paradoxical

I have to admit I was VERY pleasantly surprised. I had feared that the intro would have been really awkward, and though it was a bit "I am going to be interrupted in baking any moment now, really any moment . . . don't you believe me?" It was too fun seeing Pinkie baking to be annoyed at the obvious ploy. Aww, Pinkie and gummy. Poor Twily feeling left out and useless. First Discord, (then Celestia) and now the map dissing her. Good Indiana Jones ref with the doodad of awesomeness and the pit. I need to buy baking powder for some reason. Right now!

Either this is for artist training guild "a pony paused" or "poised". I can't tell, and I illustrated it. Any way you look at it; she's paused on pa's paws.

Do Pinkie's thang. Or just let her do her thang and you'll do yours.

I loved this episode, but I saw a very different episode than most of you. How? Well, from the get go I knew that Troubleshoes was a klutz. So when his first full out slapstick scene happened I was already sympathetic to his inability to do things correctly and I cried a bit. Yup. I found myself wondering if he would accept the cutie mark of rodeo clown and I realized in the end, his mark meant being a part of the rodeo - NO MATTER WHAT -- not the usual desire most people have. If he had been the rodeo secretary or janitor he'd have been happy. So message is "You don't have to go through the direct route to get your dream." I also really identified with the knowing what you want [being part of the rodeo] and inability to get there. So I loved this episode -- even though I acknowledge that the I didn't appreciate the intent of the writers.

My thought; the show is subtly seen through the lens of different characters. Seeing a big person in a startling situation could make them seem bigger than they are in comparison to a mild mannered big person. Big Mac and Trouble shoes are, according to this way of looking at the series almost exactly the same size. But TS is PERCEIVED as bigger because of his demeanor. [we see this lens clearly a few times, such as Party of One, or Bats, but I feel it's always on, just subtly]

Let's be honest with ourselves; MLP is an ad. It's an entertaining ad and may even be high enough quality to be considered art (whatever art means) [The comic has gotten a fair amount of awards for comics in general]. Were the show to focus on Bronies, would they sell as much? If the answer is no, then changing the focus would mean ending the show. Therefore, since changing the focus would [likely] kill the show. I must emphatically disagree with changing the focus, because I enjoy watching this heartwarming, funny, and entertaining ad..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=KgOAo_u187A Just put the web site and it puts the video there. (I felt like a change up of the welcome wagon)

Anypony else think that Tough love Fluttershy is best Fluttershy (i.e. Telling Rainbow Dash the truth).

I have figured out the writers' ship for Pinkie and I agree

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Ix7vrluEm4E Pull up a Party cannon and make yourself at home. Pinkamina-Pills, where ever he is (he can't be watching forever and let that one go) hates that ship. I actually think a farm Pony would be a good match for her, because of her family. Somebody solid, who she can make smile. Though she has to discover hormones first, which may not happen given that her blood is 98% frosting.

After about 3 days of no posts I think that our fanclub has begun to feel like Twily's castle:

The only excuse I could see, and it's really a negative one. If she's too stupid to be aware of the hurt she causes, then she isn't evil. Otherwise she's deliberately hurting others for personal profit. This wouldn't preclude eventually deciding that she wanted to be better. But during RR she's evil.

I fear you're right in this particular case, but . . . Discord? Secondary Twilight is Secondary. Bats. Putting your hoof down. Green isn't your Color etc., MLP has had neutral, conflicted, and confused main characters, and they will continue to have them.

Because half an episode of Twilight surreptitiously throwing out junk doesn't easily lend to a good story. In character it's because everypony said "I know what makes me feel comfortable, therefore Twilight, who identifies with me, will also like it." Why each of the mane 5 feel that way? Pinkie; thinks it, does it. RD & Rarity self involved (not selfish) Fluttershy . . . because she's actually an extreme extrovert and can't understand anything else? [with a ton of phobias preventing her from living her life as she would like] Applejack . . . AWW COME ON, brain! Maybe she's in denial that anypony could like anything but farm stuff due to post traumatic Manehatten syndrome?

I loved that that was a total troll, I wrote a character list/glossary with about half the details absolute lies to avoid spoilers. . . So I don't mind that type of trolling.

She got a comic role or two, so I'd guess she'll show up for a cameo or two (ep 100?)

I liked how they handled the new aspect of Cutie marks. [it's like they read our forums and put the nope on the crazier cutie mark theories. Siezure spoiler warning: I like the subtle touch of a different thing being baked each time. With each time becoming crazier. I also congratulate Peter New in getting 2 roles! (pest guy)

I agree that it COULD be explained by Tree ex machina, but IFF it's explained. Which is hard to do in 22 minutes. If it's not explained then they could, I dunno find a different map, get an invite from Gilda, just go exploring, etc., I'm just concerned that the map will be random because reasons. GOOD reasons, but lazy ones too.

That'd be cool But my contrivance senses are still tingling. EDIT And it still keeps Rarity away from pinkie and Dash. AGAIN The most Dash interacted on screen with Rarity was with Castle Sweet Castle. If the map does split them up I'd really like a Fluttershy Applejack combo [not that I mind Rairty Applejack interaction, just I'd like to see HOW the six are friends with each other instead of (for example;) Rarity being a friend of a friend when Pinkie and RD show up], and see them [FS & AJ] do something together other than butt heads over animals [Castle sweet doesn't count I didn't actually SEE them do the digging]. Splitting the Mane 6 according to established friendships all the time would eventually frustrate me.

I'm not disagreeing, just that the map singling out 2 here the CMC there etc., is a fast and filthy shortcut unless they explain the random choices somehow. Which is hard to do within a 22 minute show. Contrivances ARE occasionally necessary.