S03:E07 - Wonderbolts Academy

[Dark Qiviut 22,430]

I think it's time to write a more in-depth analysis of Spitfire.

 

In the brief lines in the previous two seasons, she came off as rather laid-back and kind. In Wonderbolts Academy, she came off as rather firm, neutral, stern, and commanding. The response has been rather mixed. Some like it. Some hate it. Some are in-between. (Chaotic Discord said he loved how she was portrayed, but didn't have an extra line to bridge the gap between the Spitfire we saw in WA and the Spitfire from previous seasons.)

 

Responses from both sides do have a point.

 

First, I'll discuss the side of those who didn't like her portrayal today. Although Spitfire had just a few lines, it still creates an overall impression and expectation of who she is. We expected Spitfire to be a rather passionate, yet laid-back Wonderbolt. And what we saw from Spitfire in the first two seasons show that. So when you see a personality from the same character be exactly the opposite, it can come across as somewhat jarring and out of character. You get a rather negative reception as a result, and that's understandable.

 

However, the other side also makes a good point, and I'm among those who call Spitfire's portrayal here great. Spitfire is a Wonderbolt, and bring a Wonderbolt isn't just about being stunt fliers who fly great and fast. Being a Wonderbolt also carries enormous tenacity, spirit, commitment, restraint, and heart. Fly fast, fly well, fly responsibly. Her sergeant-like portrayal gives the academy integrity, neutrality, and nobility. She's firm because being a Wonderbolt is stressful, and she wants those recruits to prove it in the tasks at hand. Furthermore, her hardass attitude means she takes her duty as a Wonderbolt very seriously. It's extremely significant character development if you ask me.

 

But like I said before, even though she's mean and tough in the Academy doesn't mean she can't be kind, reserved, or laid-back when not helping run it. In fact, she can be both. Soarinjack in the previous thread made this point by using a real-life example. But there are two famous people who did the same.

1. Gordon Ramsey, the famous hardass chef from those kitchen competition dramas, as someone here said earlier in this thread. In Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares, he's demanding, explosive, passionate, and very aggressive. The kitchen is a very stressful job, and he gives the chefs that treatment of stress so they can work better. When the cameras are off, though, he's extremely laid-back and observant.
2. Bob Ross, the late legendary TV painter with that calm, encouraging, mellow tone. Prior to being a TV painter for Bill Alexander's Magic Art Company and eventually Bob Ross, Inc., he worked in the Air Force in Fairbanks, Alaska for twelve years. Several times in The Joy of Painting (and [i think] the PBS biography, Bob Ross: The Happy Painter), he said that he had to scream at his recruits and break down their egos. When he retired, he promised to never be that way again and be the sweet, gentle, soft, genuinely kind soul in the show.

Spitfire shows that in this episode. She's hard, tough, passionate, and mean in WA. But she can also be Rainbow Dash's cider buddy when not working on Academy grounds.

Edited December 15, 2012 by Dark Qiviut

[Tall_But_Short_37 233]

So are the Wonderbolts just showponies or do they actually serve as some kind of elite air force?  I mean, Spitfire has a military uniform on with a bunch of medals and we did see them try (and fail) to fight the giant Spike in season 2.  They also seem to assist in government work by overseeing the water tornado in Hurricane Fluttershy.  Seems like a lot of responsibility for a bunch of stuntponies.

 

Hadn't thought of that... Soon after the got there, before they even started any training, I really wish Spitfire had showed an old slideshow or video or something (kind of like what Rainbow showed in Hurricane Fluttershy) of the history and duties of the Wonderbolts, and what it's gonna take to become one.

[Betez 1,734]

I think this is one of the better episodes of Season 3. I don't know what's going to happen To Rainbow Dash, though. Hopefully, they'll make a sequal to this episode.

[Radiance64 7,053]

First, for those of you who waited like me and wish to watch it in HD on YouTube, here it is:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27dKoFfi0RU

 

Personally, I thought it was a good episode. 8/10 from me. The ending reminded me of Sweet and Elite, where both Rarity and Rainbow Dash had or were close to everything they wanted, but gave it up to stand up for their friends. I liked that we very clearly saw Rainbow representing more depth and especially her element in this episode, for both her friends and her fellow Wonderbolt cadets. She really was portrayed as caring more about others than herself, which is a side we haven't seen as much from her.

 

To me, Lightning Dust is like the antithesis or foil to Rainbow Dash's character, almost what Dash could've become if she'd never made the friends she has. They're both very, very similar pegasi; both above average flier, both love to show off, both love to be recognized for their achievements, heck, both even have unique flight trails. We've seen Rainbow be arrogant and neglect others in the past (Mysterious Mare Do Well) like Lighting Dust does, but her friends have helped her learn that that's not the right way to do things. Perhaps if Rainbow had never discovered the magic of friendship, her and Lightning would've gotten along perfectly.

 

Really not sure how I feel about the end being so open-ended like it was. I raises several questions for me that we'll just have to wait and see what comes of them.

• Will Rainbow become a Wonderbolt?

• Will we see more of the Academy, or just hear about it?

• How will Rainbow manage more training there while still leaving time for her friends?

• What happened to Lightning Dust?

• Will she pull a Trixie and come back for revenge on Rainbow?

Loved Spitfire, I liked her sass and take-no-prisoners attitude, but also that she showed a little bit of her calmer, understanding side at the end like we saw at the Gala. I don't mind at all that Spitfire acted like she'd never met Rainbow. I think it's good that she treated her like all the other cadets to prevent Rainbow from thinking she'd get any favoritism or her getting a big head. She isn't mean, she just wants to weed out the ones who are true Wonderbolt material from those who can't handle the pressure.

 

Other things:

• Loved Rainbow's ohmygoshohmygosh

   

• Loved Fluttershy being an embarrassment to pegasi everywhere

   

• Scenery and animation was beautiful

   

• Pinkie has some serious abandonment issues...

   

• Raindow Dash + Lightning Dust = 40% cooler

   

• Good to see Roid Rage again, slightly surprised he's 1) capable of flying with those wings 2) got accepted into the academy with those wings

   

• No Deeeeerpy

   

• It was cool to see all the fancy training and artificial weather machines the Academy had.

   

• Rainbow constantly saving people falling off of clouds reminds me of the Sky Knights that save you when you fall off Skyloft in Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

   

• I'm sure there was other stuff, but I'll think of it some other time...

The MLP Mobile Game says: "Spitfire is the captain of the most talented flyers in all of Equestria, the Wonderbolts."

That's an interesting point, I suppose the endings were rather similar. They were sort of opposites though, with Rarity in the end leaving Canterlot(whether or not we'll see her with the elite again remains to be seen) and Rainbow Dash still being a Wonderbolt trainee in her ending.

[Lateon2 14]

I actually really liked Spitfire in this episode.  She seems like more of a leader.  If she was all buddy-buddy with RD it would have seemed like it should have caused a conflict between Rainbow and the others for "favoritism".  The focus was on the RD/LD conflict.  We've always seen Spitfire in a non-leader setting (the gala, hurricane fluttershy) and this episode gave us the opportunity to see the leader side of her, and show exactly why she trains the best flyers in Equestria.

[Tall_But_Short_37 233]

That's an interesting point, I suppose the endings were rather similar. They were sort of opposites though, with Rarity in the end leaving Canterlot(whether or not we'll see her with the elite again remains to be seen) and Rainbow Dash still being a Wonderbolt trainee in her ending.

 

True, but I think eventually, assuming Rainbow sticks with the Academy and progresses more in her training, she'll have to make a choice between the Wonderbolts and her friends, like Rarity did with the elite. When this happens, she'll be very conflicted, like Rarity was, between her dream and her friends.

Edited December 15, 2012 by Tall_But_Short_37

[Pony Joe 583]

I'd say that this episode ties with Sonic Rainboom as the best Rainbow Dash episode ever.

I initially thought that Rainbow and Lightning's friendship would become a competition, but I loved the way that Rainbow was forced to decide for herself the difference between positive and negative motivation.  It ended up being a perfect match for her element, and had a moral that you don't often see in kids' shows.

 

Other notable things:

- I'd love to count how many times Spitfire said "That's an academy record!"

- Pinkie Pie's obsessive mail-checking was way more entertaining than it should have been.

- Steroids pony returns!

- Do you think they've realized yet that any time you bring non-flying ponies into Pegasus territory, someone's going to nearly fall to their death?

- This shot was awesome:

 

 

You are getting veeeeeeeery dizzy...

[Tall_But_Short_37 233]

- This shot was awesome:

 

 

You are getting veeeeeeeery dizzy...

 

Ehh, it's not that awesome. I've seen better. I don't really get it, it's kinda random, it's just some reflec- ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOFIRE.

Edited December 15, 2012 by Tall_But_Short_37

[Radiance64 7,053]

 True, but I think eventually, assuming Rainbow sticks with the Academy and progresses more in her training, she'll have to make a choice between the Wonderbolts and her friends, like Rarity did with the elite. When this happens, she'll be very conflicted, like Rarity was, between her dream and her friends.

Hm, maybe. That sounds like something they would save for the end of the series though, assuming she would say yes and wouldn't be able to see her friends very often. We'll just have to see how everything pans out and comes together though, because this episode was certainly a very big step storywise.

[Tall_But_Short_37 233]

The one thing I wish they'd changed was the punishment of L.D. They way they handled it, she was just demoted and possibly expelled. I really wish they'd given her a chance to apologize to Rainbow and her fellow cadets, and start to redeem herself a little. She's a great flier, she only needs to be humbled a little and learn to not be so reckless. Her apologizing would've given the writers a chance to have her in future episodes as a good character, and personally given me more closure. This ending is just gonna leave her bitter and resentful towards the whole Wonderbolts establishment.

 

Then again, maybe the writers didn't want another redeemed antagonist after all the arguments over Trixie's apology.

[Dashabel 381]

I am starting to see Spitfire's reasons for her performance today, but I'll admit I liked her far better in previous episode such as Sonic Rainboom and The Best Night Ever than today. Maybe it was her voice change, to. Her voice has a stern, sharpness to it that would be perfect for sergeant.

[Antismurf9001 1,271]

- Steroids pony returns

 

I've heard rumors that his name is Snowflake...

 

I actually thought that this was a really excellent episode (wow, is that two episodes in a row where Dash doesn't look like a jerk?).  The story was good and the characters were great.  Oddly though, I feel like one of the main reasons I liked this was because we saw a side of Pinkie that we often don't get to see (or at least I haven't noticed); how she absolutely needs her friends to be happy, and if they aren't she takes it personally, as though it is entirely her fault.  It's a really cute character flaw (is it a flaw?  I don't know...) and I sort of wish we saw more of it.

[Dashabel 381]

The one thing I wish they'd changed was the punishment of L.D. They way they handled it, she was just demoted and possibly expelled. I really wish they'd given her a chance to apologize to Rainbow and her fellow cadets, and start to redeem herself a little. She's a great flier, she only needs to be humbled a little and learn to not be so reckless. Her apologizing would've given the writers a chance to have her in future episodes as a good character, and personally given me more closure. This ending is just gonna leave her bitter and resentful towards the whole Wonderbolts establishment.

 

Then again, maybe the writers didn't want another redeemed antagonist after all the arguments over Trixie's apology.

I agree. I felt a little sorry for her at the end. After all, this show is about learning lessons in friendship, and a bad pony is always forgiven. I think Lightning Dust should have been given to chance to make peace, because it's left me hanging!

[Modphase 1,271]

So are the Wonderbolts just showponies or do they actually serve as some kind of elite air force?  I mean, Spitfire has a military uniform on with a bunch of medals and we did see them try (and fail) to fight the giant Spike in season 2.  They also seem to assist in government work by overseeing the water tornado in Hurricane Fluttershy.  Seems like a lot of responsibility for a bunch of stuntponies.

I think that too. "Academy" is usually a word associated with an establishment that trains military personnel, and the student's "half-suits" are like the jumpsuits that new military recruits get. You can also see lots of captains wearing aviators, which is what Spitfire had on. Not to mention her sergeant like attitude. There are so many things in the episode that resemble the military it's hard to list them all.

Edited December 15, 2012 by Modphase

[Wingnut 6,994]

Now that I've seen it, I can say what I liked the most about Wonderbolts Academy. It made me think about how much the Mane 6 have changed, learned from each other, and matured since they first met. In particular, look at how Rainbow Dash is mastering one of the basic tenets of loyalty: Putting the well-being of others ahead of your own goals. RD will always be a competitor, but she knows when to say when. In other words, Lightning Dust isn't a random pegasus at all. She's who Rainbow Dash might be if she never met her friends in the first place.

[Freeze 1]

With this new episode comes my most favorite background pony, which I call Chuck Jones, because he has that face that screams "I'm Chuck Jones". But, apparently he looks like Top Gun, so he could be called that too. While I would show a picture, I don't know how to. Simply, he's the pony with the noticeable chin and mustache, and is the one who manages the Spinny-tron thing that makes the ponies dizzy.

[rjrgmc28 130]

Whew! After having to avoid the leaked copies of the episode and spoilers for a few days, I finally got the chance to catch the episode live early this morning. (again 2:00am)

Overall, this episode was a bit of a OK one for me, but it isn't considered one of my favourite episodes of the season so far. Although it lived up to the hype, there were a few things that got me a bit offside about the episode itself, mainly Spitfire's laid back personality from the last two seasons undergoing a major overhaul with the new voice and military officer style.

 

I wrote a few tweets during the episode, but this one sums up how I felt about the change:

"What the? What in the name of Celestia happened to Spitfire?! Drill sarge? Where’s is her personality?!"

 

Apart from that, the side story of Pinkie waiting at the mailbox was pretty well done and added a bit of humour to the episode.

 

 

[Music Chart Fan 819]

This episode, like some of the others written by Merriwether Williams, seemed for better or worse like a typical cartoon episode - entertaining enough, but not really "magical."

 

I'm with others on this topic in that I don't find Pinkie acting like she has mental problems particularly entertaining. Isn't Pinkie at least smart enough to wait for the mailpony, rather than opening and closing her mailbox every second as if a letter from Rainbow Dash will magically appear inside? Where did Pinkie get the idea that Rainbow Dash will completely forget her friends after spending a few days away from Ponyville? This episode seems to lower Pinkie's intelligence too much in order to get cheap laughs and a plot device to get the others to go to the Academy.

 

I liked ~Chaotic Discord~'s comments about Spitfire - I'm not against the idea of Spitfire acting tough while in drill-sergeant mode, but there didn't seem to be any connection to the Spitfire from previous episodes. I also didn't really like Spitfire's voice acting - it sounded like the voice actor was trying too hard to sound "tough" and came across as being kind of artificial at times.

 

The part where Rainbow Dash goes to Spitfire's office and quits seemed a little strange. First, I think the episode tries to imply that Spitfire making Lightning Dust lead pony was an endorsement of her method of winning and not caring who else gets hurt. However, when Lightning Dust was assigned lead pony, we hadn't seen Lightning Dust do anything to endanger other ponies yet.

 

Furthermore, when Rainbow Dash tells Spitfire that Lightning Dust used a tornado to clear the clouds, Spitfire, before knowing that the tornado endangered anyone, says that it was a bit excessive but effective. Then Rainbow Dash tells Spitfire that the tornado endangered her friends and that if that's what get rewarded, then she doesn't want any part of it. Spitfire, who is probably still taking all of this in, doesn't even get to respond properly before Rainbow Dash then quits. At no time did Spitfire endorse winning no matter who gets hurt or anything like that, yet Rainbow Dash acts as though she did. After seeing that, I was glad that at least Spitfire was able to correct Rainbow Dash's misunderstanding at the end of the episode.

 

Now it's time for a few nitpicks:

 

In yet another case of ponies using things made for humans despite being ill-suited for ponies' bodies, the sunglasses of the staff at the Academy all have the two long pieces on both sides that would go behind/on top of humans' ears and help support the glasses. In this case, however, those pieces did not go behind/on top of anything, so they are completely pointless. This also apparently means that their sunglasses are being supported solely by their noses, so the sunglasses must be clamped on their noses pretty hard not to be blown off by all of the wind gusts from speeding ponies, etc.

 

Spitfire tells the cadets not to worry about winning the obstacle course, because it's not a race. But then when Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust finish the course, they were being timed by Spitfire and she tells them that their time is an Academy record. Doesn't racing against the clock still count as a race?

 

When Rainbow Dash is diving to save the rest of the Mane Six, what exactly was the point of the convenient tunnel which Rainbow Dash flew through on her way down?

[roptiriolg 49]

First, for those of you who waited like me and wish to watch it in HD on YouTube, here it is:

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=27dKoFfi0RU

 

Thank you so much for the nice HD video!

 

I watched the episode, and it was awesome! Rainbow Dash comes as my 3rd favorite pony after Luna and Fluttershy but that third is almost as close as being my most favorite!

 

Firstly, together with Lightning Dust, the extra outfit they wore made them super cool. As it has been mentioned in previous posts, egoistic or not, Lightning Dust looked gorgeous! SO much coolness from both of them.

 

I like especially the tornado part and after that - why do you think the pony frowned upon Fluttershy?

 

LOL, because Fluttershy was like:

 

'You saved me! Oh ugh .. I forgot I can fly'

 

 

So cute!

[Brony44 22]

I felt bad for Lightning at the end. Yes, she was reckless, but she should have just gotten a warning and ended up being friends with RD. The episode was great, RD definaely showed her loyalty trait, Pinkie was hilarious as usual, but the ending was terrible.

 

1. The ending was way too open ended.

2. It made them all look completely unforgiving towards Lightning. As I said, they should have made up at the end and she should have gotten a warning.

[Danger Wasp 114]

I for some reason was expecting a song like this in the episode -_- (I don't know why)

http://youtu.be/AW7qcakYyDw

 

BUT DAMN! now I have to see what happens next in episode 2.

[Emerald Glow 40]

So are the Wonderbolts just showponies or do they actually serve as some kind of elite air force?  I mean, Spitfire has a military uniform on with a bunch of medals and we did see them try (and fail) to fight the giant Spike in season 2.  They also seem to assist in government work by overseeing the water tornado in Hurricane Fluttershy.  Seems like a lot of responsibility for a bunch of stuntponies.

My working theory's been that they're a bit like the Navy's Blue Angels and Air Force elite flying groups that perform in air shows and such. They mostly work as stunt ponies, but are also members of the military. As such they can be and are called to active duty by Celestia when needed. Given that 99% of the time Equestria's a pretty peaceful place (Nightmare Moon, Discord, Changelings, and Sombrero Sombra aside), the Wonderbolts mostly perform their less martial duties, assuming there aren't any rampaging dragons going through premature adolescence.

 

General responses to this week's episode:

 

As mentioned on Tumblr/Twitter, after the last two episodes Dash has shot up from Least Best Pony (of the Mane 6) to Fourth, and could possibly surpass Fluttershy for third at the rate she's going. (Twi and AJ are a fairly safe one and two, for the record). I really like the maturity she's shown in the last two episodes as both a mentor/big sis figure and a responsible flier able to work past jealousy and serve as wing pony in a team setting, and also competely ready to jettison a lifelong dream to stay loyal to her core values.

 

Second, I liked the contrast between Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust, and how they were initially friends, and then friendly rivals, before Rainbow had to figure out how to do the right thing while also being a loyal wing pony.

 

Having read the controversy on this point, I saw no contradiction between the Spitfire of previous eps and Wonderbolts Academy. Reminded me of an old band director actually--we could all be joking around in his office before class started, but when he raised his baton you shut up, fell into discipline, and marched/played to his standards of excellence. If you didn't, well, woe betide you. I think it was one of the reasons we were one of the best high school bands in the state, IMHO. :-)

 

The weak link in this episode...again...was Pinkie, for all the reasons already discussed. In fact, I think my new Least Best Pony has been the weakest link of the whole season, perhaps more so than Sombra even. I could explain this in more detail, but I think I'll save that rant character analysis for my next blog post. ;-)

[Rainbow Sparkle 70]

I enjoyed watching the episode, even if I think it was the worst episode by far. Okay, worst is laying it on a little thick, but to suffice to say this is not my favorite episode of the season. Spitfire has changed completely it seems, and many of the qualities that make up Rainbow Dash's personality seemed to be shunted off onto Thunderdust.

EDIT: I can skip the Spitfire bit, since the guy above me makes a good point, but I think they should have shown such an thing in the episode, then it would have made more sense.

 

Not only that, but the whole bit with Pinkie Pie was really really overdone, and for the first time ever I wanted to smack Pinkie upside the head with a rubber chicken and say "Enough already, we get it!"

 

Overall, to me it was a weak episode. Hoping the next one is better.

Edited December 16, 2012 by Rainbow Sparkle

[AfroPony 24]

Pros:
1. The ending opened up possibilities for more wonderbolt episode.

2. The I liked the whole military perspective that this episode was trying to show, possibly giving more of a message that this show is open for both genders and as well as any age.
3. The camio appearance of pegasi from other episodes.

4. The ending as well showed how loyal Rainbowdash is toward her friends, she gave up the academy because it at one point put her friends in danger, so this raises the question: "if Rainbowdash becomes a wonderbolt and ends up having to choose the wonderbolts or her friends, which will she choose?

 

Cons:

1. The character Lightning dust could have been better, I had trouble recognizing her position as a character. At first she seemed like a rival trying to be the best, then when rainbowdash and her were teamed up she seemed more like a new friend, maybe even a mentor. But towards the end she seemed like an antagonist the way she acted towards and under minded everyone at the academy.

2. I noticed from the start that when Spitfire talked she sounded different. And this was not the first time its happened, as well as not the only character. Luna in the last episode sounded different as well. I guess this means that they don't have an actual voice actor set for some characters. I hope that in the future this will be resolved.

3. Though the ending raised some good questions and possible episodes, the ending seemed a little rushed to me, as if they were running out of time.

 

Overall I give this show a solid 8/10. I would like to see more episodes like this answering questions that the fandom would love to know, but have a little more quality put into the story from now on. Still, Loved the show, keep it up Lauren

[NavelColt 22,881]

After watching it again, I spose I don't have as big an issue with Spitfire's suddenly altered personality direction appearance. In the end, you need to put on a seemingly heartless persona when being a drill sergeant and I understand that. Guess all I'll say is I hope we get to see more of her, both sides of her, on and off duty.

 

...

 

Still liked her old voice actor more, though :3