Dark Qiviut

So here we are. After over a year of in-canon hype, Equestria Games finally airs. It's a self-contained episode written by Dave Polsky (who previously wrote Daring Don't, Rarity Takes Manehattan, Twilight Time, and For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils), who wrote one Equestria Games-centered episode once prior in Games Ponies Play. The ponified version of the Olympics offers a ton of creativity and interaction among different cultures, traditions, and characters. With plenty to experience and build, the logical part was to explore various aspects of it, right? No. Instead, Spike was the focus with the Games relegated to the background, resulting in missed opportunities, a broken promise, and a broken conflict that had no business taking place at the Games. Strengths: For the most part, the Mane Six are relatively in character. Whatever they said, did, and behaved were very appropo to their respective personalities and development up to this point. Admittingly, Snowflake and Fluttershy were still out of character, but that's because Rainbow Falls royally screwed up the continuity, and Polsky was stuck with the crap RF left behind. And on the side, it's downright refreshing to see an array of characters beyond just the typical we normally witness. It gives the Equestria Games a subtle parallel to the international mosaic of the real-life Olympics. In particular the royalty suite, where the nobles, ambassadors, and leaders from other cities or countries. More of that…if you guys at Hasbro and DHX have the wherewithal to thrust the opportunities forward. Whichever competitions were shown (ice archery, aerial relay), they were unique and fit the lore of Equestria. On its own, the moral itself — sometimes the one who's most hard on is yourself; take pride in the hard work you endured — is very relatable and mature. You have so many people young and old who feel exactly the same as Spike did in EG. The visuals are quite beautiful (if ignoring the fadeaway dots in the crowd). There's nice detail with great usage of perspective, and the Crystal Empire itself doesn't let up on the high-quality layouts. Despite The Crystal Empire being a weakly told two-parter, the visuals never cease to impress. Some of the comedy works. The hammerspace gag is perfect for the climax, along with others like Dash's "casual" pose as Spike sulks by or Twilight's "Equestria, we have a problem." (Pinkie's "NAILED IT!", though, is very forced.) One of the common problems that's been noticeable lately is the continuing of a flanderized portion of Spike being clumsy or just plain stupid. In one moment, this clumsiness was justified by having him light up the torch. It's one thing to light or burn something on your own or a small group. it's another before a stadium containing anywhere from 40,000 to 100,000 spectators. The abundance of Derpy. Need I say more? Weaknesses (and I have a ton to write about): It's a very common sin, one that Tommy Oliver and other reviewers have called out quite a bit this season: the arbitrary exposition. Instead of establishing the conflict early through organic storytelling, the dialogue tells you exactly what the conflict will be before the first act heads to commercial. By telling right off the bat, you take the fun out of the journey, make the conclusion extremely predictable, and immediately suck investment out from the audience. It was one of Rainbow Falls's quietest yet biggest issues, one that's occurred repeatedly this season. Equestria Games falls for that same trap when Spike tells the Cutie Mark Crusaders he takes a few breaths to calm himself (something he apparently forgot, which is understandable given the sudden rise in pressure). The climax is very contrived. Unicorns are forced to pass through a security system that temporarily disables their magic "to prevent cheating." An Earth pony suddenly trips over his own arrows and accidentally shoots an arrow into the sky, freezing a cloud that somehow hung over the stadium. Because of the security system in check, no unicorn or alicorn is capable of using their magic to dispel the frozen cloud. That leaves Spike to be the one to save the day. Okaaaaayyy… a. So why didn't anyone keep the sky clear during the Equestria Games? That way, that botched shot wouldn't touch the cloud and condense it with ice. Also, just in case something like this does happen, wouldn't some kind of magic shield, force field, or spell dispel any magic that touched anything stray other than the target itself? That way, you continue the competition safely. b. Although Luna and Celestia flew to the frozen cloud to stop it from falling, certainly there was one unicorn or alicorn allowed as security to prevent life-or-death situations like these. If not, then that's very poor security. c. As what @ said earlier, the climax is given to him. He didn't have to work hard; he was there by chance and took advantage. This isn't like For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils, where the Cutie Mark Crusaders play a game of cat and mouse to fix the headdress or TT123 where Twilight used Dash's ability to concentrate while flying to help her study. Through EG's process, the climax is anticlimactic. There's a difference between having Spike being naïve, nervous, and an idiot. Spike not being able to light up the torch and believing he let everyone down was very in character. The fact that he felt down after bumbling the Cloudesdale anthem was in character…until you look at what happened earlier. a. Spike said aloud that he can conjure fire with his mind? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k35aKeaKco Granted, it was reinforced through one instance in Owl's Well (because Spikabuse is SOOOOOOOOOOOO hilarious!), but Spike actually believed he could light up fire for some time? C'mon, man! You just crossed that line from making Spike nervous for a good reason into flanderizing his failures and making him an idiot! b. Speaking of making Spike an idiot, why the HELL would he even want to sing the Cloudesdale anthem when he obviously had no idea what the lyrics were despite claiming he did? Just by the first screwup alone and overall episode pattern, he was obviously going to screw up even bigger than last time. Through the sequences, it merely sets up more fervent embarrassment he had to endure. And worse, his out-of-character actions were written partially for laughs and partially to make you feel bad for him. That scene is called cringe comedy, but done out of the expense of Spike's characterization. Out-of-character comedy isn't good comedy, especially when the comedy is done to undeservingly abuse a child character! (That's one thing Power Ponies deserves credit. At least Spike was treated with some level of respect, as the taunting he received was frowned upon in story.) The moral itself is fine, but there are plenty of problems. a. It was told to Spike in the last two minutes. Spike didn't figure it out himself. While it isn't a copy of the morals being executed in Bridle Gossip, Mare Do Well, Spike at Your Service, or Somepony to Watch Over Me (all bad episodes; don't kid yourself otherwise), EG still follows the same method in context. b. It was shoehorned. While you can relate to him (when bypassing his flanderization mid-episode), the moral itself was very blunt and didn't fit the context of the conflict. c. Like Feeling Pinkie Keen, the moral was poorly worded. Don't know what I mean? Here's the moral: It's so convoluted, it flows through one ear and out the other, seemingly to fill in script space. If it was something like this: Or this: …then you make the moral a bit clearer. (The third needs a bit more editing to make it more optimistic.) At the beginning, several ponies were exercising and lifting weights a few hours before the Equestria Games. This is something you may overlook, but exercising strenuously on the day of the event (particularly a few hours before it starts) can leave you very vulnerable to injury, because your muscles need time to recover. The episode not only breaks the promise of expectations for the Equestria Games, but also doesn't hide it. You want to know what I mean? Focus on the title: Equestria Games. The purpose of titles is to inform people of not just the setting, but also what the plot will be about. For example: a. Wonderbolts Academy, Magic Duel, Maud Pie, Apple Family Reunion, Applebuck Season, The Crystal Empire, A Canterlot Wedding, Winter Wrap Up, The Mysterious Mare Do Well: Self-explanatory. b. Bats!: The plot revolved on the conflict of bats. The exclamation point indicates surprise and how urgent the situation with the bats is. c. Lesson Zero: Twilight needs a lesson of friendship to write to Celestia, yet doesn't have one. d. Hurricane Fluttershy: Focuses on Fluttershy, a weather-centered conflict, and a metaphor of Fluttershy's fragile psyche. e. Green Isn't Your Color: Referencing "green with envy" and the struggle with jealousy. f. Too Many Pinkie Pies: Pinkie Pie along with "too many," a negative phrase. g. Rainbow Falls: Two references: the setting and Rainbow Dash's external conflict. Equestria Games translates to a primary focus on the Games, especially to those who don't review the synopsis or previews. Plenty of bronies watch the episodes blind, and the title indicates a primary focus on the ponified Olympics. And how can you blame them? For fifteen months and through parts of two seasons, the Equestria Games built up hype and expectations. FOUR episodes prior were heavily dedicated to hyping the Equestria Games. Grandiose, athletic, and full of life. Not everyone watches the Olympics (including me personally), but it doesn't alter the fact how important it really is. The Games are symbolic with people coming from all walks of life; they're important to athletes worldwide because they represent the best in their countries. The Equestria Games was a parody of this and built itself up as something more important and grander than the Grand Galloping Gala. How? Again, four episodes focused on the preparation for the Equestria Games. Sure, none of them were good (Flight to the Finish the best one; Rainbow Falls easily the worst), but it still doesn't affect the event's importance. DHX and Hasbro promised to the audience that the Equestria Games (one of three overarching plots this season) was worth watching. Not just through web promotions, but also the episodes themselves (as they each held a very heavy focus). Instead? The overarching plot is a half-assed gimmick for an unnecessary main conflict. This has been a gigantic problem all season: premise over story. CloudCookooCountry's very negative review of EG (and also season 4 collectively) explains this perfectly. EG is shoved in as the premise to create Spike's story, conflict, and moral. You could've used ANY piece of the Games for Spike's story, and it wouldn't change. Hell, Spike's confidence problems could take place ANYWHERE in the canon, and it wouldn't change the story. Just like several other bad episodes this season like Daring Don't, Power Ponies, Bats!, Rainbow Falls, It Ain't Easy Bein' Breezies, and Trade Ya!, it's as if DHX is focused more on the setting or the premise over the story, characters, and overall conflict. When they have the setting prepared, they have plenty of difficulty what to do with the setting and just plug in the overall narrative with hopes of making it work. Why that's the case, I don't know. Either the writers are experimenting and hoping to succeed, Hasbro is mandating them to introduce wilder and clunkier premises to pander to its older audience, a combination of both, or none of the above. In what was the series and web promotions hyped for a grand payoff, the conclusion to this arc contributed nothing to the series. It was a trap simply to sucker the audience and achieve high rankings. We won't know the official results until later this week, but just by the weak writing and unfulfillment of expectations, EG feels like an obvious rating's trap. To echo Tommy Oliver: DHX, why the fuck would you hype up the ponified Olympics and spend more quantity of time on it over the Grand Galloping Gala if the Equestria Games DOES — NOTHING?! Normally, you'd set aside audience expectations and review the quality of the writing itself. But because the build up to the Games's conclusion and expectations are interconnected, it'd be insulting to separate the two. What Equestria Games does is a really big crime in storytelling: build expectations and not capitalize on them. What makes this anomaly stand out more is how these expectations are spat at, as if they mean nothing. That's low. At this point, there are two people to vote "I hated it!" for Equestrian Games; one of them is mine. And it's a shame, too, because the Games offer SO MUCH to explore. You have various ethnicities, the spirit of friendly rivalry, how sportsmanship affects people in other cultures around Equestria and other countries, the styles of events to parallel the Olympics while blending with the lore of the canon simultaneously, the griffons, the security system beyond being a transparent Chekhov's Gun, and interactions in the stands. All of these are much more interesting than the crap featured in this episode. And as fun as fanfic is, it shouldn't be relied on to fill in the gaps. As cool as Spike is, his conflict and bastardization in the second half are out of place, especially one to last for the entire episode. And I know a few people will recognize how plenty saw the previews along with the synopses. That still doesn't nullify the lies Equestria Games exhausts. There are three overarching plots this season: the six keys/Chest of Harmony, the Castle of the Royal Sisters, and the Equestria Games. The Equestria Games is the focus, and Equestria Games is the self-contained finale of the plot. After fifteen long months, the Games take place…only to have it be a backdrop for Spike. The young dragon's conflict had no business lasting this long, if not at all. At most, it should've lasted before the first act concluded. But it lasted way too long, and the Games were rushed through to reach the contrived climax and poorly executed moral. After enormous build-up through parts of two seasons and heavy promotion, Broken Promise: The Episode is a glaring rating's trap to inorganically shove Spike in the spotlight in an unnecessary setting. You could've had Spike be placed anywhere, and you still would've had the same story. It's an underwhelming conclusion with blatant deception, culminating in an overarching plot that doesn't need to exist. Overall, a terrible episode.

Loudly posting about the problems in this show has been one of my specialties. About a month and a half ago, I compiled two large posts detailing some of the bigger problems this show has had, both past and present. (They'll be combined as one in a blog eventually with updates, and I'm seriously considering a long review for season four.) While not all of them bother me personally, they do affect the quality of both the individual episodes and show at large.

Note: For the collection of other "Pick a Flaw" episode threads, head over to the "Pick a Flaw" blog portal (which'll be updated periodically) or check the list at the bottom of the OP. Trixie, one of the most popular characters in the fandom, debuted in this episode. This is only one of two he wrote, but it's by far his most infamous. There's a very deep divide for this episode, with a ton ranking it as one of (if not THE) worst season one episode. Besides Sethisto's passion for Trixie, one could guess the overall execution of Boast Busters is why Trixie is so popular. She's an antagonist and was supposed to be written unsympathetically, but the contrived plot, lazy characterization, flat jokes, Snips and Snails being there, and poor pacing contribute to Trixie being likeable. Combined with undeservingly losing her home, her fanbase grew. So, if you're familiar with these threads, you know the drill. For those who are getting involved for the first time, if there is one thing about an episode that bugs you the most (either because it affects you personally or because it's the biggest flaw in the episode), please click on the option and explain in a post. If it's none of the above, click "other" and explain why. — Today, I don't like this episode one bit because it REALLY sucks. Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the worst episodes in the show (possibly in the top seven). From top to bottom, it's heinously broken, and it chugs itself along hoping to end. This is one of the episodes where the biggest flaw is a tossup. The slow pace; antagonistic characterization of AJ, RD, and Rarity; Snips; and Snails are all equally badly written. What's worse is debatable, so I'm going with the one that affects me most: Applejack, Rarity, and Dash being out of character. One thing about this series is sometimes the episodes can get rather mean-spirited and all but revel in it. (Applebuck Season, Owl's Well, Mare-Do-Well, Putting Your Hoof Down, Squeezy 6000, Ponyville Confidential, Rainbow Falls, Filli Vanilli, and Dragon Quest all come to mind.) They become major jackasses for no reason other than for plot convenience. Trixie is embellishing her talents because it's a stage show; that personality is more or less a part of her act. But with the antagonistic way they were written made them appear very rude and contemptuous. There was no need for them to try to show her up and continue pursuing this unlikeable component of the episode. Quite frankly, they completely deserved to be embarrassed in front of Trixie. Season 1: Friendship Is Magic, Parts 1 & 2 The Ticket Master Applebuck Season Griffon the Brush Off Boast Busters Season 2: The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 Putting Your Hoof Down Dragon Quest Season 4: Simple Ways Filli Vanilli Twilight Time It Ain't Easy Bein' Breezies Somepony to Watch Over Me Maud Pie For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils Leap of Faith Testing Testing 1, 2, 3 Trade Ya! Inspiration Manifestation

Note: For the collection of other "Pick a Flaw" episode threads, head over to the "Pick a Flaw" blog portal (which'll be updated periodically) or check the list at the bottom of the OP. My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is notoriously susceptible to controversy in their published episodes. This is one of the earliest in the form of Griffon the Brush Off. In it, Gilda becomes the first antagonist of the series and is met with a very mixed reception. Combined with other elements, this episode is a mix of really well-liked and really well-hated (plenty from the latter calling it one of the worst in the series). So, it's now up to you. Of the flaws or weaknesses published in the poll above, pick the one that sticks out to you most and explain thoroughly. If it's not one of the choices, pick "other" and explain. The biggest episode flaw is obvious: Gilda. One of Dragon Quest's biggest objective quality flaws is the execution of the teenaged dragons, as they were all very stereotypical, one-dimensional bullies. Gilda shares that common problem, only found very early in the series. To put it simply, she's a gigantic asshole. And a very unlikeable one at that. Her personality is a parody stereotype of dated lingo and cartoonish antagonists susceptible into using it, and it sometimes gets very repetitive. *cough*usage of "lame" and "dweeb"*cough* To make it worse, Gilda's role was very two-faced. While her actions towards Pinkie early were very aggressive, you could argue that Gilda just wanted to spend some time with Dash. (And be honest, Pinkie was being quite intrusive at the start.) Instead of having their personalities clash, have Gilda become fully fledged, and allow Gilda and Pinkie to make amends, the episode pulls the "bully" schtick and puts Pinkie completely in the right for her actions. Season 1: Friendship Is Magic, Parts 1 & 2 The Ticket Master Applebuck Season Griffon the Brush Off Boast Busters (coming soon) Season 2: The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 Putting Your Hoof Down Dragon Quest Season 4: Simple Ways Filli Vanilli Twilight Time It Ain't Easy Bein' Breezies Somepony to Watch Over Me Maud Pie For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils Leap of Faith Testing Testing 1, 2, 3 Trade Ya! Inspiration Manifestation

@, Sure it showed how much AJ needed assistance, but there are a couple of things. Once more, this was already proven the conflict before when Applejack's stubbornness resulted in its worst: Her refusal for help got at least a dozen ponies very sick from food poisoning. The rabbit stampede didn't result in Applejack wanting help. After the whole thing, Twilight went back to Sweet Apple Acres for the final time and told AJ bluntly she needed help. Once more, Applejack refused and tried to prove it by claiming she finished bucking the orchard. When Big Mac proved her wrong and said she only finished half the orchard, that's when she decided to ask for help. If Applejack agreed to have others help her immediately after the corny stampede, then it would've had more weight. The fact that AJ remained stuck in her ways until a few minutes later made the scene (and other shenanigans from AJ's pride, by association) empty.

Using it effectively. Impact Applejack's stubbornness in basically three (if not four, if three isn't enough) key ways: one where she's stubborn, but doesn't affect anyone in particular; another where it begins to affect the town; and another where her stubborness does hurt others. The latter is where it was really witnessed: the baked bads. That should've been the catalyst for Applejack to let Twilight help her. Instead, it extended, and the bunny stampede offered nothing but humor to fill the final act. More or less, the rabbit stampede was very awkwardly placed. Twilight was stubborn because she's the only one to witness Applejack's odd behavior and wanted to ask for help. The scenes were pretty repetitive, but purposeful. (It'd be better if the twists were far more varied and didn't result in the same results.) Considering she did help Applejack the episode before… Honestly, anyone else feel The Ticket Master should've aired after Applebuck Season and not before?

Welcome to the "Pick a Flaw" thread for the first Applejack-centered episode. In it, Applejack's main flaw in her character, her stubbornness, is introduced and played a gigantic role throughout, from the party to the hilarious shenanigans to finally admitting to wanting help at the very end. It's also a bit controversial because her main flaw was really explored to the depth it hasn't covered since, leaving some bronies (including other Applejack bronies) to wonder if they're at a standstill with her. Like the others, pick the flaw that stands out to you or find to be the one that can determine the overall enjoyment or quality of the episode. My choice is going to the length of Applejack's stubborness. It's one thing to exploit it, but another to exploit it simply to plod the plot. The conflict lasted way too long, and several of the scenes were written more for the humor aspect. Although the scenes with Appljack hitting the seesaw and the baked bads are extremely funny, some like celebrating Applejack's deed to save Ponyville and then the overdramatic rabbit stampede are way too corny and disrupted the overall flow. In addition, Applejack was too stubborn for far too long, turning the episode into one where it's difficult not to watch the clock and wonder when it'll end. Overall, it's a decent episode, but it could've served its time much better. For the other "Pick a Flaw" threads: Season 1: Friendship Is Magic, Parts 1 & 2 The Ticket Master Season 2: The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 Putting Your Hoof Down Dragon Quest Season 4: Simple Ways Filli Vanilli Twilight Time It Ain't Easy Bein' Breezies Somepony to Watch Over Me Maud Pie For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils Leap of Faith Testing Testing 1, 2, 3 Trade Ya! Inspiration Manifestation

As much as I still love the episode, it's objectively bad. There's so much wrong to go with it, you can write a whole essay dissecting it. My long, scathing reviews for Rainbow Falls or Equestria Girls could pale in comparison to Putting Your Hoof Down if I ever decide to muster the muscles and type it all down. I decided to put in a vote for the main quality flaw (every pony being a jerk), but I'll explain the one that's the worst along with the one that personally affects me the most first (Fluttershy demeaning Rarity's and Pinkie's reasons for living). As a creative person, the last thing anyone wants to be told that their creative reasons for receiving a profit and their purposes for making others happy is worthless. This is exactly what Fluttershy said to two of her closest friends. There was no reason whatsoever for Fluttershy, even in her broken psyche, to say something this evil. That scene massacred Fluttershy's character, and Fluttershy's reputation as a character hasn't recovered. And to make it more insulting, the damning cruelty Fluttershy inflicted on Pinkie and Rarity was seriously downplayed. Firstly, Iron Will was scapegoated despite the whole thing being Fluttershy's fault one hundred percent. Secondly, there was no good reason for Pinkie or Rarity to return to Fluttershy's side; either they're very forgiving or beyond stupid. Finally, Fluttershy basically got away with what she did, never suffering any realistic consequences. Now for the biggest flaw, the characters: I'll be blunt: Nearly every single character to be presented a role was an asshole. Most of the background ponies, Rarity, Pinkie, and Angel. In what's a supposedly cheerful town and overall lifestyle to a fault, Ponyville is a place of cynical, mean-spirited jerks for no good reason. Both logic and optimism take a backseat in the central contrivance, and most of them haven't appeared or played a relevant role since. This premise contradicts the canon completely. As for Rarity, Pinkie, and Angel: Rarity seduced a nerd stereotype to retrieve asparagus for Fluttershy. Keep in mind, he bought asparagus and wasn't an asshole at all. Although Rarity traded, she performed it underhandedly. This wasn't generosity, and those who claim so are lying to themselves. Pinkie Pie scammed a tomato vendor out of one extra bit. Just because it's a Looney Toons gag doesn't a good joke make. It turned Pinkie into a character she's not: someone who wanted to make others' lives miserable. Angel: He may be rude, but he's not this spoiled or ABUSIVE! Of the three, he was undoubtedly the worst here. First, he punts a salad onto her head. Secondly, he slaps Fluttershy across the muzzle and shoves the cookbook to her face. When it wasn't perfect, he punted Fluttershy — and the salad — out of the cottage. What the fuck?!

And after enough time, I'm going ahead and explain my choice, the length of the conflict. Albeit gruesome flanderization of Rarity's melodrama, it was built up quite nicely after that, taking Rarity's desire to create via dark magic to the extremes. It started small and then expanded into graphic misdeeds. But the length of the conflict had to do with Spike being a "yes" man far beyond what he would've done at this stage in development. By basically tagging along Rarity and glowing praise during Acts 1 and 2, the conflict started to plod on his side. I think all of you remember the exchange between Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Rarity in Putting Your Hoof Down, specifically where Fluttershy demeaned their reasons for living. In it, Rarity told Fluttershy she was taking her training a little too far. I think Spike should've used those same words Rarity used on Fluttershy on Rarity in IM with some tweaks to fit it. One thing about Spike (and pretty much all of the Mane Six, to be precise) is his occasional naivety. But there's a line between being naive and being stupid. As he continued to blindly support Rarity, he crossed it, even during his dilemma before the last commercial hit. If he realized it much sooner (maybe midway in Act 2), then you could do something about it.

As much as I used to love this episode, there's so much wrong about it, I'm a little surprised it isn't so decried like other Williams-centered episodes like Mare-Do-Well or Spike at Your Service. At least four of these flaws are equally bad: the reprehensible dialogue of the Mane Six mocking Spike, the stereotypical bullies, the stealing of the phoenix egg, and the underhanded moral. On a personal level, I went ahead with the moral, although I could've chosen the conservative route and click "other" for all four. Why the moral? It reinforced the sexist presentation throughout the episode. Spike was mocked by his peers for his apron, thereby making him appear weak and stupid. The script writes his pink apron as against masculinity and something males should never wear. The dragons are stereotypes of teenage boys. The eggnapping of Peewee is validated by association. Because of its wording and lead-up to the moral, the moral itself killed the worldbuilding and potential of the dragon lore.

And now since a few people already posted, I'm going to answer my choice, which is the length of the conflict. Quite honestly, it lasted way too long, After the sixth pony explained her reason to attend the Grand Galloping Gala, Twilight should've given it thought, requested the Mane Six to rendezvous at Hayseed Restaurant, and then decide to either give it to Applejack (the only one with a good reason) or send them back with a harsh critique of Celestia for sending out just two tickets. By this, you end the conflict, thus: Not have the characters behave childishly and pettily. Resolve the insanity before the insanity starts. Granted, most of the gags are funny (especially the Benny Hill reference), but they were filler. Not allow Trollestia to basically get away with the confusion and delay she all but initiated. In other words, the length of the conflict is tied to all the other flaws. Shorten the length of The Ticket Master to ten minutes, and you not only resolve the other issues, but also use the second half to create another ten-minute episode.