Montag

I'm genuinely surprised at how many people want a Rarity spin-off. 

Rarity may be my favorite member of the Mane Six, but I'm really skeptical about the idea of a spin-off based around her. Seems to likely to me that it would devolve into a sort of prime time cable sitcom but for kids. . .maybe.

Either way, Rainbow Dash seems like the most obvious choice for a spin-off series given her personality (she's essentially a shonen series protagonist in the wrong show), the fact that (other then Rarity) she pretty the only member of the Mane Six who has goals and desires that lie outside of Ponyville, and she probably has the biggest cast of characters associated with her and her stories outside of Twilight. Most of the work is already done, you just have to expand upon it. Hell, it doesn't even need to be adventure based like people think, it could just be sports based, or weather team shenanigans.

I have to say. The Mane Six sanes Twilight came across as quite moronic, and a touch narcissistic. 

I mean, come on. If you guys really wanted to move into the castle I'm sure Twilight would have let you.

Seriously though. I don't know why they decided to go with that kind of plot. It might have made sense back in Season One, but now it just seems really out of place. 

I know right? Just proves how deep this premier was.

Except, not really?

I don't know, of all of the things to compare the events of the episode too that sounds like the biggest stretch I've heard so far.

I can't believe some people took that trollpost of mine seriously.

Is that what you were thinking then, or is that what you're saying now?

Yeah the sweetie bell thing irritated me the most.

and i see where it looks like the moral is lost...i dont even think I found a moral.    But I did enjoy the interaction between the Mayor and AJ...alot XD

 

I wish they had just a few more pages to solidify everything 

It seems pretty clear to me that this comic was not interested in telling a coherent story, nor making it's world belivable. 

It's pure whacky humor for whacky humor's sake. It's something that a lot of the comics lean towards anyway for better or worse (mostly worse in my opinion).

It might be that the ability to mess with cutie marks isn't actually all that special, but because of the morality issues, it isn't something often done. Tirek also messed with the marks, and he was able to do this far before returning to full power.

That seems to fly in the face of Twilight, one of the most skilled and knowledgeable Unicorns in the setting said that at least normal magic couldn't effect cutie marks. In fact the only other times we see cutie marks manipulated involved some of the most powerful magical artifacts in the setting and being who could absorb and utilize what ever magic he wanted. 

Admittedly this may just be a retcon in order to better integrate the whole "cutie mark magic" toyline in to the show better. I still would say that Starlight's power is something unique she either acquired from discovering her own talent or for some other magical source, be it forbidden arcane knowledge, a currently unknown artifact, or a gift from another magical being.

The stuff that happened in this episode had more in common with religious cults then with a communist regime.  

There are certainly some parallels and overlap, but I think it's rather mindless of people to just go for the communism comparison just because of the whole wanting people equal thing. Communism, even in it's most extreme forms was about much more then just making people equal at all cost.

Eh, I disagree. I'm sure there were plenty of ponies who felt out of place because of their cutie marks. Maybe a guard didn't like seeing ponies better at guarding than he was (since that's an incredibly common special talent, assuming the royal guards are any good at it), or a weather pony felt inferior compared to Rainbow Dash's ability to clear the skies in ten seconds flat. I'm sure there's been some uncertainty about cutie marks once ponies have obtained them. While these doubts might not amount to anything on their own, Starlight Glimmer was so sure of her philosophy (and such a great salespony) that I'm sure a few might have been convinced to join the herd. Once a few ponies have been converted, there's strength in numbers.

It is something that can be implied certainly, but I think the episode would have been better off by being explicit about it and expanding on it.

Otherwise I feel it makes the victims seem rather dumb for putting themselves in that kind of situation, for seemingly no reason (at least the ones that weren't out and out just tortured into submission). 

The premise of the episode was really interesting, though I didn't care for the execution.

I know this is a kids show, but I felt that this premise needed a bit more substance to really work, especially since I got no real impression as to why anypony would want to join Starlight's cult town outside of just pure brainwashing, which doesn't feel correct.

Without that the episode felt rather dull actually, with weak characterization and slow plodding to what was a pretty predictable conclusion to the whole conflict. 

Not sure how feel about the worldbuilding, and Starlight's apparent cutie mark based magical talent. Seems like a rather dangerous and particularly overpowered. . .power I guess.

I'm actually interested to see what is the explanation for winter in Equestria. I mean, there is no explicit need for ponies to make winter, so why do they do it?

Either why, I've got a good feeling about this one. 

I can say I like or hate him. He's really too bland to inspire those kinds of emotions in me.

I will say that as one of only a handful of characters that are new and unique to EqG that I hope that something interesting happens with him.

It's kind of an inevitable thing considering how passionate people can get about this show. 

What annoys me is that what could be interesting conversation devolves into petty infighting due to that kind of misplaced passion. I genuinely like to discuss with people with whom I don't necessarily agree with. You can get some interesting insights from such discussions. I think it's a shame and ultimately to our detriment that many people simply want to avoid talking about "negative" aspects of the show.

As for what I think of the Mane Six: I can't say I particularly like Pinkie Pie or Twilight these days.  I like Applejack even though I don't think she has much going for her. I have no real issues with Fluttershy, and Rarity and Rainbow Dash are my personal favorites.