Alternate casting for Sounds of Silence.

[Sepul-Coloratura 765]

I liked Sounds of Silence, but it was not because of Applejack and Fluttershy. Seems to me like a huge missed opportunity.

I think Applejack and Fluttershy was in this episode because of their 'Abilities' and 'Elements'. Fluttershy?→Animals!  Applejack?→Honesty! But I think this is not the best principle to use characters in a scenario. What I think better is to write it based on what they would choose to do in the situation, what they have been through and what they have learned from it as a character, what their tendencies / morals / philosophies are.

So I think it would be great if they had Starlight Glimmer and Pinkie Pie in Sounds of Silence.
Pinkie Pie could totally relate to Autumn Blaze's situation and help her best because Autumn Blaze is basically a kirin version of Pinkie Pie. (Like how she was with Princess Skystar in MLP the Movie) Sounds of Silence is like a 'What if Pinkie Pie wasn't accepted from Ponyville?' scenario set in a parallel universe.

Starlight Glimmer is a pony who dealt with the issues of anger. Since she learned a lesson from the past (All Bottled Up), she could be the best pony to convince the kirins that blocking emotions is not a good solution.

It could be also a good contrast between Starlight's straightforward persuasive tendency vs.
Pinkie Pie's random out-of-the-box resolution, sympathy (yes, it IS her strength actually) and good eye on trivial details. (Unfortunately, in recent episodes, these aspects of her are more of a problem than a solution.)
In the episode, Pinkie Pie could do something not so important that it seems like she is not paying attention to the problem at first, but somehow ends up finding the flowers. Maybe she could just follow the squirrels just for curiosity and fun. Or communicate with them in a basic level like body language. (You can't make all other ponies who's not Fluttershy irrelevant to all animal related plot devices.)

If Fluttershy was in the show (like it is), they could have a chance to make Fluttershy convince the Kirins about anger issues. Fluttershy is the one who most struggled on anger issues of all Mane 6. She could make a point on how bad it is to cover their true personalities with fake masks just for short-term convenience, (Putting Your Hoof Down, Fake It 'Til You Make It) and they need courage to allow themselves to get exposed to others.

I think showing ponies using old lessons they have learned is as important as showing them learning new lessons. (As an educational standpoint.)

Edited October 18, 2018 by Sepul-Coloratura