S03:E05 - Magic Duel

[WakeMeAtTwilight 27]

Is it just me, or is Trixie suddenly being the most sadistic villain the show's ever had?  Let's see, so far she's: (1) almost killed a background pony with a wagon, (2) physically altered ponies in rather disturbing ways, most notably the age spell she cast on Snips and Snails, and (3) cut off all of Ponyville from the rest of Equestria!!!  Gosh dang, Trixie's a stone-cold b*tch!!!!!!!!! 

I know! Jeez I was suprised! It was ridiculous! It was a hostile takeover! She even had the mayor in a cage for Celestia sake!

 

/)WakeMeAtTwilight(

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

Could this be the least kid-friendly episode to date?  Snips and Snails were essentially being tortured for Trixie's amusement, the age spell being particularly cruel. Pinkie lost not only her ability to talk, but her ability to eat and drink, though somehow she still managed to breath even without a nose.
 
Despite all that, I don't think it was disturbing or anything, just a bit off from what I've come to expect. The chief complaint I've heard against this episode is that it should probably have been a two-parter. I think it's fine as it is. The only things I can think of that would have filled the time necessary to make a second part would have been more detail on the origins of the amulet and Twilight's training regimen. However, I also think that level of detail for what this episode was intended to be would have been grueling. The amulet raises a lot of questions best answered in a dedicated future episode possibly involving the princesses.
 
Lastly, Trixie has been fanonically portrayed in many ways since her humiliation in Boast Busters. In the end she became the penitent Trixie I always hoped for. Something else this episode and the last made me start wondering is if she grew up tormented like Babs Seed but never found the friends that Babs did in the CMC. It would explain a lot about why she was a jerk and so full of bluster.
 
 
SBB64 has an interesting thread going about that age spell we saw.


Oh yeah, anybody else catch this little gem?:
 

 

Edited December 3, 2012 by Artemis

[NavelColt 22,879]

Someone on Youtube pointed this out. More animation errors. One pony in the stands at the end of the episode had no face or mane. Look at the stands on the left. Look at the top right of them. Click for full-view.

 

Slendermane is now canon.

 

Edited December 2, 2012 by ~Chaotic Discord~

[ANGEL33 87]

I swear the Alicorn Pendant reminded me of the Seal Of Orichalcos in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime.

They both have almost the same abilities, both increases the users power, and it corrupts them as well.

[Akemi Homura 7,680]

I swear the Alicorn Pendant reminded me of the Seal Of Orichalcos in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime.

They both have almost the same abilities, both increases the users power, and it corrupts them as well.

 

 

 

I thought I was the only guy who thought of that. Great eye.

 

There were plenty of Yugioh references (that I took for references, anyway), which was joyful to see.

 

Could this be the least kid-friendly episode to date?  Snips and Snails were essentially being tortured for Trixie's amusement, the age spell being particularly cruel. Pinkie lost not only her ability to talk, but her ability to eat and drink, though somehow she still managed to breath even without a nose.

 

 

They were probably trying to draw out the most of Trixie's "bad side" and as we could see, you can do a lot of shitty things when you're a bitter unicorn seeking revenge. Luckily her actions were only the result of being humiliated and jealousy.

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

They were probably trying to draw out the most of Trixie's "bad side" and as we could see, you can do a lot of shitty things when you're a bitter unicorn seeking revenge. Luckily her actions were only the result of being humiliated and jealousy.

I know what they were doing, they were just doing it at a level they hadn't approached before. I thought it worked out pretty well.

[Wingnut 6,988]

Guys, I think I found the creator of the "Trixie Let's Duel" picture that Alfonzo Dennard posted:

 

http://southparktaoist.deviantart.com/#/d5muvtz

 

I already went ahead and faved it on Deviantart. 

[Yellow Diamond 7,568]

Could this be the least kid-friendly episode to date?  Snips and Snails were essentially being tortured for Trixie's amusement, the age spell being particularly cruel. Pinkie lost not only her ability to talk, but her ability to eat and drink, though somehow she still managed to breath even without a nose.

 

This is the second episode of the third season in which slavery is either referenced or demonstrated. The writers are definitely toying with some darker themes in comparison to the previous seasons. Even Chrysalis's desire to suck the love out of Equestria was presented as tame when placed against King Sombra using Crystal Ponies as slaves.

 

The desire for power may perhaps be a recurring theme.

 

(Let's not neglect "Too Many Pinkie Pies" wherein Twilight basically blasted all of the Pinkie clones in the hope of being left with the real Pinkie Pie. That is pretty dark, if you ask me.)

[Arcanel 3,041]

The desire for power may perhaps be a recurring theme.

 

Nightmare Moon - Desire for eternal night.

Discord - Desire for chaos.

Queen Chrysalis - Desire for love which equals power.

King Sombra - Desire for power to enslave The Crystal Empire again.

Trixie - Desire for power to get revenge on Trixie.

 

Apprently, FIM writers are suckers for megalomaniacs.

[Yellow Diamond 7,568]

Nightmare Moon - Desire for eternal night.

Discord - Desire for chaos.

Queen Chrysalis - Desire for love which equals power.

King Sombra - Desire for power to enslave The Crystal Empire again.

Trixie - Desire for power to get revenge on Trixie.

 

Apprently, FIM writers are suckers for megalomaniacs.

 

In truth, each of those instances represent the antithesis of friendship, mutual love, and compassion. They contrast very well with the Mane Six and the values of Equestria.

 

The FIM need to introduce an evil genius, though.

[Arcanel 3,041]

In truth, each of those instances represent the antithesis of friendship, mutual love, and compassion. They contrast very well with the Mane Six and the values of Equestria.

 

The FIM need to introduce an evil genius, though.

I know, which is why it's great and I love the writers so much. Plus, the interesting thing about megalomania, is how, while following a same train of thought, it can be quite tweaked to make different villains.

 

And yeah, we need an evil genius. But to be fair, we got a technical mad scientist/mad genius when Twilight went insane in Lesson Zero.

[Starswirl the Trixie 975]

Nightmare Moon - Desire for eternal night.

Discord - Desire for chaos.

Queen Chrysalis - Desire for love which equals power.

King Sombra - Desire for power to enslave The Crystal Empire again.

Trixie - Desire for power to get revenge on Trixie.

 

Apprently, FIM writers are suckers for megalomaniacs.

Meh, not sure if they're all really megalomaniacal.  There's a distinction between simply desiring power and full-blown megalomania, which is usually classified as a mental disorder, not a normal personality trait.  Sombra certainly is a megalomaniac, Nightmare Moon probably is.  Not sure about Discord, simply because he doesn't have delusions that he is a nearly omnipotent world changer; he is one.  Chrysalis was more trying to expand the power of her country, and Trixie's moments of admitting her faults (the Ursa scene in Boast Busters and the end scene of Magic Duel) are uncharacteristic of megalomania.

 

But you are certainly right that the show is very dark, at least for a children's show.  Oddly enough, I'll venture that the darkest element of the show may be that the antagonists are not as horribly evil as one may think.  Because of that there are no clear lines of "good" and "evil".  If the villains are clearly defined, those watching can be confident that they are "good" because they do not resemble the villains.  But where things are gray, everyone is put on trial and the resulting worldview is far more distressing.

Edited December 3, 2012 by Starswirl the Trixied

[NavelColt 22,879]

Nightmare Moon - Desire for eternal night.

Discord - Desire for chaos.

Queen Chrysalis - Desire for love which equals power.

King Sombra - Desire for power to enslave The Crystal Empire again.

Trixie - Desire for power to get revenge on Trixie.

 

Apprently, FIM writers are suckers for megalomaniacs.

In truth, each of those instances represent the antithesis of friendship, mutual love, and compassion. They contrast very well with the Mane Six and the values of Equestria.

 

The FIM need to introduce an evil genius, though.

 

All of the primary villains thus far have been an antithesis in of themselves, too, as Devin pointed out to me a while back.

 

Nightmare Moon: Antithesis to Twilight. Twilight is humble about her abilities, perhaps too much even, as she was afraid to stop Trixie back in Boast Busters for fear of showing off even a little bit. Meanwhile, Nightmare Moon wants to flaunt her abilities and get, in her eyes, 'proper respect' for her night time, by drowning everyone in it.

 

Discord: Antithesis to Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie bends reality with classic cartoon antics, and her goal in life is to make everyone happy. She takes chaos and makes it funny and mostly harmless. Discord takes those same powers, amplifies them, and does them out of sheer personal enjoyment, with complete disregard for feelings or relationships; even purposefully trying to ruin them.

 

Chrysalis: Antithesis to Applejack. Applejack is honorable, trustworthy and honest. Chrysalis is despicable, selfish and deceitful.

 

Sombra: Antithesis to Fluttershy. Fluttershy gathers all of the beings around her, (her animal friends) and nurtures them, takes care of them, and puts thier well-being above her own. Sombra takes the beings around him (the Crystal Ponies) and makes them his slaves for his own selfish and cruel desires. Kindness>Cruelty.

 

I'll be interested to see if we have a villain character that starts off as good, but then betrays the Mane Six (antithesis to loyal Rainbow Dash) and maybe a greedy villain that serves as an antithesis to Rarity. Spike demonstrated that in it's purest, frankly unintelligent form when he was a full-grown dragon, but all dragons are greedy. I mean an actual villain character made for the part.

 

But anyway...xD

 

I agree this latest episode is just as dark if not slightly darker than the Crystal Empire. Unlike the Crystal Empire, which had it's atmosphere split between normal (happy) and Sombra doing something (dark), Trixie was in most of this episode, and it was constant on and off dark-ish from the time she took over to when she was defeated.

 

I'm fine with it. I'm glad it's further proving to the contrary that this is a little kid's show. Their target audience may be kids, but I think the way they portray these dark themes isn't so in your face or intense that kids are going to freak. I think kids and bronies alike can enjoy these levels.

Edited December 3, 2012 by ~Chaotic Discord~

[Arcanel 3,041]

Meh, not sure if they're all really megalomaniacal.  There's a distinction between simply desiring power and full-blown megalomania, which is usually classified as a mental disorder, not a normal personality trait.  Sombra certainly is a megalomaniac, Nightmare Moon probably is.  Not sure about Discord, simply because he doesn't have delusions that he is a nearly omnipotent world changer; he is one.  Chrysalis was more trying to expand the power of her country, and Trixie's moments of admitting her faults (the Ursa scene in Boast Busters and the end scene of Magic Duel) are uncharacteristic of megalomania.

 

But you are certainly right that the show is very dark, at least for a children's show.  Oddly enough, I'll venture that the darkest element of the show may be that the antagonists are not as horribly evil as one may think.  Because of that there are no clear lines of "good" and "evil".  If the villains are clearly defined, those watching can be confident that they are "good" because they do not resemble the villains.  But where things are gray, everyone is put on trial and the resulting worldview is far more distressing.

I was actually telling that as a joke rather than something concrete. I know neither of them are true megalomaniacs. Every villain has a desire, but it only becomes megalomaniac when it's the desire for power...just to GET more power and control more things. And that would be it. If there's a reason to use that power, then it's probably no longer megalomania.

 

And actually, King Sombra WAS outright evil.

 

Queen Chrysalis might have looked for food, but she DOES hurt others.

 

Discord looks for chaos without giving a single care on what happens or who gets caught in it.

 

Nightmare Moon WAS the corrupted part of Luna, so there's a point there.

 

And Trixie WAS too blind with revenge and corrupted with the Amulet to be actually evil. So there HAVE been purely evil.

 

All of the primary villains thus far have been an antithesis in of themselves, too. This is something Devin pointed out a while back.   Nightmare Moon: Antithesis to Twilight. Twilight is humble about her abilities, perhaps too much even, as she was afraid to stop Trixie back in Boast Busters for fear of showing off even a little bit. Meanwhile, Nightmare Moon wants to flaunt her abilities and get proper respect for her night time, by drowning everyone in it.   Discord: Antithesis to Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie bends reality with classic cartoon antics, and her goal in life is to make everyone happy. She takes chaos and makes it funny and mostly harmless. Discord takes those same powers, amplifies them, and does them out of sheer personal enjoyment, with complete disregard for feelings or relationships; even purposefully trying to ruin them.   Chrysalis: Antithesis to Applejack. Applejack is honorable, trustworthy and honest. Chrysalis is despicable, selfish and deceitful.   Sombra: Antithesis to Fluttershy. Fluttershy gathers all of the beings around her, (her animals friends) and nurtures them, takes care of them, and puts thier well-being above her own. Sombra takes the beings around him (the Crystal Ponies) and makes them his slaves for his own selfish and cruel desires. Kindness>Cruelty.   I'll be interested to see if we have a villain character that starts off as good, but then betrays the Mane Six (antithesis to loyal Rainbow Dash) and maybe a greedy villain that serves as an antithesis to Rarity. Spike demonstrated that in it's purest, frankly unintelligent form when he was a full-grown dragon, but all dragons are greedy. I mean an actual villain character made for the part.   But anyway...xD

You know...the last parts which would be left to oppose, betrayal and greed, are ironically the normal things people become villains in the first place...if what you and Devin pointed out is true, then the next big villains are bound to be quite interesting.

 

And also, you shouldn't forget that betrayal might mean also of the allies of the villain, which I would see also happening.

 

I agree this latest episode is just as dark if not slightly darker than the Crystal Empire. Unlike the Crystal Empire, which had it's atmosphere split between normal (happy) and Sombra doing something (dark), Trixie was in most of this episode, and it was constant on and off dark-ish from the time she took over to when she was defeated.   I'm fine with it. I'm glad it's further proving to the contrary that this is a little kid's show. Their target audience may be kids, but I think the way they portray these dark themes isn't so in your face or intense that kids are going to freak. I think kids and bronies alike can enjoy these levels.

I don't know just how darker or whatever, never really looked into it. But this is the "dark" anyone can enjoy. It goes to show you, that violence isn't necessary for dark stuff. Good writing and characters can accomplish that on its own, and it's the type of dark even kids can enjoy.

[Starswirl the Trixie 975]

I was actually telling that as a joke rather than something concrete. I know neither of them are true megalomaniacs. Every villain has a desire, but it only becomes megalomaniac when it's the desire for power...just to GET more power and control more things. And that would be it. If there's a reason to use that power, then it's probably no longer megalomania.

 

And actually, King Sombra WAS outright evil.

 

Queen Chrysalis might have looked for food, but she DOES hurt others.

 

Discord looks for chaos without giving a single care on what happens or who gets caught in it.

 

Nightmare Moon WAS the corrupted part of Luna, so there's a point there.

 

And Trixie WAS too blind with revenge and corrupted with the Amulet to be actually evil. So there HAVE been purely evil.

 

Sorry, for whatever reason I'm bad with sensing sarcasm.  Ironic considering that I use it so much.

 

And while I do not want to get into a forum debate about every single antagonist in the show, I think we can agree that (with the exception of Sombra and maybe Nightmare Moon) the show's antagonists are not the archetypal, big-bad characters who want to be evil for the sake of being evil.

[Arcanel 3,041]

Sorry, for whatever reason I'm bad with sensing sarcasm.  Ironic considering that I use it so much.

 

And while I do not want to get into a forum debate about every single antagonist in the show, I think we can agree that (with the exception of Sombra and maybe Nightmare Moon) the show's antagonists are not the archetypal, big-bad characters who want to be evil for the sake of being evil.

Meh, I should explained myself anyways, joke aside. No harm done.

 

And I can agree with this yeah. The only one TRULY evil was King Sombra...ironic how most people complain about him being the worst villain.

[Discovery Dream 592]

T'was pretty gooood. Was anyone else reminded of Episode V when Twilight and Zecora were training at the pond? I was half expecting Zecora to say, "There is no try", hehe.

 

Though Trixie finally apologized, something she deeply owed the citizens of Ponyville, I'm still not a big fan. She was a bit too...desperate. And what happened to the letters to Celestia? I've been watching till the very end and not a single letter on The Magic of Friendship has been sent.

[Arcanel 3,041]

And what happened to the letters to Celestia? I've been watching till the very end and not a single letter on The Magic of Friendship has been sent.

I think the lesson is with Trixie in this case. And, since Celestia is in Ponyville instead of Canterlot, Twilight probably could have gone and told her herself. 

[Aww 6]

Ugh, I can not stand Trixie She just so.. mean.. Anywubs, The EP was so nice more or less one of my favorite. The Kinda Starwars thing between Zecora and twilight was awesome.

[Cantankerous 106]

I’m going to run through this episode from beginning to end. Bolded text indicates by one means or another which part of the episode I’m about to discuss.

 

 

Teaser

Trixie finds a super magical artifact in an antique shop… okay, I can buy that everyone just assumed it to be a forgery but that leaves the question of how the real thing got there and how Trixie found out about it. Though that’s not so much a problem with the teaser as with the episode generally as it doesn’t need to be explained immediately. As far as opening teasers go this one serves its purpose admirably. What I don’t like is that the episode never bothered to explain. Just saying “Trixie finds super magical artifact” and leaving it at that is lazy writing.

"Aww, don't worry Fluttershy. Twilight's magic has gotten a lot better since she accidentally crushed me and Applejack with a giant snowball"

This reference is out of place to the point it's jarring.

2:22

Hoof clippings? Something about that is disturbing.

2:34

That was your magic show Twilight? Really? I saw more impressive displays at my high school’s talent show.

Rarity faints

Credit where credit’s due, that was funny.

“Hey! You’re lucky a rock farm would take the likes of you!”

A meaningful continuity nod; Pinkie Pie’s past is important to her character and shouldn’t be forgotten about.

“Keep an eye of Trixie, there’s something strange about her.”

No shit. It’s nitpicky, but this statement of the obvious did momentarily distract me.

Twilight seeks Zecora’s help

Makes sense, Zecora's smart and can make all kinds of potentially useful brews. What I can’t abide is her portrayal. Mr. Larson, you wrote Luna Eclipsed, I thought you had a grasp of how write this character. Let’s get this straight, Zecora is a herbalist. She uses plants to make (magic) potions. She’s not some great, wise sage and she’s sure as fuck not Yoda. That she’s reduced to this stupid cliché is aggravating and what’s worse her training is never used!  (Trying to excuse this with the line “she taught me when not to use magic” is flimsy at best.)

“Even though it provides great power it also corrupts the user”

So, despite getting another episode, Trixie receives almost no character development because most of the episode she wasn’t in her right state of mind. Fantastic.

12:38

Look at Dash’s satisfied grin as Fluttershy freaks out. She thinks she’s done something good and seems oblivious to Fluttershy’s reaction. This amuses me.

12:54

Why does the expression on Dash’s face look sensual to me? I have a dirty mind.

Snips and Snails pull Trixie’s wheel-less chariot

I like that Snips and Snails have at least some conscious awareness.

“Mix your magic and use the six”

Uselessly ambigious. It can't even be interpreted to mean what it's suppose to mean. Magic=friendship, fine, but they're not "mixing" their friendship and "use the six" doesn't mean anything beyond rely on your friends. You're in trouble and your friends can help. Umm... yeah? Who said otherwise? Asking my friends to help is your oh so useful insight for me? You're a genius. And where exactly in there does it say refrain from using literal magic. This is just bullshit. 

20:34

It’s nice that the foreign dignitaries are immediately visually identifiable as foreign dignitaries. It’s also nice that they are such without resorting to stereotypical portrayals of other cultures.

Trixie’s apology

It comes out of left field but I suppose I’ll accept that Trixie isn’t seriously a bad pony (she wasn’t THAT much of a jerk in Boast Busters) so her apology makes for a sweet moment. It’s also the only character development she gets all episode so I’m not inclined to complain.

Face plant

He he, that’s was a great little touch.

 

 

Final Thoughts

M.A. Larson wrote Sonic Rainboom in addition to creating the character Discord and providing Luna her dimensionality. Not my favorite writer but these accomplishments are nothing to scoff at. This episode on the other hand is pretty disappointing. There’s some good stuff but it’s minor. From start to finish the writing is lazy (Trixie returns to Ponyville with new powers seeking revenge. Is there any less creative direction they could have taken this?), it fails to do anything interesting or compelling with Trixie as a character, simplifies Zecora’s character at best and distorts her at worst, and is generally devoid of character development. Seriously, what did we learn about any of the characters? Rarity was Rarity. Pinkie Pie was Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash was Rainbow Dash. Everyone was just everyone. They didn’t reveal anything new about who they are or grow as ponies. And whereas it isn’t so bad for an episode about Pinkie Pie cloning herself to be left as cartoony fun the episode of Trixie’s return is much more significant and should be held to a higher standard. This SHOULD have been an episode of substance and depth. It wasn’t. And that sucks.

Edited December 3, 2012 by ByTheTides

[roptiriolg 49]

Oh yeah, anybody else catch this little gem?:

 

 

 

I did, and I almost forgot to comment it. Love Lyra <3  So cuuuute with this fruit shake (maybe apple shake from Apple Jack's farm)

Edited December 3, 2012 by ImtR

[Sunny Fox 5,950]

I did, and I almost forgot to comment it. Love Lyra <3  So cuuuute with this fruit shake (maybe apple shake from Apple Jack's farm)

That there is a hay smoothie, the same type that Trixie got from Snips and Snails in Boast Busters. How you can mistake the picture on the cup for an apple is beyond me.

 

Another detail I found quite funny is if you look at Snails' cutie mark after Trixie turns him into an old stallion, even the snail has glasses and a beard.

Edited December 3, 2012 by Full Spectrum

[DerpyFanatic 114]

Well, the thing she was wearing corrupted her remember?

 

Also, Rule 63 is now canon, but I'm still wondering how pinkie played the sousaphone.....maybe with her butt?

 

 

 

You couldn't help yourself, could you? You just HAD to go there.

 

 

Also, fixed your spelling error for you. Cannon goes boom, canon spells doom.

[Emerald Glow 40]

Most of the detailed thoughts I have on this ep have already been covered multiple times, so I'll just add that this ep was the highlight of Season Three so far for me. Something I've noticed over the years is the way MLP in the past has saved the stories with the highest stakes and darkest themes for the series openers and in S2, the finale. While I'm not as versed in the minutia as some of y'all, it seems as thought this was the DARKEST mid-season ep we've had to date. While I'm still organizing my thoughts on this, I'm going to be curious to see if this more serious, higher-stakes tone will endure throughout the season. On one hand, I'm a little concerned that learning heavier on the "Twilight Battles Major Villain" schtick is going to get old if they start using it more outside the season opener/finale eps. On the other hand, these higher stakes, if managed well, do imply that they're attempting to "grow" the characters and the world a little bit, which could be interesting to see. What was that book that Luna was holding all about? Why all this darkness all of a sudden? What was that "somepony will learn her destiny" bit in the series preview teaser, anyway? This show's never really gone in for season-long story arcs (unless one counts the Grand Galloping Gala), but I can't seem to shake the feeling that we're building up to a big reveal here. Maybe we'll finally find out why the Great and Powerful Celestia rarely does more than deliver plot exposition and delegate stuff to Twilight? ;-)

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

Maybe... the alicorn amulet was once owned by Sombra, and that's how a unicorn stallion got so powerful and also so evil? O_o

 

Also, the corruption seemed to work very fast so perhaps Trixie had an original plan for Ponyville but by the time she got there, the amulet had started corrupting her soul so her first plan was lost?

 

I loved this episode; very dark, especially the opening and very exciting.