Day Three Hundred and Five - MLP:FiM: Season 3, Episode 7, "Highwaaay to the Danger Zone!"

Halloween's over, Mons(sters) are asleep... time to post Ponies!

Yes, friends, now that our Couchbound Spooktacular of a whole month of Twin Peaks (plus weekend horror flicks) has finished, two things are self-evident. First, I can watch whatever I want (WOOHOO)! Second, it's been a decent while since I've watching any My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and I think it's about time that I changed that.

Today's episode is a cute little Rainbow Dash centered episode that's a sendup to Top Gun.

It seems, after years of pining for the Wonderbolts and trying to show off at every event she could, from the Best Young Flyer Competition to the Grand Galloping Gala, she's finally of either the age or skill level (or both) to join the Wonderbolt Academy.

Of course, that doesn't mean things will go smoothly for our spunky overachiever. While she's there, she ends up playing second fiddle to another egocentric pegasus named Lightning Dust and, though Rainbow Dash is eager to excel and push her limits, Lightning Dust's antics begin to cause RD, the other cadets, and even the Mane 6 harm.

While not the most humorous of episodes, the lesson is fairly poignant and it's nice to have RD making the connections for herself without having to have it spelled out for her by Twilight and the rest of the Mane 6. In fact, it should be noted that RD has to actively push against the example given to her by her commanding officer, Spitfire, to do the right thing. Sure, it takes being knocked around a bit and a possible gruesome end for her best friends (who come to Wonderbolt Academy to hand deliver a care package), but it's still Rainbow Dash comprehending the moral herself and standing up for her principles, even if it might cost her the thing she wants most in life, being a Wonderbolt.

There a few decent moments of comedy, though, mostly centered around Pinkie Pie and her obsession with getting a letter from RD (who is obviously too busy to write). I love how insanely codependent she is, in a non-Fatal Attraction sort of way. It really is the cutest bit watching Pinkie constantly open and close her mailbox, hoping a letter will miraculously appear via quantum tunneling or some such.

I also want to make special note of a few of the other cadets and background ponies. Not only is there another appearance of the roided out pegasus, Snowflake, with his trademarked "YEAH," but there are also two cameo ponies in the form of Manerick (Maverick from Top Gun) and Whiplash who is a Tom Skerritt pony (also a Top Gun reference), if I don't miss my guess. While not as cute as the Big Lebowski ponies during the bowling bit during that Cutie Mark Crusaders episode, it's still a nice nod to the adult audience of the show.

The ending is a little weird in that Wonderbolt Captain Spitfire does a stereotypical "you've got what it takes" speech and rewards RD for doing the right thing as a leader, stripping Lightning Dust of her rank as Leadpony but not resolving things with Lightning Dust in the standard "everyone learns a lesson, even the villains" way. Instead, LD is just led off in shame and there's no hint as to whether she's been demoted or completely kicked out of the program. A bit ambiguous and that annoys me.

Still, while not the best episode, by far, it's still a decent watch in its own right... especially for Pinkie's antics and a strong show of character by Rainbow Dash.

Man, I'm glad to be done with Twin Peaks. It's been so long since I had a real, honest choice of what I wanted to watch for the blog. Sure, it's probably telling that I instantly went for Ponies as a balm for my soul, but I don't care! I mean, c'mon... PONIES!

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day Two Hundred and Sixty-nine - MLP:FiM: Season 3, Episode 9, "Baby Applejack? Hnnnngggghhhh!"

Wow, it's amazing how busy a day can get when you're least expecting it. I've cut dozens of shows, worked on NaNoWriMo prep, corralled two different local programs (though most of that was hands off), and still managed to find time to skip lunch *insert stomach grumbles here*. That said, I picked today to be a Free Day... anything I wanted to see, regardless of how recently I've watched just that.

The result? PONIES!

Today's episode is the season 3, Applejack-centered, story about her attempts to put on the best family reunion possible for all of her extended relations... everything from horrendously long and complicated obstacle courses to industrial sized fried food operations to extreeeeeeeeeme hayrides.

It must be hard for the writers to put together an episode, purely with Applejack in mind, that has her overcoming some personal flaw. On the whole, she's really the only member of the Mane 6 who has it all pretty much together and rarely worries about things unless she needs to. You're typical "older sister" type, she's hardworking, loyal, and honest to a fault. Heck, they had to invent an excuse to have her run away in season two by making her too ashamed that she failed to help the town all on her own.

Yeesh.

They pretty much had to do the same thing here, making her act out of character, becoming overbearing and obsessive almost overnight. But, I suppose it's all good, though, as it's a rare thing to have a completely AJ-focused episode. "You take what you can get," is what I'm saying.

Plus, despite its main character acting a bit against type, there are some really poignant moments in the episode. We get to see two shooting stars in reference to her absent (possibly dead) parents, Granny Smith gives herself a very temporary facelift (which makes her look like a very cute filly), and there is a short flashback scene that shows an infant Applejack that is all but sure to give anyone who watches a cuteness overload heart attack.

Sure, since it's an Apple Family Reunion, Babs (along with her terrible accent) makes a guest appearance, but she's not as annoying as she was in her intro episode "Babs Seed" and there are plenty of Background Ponies around, like Fiddlesticks and Turnip Truck, to make me smile.

I guess I have two regrets. First is that the climax song is rather uninspired and boring. I was hoping for more, perhaps something breaking the country genre, but oh well... at least it was over fast. Second is that there aren't more cameos from the Mane 6 (+ Spike)... though, those that do make an appearance are pretty funny and cute. Personally, my favorite was AJ using Spike as a BIC lighter. Freaking. Hilarious.

Overall, despite its flaws, this episode of MLP:FiM is full of enough smiles and squees to make any Brony or Pegasister happy... and it certainly made my busy day end on a delightful note.

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day Two Hundred and Fifty-six - MLP:FiM: Season 3, Episode 5, "Dear Fluttershy... You Complete Me!"

Busy, busy, busy, busy...

Busy, busy, busy...

Busy... busy!

Today was a mess of "Things That Needed Doing..." even more so than yesterday (which was hella-busy in its own right), what with work and advising and paperwork and writing my own fricken job description (which makes me really, really, really nervous). Still, I couldn't let it break the streak... so, while I was scrambling to try and relay to my superiors just what it is, exactly, that I do, I flipped on the Netflix App and queued up My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic!

This particular episode marked the return of Trixie, the Great and Powerful Egomaniac from the first season, whom Twilight Sparkle sent into disgrace by defeating an Ursa Minor. It seems that she's thirsting for revenge and has enlisted the help of a cameo pony, the Oriental Mystic Pony named Uncle Wing (GREMLINS!), who sells Trixie a powerful amulet to augment her powers at the cost of her soul being corrupted.

It's a cute little Nemesis Redux episode with plenty of call backs to the original meeting and quite a few new gimmicks, like the shadow play that Twilight and the gang have to put forth to trick Trixie out of her Alicorn Amulet. It's especially fun when the smoke and mirrors corral all of the Apple Family, even Big Mac, to pull one over on the seasoned stage magician. It's actually rather ironic that, in her power mad state, she can't recognize basic illusions and sleight of hand.

I also love this episode due to the simple fact that it has Fluttershy acting her "bravest" while wearing a stealth ensemble courtesy of Rarity. Her sneak suit has to be one of the cutest things I've seen all year and, when combined with her basic moe factor, it's squee overload. So much so that I want to recreate her (and it) in mosaic or perlers.

As far as the weekly moral, it's a simple matter of teamwork, humility, and brains for Twily, et al., as per the norm with the show... so nothing new there. Though, even as cute as it was, it did seem a little out of character for Fluttershy to be THAT timid. She's always risen to the occasion before, and in more dire circumstances, so it felt a little hammy for her to overreact as much as she did during the second act.

While the episode is definitely one of my favorites, objectively it's not the best... especially when you consider how quickly Trixie is forgiven once she's defeated. Way too quick a turn around. Still, lots of great lines and bits for the Mane 6 and a few good ones for the side ponies. Plus, gender-swapped Applejack is hilarious.

Now... to get to work on a design for Sneak Suit FlutterShutter! Gah! The hnnnnnggghh!

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day Two Hundred - MLP:FiM: Season 3, Episode 3, "Comfort, comfort, comfort fooooooood."

For some reason, the past couple of days, doing the blog was seemed more and more like a chore than anything else... such that, though I feel a small urge to watch something, I also have the decidedly stronger urge to not... watch anything... ever... again.

It could be that I'm starting to burnout... or have been for quite some time... or, it could be that I'm just having an off week.

Either way, when the prospect of picking something to watch today from my never ending queue (now totaling close to four hundred movies and series) loomed metaphorically just overhead, all I could feel was ever so unmotivated.

I needed comfort television... and STAT.

Of course, that meant one thing. Well, honestly, that could mean any number of things and encompass any number of shows, from Firefly to Adventure Time to Pushing Daisies. Sadly, PD is still not streaming, Adventure Time still only has it's first season available, and Firefly? Let's just say that I can't stand the perpetual sexual frustration that the grand majority of episodes invoke in me.

So, back to that "one thing."

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Too Many Pinkie Pies = Inside... Joke... Heaven!

The premise of the episode is that Pinkie Pie is so afraid that she'll miss out on having fun with her friends (who are doing different things in different places) that she goes to an enchanted pond and makes copies of herself so she can be at multiple events, rocking things out. Of course, this leads to the copies making copies and all of the sudden there are dozens of Pinkies wreaking havoc and disturbing the peace.

I love Pinkie Pie. She's not my favorite of ponies, but her manic energy, preternatural ability favoring punnage, and the power to break the MLP universe that rivals only that of the other 4th wall breaker in the series, John De Lancie... aka "Q"... aka Discord, just make for great fun.

When the "Pinkie Effect" is in full force, things start getting surreal delightfully quick. Most of the episode highlights her precocious ADHD with cute effects (like the frog and bluejay who are turned into oranges), but the real comedy gold of the epi happens during the climax and the "Watching Paint Dry" contest that Twilight and the rest use to separate the real Pinkie from the fake ones.

Boy, it's like this small segment was a direct nod to the adult fandom. While it doesn't seem like much, in retrospect, just having Pinkie's clones make opposable digits (with Lyra nowhere to be found) and a Gen 3 face sight gag are enough to make me squee in delight (that's right, "squee").

Sure, there's a far too convenient deus ex device about Spike finding a hidden tome in the library that just happens to have the answer to sending the extra Pinkies back to the void, but no episode is perfect, I guess.

As ever, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is cute, wholesome fun... even with the disturbing implications concerning the ethical treatment of doppelgangers. I very much recommend it (though, I acknowledge that it's not for everyone) and feel that it was just the pickmeup I needed to turn this day (and my possible burnout) right around.

Also, "Fluttershutter" XD... that is all.

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day One Hundred and Thirty-one - MLP:FiM: Season 2, Episode 8, "Batpony to the Rescue! And without personal tragedy~"

I think that this has to be my favorite episode. I mean, yes, I love Luna in Nightmare Night and could squee at pretty much whatever Fluttershy does, but there's just something about a superhero episode that makes me happy.

Unless it's Psych. I'm sorry (Brit), but The Catch and Tap-Man are terrible. That's kinda the point, but... wait a minute, this is off topic.

Back to MLP... I love The Mysterious Mare-do-well. She embodies Truth, Justice, and the Equestrian Way without bragging or hamming it up, which is the point of the episode.

You see, Rainbow Dash makes quite an impression early on in the episode by saving not only a filly trapped in a well, but a baby carriage about to plummet off a cliff.

The townsfolk love her so much that it all starts going to her head and she begins to become a braggart jerk who is full of herself. I mean, way to be a TOOL Rainbow Dash.

That doesn't sit right with Mare-do-well, a masked hero who decides to start beating RD to crisis after crisis, saving the day so that Rainbow doesn't get the recognition she thinks she deserves.

Mare-do-well's exploits become so popular and RD so desperate for attention that the former gets a special celebration and the latter starts creating disasters from minor inconveniences (unmowed grass, a stuck lid on a jar) to try and win back the townsfolk.

As far as fables go, like most episodes of MLP, the lesson to be learned is quite obvious, as is the secrety identity of Mare-do-well, if you're paying attention.

Still, that last chase sequence where Rainbow Dash tries to unmask Mare-do-well but keeps getting turned around by her apparently preternatural speed and cunning is fun as heck. Sure, RD eventually catches up and manages to defrock the purple-clad heroine, but the antics are fun and ring of Scooby Doo.

Overall, while there's nothing really gush-worthy about this episode (no "yay" moments for Fluttershy ;P), it still ranks as my favorite.

Well... most days.

It's hard not to consider any episode with Fluttershy or Luna or Discord my favorite on the day that I watch it.

As always, the series is totally worth it... I just wish I could convince my friends of that. It's lonely being a Brony in my peer-group. ;_;

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day One Hundred and Twenty-five - MLP:FiM: Season 2, Episode 4, "Oh, Luna, You're the Cutest Princess EVER!"

So, it's been a really damn busy weekend.

Cleaning, driving, more cleaning. Seriously, it's like I've had absolutely no extra time. I almost completely forgot about the blog twice over the past three days. That's two-thirds of the time, nearly spacing out my regular appointment for the year.

In any case, to wind down, I've been watching My Little Pony.

Now, I admit, that I'm terrible at converting people to this show. Of all my friends, not a single one has fallen prey to my pronouncements as to its awesomeness. This fact makes me infinitely sad, but I'll deal, just like I always deal with my infinite sadness... with Smashing Pumpkins, a tub of ice cream, and more My Little Pony.

Tonight's episode was the halloween-themed revelry that is Nightmare Night in Equestria, a traditional celebration where folks dress up, collect candy, and play games to shield themselves from the searching gaze of Nightmare Moon, the Dread Princess of the Night, who gobbles up any pony she sees unless they leave her tribute.

Of course the actual Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna (who was redeemed in the pilot two-parter of season 1), is more than a bit unhappy that people still revile her as an evil pony-gobbler, but Twilight Sparkle is having none of that... enlisting her friends, some reluctantly, to help Luna win over the townsfolk.

I love these kinds of episodes, where a guest pony acts as an Outsider so that Twilight and company can teach both the town and the audience what it means to be tolerant and accepting.

I especially love THIS episode, though, because Luna is Best Princess.

The fun has been DOUBLED!

She's cute, awkward, and just adorkable whether she's trying to moderate her personal volume level or doubling the fun. There's just something about the way she's played as timidly enthusiastic that appeals to me... maybe because I love seeing Fluttershy often do the same thing.

Sure, it's a bit of a stretch that Pip and the others come around at the end, begging Luna not to cancel Nightmare Night because they LIKE being scared, but it's still a fun little episode with some cute cameos from from several background ponies.

Plus, it's good to see Zecora without her mohawk. She looks so much better with her hair down and covered in spiders!

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day One Hundred and Fourteen - My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: Season 1, Episode 11, "Such a simple thing as a song to brighten one's day."

There's something about MLP:FiM's musical episodes that just tickle me for some reason.

While not all of their songs are golden, they do seem to ring with a sort of earthiness and authentic flavor. Occasionally that means there's an awkward phase or two that's off beat or rhyme, but they still manage to retain their homespun vibe.

Episode 11, is kind of the midpoint epi for the first season and, as such, is a full ensemble piece that gives main character Twilight Sparkle time with each and every one of her friends, failing spectacularly to help at the pony version of the spring festival, dubbed Winter Wrap-up.

Not really the fertility or religious gathering that us humans are used to, the writers nevertheless have incorporated the traditional themes of nature's reawakening and planting that should be familiar to most folks.

Unfortunately for Twilight Sparkle, the Ponyville folks celebrate the holiday a different way than she's used to and it leaves her feeling left out... so much so that she breaks their taboos trying to help.

I find this a fascinating study of when cultures clash, even on such a small and harmless scale as this. Sure, Twily messes things up big time, but she also saves the day in a compromise that highlights how her particular talents can help.

A good lesson for the kiddos about respecting tradition while still making a valuable mark in the world.

Yes, it's cheesy and silly, but also cute (in typical MLP fashion)... and also features quite a few background ponies that the Bronies love to latch on to, particularly Dr.Whooves (the Stallion with brown hair and an hourglass cutie mark... whom folks have morphed into a David Tennant analog) and Derpy Hooves (the cross-eyed goofy pony who, in fandom, is The Doctor's companion... usually Donna).

No sign of DJ PON-3 yet, but she will show up eventually.

The fare is light in this one. None of the conflicts are all that thrilling, but they do give mildly entertaining diversions to go along with the overarching soundtrack. While the episode only really has the single song, as opposed to most of the premiere and finale episodes that feature quite a few, it carries the bouncy happy mood of the epi with pleasing distinction.

Most of the time, the art is meh, but there are a few segments that stand out... particularly when Rainbow Dash and the pegasi create a screwdriven whirlwind in the sky to clear out all the clouds. Cool stuff!

MLP:FiM always manages to please, even if only a little, but there's plenty to smile at in this episode. As always, I recommend folks taking a chance on it. It's not all that deep, but it doesn't need to be.

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day Eighty-five - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Season 1, Episode 6, "What NOT to do when you're Awesome!"

Time for some more Brony action.

Episode six of the surprisingly quality and well-balanced series that is MLP:FiM is the second in as many episodes that features a visitor to Ponyville (The Great and Powerful Trixie, Pony Magician Extraordinaire) stirring up some trouble, the first being the unblogged episode 5 with Gilda who bullys Fluttershy.

This is yet another example of rotating the cast of the Mane 6 to keep things fresh as both Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are absent for unknown reasons, despite the fact that the second act crisis seems to involve both wildlife (Fluttershy's specialty) and the entirety of town (you'd think Pinkie would hear the noise of Ursa roars over whatever party she has going on).

That's pretty much okay, though, as this is another Twilight centric episode and it makes sense that the three prideful/competitive ponies of the Mane 6 (Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash), would care more about Trixie's boasts than the timid and accepting Fluttershy and utterly oblivious Pinkie Pie.

Plus, Pinkie's preternatural powers for breaking the fourth wall (and the universe) would mess with the inevitable confrontation between Twilight, who doesn't want her friends to hate her because she's awesome at magic, and Trixie, who is a show-pony to be sure, but not all that magical in comparison.

I like the contrast this episode has with the one previous.

Where Glinda is all physicality, Trixie is mostly sarcasm, cunning, and finesse. Plus, it helps that Trixie almost always refers to herself in the third person. A nice little bit of egotism to both set her apart and, coupled with her general attitude and mannerisms towards the Ponyville folks, establishs a negative impression towards her.

While is was kind of odd to have the Mane 6 trio of neigh-sayers (don't look at me, it's a direct quote from the episode) be instantly critical of Trixie just to force some self-conscious denial from Twilight Sparkle, I'm willing to suffer the cliched delivery in exchange for the fun Trixie snark and other side jokes of the epi.

I mean, there's a freaking mustache spell for crying out loud (and Rarity not being impressed loses points for her in my book)... not to mention Trixie's smoke bomb/run away gag and the Snips and Snails pun.

Actually, I'm a little divided when it comes to Snips and Snails. They're a bit of cheesy fun in the vein of Pinky and the Brain if both characters had the mental capacity of Pinky instead of the Brain, but they're also not the greatest male role models for kids watching the show. Aside from Spike (who's just a baby, even if he acts like a preteen) Big McIntosh is pretty much the closest thing to a positive male role in the series so far... and he doesn't talk much.

 It would be nice to have one or two more positive Colt characters showing up more often, but oh well.

Overall, at this point in the show, the series is still just pleasing it's target demographic. The stories are mostly simple morality plays and there aren't nearly enough inside jokes for the adult fanbase yet. That will, of course, change... but while the first few episodes are definitely enjoyable and quality, they aren't quite to the level I want in all aspects.

Still, fun stuff. This is a series that both children and their parents (and even a few thousand childless adults, like me) can really get into. It's not quite up to Phineas and Ferb levels of self-reference and crossover appeal, yet, but I imagine it'll get there. You know, if Hasbro doesn't kill the magic to push more toy sales, but that may just be me being cynical.


Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day Seventy-six - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2, or "Smart, sweet, endearing... there's a reason it's so popular."

Alright, I guess the big secret is out... I'm a Brony.

It shouldn't be too big a surprise... a good deal of the internet, at least in the places I haunt (like Reddit, Twitter, and StumbleUpon) tends to like it just as much as I do.

Still, I'd been staying away from blogging about it because my Netflix queue is big enough as it is, but two things changed my mind today.

One, I was in a sour mood thanks to yesterday's blog entry on The Great Happiness Space. While an interesting and thoughtful look into a subculture of adult entertainment in Japan, I couldn't help but feel depressed at my conclusions.

And two, I'd read this morning (on Reddit, no less) that MLP's truncated third season was just added to Netflix, following the footsteps of the previous season that was also posted rather quickly after it was finished. That's a bit of a Rarity for most shows as the corporations which own their rights usually wait until they've squeezed as much as they can out of first run DVD buyers before they release the latest season onto Netflix.

Profit margins and whatnot.

Personally, I think it's great that Hasbro puts them on to Netflix so quickly... it's a much better alternative for those of us who don't rent cable or satellite anymore and cannot legally find sources of the Hub.

Anyways, enough about that... let's talk about the pilot two-parter, eponymously named "Friendship is Magic, Parts 1 & 2."

To start things off, the opener features a uniquely styled fairytale introduction that obliquely tells how the universe of FiM works via mythology. I dig both the art and the method of this intro as it reminds me of so many world origin stories that I've read (and at least one that I've written) that treats the Ponys' beginnings as fantastical legend that we learn, later on in the episode, is truth.

After that brief bit, the art shifts from olden fantasy to a modern, almost anime style with big, expressive eyes and as anthropomorphic as ponies can get without losing their hooves for hands (poor Lyra). If I were to put it in terms your typical anime fanboi would use, the style is just overboard with kawaii and moe. 

In keeping with today's blog being a twofold reason, the thrust of both episodes is also dually purposed.

First, to introduce all of the main characters (also known as the Mane Six) to the audience and to each other as Twilight Sparkle, the nominal lead character of the troupe, is a transplant to the main setting town of Ponyville, sent there to prepare for the big summer solstice festival (another bit I love, paralleling our old sun rites).

And second, to take said Mane Six on a bonding adventure in order to defeat the villainous Nightmare Moon, who wishes to make the sun disappear and night to last forever. Along the way, each pony has a specific part to play which highlights each of their own particular qualities. It is both a heroes' journey and a moral allegory as, only by showing the aspects of honesty, loyalty, generosity, kindness, and delight, can the group pass their trials and serve themselves, their friends, and their country.

Of particular note is how the second part's journey into the dark and mysterious Everfree Forest (with it's trials) has shades of many old folklore fables like the Thorn in the Manticore's (Lion's) Paw. I could swear that I've heard versions of each and every trial that the Mane Six go through from mythologies past, sometimes multiple versions from many different cultures.

What's important here, though, is that the show manages to maintain and pass on these timeless stories in such a way that doesn't seem trite and obvious as other shows, like Veggie Tales (ugh), tend to. 

It's schmaltz... but it's also pretty close to perfect schmaltz.

In terms of both art and writing, MLP:FiM knocks it out of the park. It's accessible both to it's original target audience (young girls) and it's unintended primary audience (men and women in their 20's and 30's).

There's just something about how the show's creators (particularly the original showrunner Lauren Faust) took a dying franchise from the 80's and 90's and revamped it into something so cute and smart that I cannot keep myself from watching and enjoying the hell out of it.

Sure, I know folks who don't enjoy it and look at me (a thirty-something single man) with bemusement and probably a little bit of disgust for enjoying a show originally meant for pre-teen girls, but it doesn't matter. Just like I did, you have to look past your own initial prejudices and give this show a chance.

Maybe it's not for you, but I'd always put my money on the notion that it is, I have just that much confidence in the show's crossover appeal.

Oh, and... if you're still wondering what it's all about... maybe this might help a little.

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~