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Episode 7. "Dragonshy": Shrinking Violets Snap Dragons


Sunny Fox

2,218 views

Listen here, Mister! Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you get to be a bully. You may have sharp scales, snort smoke and breathe fire, but you do not, I repeat, you do not hurt. My. Friends! – Fluttershy

This episode is the first in the series to focus mainly on Fluttershy. After being made aware of a thick cloud of smoke covering Equestria, her attempts to inform other ponies in town are hampered by her soft voice and shy demeanor. The louder and more boisterous Rainbow and Pinkie keep drowning her out as RD tries to break a ball bouncing record and Pinkie plans a party to celebrate the achievement. Before Flutters can get through to anypony, Twilight makes the announcement for her. The smoke is coming from a dragon who has arrived in Equestria for a short nap… which by dragon standards is 100 years. I wonder why Mayor Mare is nowhere to be seen; she should be there to try prevent panic, as she did during the cattle stampede in“Applebuck Season”. Since Twilight came to town, poor Mayor Mare has become superfluous.

The Mane 6 have been tasked with getting the dragon to leave, and so they suit up, in an amusing montage that also serves as a shout-out to The A-Team. Fluttershy does her best to avoid going along, but Twilight declares that her ability to talk to animals will be indispensable. Rainbow Dash is skeptical, saying that Flutters is scared of her own shadow, which Flutters proves to be. As they continue on, Flutters continues to be the load. First she hesitates to climb the mountain, and when Rainbow reminds her that she can just fly up, one of the sleeping dragon’s snorts frightens her so much that her wings lock up, forcing Applejack to find a detour for her. This is good news for Pinkie, but bad news for Rarity, who loses a straight 36 times in Tic-Tac-Toe (or noughts and crosses, if you prefer).

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Hey Rarity, let’s play Tic-Tac-Toe, One-in-a-Row (winner goes first). I’ll start!

After they regroup, they almost get buried in an avalanche. However, it doesn’t seem so much that the avalanche is set off by Flutters shouting as it is by everypony sighing too loudly in relief that her shout didn’t cause one. Rainbow still continues to be uncharitable about it though.

Finally, they arrive at the dragon’s cave, and Twilight lays down the plan… Rainbow will clear the smoke away with her wings, Applejack will have some edible ammunition on hoof to buck at him if he attacks, and Pinkie will distract him with a rubber chicken. None this should be needed, however, since Twilight will first try persuasion. She asks Fluttershy for her advice, only to find her hiding behind Applejack

Flutters finally admits that she is scared of dragons, making the entire reason for her being there entirely pointless. Despite the best efforts of the others to embolden her, she doesn’t manage to overcome her fear.

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Here, we have a rare glimpse of the shy and reclusive Pony-tailed Flutterhen...

So Twilight goes in again and finally meets up with the dragon, a big red lizard in the tradition of Smaug, lying on a bed of gold and jewels. Her reasonable explanation and request are rejected, with the dragon ignoring her and going back to sleep. Next up is Rarity, who does pretty well at first, flattering and charming the dragon. She is within in an inch of convincing him when she puts a hoof in it by offering to keep an eye on his treasure for him… predictably, this doesn’t go down well, and he snatches back all the treasures. Then Pinkie tries to win him over with a humorous costume, and is defeated off-screen, coming back rather the worse for wear.

Finally, Rainbow has had enough, and displaying more courage than brains, tells the dragon straight up to get out and gives him a double hoof to the snout. Enraged, the dragon roars at her loudly enough to send her rolling out the cave entrance, knocking down the others like nine pins. Finally coming out of his cave, he sends the group smashing into a rock with another roar, breaking off the top half of the rock to reveal Fluttershy.

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Avast, Fluttershy's Rump!

The sight of her friends in a groaning pile finally lets her break through her fear of the dragon, and she proceeds to give him a talking to of epic proportions. Using The Stare™ for the first time, she overrides his objections (“But that rainbow one kicked me…”) and ends up making the poor fellow cry. The others seem quite okay with the rain of dragon tears… shouldn’t those be boiling hot or made of acid or something? Realizing that he isn’t really a bad dragon, just one who made a bad decision, Fluttershy reverts to her kinder self, soothing him and telling him nicely that he needs to find somewhere else for his nap. As her friends gather to congratulate her on standing up to the dragon, he takes to the air… leaving behind all his treasure. Nothing is ever mentioned what became of it, so possibly it’s still lying there.

Back in Ponyville, the pegasus ponies clear the last of the smoke away, Twilight writes her letter to Celestia, and Rainbow returns to her record attempt… which is ruined once again by Pinkie roaring like a dragon, scaring RD into dropping the ball. Fluttershy tells RD not everypony can be as brave as she is, only to be scared catatonic by a leaf falling on her. Cue the everypony laughs ending.

This being the first Fluttershy centric episode, she takes center stage. While she is not my favorite of the Mane 6 by any means, this episode is still really enjoyable. The references to the A-Team and fainting goats are fun to see. It’s also good to learn a bit about dragons. Although at first he seems animalistic, it’s made clear that even adult dragons are thinking, reasoning beings, who can even be quite emotional at times. Fluttershy shows that despite her fears and shyness, when you get her going, she can be a real powerhouse. Rainbow Dash is quite harsh towards her, which is strange considering they do have a history going back to when they were fillies in Cloudsdale. Even Twilight gets a moment or two of being harsher than perhaps is necessary, like being a killjoy while they were going up the mountain (“Girls! This is no laughing matter!”) Applejack shows her calm and motherly side, being willing to go to great lengths to help Fluttershy along. It might have been interesting had RD and AJ’s roles been reversed in this episode.

This episode also provides a bit of an insight into the relationship between Fluttershy and Angel Bunny. Many fans hate this little bunny for abusing Fluttershy, but their interactions are a bit more complicated than that. It’s indicated that Angel Bunny is sometimes exasperated by his owner, who tends to baby him. It’s more like a spoiled child’s relationship to a meek mother than it is abusive. Angel is also shown to be rather mischievous, causing trouble for Spike. I may make a blog entry examining Angel in detail at some point.

Pros: More depth to Fluttershy; Fluttershy actually acting cool; some funny moments, like Rarity’s failing at the last moment, and the dragon’s wounded expression when Fluttershy is chewing him out; the reference to fainting goats.

Cons: The relationship between RD and Flutters was sourer than expected; some loose ends, such as what happened to the treasure, and why Mayor Mare was absent.

 

Final Rating

5 – Celestia Rank: A great episode. It will be re-watched frequently.
4 – Luna Rank: A good episode, but with one or two problems that prevent it from being great.
3 – Spike Rank: An average episode. Positives and negatives are balanced.
2 – Discord Rank: Worth watching once. After that, turn it to stone and put it in the garden.
1 – Nightmare Moon Rank: Send it to the moon!

Stay sunny side up!

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the dragon would have taken his hoard of treasure. maybe in a huge bag or something but i don't think he would leave it. it's his food supply.

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