S03:E12 - Games Ponies Play

[GuillermoGage 246]

What fanon names can we give to that green mare? I was thinking Henrietta. Because her cutie mark is a hen.

I wonder if you will one day become the Dr. Foreigner of that character the green mare....? The credits listed her as something like "games inspector" but that would be confusing on search terms...?

 

I'm also going to make a thread asking about the origins of all these fanon names if there isn't one already.

 

Aaaand. I think that notion just got crushed. Her canon name is Ms. Peachbottom, as told via Twitter that website I never use but apparently affects my fandom.

Edited February 10, 2013 by GuillermoGage

[Wingnut 6,996]

OK, today we have the classic mistaken identity plot. Everything that can possibly go wrong goes wrong but a chance encounter at the end saves the day. Not my favorite TV trope, so that made the story itself seem boring and predictable to me. The scenes jumped around a bit too much also. The five ponies were so focused on impressing the  presumed games inspector that nobody was willing to risk blowing it by asking questions. I can see that going on briefly, but all five of them are intelligent enough that one of them should have realized they had the wrong pony sooner. Also, Rainbow Dash struck some people as being out of character. But seeing how determined she was to land the Equestria Games for the Crystal Empire, I didn't have an issue with her behavior. Yet, if I were to rank  Season 3 episodes from most to least liked, this would be in the bottom 6 or 7.

Fortunately, The Games Ponies Play still has enough laughs and features to make it worth watching. Here is a quick run down of fun, memorable things in the episode:

-Filly Rainbow Dash with her dad in a flashback.

-RD trying to redeem her childhood disappointment vicariously through one of the Crystal Empire kids.

-RD going splat against the spa's skylight!

-The Mane 6's group cheer!

-”Cinnamon bun!” Looks like “Muffins” has some competition now.

-How Twilight has learned to ward off anxiety by extending a hoof and taking a deep breath. The only time it doesn't work is when she learns they were entertaining the wrong mare.

-Miss Mustang's claustrophobia...strange how she only panics when she looks up.

-The inspector's willingness to forgive everything when she got a first hand account of the warm welcome that was planned for her all along.

-Rarity who got to work her magic on Cadance's hair.

-And, of course, the continuity with Just for Sidekicks.

Edited February 10, 2013 by Wingnut

[GuillermoGage 246]

 

OK, today we have the classic mistaken identity plot. Everything that can possibly go wrong goes wrong but a chance encounter at the end saves the day. Not my favorite TV trope, so that made the story itself seem boring and predictable to me. The scenes jumped around a bit too much also. The five ponies were so focused on impressing the  presumed games inspector that nobody was willing to risk blowing it by asking questions. I can see that going on  briefly, but all five of them are intelligent enough that one of them should have realized they had the wrong pony sooner. Also, Rainbow Dash struck some people as being out of character. But seeing how determined she was to  land the Equestria Games for the Crystal Empire, I didn't have an issue with her behavior. Yet, if I were to rank  Season 3 episodes from most to least liked, this would be in the bottom 6 or 7.

Fortunately, The Games Ponies Play still has enough laughs and features to make it worth watching. Here is a quick run down of fun, memorable things in the episode:

-Filly Rainbow Dash with her dad in a flashback.

-RD trying to redeem her childhood disappointment vicariously through one of the Crystal Empire kids.

-RD going splat against the spa's skylight!

-The Mane 6's group cheer!

-”Cinnamon bun!” Looks like “Muffins” has some competition now.

-HowTwilight has learned to ward off anxiety by extending a hoof and taking a deep breath. The only time it doesn't work is when she learns they were entertaining the wrong mare.

-Miss Mustang's claustrophobia...strange how she only panics when she looks up.

-The inspector's willingness to forgive everything when she got a first hand account of the warm welcome that was planned for her all along.

-Rarity who got to work her magic on Cadance's hair.

-And, of course, the continuity with Just for Sidekicks.

That is actually a sensible fanon name that is based on information from the episode, so could be borderline canon. She might be a Miss, what with all her flirtation, but does Mustang mean she is literally considered a mustang horse, but a smaller one? Or just a resident of Mustangia or whatever?

EDIT: https://twitter.com/MMeghanMcCarthy/status/298686090670395392 so the "original name" is Ms. Peachbottom. another factoid is that these sort of things are the only time I ever encounter the website Twitter.

 

I had a hard time hearing the group cheer, I heard "2,4,6,8", but it sounded like I also heard "2, 7, 9, 3," or something like that, and I wonder if that is supposed to be some pattern that only math geeks are supposed to get.

Edited February 10, 2013 by GuillermoGage

[Leafeon 2,702]

Maybe I'm the only one who didn't really like this episode?

 

The best part of it was obviously Dash's outbursts. But, when you don't like her too much, and feel like she's getting too much screen time this season, yea.

 

Cadence is dull. I mean, I'm sorry, but she has next to no flaws and no personality.

 

Shining Armour has a personality? Awesome! The fact that's awesome, is kind of sad, actually.

 

I was expecting Rarity to have more of a role. She was great, but there wasn't enough of her.

 

Yet another thing never mentioned before this episode. Yet it seems to be a big deal to everypony. And I don't think we'll hear about it again. Joy.

 

"SO MANY CLICHES!" says my inner-critique.

 

That ending was way to rushed... yet another theme this season it seems. A lot of the episodes have been taking risks, which is great! But you still need to have a strong finish.

 

Kay. Guiz. CAN CELESTIA HAVE AN EPISODE?! She so desperately needs one!

 

This episode is mostly just forgettable, considering it is right before the finale.

Edited February 10, 2013 by Firebolt

[Inactive01 5,299]

The biggest disappointment of all was the fact that the title of the episode was misleading. I was hoping that the games were actually happening! Why else would you say "Games Ponies Play"?! I mean, you could have a much cooler plot where the ponies are actually playing the games!

[roptiriolg 49]

So this episode was the same as the previous one but seen from the other side, that of the mane 6, interesting idea, never seen it before to represent an episode from others' view.  I can say this side of the episode was definitely more interesting than the previous one, funny how they confused the guest. Though, there wasn't much action or anything happening for that matter.

 

When the episode started with cuts from the previous episode, I thought I was watching the wrong episode, the previous one, but then it was all fine. I see an issue though, the fact that this Season ends with only 13 episodes and these 2 episodes were a repeat, makes me think Hasbro are really running out of ideas here. We will see how Season 4 will go, strange to have a season with less episodes and next season again full episodes.

 

 

The biggest disappointment of all was the fact that the title of the episode was misleading. I was hoping that the games were actually happening! Why else would you say "Games Ponies Play"?! I mean, you could have a much cooler plot where the ponies are actually playing the games!

 

Exactly, I thought it was going to be some competition.

Edited February 10, 2013 by ImtR

[GuillermoGage 246]

They could have just asked, "Hey, are you the games inspector?" I think that most would in that situation, just to make sure they got the right pony. 

 

Just a personal pet peeve of mine because I don't like these kinds of mistaken identity plots that just go on and on.

I'm surprised they never bothered to address her as Miss Harshwhinny, which is her name.

Asking "are you the games inspector" may seem like they don't know what is going on, but saying "You must be the games inspector" would be more declarative and would only be wrong if it wasn't the games inspector in the first place,which wouldn't matter because a non-games inspector's offendedness by being mistaken should not affect it.

 

I think it must be a psychological thing or a collective brain thing, that they were trying to please the inspector while refusing to address her by her title or name (that they may have forgotten or not paid attention to, Miss Harshwhinny).

 

Yeah, they were still being totally oblivious; this suggests that ponies have childish or oblivious moods and minds just like us people in real life.

[Wingnut 6,996]

 

Exactly, I thought it was going to be some competition.

 

They should have had both kinds of "games" because the title is an obvious double entendre.  One of my favorite Alvin and the Chipmunks episodes was called Court Action.  They played both meanings of the term beautifully because it included Alvin as the defendant in a classroom court session and it had a basketball game. 

[GuillermoGage 246]

They should have had both kinds of "games" because the title is an obvious double entendre.  One of my favorite Alvin and the Chipmunks episodes was called Court Action.  They played both meanings of the term beautifully because it included Alvin as the defendant in a classroom court session and it had a basketball game. 

double entendre, as in the games that were played in the episode where head games?

The common ponies don't care if these princesses play their game of pon'es, as long as they have peace and food and sustenance.

[Music Chart Fan 819]

Overall I didn't particularly like this episode. The premise was unoriginal, but not just that, it was awkward, painful to watch, and unrealistic. There might have been good moments, but they were few and far between.

 

I (and I'm sure many other people) saw the premise of the episode - picking up the wrong pony at the train station - almost immediately. I don't like this kind of premise for an episode, because, as usual, it leads to awkward and painful-to-watch situations and plausibility is stretched past the breaking point.

 

First, who thought that a vague description of the games inspector's luggage was sufficient for identifying her at the train station? Why not any physical description of what she looked like? Why didn't they arrange to meet in a more specific place at the train station or elsewhere?

 

Then, throughout the whole episode, neither the Mane Six nor the non-games inspector (I don't think we ever learn her name) say anything to each other that might indicate that they are not meant to be together. None of the Mane Six uses Miss Harshwhinny's name or makes any reference to the games or the games inspector in any way, particularly when they first meet at the train station, while the non-games inspector fails to mention her name or her real purpose for coming. Also, why weren't the Mane Six not a little puzzled by the non-games inspector's chicken cutie mark and unrefined language? The odds of this happening, and going on for as long as it did, seem vanishingly small.

 

Furthermore, just what did the non-games inspector think was going on? Why didn't she ever ask (or even wonder out loud) why an ordinary pony on vacation would be getting a 5-member welcoming committee and a complimentary welcoming and tour of the castle courtesy of Princess Cadence? Did she have any reason to think that Princess Cadence would do this for her? If something like this happened to me, I would probably be asking "How much does this cost?" or "Do you do this for every vacationing visitor?" or SOMETHING to that effect.

 

I couldn't stand watching the utter stupidity of Pinkie trying to entertain a GROWN ADULT by making faces and nonsense noises. How does Pinkie not realize that that kind of entertainment is reserved for babies? Heck, even Pumpkin and Pound Cake might not be entertained by that kind of behavior. This incident is yet another to add to the list of indicators this season that Pinkie has mental problems.

 

The games inspector's decision to have the Crystal Empire host the games on the basis of an ordinary pony's evaluation of her welcome doesn't make much sense to me either. Just how impressive is it for the non-games inspector to say that her reception was the "warmest, funnest, most fabulous" one she ever had? As an ordinary pony receiving an extraordinary pony's welcome, wouldn't that be kind of expected?

 

But more importantly, I would expect the job of the games inspector to consist of more than just evaluating her reception. Did the games inspector actually inspect the athletic facilities, the quality and number of accommodations for all the athletes and visiting ponies, the capacity of the traffic system, amenability to security, etc.? All we saw was the games inspector hauling her luggage down the street before seeing her at the spa later. Regardless of what the games inspector was doing off-screen, I wouldn't expect the games inspector to make a decision within mere hours of arrival.

 

Finally, as a random note, maybe Rainbow Dash's enthusiasm for getting Cloudsdale and the Crystal Empire hosting duties for the games might be dampened a little if she saw what happens in cities that host the Olympics after those are over: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2013/01/22/sports/22olympics_ss.html

[Scootaloo Is Best Filly 578]

I LOVED this episode. It'ss always great to get a glimpse of Rainbow Dash's father. I don't find it too unbelieveable that they knew nothing about the Games Master. I don't think anyone knew anything about the Games Master other then "Miss Harshwinnie" and the Flower suitcase.

Edited February 10, 2013 by Scootaloo Is Best Filly

[JH24 385]

I really tried to enjoy this episode but I just couldn't get into it.

 

The mistaken identity plot is already a bit cliché to start with but if executed well can be pretty enjoyable. Unfortunately for me personally that didn't happen in this episode.

 

The episode never really seemed to pick up steam, giving mostly the feeling that it was just dragging on, expecting some surprises/developments that just never came. It dragged on and the payoff at the end was very unstatisfying. A cheap plottwist to quickly fill the last minutes.

 

The episode just didn't go anywhere. I also found all the characters too calm given the situation, especially Twilight who seems to become more generic and boring as this season went on. I know she's growing up and becoming more experienced but for some reason she's also losing some of the qualities that made her unique. Rainbow Dash was pretty unlikeable in this episode, sometimes even being a jerk.

 

There were some good points though. Some jokes were done well and RD crashing into the glass or the inspector dragging her luggage and then getting soaked in water were funny. Too bad her role was so small. My main problem was that the Mane 6 messed up but got off very easy, too easy. I just wish they could have spend a little more time to resolve that situation.

 

 

Overall alright for a one-time watch, but this episode definitely ranks as one of the lowest for me in the third season.

[CrystalRose 636]

I loved this episode. I adored the glimpse of RD with her assumed dad, and her even then enthusiasm for sporting events. Her splat on the window was only made funnier by Rarity searching for the squeaking sound. Pinkie's random outbursts were excellent as always, and reading through this thread there are tiny little moments I haven't seen yet even though I've watched it twice already. I love little sight gags it takes you a while to notice, it keeps it interesting and proves the writers and animates love putting little things in the background.

[Metemponychosis 1,261]

I don't know if people already posted this, but people complaining that "they should just have asked: are you the games inspector" are missing the point.

 

Yes. It was stupid. But that's exactly it. The girls went berserk trying too hard to do the right thing and ended screwing it up.

 

The real problem I saw with the episode is that the game inspector seemed satisfied to judge the Crystal Empire's capacity for hosting the games solely by their reception. What? Was it implied that she actually did any "inspecting"?

 

As much as I liked the connections between the two episodes, maybe we should have seen some scenes where the inspector is actually inspecting things?

[poniesforfun 716]

This episode was a little meh in my opinion. I think it might be due to being an introduction to set the pony games season finale. The games inspector seemed way too lenient to just come from talking with the country pony and it was all of a sudden they ended up together at the spa, very random turn of events. It seemed like a bunch of plots were crammed into one episode. Also whats up with the country pony flirting with Shining Armor? Doesn't she know who he is? XD

Edited February 10, 2013 by poniesforfun

[Dr. Vojislav Seselj 691]

My thoughts:

 

Excellent episode! Ranks up there with WB Academy and Sleepless.

 

20% cooler things:

 

- Shrugs are canon

- Rainbow Dad is canon! *YEEEEAH!*

[Metemponychosis 1,261]

I liked this episode. It was "filler" as "filler" can be.

But that's not a problem, IMO. Can't have world-building (although we know that the Crystal Empire seems to be part of Equestria, as a country) and epic adventures every episode.

 

 

Kay. Guiz. CAN CELESTIA HAVE AN EPISODE?! She so desperately needs one!

 

 

With this, I agree wholeheartedly.

[Megas 27,691]

For Rainbow Dash's dad I think Rainbow Dad is a funny, but I think I'll go with Roy G. Biv as his fan name. I don't think anything can beat that

[MadDoggyca 710]

Have you ever hit a wall so hard?

image.jpg

That you had somepony else cutie mark

 

 

 

I just saw rainbow dash's father

I shall call him Rainbow Dad

 

Well seeing as how cuite is the french word for cooked I can definitely say I've never hit a wall so hard I cooked my goose. lmfao

 

My thoughts:

 

Excellent episode! Ranks up there with WB Academy and Sleepless.

 

20% cooler things:

 

- Shrugs are canon

- Rainbow Dad is canon! *YEEEEAH!*

Rainbow canon or Canon dash?

[Daruin 6]

I saw this episode just today - AND LOVED IT! Really captured the feeling of the Olympic games, as well as how prestegious and competitive they are. And, of course, the moral of the story was great!

[Searacole 9]

I really liked this episode probably my Favorite oF the 3rd season, so Far... The next... WHO LET TWILIGHT DRINK RED BULL????
All your ponies are belong to us.

[poniesforfun 716]

It would be interesting if Iron Will came back during the pony games. He seems like a jockish sort of type maybe as a coach or something.

[Zygen 6,066]

It was a pretty good episode, I think it wasn't the most amazing thing ever or my favorite, but its still very solid and had some really enjoyable Pinkie moments and humor overall.(Pinkie pie is best tour guide )

 

I actually got really confused at the beginning, I thought I somehow was accidentally watching episode 11, but I overall think the crossover thing was pretty cool, its not something I'd want to see all the time, but its a nice little change as a new thing to see and was executed pretty well.(It wasn't like they photo copied the whole thing, they used different camera angles in the train scene and stuff.

 

The episode was pretty good, I was actually surprised it wasn't focused on Rarity much, in fact. it was actually more of a Mane 6 episode, kinda like the Premiers and Endings of seasons are like. I mean I know that Rainbow Dash was the one to in the end kinda give the whole reasoning and I guess the lesson in a way, it still felt like a whole mane 6 episode.

 

We also got to see Rainbow Dash's dad, which I'd like to believe is basically cannon! Finally we atleast know peagasi aren't some type of orphans at birth or something.

 

I think Pinkies humor was actually pretty awesome in this episode, better then in alot of other episodes, of course I've always loved Pinkies humor, but this one had a good dose of it, and it was done very effectively.

 

Twilight's staying calm and collective was actually quite interesting, I kinda thought she'd blow it at some point. She did well though, Rainbow Dash was a bit confusing during this episode, and the fact that she kinda took the whole thing upon her self as her mistake was a bit odd seeing as she while was constantly driving the others to success, i still felt like she took a bit more of the blame/ credit then it felt she put in.

 

I knew the whole episode they had the wrong inspector because I caught the other one in the scene when they left the train station, not to mention she was quite crazy, so I had the same type of feeling I had when I first watched Canterlot wedding with Twilight since I knew there was a fake Cadence, just to a lesser extent.

 

The little cheer thing was cute though . And there was of course plenty of other parts of the episode I liked, I'll have to rewatch to get a better opinion on things, but overall I think it was solid, it wasn't awe inspiring or anything, but it was quite good and the crossover thing was nice.

 

I do kinda feel things may have been sorta rushed? Not to noticeably, but it may just be me wanting more then 22 minutes of MLP a week .

 

Now I have to set my hopes the finale is great, even if it'll be a 1 part, and then S4 hopefully will have just as much magic as the rest of the show.

 

Overall good episode, If I had to rate it i'd give it something like an 7.9 maybe an 8 outta 10?

 

But honestly I'm not the critical type so yeah.. .

[Chickey 383]

I thought that this episode was pretty good. I enjoyed it, and the fact it's paralleled to the last episode I found nice.

 

It's also really cool we got to See someone related to Dash, I'm not sure if it was her father or maybe her older brother yet though. I've always wanted to see one of her family members. 

 

Twilight trying to keep her cool the whole episode was also pretty funny. 

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,602]

It was quite a bit different than what I expected, yet it was, sort of. It was a somewhat basic episode, but with MLP that is never a bad thing! Also, it paved the way for an episode with the actual games in season.

 

All in all, it was a fun little ride.