S03:E13 - Magical Mystery Cure

[---------------------- 1,645]

Alrighty, let's get this reply started,

 

Now, when I first heard that the whole Twilicorn thing was cannon, I did not think too much about it, I mean think about it, there was enough overwhelming evidence that you could see it form a mile away, witch includes 

 

- Princess Celestia took Twilight under her wing

 

- Twilight is always solving monumental problems that Celestia is entrusting her with 

 

- Twilight has a metric buck ton of power that no other normal unicorn seems to have

 

- In the season 3 opening, Celestia mentions Twilight moving to the "next level"

 

- And to top it all off, multiple, multiple images of Twilicorn were leaked early on

 

So let's be realistic, this should come to no surprise for anyone. Now, of course how this will be executed is a whole other story, and the real questions is, was it executed properly?

 

....Eh, I mean I thought it was okay, but the episode was clearly rushed in terms of quickly the plot moved. I don't know who's bright decision it was to make it only a 1 part, though after I found out it was actually a 3 part thing, it does lift my spirits.

 

I am not going to write a 10K character post  about this episode, because I can sum up how I feel in one sentence.

 

I felt the episode was done the best it could be given the provisions that the writers and designers were under.

 

I don't know what's in store for season 4, but we can hope that Hasbro will return complete control to the writers, but who knows. 

[Ventoreck 2]

Well i wacthed the last episode, and i sadly have to say that is was WAY too rushed and had WAY too many songs, and the whole story to the alicorn thing? Man i know they could have done better, and i have to say right after wacthing that episode i had this whole idea in my head that would have made this whole alicorn thing actually work, and i have just had to say it! So here goes.

 

So this is what i think should have happened for this episode and story of her becoming en alicorn.

 

So we start the show off with princess celestia talking to luna about how it is time to give twilight the final test, and to see if she is ready to fulfil her destiny.

 

So then a book is then magically given to twilight in a letter, that starswirl book.

 

So then she goes through with the whole episode about the cutie marks, so then after she figures out everything and writes the spell down at the end, the book all of a sudden starts glowing and then teleports twilight to princess celestia in the castle.

 

That is where episode 1 should have ended.

 

So then episode 2. 

 

So twilight is in the castle she asks what happened and celestia is standing with luna and tells her that she has passed the test and she can now know the truth. Twilight asks what she is talking about so celestia then uses magic and an image appears, it shows a town with dark clouds rolling around and lightning, she sees her self as an infant but with wings in the arms of two alicorns she does not recognize, the two alicorns then tell a unicorn that she must be brought to princess celestia along with a scroll that will explain everything, then the two alicorns use magic to hide the wings of twilight and tell the unicorn that she must not know of her past unitil she is ready. Then the two alicorns fly towards a dark being and use a spell that turns the whole city to stone.

 

The image disapears and twilight is very confused. Celestia then explains that she is no ordinary unicorn in fact she is an alicorn daughter of the decendents of Starswirl the beard, and that she was to be princess of a land that was like claudsdale but instead was all about magic, She explains that a great evil had come to her land and threatened to destroy everything, so her parents had to send twilight away and stop the evil by turning the entire land to stone. Celestia then explains that Twilight was then brought before her and the letter as well, the letter contained the book in which a test was written out, twilight must not know of her past before she completes this test. So then celestia asks the parents of shining armor to take care of twilight and they agree and so she is brought up not knowing her past. Then celestia explains that she is now ready to return to her land and be ruler of the magic there and stop the evil that has been turned to stone. So then Celestia uses magic to give twilight her wings back and teleports her back to Ponyvile, and she tells her friends all about what princess celestia said. And then right before the end we go to the magic city which is stone and one of the statues breaks free and then smiles evily.

 

So then this would make for a great season 4 premire, i may just be blabing thoughts but tell me what you think?

[Pulcinella 1,016]

Honestly, I LIKED this episode. A lot. And, I don't think that Twilicorn will ruin the show, just drastically change it. Plus, who's to say that it wasn't a dream, or a result of The Professor's What If machine. I loved all the songs, MLP songs are usually REALLY good, the only two I didn't like were "You Gotta Share" and "Raise This Barn". The episode itself was amazing as well, great plot, even if most of the dialogue was singing. I hate it when people rage quit the fandom or scream and kick, just because of Twilight's wing gain. Or what I hate even more, is people who won't even WATCH the episode, because they're afraid. *cough* Rainbowlzoomi and poniesforfun *cough* Don't knock it before you try it, that's my number one rule, and that's how I became to be, practically, the least picky eater in the world. I didn't knock it before I tried it. If I hadn't followed that rule, I never would have tasted my absolute favorite food, eel, tempura shrimp, and avocado sushi, AKA Dragon Roll. Also, Twilicorn has something to say to all of her haters.

[Ventoreck 2]

Honestly, I LIKED this episode. A lot. And, I don't think that Twilicorn will ruin the show, just drastically change it. Plus, who's to say that it wasn't a dream, or a result of The Professor's What If machine. I loved all the songs, MLP songs are usually REALLY good, the only two I didn't like were "You Gotta Share" and "Raise This Barn". The episode itself was amazing as well, great plot, even if most of the dialogue was singing. I hate it when people rage quit the fandom or scream and kick, just because of Twilight's wing gain. Or what I hate even more, is people who won't even WATCH the episode, because they're afraid. *cough* Rainbowlzoomi and poniesforfun *cough* Don't knock it before you try it, that's my number one rule, and that's how I became to be, practically, the least picky eater in the world. I didn't knock it before I tried it. If I hadn't followed that rule, I never would have tasted my absolute favorite food, eel, tempura shrimp, and avocado sushi, AKA Dragon Roll. Also, Twilicorn has something to say to all of her haters.

image.jpg

Lol so true, i liked the episode too, i am sust saying that i think they could have done better with the story and whole alicorn thing.

[immblueversion 331]

Well i wacthed the last episode, and i sadly have to say that is was WAY too rushed and had WAY too many songs, and the whole story to the alicorn thing? Man i know they could have done better, and i have to say right after wacthing that episode i had this whole idea in my head that would have made this whole alicorn thing actually work, and i have just had to say it! So here goes.

 

So this is what i think should have happened for this episode and story of her becoming en alicorn.

 

So we start the show off with princess celestia talking to luna about how it is time to give twilight the final test, and to see if she is ready to fulfil her destiny.

 

So then a book is then magically given to twilight in a letter, that starswirl book.

 

So then she goes through with the whole episode about the cutie marks, so then after she figures out everything and writes the spell down at the end, the book all of a sudden starts glowing and then teleports twilight to princess celestia in the castle.

 

That is where episode 1 should have ended.

 

So then episode 2. 

 

So twilight is in the castle she asks what happened and celestia is standing with luna and tells her that she has passed the test and she can now know the truth. Twilight asks what she is talking about so celestia then uses magic and an image appears, it shows a town with dark clouds rolling around and lightning, she sees her self as an infant but with wings in the arms of two alicorns she does not recognize, the two alicorns then tell a unicorn that she must be brought to princess celestia along with a scroll that will explain everything, then the two alicorns use magic to hide the wings of twilight and tell the unicorn that she must not know of her past unitil she is ready. Then the two alicorns fly towards a dark being and use a spell that turns the whole city to stone.

 

The image disapears and twilight is very confused. Celestia then explains that she is no ordinary unicorn in fact she is an alicorn daughter of the decendents of Starswirl the beard, and that she was to be princess of a land that was like claudsdale but instead was all about magic, She explains that a great evil had come to her land and threatened to destroy everything, so her parents had to send twilight away and stop the evil by turning the entire land to stone. Celestia then explains that Twilight was then brought before her and the letter as well, the letter contained the book in which a test was written out, twilight must not know of her past before she completes this test. So then celestia asks the parents of shining armor to take care of twilight and they agree and so she is brought up not knowing her past. Then celestia explains that she is now ready to return to her land and be ruler of the magic there and stop the evil that has been turned to stone. So then Celestia uses magic to give twilight her wings back and teleports her back to Ponyvile, and she tells her friends all about what princess celestia said. And then right before the end we go to the magic city which is stone and one of the statues breaks free and then smiles evily.

 

So then this would make for a great season 4 premire, i may just be blabing thoughts but tell me what you think?

That...actually makes it seem longer than it needed to be. I mean, the fact the original episode was short is why I'm glad they made it a musical, that they had songs to move the story along rather than to fill up space. (I'm not saying it didn't have songs that felt like filler, but still.)

 

We still have two more episodes for this story arc, so let's see how they pan out. Of course, we must endure the soul-crushing pony drought that we have no idea how long will last.

[Mr. Jaguar 1,403]

So...according to Meghan Mcarthy, being a princess in equestria is apparently something that is earned for being a good pony:

 

http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Alicorns

 

 

"princess [in Equestria] is a designation that’s earned, not freely given and though princesses have specific leadership roles in pony society, being one really means 'being a good pony who shares the gifts that they have been given with others.'"

 

 

.......... OKAY!!! So, um, I guess it's like a fancy title given to ponies who are really good people, as a reward for their.....goodness........um......UM......UUUUUUUUUUM, so, wait, it isn't about NEEDING another ruler, but it's basically a reward for being a good person (but they still have leadership duties)? O.....KAY.......THEN........But, you know, er, they should probably have a limit on how many ponies can be princess at a time, because I don't think they want, let's say,500 princesses simultaneously. And that doesn't redeem every other plot hole in the episode.

Edited February 19, 2013 by Mr. Jaguar

[Ventoreck 2]

By the way, when does seson 4 begin?

[Emerald Flame 381]

So...according to Meghan Mcarthy, being a princess in equestria is apparently something that is earned for being a good pony:

 

http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Alicorns

 

 

"princess [in Equestria] is a designation that’s earned, not freely given and though princesses have specific leadership roles in pony society, being one really means 'being a good pony who shares the gifts that they have been given with others.'"

 

 

.......... OKAY!!! So, um, I guess it's like a fancy title given to ponies who are really good people, as a reward for their.....goodness........um......UM......UUUUUUUUUUM, so, wait, it isn't about NEEDING another ruler, but it's basically a reward for being a good person (but they still have leadership duties)? O.....KAY.......THEN........But, you know, er, they should probably have a limit on how many ponies can be princess at a time, because I don't think they want, let's say,500 princesses simultaneously. And that doesn't redeem every other plot hole in the episode.

 

Wow, that's really her justification? I thought it was something fans came up with to explain it. Excuse me for a moment, I need to go to the hospital and get my sides stitched back together. My intense laughter has caused them to split apart.

[poniesforfun 716]

All I got from this episode is. If you turn into an alicorn you're automatically coronated as a princess. Princess of what? Oh no there doesn't need to be a nation for you to rule for us to make princesses it's not like they're meant to be political figures, but if you really need one we can knock the mayor down a two and let you take her job in Ponyville. What it sounds unfair to do that to someone that has been spent her time on campaigns to rise up her status? Oh no it's ok you became an alicorn that's all the reason to make you a princess!  We have many crowns in Celestia's closet just collecting dust! Oh where did they come from? They're donations from earth ponies... oh no the earth ponies love to make money for us! They're not donations? Force labor? What are you talking about?

 

Hey look that thing has wings and a horn! Let's crown it a princess.

 

[Anadu Kune 668]

 

It's never been indicated or implied that Applejack was the sole thing keeping the farm from running down. Also, her siblings still should've helped instead of letting Pinkie run the orchard into the ground.

 

She isn't solely responsible for the farm's stability. Again the theme of the episode is the importance of harmony/friendship without any of them the farm maybe be in deep trouble particularly Big Mac and Applejack. The apple family are in and of themselves a representation of harmony as has been shown before(sisterhooves social, Flim flam bros). This is emphasized by their reappearance in a true true friend. It also shows the artistic exaggeration going on, as harmony is restored so is the farm, trees that were once dead are alive again. The reunion of the apple family is signifying the return of harmony to the farm. Its also again part of the time constraint, find a way to further show the message intended in an artistic way. Showing Pinkie working together with someone and failing would negate the message of the episode or at least hinder it. 

 

Also again exaggeration is defiantly at play here. Trees don't die that fast or regrow that fast. Visual symbolism is being used here to convey a message. This type of thing has been done before in Smile and Giggle at the Ghosties. The real big difference here is that it was never used to this extent, but the exaggerations are still just as silly when taken into full logical context. 

 

Ya, I don't buy it, sorry. I think it's just poor writing, I didn't get the impression that it was just to show that Pinkie was miserable with what she was doing, that really, really sounds like a stretch.

 

Why is it a stretch? That's clearly whats being done. Showing her failing at a job she thinks she should be good at. Not only that but showing the ponies failing at a job alone emphasizes the message being portrayed. Again I'm going to sound like a broken record but the theme of the entire episode is harmony and friendship and the importance of both. Why would this seem at all like a stretch at all. There was a whole song showing the ponies being miserable and alone, stuck in a position where they suck at life never knowing why. 

 

I was aware that she brings joy to ponyville, that was established, what was not established was that she was the sole source of Ponyville's happiness. And also, why were they miserable without her? Why is she the only thing that can make them happy? What's making them miserable? It wasn't Rarity messing up the weather, as they were still grumpy afterwards, it was not until Pinkie came along that they all became happy again. I don't believe that one person can be the sole source of an entire civilization's happiness when there is no reason given as to why the citizens are even miserable to begin with.

 

She doesn't just bring joy she seems to negates what frustration and depression would normally be in ponyville overall. Its not shown that shes the only thing that can bring joy, just that shes a major part of it, after all she is the element of laughter. Take away that major element and the frustrations and depression normally negated by pinkie creeps in. The reasons for the depression and frustration would vary just as they did in the smile song, but they dont have the time to show them all individually  So they show the frustration of the ponies as a collective.  Also ponyville is a small town, Im not sure I would consider that a entire civilization. Lets go back to lets smile for a minute. Did you think it was a crazy big plot contrivance that every one Pinkie bumped into was frustrated or depressed in some way?

 Did we ever see that much depression in ponyville before the smile song? I dont think so. How about the fact that everyone in the town danced in loving joy with her on the roof tops no less. That song did actually show pinkie bring joy to the entirety of ponyville.  How about other weird things in the past like laughing at horrible tree illusions created by dark magic to make them disappear? How about pretty much immediately realizing your talent in a musical fashion after having your fall broken by butterflies? Why did laughing at magical horror illusions make them go away? Does any of that really make logical sense when you think about it? No its exaggerated artistically to get a point across and convey emotion. That's the point certain things are going to be exaggerated to the extreme to convey a message. This is a cartoon, that is the point of a cartoon. Take the exaggeration in the smile song and remove pinkie from it. You'd have a similar exaggeration as was seen in this episode, the big difference is they had time to focus on the individual problems pinkie was solving that were causing the depression. So Im not really seeing why this is difficult to believe in the context of past episodes. I mean we've seen one pony bring order to the entire town in winter wrap up. Without Twilight there they were a disorganized frustrating mess. 

 

​The point of those scenes were to show what happens when the elements of harmony are forcibly removed from their proper places. This isn't the same thing as them leaving on a trip or an adventure. Their entire place in the world was changed. The ponies everyone knew and loved were gone from their position in which each of them played a crucial part replaced by ponies who weren't meant to be there to begin with and as a result sucked at their job. The scenes are exaggerated to show disharmony and emphasizes the the importance of the characters. As has been done before.  

 

 

That doesn't address my point at all, which is that she came to the conclusion that slapping their elements back on them would somehow give them back their memories of their special talents, despite no explanation being given as to how she came to that conclusion, as the elements have never been shown to be capable of such a thing.

 

Slapping the elements of harmony on the ponies isn't the full solution which what I was trying to get across. But your correct I should have elaborated further and I did not I will do so. Again this is where the harmony and friendship theme comes in. The key visual ques here are the cutie mark shimmer in Twilight's pupils upon her epiphany and the picture of the mane six. The Elements of Harmony take on the shape of the ponies cutie marks showing they are tied to the ponies and the ponies to them. The two ques I mentioned above are the mane six and the cutie mark in twilights eye. This is to show the connection not only of the ponies to the elements but of the importance of frienship in that conection. Working in "harmony" with their original talent whilst wearing the proper elements with the help of friendship restore the proper connection. This is because as has been established the elements of harmony work off harmony and friendship that is what connects them to the ponies to begin with. This can only be accomplished through the helping hand(hoof) of "a true friend". Twilight realizes this by looking at a picture with all of them together realizing the are the most important thing to her, again this is the theme of harmony and frienship. This is further emphasized by the fact that the cutie mark in her eyes has six stars instead of the normal five representing the the mane six in harmony using friendship. The five stars normally just represent her friends. Again the theme of harmony and friendship of the mane six unified. Twilight knows the ponies maintained their original mind sets which is why she thinks showing the ponies their talents will work. She knows she cant remind them of who the were because memory spells wont work, but she can show them through a helping hand what they meant to each other. This is were the song comes in having each of the ponies each stepping in to help one another. To sum it up Twilight's prior knowledge of the working of the elements along with her realization of the harmony of friendship are what lead her to the conclusion this will work. Its not just slapping the element on and praying, its using the proper element in harmony with the proper pony whilst performing the proper talent reestablishing a connection. Its that connection that enables the elements to function in the first place Twilight knows this. Its a connection Twilight realized in the first place in the first(technically second) episode when facing nightmare moon. 

 

 

This doesn't address the point of mine you're responding to either, my complaint was that there is no reason given as to why they even needed another princess to begin with. For the entirety of the show, Celestia and Luna have been shown to be able to run the nation just fine without a third princess, now, suddenly, they're making Twilight a princess to rule along with them. Why? What's the point? There is none, that's the problem.

My point was that we don't know how princesses work in mlp at all. This has been a consistent plot hole throughout the whole of the series. Why are there two princesses? Where the heck is the king and Queen? Does being a princess mean being in charge of a major element or does it always entail being in charge of a nation as well? Is Cadence in charge of an entire nation? There were three princesses before now there are four. With this episode I could make inferences on what being a princess in mlp is, with what we knew before I could as well, but I wont because as I said it doesn't matter for this episode. The point of the episode in regard to the princess deal was to show how Twilight got to that point of becoming a princess. This lack of knowledge was even addressed in the episode. Twilight asked what all of it meant and Celestia said that "there will be time for all of that later" So we cant say there isn't or is a point to it yet. 

 

edit: So more info was released about princesses and alicorns. We know now that the title is earned which makes sense in the context of the episode. It would seem when one reaches a heightened understanding of ones talent/purpose they ascend as it where. It would seem judging from the princesses each rises to a specific major element. Celestia is Day and life, Luna is Night and Dreams, Cadence is love and life, and Twilight would be magic/friendship/harmony. Though that is assuming Celestia and Luna came to be alicorns in the same way. thier roles as ruler is still pretty ambiguous but hopefully that will be elaborated upon.

Edited February 19, 2013 by Anadu Kune

[GrooveBroove 680]

Wasn't really a big fan of this episode.

It was by no means bad, Actually enjoyed all the music and the cutie mark switch ups.

But as many have said it left more questions than answers. Even with it "closed up" ending you just know something is going down the beginning of season 4. I just wish they would have at least thrown us a hint.

[poniesforfun 716]

I agree with the people that said this happened all of a sudden and too quickly. I kind of felt like they should of teased us more for two more seasons only giving hints and clues of her becoming an alicorn. I think becoming an alicorn should have a side story for that long.

[Anadu Kune 668]

There's a whole difference of being a savior of a city (they didn't really save the world per se) and having a title. If they were given titles then that would give them more resources to work with and that would mean less adventure and less downtime.

 

Goku in DBZ saved the world a dozen times but he doesn't have a title and for that he still remains a very interesting character.

They saved the world from eternal night. That's something that will effect the entire planet in one way or another, a pretty darn bad way. Whilst its true Discords chaos effects seemed not spread outside of ponyville they would have. We know this because Celestia had stated he ruled over the whole of equestria. Though now that I think of it didn't his effects spread past ponyville? Weren't they in Canterlot when pinkie said she was going to go outside to drink the chocolate rain? The Canterlot Wedding was defiantly confined to Canterlot. The Crystal Empire scenario though would have effected everyone though as the magic it emanated from the crystal kingdom is said to effect Equestria. So Id say they saved the world or at the very least all of Equestria. Though my original point was that since nobody can seem to recognize the ponies who have stained glass art dedicated to them. A whole ceremony was dedicated it. . Doing any one of the things they have done would earn you legendary status. So whilst you are right about the difference in title, it would seem the ponies of equestria have a bit of skyrim syndrome. No matter what they do they wont be recognized by the majority. 

 

 

 

Thats actually one of the biggest problems I had with DBZ. Apparently they the shittiest record keepers in history. Though they wouldn't know because they didnt keep records of them either. No body searched for the person who saved the entire planet. They knew what he looked like they easily have made him a house hold face. But it doesnt matter anyway because later everyone forgot about that. Wasn't the fight with piccolo televised and the Sayians? So later on when Mr Satan is convincing people that all the ki attacks and flying are tricks all I can think is What the Hell. The sayians destroyed an entire city how do you not remember that? How do you guys not remember king freaking piccolo? You know the guy who went on live television proclaiming he was going to slowly destroy cities via lottery causing global panic. How in the hell does no one but the weird racoon king remember this? Goku should be a house hold name heck Master Roushi was. anyway DBZ rant over. I should mention I love DBZ but it does have those things that bother me. 

 

I agree with the people that said this happened all of a sudden and too quickly. I kind of felt like they should of teased us more for two more seasons only giving hints and clues of her becoming an alicorn. I think becoming an alicorn should have a side story for that long.

Well the whole episode happened too quickly. So much so that key things were on screen for a few seconds. Examples include the elements of harmony switching and Twilight's revelation with the six star cutie mark. Its seems because of this that many cant pick up on the meaning and subtitles behind the episode. Out of all the negative reviews I have read barley any of them mention the spark in Twilight's eye that ties this back to the very first episode. Even the positive ones skip over it. 

[poniesforfun 716]

A title is a completely different story. There are standards and customs to be met and powerful authority figures will follow (they should) what Twilight asks of them to do. After all heroes are forgotten and titles go a long way. Of course it's not like Twilight didn't have a very high status to began with by just knowing Celestia, but now that she's a princess she doesn't have to depend on Celestia to come down and fix things (and Celestia was like the Deus Ex Machina of calming pony social problems). Now with Twilight's influence that might change and even if they add challenges to that we won't go back to the country romping ponies, more on trending on the red carpet problems if being a princess.

Edited February 19, 2013 by poniesforfun

[Abstract 832]

So...... we finally got the last episode of S3...........holy Celestial Twilight Moon! (yes, that's my new phrase, sue me ). That was just a marvelous episode! Definitely my favorite of the whole season, and one of my top episodes of the whole show! Marvelous job M.A.Larson. Marvelous, wondrous, fantastic job!

*TEEEEEEEXXXXXXXT*

Finishing this gigantic post, I hope you all enjoyed this fantastic season, and until Season 4!

I do believe we have, perhaps, the most intricate and detailed breakdown of any MLP episode I have ever seen. I mean, just... end thread, you know?

 

The little I have to say after all the thought and discussion that has taken place here... I do trust the writers, to some extent. They have their orders and what have you, but it is their job to make sure FiM is an enjoyable show, for both the target audience and us bronies. I do not think they will disappoint to make something great out of this situation, whether it was by their own choice or not. And if for some reason they fail to deliver, it will not be for lack of trying. 

 

The episode itself, probably the most rushed MLP episode in existance, IMO. The story could have been expanded upon and explained much better than it was with a two-parter, but in the time allocated, I think they did a fantastic job. I know the "floating TV" scene with Twilight and Celestia with the flashbacks brought tears to my eyes, and it was hard to hold them back all the way to the end. Bravo, MLP team for... whatever it was that this season finale was.

[Anadu Kune 668]

 

How did the songs adopt a "show don't tell" policy? Did you not hear the lyrics, which existed entirely to tell the audience about what the characters are feeling?

I didn't say they adopted it I said they are excellent examples of it and they are. They are used for more accentuation of character movements as they move to both pacing and tone of the music. Many times as well symbolic imagery is used as well as exaggerated scenes that in any other case would seem contrived. This is done to convey the message in a clearer way it also allows for a ton of info to be put in a short space. A good example of this is the Smile song as it includes most of the above. Character movement is set to the tone and pacing of the song. The song goes from "normal" ponyville to some weird depressing other world were clone sad pinkie is helped by normal happy pinkie also including silhouette color scenes in happy saturated colors to show movement from one scene to the next.Then you have all these sad and frustrated people around ponyville. Have we ever seen that before, no but its an exaggeration to visually convey the message. This is why certain musical numbers excel at showing something better than a normal scene ever could. Being an animated song essentially means there are no limits to the way they can play with visuals. 

 

 

That's just fishing for an explanation, and I don't think you can deny it. Twilight's memory is intact because her Element wasn't scrambled. Fine. But there is no good reason why Spike's memories should be intact. The rest of Ponyville forgot, and you can't just explain it away. "Oh, Spike remembers because he lives in close proximity to Twilight!" That doesn't make any sense

Its not his proximity to Twilight I was referring to, it his connection to Twilight. It was the test to hatch him that got twilight noticed by Celestia, though of course the sonic rainboom was the catalyist for it. But it seems spike is special in his connection to twilight. After all if hatching an egg is the test Celestia's sets up for you it must require some special magic. In essence I saw a connection between the element of magic and Spike. Though I should have indicated that it did bother a little as its not touched upon visually, pretty much the only thing I touched on that wasn't. 

Though this leads me into something I had put some thought into whilst think about this perceived connection  If you want to talk about plot holes then you need look no further than Spike. His very origin is a plot hole. It is indicated that he is the only dragon living amongst ponies as no one not even Twilight knows about dragon growth. Yet knowing this why was this the acceptance test for twilight? Its not indicated that Twilight met Celestia before that point so Celestia wouldn't know to test Twilight. Why did Celesia do that? Did she do it? Why let a little filly raise a dragon? Barring some clever explanation from season four it would seem a major plot hole. So it would seem you are right here, not because I was "reaching". But because in thinking I saw a connection between Twilight's element and his birth, I found a bigger problem. One which just becomes more confusing in the whole context of the show.

[~Starlight~ 764]

I still think they went with a very adventurous idea, knowing that some bronies will hate some won't but we have all forgotten that little kids still watch it too and they must of enjoyed it. But I still enjoyed it the nether the less.

 

I really enjoyed the episode though it was a musical phenomenon all the songs were meaningful and I think Tara really showed her  great voice, all the ponies got a cool part and Celistia's song and role was very special.

 

Twilight becoming an Alicorn does not really bother me I am going to be a brony till the end so I do not really care. I think thought it can 

make loads of open idea's for new episodes like Twilight becoming a snob, Rainbow teaching her how to fly ect...

 

Over all this episode is marked a 9/10! /)

Edited February 19, 2013 by Frozen Mint

[Sky Warden 2,243]

Guys, seriously, chill out. I bet you just feel offended because of that Alicorn thingy. Then you tried to find bugs and plot holes in this episode to make it sounds bad. Complaining about the episode and show the plot holes doesn't make you look smarter.

 

"We're not kids. We're intelligent adult watchers who know how to rate a show."

 

It looks like you're trying to say that. Seriously, it's funny to see how you do that. Moaning and complaining about a show which you claim you love so much. If you keep looking at the bad side, I bet you will find more and more, like the bad designed dresses for example, but if you see the good side, which isn't only few, you will feel grateful.

 

Gratitude~ I love that song.

The songs are awesome. The possible plot line from that episode is interesting. The animation becomes better in that new episode. Much better! I always giggle when I remember those back flip ponies. Celestia got her own song! Celestia! What a voice man!

 

The morale is so...so...really fits my current situation. A time for a new change to come. Time to fulfill my destiny. Really fits my current situation and it gives me a magnificent morale booster. Thank you Hasbro! Lets see what I will be. A programmer for sure. After I saw that episode, I insist that I will keep learning harder and harder.

Thank you very much Hasbro!

 

P.S. Keep moaning I dare you!

Edited February 19, 2013 by Sky Warden

[RWB 229]

I'll say this, if all the plot holes in this episode are left unexplained, than yes, it will most likely irredeemably ruin the show for me. I hope that everything will be explained, but I don't have much optimism at this point. Sad, how a show can be good for so long and then all of a sudden, one episode comes along, and throws it under a bus, where it is mangled beyond repair. But like I said, hopefully season 4 will fix it, and at the end of the day, it's just a TV show, so if it's ruined than whatever.

 

If ACW didn't ruin the show, no way this did. ACW had more plotholes, more continuity killing and retcons, and more annoying and glaringly out of place additions in it(Cadance primarily). 

 

 

Oh, and ACW, for all it's flaws, doesn't even enter the bottom five of series. That honor belongs to a mixture of episodes, of which the biggest bunch is from Season 1.

[SilverStarApple 849]

So, I watched the episode. And it wasn't bad. A few of the songs were ok. Not as good as the other ones in the series, but they were OK. Is this the first time in the series we've heard Princess Celestia singing?

 

Anyway, I've seen the episode. Why do I now feel like I just lost the game?

[PianoOfMuffins 38]

So I finally got to watching this last night.

Well, firstly, I found it really quite bizarre in a way, in that it felt more like the very end of the show for some reason, and perhaps even what could have been a perfect note to end on.
In fact, I think this could have been a great plot to have been panned out over a TV movie in itself, perhaps even a grand finale in the much further future.

But moving onto my thoughts about the actual episode's content, I can't help but feel the story's pacing was all too quick for what was being told, feeling essentially more like a series of songs and then literally all of a sudden Twilight is now an Alicorn. I just feel it would have benefited from some not so hurried pacing.

After the episode, I had a "Wait!" moment. I wondered, so what if Twilight had not said the verses out loud in the first place? If it hadn't been for that, then the episode's events could not have occured in the first place.
Furthermore, is one to assume Celestia somehow knew Twilight would in fact read it aloud, as though this was all purposely meant to happen in a sense? Did Celestia "make this be", was it all part of some secret grand master plan of hers?
Or was the way everything went purely all down to circumstance?
I can't help but wonder about such elements of the plot, and feel were perhaps left just a little too loosely open for their own good.

Also, I can't help but wonder: Was this episode really originally planned and written in mind as being the story where Twilight's ultimate transition is made? Or was the Alicorn element something that came along later, and this was found to be the best available script at the time to work it into?
I say this because, when looking at the episode in a certain way, it to me almost feels shoe-horned in, like it doesn't belong, as though the episode was originally supposed to simply be:

Hey, all cutie marks are switched - Cutie marks are now all restored. The End.

Yet another memorable and humorous story, told over the usual course of 22 minutes.

As opposed to:

Cutie marks are switched and restored all in the course of half an ep's length - Twilight's big transition in life shown in the next half.

***

Maybe what I've put forward in the above is just me, but the episode just doesn't quite seem to gel together.

Or perhaps that's what was being gone for here? That we were to think (assuming one was not already in the know about Twilight's transition) this was simply another good ol' little episode, and then suddenly...

BAM! In your face! Twilight's an Alicorn now! Bet you didn't see that one coming huh? And you just thought this was simply going to be a plot about cutie marks being switched? Ha, well didn't we surprise you this time?

In the following case, if this indeed was the intention, then I still feel it could have been executed better than in the final product we received.

And if the plot was in fact supposed to be 'cutie marks - Alicorn' all along, then I go back home to the point of pacing, of which in this case the story I feel would have worked much better even over the course of a 2-parter.



Moving onto my final thoughts, I will first make it clear I certainly do not dislike the episode overall, however, it's just I do have issues with it.

But when it comes down to things, it was quite good for what it was. Twilight's transition act of the episode was nonetheless nicely done, being the best part of the episode for me. I even felt strong emotion throughout, notably during the actual scene of transformation itself, the monitors showing various memories past, and the closing moments of the episode.


Overall, for the future of Twilight and the programme, I feel both unsure and hopeful at the same time.

I just hope things will be handled well, and that this will not end up being the programme's jump-the-shark point. I will remain optimistic the writers and the rest of the team will come up with more great material, and be able to keep the show all tightly-knitted together as it has ever been.

Either way, when it comes down to it, I definitely see Twilight's transformation as a big deal, and am interested in seeing just where things now go.

Season 4 will tell, and I shall wait to see what it holds.

Edited February 19, 2013 by PianoOfMuffins

[Cantankerous 106]

In my initial comment, two days ago, I expressed concerns this episode wouldn't hold up to scrutiny. While still early, my opinion thus far remains unchanged. Worst thing I have to say about this episode is that Morning in Ponyville and Life in Equestria weren't that good. (Though contrasting them does provide a beautiful metaphor, see Bronycurious.) Apart from that, the line about "liquid pride" was painfully corny. Meh, neither flaw amounts to much. 

 

By the way, did anyone else laugh out loud when it looked like Twilight had been disintegrated?

Edited February 19, 2013 by ByTheTides

[Silver Boulder 123]

From what people have always worried about and were concerned, I don't see it in all honesty. I can kinda see that the episode was quote unquote "jumping the shark" but the episode really fit and yes no villain was in this but so far my favorite episode in the series due to the entire episode being a musical. 

 

Does it feel rushed? hmmm...sorta but at the sametime it doesnt. I'm just mostly used to the fact of the series finales in MLP being two parts but this wasn't so that's fine. It feels strange watching this episode as it felt like as if it was the ending of the series in general

 

To me the series still gets better and better, and I'm definitely looking forward to what'll be in season 4. I'm curious, excited, and I don't think this is the end of the series in general just because Twilight is now a princess

[Dreamscape 0]

With this episode they did a great job. I can agree on the opinion that, if they used a double episode. They would have given us a better plotline, but now with Twilights trnasformation and with the completing of this story plot, zhey made themselfes many opportunities for the fourth season.

[NatsukashiiAki 5]

I absolutely loved the new episode. I haven't seen much of the series before this, but it was a great way to witness how friendship and love can heal a multitude of wounds. I deal with some, uh, mental health issues, and it's true--having friends who love you is amazing on the road to recovery. The episode felt a little rushed, but MY FEELS!