Magical Mystery Cure debacle and an attempt to clarify points in it.

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

I've seen MMC get a lot of backlash from the fandom, but I'm not too sure why. I would like to attempt to explain any points of contempt anybody has with the episode (besides pacing, which I can safely say is shit). This isn't an attempt to make anyone feel differently about the episode, but rather to provide a bit better understanding as to why this episode is loved by some.

 

I might not be able to answer right away, because I have to go to my classes soon, but I will attempt to answer questions about any specific moments in the episode that you find problematic.

 

I'll start off with answering a big one though: "Why did Twilight glow, and how did she figure out how to fix the spell?"

 

Twilight's glow is representative of her mastering her element, Magic. She was trying to figure out what could fix what she felt was such a horrible outcome (for weeks judging by the visuals in "I've Got to Find a Way"). How did she figure out what to do, though? 

 

Well, she just thought of how she's dealt with issues of the past, alongside her friends. This moment is a culmination of all of Twilight's previous friendship lessons. She learned that friendship is important, worth fighting for, why each of her friends are special, etc. Like it or not this show states that love and friendship are the most powerful forces of magic in existence, and for Twilight to understand exactly how to get her friends to realize their true talents, proved to Celestia that she was ready for ascension.

[Freewave 1,145]

No offense but this is like a full year late response. I think people have accepted what happened in the episode and figured out any questions they've had by now.  

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

No offense but this is like a full year late response. I think people have accepted what happened in the episode and figured out any questions they've had by now.  

 

I thought so, too, but recent complaints say otherwise.

[PartyWithPinkie 189]

I thought MMC was good. I don't see why so many people were hating it so much.

The entire moment that makes that episode awesome for me is the scene when Princess Celestia is singing to Twilight.

Oh the feels.

 

And I never thought about it that way, that she was mastering her element. But it definitely gives me a new perspective.

I'm glad you shared!

[Andaasonsan 3,205]

Magical Mystery cure was pretty much twenty minutes of Daniel Inghram songs, so therefore it is automatically best episode.

[Celli 4,349]

I never had any problems with it. Actually I probably re-watched like 4 times after it aired. i loved it.

[Guest90210 3,569]

I thought MMC was good. I don't see why so many people were hating it so much.

The entire moment that makes that episode awesome for me is the scene when Princess Celestia is singing to Twilight.

Oh the feels.

 

And I never thought about it that way, that she was mastering her element. But it definitely gives me a new perspective.

I'm glad you shared!

 

My problem with it is they tried to cram such a massive and show-changing concept into a single episode. It's ridiculous. This absolutely should have been a two parter. Now, they managed to do a good job of fitting in as much story and stuff in, but it still would have been much better as a two parter.

[OptimisticNeighsayer 479]

I think a big concern many have with the episode (besides the pacing, time constraint (yes, it would have been better as a two-parter), and the merit of becoming an alicorn princess) is the apparent contradiction between the previously developed nature of cutie marks and how it is depicted in this episode.

 

In "What My Cutie Mark is Telling Me", all of the affected admit that they are not only bad at what they do but don't really enjoy it one bit, but hay, it's their destiny.  This seems to be at odds in at least one way with "Call of the Cutie", "The Show Stoppers", "Cutie Mark Chronicles" and "The Cuite Pox", where it is apparent that getting a cutie mark requires a recognition and demonstration of talent and a truly positive self-identity with the talent.  

 

It may seem that including "The Cutie Pox" here is a bit weak because it also seems to contradict the other two episodes because Apple Bloom got those cutie marks without real postive identification of herself with the talents, she just seemed to treat it as just a talent rather than a part of herself.  However, those cutie marks directly force a pony to perform their talent, which makes it seem unlikely that these cutie marks are of the same ilk as normal cutie marks whose talents can be controlled.  Although come to think of it, if the affected in MMC also got their cutie marks artificially (which they did), then the artificiality may also explain why they felt forced to actually perform their "talents".  

 

That just leaves the self-identity issue unexplained.  It's probable that magic (as opposed to taking some potion) can give more weight to certain interests (unconsciously revealed, maybe?) and artificially strengthen a threshold of self-identity that seems to be nearly permanent once it is found.  And yet to the continuity-minded viewer, this still seems to jar with previous explanations of the cutie mark.

 

I remember one review that completely bashed the episode (I can't remember who wrote it) that argued that the affected's memories were indeed the problem despite what Twilight said to the contrary (that the memory spell wouldn't work).  Presumably memory works into creating a self-identity.  Even then, I would say that what the spell did, as I mentioned earlier, was to unbalance the weight in some of those memories in creating a self-identity.  So obviously Rarity might remember how to make a dress and how she felt doing so, but for some reason (which I just speculate for the sake of argument) some other memory of seeing clouds in pretty patterns and a subconscious desire to control them in a flight of fancy gained more weight in her mind's forefront.  Giving other memories priority is not quite the same as losing them or even ignoring them.  Perhaps the criticism does have some merit, but it doesn't totally destroy the episode or Twilight's assertion that the memory spell wouldn't work.

 

Actually, one thing the reviewer said was evidence that the memories were altered is that Rarity said that she "had always been" working the clouds.  I find it equally as likely that she never really gave it thought before and it might just be an excuse of cognitive dissonance (perhaps in regards to other memories).  Like I said, the argument has merit, but doesn't completely destroy the episode.

 

I know another thing folks have complained about is the whole "destiny" idea.  This is especially problematic with the cutie mark as the previous canon indicated there wasn't exactly predetermined for the ponies in getting their marks.  But this is a matter philosophical debate more than anything.  It's possible that perhaps the show posits a compatiblist rather than a hard determinist or libertarian view of free will.  In that case, "destiny" can be rather loosely interpreted, and I personally see it as just a rhetorical "knew it all along" fallacy that reflects one's feelings about their self-identity.

 

So in short, I find that there are legitimate reasons to have complaints for this episode, but one shouldn't dispense with imagination in interpreting it.

Edited March 7, 2014 by OptimisticNeighsayer

[PartyWithPinkie 189]

My problem with it is they tried to cram such a massive and show-changing concept into a single episode. It's ridiculous. This absolutely should have been a two parter. Now, they managed to do a good job of fitting in as much story and stuff in, but it still would have been much better as a two parter.

I agree, actually! I always thought it should have been a two-parter.

But I still enjoyed it.

[Nature's Spell 526]

I agree, actually! I always thought it should have been a two-parter.

But I still enjoyed it.

There are reasons why they didn't make it a two parter and the time constraint is also why they made it into a musical. MMC was the first episode that I ever watched and it's still my favorite episode. Edited March 8, 2014 by Nature's Spell

[Singe 2,111]

The episode just didn't feel like it belong. Vibe felt off from the other episodes.

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

I think a big concern many have with the episode (besides the pacing, time constraint (yes, it would have been better as a two-parter), and the merit of becoming an alicorn princess) is the apparent contradiction between the previously developed nature of cutie marks and how it is depicted in this episode.

 

In "What My Cutie Mark is Telling Me", all of the affected admit that they are not only bad at what they do but don't really enjoy it one bit, but hay, it's their destiny.  This seems to be at odds in at least one way with "Call of the Cutie", "The Show Stoppers", "Cutie Mark Chronicles" and "The Cuite Pox", where it is apparent that getting a cutie mark requires a recognition and demonstration of talent and a truly positive self-identity with the talent.  

 

It may seem that including "The Cutie Pox" here is a bit weak because it also seems to contradict the other two episodes because Apple Bloom got those cutie marks without real postive identification of herself with the talents, she just seemed to treat it as just a talent rather than a part of herself.  However, those cutie marks directly force a pony to perform their talent, which makes it seem unlikely that these cutie marks are of the same ilk as normal cutie marks whose talents can be controlled.  Although come to think of it, if the affected in MMC also got their cutie marks artificially (which they did), then the artificiality may also explain why they felt forced to actually perform their "talents".  

 

That just leaves the self-identity issue unexplained.  It's probable that magic (as opposed to taking some potion) can give more weight to certain interests (unconsciously revealed, maybe?) and artificially strengthen a threshold of self-identity that seems to be nearly permanent once it is found.  And yet to the continuity-minded viewer, this still seems to jar with previous explanations of the cutie mark.

 

I remember one review that completely bashed the episode (I can't remember who wrote it) that argued that the affected's memories were indeed the problem despite what Twilight said to the contrary (that the memory spell wouldn't work).  Presumably memory works into creating a self-identity.  Even then, I would say that what the spell did, as I mentioned earlier, was to unbalance the weight in some of those memories in creating a self-identity.  So obviously Rarity might remember how to make a dress and how she felt doing so, but for some reason (which I just speculate for the sake of argument) some other memory of seeing clouds in pretty patterns and a subconscious desire to control them in a flight of fancy gained more weight in her mind's forefront.  Giving other memories priority is not quite the same as losing them or even ignoring them.  Perhaps the criticism does have some merit, but it doesn't totally destroy the episode or Twilight's assertion that the memory spell wouldn't work.

 

Actually, one thing the reviewer said was evidence that the memories were altered is that Rarity said that she "had always been" working the clouds.  I find it equally as likely that she never really gave it thought before and it might just be an excuse of cognitive dissonance (perhaps in regards to other memories).  Like I said, the argument has merit, but doesn't completely destroy the episode.

 

I know another thing folks have complained about is the whole "destiny" idea.  This is especially problematic with the cutie mark as the previous canon indicated there wasn't exactly predetermined for the ponies in getting their marks.  But this is a matter philosophical debate more than anything.  It's possible that perhaps the show posits a compatiblist rather than a hard determinist or libertarian view of free will.  In that case, "destiny" can be rather loosely interpreted, and I personally see it as just a rhetorical "knew it all along" fallacy that reflects one's feelings about their self-identity.

 

So in short, I find that there are legitimate reasons to have complaints for this episode, but one shouldn't dispense with imagination in interpreting it.

 

The need to adhere to a strict destiny is exactly what they are saying you SHOULDN'T do. The moral is everyone has the power to change their own destiny, and a friend can guide the way. I personally think they should've avoided the word altogether, though.

 

And yes, that memory line is awful. They are interconnected, so the line should've been "It's not just their memories, Spike." Their memories were changed so to them they were "doing it for as long as [they] can remember" and now all of sudden they can't. That is where the identity crisis comes in, alongside their determination to live up to their cutie marks. The cutie marks weren't actively telling them to do their talents, it was just a passive reminder of their rewritten past.

The episode just didn't feel like it belong. Vibe felt off from the other episodes.

 

How so? It didn't feel any more "off" than 'Bats!' imo.

[PartyWithPinkie 189]

There are reasons why they didn't make it two hours and the time constraint is also why they made it into a musical. MMC was the first episode that I ever watched and it's still my favorite episode.

Well it wouldn't have been two hours if it was a two parter. It would have been two 20 minute episodes like how they did for the Crystal Empire episodes and the Return of Discord.

[Nature's Spell 526]

Well it wouldn't have been two hours if it was a two parter. It would have been two 20 minute episodes like how they did for the Crystal Empire episodes and the Return of Discord.

A typo but the general idea holds true. Due to the shorter season they weren't able to do a two parter.

[OptimisticNeighsayer 479]

 

And yes, that memory line is awful. They are interconnected, so the line should've been "It's not just their memories, Spike." Their memories were changed so to them they were "doing it for as long as [they] can remember" and now all of sudden they can't. That is where the identity crisis comes in, alongside their determination to live up to their cutie marks. The cutie marks weren't actively telling them to do their talents, it was just a passive reminder of their rewritten past.

Duly noted.  I still think a case could be made otherwise, but your theory passes Occam's Razor better than mine.

 

So would you agree that the memory spell would have worked?

[Singe 2,111]

Twilight dramatized and singing over a problem that had such a simple solution, rehabilitation. It seems the lesson is that Twilight cannot always rely on the knowledge in front of her and has to start thinking outside of the box.  

 

Build up leading to the payoff wasn't any good and felt rush.

Edited March 8, 2014 by Singe

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

Duly noted.  I still think a case could be made otherwise, but your theory passes Occam's Razor better than mine.

 

So would you agree that the memory spell would have worked?

 

No. it's implied it wouldn't, and I think I figured out why. If I had to guess I would say it could cause more problems than it would fix, because the Discord spell just re-instilled suppressed memories, but this is a case of memory alteration. The spell might be able to still place their respective memories upon them, but this would in turn cause them to conflict. For example:

 

AJ: "What the hay am I buckin' apples for? And why is my cutie mark all different? I reckon my current cutie mark ain't that, so was it a dream? Iffin' it is why do I remember it so clearly?"

 

That's just my take on it.

Edited March 8, 2014 by DryColt84

[Mywas 687]

An okay episode. I don't see why it gets so much hate

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

Twilight dramatized and singing over a problem that had such a simple solution, rehabilitation. It seems the lesson is that Twilight cannot always rely on the knowledge in front of her and has to start thinking outside of the box.  

 

Build up leading to the payoff wasn't any good and felt rush.

 

Yea, there are multiple morals one can take from this episode. 

 

Also, I sai pacing is undoubtedly an issue, and dramatizing and singing over a problem simple solution makes no sense as a criticism. Pinkie does this in 'Pinkie Pride', Twilight does this in'Winter Wrap-up', 'A Canterlot Wedding', and 'The Crystal Empire', Rarity does it in 'Suited for Success' and 'Rarity Takes Manehattan', and Fluttershy's duets in 'May the Best Pet Win!' and 'Bats!'. Almost all the episodes I listed have been recieved well ('May the Best Pet Win!' wasn't), but that to me proves that a song about a problem with a simple solution isn't a valid criticism. Why? Because a song has a few purposes to it. It can either be used to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, engage the audience in an emotional dillema, or to just simply entertain. Is it necessary? No, no song in the series is necessary, but honestly where would the show be without songs?

[Singe 2,111]

"Twilight dramatized and singing over a problem that had such a simple solution, rehabilitation." means that she gave up rather quickly, spent screen time singing about it, and then the solution appeared to be a rather simple approach of getting the pony back into the grove of things.

 

Twilight didn't try to contact Zecora or Celestia for help.

[DryGuy84 (Inactive) 927]

"Twilight dramatized and singing over a problem that had such a simple solution, rehabilitation." means that she gave up rather quickly, spent screen time singing about it, and then the solution appeared to be a rather simple approach of getting the pony back into the grove of things.

 

Twilight didn't try to contact Zecora or Celestia for help.

 

Like Pinkie in 'Pinkie Pride'? And the song isn't about giving up, it's about finding a way to fix it. Plus don't you think that getting Zecora or Celestia would make the episode worse? I can't solve a problem I created so I'm gonna go get my mentor(s) to solve it for me! 

 

The point is it was a spell she didn't fully comprehend, she had no clue how to fix, but she found a solution on her own. Also, yea it's simple in hindsight and to us as the viewer, but she was in a state of emotional turmoil and this approach WAS NOT GUARANTEED TO WORK. Her friends were all depressed and confused from the aforementioned identity crisis, and it was all her fault. How would you feel in that situation? Angry? Sad? Lonely? Maybe, even questioning why they were friends with you in the first place?

Edited March 8, 2014 by DryColt84