S09:E19 - Dragon Dropped

[CinnamonSwirl 90]

I didn't get to watch this episode. I'm at work.  I mean, unless the leaked version is much different?  Must watch after work! c'mon 2:30!!!!!

[Dark Qiviut 22,414]

25 minutes ago, CinnamonSwirl said:

I didn't get to watch this episode. I'm at work.  I mean, unless the leaked version is much different?  Must watch after work! c'mon 2:30!!!!!

The episode released here and from China are exactly the same. There's no difference between 'em.

---

Quote

Rarity: Indeed. I had no idea how much walking there is at a Power Pony convention!

Rarity, I've been to BronyCon four times. Your feet'll kill ya after halfway through.

[Lucky Bolt 35,063]

I watched the leaked airing of this already and I must say it was hilariously done and really cute. I can relate to Rarity a lot in this episode too. 

[Dark Qiviut 22,414]

4 hours ago, FlareGun45 said:

Oh damn, can I undo my vote? These votings are so confusing! What means good and what means bad?

1. You can undo it. Just hit "Show Vote Options" under the poll and revote.
2. If I'm right, the options translate to:
   1. "Wow, right through the floor!" <--- Hate it!
   2. "Only a bit of damage..." <--- Dislike it.
   3. "Impressive thud." <--- …meh/OK.
   4. "It bounced?" <--- I like it.
   5. "Ahhh! Multiball!" <--- Love it!

[RDDash 19,182]

9 minutes ago, Dark Qiviut said:

1. You can undo it. Just hit "Show Vote Options" under the poll and revote.
2. If I'm right, the options translate to:
   1. "Wow, right through the floor!" <--- Hate it!
   2. "Only a bit of damage..." <--- Dislike it.
   3. "Impressive thud." <--- …meh/OK.
   4. "It bounced?" <--- I like it.
   5. "Ahhh! Multiball!" <--- Love it!

I voted only a bit of damage, which was technically true. Break up with Rarity was heart breaking

[ChB 18,557]

Not a fan, though I do agree that both friendship pairs are cute. I suppose it passes as stand-alone episode, but as a part of the closing season, it was a little disappointing in terms of character development.

[Will Guide 21,360]

Wow. So far all 5 voting choices have votes attached to them. It's been mostly one sided with no votes at all in some choices for most previous Episodes whenever I checked.

[Lord Valtasar 12,690]

eh... big nope from me, a horrid episode 

 

[BornAgainBrony 2,397]

4 hours ago, Sparklefan1234 said:

Rarity's behavior was simply awful in this episode, IMO. What a disappointing way to end Best Pony's journey. 

This has been an ongoing theme this season. The exception of Summer Sun Setback (which is kind of understandable since it focused on the villains doing some meddling) that's four episodes in a row now. Dash forgets she's loyal, Twilight shuns Pinkie, Fluttershy has no patience with Angel, and now the Element of Generosity has a major brush with selfishness. It's going to be interesting to see if the other two get the same treatment before this is over.

However, like with "She Talks to Angel" I was more OK with this episode than I was with "2,4,6,Great" and "Trivial Pursuit." Maybe it's because the two most recent ones felt like fairer examples of situations that could push the characters into making huge mistakes, whereas the other two just felt kind of petty and under-developed? Dunno. I think a lot of this depends on how you feel about Rarity/Spike though. This episode is playing with romance in the same way that "Tanks for the Memories" played with death. It's treated as a friendship episode, but considering they used Rarity and Spike to set this off, and the fact that Spike clearly has a crush on Gabby now, it's pretty obvious that this story is a love triangle at its core. They pushed things just far enough to make this episode into the ultimate shipping war without revealing for certain if Rarity is harboring feelings for Spike, and it's bloody brilliant! Another good thing about it is that it gave Rarity ample time to apologize and atone for her mistakes instead of doing it all with just 60 seconds left in the episode.

Random things:

• LOL Derpy! Granted, anytime Derpy shows up is a treat though. I somehow could tell with the way Spike was acting, that this was going to be a pseudo-Valentine episode, and my first thought was, "OMG does he have a crush on Derpy?!"
• I'm a little bit disturbed that I could actually somehow actually read the title text on the Ogres and Oubliettes book. Apparently I've been in the TARDIS recently.
• Seeing Rarity going this far out of her element was fun, and it sounds like she actually enjoyed it.
• Spike created an O&O campaign catered to Rarity's interests. Aww.
• "Princess Shmarity" was an NPC in one of Spike's previous Ogres and Oubliettes games.
• It was refreshing for a woman to be the one going above and beyond to get the attention of a character. 9/10 times it's the guy trying all sorts of wild money-burning extravagance.
• Spike was helping Rarity make design choices? Dang, he's got some hobbies I didn't know about.

 

[Dark Qiviut 22,414]

Finished rewatching it. My comments from my statuses over a month ago haven’t changed. Here they are, revised for this.

Quote

Rarity’s characterization here can be compared to Sonic Rainboom. However, instead of her vanity, it’s her envy for Gabby. She enjoyed spending her time with Spike and felt jealous of Gabby, fearing that she could lose that time. Like in SR, Rarity’s bad side here was thoroughly explored while not making her unlikeable or out of character, starting with the small and working hard as she could so he spends that time with her. Moments like dragging that heavy trunk of junk into the post office, the initial montage, staring crazily at him (LMAO!), and not reacting at all after Gabby broke up with him add up. If it succeeded, then the status quo stays the same.

But Spike’s broadening horizons by becoming a close friend with Gabby meant he was growing, and his friendships around him were maturing. He spent a lot of time with her and helped her grow into a better pony. But with Gabby now in his life, he can further connect with other species. Griffonstone’s reputation isn’t the best; to bring Gabby there helps him understand the decreasing prejudice against dragons and connect with someone on a deeper, more mature level.

Also, in the past, there was implication that Rarity occasionally took advantage of him. For most of the series, their friendship and his unrequited crush were in his point of view. For the first time, we see it in hers. By focusing their friendship on her here, we can connect to her beyond the surface and focus on how important his presence and friendship meant to HER. Going back on how she felt she took it for granted calls back those criticisms, and Haber very wisely and cleverly responds constructively to them, making her do things she wouldn’t do if it were someone else, but due to their strong bond, we can see where she’s coming from and empathize with her when she does bad. To be called out by Twilight was a major wake-up call, solidifying her own doubts of whether they will truly make up or not (suggested by her to start the third act). Friendships change, but it doesn’t mean the good times will end.

Yeah, like what @BornAgainBrony wrote, this episode is clearly playing on the love triangle plot and Rarity’s feelings for Spike without delving into the “romantic” part that loomed over the show for so long. Bringing in Gabby to the fold and establishing connections between them was a really great way to exploit how much she meant to him and vice-versa. However, unlike Tanks for the Memories’s death allegory, the stakes in this one and Rarity’s action match the predicament and tone Haber is conveying, whether it’s romanticism or friendship.

Speaking of the connection, how Gabby and Spike began their friendship was a great payoff to a flaw from Fault in Our Cutie Mark. In the former, Twilight’s happy “discovery” of griffons getting cutie marks went unresolved. Haber takes advantage of it, using that hanging plot point to establish their “penpalsmanship.” In their time on screen, they show excellent chemistry.

Rarity was at her most selfish here, and like Twilight in Trivial Pursuit and Fluttershy & Angel from She Talks, she needed to learn how her awful actions affected those around her. In Sonic Rainboom, her vanity nearly cost her her life, but Dash was the lead. In Sweet & Elite, her selfishness put her at risk of choosing her friends and the Canterlot Elite, only to realize what was right when she finally needed to choose. Here, she sees these consequences the hard way. Now that she’s much more mature and developed, she can accept the anger from Gabby and disappointment from Twilight better. Swallowing her pride, apologizing to Gabby and Spike, and letting them go on their own after they make up shows her remorse felt genuine.

This is Rarity’s best episode of the show. If it’s her last, a phenomenal conclusion. 

 

 

Edited September 7, 2019 by Dark Qiviut

[Will Guide 21,360]

All it was was that Rarity needed to learn to share Spike's friendship with others. And considering Spike has spent a lot of time with her over the years, of course Rarity would get jealous of Spike spending time with a person she doesn't know all that well. What's important is that Rarity learned her lesson 
 

[CastletonSnob 3,074]

Too bad this is the last season. I want to see Spike and Gabby interact more. Maybe an episode where he hangs out with Smolder and Gabby.

[Goat-kun 2,527]

4 hours ago, PoisonClaw said:

@Goat-kun ... I don't know how to feel about this comparison. I feel like Gabby would be more of a Filo.

It's more of a conceptual comparison. Still, Filo is more like a wilder, smarter, more powerful Pinkie. And she'd probably want to eat ponies.

[Ganondorf8 11,314]

No doubt in my mind that Tabitha enjoyed recording for this episode given how expressive Rarity gets in so many scenes to the point of sheer absurdity. She always did enjoy being overly dramatic when it came to some of Rarity's more striking moments. If you want a story that provides hamminess to the extreme and then some, this one is definitely for you. Surprised that Gabby returns after her previous appearance way back in season six, but then she is fleshed out more by having her interact with characters who aren't the CMC. She was also toned down when compared to her previous episode where her energetic behaviour did cause distractions to the whole narrative.

Also, the animators had a field day with animating so many expressions and including so many clutters of items that one has to wonder where it all ended up by the time things were done. Methinks Rarity has been hanging around too much with Pinkie as she was on the verge of breaking the fourth wall several times. When you think about the lesson involved, Rarity realizes that Spike can have other interests besides her and that she has to accept this even when it might hurt on an emotional level. Friendships must be allowed to evolve of their own free will and not be confined just because someone doesn't want others to expand their horizons.

As for Spike himself, you've got to feel sorry for him as he was essentially the victim here. It's never fun being forced to choose between friends and he got pulled in both directions mainly because of Rarity wanting him all for herself and leaving Gabby out. Again, Rarity realized that she has to allow Spike to forge new friendships and experience new things without feeling jealous or unappreciated. He still has time for her, just not as much as he used to.

[MangoFoalix 24,961]

Ah, it's this episode. From what I remember the episode is about Rarity not realizing that other ponies want to be with Spike to and just sabotaging other people even if it's unintentionally.

I guess it was an okay episode.

[Early Sunsets 2,106]

It was okay, if you overlook Rarity not living up to her element of friendship. It's the same reason 2,4,6,Great was so terrible and OOC. Not good sendoffs for Rarity or Rainbow. I wish their final solo episodes had been better.

[bwrosas 252]

I think one fan (upon the China release) said something along the lines of, "This just made the Sparity Ship a whole lot more stronger". Which one could agree with, especially when you take Pinkie's line at the end in or out of context. 

Also when one really thinks about  it, episodes like this, have different points of view giving to them from the brony/pegasister community. Some may look at it as a closing to the Sparity ship, others (as mentioned above), see it as strengthening it, some see it as an episode that didn't belong in this final season (along some pervious episodes before), and some see it as Spike possibly getting a new ship tease giving to him, in the form of Gabby, etc..., etc....

And even through, I'm one of those that support the Sparity ship, and see this episode as indeed making it stronger.  I see Rarity's actions, as not of one just being selfish (at times she was) or jealous (which she mostly was), but I like to take DisneyFanatics2364's "Bride of Discord" (Chapter/Episode 6 [14:07-19:37]), as an example of Rarity releasing how Spike really means to her, and how much she's falling for him, but never really noticed till, 1. "The Best Gift Ever", the first 20secs of the mid-season 9 finale, and now with this episode, and him spending time with Gabby, instead of her, or even taking time to notice her. 

This reminded me a lot/if somewhat of Applejack's reaction towards Spike spending time with Rarity, and not noticing her.

That's how I take Rarity's reactions in this episode, somewhat of being in that same camp as Applejack's in "BOD".  

Heck @BornAgainBrony said it best: 

Quote

This episode is playing with romance in the same way that "Tanks for the Memories" played with death. It's played as a friendship episode, but considering they used Rarity and Spike to set this off, and the fact that Spike clearly has one on Gabby now, it's pretty obvious that this story is a love triangle at its core. They pushed things just far enough to make this episode into the ultimate shipping war without revealing for certain if Rarity is harboring feelings for Spike, and it's bloody brilliant!

So just because it may seem otherwise, Josh Haber knew what he was doing. In fact, if you saw the trailer for the finale (and possibly the final 2 episodes), there is some Sparity moment's snuck in there, as a bit of a follow-up to this episode (kinda), and pervious episodes before it (from earlier seasons, and the prior season), as well as "TBGE"

So I said above, episodes like this, have different points of view giving to them from the brony/pegasister community. It's just a matter of how one views it from the personal point of view.

But for me, this was a good/decent Sparity final centric episode.

[DonMaguz 1,023]

Rarity's manipulation skills and selfishness could have really messed up Spike's friendship with a friend who actually likes what Spike likes.

While remaining completely in character, Rarity showed her worse side and it is a shame, especially because Spike had overcome his crush in the best possible way, just maturing, meeting new friends and spending time with them.

A good episode which I didn't like too much because of being a Rarity fan. It's painful to watch her like this.

[Dawn-Sunlight 1,228]

I say that this was a FANTASTIC last episode for both Spike and Rarity.  I will get around to explaining why at some point later.

[Misty Shadow 7,882]

I am no Sparity shipper and I have to say, this is my favorite Rarity episode. It’s also one of the best Spike episodes to me, since it finally shows just how much Spike does for Rarity that she never really appreciated. The scene with Rarity apologizing with the record player was adorable hilarity, and when Gabby was introduced, I was surprisingly impressed that they actually picked things up from that unresolved plot point in The Fault in Our Cutie Marks and utilized it as a way for Gabby and Spike of all characters to become friends. Not to mention how they used them “not coming from the most reputable cultures” as a way. So Neighsay wasn’t just a nutjob.  I love how this episode makes me care enough about Spike’s friendship with a formerly standalone background character to actually crave a predictable, happy ending. That is definitely a rarity for me. 

[BornAgainBrony 2,397]

1 hour ago, DonMaguz said:

Rarity's manipulation skills and selfishness could have really messed up Spike's friendship with a friend who actually likes what Spike likes.

While remaining completely in character, Rarity showed her worse side and it is a shame, especially because Spike had overcome his crush in the best possible way, just maturing, meeting new friends and spending time with them.

A good episode which I didn't like too much because of being a Rarity fan. It's painful to watch her like this.

Unless there's something I'm really blatantly forgetting though, Rarity has never had to deal with this problem before, so it felt like new territory so it's a tad more forgivable. And it's an entirely new kind of test of her generosity. Even were this not Spike, and one of her other friends, I could see this hitting her pretty hard. Rarity is usually the center of attention and most of her outbursts have been professionally, rather than personally motivated. She's also always had her own equivalent of "the stare," which enables her to get help from guys whenever she needs it. So to be ignored by Spike of all people, would be an unbelievable shock and source of confusion for her. The ONLY exception to this I can think of is 'maybe' Prince Blueblood, but she lost interest in him so quick that she didn't even have time to learn that lesson. From that standpoint, this is essentially Rarity's "Cranky Doodle Donkey."

[FlareGun45 2,221]

 

1 hour ago, Dawn-Sunlight said:

I say that this was a FANTASTIC last episode for both Spike and Rarity.  I will get around to explaining why at some point later.

It's not really Spike's last episode - he's got one more coming up! Though he shares it with quite a few characters, so it's only a partial Spike episode.

[ImpctR 155]

As someone who does not see Rarity as among the most fave of Mane 6, she had quite nice episodes throughout the seasons that made one laugh. This episode was OK, not so bad but not so good either though still decent as written by Josh Harbor. I suppose one thing is put to rest? SPARITY

Since first seasons Spike and Rarity had so much time together than Spike's crush on Rarity was directly featured in some episodes. Here this episode not only showed what Twilight taught them that friends could change and that yes Rarity and Spike could still go for gem caves, but something has changed - since the beginning of the episode Spike no longer sees RAarity with heart shaped eyes. It has showed jhow much he's grown and how he's so over this feeling, so much that now Rarity had to take measures against his ignorance. The measures she took such as messy mane we have seen in past seasons, but then trying to make Spike lose Gabi as a friend.

I don't remember which first time Gabi appeared as a new griffon, which season but I remember it was when the mane 6 visited Griffonstone? Now we learn that they are pen friends with SPike. good for story development, Another long-standing problem in the MLP waiting for a solution is gone, though what more as a solution to Spike's obsession from the past?

In the beginning we see the place she used to go for mining gems with Spike.

 

Spoiler

Then the post office (seen in Between Dawn and Dusk) and introduction of Rarity to Gabi. It was good to see the students we didn't see lately Gallus, Silver Stream and Yona.

Spoiler

 

 

Then some flashbacks to older episodes where Sparity was featured. Then the Mane 6 try to help her.

I find it funny to compare it to real life world and values... so Rarity breaking into the castle and Spike's room while he's sleeping looks normal to me. I thought she would be faking the trips to engage Spike but the places they went to were real.

Good it didnt turn into gags episode again around Rarity's crazy look, only on some moments.

Power Ponies - con? Flashback to that episode.

Since im not Rarity's big fan I do not have so high expectations unlike the previous solid Fluttershy episode and my fave episode of the Mane 6, but I can imagine the irrational way Rarity reacted and as her final episode might be slap on the face for some fans.

I would give it a 4.4/5 because even though I dont hate an episode for how anypony's OOC ruined the episode, she was acting a bit unusually irrational and crazy but as I said good it was not more gags. The lesson learnt was from Twilight and it is in place imo not too late in season because she started losing Spike only now after theses seasons and I never cared about Sparity to care about it being put to rest.

[DonMaguz 1,023]

41 minutes ago, BornAgainBrony said:

So to be ignored by Spike of all people, would be an unbelievable shock and source of confusion for her.

Sure, but making her way to lure Spike into being available 'only for her' just to get him back to help Rarity when she got Gabby to ditch Spike was her jerkiest move in all the series.

Don't get me wrong, the lesson is amazing for her and I can see how she needed it. It's just her blatant disregard of Spike's liberty to choose where and whom he wants to spend time with, which I found distasteful. Especially because Rarity has always shown to be such a mature and centered character.

[Splashee 28,564]

6 hours ago, Jeric said:

Was one of the few saving graces of this episode. That and Gabby and Spike are adorable. The rest ... not a fan. 

I was expecting that answer from you. (Seeing as how huge Rarity fan you are, and how Rarity was behaving in the episode)

 

When I saw this episode had Rarity and Spike together, and written by Josh Haber, I lowered my expectations to almost zero. When the story editor gets the last say on how two characters should be, in the last season, there will only be one outcome and many fans want one out of many different outcomes including myself.

If we just rewind a few months back to the special "Best Gift Ever" by Michael Vogel, we have the Rarity and Spike "love thing" going on, to the point where Spike basically did anything to get Rarity's attention and affection. When that happened so late in the series' lifespan, I believed they were going for a full relationship in the end. I guess Mr. Story Editor and "in charge" Josh Haber put a stop to that.
Similar to how Scootaloo's affection for Rainbow Dash was cut in "The Washouts" to the point where there is no return, the same happened here with Rarity and Spike. Now the problem with the episode was not that the love story was halted, but the way both Spike and Rarity acted towards each other. I am not an expert of Rarity and how she should behave (I kinda lost that in Season 4, where Rarity became the Generosityyyy. But Spike, we have seen over and over again, being treated like shit by Twilight, to the point we as an audience are expecting him to just do as he is being told by either Twilight or Rarity. He is all of a sudden completely free to do anything he wants every single day, and Twilight is not even commenting on how he doesn't help with her books or whatever she was doing in the castle in this episode.

The episode was entertaining to watch because of some extreme faces. But again, another Season 9 episode gone to waste. How many more chances do we get to just enjoy out Mane 6 being grown up?

 

And then we have Gabby! That was actually a quite okay appearance from her. But how many outside characters with perfect philosophy does this show need? Why can't they just write the Mane 6 to be perfect and the outside character flawed instead?