Okay, so I've never done an episode review before, but considering what happened in Season 6 Episode 7, and the reactions it's been getting by the fandom, I've decided to step up.

Obviously, there are spoilers here, so you'd better watch the episode first. Duh.

Newbie Dash. Now, where to start...

Rainbow Dash has just been told my Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts, that they're going to make her a proper member, and want her to fly in a show in Ponyville.

Let's address how big a deal this is, before we go on.

Rainbow Dash, the athletic pegasus we all know and (some of us) love, the one who has spent her entire life, and six seasons, gushing over how awesome the Wonderbolts are, has just been made a member of her heroes.

This is the same as saying you've spent your whole life idolising an artist or writer, and they recognise your work and want to plug it. Or whatever ambition you chase, and your hero in it has recognised you. Just imagine how that would feel.

That is what Dash had.

Anyway, so we've had the usual Mane Six get together, and Dash is being her usual overconfident self. Which is fine, it's her flaw, and an imperfect character makes a perfect character.

She arrives at the Wonderbolt base, and of course, Drill Sergeant Spitfire is there... and as well as being authoritative, is also being quite friendly with Dash. She recognises her and her talents.

This is some good display of development, along with continuity.

Later on, she's looking at herself in the mirror with her Wonderbolts uniform on. Obviously, she's feeling the pressure, but trying to keep herself calm and focused. Again, totally natural.

Now, I should point out that when Dash first arrived, Spitfire alerted her to 'look both ways before crossing the runway'. Which is fine and dandy - safety first, and all that.

But the problems arise when Dash forgets this rule and she nearly crashes into other Wonderbolts.
Why didn't she remember, some might ask. Well, where she lives, as Doc Emmett Brown once said, "We don't need roads."

In other words, she's never had to look both ways once in her life, so of course a new rule like that is going to fly over her head on the first day.

Anyway, back to the plot. Not that one, you dirty so and so.

So Dash nearly crashes into the Wonderbolts, and she ends up diving into a garbage can out of panic. Fair enough, it happens to the best of us.

And then one of the Wonderbolts (whatever her name is) comes out with "Nice introduction, Rainbow Crash."

Now, anyone who's followed the show since Season One will know the history behind that name, and what it means to Dash. Anyone who hasn't or doesn't know, not to worry, obligatory flashback sequence ho!

Filly Dash tries to make a big first impression, and crashes into a garbage can. Then, kids will be kids, the name starts flying.
And then the teacher starts snickering. That is the most douchebag thing anyone could ever do.

Anyway, snap back to the present, and Dash is looking rather upset.
Also, note that the only one who asks if she's okay is Soarin'. We got a good guy here. Props to pie boy.

I mean, I understand that the Wonderbolts are essentially a military unit as well as a performance team, but sure they could at least show a little concern for one of their own?

Spitfire rationalises that no one was hurt and it's all good, so training starts. Dash lags behind, possibly due to the PTSD she just suffered because it truly makes sense for her to lose focus, and what happens?

"Higher, Crash!"
"Be careful, Crash!"
"Crash, speed up!"

Dash is not a happy little pony right now.

And what happens at the end of the day? She's dubbed the worst flyer of the day and tasked with cleaning up the compound. Pow, right in the self-confidence.

Later on, Dash is visibly upset, and lo and behold, her friends (and the Cutie Mark Crusaders) are there to surprise her!
Of course, Dash being Dash, she tries to hide that she's had a bad day, but her friends see through her right there and then. Like good friends.

Eventually, Dash comes to the conclusion that in order to fit in, she had to fit in the way her friends would.

And here, fillies and gentlecolts, is where the controversy among the fandom starts.

She starts going around the team acting just like her friends, even mimicking their mane styles, which I personally thought was an adorable little touch.

Oh, and Reading Rainboom and Care Mare. I see what you did there.

Obviously, her team isn't impressed with her. Rightfully so, since she's likely being annoying to them.

But here's the point - have you ever had a feeling, especially as a child, where you felt like you had to act different, or dress different, or change yourself in some way so that some people you really like would start to respect you? Even if it was for someone you weren't?

Let me remind you that Rainbow Dash has spent her entire life idolising the Wonderbolts. Borderline worshipping them. And now that she sees that they haven't accepted her right away, along with unknowingly using a trauma-inducing nickname for her, things are looking grim. She's panicking, and trying anything she can think of to get her heroes to accept her.

This, right here, is the big deal of this part.

They even get 'Crash' engraved on her outfit. How is she supposed to feel about this?

Of course, Spitfire comes out with the 'everyone on the team has their own nicknames' thing. Okay, that's fine, it's a thing that happens. But Dash's is a name that has more or less scarred her.

And here's the big issue with everyone - why doesn't she come out and tell them about her childhood trauma?

Let me put it like this.

"Hey, so, you're my heroes and I've loved the Wonderbolts since I was a filly, and after years of training and studying, I've finally managed to become one of you. So, um, do you mind if I just tell you a bit about a psychologically scarring moment in my childhood?"

I understand Spitfire, being the captain, is supposed to listen to such things. And of course, she seems like the character who would genuinely care and put an end to it. But considering how much Dash respects her, do you think she'd really step up to the Wonderbolts - and I don't think I need to remind you how big of a deal they are - and tell them that? To Spitfire of all ponies?

Spitfire to Rainbow Dash is Stephen King or Edgar Allen Poe to any aspiring horror writer. She's the top dog. Dash probably wouldn't think she'd have time or patience to listen.

And another thing - childhood trauma is not easy to let out to other people, even as an adult. Ever.

Anyway, the show is minutes away from starting, and Dash wants Scootaloo to kick a thundercloud toward her so that her final part in the show would make her stand out amongst the Wonderbolts and be respected by them.

I don't think I need to remind you of Dash's mindset right now.

Scootaloo is obviously not that cool with it, but since Dash is the Spitfire to her Dash, she goes along with it.

And after a little Pinkie Pie silliness, we see Dash's plan unfold. Keeping to the status quo, the plan goes awry and she crashes.

The Wonderbolts are not pleased.

It's not until Dash finally admits to feeling embarrassed and undermined that we finally see the reason behind the Crash name they gave her - everyone shares their embarrassing team names and stories behind them.

And we're left in the dark about Spitfire's. Let's leave that to the theorists, shall we?

So now Dash is feeling a little better about it, because she knows it's not personal, it's just a jab at her being the new girl. They were all new at some point, so it's only a little tradition they have.

Episode end.

In a nutshell, the message and the way it was portrayed... yes, it could have been better. Dash was a bit exaggerated in what she was trying to do. But, it's not about how she did it, it's the message itself.

As I mentioned before, there are many kids in the world who feel like they have to change themselves in order to fit in with their peers, lest they be stuck feeling like a social outcast.

And yes, you have to vent out your trauma and stuff so people will lay off. But, again, it's not easy. You can't just walk up to the people you've spent your entire life idolising and just tell them to stop giving you a name because you don't like it. They're going to throw digs at you for being the newbie, that's how the world goes.
Plus, childhood trauma is not easy for anyone to get off their chest. They've lived with that underlying pressure, and it's so personal that it's stuck to them.

Childhood bullying is not a small issue. It's a big problem, and it always has been. It's going to mess up anyone's psyche.

And let's not forget, there's only so much you can fit into a 22 minute episode of a show aimed for children.

Now, if you'll all excuse me, my fingers want to murder me for making them work so hard.