S07:E10 - A Royal Problem

[CypherHoof 26,483]

12 minutes ago, BlinkZ said:

I"m watching it now and i'm puzzled
Starlight used a cutie mark swapping spell..but also effected talent ??  Okay cutie marks are whatever the writers want them to be
A: starlight went out of her way to invent such a spell in the first place
B: she use a modified version of her odl removal spell
C: she made it up on the spot
Any of those three is disturbing to think about. I know she impulsive about using magic but..you have to come up wit the spell in order to use it.
 

Well, we know she already had a magic-talent-and-cutie-mark spell; she is inventive, and probably realized that a variation would allow her to yank both princesses' magic and put it back reversed

[BlinkZ 1,151]

1 hour ago, CypherHoof said:

Well, we know she already had a magic-talent-and-cutie-mark spell; she is inventive, and probably realized that a variation would allow her to yank both princesses' magic and put it back reversed

hmm I suppose so. I am not going to say that 'oh the map did it' cause that just pushing it a bit.  I think the spell just reversed on it own after said time ran out.
The map is such a plot device your not supose to ask questions liek "how does it do X, and why"  The writers surely don't soe why should we?

Edited August 14, 2017 by BlinkZ

[CypherHoof 26,483]

Just now, BlinkZ said:

hmm I suppose so. I am not going tosya 'oh the map did it' cause that just pushing it a bit.  I think the spell just reversed on it own after said time ran out.
The map is such a plot device your not supose to ask questions liek "how does it do X, and why"  The writers surely don't soe why should we?

Timer is a good enough reason; while we know the map has power over cutie marks, there is no particular reason for it to have swapped them back just at that second.

[powerpuff-tsubasa 448]

On 5/19/2017 at 0:39 AM, Kyoshi said:

This is, by far, my least hyped episode of the entire series now. Simply put, Starlight I personally feel is completely being wedged in here. I don't like the premise, I don't like Starlight using her cutie mark swapping nonsense again and this all will most likely ruin what was one of my most wanted episodes ever: An episode for the Royal Sisters. Now it is instead the Royal Sisters with Starlight being the powder for the keg. Ugh. This isn't because I hate Starlight (though this episode might make me do that all over again), I just don't think she has any place in this episode. At all. 

Episode 3 did pleasantly surprise me despite my doubt so there is always some hope, but this one, I don't know. I don't have a whole lot of hope for it whatsoever. I try to be as optimistic as I can be for these episodes, this is one of those times where I can't be. 

There's my view on it. 

 

i felt the same as well. when i watched this episode i cringed. I went "Hasn't Starlight learned anything about abusing magic?" I also find it disappointing that she's only making matters worse to the celestial princesses. She sure is the main antagonist in this episode, and a bad one for sure

[Guest]

Well I did like the episode, mostly because Celestia got a lot of screentime, but the way Starlight randomly switched both Princesses marks was kind of uncalled for. Overall the episode turned out well, though there were some problems with it.

[StoryTail 103]

I enjoyed the episode...  Mostly because of the additional screentime with Celestia and Luna....  I'm more of a Luna fangirl, so I especially enjoyed her character development.  But in general, I did like seeing character development from both of the sisters, especially their relationship.

[OG CHUCK 64]

I love this episode because of the return of nightmare night and the idea that celestia can turn into day braker was awesome but the only think I don't like was the name daybraker it suck I think it should be sola flare 

[GreyScholar 1,584]

It would have been better without Starlight, though even the premise left me frustrated. 

At the very least for Celestia, in her somehow not appreciating Luna despite them being apart for a thousand years. With her guilt and sorrow in that one thousand years, particularly because it was Luna not feeling appreciated that she became Nightmare Moon. Of how the Summer Sun Celebration was moment a painful reminder then a time to celebrate.

I immediately questioned even the consideration of Celestia not appreciating Luna. Plus, the two switching places and "jobs" was done far better in the comics.

Edited September 22, 2017 by EquestrianScholar

[TBD 17,254]

I like the episode and hope they will make more with the two. At least we get to see the other side Celestria as someone's else beside a happy-go-lucky-who-keep-asking -twi-for-help. 

[PonyHag1 591]

I thought this was a terrific episode.It was really nice to see the Princesses showing a more "human" side. Daybreaker was a great villain, too. My favorite episode of the season so far.

Edited September 27, 2017 by PonyHag1

[Pastel 7,630]

Perfect episode, funny, catchy, original...please more like this!

Edited September 28, 2017 by Blobulle

[Ivan The Adorable 304]

Oh man, I'm still so behind on episodes. I had opinions about this one, though

I overall really enjoyed this episode, but the premise of it feels very odd to me. Strange that I'm looking back and seeing people take the most issue with Starlight, when I thought she was the only one of the main characters who had basically flawless execution in the story. I'm not even a big Starlight fan. It just seems like all her actions make sense for the character. They probably could have better established prior to this some lesson about her not being afraid to use her magic skills when bold action was needed, but I think it's good they haven't decided to just stamp out that capacity.

No, the main thing that puzzles me about this plot is that Celestia somehow doesn't understand Luna's problems despite having to take care of both the day and night for 1000 years? Like, did she not actually handle Luna's tasks during this time? Were ponies going mad from nightmares all the time under her reign? Is this setting up something for later in the season to explain it? Even so, it would seem like Celestia should understand the implications of her sister not being there to handle her job.

Other big issue was that Twilight still suuuuuuuucks as a teacher. There are like two instances in the entire series where I seem to recall her doing the right thing to guide Starlight, and this certainly isn't one of them.

Nevertheless, it was good to see the royal sisters in action, both to see their personalities a little more causally and to just have a little fun excursion into their daily/nightly lives.

[Number62 1,258]

Princess Celestia: Heh. Luna works alone... Oh, but it's nothing I can't handle. All I have to do is watch over Equestria, visit the dream realm, and protect ponies in their nightmares. My list was three times as long!

 

She thought that protecting Equestria couldn't be difficult?

And I'm not bitching about her underestimating Luna's task.

[Larrydog 320]

I thought this episode was pretty good, I liked it quite a lot,I found it very funny mostly with twilight, and I felt invested in the princesses problems with each other and I know I'm not the first person to say this but daybreaker was awesome, even more so fighting nightmare moon.

[King of Canterlot 9,603]

I love this episode it was really fun to see Nightmare Moon make a return, not to mention Celestia's alternate self Daybreaker, that was awesome! It's interesting to think that even the fair and all kind princess Celestia can have a dark side if she goes crazy with her power.   

[Nye 1,652]

This was the first time I would say that we see Luna and Celestia act bitter towards each other. It’s a great point made by the storyboard writers, showing that even the royal Alicorn sisters aren’t perfect. Overall, a really great episode!

Some dreams are spooky...

[bwrosas 252]

this my review of A Royal Problem

[Earl Grey Ghost 446]

@A.V.  You used a Nostalgia Critic vid/references/reaction therefore you are amazing. Love NC. He's my go-to.

Also, perhaps I missed implications here, what about this episode was considered controversial? Did I miss a memo here?

[Twilight Luna 31,355]

Very funny episode showing what happens when two sisters don’t get along. Luna and Celestia’s arguing was perfect, especially Celestial mocking Luna about her flittering about giving everyone lovely dreams. It’s nice to see a real person underneath that royal facade of having to smile all the time. We need more episodes like this showing what Celestial and Luna do besides their royal duties.

[CypherHoof 26,483]

1 minute ago, Twilight Luna said:

Very funny episode showing what happens when two sisters don’t get along. Luna and Celestia’s arguing was perfect, especially Celestial mocking Luna about her flittering about giving everyone lovely dreams. It’s nice to see a real person underneath that royal facade of having to smile all the time. We need more episodes like this showing what Celestial and Luna do besides their royal duties.

A lot of that is a sibling thing - its amazing how supposedly mature siblings revert to three-year-olds when they squabble....

[Twilight Luna 31,355]

16 minutes ago, CypherHoof said:

A lot of that is a sibling thing - its amazing how supposedly mature siblings revert to three-year-olds when they squabble....

It’s funny to see that from these two since they are over 1,000 years old.

[Aqua shine 1,898]

true to that luna my sister

[Mortar 143]

I just got to this ep today and so far, I think it's the best of season.  For a long time I've wanted an ep that focuses on Celestia and Luna outside their official Princess duties.  This filled that perfectly.

[The Blueberry Writer 278]

I know I am late to the party, but I do think this might be one of the best episodes in the series, it compliments the novels well and if you are a fan of "the Day shift" comic story arc, I think they can work, canon wise, and be two different points of view to the same day of horrible events for Luna.  My only minor minor complaint would be Celestia thinking that controlling the Dream realm would be easy, I picture her being wise enough to know it wouldn't be a cake walk even if she had the gift now, to control the dream realm.

[Senko 459]

On 8/15/2017 at 5:22 AM, BlinkZ said:

I"m watching it now and i'm puzzled
Starlight used a cutie mark swapping spell..but also effected talent ??  Okay cutie marks are whatever the writers want them to be
A: starlight went out of her way to invent such a spell in the first place
B: she use a modified version of her odl removal spell
C: she made it up on the spot
Any of those three is disturbing to think about. I know she impulsive about using magic but..you have to come up wit the spell in order to use it.

 

Actually cutie marks affecting talent was shown at least back in Starlights first appearance when she took the mane 6's ones. Dash became slower than a trotting pony, Flutershy lost her ability to talk to animals, Rarity lost her ability to tell what was fashionable and there may be other changes I've been working my way through the seasons so there's a lot to absorb (when I get all caught up I intend to start over and see what I missed the first time). Going by what's been shown though a cutie mark seems to affect your talents, personality and possibly even destiny to some extent. They're a nice way to help you know what you should be doing with your life but with the ability to swap/change them yegods those things are dangerous.

As for the episode I liked it especially with the fact we again see super powerful, ruling alicorns who are quite happy to chuck "proper manners" out the window and just dig in to good food. I was also impressed with the way Luna after a full night's work still managed to get through nearly an entire day of Celestia's without winding up face down on a table snoring. Loved her defaulting to "THERE IS NO TIMBERWOLF PROBLEM." in an attempt to reassure people when she was distracted by her concerns over the foals field trip then palming the whole mess off onto Celestia and running for cover.

Some interesting and sad dreams there in those little bubbles and I agree Luna's was just downright creepy all those chanting foals I half expected to see a pony in a green and red sweater pass by during it.

I have to admit I can't shake the feeling the reason the map only called Starlight for this is it knew Twilight was too biased to give a proper judgement but too controlling (its something she needs to work on I admit it even if I love her) to stay out of it fully and would be around to give nerve racking advice to Starlight while restraining herself from actually telling her what to do. So many cute moments too her making the music box play to try and calm down Starlight, bewildering the guard by talking after Starlight left the room and her pancked mix of pride/lecturing and wanting notes at the end with her dragging an unamused Starlight off to tell her everything from the moment she stuck her in a drawer.

As for Celestia's thinking it would be easy to do Luna's job I agree that she only did the moon raising for the past thousand years as her magic didn't work in/on dreams meaning she honestly never realized what it was actually like. Which could also explain some of the ponies we've seen no one was around to keep their dreams from doing damage to them.

Edited June 19, 2018 by Senko