"Well, it's decent chaos, I don't know if I'd call it total."

"Starlight. You got us this far with just my illusions and Discord's annoying personality. You don't need magic to figure out what to do next. I know you're afraid to be in charge, but you are really good at it! Listen to your best friend."

Two part episode, two part blog. Why not? Welcome to part two, the ramblier, wishy-washier conclusion to my "To Where and Back Again" review...if you can call it that. *clicks 'play' button*

Now is where we get to the "appeasing the fandom" bit of my title. As much as I love Discord's relationship with Fluttershy, his protectiveness over her is a bit exaggerated, especially when you consider what he's done in the past (see: season 4 finale). I feel like this is the fandom's influence manifesting itself. This isn't a huge issue, though, as they writers didn't go too far with it...I'm just nitpicking. At least his standup is getting better...sort of. The whole "I'm the real Fluttershy" scene was cool, and I'm glad he didn't immediately fall for the oldest trick in the book. He still got captured, though, and I feel like he could have talked his way out it, but whatever. He's not used to being sans-magic, so I guess it's understandable that he wasn't quite prepared. Speaking of characters being out of their elements...

I was pleased to see that Trixie's gotten brave, and wise, and even sort of selfless now that she has a friend. I was surprised that this sudden change didn't bother me. It actually didn't feel too contradictory to her previously established character, probably because we've really never seen her in a situation like this one before. She was still the scared, whiny Trixie we know, but now the stakes are high and she's getting serious. Nice!

And now we enter the throne room, meaning it's time for a bunch of play-by-play rambling, because everything that happened after this point was just one big "what?" after another. Obviously, spoiler warning.

...The episode wraps up, and aah, all back to normal again. I liked the moral (?) of this story about reluctant leaders, and find it relatable and important, but the story itself just felt forced, and broke so, so many headcanons that were practically accepted as canon by the community after sitting on the shelf for years, untouched. I refer back to what I said in part one of my blog--the whole setup of this story feels forced and lazy.

Still, I guess I did enjoy this episode...I just hope season 7, if we can expect another season, will be a little more consistent with their lore and the development of their characters. Now THAT would be the best way to appease this fan...instead of giving us background ponies, pop culture references, and shipping fodder, please just stay consistent with characters' development and lore instead! (Or do both, but really, consistency is more important.)

If a story idea doesn't work because of how easily it could be resolved, either find a believable way around it, or change your story! Don't be lazy with important details--I'm looking at you, magic rock throne!

Well, that's all for now. Thanks for reading my mad ramblings. What did you think of this two-part finale, and season 6 in general? Agree? Disagree? Tell me your perspective in the comments.

*When Thorax's green hooves first appeared, I thought he had turned into a pony and was ready to be really surprised and rethink everything I ever thought about Changelings. I think that would have been a really cool, weird plot twist...like, if changelings were ponies who had been cursed somehow, or fell from grace, and could be healed by sharing their love once more...like the inverse of Crystal ponies--ponies who had become mindless and evil through jealousy and selfishness
...I considered of all this in the fraction of a second between hooves appearing and the pan-up to Thorax's full form. *sigh*.