that one might regret in the future. The school for me, felt like another setup that its origins re bit questionable, it served as another setup that my mind didn´t bother as much by the time I watched the 2nd half.

>their even was holdouts during season 4 who nagged on about the show being ruined, yet now season 4 is held in a reverence only behind season 1 and 2 by most of that crowd today.
I knew from the start that season 4 felt like a well rounded season. Very few episodes brought down the quality and it pioneered the seasonal arcs for this show. I will never understand that overpraise or untouchable throne of season 1. I mean, yeah, it´s comfy and it was focused just in Ponyville, it felt private and personal in comparison to these recent seasons. I will say that its second half also has GOAT tier episodes. If MLP repeated a season like that these days, most fans would look at it as uninteresting for the most part.

>(Did you know that during season 2 their were even season 1fags who hated season 2 for it's fanservice and how the show changed, they were much tinier then twilycorn and later hold out groups though).
No way. How the hell is season 2 fanservice? Sure, you can point out Derpy (the most obvious example), the changelings for being edgy by that time and Luna. Season 2 didn´t have those drastic changes for the fans. In fact,Discord was planned by Faust from the start, Luna as well (funnily enough, they didn´t have anything prepared for Celestia until the fans asked for episodes about her....in season 7), and Derpy appeared for a minute or so, the rest of The Last Roundup focused on AJ´s fears of letting down Ponyville.

>I'm still not fully sold on the school idea but I feel like that the season was just above average, mostly okay with a few cool surprises, and some things that were well done.
the school is somewhat questionable but the writers pointed out that they didn´t feel like writing that much about it. Just Hasbro asking for a new toyline whose sales have yet to prove its success or not for such sacrifice.

>I am darker than I let on, arn't I?
Just that watching reactors on YouTube just feels off, unnatural and ruins the experience by having someone else commenting at it. A fan should go for the episodes without anything in the middle between the watcher and the actual series. I had to give my disapproval when I read that.

>>2283
>The show realizes that the people who watched it are growing up, while their are still obviously new fans who are little girls and boys there are also tweens and even teens now who grew up with this show from the early days on the hub.
Indeed, I think Hasbro realized about this fact when they saw where the sales came from. This is why they have changed the way to call their franchises. Instead of saying girls and boys brands, they have called them 1st party brands or something like that in their latest quarterly reports. What I meant with those comments is that whoever watches it, it sends a message to basically everyone in different aspects of life.

>Now that I thik about it, they could even count as a third audience group besides the children who have the surface plot and adults who get the fanservice, with perhaps some of the lessons for us too.
nailed it. It has found a way to mix all of that with so many changes along the way yet it keeps the same spirit after all, it entertains you as if nothing happened. You won´t notice at first sight that it has changed but whenever you try to go deeper, you notice subtle changes that actually matter and no, you don´t have a letter to find it out so the interpretations are more varied with those implied but not obvious signs.

>There is a lot to look into.
indeed, I am not going to lie on that.
>I'm going to have to give this season a rewatch.
in fact, when you have less fears about what´s already produced, you cannot change it because it´s already there. Some fans have changed a lot their opinions over ti...
>It amazig me how sometimes I discover stuff after it's been out for years and me having seen it already.
well, you said it.
>some of it could be projection, I really think that this has more then one layer to it.
FiM doesn´t go in just one direction anymore. It seems like there is a dominant line for any episode but depending on how you get those interactions and little nods, you see it with another eyes that you didn´t notice. I am still confused about what Fake It Until You Make It tried to imply with Fluttershy. I only watched it once but I didn´t get it.

>I'd say they've been building up the diplomacy angle for awhile but this season is where it is really starting to show.
I could say that as soon as the map existed but I would have to be a visionary for that, considering that the show has usually been written in the short term. I could say that they have tried to solve problems for Manehattan, Las Pegasus and pony related places but as soon as the non pony species were included, you can notice that all those friendship problems paid off with this season. Kirin may have been a discovery but if a second episode happened, I would bet that the lesson would consist of improving their relationships or opening up to the world in general.

>There are several elements that I could write little mini essays on. Perhaps I get around to it at some point.
Time will tell...

>>2288
> I will never understand that overpraise or untouchable throne of season 1.
I'd say nostalgia for the time period plays the biggest part, and perhaps the atmosphere surrounding things as well. Along with the worship of Faust.

>No way. How the hell is season 2 fanservice? Sure, you can point out Derpy (the most obvious example), the changelings for being edgy by that time and Luna. Season 2 didn´t have those drastic changes for the fans. In fact,Discord was planned by Faust from the start, Luna as well
It wasn't common, but did exist. Though in a form that was all out I hate Twicorn tier was extremely rare. The most prominent example of any split was Season 1 vs Season 2 Luna, there was a sigificant amount of fans who held out preferring the personality of season 1 Luna... well the fan made one. Of course Woona arose from this but that became more of her filly personality. a lot with ship fics with a more shy less loud luna Their was also a differnce in tone between fics written in season 1 vs season 2, though that was merely a result of whe the writers wrote their fics and it was rare that any absolutely hated season 2. It was a variety of reasons, some just desired a show that wasn't anything more then a what it started out, considered the season more simplistic, and the rest, as crazy as it may sound to some, was a preference for some story element or implication of season's one world over perceived differences in season 2. I did a little searchig around, but I didn't find too much referencing this split. From the mlpforums I did find some expressing a preference for season 1 or for the show to be more simple but they weren't quite season 1fags. This is the only place I could find any season 1 fans in my two hours or so of searching and is the most relevant to what I mean: https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/14986/on-a-plurality-of-equestrias
Though even then, I do remember a few times someone saying the show just wasn't the same for them now and a bit more negative the the commentators there but that was on 4chan if my memory serves me right and I"d be lucky to find anything from some random thread from years ago that I barely remember.

Anyway, it's amazing to me how they are treated now, being lumped together. Season 1 and Season 2 used to be treated as different eras by many in the fandom, with different many considering to be different characteristics to fan works that separated the too (though it varied in fanworks on how true a split actually was).

>Just that watching reactors on YouTube just feels off, unnatural and ruins the experience by having someone else commenting at it. A fan should go for the episodes without anything in the middle between the watcher and the actual series. I had to give my disapproval when I read that.
Totally agree. it isn't my first choice, but my computer doesn't stream HD well at all, it's somethig I try to avoid

>>2296
>forgot second pic

>>2289
>FiM doesn´t go in just one direction anymore. It seems like there is a dominant line for any episode but depending on how you get those interactions and little nods, you see it with another eyes that you didn´t notice. I am still confused about what Fake It Until You Make It tried to imply with Fluttershy. I only watched it once but I didn´t get it.
Certainly agree. I actually didn't fully grasp that oe either and have only seen it once, funny enough.

>nailed it. It has found a way to mix all of that with so many changes along the way yet it keeps the same spirit after all, it entertains you as if nothing happened. You won´t notice at first sight that it has changed but whenever you try to go deeper, you notice subtle changes that actually matter and no, you don´t have a letter to find it out so the interpretations are more varied with those implied but not obvious signs.
Oh man, makes me want to sit down and watch all seasons and take notes. If I actually complete that task in the hiatus expect one long thread.

>in fact, when you have less fears about what´s already produced, you cannot change it because it´s already there. Some fans have changed a lot their opinions over ti...
Agreed.

I think we know who Cozy Glow really is.

>>2296
>I think we know who Cozy Glow really is.
not sure if Discord would have turned him into Cozy but it makes sense.
Cozy Glow knows way too much for a filly of that age. I mean, not that there could be intelligent kids with admirable minds but that twisting brain about putting the things into her perspective, that makes you question where she came from.

If we knew her backstory, she would be much less impressive, this is why the writers only showed her actions and not her motivations....

>>2317
oops meant to >>2310

anyway
>>2298
>I actually didn't fully grasp that oe either and have only seen it once, funny enough.
I only saw it once and I was left with a wtf conclusion. Thankfully, I watched Grannies Gone Wild immediately after and my mind stopped thinking about it.

I haven´t reviewed it over here and I wouldn´t know how to project it.Like Yakity Sax, I have to put a bigger effort on a questionable episode like that before commenting stupid things just because of the first impressions. So, maybe I will have to rethink about it. For now, I cannot give an answer for that.

>akes me want to sit down and watch all seasons and take notes. If I actually complete that task in the hiatus expect one long thread.
wow. I would have to tip my hat and put that thread in the headline of the NMAIE general if you went that way. That would take you time,a lot actually. I have fortunately watched the 2nd half and I had to push myself a bit.

FiM, while I love it, it costs me a little bit of effort because my mind doesn´t rememeber it as greatly as I did back then and then, I end up proven wrong...almost all the times.

Again, I would tip my hat if you put that bonus passion of 7 years on your back,keeping loyally the love for it.

>>2296
>I'd say nostalgia for the time period plays the biggest part, and perhaps the atmosphere surrounding things as well.
yeah. You had to be there to feel the explosion and how things were shaping a defined form along the way.

>it isn't my first choice, but my computer doesn't stream HD well at all, it's somethig I try to avoid
I think there were sites in which they let for 480p but not sure if the sites linked here provide that low quality. Anyway, I just said that because going into that route ruins the experience undeservedly.

>The most prominent example of any split was Season 1 vs Season 2 Luna
>a lot with ship fics with a more shy less loud luna
yeah, Woona and the real Luna with the mane completely restored. I remember a few threads that were around season 5 or 6 saying that new Luna was written as too stupid for their taste, so they considered S1 Luna too pure to be appreciated. I wonder how you can imply one character that looked like Fluttershy and barely had any/ no lines before her redesign (that was made by Faust). To me, that consideration was too stupid but that fandom created backstories for background ponies (Lyra likes humans for sitting in a bench). I guess that was the dumb part of having too much creativity.

>Their was also a differnce in tone between fics written in season 1 vs season 2, though that was merely a result of whe the writers wrote their fics and it was rare that any absolutely hated season 2.
consdering that the first and last episodes were that good, I highly doubt anyone could dislike it. I can understand the hate for some episodes (Baby Cakes, Dragon Quest, Mare Do Well although I don´t mind this one) but in general, it deviates very little from the achievements of season 1 in comparison to the material followed by it(with a few exceptions like A Canterlot Wedding or Lesson Zero)

>some just desired a show that wasn't anything more then a what it started out, considered the season more simplistic, and the rest, as crazy as it may sound to some, was a preference for some story element or implication of season's one world over perceived differences in season 2.
the lines you are describing are very funny in hindsight because not only the seasons now carry on and build story elements but also bring that sense of simplicity. What makes the episodes complex are the subtlety and continuity of certain events/actions. Sounds of Silence is simple yet it does embraces the political correctness solution to arguments. Not much difference from Over a Barrel for example. The show still manages to do both desires at the same time surprisingly enough despite all the ride behind it. There were a lot of fears for the show´s direction back then.