What classifies something as a duet episode?

[Whatevs 377]

A question I find myself asking after arguing over it.

 

My opponent said both characters have to learn the lesson, then I pointed out episodes like HF and FPK are often considered duets despite only one character learning something.

And that some focus episodes don't have the central character learn the lesson like ADaPS.

 

Generally he was a slippery foe who kept changing his story throughout so I won't dwell on him.

 

I consider an episode to be duet if it is about both characters.

Regardless of screen time or any other factor.

It has to be about both of them meaning one can't be interchangeable or just there to support the other.

 

So Fill Vanilli is not a duet episode despite Rarity 's large role as she just supported Flutters.

SW is a duet because the episode, although more about Rarity, is still about AJ too. As she is a part of the love triangle, has her own thing she's trying to do, resolves the conflict and influences Rarity's behavior (them switching roles is only significant because it is AJ x Rarity).

 

 

What are your criteria?

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

Well, "duet" specifically refers to two people singing, so I'm not sure it's the right word for this context. You may mean "dual" as in two characters sharing the spotlight?

 

Personally I think it depends on importance to the story, which is somewhat of a vague measurement, but generally can be quantified to a degree.

[Whatevs 377]

Right. By duet I mean an episode that two of the ponies share.

 

Like Green Isn't Your Color or Hurricane Fluttershy.

Not to be confused with an episode featuring two ponies but is really only about one of them, like Sonic Rainboom

[Pastel 7,630]

When there's only 1 plot involving 2 characters, it's a "duet episode".

If you can "divide" the plot into 2 different plots, then it's not.

 

For example: You can't divide Simple Ways plot: it's only "Trenderhoof falls in love with Applejack when Rarity was trying to seduce him." You can't say the main plot is either "Trenderhoof falls in love with Applejack" or "Rarity tries to seduce Trenderhoof". Each time, something is missing... It's a duet episode.

 

But you can divide Sonic Rainboom's plot into 2 plots: "During a competition, Rainbow Dash has to perform a sonic rainboom while Rarity shows off with her butterfly wings" => the main plot is obviously the sonic rainboom thing (it's the name of the episode!), the subplot is Rarity showing off. In my opinion, we can say that the episode's main plot is "During a competition, Rainbow Dash has to perform a Sonic Rainboom". It's not a duet episode.

 

But in general, you immediately know whether it's a duet episode or not.

Edited June 25, 2014 by Blobulle

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

Right. By duet I mean an episode that two of the ponies share.

 

Like Green Isn't Your Color or Hurricane Fluttershy.

Not to be confused with an episode featuring two ponies but is really only about one of them, like Sonic Rainboom

Not sure I'm willing to let that go. I wrote a review about "Sonic Rainboom" recently, and it really focuses both on RD and Rarity, and to a slightly lesser degree, Fluttershy.

[Pastel 7,630]

I wrote a review about "Sonic Rainboom" recently, and it really focuses (both on RD and) Rarity, and to a slightly lesser degree, Fluttershy.

But not as much as Rainbow Dash.

EDIT: The episode focused more on Rainbow Dash than on Rarity.

Edited June 25, 2014 by Blobulle

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Seems to be a bit of a spectrum. I'm not sure if I classify Hurricane Fluttershy, for example, as a "duet" episode even though Rainbow Dash was very important all throughout. Same goes for Inspiration Manifestation and Rarity, probably. I'm having trouble coming up with things that just fall short, but I think a true example of what you're talking about would have both characters be going through a similar problem (or be creating the problem for the other), have the episode showcase their interactions, and have them both play a big role in helping the other make things right.

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

But not as much as Rainbow Dash.

EDIT: The episode focused more on Rainbow Dash than on Rarity.

Meh. You have your interpretation, I have mine.

[OptimisticNeighsayer 479]

In order for an episode to be considered "duet", the episode has to have two major characters whose unique aspects and traits are mutually explored and developed through the course of the plot, and there must be roughly equal time devoted to each character.

 

I classify the following episodes as "duet":

 

Griffon the Brush-Off  (because the fact that Pinkie Pie and RD are playing pranks together is a very important plot point)

Look Before You Sleep (Of course, the classic "Rarijack" episode)

Fall Weather Friends (Competition gets really personal here)

Feeling Pinkie Keen (Twilight has to come to terms with Pinkie's "ability")

Green Isn't Your Color (Sort of a trio really, as Twilight has to broker Rarity and Fluttershy's secrets)

Luna Eclipsed (Twilight's memory of Luna's change and sympathy with her plight means that she as just as much the focus of the episode as Luna is, although since the relationship is really between Luna and Ponyville as a whole this probably shouldn't fit)

Sisterhooves Social (Naturally.  We even get this with Apple Bloom and AJ as well as Rarity and SB)

Family Appreciation Day (Mostly by virtue of AB and GS already related by blood)

Keep Calm and Flutter On (Fluttershy have to defend Discord's ability to be reformed)

Pinkie Apple Pie (Although perhaps this is better classified as "Pinkie with Apple Family as a whole")

Simple Ways (More Rarijack)

Somepony to Watch Over Me (Goes without saying)

Inspiration Manifestation (Ditto)

 

Some episodes, like "Sonic Rainboom", "A Bird in the Hoof", "Secret of My Excess", "Sleepless in Ponyville", "Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3" and "Three's a Crowd" almost qualify except it lacks one of the three qualifications mentioned above. 

Edited June 25, 2014 by OptimisticNeighsayer

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

A duet episode means that both characters engage in a conflict and both will learn a lesson in the end. An example would be "Look Before You Sleep".  

[Whatevs 377]

Well I think we all have the same idea of what is a duet, just expressed differently.

In order for an episode to be considered "duet", the episode has to have two major characters whose unique aspects and traits are mutually explored and developed through the course of the plot, and there must be roughly equal time devoted to each character.

 

I classify the following episodes as "duet":

 

Griffon the Brush-Off  (because the fact that Pinkie Pie and RD are playing pranks together is a very important plot point)

Look Before You Sleep (Of course, the classic "Rarijack" episode)

Fall Weather Friends (Competition gets really personal here)

Feeling Pinkie Keen (Twilight has to come to terms with Pinkie's "ability")

Green Isn't Your Color (Sort of a trio really, as Twilight has to broker Rarity and Fluttershy's secrets)

Luna Eclipsed (Twilight's memory of Luna's change and sympathy with her plight means that she as just as much the focus of the episode as Luna is, although since the relationship is really between Luna and Ponyville as a whole this probably shouldn't fit)

Sisterhooves Social (Naturally.  We even get this with Apple Bloom and AJ as well as Rarity and SB)

Family Appreciation Day (Mostly by virtue of AB and GS already related by blood)

Keep Calm and Flutter On (Fluttershy have to defend Discord's ability to be reformed)

Pinkie Apple Pie (Although perhaps this is better classified as "Pinkie with Apple Family as a whole")

Simple Ways (More Rarijack)

Somepony to Watch Over Me (Goes without saying)

Inspiration Manifestation (Ditto)

 

Some episodes, like "Sonic Rainboom", "A Bird in the Hoof", "Secret of My Excess", "Sleepless in Ponyville", "Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3" and "Three's a Crowd" almost qualify except it lacks one of the three qualifications mentioned above. 

What of For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils.

It's on the fence with screen time.

[Megas 27,969]

Two characters share equal spotlight, share the conflict, focus on their relationshio with each other, and they both learn a lesson

[Anilewe 2,178]

When characters interact with each other and learn something. Sometimes character A learns something from character B (Rarity from AJ in Sisterhooves Social, Rainbow from Twilight in Testing, Testing) . And sometimes they both learn something from each other (Applejack and Fluttershy in Bats, Rarity and Fluttershy in Green Isn't Your Color).

[Whatevs 377]

Two characters share equal spotlight, share the conflict, focus on their relationshio with each other, and they both learn a lesson

personally I disagree with "equal spotlight" and "both learn a lesson" as many episodes that are about the relationships between characters don't do this.