Would Magic Duel have been better as a 2-parter?

[Champion RD92 8,658]

It would say that it is definitely the kind of episode that would make a great 2-parter.

 

However, 2-parters seem to only be reserved for season premieres and finales, so it would have had to be the season 3 finale.

[Genepool 224]

I truly get the sense that it could have worked as a great two parter for season three's intro instead of King Sombrero and the Chrystal Kingdom.  There's a couple of reasons that lead me to this conclusion.

 

1. Ending - This feels a bit rushed with Trixie producing a quick light show, apologizing, then running off.  We don't even hear the delegates from Sadle Arabia having any voices to them beyond a potential "Ooooo" and "Ahhh" as they stand near Princess Celestia. 

 

I really expected to see Twilight talk to Princess Celestia and the delegates before the show ended.  But, when I saw what time it was, that just wasn't going to happen. 

 

2. Magic Duel - Don't know why, but I get the feeling this had a HUGE part to play beyond the simple spells we were shown.  Really expected to see some build up during their second duel.  Instead, Trixie skips right to where she left off with an age spell. 

 

3. Suffering - Have the dinstinct feeling this was limited due to it being a kid's show.  However, I was definitely waiting to see a more definitive answer of Trixie being mean to ponies.  We mostly see the one scene in Ponyville's Town Hall, the same being said for Snips and Snails.  After that i'm kind of left shrugging my shoulders. 

 

Maybe it was a fan want, but I definitely hoped to see Trixie messing with ponies as she was pulled through down like a Highschool Bully ordering the school nerds to stand in line for their daily nuggies.  Could have done a scene with Derpy having her eyes fixed to mess with the muffin loving mail mare.  Unfortunately, I get the sneaking suspicion she is being phased out since she's being moved further and further into the background. 

 

The episode was great, don't get me wrong, but I do feel it may have worked better as a two part premier. 

Edited December 2, 2012 by Genepool

[MorningFlash 214]

It should have been a two-parter, there's just a lot of action going on in 30 minutes.

It would have been nice if we could have seen a further insight into Twilight's training with Zecora.

[Rainbow Dash Loyalty 1,275]

Knowing that's there's only 13 episodes in the season, I'd say it would be fine without a second part. I'd rather see more episodes with different plots unless it's well made like the finale episodes. I didn't find it 'too' rushed either IMO, Twilight was training while Trixie was wrecking havoc and Twilight came back to stop her, that's all I really need to know xP Most of the villains are usually defeated quite fast anyway >.<

[kirbyboi 588]

That would be great for it to be a two-parter, as long as the plot is good and fit well within the episodes time limit. This episode had lots of stuff happening, but they could only fit it all in under 22 minutes. Then if we made this a two-parter episode, they'd have more time to get the plot in and all.

 

The only problem with a two-parter episode of this would be that season 3 only has 13 episodes.  They need room for other episodes to be included. So I don't think they could, anyways. But yeah, I would love to see this made into a two-part episode. Would've had everything explained better. This was a great episode overall, but I still didn't see a letter to Celestia.

[Ask Babs Seed 0]

 so today i saw yesterdays new episode of mlp. i did not get it. i think that episode should have been a special. Also i dont got the amulet (alicorn amulet) i think only a alicorns would have been able to have the powers of of bit. well i guess im done bye ponies

[Undyne 1,483]

Oooook, this is... Uh, what's the word?

 

Anyways, the show wasn't really supposed to be a special. Just think of why this season is only 13 episodes. There might be something planned at the end, like an hour-long special.

[Magpie 623]

There's no real reason for it to be a special. What else could they have introduced to that episode that they didn't cover? The hour-longs are usually reserved for those with a very long plot, which have a lot to introduce to the viewers, such a s new villains, or new concepts. Such as Discord and the Changelings, both episodes introduces new antagonists, and new concepts. This episode just re-introduced a villain from before, and had nothing more to be said.(Sorry if I became I little redundant)

[FALCON PUNCH 244]

I enjoyed the episode and it was probably one of my favorites. But as Rockshire said the season only has 13 episodes and they might as well put as much in as possible and there could be a long finale.

[Emerald Flame 381]

Yes! It did seem a little rushed. I would have liked more time to see Zecora's training, Trixie's rule over Ponyville, and more magic in the actual duels. Especially since Trixie didn't do anything in the second one, she just stood there in awe of Twilight's "magic" instead of trying to use any of her own.

[khaine21x3 789]

HELL YES!

 

I wanted a trixie and twilight duet song and they could've performed more elaborate tricks together for the ambassadors.

[TailsIsNotAlone 3,695]

Possibly. But if it was, we'd be complaining "another two-parter already?" ^^

 

I think this could have been resolved more effectively in just one episode if the writers hadn't tried to do too much in 20 minutes. For example, the opening sequence of Trixie buying the pendant at a store somewhere was unnecessary and kind of took away from the artifact's mystique. Twilight and Fluttershy's animals could have been the opener instead, giving the whole episode more room to breathe. I also might have dropped the scenes of Fluttershy escaping Ponyville completely (did we need another Shy=tree joke?) and used that time for Trixie's arrival in Ponyville. The way she suddenly appeared in the center of town wasn't very exciting.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Possibly. But if it was, we'd be complaining "another two-parter already?" ^^

 

I think this could have been resolved more effectively in just one episode if the writers hadn't tried to do too much in 20 minutes. For example, the opening sequence of Trixie buying the pendant at a store somewhere was unnecessary and kind of took away from the artifact's mystique. Twilight and Fluttershy's animals could have been the opener instead, giving the whole episode more room to breathe. I also might have dropped the scenes of Fluttershy escaping Ponyville completely (did we need another Shy=tree joke?) and used that time for Trixie's arrival in Ponyville. The way she suddenly appeared in the center of town wasn't very exciting.

Although if they dropped the opening scene of her in the shop people would have been screaming "WHERE DID THE $@&$@@& AMULET COME FROM? BLAH BLAH RAGE BLAH BLAH PLOT DEVICE!" ( Although they are still doing that on some level with regards to the amulet's origins).

 

I will agree that this episode was packed full though, my problem is that I honestly can't understand what I would cut from it.

[Arcanel 3,041]

Could it have been a two-parter? Yes. Do I think it would have been better? It depends. There are things that didn't need more explanation, but there are things that if it could have been further explained it would have been even better. However, I think that one episode is just fine. I'll leave further things to the headcanon.

[XUNUSEDXXX 3,459]

I'm indifferent. I found the episode gave what it had to offer when it comes to entertainment, but most a lot of episodes would be better in more than one episode as we get more pony :3