spoiler 28 Pranks Later was a lot like The Mysterious Mare Do Well

[cider float 2,538]

Rainbow Dash acts like a jerk to the point almost until all Ponyville began to dislike her, Rainbow Dash doesn't see this and continues acting as she does. The mane six come up with a plan to give her a dose of her own medicine.

 

And Rainbow Dash find out it was her own friends pulling one on her. 

[cmarston1 5,959]

Yeah, I can see the similarities between the episodes, and it's basically the only thing people are talking about when it regards to 28 Pranks Later.

[Megas 27,765]

lol, this was exactly why so many people wasn't looking forward to it and why so many didn't like it.

 

I'm still amazed they did it anyway. Like, they should've been aware of MMDW's reputation.

 

But hey! Zombies! amirite!?

[Thrond 3,263]

This one was done a hell of a lot better, though. People have already mentioned that at least the mane six tried to get through to her earlier on, and that Rainbow Dash gets the hint pretty quickly after the zombie prank, but the most important part is that the episode doesn't revel in putting RD in humiliating situations. This does make it a bit on the slow side, but still, it's a lot more palatable than "Mare-Do-Well," which seems to have a vendetta against Dash. 

[Moonlight 7,288]

@@cider float

 

Just a heads-up, I added a spoiler tag to your topic title.

 

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But yeah that comparison has been the main thing I've been hearing about the episode. 

 

Adding zombies to something doesn't improve it, especially with the reputation MMDW has. 

[RealityPublishing 323]

Hmm... but it's... pranks... and zombies... and... well... Hmm. I really don't have an argument except for the fact that I really didn't see MMDW as a *bad* episode. My theory is that people don't want Rainbow looking like an all-around douche.  

[Dark Qiviut 22,445]

Like what I wrote here, 28PL is Mare Do Well in a new dress, yet simultaneously, it tries to "fix" it without comprehending the flaws. The most obvious here is actually talking to Dash.

 

. <--- The point…

…

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

…

 

… ---> DHX's head.

 

The flaw of why they didn't talk to her ahead of time is because they didn't bother trying to tell her to calm down. If they put in any effort, they'd still be out-of-character, passive-aggressive assholes just by how they acted after, but at least they tried to do something about it before they, too, treated everyone's lives as pawns.

 

In 28 Pranks Later, while they called her out, their solution was actually having Dash put in the effort to come up with better pranks rather than telling her to calm down. In short, they're passively responsible for Dash pranking on everyone.

 

 

 

I really don't have an argument except for the fact that I really didn't see MMDW as a *bad* episode. My theory is that people don't want Rainbow looking like an all-around douche.

There are a few reasons why Mare Do Well is a bad episode.

1. The conflict itself contradicts continuity. The entire town acted like a death trap for everyone in Ponyville. That never happened before and hasn't happened since.
2. Rainbow Dash's characterization was out of character. As she was celebrated, she let her ego take over and let the periled lives become stepping stones to it. During the conflict, Dash had no idea whatsoever that her friends were in on the dastardly trick despite some very obvious clues, one of them Twilight using her magic to mend the dam.
3. Yet, the ReMane Five were really out of character themselves. Like I wrote above, rather than talking to her and tell her to calm down and think ahead, they believe it was better to dupe her, manipulate her, and mock her in her face. Yet, while Dash's brush with ego was treated as a bad thing, the RM5's actions were celebrated. Consequently, the Sugarcube Corner scene leaves a massive dent on the moral, which the characters state and explain to her that you shouldn't brag about your accomplishments. Pot, meet kettle!
   
   Secondly, like Rainbow Dash, the RM5 treated the lives as a means to an end. The RM5 did the same thing: treat their lives as pawns to knock some sense into Dash. However, like I wrote before, the show condones their actions. Because of the episode's blatant hypocrisy, it has a very mean-spirited, dickish tone. Consider the fact that FIM is supposed to present and deliver likable characters in a welcoming atmosphere and be role models to children; the implications contradict it.

Edited August 14, 2016 by Dark Qiviut

[Thrond 3,263]

Hmm... but it's... pranks... and zombies... and... well... Hmm. I really don't have an argument except for the fact that I really didn't see MMDW as a *bad* episode. My theory is that people don't want Rainbow looking like an all-around douche.  

I mean, yes, I don't want Rainbow looking like a douche, but my primary issue with "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" is that it comes across as mean-spirited and spends way too much time humiliating Rainbow. And yes, its moral is broken by the mane six gloating, which generally just makes it feel even more like the episode just straight-up hates Rainbow Dash. "28 Pranks Later" is a much more sympathetic and light-hearted look, focusing more on the bizarre pranks themselves (seriously, guys, it's a cartoon. nobody's in real danger) and even hinting at a more subtle reason why Dash is continuing the pranks. It's just that, for the most part, Dash still comes across as selfish and insensitive, something I'd really expect her to have grown out of by now.

 

Although, I must say that I don't really agree with any of the other comparisons, if only because those were never major issues I had with "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well." 

[RealityPublishing 323]

 

 

 

 

There are a few reasons why Mare Do Well is a bad episode.

1. The conflict itself contradicts continuity. The entire town acted like a death trap for everyone in Ponyville. That never happened before and hasn't happened since.
2. Rainbow Dash's characterization was out of character. As she was celebrated, she let her ego take over and let the periled lives become stepping stones to it. During the conflict, Dash had no idea whatsoever that her friends were in on the dastardly trick despite some very obvious clues, one of them Twilight using her magic to mend the dam.
3. Yet, the ReMane Five were really out of character themselves. Like I wrote above, rather than talking to her and tell her to calm down and think ahead, they believe it was better to dupe her, manipulate her, and mock her in her face. Yet, while Dash's brush with ego was treated as a bad thing, the RM5's actions were celebrated. Consequently, the Sugarcube Corner scene leaves a massive dent on the moral, which the characters state and explain to her that you shouldn't brag about your accomplishments. Pot, meet kettle!

    

   Secondly, like Rainbow Dash, the RM5 treated the lives as a means to an end. The RM5 did the same thing: treat their lives as pawns to knock some sense into Dash. However, like I wrote before, the show condones their actions. Because of the episode's blatant hypocrisy, it has a very mean-spirited, dickish tone. Consider the fact that FIM is supposed to present and deliver likable characters in a welcoming atmosphere and be role models to children; the implications contradict it.

 

 

 

 

I mean, yes, I don't want Rainbow looking like a douche, but my primary issue with "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" is that it comes across as mean-spirited and spends way too much time humiliating Rainbow. And yes, its moral is broken by the mane six gloating

 

 

1. It's a show and the situations were there for the sake of progression. Certainly, it is odd that there are no more accident since the episode, but I don't see anyone on here complaining about Spike's pet phoenix which has only made cameos through photographs. 

 

2. Rainbow Dash was the most liable character for the job. She is, in nature, full of herself. Think of her in the first episode after saving Twilight from falling. She acted just as she did in MMDW only with this time pushing the limits. As for "not noticing Twilight's magic": Levitation is a standard spell that any schoolfilly can learn through practice. Even Sweetie Belle can use it fairly well. Considering the colors outlined around the objects are there for the viewer's understanding, Twilight's magic would've been safe to her secrecy. Of course, RD's misunderstanding of alicorn anatomy was a bit odd, but as we've seen in "Testing Testing 123", she isn't the brightest. 

 

3. An important way to view this episode is by reminding yourself that perhaps this took place over a longer period of time. Maybe these "accidents" don't take place within the same 20 minutes as advertised. It's important to note that Twilight, in the first season, is an inexperienced student. She isn't the Princess of Friendship we know and *cough* love today. The ponies of MLP:FiM take a very human-ized role. It's easy to want to "knock sense" into others for hogging the spotlight. Because of this, it's easy to excuse their behavior 

as "just being human" which many cartoon characters of the "girly" genre ignore. As for the recent episode and their behavior, it's easy to understand that the town was "sick" of Dash's pranks and wanted to teach her a lesson. This kind of "revenge" psychology is very much present in human nature. Thus, an episode like this should actually be deserving of congratulating, rather than scorning it for its relativity to society. 

Edited August 15, 2016 by RealityPublishing

[Odd Ball 231]

It was basically the first half of Griffon the Brush Off and Mysterious Mare Do Well with zombies.

[Thrond 3,263]

3. An important way to view this episode is by reminding yourself that perhaps this took place over a longer period of time. Maybe these "accidents" don't take place within the same 20 minutes as advertised. 

Sure, but my issue is largely with presentation above everything else. If these events had taken place in those 20 minutes, but had been implied rather than shown in all their humiliating glory, I'd be perfectly fine with it. But the juxtapositions create the impression that "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" is really just out to make Rainbow look bad. 

 

 

As for the recent episode and their behavior, it's easy to understand that the town was "sick" of Dash's pranks and wanted to teach her a lesson. This kind of "revenge" psychology is very much present in human nature. Thus, an episode like this should actually be deserving of congratulating, rather than scorning it for its relativity to society. 

Y'know, I actually rather liked the moral of the episode, and this makes it seem a lot darker and more unpleasant, given that it doesn't exactly say anything about retribution. 

[RealityPublishing 323]

Sure, but my issue is largely with presentation above everything else. If these events had taken place in those 20 minutes, but had been implied rather than shown in all their humiliating glory, I'd be perfectly fine with it. But the juxtapositions create the impression that "The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well" is really just out to make Rainbow look bad. 

 

On a surface point, yes; Mare-Do-Well was kinda out to make Rainbow look bad. (Those topics were mainly for Dark Qiviut.)

[Thrond 3,263]

On a surface point, yes; Mare-Do-Well was kinda out to make Rainbow look bad. (Those topics were mainly for Dark Qiviut.)

Right, right. If you care at all, I just found "Mare-Do-Well" kinda mean-spirited and pointless. No issues with anything you're saying which I didn't quote. 

[RealityPublishing 323]

Your never going to convince him of anything, he's one of the most set in his opinions here. He's smart dude but goddamn sometimes he comes as deeply pretentous and it's unbearable. 

Hmm, alright then, go ahead and try me.  

[Rawzy 1,302]

I thought the episode was more similar to 28 days later ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[M'gann M'orzz 745]

It's vaugely similar but it's generally a lot better pulled off, seriously it's not a GREAT episode but it doesn't deserve near the backlash some are giving it, but I guess Dash fans are just extra sensitive. 

[Unlikeable Pony 2,698]

Rainbow Dash acts like a jerk to the point almost until all Ponyville began to dislike her, Rainbow Dash doesn't see this and continues acting as she does. The mane six come up with a plan to give her a dose of her own medicine.

 

And Rainbow Dash find out it was her own friends pulling one on her. 

Yeah, Pretty much.

 

The fact that its a brand new writer explains WHY this happened, but not *HOW* this episode happened. Like, I can get that a brand new writer might come in with zero knowledge of the show or how things work, watch like 3 episodes and then make a bad episode that's already been made.

 

What I DON'T understand is why NONE of the old writers stepped in, said "This is very similar to MMDW you know?" and tried to dissuade the plot from being made like this. You'd think by now they'd want to take new writers aside and do a good "briefing" of the show and episodes that are viewed either highly or very lowly.

[MLPFanatic34 3,234]

I thought this was done a lot better than The Mysterious Mare Do Well in terms of teaching Rainbow Dash a lesson about how she acts.

[SBaby 660]

It was way better done, because it didn't make the other members of the mane six come off as hypocrites in the process, and there was a much better reason to do it this time.

[Dark Qiviut 22,445]

1. It's a show and the situations were there for the sake of progression. Certainly, it is odd that there are no more accident since the episode, but I don't see anyone on here complaining about Spike's pet phoenix which has only made cameos through photographs.

This show set up established in-world guidelines to respect. Ponyville is a friendly, welcoming town that never showed a history of being a constant death trap prior and since.

 

Your comparison with Peewee is apples and oranges, because phoenixes were established as part of Equestrian lore prior. But for the sake of the point, people did complain about Peewee no longer being in the show. However, cutting him from the roster was a smart decision. He was stolen from the nest in Dragon Quest; he had to return him to his parents.

 

Rainbow Dash was the most liable character for the job. She is, in nature, full of herself.

She may be proud and egotistical, but an in-character Rainbow Dash knows that their lives are very important. She cares about others and puts their safety over her ambitions.

 

Think of her in the first episode after saving Twilight from falling. She acted just as she did in MMDW only with this time pushing the limits.

Bad comparison. Rainbow Dash called down to Twilight to let her know she's coming to save her, not self-fulfill her ego. During the middle of Mare Do Well, Dash put her ego over everyone else. Her lack of care over everyone's lives during that sequence is out of character of her.

 

As for "not noticing Twilight's magic": Levitation is a standard spell that any schoolfilly can learn through practice. Even Sweetie Belle can use it fairly well.

• Comparison with SB doesn't make sense. At the time of the episode, she couldn't activate her magic, much less use it.
• Since Lesson Zero, the show retconned the horns by associating their auras with specific colors. She isn't stupid enough to not realize that the purple aura belonged to Twilight. Secondly, let's say the characters can't see them; MDW!Twilight didn't merely clog the ram. She completely repaired it, as if the danger never existed. Alicorns were established then as rare, powerful, and exclusive to Equestrian princesses. At the time, there were no princesses that looked like conventional unicorns, Earth ponies, or pegasi. Consequently, that means it's more than one pony.

   

  Does she have blind spots intellectually? Yes. She can be oblivious at times. But is her brain dull like rust? No. Her intelligence was reduced as a contrivance to fit the story. If you have to change who a character is just to write the story, then it's fundamentally flawed.

but as we've seen in "Testing Testing 123", she isn't the brightest.

And once more, not exactly the smartest character =/= stupid.

 

And I don't know what part of TT you're comparing. If it's about studying, the methods explained and shown to her don't fit her style, either because she found them mundane or confusing.

 

An important way to view this episode is by reminding yourself that perhaps this took place over a longer period of time.

Except the entire plot wasn't just several days. MDW took place anywhere from one to three calendar Equestrian days — no indication whatsoever that it spanned longer than that. Not a lot of time in either Equestrian standards or real life. All the near-mass tragedies were in very short time frames, and every single scene of action was using the Rule of Thirds, a well-known trope dating back to very classic media. However, when they happen too frequently and every main event in between follows the very same pattern, then Mare Do Well doesn't behave like an episode that can organically occur in that set world anymore, but a series of virtual checklists instead.

 

She isn't the Princess of Friendship we know and *cough* love today. The ponies of MLP:FiM take a very human-ized role. It's easy to want to "knock sense" into others for hogging the spotlight. Because of this, it's easy to excuse their behavior as "just being human" which many cartoon characters of the "girly" genre ignore.

"Being human" isn't an excuse for the RM5. Rainbow Dash is one of their closest friends. What's one of the most important qualities of friendship? Trust. If they genuinely cared about her, then they'd never pull such a dangerous, cruel stunt. Why? Because they understand how sensitive she truly is. What they did and how they behaved around her doesn't resemble friendship. Once her world crumbles, she feels alone and has trouble figuring out how to escape it. Their scheme is a royal trust-breaker. It's not okay then. It's not okay anywhere in real life. It certainly isn't okay now. As FIM's supposed to teach kids the values of friendship, the implications worsen. Two wrongs don't make a right, yet MDW and 28PL implicate such, especially the latter.

 

As for the recent episode and their behavior, it's easy to understand that the town was "sick" of Dash's pranks and wanted to teach her a lesson. This kind of "revenge" psychology is very much present in human nature. Thus, an episode like this should actually be deserving of congratulating, rather than scorning it for its relativity to society.

Being sick and tired of Dash's pranks is, once more, no excuse. If the RM5 actually put in the effort to tell Dash to scale back and be more selective of who she pranks ahead of time, then none of this would've happened. Instead, they told her to stop being lazy and put in better effort. Then Dash put in the effort to prank everyone. None of them have any room to talk.

 

And to repeat it here. Yes, a bloodthirst for revenge is part of human psychology. Does that justify what they did to her? No. Dash's pranks were written as a bad thing to do, and the ReMane Five are partially to blame for egging her on and doing nothing to correct their context right there. It makes no sense for the script to suddenly flip the coin by treating the revenge prank as okay. An embrace of cruelty is not what FIM stands for. It's possible for the show to create relatable characters without resorting to tactics that can kill friendships on a friendship-centric show with supposed role models. 28 Pranks Later doesn't understand the problems with MDW and, in consequence, is just as mean-spirited as its inspiration.

Edited August 22, 2016 by Dark Qiviut

[Unlikeable Pony 2,698]

I thought this was done a lot better than The Mysterious Mare Do Well

yes, but that's much like saying "A broken leg is much better than an amputation". Neither is a good prospect.

Edited August 22, 2016 by Unlikeable Pony

[RealityPublishing 323]

This show set up established in-world guidelines to respect. Ponyville is a friendly, welcoming town that never showed a history of being a constant death trap prior and since.

 

Perhaps, but my point still stands. Remember that when Rainbow Dash went out to find problems, none occurred and everything was fine with the exception of peanut butter and grass. This goes to show that problems do not occur every day and the other issues can be excused as one-time mistakes. 

 

 

 

Except the entire plot wasn't just several days. MDW took place anywhere from one to three calendar Equestrian days — no indication whatsoever that it spanned longer than that.

 

 

There's also no indication that is spanned any shorter. All scenes in MMDW take place during a time of day. Fame rarely grows overnight, not to mention that parade the entire town had at the end would've taken a lot longer to plan than merely a few days. It's unlike Ponyville Confidential where you can count the number of different newspapers to determine the elapsed time. MMDW has no indication that the time of day changes, thus, making the more logical assumption would be best. 

 

 

 

Being sick and tired of Dash's pranks is, once more, no excuse. If the RM5 actually put in the effort to tell Dash to scale back and be more selective of who she pranks ahead of time, then none of this would've happened. Instead, they told her to stop being lazy and put in better effort. Then Dash put in the effort to prank everyone. None of them have any room to talk.

 

I believe Rarity can speak for me on this one, 

            "Honestly, Rainbow Dash, if you are not willing to put in the effort to pull a prank that everypony can enjoy, you might as well not pull one at all" -Rarity, S6EP15. Runtime 3:27

 

Of course, this can be interpreted differently, but I believe Twilight will be the one to put this to rest with, 

           "I'm not sure she understood what we meant" -Twilight Sparkle, S6EP15. Runtime 3:42

Thus concluding that the five never intended on Rainbow going out pranking spree, but it was instead either Rainbow's lack of understanding or Rarity's lack of precision when being descriptive. 

 

 

 

And to repeat it here. Yes, a bloodthirst for revenge is part of human psychology. Does that justify what they did to her? No.

Saying such a thing would be subjective to the character. We don't know how sensitive Rainbow Dash is (and using Tanks for the Memories would be unfair as grief is something only a select few can withstand) without potentially meeting her. Rainbow Dash is a pony who is sensitive to exclusion (Newbie Dash), grief (Tanks for the Memories), and name-calling (Cutie Mark Chronicles, and Newbie Dash) . 

 

 

 

Once her world crumbles, she feels alone and has trouble figuring out how to escape it. Their scheme is a royal trust-breaker.

Again, using such an example would be describing her as though a human. "Once her world crumbles" would be something that only she could tell us personally. Certainly, you could use the fact that many today feel such emotion when in betrayal, but considering such detail is not present in the show, this point would be indeed, invalid. Keep in mind that the show also portrays Rainbow Dash as being lenient, forgiving, and loyal. Take notice in the episode "Too Many Pinkie Pies", Rainbow allows Pinkie to choose between she and Applejack without an issue. This "lenient" trait is something that Pinkie herself does not possess ("Party of One") so it is easy to determine that it is a character specific quality. 

 

 

 

If you have to change who a character is just to write the story, then it's fundamentally flawed.

Yes, I agree with that point, but I must mention that would also say Rarity is flawed entirely with only a few correlating episode. Her status with personality has been abandoned time and time again as generosity is a complex trait to portray in any television show. Bringing up such a topic would bring the "Rarity Fanbase" crumbling down considering that Rarity is the most flawed character as far as writing. Speaking of which, remember in "The Last Roundup" where Rainbow Dash is pulling the cart with Rarity and Pinkie Pie flying off to the side? Rainbow didn't go after them, now did she? Element of Loyalty, everypony. Element of Loyalty. I don't see many complaints about that episode with the exception of Derpy's eyes and voice being corrected after air.

 

 

 

Their scheme is a royal trust-breaker. It's not okay then. It's not okay anywhere in real life. It certainly isn't okay now. As FIM's supposed to teach kids the values of friendship, the implications worsen. Two wrongs don't make a right, yet MDW and 28PL implicate such, especially the latter.  

 The goal of the episode was to teach kids to be humble and let their actions speak for themselves. The episode achieved this in the end and they still were able to display their lesson. Considering that this show is to teach children with lessons of friendship, the rest of the episode would be nonsense to entertain the adults. To Hasbro, all that matters is the ending (and toy sales) with the rest of the content being filler. "Two wrongs don't make a right"? Sometimes. Only sometimes. I've managed to pull it off with flying colors and no losses behind me. But that's beside the point, as I stated above, Rainbow Dash is lenient and above all, loyal to her friends. She wouldn't let an ill-stunt get in the way of her friendship. 

 

 

 

It makes no sense for the script to suddenly flip the coin by treating the revenge prank as okay.

Keep in mind, that was Pinkie's idea. The town may have gathered in SugarCube Corner to talk to Pinkie, but they certainly didn't plan it. Pinkie was the one that came up with the prank and the rest followed along. If anything, this was a good moment for Pinkie as it allows further character development to reside within the pink pony's personality. 

 

Going back to MMDW and Newbie Dash, (yes, I know ND was considered a bad episode for insulting everypony's favorite hero, Rainbow Dash but bear with me on this one) Rainbow changes the entire routine so she can be the star of the show and implement her special moves. This goes to prove that even after being gifted with acceptance into the Wonderbolts, Rainbow's problems with ego are still present in later seasons, rendering MMDW as an important episode for Rainbow Dash's character development. 

Edited August 29, 2016 by RealityPublishing

[Castle Bleck 19,379]

On the plus side, everypony actually tried to talk to her beforehand this time.

 

But on the minus side, she was kind of Flanderized as a seeming tradeoff.

 

So... 3/5?

[darknessrising24 56]

The problem is that Mare-Do-Well didn't need to EXIST in the grand scheme of things.

 

Think about it, Rarity contributed nothing aside from making the costume, Fluttershy didn't need to be in on it since all she did was fly by when RD gloated that it was the one thing she couldn't do. Which was completly pointless.

 

Now imagine that Twilight, AJ, and Pinkie pulled off their rescues WITHOUT the costume. Wouldn't THAT have had more of an impact considering the fact that it's her friends helping out with crisis that she couldn't handle alone?

 

But instead they simply pulled the costumed hero gig, stalked her around town in-costume (how else would they have known when the crisis was happening and managed to get in costume so quickly, not all of them are Pinkie Pie) and simply did the hero act to teach her a lesson.

 

Also how can they call her out on bragging and saying she should be humble if they showed up at the parade? Not to mention the little stunt AJ pulled after not winning a blue ribbon the Last Roundup, or her huge ass trophy and "I can do it myself " attitude in Applebuck Season, or considering how Rarity ditched Twi's birthday party to hang with some nobels in "Sweet and Elite", or how she went out of her way to show up RD in Sonic Rainboom!

 

Heck, the costume would've worked if they left out Fluttershy's little stunt and gave her some words of wisdom to her after saving ponies.

 

And before you say "RD wouldn't have listened anyway", the Zombie-Pony episode worked better with that reason because of one solitary aspect:

 

SHOW DON'T TELL

 

We actually SEE them SIT HER DOWN AND TALK WITH HER. And when that fails they have Pinkie confront her one on one. That way it doesn't feel like they all just jumped in on the plan without thinking of other options.

 

Was RD in wrong? YES, there were points in the episode where lives were at risk and her showboating could've been saved for later.

 

But the mane five were ALSO in the wrong, and the way they conveyed their message was very poor and came off as VERY mean-spirited and hypocritical!

 

So bottom line, Mare Do-Well is worse that 28 Pranks Later.