S04:E05 - Flight to the Finish

[Hazel Sparks 19]

I nearly cried watching this episode. Watching Scootaloo. She is now officially my favorite Cutie Mark Crusader. I’m developmentally disabled, not physically disabled like Scootaloo. But I still understand the pain of watching the people around you do so many things and not being able to do them. Wondering if you’ll ever do them. I’m still a teenager, but I’m wondering if I’ll ever live alone. Ever work without accommodations. Scootaloo deserves the world. And Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon deserve a sharp kick in the head.

[Antiyonder 1,172]

YouTube upload of the episode:

[Gamernerd717 12]

 

I made an account just so I could get this off my chest.

Boy, do I have a rant for one episode in particular..

This. Fliping. Episode.

Before then, DT and SS were nuisances that tossed out the “blank flank” insult at any chance they could. But when they realize it’s not getting to them anymore, Diamond gets the idea to go for a nuclear option.

She and Silver Spoon Fliping bully a disabled kid. But it’s not only that, it’s what happens after.

Scootaloo’s confidence and self-esteem is crushed, she begins to doubt herself, causing a rift between the Crusaders FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, and Scootaloo ends up being DRIVEN TO DEPRESSION. Not to mention her throwing away her scooter.

Wtf is this Shoot? Why is this episode so damn depressing? The moral is a good one, as it teaches kids to not let disabilities define them, but what dilutes it is HOW WE GOT TO THAT MORAL IN THE FlipING FIRST PLACE!

And to top it all off, DT AND SS DON’T EVEN GET PUNISHED! YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT! THEY JUST LOSE A COMPETITION NO ONE REALLY GAVE A Shoot ABOUT!

Whew, sorry. It’s just that I personally feel like having the whole “Scootaloo can’t fly” plot would’ve been much better if it was caused by Scoot’s own self-doubt. It could’ve made for great character growth. But no, let’s have it be set off by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon’s bullying, as if that hasn’t been done a million times before. I guess Ed Valentine needed to give them some relevance to the plot.

This was his first episode, yes, but I feel like it could’ve been executed better. This episode is one of the most beloved episodes of S4 and the show as a whole, but it’s my least favorite episode of all time. It’s too depressing, DT and SS don’t get satisfying comeuppance, it’s uncomfortable to watch them cause Scootaloo depression, and Scootaloo’s self-doubt over her disability should’ve been the inciting conflict-starter.

 

On 2024-03-10 at 5:30 PM, Hazel Sparks said:

I nearly cried watching this episode. Watching Scootaloo. She is now officially my favorite Cutie Mark Crusader. I’m developmentally disabled, not physically disabled like Scootaloo. But I still understand the pain of watching the people around you do so many things and not being able to do them. Wondering if you’ll ever do them. I’m still a teenager, but I’m wondering if I’ll ever live alone. Ever work without accommodations. Scootaloo deserves the world. And Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon deserve a sharp kick in the head.

You got that right. It’s a shame Ed Valentine couldn’t write in a scene that showed them getting some major consequences.

[LilAntwanP 107]

15 minutes ago, Gamernerd717 said:

 

 

I made an account just so I could get this off my chest.

Boy, do I have a rant for one episode in particular..

This. Fliping. Episode.

Before then, DT and SS were nuisances that tossed out the “blank flank” insult at any chance they could. But when they realize it’s not getting to them anymore, Diamond gets the idea to go for a nuclear option.

She and Silver Spoon Fliping bully a disabled kid. But it’s not only that, it’s what happens after.

Scootaloo’s confidence and self-esteem is crushed, she begins to doubt herself, causing a rift between the Crusaders FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, and Scootaloo ends up being DRIVEN TO DEPRESSION. Not to mention her throwing away her scooter.

Wtf is this Shoot? Why is this episode so damn depressing? The moral is a good one, as it teaches kids to not let disabilities define them, but what dilutes it is HOW WE GOT TO THAT MORAL IN THE FlipING FIRST PLACE!

And to top it all off, DT AND SS DON’T EVEN GET PUNISHED! YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT! THEY JUST LOSE A COMPETITION NO ONE REALLY GAVE A Shoot ABOUT!

Whew, sorry. It’s just that I personally feel like having the whole “Scootaloo can’t fly” plot would’ve been much better if it was caused by Scoot’s own self-doubt. It could’ve made for great character growth. But no, let’s have it be set off by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon’s bullying, as if that hasn’t been done a million times before. I guess Ed Valentine needed to give them some relevance to the plot.

This was his first episode, yes, but I feel like it could’ve been executed better. This episode is one of the most beloved episodes of S4 and the show as a whole, but it’s my least favorite episode of all time. It’s too depressing, DT and SS don’t get satisfying comeuppance, it’s uncomfortable to watch them cause Scootaloo depression, and Scootaloo’s self-doubt over her disability should’ve been the inciting conflict-starter.

 

You got that right. It’s a shame Ed Valentine couldn’t write in a scene that showed them getting some major consequences.

You Should Use Forums Its Really Really Cool!

[Night Sky 63]

Once again the CMC let Diamond Tiara walk all over them and push their buttons. By this point, wouldn't they begin to realize that everything DT is gonna say, it's always the same from her. Intractable. 

She never learns, no matter how many times her efforts to ruin the CMC lead to the opposite results. But you'd think they'd just ignore her. 

That's not always easy when your being bullied in school, but what message are they trying to send by having DT always wrecking the confidence of the CMC?

[Gamernerd717 12]

3 hours ago, Night Sky said:

Once again the CMC let Diamond Tiara walk all over them and push their buttons. By this point, wouldn't they begin to realize that everything DT is gonna say, it's always the same from her. Intractable. 

She never learns, no matter how many times her efforts to ruin the CMC lead to the opposite results. But you'd think they'd just ignore her. 

That's not always easy when your being bullied in school, but what message are they trying to send by having DT always wrecking the confidence of the CMC?

Have you read my above rant?

[Night Sky 63]

15 minutes ago, Gamernerd717 said:

Have you read my above rant?

I hadn't but I've read it. Yeah, this is one of those episodes that if you don't like it, you'll really not like it. It's one of those that really has that effect.

I, of course, was bullied mercilessly at one point in school, so of course I'm not going to be comfortable sitting through an episode like this. I am sorry it has also been triggering for you.

This gets complicated. Bullying is a very real, mishandled problem, and it is a reality that any socially conscious kids show is going to have to confront, and perhaps confront head on, and that may be uncomfortable, and may be necessary and the best thing. I know there's stuff I need to forgive and let go of.

On the other hand, I would like to get to see any redeeming qualities in DT and SS...at this point in the series there are seemingly none. FIM is a good enough show that even the background ponies are not so one dimensional. The show also doesn't treat the characters as mere plot devices, usually.

It would be easier if there were anything in DT and SS to connect with. At this point in the series, there's just nothing to look at and say, okay that's a good quality, or going through that would mess anyone up. Some bullies are born, most of them are made. 

So maybe DT and SS - their situations, the show could use that to illustrate some more salutary lessons. But we know basically nothing about DT and SS at this point besides the fact that they are rotten to a lot of Ponies almost all the time. 

The adult ponies seem to be oddly absent and tone deaf about her behavior as well. Then again, at this point in the series, we don't know hardly anything about Scootaloo's situation either. 

It's just kind of handled in an odd way. The Cutie Mark Crusaders thing I get. That's just adolescence starting a bit later for some kids. That makes sense, but how the show handles the issue of bullying, there's just something off about it, I can't really hit the hammer on the nail.

Edited January 31 by Night Sky