S05:E01+02 - The Cutie Map

[Pinkamena-Pills 6,839]

Someone finally told Twilight to basically 'shut up' when she was going on one of her friendship speeches. For that, i have to auto applaud Starlight Glimmer, as myself too was saying to myself 'oh god..here comes that friendship speech again to remind how amazing friendship is.' Good show Starlight Glimmer, good show. 

Pretty decent episode beyond that. 

Edited April 4, 2015 by Pinkamena-Pills

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

I don't think it was going for a political message. It was going for a philosophical one.

Yes equality is good and everyone should have the same opportunities as everyone else. But this was about repressing people from being their very best. You shouldn't hold back someone from expressing their gifts, passions, and beliefs because of the chance that someone else will feel inadequate, feel jealous, or dislike/disagree with them.

 

As an artist for example, there are always people better than me. But there's also someone worse.

You should build up those who want to get better, not tear down the ones already suceeding because it's "not fair".

If that was the case, then it should've been executed in a way that couldn't be so easily connected with strong political undertones. The writer really should've watched his implications if that's what he was going for, and he clearly didn't. Therefore I can't really forgive this flaw even if it was proved to be what you claim it to be and my initial thoughts were wrong.

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

Someone finally told Twilight to basically 'shut up' when she was going one of her friendship speeches. For that, i have to auto applaud Starlight Glimmer, as myself too was saying to myself 'oh god..here comes that friendship speech again to remind how amazing friendship is.' Good show Starlight Glimmer, good show. 

Pretty decent episode beyond that. 

When it got to that part, I was thinking of this.

 

[OptimisticNeighsayer 478]

 

 

And it's not like communism isn't the only form of society that has emphasis on equality. Heck, the story feels more like Harrison Bergeron, which was a commentary on egalitarianism.

And neither is egalitarianism necessarily a bad thing.  In fact, the best way to characterize the episode is "Tall Poppy Syndrome", which Starlight certainly had a bad case of.

[Marimo 555]

 

I couldn't get those representations out of my mind, especially when they referenced it taking place in the eastern part of Equestria.

 

Equestria isn't the world. A map portrays it more like the shape of America, and they were basically in what would probably match up with Maine.

[Pastel 7,630]

Also what's the link between Double Diamond and Starlight Glimmer? It looked like Double Diamond had a thing for her.

Edited April 4, 2015 by Blobulle

[Marimo 555]

Also what's the link between Double Diamond and Starlight Glimmer? It looked like Double Diamond had a thing for her.

He might've been the first pony Starlight changed, seeing as how he met her right in the mountains near where the village would be.

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

Equestria isn't the world. A map portrays it more like the shape of America, and they were basically in what would probably match up with Maine.

Of course it isn't, but that doesn't mean it has an incapability to reference things in the real world to prove a point, especially when it's done as subtlety as it was there.

 

Furthermore, just because it like that in certain parts of the real world doesn't automatically mean that it isn't like that in Equestria. It's certainly a possibility, and when there's such strong communist undertones coming from Starlight Glimmer's village as well as her being referenced as an Eastern Unicorn, when communism was historically strongest in the eastern part of the globe in the real world, then it's really, really hard for me not to draw that connection. 

[Shikilicious 69]

Ninja Fluttershy is best Fluttershy... besides the cutesy dancing one

[Declen 118]

 

 

Also, quote isn´t working. And... Sombra just slipped down a point on most bronies´ "Best Villains of MLP"-List. As for me, Starlight Glimmer took place three, right after Chrysalis.

Hmm... it works fine by me.

 

And I thoght he is already as far down as one can get.

[Pastel 7,630]

Ninja Fluttershy is best Fluttershy... besides the cutesy dancing one

Perhaps one of her best moments of the show.

[Phoenix Flair 332]

OmigoshIlovedthisepisodesomuch!!!!  Ican'tbelieveseason5isfinallyhereandIgettowatchitwiththerestofthefandomforachangethisisthemostepicdayofmylife!!!!

 

*takes deep calming breath*

*slight squee*

 

Dude, I loved the character designs of the townspeople so much.  Although most of them looked better pre-cutiemark, if I'm being honest.  I can't remember her name, but that dark blue pegasus looked absolutely beautiful in her greyish sheen, and Double Diamond's mane was to die for! (I really liked his mane!  )

 

I'm also pretty glad that Twilight wasn't the one to save the day, although she did totally steal the credit with her "moral of the story" speech at the end.  These two episodes would have been a lot more interesting as Fluttershy-centered episodes, documenting her thoughts and change of heart on the issue.  But no.  Twilicorn is a spotlight hog, and if she can't be the mane of the episode, ain't nobody gonna be.  *slight sigh*

 

Some of the animation seemed off, but it was mainly with Pinkie Pie.  I mean, did anyone else notice that when they first came to town, Pinkie Pie's face and expression would suddenly be lined with a lot more black than usual?  I dunno, maybe it was just me.

 

Other than that, though, amazing start to the fifth season, I'm super psyched for the rest!  

[Marimo 555]

Of course it isn't, but that doesn't mean it has an incapability to reference things in the real world to prove a point, especially when it's done as subtlety as it was there.

 

Furthermore, just because it like that in certain parts of the real world doesn't automatically mean that it isn't like that in Equestria. It's certainly a possibility, and when there's such strong communist undertones coming from Starlight Glimmer's village as well as her being referenced as an Eastern Unicorn, when communism was historically strongest in the eastern part of the globe in the real world, then it's really, really hard for me not to draw that connection. 

What undertones are specifically communist and not any other movement that spouts equality? And Starlight's not an eastern unicorn, Meadowbrook is, and Twilight doesn't even specify eastern Equestria or perhaps Meadowbrook is from some other land to the east like the Saddle Arabians.

[Mand'alor Dash 2,224]

I agree. The episodes were a complete straw man of what communism really is. There weren't even any prisons or breadlines!

They didn't even execute one political prisoner! 

[Mesme Rize 15,683]

 

Confinement can make ponies a little… crazy.

[Phoenix Flair 332]

Oh, and one more thing...  Starlight Glimmer?  I went into this episode expecting her to be the sister of Sunset Shimmer or something, but I guess it's just that the MLP creators are running out of creativity with names.  Darn.

[Declen 118]

 

 

Why do people keep on saying its communism?

Well, I just quote myself on this:

 

 

Well, that willage... that was prettiy much what we've had back in the late USSR. At least how we saw it those days. Constant talk about equality and comradery, constant propaganda nobody believed anymore, leadership that lived in relative luxury, pompouse and unappealing design in enything. And, last but not least, manufactured common goods sucked (selflessly and unconditionally).

[Pastel 7,630]

Another thing I liked is that they didn't "try too hard".

After Twilight's Kingdom, we needed a simpler episode, and that's what they did.

Edited April 4, 2015 by Blobulle

[Shikilicious 69]

I just seem to don't get Starlight Glimmer's communism march song out of my head... the last time I got that caught by a song was bats... will probably be a long night

[RarityFan01 2,444]

Sunset Shimmer and Aria Blaze had a child and named her Starlight Glimmer. 

 

Now jokes aside, I loved the episode, especially Pinkie Pie.  

[Marimo 555]

Well, that willage... that was prettiy much what we've had back in the late USSR. At least how we saw it those days. Constant talk about equality and comradery, constant propaganda nobody believed anymore, leadership that lived in relative luxury, pompouse and unappealing design in enything. And, last but not least, manufactured common goods sucked (selflessly and unconditionally).

That doesn't sound much different from other equality-based dystopias like Harrison Bergeron. I imagine since Larson is a fan of Vonnegut, he'd more likely based the town off of that. And I don't Starlight lived in luxury exactly, even relatively. I mean I think the only building we got a good luck at was the holding cell, which is clearly not meant to be a regular house.

[rpc8169 238]

Another thing I liked is that they didn't "try too hard".

After Twilight's Kingdom, we needed a simpler episode, and that's what they did.

Totally agree. This is exactly the episode they needed. Simple and down to earth but also gets you exited for the rest of the season wit the cliffhanger. Edited April 4, 2015 by rpc8169

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

What undertones are specifically communist and not any other movement that spouts equality?And Starlight's not an eastern unicorn, Meadowbrook is, and Twilight doesn't even specify eastern Equestria or perhaps Meadowbrook is from some other land to the east like the Saddle Arabians.

The fact that she used it so easily to her advantage to exercise total control and gain power as many leaders under a communist government have done in the past immediately comes to mind. The way it was portrayed as being inherently a bad thing instead of a good thing also comes to mind. 

 

Upon seeing the character and the synopsis of what it was about, people instantly drew lines to communism, man. Maybe you can offer me a line of reasoning that proves it wasn't?

 

Furthermore, even if it wasn't, then I can't say I agree with the execution of the concept it was trying to push because of the implications of it. The writers need to be careful of what they put out there, because if this was communism then it offered a narrow-minded look at the ideology from a nationalistic "we're right and it's wrong" kind of view instead of from a global point of view, which still could've been executed in this very episode without changing the ending, the villain, or anything major about the plot because of the way Starlight Glimmer was executed as a villain, which I would say she was the best villain since Discord or Chrysalis. She could've very well been a Stalin-type individual who used the breaches of an equal society to create a dictatorship. Sadly, though, it tried to take a different approach to it and made everyone miserable and brainwashed, which often isn't the case and just struck me as promoting capitalist nationalism - and I myself believe in a capitlist society, I just really hate it when things refuse to look at a subject of this nature from a global point of view.

 

I can see where some are coming from with the philosophical setbacks of equality, though, instead of the political setbacks. I can see that angle and see it as a valid one. I still can't forgive this episode if it ends up being the case, though, because the writer should've been so much more careful with what he was implying than he actually was - the best rating I'd offer the episode is a 6/10, and that's under the assumption it's from a philosophical standpoint as opposed to a political one, but the sloppy execution holds back what would otherwise be a great morale.

 

I'm sorry, but I don't know what else I have to prove, honestly. 

[Declen 118]

 

 

It wasn't really an accurate representation of a political ideology, and its one that westerners are generally opposed to at that.

Yet it was a pretty accurate representation of a reality back in the USSR.

I've grown up in there.

[epzik8 92]

The concept of these episodes reminds me of that of Magical Mystery Cure, in that they both involve cutie mark disasters.