This Episode is Terrible!........ Why it isn't. #3 The Crystal Empire

[Anadu Kune 668]

This is one I see a lot of complaints on as of late. I was gonna wait a while but I figured I should Address it now. Let me address the main complaint first.

 

The villain was just pain terrible!!! He only had like two lines of dialog and Absolutely no personality. He wasn't even threatening!!! The writers just are not up to the task anymore it seems. 

 

This is the most common complaint and its one that really I feel stems from preference rather than poor writing. I myself prefer villains like Discord who have a very tangible, embodied presence in the episode with a bombastic personality also very present. Problem is Sombra was never meant to be that type of villain He was the looming threat that moves the characters into action. He was the representation of Twilight's fear of failure. This is an episode mainly focused on Twilight with an emphasis on fear. Sombra is very much like Sauron from LOTR. We know Sauron is bad and did bad stuff in the past which comes back and drives the characters into motion, but thats about it. Does this make him a bad villain?  Maybe to some. Heres the real question though Does this make LOTR a bad movie or Crystal Empire a bad episode? I dont think so.

Sombra did however have a great presence in the episode. The Crystal Empire is littered with the remnants of his past deeds. Erasing the memories of the crystal ponies, the torn page of the book. His presence I think is shown most in the traps he left to guard the crystal heart. A door that leads to your darkest fear, infinite winding staircase, a dark barrier that negates unicorn magic. 

Not threatening you say. Lets see, He enslaved an entire race and wiped them of key memories whist banishing them from reality. His magic was also shown to be able to negate the magic of other unicorns. Id say those points alone would qualify someone as threatening.

 

You know the funny thing is that I can only think of three lines Sauron said in the entirety of the LOTR series. Thats three three hour movies. 
1. I see you(fellowship)

2. I see you( return of the king)

3. The one ring to rule them all phrase in the dark tongue of Mordor.

 

Does this make LOTR a bad trilogy? 

 

The pacing was just bad.

 

Though I would list that as a problem in other two parters, it seems to me much less of one here. The entire episode built up to that dramatic moment with Spike. We had the villain pounding at the doors(so to speak) from the very beginning of the episode building anticipation for his arrival and an ever present pressure on the characters. Spikes involvement was built up from the moment he offered to help twilight,  he would try to assist  and Twilight would stop him. In the Return of Harmony they needed to focus on restoring all 6 characters to their normal state including a chase scene with RD and defeat discord with the elements of harmony at the end. In this episode they only need to focus on the collapse of the shield which was built up the entire episode, Keeping the Crystal Ponies content again present through most of  the episode, and at the very end finding the crystal heart which also had a bid chunk dedicated to it. They also had a neat subplot weaved in.

 

So Sombra hid the crystal heart where any passing Pegasus could find it?

 

The crystal ponies dont have wings. If Pegasi did live there then yes might would silly. There is at current no indication that Pegasi lived there. Lets not forget as well the dark magic protecting it. 

 

Cadence being the crystal Princess doesn't make sense. 

Well all we know on that front is that they thought her to be the crystal princess. All other indications in the episode is that this is the first time she ever had contact with the crystal empire. Though Im sure there are multiple interesting theory's on the matter.

 

Standing complaints

Though I did feel the pacing in this two parter was probably the best of all of them it did feel a bit slow from time to time. Its great that we get to see Shining and Cadence again I would however really like some more character development out of them. Rainbows aggression was a bit over exaggerated in this. I also have to question why Celestia tested Twilight, though I can think of several reasons which may be revealed at the end of the season.

Edited December 22, 2012 by Anadu Kune

[Leafeon 2,702]

I just want to point out Cadence's cutie mark. For the season 2 finale I was wondering what it meant. But the season 3 premiere actually explains it. Which is nice.

[PonyPowaX1000 69]

The villain was just pain terrible!!! He only had like two lines of dialog and Absolutely no personality. He wasn't even threatening!!! The writers just are not up to the task anymore it seems.   

 

I personally didn't mind King Sombra, I mean all the other villians were developed while he was what you call a "generic" villian and I necessarly don't see it as a bad thing.

 

"My Cryystaaal Slaaaaavesssss "

 

The pacing was just bad.

 

The pacing was pretty decent in my opinion.

 

Cadence being the crystal Princess doesn't make sense. 

 

I actually does because you never know Cadance could be a decedent of the first Queen of the Crystal empire. 

[Anadu Kune 668]

I personally didn't mind King Sombra, I mean all the other villians were developed while he was what you call a "generic" villian and I necessarly don't see it as a bad thing.

 

"My Cryystaaal Slaaaaavesssss "

 

 

 

The pacing was pretty decent in my opinion.

 

 

 

I actually does because you never know Cadance could be a decedent of the first Queen of the Crystal empire. 

You know one thing I didnt mention was that despite having 3 three hour movies Sauron in LOTR I think had less lines than Sombra. I can only think of three lines Sauron said and one of them is in a fictional langauge. 

 

Saurons lines

1. Fictional langauge translating to the one ring to rule them all phrase

2. I see you (fellowship)

3. I see you (return of the king)

Edited December 15, 2012 by Anadu Kune

[Dusty Soul 2,614]

I found that this was a pretty decent episode, though I think it could'v been better.  I honestly thought the pacing was a little off compared to other two-parters.  I did like Sombra in this though.  He was a great villain.

[sweet insanity 9]

I thought it was a ok episode but for some reason I thought king sombra looked like he was made out of pony creater and I also remember seeing a picture of him somewhere befor the episode came out and.I felt sorry for spike as it was technically him who saves all the Every pony's lives but they all go and thank twilight.