Switching the "Pinkie Pride" and "Filli Vanilli" episode order

[Naive Wolf Josh 93]

With some out there irritated with Pinkie Pie in "Filli Vanilli", as established by Gilda the fastest way to get you to villain status is to make Fluttershy cry, my friends raised an interesting point.  Considering that two episodes ago, in "Pinkie Pride", she learned she should back off when her friends are not having fun, would this episode have been far better placed after Filli Vanilli?  Would it have made a difference in how Pinkie Pie was viewed during "Filli Vanilli". or perhaps put her actions in context with "Pinkie Pride" following it, and making "Filli Vanilli" a step to the lesson?

[Ianpiersonjdavis 513]

Filli Vanilli did give the impression that she completely forgot the lesson which she was supposed to learn by 'Pinkie Pride' as in that episode, realizing Dash's discomfort was her epiphany and her actions in 'Filli Vanilli' would have been good foreshadowing for her lesson in the episode.

[OptimisticNeighsayer 478]

It might.

 

However, this idea is based on the premise that people (or ponies) perfectly learn their lessons once it is given to them, which I cannot accept as 100% true.  Continuity aside, I think people would have been annoyed with Pinkie's behavior regardless of when the episode was placed, especially since it certainly has to be after "Griffon the Brush-Off".

 

Also, you seem to imply that MLP:FiM intends a strict continuity in the first place based on episode order.  It's easy enough to believe that Filli Vanilli did take place before Pinkie Pride without affecting the series much.

Edited March 2, 2014 by JustFairness

[Naive Wolf Josh 93]

It might.

 

However, this idea is based on the premise that people (or ponies) perfectly learn their lessons once it is given to them, which I cannot accept as 100% true.  Continuity aside, I think people would have been annoyed with Pinkie's behavior regardless of when the episode was placed, especially since it certainly has to be after "Griffon the Brush-Off".

 

Also, you seem to imply that MLP:FiM intends a strict continuity in the first place based on episode order.  It's easy enough to believe that Filli Vanilli did take place before Pinkie Pride without affecting the series much.

 

Not as much predicated on learning their lessons once it is given to them and more paying heed to lessons they reached themselves.  Pinkie Pie had reached the conclusion on her own and as such the lesson was a realization, an epiphany, earned by herself.  These lessons often have greater impact on the individual, and while new situations may challenge these lessons, causing characters to seemingly relapse, this is often an evolution of the lesson itself, adapting for the new, unforeseen circumstance.  

 

For a hypothetical example if I have a friend who I give a playful nickname.  Despite the several signs saying he doesn't like the nickname, I continue to call him by such, until I eventually catch. and realize I should stop.  I may slip up in the future, calling him the nickname, but the lesson learned would still be in my mind, helping me to overcome my fault, and maybe eventually learn my lesson completely.  

 

In other words the lesson Pinkie Pie reached in "Pinkie Pride" would likely, not certainly, be a factor of her actions with in "Filli Vanilli".  I don't find otherwise to be impossible, or for Pinkie Pie to be even acting out of character in relation to former episodes, but it raises the question of "if so, then why?".  Why did the lesson she reached in "Pinkie Pride" not factor into her rationale in "Filli Vanilli"? 

 

And while not a strict continuity, there is an implied continuity, which helps us perceive an episode order that is reinforced by the air dates.  This is especially apparent within season 4, where episodes often reference former episodes, even the former episodes of this latest season.  Again, this isn't a certainty, but the presentation does exist.  I do agree though, these particular two episodes could be switched about without affecting the continuity of the show, beyond how it would present Pinkie Pie's actions within "Filli Vanilli".  As it appeared by the air dates, one happened after the other, but it doesn't necessarily mean that's the case.

 

Would people have been annoyed with Pinkie Pie in either case?  Yeah, can't imagine otherwise, she made Fluttershy cry for Celestia's sake, but the question is really aimed at those who were annoyed by her actions in "Filli Vanilli", and felt it too contrary to what she had leaned in "Pinkie Pride".

[Tigerpop198 696]

Yeah, it could. Personally I'm very confused about Pinkie's personality right now.

[Singe 2,111]

Pinkie Pie has generally been like that. Just when taking it to far she is overbearing, pestering, weird, and crossing the line; like in  A Friend in Deed which showed Pinkie at its worst. The episode just never resolved this issue.

 

Filli Vanilli is just the other Mane 5 acknowledging for once that Pinkie is going too far and call her out on it.

 

Pinkie Pride is just a separate moral problem Pinkie is resolving and has nothing to do with her issue in Filli Vanilli.

Edited March 3, 2014 by Singe

[Pixel Stick 927]

Yeah, it could. Personally I'm very confused about Pinkie's personality right now.

 

I am too.  Pinkie Pride and Pinkie Apple Pie are the only two episodes this whole season (so far) where Pinkie has had ANY depth whatsoever.  She had depth issues in Season 3 as well, but in the first two seasons she was just as relatable as any of the other characters.  The fact that she appeared to go completely brain dead with respect to Fluttershy's feelings in Filli Vanilli didn't help that at all.

 

I agree with the OP: I could forgive the inconsistency much more if Filli Vanilli had come first.  But to be honest, I'm not sure it matters so much because the Pinkie we saw in Pinkie Pride was a completely different character than the one in Filli Vanilli.  That was the Pinkie Pie I had come to like throughout the first two seasons.  Who is this impostor Pinkie they've had standing in for her the rest of this season?

[Singe 2,111]

Pinkie Pie has barely evolved past her Season 1 and 2 self. She's very much stayed the same for these 4 seasons. Filli Vanilli and Pinkie Pride is the same Pinkie. Notice how she takes things to the extreme. Pinkie is trying to talk to Fluttershy. Pinkie quits, packs up, and tries to run away after losing the challenge against Cheese Sandwich.

[Pixel Stick 927]

Pinkie Pie has barely evolved past her Season 1 and 2 self. She's very much stayed the same for these 4 seasons. Filli Vanilli and Pinkie Pride is the same Pinkie. Notice how she takes things to the extreme. Pinkie is trying to talk to Fluttershy. Pinkie quits, packs up, and tries to run away after losing the challenge against Cheese Sandwich.

 

My point wasn't that she took things to extremes - she's always been that way, you're right.  My point is that in Seasons 1 and 2, she had some depth as a character.  She wasn't JUST screaming at the top of her lungs all the time.  She wasn't JUST super-excited-happy-go-lucky-about-everything all the time.  That was an integral part of her character, but not the only thing about her.  But in this season, with Pinkie Pride and Pinkie Apple Pie being the ONLY two exceptions, that's all she's been.  She has shown absolutely no depth whatsoever in any episode aside from those two.  But in those two episodes, the depth she DID show was impressive.  That was my point.

[Singe 2,111]

Pinkie Pie works by approaching things in an abnormal way unlike what the other Mane 5 would normally do. It seems the writers have guidelines pertaining to how to apply her character to the moment rather than real serious depth.

[HappyGasProductions 19]

I honestly think that, in the case of 'Filli Vanilli' at least, the writers just couldn't be bothered to come up with a better way to keep Fluttershy scared of performing until the end, so they fell back on old Pinkie Pie mechanisms because it was the easiest thing to do. It is sad that they haven't bothered to evolve her too much because they're more interested in having her as a convenient character foil, even in totally inappropriate situations. I really wish they would put a bit more thought into where they apply these things.