spoiler Friendship Is Magic Issue#27

[ShyPie 164]

I thought that this issue started out a bit too much like the episode Princess Twilight Sparkle. The Everfree forest overgrowing and invading Ponyville.

 

I liked that when they got into the forest though, it ended up being a bit more world and race building with the deer at the heart of it all. I think this helps to branch out (pardon the pun) everything a bit more, and bringing up the point of ponies not being the only ones to harness magic is definitely interesting and something I wouldn't be surprised to see some up more further down the line.

 

In saying this, I wasn't overly keen on the reveal that it was all because of minotaurs building a theme park.  It seemed like a bit of a let down as I was expecting something a bit bigger and with more of a threat. Plus, we just had bulls being antagonists in the last story so having minotaurs in this one doesn't differentiate it enough for me.

 

I did actually laugh a bit at Luna's cheesy joke at the end though 

[Megas 27,594]

So far it's better than the last arc, though that's not saying much. I was pretty "ehhh" at the beginning,then it was starting to get real good when the deer and their town were introduced, and then my interest just plummeted when this page came up

 

Like I said before - "This is gonna be one of those stories isn't it?"

[Guest]

I was like:"Seriously!? Twilight has no executive power?". Because honestly, one would expect that a princess would have enough power on herself to be able to pass on a law to ban these sort of constructiopns. Like seriously, there is no law baning constructions if they are non beneficial for the general public? I know it's just for the plot (AKA: Plot-Induced-Stupidity), but come on!

[toonami97 25]

i wanna know how an why the princess got tied up so easily an why don't they just break up the vines cant be that strong and the deer holier then thou elf like superiority from what i heard is annoying there pretty much racist yoiu cant help but be glad there losing their homes

[PoisonClaw 8,164]

So…I finally read Issue #27…and it’s an environmental “save the forests!” plot, and with that comes the subtlety of a Las Vegas neon sign and the originality of a movie produced by The Asylum.

 

Let’s go down the list shall we? Unscrupulous and amoral business…er…bull who cares only for his greedy desire for money rather than the damage he’s doing to “the poor forest”? Check. Hell, his associates are all dressed like they’re out of a Godfather movie, which just screams all kinds of illegal!

 

Tree-hugging hippies nature loving deer folk who would rather see the Mane 6 devoured then harm so much as a single sapling? Check. They dared cut down a single tree to cross a gorge, they should be burned at the stake like the monsters they are!

 

No valid explanation why the amusement park has to be built here outside of the fact that there just happen to be trees to “maliciously” cut down? Check. Just what makes this location a desirable spot for an amusement park? Does it get a ton of traffic? Is it near a relatively populated area? Well yes, but you know what else is near by? An uncontrollable forest that is home to Timberwolves, Manticores, Hydras and, at one point, a bloody dragon! I’m sure your guests will be just ecstatic when a raging Hydra waltzes by and devours them!

 

That’s not even getting into the fact that, assuming Equestrian law is similar to our own, he would have needed to get zoning permits, rights to build and clear away land and other suck legally binding forms. Because if he had then someone would have taken one look at them and said, “No.” Hell, does Twilight have no political power whatsoever?! She’s a crown Princess of Equestria, who ultimately should have the final say in most legal matters. If she tells him he’s encroaching on the deer’s land and to get lost, his only options should be to get lost of his own free will or to dragged away in hand cuffs after she comes back with the correct paperwork (in triplicate!) saying he’s broken the law and is now to face trial.  

 

Don’t even get me started on the utterly hypocritical deer. “They are invading on our land! Therefore, that gives us ample cause to now invade on someone else’s land!”   I’m not even kidding when I say that I had to restrain myself from reading the deer’s dialogue in Linkara’s “Super Boy Prime” voice. Not only that, but half of what the deer “King” says is so stock and overused for this kind of story that I’m amazed he’s not reading everything off cue cards.

 

In fact, Blackthorn is the only deer I have any respect for. Both because he’s wearing kickass armor, but because he’s the only deer I saw that wasn't being a colossal douchebag. Though come to think of it, was Blackthorn the name of the villain from Ultima V?

 

Finally, why in Tartarus does MLP even need an environment PSA issue?! Equestrians quite literal control every aspect of their environment. Ponies control every aspect of the weather, wake up hibernating animals while cleaning their burrows and giving them food and Celestia controls the freaking sun for crying out loud! They are more in tuned with nature than we could ever hope to be, why should they care if a few trees are cut down?! Appleloosa was able to grow an orchid in the desert, so replacing these trees should be child’s play.

 

With all that being said, why do I get the feeling that the conclusion to this arc will end up being disappointingly stupid, in which the Princesses fix everything and tries it up with a pretty bow within the span of a minute? Speaking of the Princess, the only thing I can think is going through Celestia’s head on that last page is “Oh, not again…”

Edited February 8, 2015 by PoisonClaw

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

I really wasn't expecting much, but aside from a few characterization issues near the beginning and the rather cliched progress vs. nature plot line I though that the issue was a pretty strong one overall.

 

The deer...OMG the DEER...just another bit of lore and world-building, and it helps to give the Everfree back some of the mystique that it has lost in recent seasons. Of course their actions are somewhat predictable, but at the same time I appreciate their form of magic and I can understand their plight. They're reminiscent of Tolkien elves, but that's something I can love.

 

The amusement park angle...yeah, that's where is started to lose some steam with me. It's not bad, but the antagonist could've been a LOT more interesting than this forgetful business-minotaur.

 

Over all, I'm curious about the next issue. MORE DEER PLEASE!!! 

[IcefireInfinite 227]

Things get seriously cereal in the next issue.

Trust me.