S03:E13 - Magical Mystery Cure

[CrossfireTheBroken 4]

I honestly thought that this episode was better than I expected, except the only problem I had was that Twilight's Ascension seemed extremely forced. And that it was an obviously a ploy on Hasbro's part to make more money.

Edited March 11, 2013 by CrossfireTheBroken

[Vaportwo 3]

So Twilight is an Alicorn. I can see how this could cause some hate, but I bet Season 4 will be great. I have high hopes for Hasbro to make this their best season yet.

[Skye Starlight 223]

I'm a bit of an anti critic... Pulling things apart has never been my strong suit. So overall, I loved this ep. Celestia's song suited the moment, and affected me in a way, as she was basically singing about graduating. And I'm graduating later this year! I couldn't stop listening, and I felt so... I dunno, it's an emotion I've never felt before! It's not sad, It's not pride, It's not contentment, It's... It's.. Argh! It's a new emotion! We need a new word!

[StarStreak 28]

So is this the season finale or will they have a second half season?  Or is that the end?

There was a deal struck with Hasbro and the hub (*Squee*) have struck a deal to produce a Fourth season that will return to the 26 Episode Structure. and in this little Wikipedia snippet i found it should confirm this theory.

 

Investment documents for DHX Media's 2012 financial year indicate that they have also been paid to produce a fourth season. Meghan McCarthy, Tara Strong and other writers and voice actors have discussed aspects of Season 4 at various brony conventions and through her Twitter account. Hasbro's vice president for international distribution, Finn Arnesen, has stated that My Little Pony is currently a "top-priority" brand for the company and expects the series to continue for some time.

[TheAnYPony 22]

It took me a while, but I finally finished my video-review of this episode.

I tried to put the extra time to good to good use to do the season finale justice.

 

Edited March 12, 2013 by TheAnYPony

[Mzukiller 233]

Let me tell you kids what i told eveyrone else I know.

 

I like this episode, I really do. BUT 2 things
1. After the conflict is resolved, 13 minutes in. It just turns into Twilight getting jacked off, As sensual as that thought is
2. The music REALLY takes away from everything else. Add to that how BIG an event like coronation is, you've got yourself a criminally compressed plot.
But when it DOES become "jerking Twilight off" it's done pretty well, especially topping it off with the "It'll all be okay"

7.5 - 8/10
It's good, but trying to please so many people may have hindered it. As bad as it may sound, it's pretty weak compared to other finales. BUT I have hope that when Season 4 kicks off, we'll be calling this the Best Arc ever.

[Togadu 3]

I actually really enjoyed the episode which is surprising knowing how much I was dreading the Twilicorn thing.

 

I think the songs were really awesome (my season 3 playlist actually made my week after this).

 

 

In my opinion, if I hadn't been spoiled about twilicorn, I wouldn't have minded it.

I mean, if I had discovered MLP a week ago and I had watched all the episodes at once before knowing about the fandom like I did when I watched MLP for the first time, I would have taken it way easier.

[Dreamsong 253]

“I had a vision for the destinies of all these characters... ...I wanted Twilight Sparkle to eventually become Celestia's successor.” – Lauren Faust

From: the "Bronies" documentary, extended interviews disc.

...At around 2:55 on the trailer:

---------------------------

 

I agree with the sentiment that this episode felt rushed. I agree that it would have been better suited to a two-part episode, leaving more room to explore how Twilight might have struggled to discover that through our friendships, we ourselves are defined.

I also feel that this episode touched on the core element behind the show much more so than the other episodes of season 3: Friendship (and the fact that it is magical). I felt that the harshness that seemed to me to underlie many of the season 3 episodes, dissipated and lifted in this episode.

I'm not sure why the decision-makers on the show chose to make the finale a single episode, (other than to stem-off a serious downer-ending if they had been considering a cliff-hanger closing to season 3 where Twilight feels like she's responsible for destroying the lives of those she cares most about). But I do understand that writers are often given the edict to, "Just make it work!"

And I feel that if the writer's parameters were to "Just make it all work in a single episode," that he did as good a job as anyone could do, distilling a _lot_ of business into 22 minuets of screen-time.




With Twilight becoming Princess Twilight and an alicorn, I can see the potential for this to have a profoundly positive or a profoundly negative effect on the show.

Part of me worries that this is the show's "Jumping the Shark" moment, and that the writers will struggle to keep true to the integrity of the show that made it a hit in the first place. (And I dearly hope that this is _not_ the case. I pray that this show will live for many, many more seasons, and always remain true to the magic that made it the phenomenon it has become.)



Looking back at previous episodes, it feels to me like Twilight was destined to become a princess.

In "Cutie Mark Chronicles," when Rainbow Dash's sonic rainboom triggers the full potential of Twilight's apparent latent abilities, (when it looks like she wasn't even going to be able to pass her entrance exam into magical school,) she shows more raw power even as an untrained filly than perhaps anyone save Princess Celestia might possess.

And the cutie mark Twilight gains is one star surrounded by five other sparkles -- to me this indicates that her destiny was even then, inextricably intertwined with the five ponies, who themselves embody the five other Elements, who are destined to become her closest friends. ("...Every pony everywhere has a special magical connection with her friends, maybe even before she's met them.")

(So, do I think that future seasons will separate Princess Twilight from her friends? Not if the writers adhere to what appears to be the canon that's seemed to be established.

(Do I feel that the five will be jealous of Princess Twilight becoming royalty and will need to be written to become so as well? Not if each of the five truly does embody the single Element of Harmony they do, (which is intrinsic to their own destiny and happiness). And not if Princess Twilight's destiny as royalty is as such because she, as her cutie mark implies, embodies the connection point to unite the five other Elements with her own Element, (leadership?) (thus yielding the Element of Magic). To me, that kind of destiny/embodiment feels like the point of royalty and the enlightened leadership it would itself ideally embody.)

So, it seems to me that the show is on track with what was laid-out in episodes 1 and 2 of season one, that Twilight _had_ to shake her old feelings that her magical studies were everything and that friendships were a waste of time for her. And that Princesses Luna's and Celestia's connection with The Elements of Harmony was lost once the five bonded with the Element they embodied, and once Twilight bonded in friendship with the five.



With Rarity's line regarding Twilight's becoming an alicorn, "I didn't even know that was possible," I get the feeling that this is a condensed way of the writers saying that this is something so rare that it's not ever been seen in recorded in "pony history." Which seems to me to be a way of saying that this is Twilight's destiny and not to expect it of any other pony we know.

And this is where I deviate a little from what I've read on the MLP:FiM wiki... that being a princess in Equestria may be _earned_ through sharing one's gifts with others.

The message I get from this episode as it ties together with the series as a whole is that while we may have a destiny, as Twilight did, that it is through our _choices_ that we may _live-up-to_ our potential... (or not).

The other five share their gifts... but Twilight learning to embody and serve as a focus for the other five's gifts, and then learning to share that combined gift that is greater than herself alone... that is what seems to me to have "earned" her the right to ascend to what she was destined to become.

And therein seems to embody what to me feels like another Element; one not mentioned in the show, something held in part by all six but that which must be present in the kind of leader Twilight had grown to embody: compassion. Not that Twilight _always_ has shown compassion, she's faltered from time to time; but if she is to rule as well as Princess Celestia, it seems to me that she will need to grow and develop a level of compassion equal to that shown by Princess Celestia herself.

And through that, I could see Princess Twilight evolving over hopefully many seasons to eventually becoming an equal to Princess Celestia.



I feel it's very daring of the show's producers and writers, to risk such change in a series, especially one that's gained such popularity so far outside their original hopes. (The ol', "Just keep doin' what [we, the producers, think] works" mentality that has ossified many popular series.)



We all grow and change, as do our friends. Our friendships must also grow and change if we are to maintain them. Sometimes this takes a lot of work.

I hope this will be a great point of embarkation for many more seasons worth of exploring the magic that is found in being a good friend, and in cherishing the friends and friendships one has.

[Cantankerous 106]

Strebiskunk has just uploaded his review. He's always been my favorite FiM reviewer and is well worth paying attention to. I must say, I'm happy to see he enjoyed the episode. 

Edited March 14, 2013 by ByTheTides

[Love*Potion 575]

For me, this Season Finale was less than expected. It lacked the deep emotional character plot that we all know and love from the previous episodes! I absolutely LOVE each and every character, but since over half the episode was songs, we didn't really get to enjoy much of the plot; it seemed more like a musical. When the episode began, I was very excited when I learned about the plot. However, like I said, I was disappointed with the distraction of the songs. Don't get me wrong, the songs were AMAZING (personal favorite is the Cutie Mark song) but I think it was a bit of overkill and an excuse to rush through the episode.

 

Now to Twilicorn- I am curious to see how Season 4 will be as a result of this epic change. I am personally worried that it would be SO much of a change that the show we have all come to know and love will loose its charm.  I think Twilight deserves the title of princess, but an alicorn? Is that even possible? I think this will distance her from her friends even more now that she is royalty... Who knows. Maybe that is the premise of Season 4- adapting to change while still staying true to your friends.

 

Anyway, does anyone know when Season 4 is due? I am eager to see what is in store for all our pony friends

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

Magical Mystery Cure was the most hypocritical episode I've ever seen in my life. Twilight's friends change because of their switched cutie-marks, so Twilight has them act out of their original destinies so as to regain their cutie-marks. The moral was clear: When you're given a destiny that doesn't suit you, disobey it and create your own.

 

But then, Twilight becomes a princess, and the whole moral gets thrown out the window. Why does her friends get to return to normal, while Twilight is given a destiny that doesn't suit her, at all, EVER!!!??? The writers know this. They know that by turning her into a princess, are they taking a risk with a high chance of failure. This is why I'd like them to return Twilight to a unicorn, because if any time they refuse... well, you saw me create a Facebook protest group titled, "Dethrone Princess Twilicorn."

Edited March 15, 2013 by Commander_PonyShep

[Love*Potion 575]

 

But then, Twilight becomes a princess, and the whole moral gets thrown out the window. Why does her friends get to return to normal, while Twilight is given a destiny that doesn't suit her, at all, EVER!!!??? The writers know this. They know that by turning her into a princess, are they taking a risk with a high chance of failure. This is why I'd like them to return Twilight to a unicorn, because if any time they refuse... well, you saw me create a Facebook protest group titled, "Dethrone Princess Twilicorn."

 

I (partially) agree with @@Commander_PonyShep, but I have to disagree on some topics.

 

First of all, how do you know that this wasn't Twilight's destiny from the start? There was a reason that Princess Celestia chose Twilight as her personal pupil. An apprentice usually follows the footsteps of his master, no?

 

Also, I don't know if it is possible to transform Twilight back into a plain unicorn now, the magic seemed to uncontrolled and powerful. Also, it would cause major confusion if one of the mane characters kept switching back and forth. Trust me, I'd rather see Twilight as a unicorn too, but let's try to see what good may come out of this (unexpected and, in some cases, unwanted) twist. 

[GreyScholar 1,584]

Magical Mystery Cure was the most hypocritical episode I've ever seen in my life. Twilight's friends change because of their switched cutie-marks, so Twilight has them act out of their original destinies so as to regain their cutie-marks. The moral was clear: When you're given a destiny that doesn't suit you, disobey it and create your own.

 

But then, Twilight becomes a princess, and the whole moral gets thrown out the window. Why does her friends get to return to normal, while Twilight is given a destiny that doesn't suit her, at all, EVER!!!??? The writers know this. They know that by turning her into a princess, are they taking a risk with a high chance of failure. This is why I'd like them to return Twilight to a unicorn, because if any time they refuse... well, you saw me create a Facebook protest group titled, "Dethrone Princess Twilicorn."

So your making Twilight Sparkles choice for her I see, you act as if Twilight will hate this change but neither she nor her friends need to be upset about this change. Not all change is bad and arguably this was always Twilight's destiny, and did you know that Lauren Faust confirmed that it was her intention that Twilight Sparkle would be Celestia's hire.

[Gaullin Everfree 64]

After thinking about this long and hard * Sniggers* sorry about that any way after thinking about the whole Alicorn thing, i reached a mental conclusion that nothing will change, so what if twilight can fly? Doesn't this mean that this has just opened up a bunch of new opportunities and locations?

 

Plus the only thing i dread in season 4 is a whole musical season *shudders*

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

I (partially) agree with @@Commander_PonyShep, but I have to disagree on some topics.

 

First of all, how do you know that this wasn't Twilight's destiny from the start? There was a reason that Princess Celestia chose Twilight as her personal pupil. An apprentice usually follows the footsteps of his master, no?

 

Also, I don't know if it is possible to transform Twilight back into a plain unicorn now, the magic seemed to uncontrolled and powerful. Also, it would cause major confusion if one of the mane characters kept switching back and forth. Trust me, I'd rather see Twilight as a unicorn too, but let's try to see what good may come out of this (unexpected and, in some cases, unwanted) twist.

Twilight earned her cutie-mark from learning that she loves studying magic. She did NOT earn it from wanting to become a princess. She doesn't want to be a princess, and just wants to study, the same reason Pinkie Pie wants to party, and Rarity wants to make dresses, etc. By turning into a princess, are the writers making her experience how her friends felt when their cutie-marks were switched!

[Love*Potion 575]

 

Plus the only thing i dread in season 4 is a whole musical season *shudders*

 

Haha I know what you mean! I LOVE pony music (Can you say Youtube playlist on repeat) but if every episode is like Season 3's finale,  I can see how it may get annoying and very repetitive. 

 

If you have a full-length song in every episode the songs may not be special anymore! (It's hard to write amazing songs that don't eventually become dull or repetitive)

[GreyScholar 1,584]

Twilight earned her cutie-mark from learning that she loves studying magic. She did NOT earn it from wanting to become a princess. She doesn't want to be a princess, and just wants to study, the same reason Pinkie Pie wants to party, and Rarity wants to make dresses, etc. By turning into a princess, are the writers making her experience how her friends felt when their cutie-marks were switched!

Twilight was always supposed to become a princess! That is why Celestia took Twilight in as her student and why she sent her off to learn just how magical friendship is.

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

Twilight was always supposed to become a princess! That is why Celestia took Twilight in as her student and why she sent her off to learn just how magical friendship is.

That doesn't explain her cutie-mark or how she earned it, damn it! Her cutie-mark says that she loves studying, not turning into an alicorn and running an entire nation, while her friends are all left in the dust in-terms of development. It's like Dragon Ball Z, where the huge majority of the original Dragon Ball's supporting cast gets deliberately dumped for Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks, just because those five people are either saiyans or half-saiyans. Or hell, here's another example: Chad, Orihime, and Uryu during the Soul Society arc, when Ichigo was the one becoming overpowered, while the rest of the spotlight is unintentionally stolen from the SOUL REAPER CAPTAINS!!!

[Love*Potion 575]

 

Twilight was always supposed to become a princess! That is why Celestia took Twilight in as her student and why she sent her off to learn just how magical friendship is.

 

I have to agree with @@EquestrianScholar,

 

For example, Princess Luna's cutie mark was to represent her responsibility of watching over Equestria during the night. According to legend, it was her jealousy and bitterness that led to the appearance of Nightmare Moon. This had nothing to do with her cutie mark, and she was able to be shown the magic of friendship to return back to Princess Luna. 

[GreyScholar 1,584]

That doesn't explain her cutie-mark or how she earned it, damn it! Her cutie-mark says that she loves studying, not turning into an alicorn and running an entire nation, while her friends are all left in the dust in-terms of development. It's like Dragon Ball Z, where the huge majority of the original Dragon Ball's supporting cast gets deliberately dumped for Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks, just because those five people are either saiyans or half-saiyans. Or hell, here's another example: Chad, Orihime, and Uryu during the Soul Society arc, when Ichigo was the one becoming overpowered, while the rest of the spotlight is unintentionally stolen from the SOUL REAPER CAPTAINS!!!

One's cutie mark has to do with what one enjoys the most and they are most talented at...in this case Twilight Sparkle's cutie mark has to do with her talent for magic. Yet it is more then that, one big star and five smaller stars. This brings into remembrance the Elements of Harmony, as well as the fact that "the stars would aid in her escape" of Princess Luna from Nightmare Moon, then there is the fact of her name Twilight (the time between day and night) and Sparkle (the spark need to activate the Elements of Harmony.

From day one her destiny was more then just studying and reading books, and by saying that it is your crippling Twilight as a character. That and she is the personal student of Celestia, can you honestly say a royal would become someone's mentor until they planned on them taking their place?

Edited March 15, 2013 by EquestrianScholar

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

One's cutie mark has to do with what one enjoys the most and they are most talented at...in this case Twilight Sparkle's cutie mark has to do with her talent for magic. Yet it is more then that, one big star and five smaller stars. This brings into remembrance the Elements of Harmony, as well as the fact that "the stars would aid in her escape" of Princess Luna from Nightmare Moon, then there is the fact of her name Twilight (the time between day and night) and Sparkle (the spark need to activate the Elements of Harmony.

From day one her destiny was more then just studying and reading books, and by saying that it is your crippling Twilight as a character. That and she is the personal student of Celestia, can you honestly say a royal would become someone's mentor until they planned on them taking their place?

Then her friends' cutie-marks. They mean nothing to you, that they're not symbolic to anything, other than what they do? Or, that the cutie-marks say that the girls get the privilege of being normal and mortal, while one of their own becomes an immortal god who has to outlive her friends and be lonely for the rest of her life?

 

And were her were friends just used as tools to turn Twilight into a princess? That they might as well have no free-will at all, and are just pawns to turn one of their own friends into a princess?

[GreyScholar 1,584]

Then her friends' cutie-marks. They mean nothing to you, that they're not symbolic to anything, other than what they do? Or, that the cutie-marks say that the girls get the privilege of being normal and mortal, while one of their own becomes an immortal god who has to outlive her friends and be lonely for the rest of her life?

 

And were her were friends just used as tools to turn Twilight into a princess? That they might as well have no free-will at all, and are just pawns to turn one of their own friends into a princess?

Twilight Sparkle has not become a goddess, nor will she be immortal! Heck it could be argued that Celestia and Luna are not deities, especially since normal unicorns alternated day and night before the royal sisters did. There is literally no proof that Twilight has even gotten a power boost or that this change will cause problems between Twilight and her friends.

 

Also, news flash... the show has always been about Twilight and her lessons on friendship. I care about all of the Mane Six, and so what if they are not symbolic of anything (but their Elements), they are still very important. Without Twilight Sparkle's friends she would be nothing but a mare that reads books and studies a lot. Without Twilight's friends we wouldn't have My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

Edited March 15, 2013 by EquestrianScholar

[100 beasts kaidou 321]

That doesn't explain her cutie-mark or how she earned it, damn it! Her cutie-mark says that she loves studying, not turning into an alicorn and running an entire nation, while her friends are all left in the dust in-terms of development. It's like Dragon Ball Z, where the huge majority of the original Dragon Ball's supporting cast gets deliberately dumped for Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks, just because those five people are either saiyans or half-saiyans. Or hell, here's another example: Chad, Orihime, and Uryu during the Soul Society arc, when Ichigo was the one becoming overpowered, while the rest of the spotlight is unintentionally stolen from the SOUL REAPER CAPTAINS!!!

Since Your taking stuff from anime, In one piece Luffy Is alone for 4 story arcs and he goes throw Big stuff like ID prison or the MF war and in the end He is known by the whole world and is given a bounty as big as all of his friends combined. However all of this made him realize how important his friends are

[Commander_PonyShep 349]

Twilight Sparkle has not become a goddess, nor will she be immortal! Heck it could be argued that Celestia and Luna are not deities, especially since normal unicorns alternated day and night before the royal sisters did. There is literally no proof that Twilight has even gotten a power boost or that this change will cause problems between Twilight and her friends.

 

Also, news flash... the show has always been about Twilight and her lessons on friendship. I care about all of the Mane Six, and so what if they are not symbolic of anything (but their Elements), they are still very important. Without Twilight Sparkle's friends she would be nothing but a mare that reads books and studies a lot. Without Twilight's friends we wouldn't have My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

Don't forget. Twilight was supposed to be a same-species counterpart to Rarity, just as Applejack was to Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash was to Fluttershy. The Mane Six had always been two of each pony species. By turning Twilight into an alicorn, they've also disrupted that balance.

 

The writers also reinforced their hatred for Rarity. She had the least character-development of the Mane Six, with Applejack and Rainbow Dash (especially in May the Best Pet Win and The Mysterious Mare Do Well) tied for second place. She had no appearance in Luna Eclipsed, and that scene featuring her was even cut for time! Hell, Spike At Your Service was meant to be a Rarity episode, but the writers thought she was too mean, and decided to make it an Applejack episode.

 

I know that the writers hate Rarity, and they would go far as to turn Twilight into an alicorn, thus stripping the white unicorn of her own same-species counterpart, just to reinforce that hate.

 

That, and Twilight's taller, and it would just feel odd and retarded to see a pony taller than all of her friends combined. It's like Lenny from "Of Mice and Men"; he's retarded, but at the same time he's bigger and stronger than George and the rest of the workers.

[TheLegitDerpyHooves 12]

If they didn't want to stay long with season 3, and they wanted to go out with a bang.

They sure as hell succeeded.

 

 

 

Great, now im over excited for season 4 o_o.