S08:E14 - A Matter of Principals

[JH24 385]

16 hours ago, VG_Addict said:

I'd argue it's worse than Season 6. As much shit as people give S6, it at least had A Hearth's Warming Tail, Gauntlet of Fire and Saddle Row Review. 

I think Fake It Til You Make It, Non-Compete Clause, Yakity Sax and A Matter of Principals make S8 a step down from S7. And IMO, none of S8's episodes so far have even come close to being as good as Perfect Pear, A Royal Problem or Parental Glideance. 

It comes down to the perspective of each person though. For me personally episodes like The Maud Couple, Grannies gone Wild, Horse Play, Parent Map, Break Up Breakdown and A Matter of Principals were all good to great IMO.

Edited August 1, 2018 by JH24

[Conred 274]

Every episode beside Break up Breakdown and Grannies Gone Wild was very bad this season and below 5/10 with Mane6 comepletely mishandled. Discord character was assassinated in Matter of Principals, and he turned from cool trickster Q from Star Trek into a manchild self centered asshole who would involve innocent defensless kids just to make Starlight feel bad about having them hurt on her watch. Dubuc and Haber should not only get fired for S8 but also pay a 5000$ fine for every episode they story edited

[MangoFoalix 24,944]

@Dark Qiviut I'll be removing the YouTube link in your OP post since the video has been taken down. Though feel free to find some other place to host the video that goes within our guidelines.

[Dark Qiviut 22,379]

11 minutes ago, TheTaZe said:

@Dark Qiviut I'll be removing the YouTube link in your OP post since the video has been taken down. Though feel free to find some other place to host the video that goes within our guidelines.

Already plucked one from EQD and linked here.

[BlinkZ 1,151]

10 hours ago, bwrosas said:

1. How powerful is Discord to manipulate the map and make it look like the Mane 6 were being called on mission by making (Glamouring) their cutie marks.

  And 2. How did The Mane 6 Finally come to conclusion that Discord was behind the wild goose chase they were on? 

Comments are Welcomed

#AMatterofPrincipals #MLPSEASON8 #MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic #StarlightGlimmer #Discord #TheMane6 
 

 

Yeah, I was confused too on how they came to that conclusion. or how Starlight put all the blame on her. When it wa Discord how didn't conmmuncate. But NOOO it's starlight fualt for not including him. like...what...Seriiously i hate the "i was teaching you a lesson" escuse Discord keeps using as n escape goat

[JH24 385]

6 hours ago, Conred said:

Every episode beside Break up Breakdown and Grannies Gone Wild was very bad this season and below 5/10 with Mane6 comepletely mishandled. Discord character was assassinated in Matter of Principals, and he turned from cool trickster Q from Star Trek into a manchild self centered asshole who would involve innocent defensless kids just to make Starlight feel bad about having them hurt on her watch. Dubuc and Haber should not only get fired for S8 but also pay a 5000$ fine for every episode they story edited

Fired? $5000 fine? No offense, but doesn't that go too far? Like I said, this is a difference in opinions. In my opinion they've been doing well so far. What were bad episodes for you were at least 7/10 episodes for me. The only episodes I agree with are "Fake it until you make it" and "A non-complete clause."

 

2 hours ago, BlinkZ said:

Yeah, I was confused too on how they came to that conclusion. or how Starlight put all the blame on her. When it wa Discord how didn't conmmuncate. But NOOO it's starlight fualt for not including him. like...what...Seriiously i hate the "i was teaching you a lesson" escuse Discord keeps using as n escape goat

It's no excuse for Discord's behavior, but to be fair, Starlight didn't really help when she dismissed Discord at the start of the episode. I understand she doesn't know him well but he made it clear (in his own way) he felt left out. Of course he should have asked Starlight, but asking something isn't Discord's way of doing things. Spike knew something was off with Discord's reaction.

 

Edited August 1, 2018 by JH24

[BlinkZ 1,151]

25 minutes ago, JH24 said:

Fired? $5000 fine? No offense, but doesn't that go too far? Like I said, this is a difference in opinions. In my opinion they've been doing well so far. What were bad episodes for you were at least 7/10 episodes for me. The only episodes I agree with are "Fake it until you make it" and "A non-complete clause."

 

It's no excuse for Discord's behavior, but to be fair, Starlight didn't really help when she dismissed Discord at the start of the episode. I understand she doesn't know him well but he made it clear (in his own way) he wanted to help. Of course he should have asked Starlight, but asking something isn't Discord's way of doing things.

Spike knew something was off with Discord's reaction and the Mane 6 would have realized it as well if they had been there. 

Ooooh,I guess i see that point. on a side note, yeah most hte jokes just wer not that funny. I practically skipped over Discord's teachers segments because it wa just so..ugh a slog

[Drunkfrank 1,125]

4 hours ago, Conred said:

Every episode beside Break up Breakdown and Grannies Gone Wild was very bad this season and below 5/10 with Mane6 comepletely mishandled. Discord character was assassinated in Matter of Principals, and he turned from cool trickster Q from Star Trek into a manchild self centered asshole who would involve innocent defensless kids just to make Starlight feel bad about having them hurt on her watch. Dubuc and Haber should not only get fired for S8 but also pay a 5000$ fine for every episode they story edited

What cringe.
Really!? Grannies Gone Wild is your example of a good episode compared to others this season? What about Horse Play where we finally resolve Twilights seasons long issue of pleasing one she looks up to rather than using better judgment? What about Surf and/or Turf where we see a great allegory for divorce on top of some great worldbuilding and an interesting story? What about The Molt Down where we see Spike step up and go through a major change in his life, with some great characterization? What about the Parent Map where we see some new worldbuilding, some great character interactions and a good moral?

As for this episode, Discord is literally no different than he has been in the past, every episode that doesn't focus on he and Fluttershy's relationship he is a complete jerk. He screws around with the CMC from time to time (including the comics) so why not the teenage students (not kids, not defenseless). Again, we don't know Discord would let them be hurt. Look at the title here, "A matter of Princibles" it goes deeper than just "I wasn't allowed into the school" He wouldn't have done any of that if Starlight accepted his help. Instead he, someone who was much more evil than Starlight and had to work much harder to change was left out of this school of friendship, was shunned and told to leave by Starlight, and so he tested her. If you want Discord to be the normal nice guy we saw in Discordant Harmony than that is all your opinion, but I completely disagree, Discord is at his best when he is a chaotic god who will test and frustrate those around him even though he does care for them... mostly.

54 minutes ago, JH24 said:

Fired? $5000 fine? No offense, but doesn't that go too far? Like I said, this is a difference in opinions. In my opinion they've been doing well so far. What were bad episodes for you were at least 7/10 episodes for me. The only episodes I agree with are "Fake it until you make it" and "A non-complete clause."

 

It's no excuse for Discord's behavior, but to be fair, Starlight didn't really help when she dismissed Discord at the start of the episode. I understand she doesn't know him well but he made it clear (in his own way) he felt left out. Of course he should have asked Starlight, but asking something isn't Discord's way of doing things. Spike knew something was off with Discord's reaction.

 

Spike also continuously encouraged Starlight to talk to Discord and she ignored him and resorted to firing all her power at him.

[Drunkfrank 1,125]

22 hours ago, VG_Addict said:

I'd argue it's worse than Season 6. As much shit as people give S6, it at least had A Hearth's Warming Tail, Gauntlet of Fire and Saddle Row Review. 

 

 

It also had the worst 2-part premiere yet, an insulting conclusion to Rainbow Dash's main arc throughout the series, the worst Applejack episode yet, that garbage race kart episode, and 28 pranks later.

I would say most s8 episodes so far are better than SRR, and a few are on par with GoF, but HWT is still a top tier legendary episode.

[Conred 274]

1 hour ago, RyanMahaffe said:

What cringe.
Really!? Grannies Gone Wild is your example of a good episode compared to others this season? What about Horse Play where we finally resolve Twilights seasons long issue of pleasing one she looks up to rather than using better judgment? What about Surf and/or Turf where we see a great allegory for divorce on top of some great worldbuilding and an interesting story? What about The Molt Down where we see Spike step up and go through a major change in his life, with some great characterization? What about the Parent Map where we see some new worldbuilding, some great character interactions and a good moral?

As for this episode, Discord is literally no different than he has been in the past, every episode that doesn't focus on he and Fluttershy's relationship he is a complete jerk. He screws around with the CMC from time to time (including the comics) so why not the teenage students (not kids, not defenseless). Again, we don't know Discord would let them be hurt. Look at the title here, "A matter of Princibles" it goes deeper than just "I wasn't allowed into the school" He wouldn't have done any of that if Starlight accepted his help. Instead he, someone who was much more evil than Starlight and had to work much harder to change was left out of this school of friendship, was shunned and told to leave by Starlight, and so he tested her. If you want Discord to be the normal nice guy we saw in Discordant Harmony than that is all your opinion, but I completely disagree, Discord is at his best when he is a chaotic god who will test and frustrate those around him even though he does care for them... mostly.

 

Surf/Turf was boring and there is no allegory for divorce. Just headcanons, because last time i checked, divorced parents doesn't just live in separation while still loving eachother. Horse Play turned Celestia into childish filly who can't even read the mood, Molt Down was as bad as Princess Spike, the only difference is Spike getting wings which don't really count as suddenly giving this episode good rating because of visual change in the last minute.

 

And this was Discords worst episode to date. Completely diregarding Fluttershy's well being by sending her to nowhere for days. Risking lives of innocent kids just to upset Starlight. Even in What about Discord, he was nice to Mane6 while trying to piss Twilight, and he never cross the line that he did in Matter of Principals. Only people who don't care about Discord would think that he is the same jerk as in S4. Entire point of Twilight Kingdom was that he finally reformed and learned empthy. Further years later, his time with Fluttershy  made him learn to socialise and start befriending Mane6, Big Mac and Spike just like Fluttershy learned being assertive. To say that Discord is just a jerk is to say that Fluttershy is just shy and there is no progress being made in the last 5 seasons. This season regressed Discord, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Twilight couple of seasons back in time. It doesn't deserve to not get leaked earlier.

[Drunkfrank 1,125]

31 minutes ago, Conred said:

Surf/Turf was boring and there is no allegory for divorce. Just headcanons, because last time i checked, divorced parents doesn't just live in separation while still loving eachother. Horse Play turned Celestia into childish filly who can't even read the mood, Molt Down was as bad as Princess Spike, the only difference is Spike getting wings which don't really count as suddenly giving this episode good rating because of visual change in the last minute.

 

And this was Discords worst episode to date. Completely diregarding Fluttershy's well being by sending her to nowhere for days. Risking lives of innocent kids just to upset Starlight. Even in What about Discord, he was nice to Mane6 while trying to piss Twilight, and he never cross the line that he did in Matter of Principals. Only people who don't care about Discord would think that he is the same jerk as in S4. Entire point of Twilight Kingdom was that he finally reformed and learned empthy. Further years later, his time with Fluttershy  made him learn to socialise and start befriending Mane6, Big Mac and Spike just like Fluttershy learned being assertive. To say that Discord is just a jerk is to say that Fluttershy is just shy and there is no progress being made in the last 5 seasons. This season regressed Discord, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Twilight couple of seasons back in time. It doesn't deserve to not get leaked earlier.

So you have a childs understanding of divorce. Divorced parents absolutely can still care for each other deeply, they just don't share that romantic connection or think they are healthy together. Celestia was never really "childish" unless you consider getting excited...childish. No reason given so won't comment on PS vs MD. Who says anyone was in real danger? Discords entire purpose here was to test Starlight after she told him to leave, we don't know he would let the students get hurt. In s4 all he learned was that Tirek pretended to care for him whereas the mane 6 actually did. Even in s5 he was mean and even in s6 he was mean and EVEN in s7 he was mean. It's his character. This may have worst he has been (I say worst in terms of in the eyes of Starlight, not actual characterization) in a while, but it is still absolutely in character for Discord, you aren't in charge, you don't get to decide what his development is/was.

[Senko 459]

There's a difference between the mean prank he pulled on Twilight and summoning a bugbear and letting it chase after a child who isn't even involved in his grudge. That could have neded with Yona seriously hurt and that isn't his character even at his worst when he first got free he never tried to physically hurt another pony. The Limburger cheese, fruit phone even sending the mane 6 off on a fake quest I can buy though I'd have thought he'd target Twilight and the others with his lesson rather than just getting rid of them but things like the dragon sneeze tree which afflicted Ember or the bugbear things that risk physical harm to those not involved in his grudge just aren't his character these day's. Especially if you include the comics where he's also bonded with the cutie mark crusaders and others.

Edited August 1, 2018 by Senko

[MangoFoalix 24,944]

A reminder that having a debate is okay when it pertains to the topic but throwing personal insults in the mix is not allowed here. Please refrain from doing so from here after.

[DonMaguz 1,023]

Discord has always been a childish prankster and a jerk.

He has been shown to empathize with his friends, but completely disregards anyone who is not his friend. Having no consideration for the students' wellbeing is not out of character for Discord, it's just going a bit too far from his usual self.

[Drunkfrank 1,125]

I suppose the main thing that makes this divisive is what/who people want Discord to be as a character, for me personally, I like where he is and has been for a while, he is a trickster god who will manipulate and test his friends but at the end of the day does care for them and deeply loves Fluttershy. 

[Dynamo Pad 11,259]

I just finished watching the episode and I really like it a lot. It was cool to see the different artifacts being introduced in the episode. I wonder if the artifacts will play a role in any future episodes. I have to say it was surprising to see the map call the mane 6. While it's revealed what the map mission was all about later on. It was still interesting to see the map was involved. I like how Starlight was put in charge as head mare of the school, while Twilight and the others were away. It was cool seeing Discord in the episode, as well as other characters we've seen throughout the season. I also liked the many callbacks we got in this episode. I do wonder if the banana phone was a reference to the actual song, Banana Phone, by Raffi. While it was cool to see Trixie teaching a class on magic. It would have been cool to see Spitfire and Maud teaching their respective classes, as well. It was crazy to see how Starlight banished Discord from the school, but in a way, I don't blame her. While it may have been on impulse after what Discord had said to Starlight. I feel as though Discord was being a little rude and unreasonable. I can understand that Discord likes to play tricks and have fun, while acting in a way that teaches others a lesson, or something along those lines. However, I felt that if he had been a little more open to his feelings, then he may have not taken things to the extreme. He has spent time with Spike, Big Mac and Fluttershy throughout the seasons, so I would have felt he could have been reasonable, in a way. The scavenger hunt was pretty funny and it was cool to see how Discord was a ghost in the school. I liked how Starlight talked to Discord as a guidance counselor and friend, instead of following one specific way. I think it was cool to see that Discord was added to help as the vice head mare. The way Discord made the mane six's marks glow, as well as activating the map was pretty interesting. It does make me wonder how he was able to do something like that. I wonder if it was Discord's chaotic magic that would make the map act in such a way. I also wonder if certain magic and other outside forces can make the map act that way. All in all, I really enjoyed watching the episode. I hope we get to see more interactions between Starlight and Discord throughout the season.   

[bwrosas 252]

2 hours ago, Dynamo Pad said:

 The way Discord made the mane six's marks glow, as well as activating the map was pretty interesting. It does make me wonder how he was able to do something like that. I wonder if it was Discord's chaotic magic that would make the map act in such a way. I also wonder if certain magic and other outside forces can make the map act that way.

Could be. But DrWolf001 said in his review (you can find on the YT), that it was probably illusions put on the map and their cutie marks to make it seem that way.  And 2, who can tell. S9 may give us the answers.

[JH24 385]

5 hours ago, bwrosas said:

Could be. But DrWolf001 said in his review (you can find on the YT), that it was probably illusions put on the map and their cutie marks to make it seem that way.  And 2, who can tell. S9 may give us the answers.

In the beginning I was surprised that Discord could manipulate the Friendship map, but now I agree with the people who believe Discord put an illusion on it and didn't control the map itself. We know the map isn't untouchable (Starlight casting a timetravel spell on it/Trixie teleporting the map away) but it would make sense that a being of chaos and disharmony wouldn't be able to control something connected to harmony itself.

Ironically, Discord tricking the Mane 6 to go on a mission did resolve a friendship problem in the end. (Discord feeling left out and somewhat bitter because the Mane 6 involve Starlight in everything while they both had the same evil past, and Starlight taking Discord for granted and thinking she knows everything about him)

 

Edited August 2, 2018 by JH24

[DonMaguz 1,023]

5 hours ago, JH24 said:

"Starlight taking Discord for granted and thinking she knows everything about him."

How did you get to this conclusion?

As far as I know, Starlight was just expecting Discord to act like a friend and not a jerk, something that Spike knew wasn't completely possible. That doesn't mean she was claiming to "know everything about Discord".

Edited August 2, 2018 by DonMaguz

[JH24 385]

3 hours ago, DonMaguz said:

How did you get to this conclusion?

As far as I know, Starlight was just expecting Discord to act like a friend and not a jerk, something that Spike knew wasn't completely possible. That doesn't mean she was claiming to "know everything about Discord".

You're right, looking at my post I realize I've worded it wrong. At some point Starlight said (after Spike saying something was off with Discord's reaction) "Don't worry, Spike. Discord and I are old 'save Equestria buddies' he'll be fine." 

I was trying to say that Starlight ignored Spike's warning and assumed because Discord and her had saved Equestria before Discord would be fine. Spike noticed something was wrong because he hangs out with him. (The Mane 6 would have noticed it as well if they had been there) but Starlight didn't know Discord well enough to pick up the warning signs.

Edited August 2, 2018 by JH24

[Truffles 2,033]

Alright, I want to get my more detailed comments out of the way tonight before I see "Hearthswarming Club" tomorrow!

 

• Generally speaking, the episode is easier to watch on repeated viewings. Maybe knowing how Discord really felt helped?
   
• In the opening where Ocellus goes on about the book that explains the artifact, she's as adorable as always in her cute, bookwormy ways!
   
• Just seeing those artifacts makes me want to know more about them. I suspect they'll figure into the seasonal arc in some way. In fact in one of the animatic previews, an amulet was mentioned. Could it be the Amulet of Aurora that is being referenced?
  
   
• 
  Oh, hello there Cozy Glow. I see you fastidiously taking notes on all these artifacts. Make one wonder, doesn't it?
   
• Upon closer inspection, it seems like the cutie mark flashing is actually different than when there's a real map mission. If that's the case, that's a nifty little detail the animators did for this episode.
   
• Rarity's fainting was one of my favorite moments in the episode. She emoted it so perfectly.
  
   
• 
  I like this shot of Starlight. She looks cute with her offset smile looking lost behind that big desk.
  
   
• 
  This shot of Starlight with Twi's mane made me laugh. Ember was right - those two really do look alike!
   
• Spike: "Nuuu thanks! Being a princess for Twilight was hard enough."
  Starlight: "I'm going to pretend that made sense."
  Trust me, Starlight - you don't want to know. Most of us would rather not have known.
   
• Discord really did seem PO'ed at the beginning of his appearance and was more than a little miffed that he had never been invited to any of the school's functions, so I get that part of his motivation for doing all this. Then Starlight didn't help by totally blowing him off.
  
  Though I have to wonder why he didn't pop into the school when Spike and him were playing O&O at the end of "TBU,BD?" They usually play in the castle and the castle is literally 50 yards away from the school. It would be very unlike Discord to stay away just because Twilight had ordered him to.
   
• I liked the visual running gag of the marmoset floating around through the whole ep. (Look closely in the scene just before Starlight introduces the new subs the next morning - he's still up there even after the previous exterior shot of the castle.)
   
• The attempts to acknowledge their previous friendships (the O&O mention, Starlight's "Old Equestria buddies" and the "he's not acting like a friend" remark) help, but I'm not sure it was enough. I imagine I would complain a lot more loudly if the episode completely overlooked their past friendship.
   
• What exactly are Twitter-mites? Angry fans who pester the DHX staff?
   
• The return of Iron Will (again) was quite a surprise. Though after he managed to get Yona to be aggressive, the conniving look he gave made it seem like he had found a new recruit like he had in Fluttershy.
   
• The demure way Yona says, "Be my friend" during her first attempt is the absolute most adorable line in the episode!
   
• The banter between Trixie and Discord was fun as always, and the long distance plan gag was hilarious. I wonder who told him about the Ursa Major/Minor incident, though? (Why do I have the sense it was Spike? lol.)
   
• "Endangering students crosses the line."
  Starlight should have tagged along with Rainbow and AJ back in "Non-Compete." Maybe the students wouldn't have been put in such jeopardy on the canoe if she had?
   
• I loved how Spike tried to step in and cool things down when Starlight was raring to blast him (and did).
   
• I liked the new observatory location. That elevator is really neat. Hopefully we'll get to see it used again.
   
• Sandbar waxing poetic about dragons is a nifty inside joke when you consider his VA also voices Garble.
   
• Discord: "What's my prize?"
  Spike: "Detention."
  Witty as ever, Spike.
   
• Spike: "You're new to the world of education, aren't you?"
  Zing!
  
  Best. Line.
   
• 
  Oh. Considering how quickly he swooped in there to clean up, it appears Spike does pull duty as the school janitor after all...
   
• Yona always seems to be the student who gets put in the most danger in these episodes. Although it's not clear whether the bugbear would have actually hurt her, it was nice to see Silverstream and Sandbar coming to her rescue just before Starlight zapped it away.
   
• The ghost chase through the school halls with the harpsichord music reminded me of Scooby-Doo.
   
• Starlight apologizing to Discord about his being left out feels a little like a rehash of the resolution to "Dungeons & Discords," but I didn't mind.
   
• Spike: "Hey! Watch the wings!"
  Note to self: Don't hug Spike around his new wings. He's still sensitive about damaging them.

 

On 7/28/2018 at 11:18 PM, Dark Qiviut said:

Twitter mites zap Spike (causing him to yelp and jump into the moat, and then limburger cheese squashes Spike and nearly makes him gag. I know Discord and Spike like to get under each other's skin sometimes, but here, it really feels like mild Spikeabuse.

The scene that bothered me the most was when Discord flicked Spike away with his finger. That seemed like a particularly contemptuous and personal thing to do to someone who is supposed to be a close friend.

On 7/28/2018 at 11:31 PM, Dark Qiviut said:

Great job making the donkey unlikeable.

Cranky spitting in Gallus' face is my least favorite part of the episode - even moreso than Discord throwing what amounts to one big tantrum for the entire time.

Some fans have suggested Spoiled Rich would have fit better here, and I have to agree - her pulling that kind of crap is right up her alley. Her and Diamond hardly appearing (let alone speaking) these past two seasons makes me wonder if their VA is not longer available for voicework?

One curious aspect of that scene: How did Cozy Glow get roped into doing servitude? If she's really evil as many think she is, you'd think she would talk her way out of such a degrading task.

 

On 7/29/2018 at 4:17 AM, JH24 said:

Although honestly Spike's "Discord's is just being Discord" felt really inadequate after he send a Bug Bear after the students

Perhaps Spike is more aware that Discord's monsters never actually cause grave harm to anyone since he's been fighting them during their O&O outings? If that's the case, then it makes sense why he didn't seem as worried about the students.

 

On 7/30/2018 at 8:36 PM, Ganondox said:

So apparently ponies plundered the sacred artifacts of the other cultures and are now using them in a freaking scavenger hunt, that's very respectful.

I'm hoping they're on loan from their respective cultures. Especially since it would be hard to believe the dragons (even Ember) would allow Celestia (and now Twilight) to hold onto a stolen sacred artifact without a fight - especially because of how dragons love to hoard things.

Of course, they let them hold onto Spike's egg and reduced it to a prop in an entrance exam. But maybe dragons care less about other dragons than they do baubles and trinkets?

 

On 7/31/2018 at 1:36 AM, bwrosas said:

How did The Mane 6 Finally come to conclusion that Discord was behind the wild goose chase they were on?

Perhaps there were no other creatures around sapient enough to be experiencing a friendship problem? If the area was barren (save for the eyeless worms) then perhaps Fluttershy may have asked any friendly animals if anyone lived there?

 

On 7/31/2018 at 5:05 AM, Music Chart Fan said:

Or did Starlight have any means of contacting the Mane Six in an emergency?

She did have Spike, but it's not clear he's capable of sending his dragonfire messages to Twilight - only Celestia or Luna. It's also not clear whether she would have done that anyway - asking for help may have felt like surrender, and she was determined to handle this responsibility of being Headmare without having to ask the Mane 6 for a rescue.

On 7/31/2018 at 5:05 AM, Music Chart Fan said:

Finally, if Starlight's massive beam of magic was just banishing Discord from school grounds, then why did it create this big smoking crater? Was that ground also "banished" from school grounds? And how far did that beam travel, anyway? Could it have hit some ponies and/or property in Ponyville?

That's possible, though the episode wouldn't have made a point of that happening since it already acknowledged her loss of control (and temper) by the shocked expression on everyone else's faces.

One thing worth noting is I suppose something like this would have happened to Trixie if Starlight hadn't been bottling up all that anger last season. Clearly, when she gets triggered all hell breaks loose from that horn of hers.

I have to admit, after all the crap she and Spike had to put up with, that scene of her vaporizing him felt good - even if it did leave the students clearly unnerved. I guess the students are learning not to mess with the school's guidance counselor? <_<

On 7/31/2018 at 5:05 AM, Music Chart Fan said:

I didn't know that Smolder breathed multicolored blue/pink/orange fire; that's kind of cool.

Those blue-on-gold colors are some of the coolest dragon flames I've seen to date.

[Senko 459]

5 hours ago, Truffles said:

• Upon closer inspection, it seems like the cutie mark flashing is actually different than when there's a real map mission. If that's the case, that's a nifty little detail the animators did for this episode.
  
   
• 
  I like this shot of Starlight. She looks cute with her offset smile looking lost behind that big desk.
  
   
• 
  This shot of Starlight with Twi's mane made me laugh. Ember was right - those two really do look alike!
   
• Discord really did seem PO'ed at the beginning of his appearance and was more than a little miffed that he had never been invited to any of the school's functions, so I get that part of his motivation for doing all this. Then Starlight didn't help by totally blowing him off.
  
  Though I have to wonder why he didn't pop into the school when Spike and him were playing O&O at the end of "TBU,BD?" They usually play in the castle and the castle is literally 50 yards away from the school. It would be very unlike Discord to stay away just because Twilight had ordered him to.
   
• I liked the visual running gag of the marmoset floating around through the whole ep. (Look closely in the scene just before Starlight introduces the new subs the next morning - he's still up there even after the previous exterior shot of the castle.)
• What exactly are Twitter-mites? Angry fans who pester the DHX staff?
• Spike: "You're new to the world of education, aren't you?"
  Zing!
  
  Best. Line.

Ok just responding to the sections above . . .

1) I thought the map mark image looked different as well.

2) Yep Starlight does look cute in both those images and I always thought Ember was right in her and Twilight looking similar, as I said in that episode if I were a pony who knew them I wouldn't be able to resist teasing Starlight by calling her Twilight's little sister.

3) He may have been still waiting for a proper invite from his friends at that stage.

4) I'll have to look for that marmoset.

5) Twittermites are a small type of insect that generates lightning bolts the more of them you have the more powerful the blast is. A big enough swarm can destroy structures in a single attack. They appeared in Applebloom's nightmare in season 4 during the bloom and gloom episode where she was stressing over her cutie mark. I liked their reapearance.

6) I also agree that's a good line from Spike.

[Luminance 2,186]

  N

Edited November 16, 2018 by Luminance

[YoshiAngemon 223]

Spoiler

SOME NERVE, sending the girls on a phony map mission, just to make an appearance! I just wanna see Discord get taken to the Woodshed, Team Chaotix Style, with Charmy Bee stinging the guy repeatedly!

 

[PoisonClaw 8,164]

Gotta say, Discord pretty much deserved getting blasted there. He's been acting like more of a jerk than usual, and Starlight's been doing her best to put up with him so far.