spoiler The Link Between the Map Episodes

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

So I was going through some comments about The Hooffields and McColts and someone mentioned something along the lines of revisiting this episode in the finale since there was a flashback in it and the mention of quantum mechanics as well as the time travel nature of the finale and that got me thinking.  The thing is ALL of the map episodes contain flashbacks/backstories and so what if the map real reason for sending the Mane 6 to these locations, outside of fixing the immediate friendship problem, was to set up some sort of checkpoints in the timeline so as to help the Mane 6 out with this whole time loop business with Starlight?  I mean it would be a very subtle callback to all the map episodes and help tie them into an arc, yet I feel it may be too subtle, especially since this show isn't exactly big on subtly with it's important arcs/messages to begin with. 

 

Or maybe the real reason behind the map's locations is that it just wants to get rid of all the bad food and fashion in Equestria.  

[cmarston1 5,959]

I find that to be a great theory.

With the ending being foreshadowing for the finale and Starlight and Time travel, I would love if something like this was true.

It would be a great way for the major story arch (being the cutie map) to relate back to the finale. 

[J. Brony 313]

Indeed, this is a very interesting theory.  You might be onto something.

 

I hadn't considered that the Cutie Map itself might be involved in more than just this season's overall theme, but also play a vital role in its finale in some fashion.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,803]

Indeed, this is a very interesting theory.  You might be onto something.

 

I hadn't considered that the Cutie Map itself might be involved in more than just this season's overall theme, but also play a vital role in its finale in some fashion.

From what it seems, Starlight might use the Cutie Map in the process of her time altering antics, but I acknowledge that could be completely wrong. 

 

As for the OP, this is such a great find. Never noticed this myself but I can see this being totally true. 

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

This is an interesting theory, if the map episodes play into the finale, it will likely be to show how the Mane 6 helped in those instances and how the loss of the friendship between them (which Starlight Glimmer will attempt to instigate by stopping the Sonic Rainboom according to the episode's synopsis) would have prevented these and potentially other friendship problems from being solved. Not to mention that such a world would be a dystopia potentially worse than one ruled by Starlight Glimmer alone, considering that Nightmare Moon and other villains would likely have prevailed over Princess Celestia or any other protector.

[InfectedPone 1,550]

Ooh, I like this theory. I better keep it in mind. Maybe the map is what harnesses the time travel power hence it's time related objectives. And also maybe it's exactly what Starlight Glimmer is looking for.

[J. Brony 313]

This is an interesting theory, if the map episodes play into the finale, it will likely be to show how the Mane 6 helped in those instances and how the loss of the friendship between them (which Starlight Glimmer will attempt to instigate by stopping the Sonic Rainboom according to the episode's synopsis) would have prevented these and potentially other friendship problems from being solved.

 

Another thought occurs to me after reading this.

 

You know what else had flashbacks?  Both episodes where the Mane 6 had to be reminded of their true selves; one where Discord was manipulating them via corrupting their elements and one where they'd had their Cutie Marks swapped around.  In both instances, Twilight brought them back to their old selves via spells that utilized flashbacks.  Both were two-part episodes with major storyline ramifications and we can surmise that whatever Starlight is up to in the finale, it'll involve Cutie Marks in some fashion.

 

Maybe that adds further credence to Sidral's theory.  What do you think?

Edited November 15, 2015 by J. Brony

[Unlikeable Pony 2,698]

If it gets us seeing arimaspi again, I'd be all for it!

 

it'd be sweet if that lightning bolt that sent him hurtling into the abyss was flung at him by the mane six in some way.

[Silver Stream. 708]

Honestly, this has to be the most brilliant theory I've heard about this season yet. I've been too busy analyzing each episode including the map ones individually and failed to see the connection between each map episode.

 

 

And you're right....Pinkie and Rainbowdash went to Griffonstone where friendship and peace was once restored....but when the great treasure was lost, they had to restore it another way.

 

 

Rarity and Applejack went to a place within Manehatten where it used to be a friendly community.... but it died after that made left. It was up to them to restore it again.

 

 

And now...Twilight and Fluttershy had to restore friendship between two families that was lost long ago.

 

 

It seems in each one, friendship was lost back in it's history and needed to be restored. It might serve as checkpoints for the finale.

[Sporemane 546]

This finale is going to be insane! I can't wait to see what might happen.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

Another thought occurs to me after reading this.

 

You know what else had flashbacks?  Both episodes where the Mane 6 had to be reminded of their true selves; one where Discord was manipulating them via corrupting their elements and one where they'd had their Cutie Marks swapped around.  In both instances, Twilight brought them back to their old selves via spells that utilized flashbacks.  Both were two-part episodes with major storyline ramifications and we can surmise that whatever Starlight is up to in the finale, it'll involve Cutie Marks in some fashion.

 

Maybe that adds further credence to Sidral's theory.  What do you think?

The fact that cutie marks will be involved in the finale is inevitable. That one event contributed to all of the Mane 6 not only getting to know each other, but getting all of their cutie marks. Thus, un-marking the Mane 6 by deviating them from this shared epiphany moment seems like good planning on the part of Starlight Glimmer.

 

However, what she doesn't account for is the fact that there's a very high probability this would end up with the world destroyed instead of Starlight Glimmer becoming the ruler of Equestria. Taking out the Mane 6 would have led to Nightmare Moon and Discord rampaging, likely unchecked since Princess Celestia had little power left unless an alternate Mane 6 existed.

 

As for where exactly the Mane 6 as characters go in this episode, I don't have any real educated guesses on this, but the outcome of how and when they got their cutie marks, even what they are or if they got them, would be entirely different if there was no Sonic Rainboom.

[cider float 2,538]

Nice theory.

 

I guess I'll add to that and maybe each of these locations may have left an important change that alters the timeline and the mane six's involvement can make it, break it or be an important memory to remember... which can be the key for defeating whoever interrupted the timeline.

 

It might be more simple but that might happen.

Edited November 15, 2015 by cider float

[Lucky Shot 232]

The thing is ALL of the map episodes contain flashbacks/backstories

 

Um, well yeah, since the characters have no idea what the problem is when they arrive. If they didn't receive an explanation of what led up to the problem, they couldn't fix it.

 

what if the map real reason for sending the Mane 6 to these locations, outside of fixing the immediate friendship problem, was to set up some sort of checkpoints in the timeline

 

... What.

 

Exactly how does thinking about or talking about the past set up safety nets in the timey-wimey ball?

[Broken Gear 29]

If I may, I would like to propose another theory. All these "emergencies" were caused by  Starlight. Not as a checkpoints but as a test. If I remember correctly she's supposed to have time travel spell. If so, it would be only fair for her to test it on different subjects in preparation for her final move.

[MLPFanatic34 3,234]

That is a very interesting theory, I wonder too if the map will be used by Starlight in the finale.