Declen

It's, maybe, a major problem of the show: we've never really seen, for instance, Her Highness actually do any ruling job. Not to mention Princess Woona or Me Amore Cadenza.

Guess what, that's exactly what I sayd back then.

Well. I thoght the same thing couple days ago, when watching some SilverQuill review.Still, Twilight's fearlesness in "Castle-Mania" can be an indication for her fitness into the role of a princess. Not to mention all those speculations that her horn grew bigger. So, maybe we have seen princess Twilight at some level in the last episodes, too.

First of all, happy new year everybody! The meta-idea of the episode "Bats!" is as simple as an orange: if you have any problems with nature, don't use unnatural solutions. Or it will always backfire. That's unfortunate, but very expectable. Nowadays the totalitarian green ideology seems to dominate our civilization. Funny thing, that MLP:FiM, trying to propagate this ideology, shows how essentially weak and emotionally-based it is. At the beginning of argument, we are shown, that Fluttershy's view of creatures in question is highly idealized: she depicts them as cute as possible. Her standpoint is simple: live them be, because they are living beings. Which is highly normal for a person like Fluttershy, but has nothing to do with the current problem. And thus she tries to score points for them on emotional level. After the radical attempt to exterminate this specific population of vampire-bats goes south Fluttershy suggests giving them a part of orchard as a reserve. But when we think about it, her so called "solution" isn't a solution at all, so, it won't work. When you settle a population into an ideal environment with plenty of food and no mutual foes, it will multiply through procreation until there not enough food for everyone. In a normal situation, be it a national park or Petri dish, individuals will compete for the food and losers will starve to death or get too weak to procreate. In our case, however, they will just expand, means, take over the rest of the orchard. Applejack will have the same problem only in a much larger scale. Because then there will be much more of them. Too bad, the little girls, who watch this show won't see it. And the argument of "more seeds for more productive trees" is just ridiculous. I refuse to believe, that Applejack could buy it. The problem of seeds in the orchard plantation is pretty much non-existent for many reasons. The most important ones are that you need several years to grow a tree and you can plant only as many trees as much acres you have. Generally, the idea "don't use unnatural solutions, or they will always backfire" is a shameless exaggeration. Which is not unexpected for a totalitarian ideology. First of all, agriculture is unnatural on itself. But it is that unnatural practice that allows 300 million people to live on the territory, where only 2 million people use to live 500 years ago. Also, we have to admit, sometimes, those radical solutions backfire. But we must look at both sides of the equation. When we use insecticides, like DDT, they collect in the liver of Antarctic penguins. Which is unfortunate: penguins are cute. But when we ban them, we get 2 million deaths from malaria annually on our hands. But no, green activists don't want to hear it: penguins are cute and those suckers dying from malaria can go to hell. Another thing is that "sometimes" doesn't mean "always". But it is what green activists believe: it's unnatural, so, it must be bad. We don't know how exactly, but it must. So, they try to ban golden rice that can save lives of more then a half million children dying each year from vitamin A deficiency. Because, you know, it's genetically modified, so, it must be bad somehow. And to hell with all those children. It looks like all that fighters for animal rights just hate humanity. Which reminds me, that Hitler was a veggie, too. And what we see in "Bats" episode? Fluttershy, the known caretaker of animals, becomes a creature she wanted to protect: an ugly monster. She doesn't act like, sapient being, doesn't recognize her friends anymore and has only one drive in her life: thirst. If that's not a picture that speaks for itself, then I don't know what is.

Uhm... sorry? You have to disagree with whom? Or with what?

In the recent FIMpression video, Tommy_Oliver (aka BronyCurious) stated, that in the contrary to the moral of the latest episode, Spike is commomly treated by writers as a "useless sidekick who is there just for comic relief". But when I recall the major adventure episodes, Spike either doesn't participate in the adventure (as in "FiM, part 2") or gives much needed help (as in "The Cristal Empire, part 2"). I also can't remember any comic relief moments provided by Spike in those episodes (from what I conclude they either weren't funny at all, or never appeared). As to other episodes, they differ in Spike's role in them. In Twilight-centred episodes, where Spike could be a sidekick, he rather takes an opposite perspective of things contrasting the one of Twilight. It underlines Twilight's standpoint playing selfishness vs. nobility in "Winter Wrap Up", or sanity vs. paranoia in "Lesson Zero" or being too careless vs. to worried (with Pinkie's healthy approach in the middle) in "It's About Time". In episodes starring Spike himself he can't be a sidekick by definition - or I have a wrong idea of what a sidekick is. In other episodes his part is rather insignificant to interpret it one way or another. At least as far as I remember. So, what do you think? Does Spike have the unfortunate role of a sidekick?

Would you mind to give some explanation to who or what that Super Saiyan is?

1. Because they aren't very old. The aproximate mental age of Rarity is about 23, and she is the oldest one. Girls in their early twentees often behave "completely infantile", so, no problem here.2. "Always" could mean "for the last two weeks, since I've found this book". Being asocial to the begining of the series, Twilight have soon found joy in social activities with her new friends. 3. I don't suppose, you can proof they are "out of character". For that, one has to find patterns of their behaviour established in previous episodes that are incompatible with that in "Look before you sleep". And there are not many patterns to find in general. That means, what we've seen in LBYS couldn't be mischaracterisations but new sides of their characters. 4. And yes, Twilight has developement in that episode. You just missed it. If you think of what actually was going on there, you will get it. 1. You mean Iron Will? I don't see it like he was blamed. At least not alone.2. That is of course a problem. But we haven't seen much interaction with common ponywillians before, so we can't say for sure they weren't that way before. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon (and the problem of bullying in general) didn't appear from thin air, after all. 3. "Beeng assertive doesn't meam beeng a jerk" - how this moral is faulty? 4. No. Fluttershy wasn't out of character here. We've seen such behaviour of her before. It's called "Flutterrage". Iron Will just tought her to self induce and control that stage of her psyche. 1. I don't mistake her for her clones - she acted like a mental patient right from the start. Polsky portrays her as so obscessed with having fun, that she - unable to decide what she should participate in - clones herself. If that's not a degradation in your eyes, than we talk about two different Pinkies. Pinkie I know - Pinkie from episodes "Swarm of the Century" and "It's about time" - is very capable of planning and making decisions. Also, she is rather into spreading fun than having it at all cost. Yes, it is. Because however great it could be as a philosophical problem in general (especially if you're familiar with Stanislav Lem's works), it has no place in this particular episode. That clones weren't full mental clones of Pinkie (like those in Battlestar Galactica), so there were visible differences between the original and copies. And the fact, that even closest friends couldn't easily distinguish her from them is another example of Pinkies degradation by Pilsky in this episode. What is there to tell? It was clear they met a wrong pony right in the moment they met her. Since then the story became completely predictable, ergo, completely boring.

I respectfully disagree. "Look before you sleep": perfectly executed closed-box drama episode with good character developement. Especially of Twilight Sparkle. "A Bird in the Hoof": remarkable episode - maybe only episode where Fluttershy works in her element; her relationship with Angel gets more spottlight; and not forget all the "Trollestia" thing actually started from this episode. As for loony-toonish humour - I don't feel it affects episode somhow badly. "Putting you Hoof Down": I don't see what they could do better. The idea was great; the execution was convincing; all characters were in place. In my opinion it's a perfect episode. I haven't rate all episodes of 2-nd season, so "Baby Cakes" may not be a great episode, but it isn't bed. Well, I'd say, noone can degrade Pinkie Pie more than her does. "Too many Pinkie Pie" has only one moment that saves it from being planely bed: when Pinkie doubts herself if she is the right one and not the clone. But even this was a miss in the perspective of the whole episode. It's solid like a railway: you stay at the departing station and already see where it goes - right up to the horizon.

From my perspective of an insensitive consumer I must say: if a writer's work gets misunderstood by the huge number of the audience, whos problem is that? Not of the audience. So, he should write clearer, if he wanterd to be understood. And I'm not even sure he did want to.

In case you haven't read it already, here you might find some possible answers.As for "Daring Don't", my explanation was that ritual should make a magnifying glass to overhit the aria. I don't believe that some ritual could overtake control of the sun and Her Highness wouldn't even know about it. She is in charge of the sun, after all.

There is a difference between audience and fans.

Compare two episodes: "Cutie Pox" and "Magical Mystery Cure". In "Cutie Pox" Apple Bloom gets multiple cutie marks. And each cutie mark gives her the ability to do a corresponding activity perfectly. Despite she never even tried most of them before. But she remembers who and what she really is, and why does it happen to her. In "Magical Mystery Cure" we see just the opposite. Ponies have got somepony else's cutie marks, but it didn't affect their skills. The majorly sucked at what they tried to do. But they believed what they do is what they had to do, what they were ment to do. And for some reason they called it "destiny", although the word "duty" were more apropeate. So, change of cutie marks affected their self-perception according their place in life and socium. How do cutie marks actually work? My guess is that cutie mark is a sort of control mechanism for the purpose of social harmonization. In both episodes it became broken, with one aspect of it enormously inhenced and another completely supressed. Normally, cutie mark does a little bit of both: it slightly inhences ponie's skill and makes him/her convinced that the occupation in question is his/her "destiny", say "social duty". I've planned to write a text called "Equestria as a socialist utopua" where I would talk more about this.

My biggest problem with Snips and Snails is the purpose the were created for. They appear in "Boast Busters" for one reason - to show that only idiots can be Trixie's fans. And tha was CHEAP. I'm not a Trixie's fan myself, I just think such tricks are distasteful in general.

That guy managed to write maybe the worst episode ever - "Spike at your service". That speaks for itself, doesn't it? He haven't write any episode I consider perfect - and Charlotte Fullerton or Cindy Morrow have written two such episodes each in the first season alone! Polsky's best episode is "Keep Calm and Flutter On" - but it should be longer. Discords reformation wasn't built up. Besides that one, "Over a Barrel" is only decent episode written by Polsky. And, considereing "Over a Barrel" and "too many Pinkie Pies" I tend to believe he has something personal against Pinkie Pie. As for the latest episode:

What is about that guy?He seems to express his feelings freely.

Sorry, couldn't hold myself: "Holy crap, I didn't know my eyes could glow!" "My rose was red how it turned pink? And now I mad, so kick the apples!" And "Suddenly an opera; this song gives me vertigo. Animation error with my eyes."

Nope.What is with that guy?

How it doesn't contradict the cannon?

I must say, I completely agree with Tommy Oliver on this one. This episode seems to be bad written and unnecessery, and ruins much more of general concepts of MLP:FiM than brings to it. When I watched this episode, I waited for another plot twist: the whole thing would be a live-RPG in wich A.K. Yearling, "henchponies" and Ahuizotl participate altogether. And A.K. Yearling would novelize afterwards it to get money for further games. That would be funny. Also: Technically, you're right, but it doesn't really change anything. Paparazzi became cannon long ago. And they aren't really better than henchmen. I fail to see why it was needed in the first place. And your mention of "Wonderbolt Academy" reminded me that we've already been there. That's my biggest problem with the whole thing. It contradicts the cannon. Although it can be explained like that ritual wouldnt make the sun hotter but instead create some sort of lens to focus the light of sun at sertain area and overhit it. Another example that Dave Polsky just doesn't give a flying frak about continuity

No, it doesn't. I like it. I'm russian, if that matters.

If I summarize stories of every episode in the series, the summary of this episode will probabily be the shortest one. "The Mane Six separately decide to visit the Old Castle of Royal Sisters. They spend a night there unintentionally scaring each other until princess Twilight Sparkle finds and stops them." That's it. It was executed well and funny - in my eyes. On the other hoof, I don't remember any particularely funny gag. Exept of bees going by a whistle. That was kinda awesome but had nothing to do with the main action. What's more important, despite being sure, that the similar plot was used in several other shows, I've never actually seen any one of them. So, I just have nothing to compare, ergo, IDK how actually good or bat it was executed Also, the story setup looks kinda forced. Of all ponies, Twilight was only one who had a ligitimate reason to be there in that time - thanks to the mysterious six-locked box. Rarity's reason was very noble and I genuinely liked it (having passion for history myself). But why now? The Castle of Royal Sisters staied abandoned for thousend years, Mane Six visited it in the pilot episode and haven't showed any further interest for it ever after. And suddenly this spark of interest for archeology. Fluttershy came along with Rarity ("She is with me!" - that was adorable!), and stayed becouse Angelbunny ran away. Again. I just ask myself, why did she take him along in the first place? She knew right from the start it could be dangerous. Starspider season, you know (whyever it might be a problem). Pinkie Pie came for a usual Pinkie reason - because why not? Pinkie's behavior is always easiest to explain, huh? AJ & RD - well, they just did the same thing as in "Fall Weather friends". A propos. All characters behaved very expectedly. Wich means there were no mischaracterisations, but no character developement either. All stayed in already established roles and did it well. Wich means my sympaties went authomatically to Rarity & Fluttershy. The seems to be one exeption, though. Twilight Sparkle looked very fearless - maybe too fearless. Like a true leader should be. Personally, I'm not sure if she wasn't that much fearless before. Anyway, in this episode they pointed at her fearlesness clearly and directly. And that may feed some fears of her becoming mary sue. All in all it's a good solid episode, but no more than that (4th rank in my ranking system).

I have to say, I liked the very first scene of the episode very much! The actual real birdies flying around crushed Dashie's head - that was a good one! Unfotunately, that's pretty much it, what I liked about this episode. Daring Do is real and writes adventure stories about herself. So what? I personally never cared about Daring Do one way or another. Besides, we all know it's not how things really work in that business. Actually, whole the time I expected another plot twist: all Rainbow Dash had witnessed would be nothing but a role play game. The liveRPG wich Daring Do would novelize (write a novel based on) afterwards. That would be interesting. But no, they decided to make the whole adventure thing authentic. As it turned out, to let Rainbow Dash help Daring Do and proof to herself that she no less awesome than her idol. Well, I guess, it is a good lesson... wait a minute!!! Since when did Dashie even had that issue?!! IDK, maybe I was more stupid today, than usual, but I didn't see it was established. All I noticed, Dashie started to talk to herself and punch her face for some reason. Last time somepony behaved that way it ment a serious mental disorder. So, it just left me confused: did Rainbow Dash get crazy? The rest was filled with references to fandoms (in general) and Indiana Jones. For some reason they didn't engage me. Maybe I just didn't get it. But on the other hoof it's an episode written by Dave Polsky. Nuff sayd.

Feeling Pinkie Keen So, no. Magic is a form of science in Equestria. Comon knowledge. Wlee, I agree. It's completely off-topic.

You repeat youself. And your logic is flowed.If you, let's say, armrestle with somebody, and to win you take steroids (or something, I don't really know that kind of stuff). And now you say, that because steroids helped you to win, they are stronger than humans. Steroids on themselves. That sounds absurd. D&D has nothing to do with equestrian lore.The canon is thar Royal Sisters are deity-like creatures - not just some "mix" - who live for millenia and maintain luminaries. They are not omnipotend, but it doesn't mean that they can be defeated by first best sucker just because he is a "pure" unicorn.