• Cutie Mark Chronicles: Discussion

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    The moment we have all been waiting for! (Or at least the REAL fans. Dash isn't THAT awesome... The Poll lies! .)  Filly Twilight Sparkle time!


    Discuss away below!
    Friday, April 15, 2011 op
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    367 comments:

    1. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 2:34 PM

      Today is a day of celebrations for our beloved blogpony, Sethisto, for his favorite shipping (PinkieDash) is now canon!

      ReplyDelete
    2. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 2:37 PM

      MFW another god-tier episode.

      I thought spindly little Fillyshy was perfect, I dunno what you were expecting.

      Celestia confirmed for the power of 1000 suns.

      And it's official: all the girls love Rainbow Dash. Not necessarily in a gay way (not that there's anything wrong with that). But certainly in an awesome way. As if there was ever any doubt.

      I'm really getting nervous now though. The next episode is gonna have to smack it right outta the park even to seem "good". Can there possibly be too much of a good thing?

      What am I saying??? Moar Ponies!!!!

      ReplyDelete
    3. D. ShadowsApril 15, 2011 at 2:37 PM

      Quote: "Quite believable storyline, wouldn't you say? Sadly, I'm only good for ideas and not writing them fluently, so if anypony wants to make a story out of this, feel free. Just glad I got my idea off my chest."

      That's my problem in a nutshell, but I at least try.

      ReplyDelete
    4. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 2:41 PM

      My Rainboom brings all the girls to the yard
      And they're like, it's better than yours
      Damn right, it's better than yours
      I could teach you but I have to charge

      ReplyDelete
    5. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 2:43 PM

      @Anonymous Derpy is a watcher, monitoring pony progress and development through time.

      ReplyDelete
    6. HayquillApril 15, 2011 at 2:58 PM

      TBH I'm just glad to see someone other than Twilight getting the Sue treatment.

      ReplyDelete
    7. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 2:59 PM

      @Anon of 1.32pm with his huge "What-If" post

      This alternate universe has to be made. Now while the concept is awesome, just writing a story about the alternate world will be pointless, as there is no conflict (except for in the readers mind, so if you're an author who likes to place conflict in a reader's mind rather than into a story, this concept is perfect ammunition).

      What there needs to be is a reason for the alternate world to be visited, and a consequence either for visiting the world, or a resolution to the jarring experience.

      Possible story arcs:

      -A common storyline where a character questions their impact on other character's lives. In this example, Rainbow Dash would for one reason or another - perhaps after deeply upsetting her best friends with her antics - wonder if things would be better if she were never born. And from there, either through a dream, fairy god-mare, or some form of magic, the alternate world is explored. And Rainbow Dash realises that despite the negative things she brings into her friends' lives, her being there for them more than makes up for the hurt she causes.

      -A Dr. Whoof fic where an antagonist messes with the timeline and causes the alternate world to be created. The Doctor sees it necessary to bring the mane six together in order to save the universe. (Derpy can come along, too, which further explains her prescence in Canterlot during Twilight's tale).

      -The mane six acheive 88mph and go back in time to bring their filly selves together to prevent their present selves from fading into non-existence. A full blown, wacky time-spazzing adventure that would probably be nothing short of fun for both reader and author - if done correctly.

      Three simple story concepts. Go forth and use them.

      ReplyDelete
    8. UnknownApril 15, 2011 at 3:04 PM

      I don't think my heart could take anymore adorable.

      ReplyDelete
    9. Aqua BrandishApril 15, 2011 at 3:08 PM

      So many hate comments up there about how Rainbow Dash pretty much helped all of them reunite. Haters gonna hate I guess

      This episode...is full of pure win. Lauren just won 5 internetz with this

      And I always knew Twilight's magic, with time, study and training, would be at a very similar level than that of Celestia. Even she did know about it, as mentioned in episode 2 after they defeat Nightmare Moon

      ReplyDelete
    10. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 3:12 PM

      >Rainbow Dash is a Mary Sue type in this episode
      >Rainbow Sheen is now a new joke thanks to this episode

      Umm... as awesome as Charlie Sheen is, he's hardly perfect, and he has some major flaws. Even so, the connection to Rainbow Dash and Sheen ("Winning") has been accepted by the fandom as a great joke.

      Then we have people claiming RD is a Mary Sue, which, if ignoring the fact that a Mary Sue is usually a fan fic thing, suggests that Rainbow Dash has been portrayed as flawless, and highly favoured by the show's writers.

      Now explain to me, how Rainbow Sheen AND Rainbow Sue both coexist in the SAME episode?

      And more to the point, how can Rainbow Sue even exist when she's exhibited more than enough flaws in her personality throughout the season to rival the amount of flaws found in a bucket made out of a sieve?

      ReplyDelete
    11. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 3:34 PM

      This episode raises to many questions. The relationship between dragons and unicorns being one. The other being who are Pinkie Pie's parents? I thought Mr and Ms Cake was.

      Equistria needs to develop its lore more, and we need to know more about Pinkie Pie. She's awesome... and built Equstria???

      ReplyDelete
    12. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 3:37 PM

      @Anonymous

      I'm pretty sure she just works for them.

      ReplyDelete
    13. IkatonoApril 15, 2011 at 3:52 PM

      Anyone else notice the Zelda reference?

      ReplyDelete
    14. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 4:01 PM

      wow . so much fan=pandering in one episode .

      for starters it has all the mane charecters as fillys , wich is always great ,
      but also their is pinkie pie being a orphan basicly ... probably adopted

      AJ trying to act sophisticated , and im shure that "cockadoodledo" line will be in many fan videos,

      rarity doing .... whatever the hell she does...

      fluttershy singin for a super-pony-beat

      twilight going into a magical-rage-moad like many of the fans have discussed , not to mention adult spike and celestia raising the sun

      and of course , since rainbowdash basicly saved all of the mane charecters futers , she has officialy become 20% cooler

      ReplyDelete
    15. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 4:04 PM

      "Celestia's school for Gifted unicorns"?

      Twilight Sparkle, "This is absolutely Uncanny!"

      And to top it off Twilight having a Jean Grey overload moment. Epic as all hell. I loved the fact that the Sonic Rainboom was the catalyst for all of their CMs appearing, really makes it seem like the band of six is tied together by destiny.

      and I swear, Celestia had an "Exactly as planned" look there somewhere. I don`t think she's evil, but I do think she knows a lot more than she's letting on, preparing TS and the gang for something.

      Because of this, and Fluttershy recognizing her ability to communicate with animals is something out of the ordinary, It seems that Pegasi also have a certain amount of magic too, although more subtle than unicorns.

      ReplyDelete
    16. DammigApril 15, 2011 at 4:07 PM

      Loved it from the very begining till the end. And that ad made me curious. I hope someone will post the marathon on YT if there is something new on it.

      ReplyDelete
    17. ShidoshiApril 15, 2011 at 4:14 PM

      Oh shit, this episode it's just... BEST DAY EVER!

      ReplyDelete
    18. Parallel LogicApril 15, 2011 at 4:15 PM

      @Anonymous
      ~Does it bother anyone that Rainbow Dash pulled a ninety degree angle as a little filly
      >>FFFFFF, MFW it's 42 degrees
      Rainbow (I'm actually getting 66 degrees, give or take, but would have been awesome)

      >>Fluttershy falling to her doom
      ~Rd: Eh, I have a race to win
      >>Rarity falling to her doom
      ~RD: OMG OMG OMG *saves*
      I foresee Rarity-RD shipping

      @Adrian Brony
      ~was I the only one to get the 2001: A space Odyssey reference?
      >>A monolyth? Not sure if that's what you're referring to. I wouldn't put it past them to put that kind of thing in there.

      @Anonymous
      ~Rainbow Dash being the successor of Celestia is now very plausible
      >>I challenge. On what grounds? Twilight is Celestia's protégé

      ReplyDelete
    19. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 4:23 PM

      Nobody yet commented on that the "Rainbow of Light" is sort of the ultimate magic known to ponydom (it defeated enemies in G1, and in the pilot the mane cast create/release it to defeat Night Mare Moon)?

      ReplyDelete
    20. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 4:23 PM

      Too grimdark for my tastes, though it seems pretty believable. Except for Twilight Sparkle's alt-plot; she never showed any desire to impress Princess Celestia, only to learn magic. I don't see her going crazy-fangirl.

      If she failed her exam, she likely would have just sworn off higher education since all her studying didn't amount for a hill of beans when it mattered. She's been shown to reflexively cast spells whenever she's stressed, which means she'd be a ticking time bomb the next time anxiety struck and she didn't have any of her training to control her natural magic. Who knows when that would have been? Later that day, in the disappointment and self-pity of failing? When she gets depressed over not having her cutie mark show up despite getting older? Perhaps over a growing sense of loathing toward herself for being a failure and other more successful unicorns at the magic academy? Heck, she might even risk turning into a Nightmare Moon herself with that sort of thing.

      ReplyDelete
    21. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 4:24 PM

      @AnonymousGad dangit... I smell a grimdark being written.

      ReplyDelete
    22. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 4:28 PM

      Quoth:
      >>Fluttershy falling to her doom
      ~Rd: Eh, I have a race to win
      >>Rarity falling to her doom
      ~RD: OMG OMG OMG *saves*
      I foresee Rarity-RD shipping

      1) Everyone, RD included, was too distracted by the race to notice Fluttershy falling. Nobody was looking at her when she dropped.

      2) Fluttershy has wings. Why would anyone worry about her falling to her death, even if she's a weak flier.

      3) Rarity didn't have wings when she was falling, and was also accompanied by the knocked-stupid Wonderbolts. Priority.

      ReplyDelete
    23. LovecraftApril 15, 2011 at 4:31 PM

      @Anonymous

      I'd love it if they brought back the smooze somehow, and we get to see it smack the Rainbow of Light around again, haha.

      ReplyDelete
    24. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 4:32 PM

      A Mary-sue doesn't have to be a self-insert you numbnuts. A mary-sue is a character who is WAY too well liked and has substantially more important than the other characters and is in some way even more special than the other ones.

      In the original series in was Megan. Now it's Rainbow Dash and also Twilight Sparkle.

      This episode felt too much like the types of shows for girls that Lauren hates, at least in my eyes. It wasn't exactly shitty quality but it flowed the same way with the whole 'destined to be BFFS' thing.

      Also where does the whole No Fear song and Granny Pie fit into all this?

      ReplyDelete
    25. VenbrouApril 15, 2011 at 4:33 PM

      "Hmm... Wonder if there's a link to the HD episode yet?"
      *comes to this page*
      "SPOILERS! SPOILERS EVERYWHERE!!!"

      ReplyDelete
    26. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 4:39 PM

      Granny Pie probably happens later and was a rebel rouser. Or it happened before while Pinkie was still tame and normal, heh 'normal' that doesn't begin to describe how she is now.

      ReplyDelete
    27. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 4:44 PM

      Do we have a download link yet?

      ReplyDelete
    28. kimba150April 15, 2011 at 4:45 PM

      I watched the episode a few while ago and the first thoughts I had in mind after it was: ''You know now you're giving RD too much efforts''!

      I mean really!? Her first sonic rainboom was the main reason that gived to all of them their cutie marks?!Seriously with this you're placing her one step higher than the other girls! SHE'S NOT THE MAIN PROTAGONIST,THERE'S NO REASON TO GIVE HER SUCH GREAT EFFORT! THIS IS SO MUCH MARY STUEISH !

      Yeah yeah,I know that RD lovers are going to hate me for this words,but you know the strongest point of the FiM protagonists is that they are all six equals. And now give to Dash the fate of their cutie marks is like saying ''Yeah,she's the most important of all them''. And that is SO against the main theme of the show,at least in my opinion.

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    29. Laurence BrownApril 15, 2011 at 4:50 PM

      I liked this a lot. A few minor quibbles, but nothing that ruined the story for me, while there were so many moments that made me LOL and DAW.

      My only real concern is that future episodes might slip up and contradict or retcon some of the cutie mark origins. (Although in Pinkie Pie's case, I wouldn't take too much offense at that. Rock Farming??)

      Also, quick thought. Applejack said she was one of the last in her class to get her mark. Since all the Mane cast got theirs on the same day, does that make AJ older than the others by a year or two (or at the least, her and Fluttershy are both 1 year older than the others?)

      ReplyDelete
    30. 0April 15, 2011 at 4:54 PM

      I can't really be the only person here who actually did meet most of his real friends because of things they did years ago before I even knew they existed, who they were, or what their names were.

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    31. FasterThenRainbowsApril 15, 2011 at 4:56 PM

      @Anonymous

      Sorry got my hands full with my own epic story :/

      ReplyDelete
    32. FasterThenRainbowsApril 15, 2011 at 4:57 PM

      Well crap, I knew this would happen, my sonic rainboom origen fic is even more off!
      NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

      ReplyDelete
    33. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 4:59 PM

      Jesus! Pinkie Pie had it rough at the orphanage. I mean being forced into child labor "farming rocks"!

      I think this episode also confirms Rainbow Dash as fooling with the fillies.

      ReplyDelete
    34. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 5:01 PM

      Retl said...

      Nah, I had the same thing happen with a lot of my friends. I met them or had interactions that I completely forgot about, then later on we became great friends around High School-years. Small world and all that.

      As for the episode, I get the distinct feeling that Pinkie Pie's origin story, like The Joker's is multiple choice. She probably was influenced by RD's rainbow, but the other details might be up for retcon.

      As for all the RD-Mary Suing going around, I don't really see that. Being the catalyst that got all the ponies on their paths doesn't seem to go against the whole 'destined group of friends' thing since, well, there's magic at hand here. And maybe Celestia.

      RD being able to do a Sonic Rainboom when she was little doesn't seem any more odd or Mary Suish than TS being Harry Potter/a super saiyan, Rarity having hyper gem-finding magic totally out of the blue (even she didn't know she could do it), or Fluttershy being a frickin' Druid (which apparently is unusual since everypony treats her animal companionship as being something out of the ordinary).

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    35. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 5:05 PM

      Personally I think the whole 'destined to be friends' thing is a good thing. Not only does it bring forth an important lesson about friendship in general, but it is also the only solid reference the show makes to the first two episodes of the season.

      Again, I highly doubt TS and RD deserve Mary Sue labels. Mary Sues are flawless, and are forced upon people like shitty memes by the author. Both TS and RD have big flaws in their character - part of the reason they are believable characters and also part of the reason why this show is actually good.

      To give these two characters in particular a Mary Sue label is unjust and pretty unfair. RD is arrogant at times, and her overconfidence and impatience steps on the tails of both friends and aquintances, she is far from a Mary Sue in which case. TS is socially awkward, sometimes too sketpical or absorbed in herself to appreciate everything around her, these flaws have spawn episodes such as Feeling Pinkie Keen, and several Twilight moments like A Bird In The Hoof, Bridle Gossip, and the first episode in the pilot.

      Granted, these two characters have displayed some extraordinary ability; Rainbow Dash is the only Pegasus to have achieved a Sonic Rainboom, and twice at that; and Twilight Sparkle has Magic powers that are THROUGH THE ROOF (literally), but these are rarely displayed, and for the most part we see them in their normal way, exhibiting the qualities and flaws we know them for.

      It makes me laugh, though, that people are labelling RD and TS as Mary Sues when Fluttershy is pretty much the same as them. Fluttershy has her flaws, but she also has her extraordinary ability which is none other than The Stare. Also take into account that Fluttershy has heaps of adorable moments, and very rarely has anything seriously bad happen to her, and she appears to be head and shoulders above TS and RD in comparison. But even then, she too doesn't deserve the Mary Sue label, for her flaws bring her down to reality like the other two. The thing that makes her 'over-powered' like Rainbow Dash's Sonic Rainboom and Twilight's OVER 9000 power level, is her 'Stare', and like the other two characters, Fluttershy's 'Stare' is rarely mentioned, in fact it is only fully demonstrated in ONE episode.

      So take your Mary Sue nonsense and watch Strawberry Shortcake with it in mind. You shall find a greater use of the label there.

      /rant

      Oh, and about Rainbow Dash being a possible successor of Celestia in place of Twilight Sparkle:

      Twilight may well be Celestia's top student, and possibly wield the power equal to a Princess - but still untapped, but Twilight's coat, name, and interest in Astrology and Astronomy suggest that she's more likely to become Luna's successor and become ruler of the night sky.

      Rainbow Dash is as blue as the daylight sky, and her two Rainbooms are awash with colours only possible with magic. Dash appears to be more of a 'day' pony, and so if she were to achieve Princess status, she'd probably become the ruler of the daytime sky.

      Of course, Rainbow Dash's personality is a contrast to Celestia's calm and forgiving attitude. And Dash's brash attitude is definitely not something expected from a future Princess. So in all truth, the chances of her succeeding Celestia are slim, but are slightly increased thanks to today's episode.

      And a final note:

      I'm sure Celestia knows more than she let's on. That is how she is the master troll of Equestria.

      And perhaps Granny Pie fits in with prior to Pinkie moving to the Amish Rock farm. Maybe Pinkie lost her parents when she was a foal, and was raised by Granny Pie until she too, was unable to care for the young Pinkie Pie. So what happens? Pinkie Pie is adopted by the Amish family.

      Sounds super sad, it is probably flawed by show canon, but it makes a good explanation overall, no?

      ReplyDelete
    36. Batty GloomApril 15, 2011 at 5:08 PM

      Ack! The version is too fuzzy to tell how old Derpy is! Depending on what the final images are, she's either around the same age as Rarity (and wasn't cross-eyed back then...) or she's actually older than the entire mane cast! And if that's the case...well, that just blows my mind, actually.

      I'll be glad when either the FIM wiki updates or a cleaner video is posted.

      ReplyDelete
    37. Neon NobleApril 15, 2011 at 5:09 PM

      So, I'm confused, guys. About two things:

      1) Didn't Twilight say she'd never been to the Summer Sun Celebration before in "The Ticket Master"? She was clearly there, though, in today's episode. WTF. Maybe I misheard.

      2) What the hell was up with that wingless pink/purple/berry fusion pony standing on a CLOUD during Rainbow's race?



      Otherwise, I loved it! Very good =3

      ReplyDelete
    38. FasterThenRainbowsApril 15, 2011 at 5:15 PM

      I smell fanfics with Twilight losing control of her magic!
      Actually I must use this in my own!
      Cue epic unicorn battle where Celestia tries to stop Twilight!

      ReplyDelete
    39. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 5:16 PM

      @Laurence Brown Seeing the varied backgrounds that they all came from, it's more likely that Applejack was in a different school from the others. In fact, that's pretty much confirmed, as the only one with the closest background to hers would be Pinkie Pie. And there is the fact that she had to travel back from Manehatten, which would probably place her as the last of the six to get her cutey mark after that event, although taking into account Fluttershy's build, she is probably not the oldest of this particular group to get their Cutie Mark. And god, is my nerd-flag flying on that logic stream.

      ReplyDelete
    40. Adrian BronyApril 15, 2011 at 5:19 PM

      @Neon Noble

      my guess is the little earth pony was half pegasus and happened to be able to walk on clouds anyway.

      ReplyDelete
    41. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 5:20 PM

      @Neon Noble

      In the 'Ticket Master' it was the Grand Galloping Gala, not the Summer Sun Celebration.

      ReplyDelete
    42. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 5:20 PM

      Honestly, it seemed more likely that Applejack and Pinkie Pie were home-schooled.

      ReplyDelete
    43. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 5:23 PM

      @Anonymous Pinkie Pie I would agree, was probably home schooled, taking into account the poor/amish style background the rock-farm seems to have. Applejack most likely went to a small school situated near Apple Acres - probably the same place that Apple Bloom is, due to how close it is.

      ReplyDelete
    44. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 5:24 PM

      @Inkwell Pony

      On second thought, you're probably right about that. You can see both Sweet Apple Farm and the schoolhouse in the theme song -- they're a stone's throw away from each other.

      ReplyDelete
    45. Neon NobleApril 15, 2011 at 5:24 PM

      @Inkwell Pony

      Yeah, I just realized that. Damn, I guess being sick AND having a headache certainly screwed with me today!

      Now I feel like an idiot. XD

      ReplyDelete
    46. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 5:29 PM

      @Anonymous
      Great ideas.
      >I approve of them.

      ReplyDelete
    47. EwyndallApril 15, 2011 at 5:33 PM

      Watched new episode

      This was the cheesiest episode ever.

      My heart just got overloaded with cuteness.

      Meltdown imminent.

      ReplyDelete
    48. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 5:33 PM

      I would say, the order of appearance of Cutie Marks, after... the EVENT... would be Rainbow Dash, followed closely by Twilight Sparkle and then Fluttershy (As Fluttershy had to gather the animals, while Twilight Sparkle just had to be distracted from her arcane freakout). Rarity would have followed later that evening, with the play. Pinkie Pie would have been the next day, due to needing preparation time for her very first party, and then Applejack would have been the last of the six, probably a few days later, due to travel time between Manehatten and Sweet Apple Acres.

      And I love that Pinkie Pie has Mad Party Animal Scientist Hair. ^^ Yay, Mad Party Animal Scientist Hair!

      ReplyDelete
    49. BeeseApril 15, 2011 at 5:52 PM

      Pensivepony is up

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lhXnuNP8g4

      ReplyDelete
    50. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 6:04 PM

      So Rainbow Dash is entirely responsible for everypony else's successes?

      Not entirely surprising.

      ReplyDelete
    51. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 6:05 PM

      Pensivepony is up

      ReplyDelete
    52. ultra8April 15, 2011 at 6:06 PM

      Awesome as awesome can be episode. Lot's of cutness and backstories to go around not to mention a Rainbow Connection(chuckles).

      ReplyDelete
    53. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 6:08 PM

      Okay, so, Rainbow Dash previously said that she'd gotten her cutie mark first in her class or something like that. At first I was pissed at this episode for contradicting that, since she and all the other ponies appeared to get it at the same time, but now I see it makes sense. I assumed all the non-Twilight ponies grew up in Ponyville, but it looks like only Applejack and maybe Rarity did. Rainbow Dash was comparing herself to her class at Cloudsdale.

      Do you think Fluttershy is a year older than Rainbow Dash? She did have that long-legged thing going on. I could see RD grilling Fluttershy on when exactly her mark appeared and then insisting she got her cutie mark a few minutes earlier, so it still counts as first. But if that were the case, they would have had to compare notes, and it seems like they didn't know what happened to each other after the race started.

      I also theorize that Applejack is older than RD, since she said she was the last in her class to get a cutie mark, and unless earth ponies get theirs earlier than pegasus ponies, it doesn't make sense for ALL the earth ponies to get marks before more than one of the young pegasi.

      So in my opinion, that probably puts RD and Pinkie Pie at slightly younger than Fluttershy and Applejack.

      Sorry if this double-posts, but I'm having trouble posting without using the "Reply" button.

      ReplyDelete
    54. HeatWaveApril 15, 2011 at 6:13 PM

      I guess have my own problems with this particular episode. The overwhelming cuteness aside, I have no problem with the aspect of Rainbow bringing all the girls together or granting them their cutie marks, but after re-watching the episode 'Sonic Rainboom', I'm sensing some massive continuity issues. Though I knew that ending was going to win... I personally voted for the 'born to fly' ending.

      These errors are not outright spoken of course, and I'm sure there's enough nit-picking fans out there that they can explain it all away (I'm being a bit nit-picky here myself, so yeah...) but interpretation of events couldn't have been more off. If it was during a semi-high profile race that Rainbow Dash performed the legendary Sonic Rainboom then:

      1. Not THAT many years could have passed that everyone has forgotten about it.
      2. Everyone, including the bullies, would have doubter that she had it in her.
      3. Even if the bullies, having been disoriented by the race, had not actually SEEN the Sonic Rainboom, she would have been the talk of town for the next several weeks, and there were more than enough witnesses to support the fact that she pulled it off.
      4. I feel Rainbow herself would not have been nearly so nervous. Even if she had failed to duplicate the Rainboom so many times before, the fact that she knew she had actually done it before would have made her more determined to complete it than nervous about failing. This also includes the moment where her friends are talking about her having done it before. That episode made it seem that she was merely boasting at the time, and may not have actually done it.
      5. I've never been able to do anything physically as a child that I am not better at now.

      I understand that number 4 is more of a character interpretation than anything else, but for what is considered such a legendary move, no one seemed to remember, or even care. I would have thought she would've become some sort of pony celebrity for it, at least in Cloudsdale. This episode shows that the episode 'Sonic Rainboom' was an enormous example of 'Dude, where's my respect?" (tvtropes.org reference). As such, it kept me from enjoying it entirely.

      Now, I know this rant was long, so don't take it as a 'I HATE THIS EPISODE SO MUCH' rant so much as a 'just bugs me' type deal. All the same, I thought they portrayed the fillies well, and hey, look, parents!

      My personal favorite origins were Twilight Sparkle (who still has a number of character flaws, despite her apparent overwhelming power) and Rarity, for her reaction to the stone.

      One thing I really like is how the episode shows alternate interpretations of the idea of growing up. That 'It's ok to follow your family's traditions/footsteps' (Applejack) as well as 'If you don't like what you're doing, it's ok to look for something else' (Pinkie Pie). That, I felt, they did well.

      ReplyDelete
    55. HeatWaveApril 15, 2011 at 6:17 PM

      Also, sorry for the double post, but I can't seem to figure out how to edit my previous post:

      A type in example #2 above should read 'would NOT have doubted' as opposed to 'would have doubter'.

      My bad.

      ReplyDelete
    56. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 6:18 PM

      @Breakfast In regards to the Sonic Rainboom, most likely after the race, she may have been cornered, and told to reproduce the effect. When forced to perform on command as opposed to for some overarching goal, this becomes far harder, and when she was unable to do it again, it may have been considered just a fluke.

      This would explain in part why she has such a 'losing complex' as what had been shown in Sonic Rainboom, and would also probably have led to the bullies just intensifying their bullying instead of slacking off. Especially if the attempts to recreate her success just led to greater and greater failures.

      ReplyDelete
    57. PacceApril 15, 2011 at 6:21 PM

      I liked the part with the ponies in it!

      ReplyDelete
    58. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 6:23 PM

      Which would in the end, leading to her feeling the great need to do the Sonic Rainboom again in order to prove that she could do it, while lending to the huge amount of self doubt due to the fact that she had failed so many times before, only having succeeded at the Sonic Rainboom once.

      Especially when she was forced to go up against Rarity's 'prancy act' at the same time, and so many other talented ponies as well.

      But that's just my interpretation of the situation, having been able to do some spectacular things in private, or when not thinking about it, that I would have a hell of a time doing if forced to do it in front of a crowd.


      Admittedly, having a fear of crowds, it isn't too overly surprising. >.>

      ReplyDelete
    59. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 6:23 PM

      And the part with the ponies in it was in fact awesome.

      ReplyDelete
    60. PecanApril 15, 2011 at 6:30 PM

      So... ponies now confirmed to have middle names? Well, now I'm wondering what everypony else's are.

      ReplyDelete
    61. Fon ShaolinApril 15, 2011 at 6:31 PM

      @Anonymous
      Ah, so many good ideas there! I had to flip a coin between doing one of those alt histories or working on my current project. Sorry, anon. :(

      Still, I'll be keeping an eye out for any alternate universe fics this great episode produced.

      ReplyDelete
    62. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 6:32 PM

      Pinkie Pie is weird. She has an unconventional name that doesn't fit the naming conventions of the rest of the ponies... which... would be why it's unconventional. Bwah. But yeah, I think that may be more in part due to her unusual background.

      ReplyDelete
    63. Batty GloomApril 15, 2011 at 6:32 PM

      I've rewatched the episode in high quality. At both the last young Rarity Ponyville scene and in Canterlot (note: the Canterlot scene chronologically happened before the last young Rarity Ponyville scene), you can clearly see an adult Derpy both times. She's not cross-eyed in Ponyville for some reason (?) but is in Canterlot.

      This means that Derpy is older than the mane cast possibly 5 years or older.

      ...wow. Think about that for a moment.

      ReplyDelete
    64. Hikuro14April 15, 2011 at 6:34 PM

      Best
      Episode
      Period

      ReplyDelete
    65. HeatWaveApril 15, 2011 at 6:40 PM

      @Inkwell Pony
      I knew someone out there would make a compelling case, and your case is quite compelling, and a logical argument, so I concede to that line of thought.

      It still stands, in my eyes at least, that she was able to pull it off in front of so many ponies. Even they couldn't get her to do it again, even they must have realized that it's not an every-day occurrence.

      ReplyDelete
    66. EscherApril 15, 2011 at 6:47 PM

      This is probably as close as we're going to ever get to Applejack being ORPHAN CONFIRMED.

      ReplyDelete
    67. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 6:53 PM

      hmm what a fun episode to watch. pinkie pie story was awesome lol. hmm wouldn't it be funny to find out that pinkie pie is maybe a lost heir to the throne? considering that she looked out of place from that family she was raised with. Also given her unusually long name.

      also you got think what the heck is up with the aging process in this show. if luna was banished for 100o years and is reverted back to a younger age when she was defeated. Also why doesn't Celestia look like granny smith if shes been around for that long. am sure someones gonna tell me its "magic" :P

      that was all thats been chewing on me brain for a while but great episode.

      ReplyDelete
    68. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 6:57 PM

      @Breakfast

      Oh, definitely. But taking the bully mentality into account, generally speaking, they're going to be little doodyheads no matter what is going on, unless something truely and utterly amazing happens and is witnessed by those in higher positions that they can use to suck up to. Just my thought on it.

      ReplyDelete
    69. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 6:59 PM

      Pinkie Pie is my new favourite, just for this episode.

      ReplyDelete
    70. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 7:01 PM

      And not to mention, if you fail spectacularly enough, it doesn't matter what you did previously, you're still gonna wind up as a bit of a laughing stock.

      Quite often, you don't even need to fail as spectacularly as you succeeded. So she could have some renown for what she did, and still be treated as something of a joke by some pegasus

      ReplyDelete
    71. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 7:03 PM

      Is it just me, or is Fluttershy's origin story somewhat similar to the Monarch's?

      ReplyDelete
    72. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 7:03 PM

      @Anonymous Probably because she's the immortal goddess of the sun, or somethin'

      ReplyDelete
    73. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 7:15 PM

      Batty Gloom just doesn't seem to understand that there is more then one gray mare with amber eyes and they live everywhere and one just happen to look like Derpy. (re-watch Winter Wrap Up, there are four of them living in Ponyville)

      The one true derpy was the age of the rest of the main cast at the time, her mother is probably where she gets her looks from.

      ReplyDelete
    74. Batty GloomApril 15, 2011 at 7:15 PM

      @Anonymous

      Quick! Someone take the audio from the Venture Brothers and overlay it with Fluttershy!

      ReplyDelete
    75. Batty GloomApril 15, 2011 at 7:16 PM

      @Anonymous

      When did you see a younger Derpy? I just saw the two adult ones.

      ReplyDelete
    76. LordOfTheWrongsApril 15, 2011 at 7:23 PM

      @Escher
      Oh, good point! We only saw Granny and Mac seeing her off and greeting her on her return, so it's reasonable to assume there are no parents!

      Did anyone else notice Rarity's voice was really off? Either St. Germaine was having a bad day, or that's a different VA.

      Celestia rasing the sun. That was SO AWESOME! I always wondered what it looked like when she did that! (Now I want to know if Luna does the same thing, or if it's different... ;_;)

      All 6 Elements got their marks from the same event. Is this because they already shared the connection of having the elements, or do their elements all work together because they share a magical bond? Hmmmm.

      Twi's shining eyes indicate the Element of Magic definitely activated, there. No wonder Celestia took her on as her protege -- it didn't have anything to do with her talent, it was because she recognized the Element of Magic!

      Heh heh, Fluttershy was sporting a *huge* wingboner after the group hug with Dash.

      ReplyDelete
    77. LordOfTheWrongsApril 15, 2011 at 7:26 PM

      Oh, and Big Dragon confirmed canon. :)

      ReplyDelete
    78. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 7:30 PM

      Quoth Anonymous:
      ~what the heck is up with the aging process in this show. if luna was banished for 100o years and is reverted back to a younger age when she was defeated. Also why doesn't Celestia look like granny smith if shes been around for that long. am sure someones gonna tell me its "magic" :P~

      Nobody ever said Luna is the same age as Celestia; just because they shared responsibility for the sun and moon doesn't mean they're equal in everything. For all we know, Winged Unicorns (whatever it is Celestia and Luna are called) age exceedingly slow and Luna was just a bratty filly when she was first banished.

      It's also possible that Winged Unicorns operate on a completely different physiological state since we've seen adult ponies who are still the same size as adolescent ponies. When I first saw Nightmare Moon get turned back into Luna, I was under the impression that her 'big form' was a sort of power manifestation, and that Celestia would also shrink if she ever 'powered down'.

      ReplyDelete
    79. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 7:32 PM

      Does anyone have a highres version of the filly wallpaper used in the OP?

      ReplyDelete
    80. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 7:33 PM

      twilights parents.... WAIT! WHAT!!!???!!! twilight has parents :O

      ReplyDelete
    81. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 7:53 PM

      @Anonymous


      -(Long, drawn out pause)-

      What, did you think she just spontaneously appeared outta midicloreans or something?

      ReplyDelete
    82. Inkwell PonyApril 15, 2011 at 7:58 PM

      And, as an aside, upon closer inspection, Trixie doesn't have a moon on her cutie mark. Hate to burst everybody's bubble, but that's a magical swirl. Moons don't generally curve downwards on the bottom.

      ReplyDelete
    83. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 7:58 PM

      What they -- hey, they mixed up Pinkie's and Rarity's backgrounds!

      ReplyDelete
    84. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 7:59 PM

      Thanks to ponies I am now a cripple...

      "Manehattan"
      -I burst into tears laughing.

      Fluttershys song:
      -Hearth explodes from HNNNNNNGGGG.

      Raritys face:
      -My throat takes permament damage from laughing too hard.

      Celestia summons sun:
      - *jawdrop*

      "yes yes yes yes yes"
      - Oh Twi you so silly.

      "Rock farm"
      - Confound these ponies! They drive me to hyperventilate.

      RD harem
      - fuck yeah.

      I dare say.
      This episode is way above Celestia tier.

      HOW COME CARTOON FOR 13 YEAR OLD GIRLS MAKES MY LIFE SO JOYFUL AND NICE!?

      ReplyDelete
    85. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 8:05 PM

      I wouldn't call this the "best episode" by any stretch, but it's definitely some epic worldbuilding. Fic writers just got a lot to work with!

      ReplyDelete
    86. AlfadorApril 15, 2011 at 8:10 PM

      Idea time! (Copied from ponychan thread where someone'd said Pinkie Pie was Amish, hence that starting it off.)

      Pinkie Pie wasn't Amish. That's actually closer to Applejack's origin story, especially with how the Amish actually do send their kids out into the world when they come of age, to choose whether they'll stay "modern" or return home--thus ensuring the only people among the Amish are those who prefer the lifestyle.

      Rock farming is a metaphor for some manner of esoteric genetics and/or nanotechnology research. This really WAS the story of how Equestria began, told through extreme metaphor. Pinkie Pie was a scientist who, through ideals of partying and laughter, formed the molds in which the civilization to follow would be cast. So much so that PInkie's memory of the event got passed down through the ages, letting a future pink pony in each generation know the truth while unfortunately afflicting her with mild insanity as a side effect.

      Also, Celestia had been selectively preparing the various family lines of the mane cast for the arrival of each Element for so long that when Rainbow Dash discovered her own power, the effects were explosive enough to trigger the "awakening" of ALL the other five ponies.

      After all, there's a reason nopony's ever done a Sonic Rainboom before Rainbow Dash, nor since. She began the legend. All six of the mane cast are minor deities in their own right, Celestia having specifically engineered their existence over the last thousand years. She wasn't able to use the Elements of Harmony alone to their full effect, and so could not turn Nightmare Moon back into her sister Luna, only seal her away in the moon. The entire existence of the mane cast is Celestia's attempt at redemption for what she perceives as her greatest failure.

      ReplyDelete
    87. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 8:18 PM

      So far we've seen four Derpy's in Winter Wrap Up along with two others with the only difference being the hair color is orange and or purple. One Derpy even had blue eyes instead of amber so that would be about seven differing mares that look similar.

      My conclusion is that there are many repeating symbols and colors among pony kind.

      My theory is that a lot of ponies look alike with varying differences being minimal, also ponies are capable of having the same cutie mark as another only the mark could mean something entirely different.

      ReplyDelete
    88. Saxton HaleApril 15, 2011 at 8:35 PM

      Twilight Sparkle's Cutie Mark.... I-is that?

      IS THAT TRIXIES?!?!? OR AM I JUST TRIPPING?!?!? I DEMAND SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISONS!!! GO GO GO GO GO!!!

      ReplyDelete
    89. FanloserApril 15, 2011 at 8:52 PM

      Hmm... It's good to know that Twilight had parents after all. Yes, I said, "HAD," not "HAS." HAD, past tense, because I'm pretty certain that they are now dead. Because, think about this for a second, why is it that every time Twilight Sparkle writes a letter it's ALWAYS to Princess Celestia and never to her parents, even she should be more grateful them because if it weren't for them and their kindness/love for their daughter, she wouldn't have all that she has today. But no, they get nothing, no letters at all. Not even so much as a postcard with a simple, "I love you, I miss you, blah, blah, blah," NOTHING AT ALL. This means either Twilight's parents are no longer among the living, or she's all, "Fuck you! The only family I need is Princess Celestia!" And given her REAL character/personality, she doesn't seem the type to be the latter.

      ReplyDelete
    90. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 9:03 PM

      adfdafkdj it ate my post! Nooooooo! I had a whole epic thing written up and everything!

      Anyways, one of the smaller parts of what I DID compose was.. that this pic is now sorta-canon, since Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash DID know one another as kids..

      http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5385566/

      ReplyDelete
    91. BlitzWing00April 15, 2011 at 9:03 PM

      Wow, I didn't expect this episode to be so EPIC! I usually find the CMC episodes to be meh. But this episode was so full of WIN.

      Anyways, did anybody else wonder how Pinkie Pie was pink while her parents and sisters were all dull colors? I found that a little odd.

      ReplyDelete
    92. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 9:20 PM

      Cuteness and sappieness overload

      ReplyDelete
    93. DaffodilApril 15, 2011 at 9:22 PM

      Thoughts.

      -Filly Fluttershy is the cutest thing ever.
      -Dash/Pinkie Shipping is now canon.
      -Pinkie's real name is Pinkamina Dianne Pie. This is too awesome for words.
      -Twilight is an X-Men character.

      All-in-all, god tier episode. Maybe even above Sonic Rainboom.

      ReplyDelete
    94. Batty GloomApril 15, 2011 at 9:23 PM

      @BlitzWing00

      Two words: recessive genes.

      ReplyDelete
    95. LordOfTheWrongsApril 15, 2011 at 9:25 PM

      @Alfador
      Oh, Alfador, you so random.

      ReplyDelete
    96. LordOfTheWrongsApril 15, 2011 at 9:26 PM

      @Saxton Hale
      I'm fairly sure you're tripping either way.
      I assume you were talking about Twi's dad, and no, they're not even close to the same. Trixie has a magic wand with an arc of pixie dust, Twi's dad has two concentric crescent moons.

      ReplyDelete
    97. uberPhoenixApril 15, 2011 at 9:36 PM

      @Alt-universe idea:

      No, see, here's what really happened. The proposed alternate timeline? That's actually the original timeline. The past 21 episodes take place in a parallel reality accidentally and subconsciously created by a Twilight that never learned to control her powers.

      Think about it. A series of contrived coincidences set into motion what finally gave Twilight friends, something neither version of her had.

      Now, Alt-verse is shrouded in night, having lost the battle to Nightmare Moon. Pinkamena is forced into an arranged marriage with a member of the Apple family, and bears a daughter, Pumpkin Pie. Alt-verse Twilight attempted to become the most powerful unicorn in Equestria, causing her to do some rather unspeakable things in the name of power. She realized her mistakes after she failed to stop Nightmare Moon's return and had no one to turn to in the aftermath. This was when she accidentally created Faust-verse.

      Twilight studied this new world carefully, disguising herself through a transmogrification spell, which had the side effect of periodically crossing her eyes. She must decide if she wants to live in Faust-verse forever, allowing it to permanently replace the original verse, knowing deep inside that the world isn't real.

      Someone needs to actually write this, really. Maybe I will, if I have time.

      ReplyDelete
    98. FanloserApril 15, 2011 at 9:46 PM

      @Ubergeek
      I'm sorry, but I just have ask this. Are you high?!

      ReplyDelete
    99. uberPhoenixApril 15, 2011 at 9:48 PM

      @Fanloser

      High on what? I'm not high on drugs.

      I'm high on ponies.

      ReplyDelete
    100. JP Van DamApril 15, 2011 at 9:48 PM

      this episode was great. RD linking them all, pissed off young Rarity, Amish Pinkie Pie, My fair Lady AJ, awkwardly tall Fluttershy, and Twilight Sparkle being Gene Grey essentially.

      ReplyDelete
    101. T.O. BronyApril 15, 2011 at 9:51 PM

      I think this was the best one so far, but Scootaloo needs a lesson about stubborness, I believe.

      ReplyDelete
    102. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 10:17 PM

      This show made me die inside, and made me go into an endless pony-heaven.

      Lauren.
      I.
      Love you.

      ReplyDelete
    103. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 10:26 PM

      Maybe i'm the only Final Fantasy fan here because I was thinking more of Terra when Twilight's powers manafested. Im also not sure if I spelled that right.

      ReplyDelete
    104. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 10:47 PM

      @Daffodil How is dash/pinkie cannon? It wasnt even marginally implied, if anything Dash/Flutterhsy was implied heavily. You my brony are pretty r-tarded and may want to look in to killing yourself.

      ReplyDelete
    105. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 10:52 PM

      @Fanloser

      Beeee~cause it's her job at the moment? TS has been tasked to report back on the value of friendship. She's not writing letters to a pen pal, she's giving reports on her studies. It's homework, albeit an enjoyable variety.

      Besides, as far as I can tell, the Mane cast are supposed to be young adult age -- probably what would be college-age by human standards. They're all educated, don't live with their families (with the obvious exception of AJ), and have jobs/roles in their community. Most young adults generally don't call or write their parents on a daily basis unless they're really close.

      ReplyDelete
    106. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 10:54 PM

      @Anonymous

      what I'm really hoping for in season 2 is a multi parter episode called Dash to the Future in which Twilight tries out a forbidden time travel spell while finding it silly that it's called a forbidden magic. Only to change the entire timeline when she accidentally screws up Dash's sonic rainboom. Upon returning to the present Nightmare Moon controls the world while Celestia has been sealed up in the sun. Dash is a shell of her former self with no confidence whatsoever and has resigned to the life of a failure, Fluttershy has closed herself off from everyone except animals, Applejack has become a snooty, upper class, city snob who deep down misses her old life on the farm, Rarity after given up designing resigned herself to working on Pinkie's rock farm. Both are miserable and joyless. Spike was never born and Twilight never became Celestia's protege.

      Pinkie is the only one who believes Twilight as she's Pinkie. The others refuse to believe her thinking that Twilight is absolutely crazy. Which gives Twilight a huge problem as she has to rally her friends to defeat Nightmare Moon as well as fix the time line. Eventually she's able to rally her friends and they begin the attack, but it seems futile as Nightmare Moon is way stronger than when they faced her in the old timeline. Twilight brings up that she could go back and fix everything if she had time to prepare another time travel spell, and the others decide to give her that time. Literally sacrificing themselves so that Twilight can concentrate. In the end everyone but Twilight ends up dead (think of the TMNT 2K3 episode where Don got sent to the future and everyone but Don died to defeat the shredder.) and Twilight goes back just in time to ensure that Dash performs the sonic rainboom that brought all of them together thus fixing the time line.

      It'd make a good multi parter or at least a good fanfic.

      ReplyDelete
    107. wolfe_guardianApril 15, 2011 at 11:30 PM

      You know, while I can see how this episode would support Rainbow/Pinkie, Griffon the Brush Off is still the only episode I've seen in which Dash actually enjoys Pinkie's attention. Other than that, it's mostly one sided adulation on Pinkie's part, and speaking from a long term relationship myself, that's not really a good base for a sustainable relationship.

      And answer me this, how else could Applejack have improvised reins just for Dash while being tiny to boot and always know when to clamp her teeth down on Dash' tail without some very intimate, possibly kinky knowledge.

      Pinkie/Dash is a great ship if you want to develop Dash's feelings beyond what the show presents, and Pinkie obviously has great affection for her in show, but Apple/Dash seems more established in show to me as their understanding and affection toward each other is much more balanced, as is their antagonism.

      ReplyDelete
    108. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 11:37 PM

      @TooMuch
      Agreed! And the Party of One episode is undoubtedly where they admit their feelings for each other! So says Anonymous!

      ReplyDelete
    109. FanloserApril 15, 2011 at 11:40 PM

      @Anonymous
      But that actually hasn't stopped her from cracking a joke with or pulling a prank on Celestia WITHIN those reports, and from my experience most teachers seem to frown upon than.

      I know, but still even with the one that aren't that close with their parents at LEAST give them a phone call every ONCE in a while, but throughout the entirety of the series thus far, Twilight has yet to do anything of the the sort. In fact, until this episode she hadn't so much as breathed a word about having a family of any type. Which is probably why so many people think that Twilight Sparkle is an orphan that was technically adopted by Celestia. Anyway, I wouldn't have such a problem with this if they just show one scene and one scene only, of her sending something to at least one of her parents, even if it's just a postcard. Otherwise, I'm still convinced that her parents died sometime after she got accepted into that school. But hey, that's just my opinion.

      ReplyDelete
    110. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 11:40 PM

      oh my god this episode was sooo cuuuuuute!!!!

      I WANT TO HUG TWILIGHT SPARKLE

      ...

      i need to play sports and drink beer now

      ReplyDelete
    111. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 12:00 AM

      @Fanloser

      Well, as today's episode confirmed, TS has been Celestia's personal pupil her entire adolescent life. It's not surprising they'd be familiar and friendly enough with each other. Celestia 'hugged' TS at the end of episode 2 as well -- they're teacher and student, but they're also friends.

      I just don't see TS' parents being dead. It doesn't make sense from a writing standpoint. "TS is now a special protege... and her parents croaked off screen for no discernible reason!" Seriously, what merit could that possibly add to the story, especially when it's just as easy to keep her parents and give her a close relationship with Celestia?

      While we may not have seen any mention of parents prior to today's episode, there would have been way more reason for TS to mention that she was an orphan at some point. Narration alone, if nothing else.

      ReplyDelete
    112. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 12:55 AM

      Yeah, Twilight's folks aren't dead, that'd be a bit out of this shows tone. Celestia can have a close, nearly parental, relationship with Twilight without her actual parents being dead.

      Though Applejack might actually not have living parents. This show could get away with that, as long as it wasn't put under a spotlight.

      ReplyDelete
    113. FanloserApril 16, 2011 at 1:18 AM

      @Anonymous
      I'm not going to argue about Twilight and Celestia's relationship, it's not the main topic here.

      To be honest, for me it's because TS's parents are just throwaway characters. They were only here for this one episode, and then we'll probably never see or hear from them again, so they might as well be dead.

      Well, let's factor in that while this show is awesome, it's technically a cartoon made for little girls by Hasbro. A company filled with rich, old men who are probably very disconnected from reality and the public, who thinks that almost anything dealing with orphans is a no-no, because their target audience's "simple and fragile, little minds" couldn't handle it. Hell, may be we'll even find out that even AppleJack still has living parents.

      ReplyDelete
    114. FexApril 16, 2011 at 1:22 AM

      I am gonna miss my teeth but it was worth watching this episode

      ReplyDelete
    115. Inkwell PonyApril 16, 2011 at 1:29 AM

      @Anonymous Back to the Future references and an awesome storyline with time travel where Twilight throws everything for a loop? Could only be more perfect if she messes something up and starts fading.

      I love it!

      ReplyDelete
    116. HeatWaveApril 16, 2011 at 1:46 AM

      Also notice how each pony's story meshes with their aspect of their respective Element of Harmony.

      Applejack had to learn to be honest with herself.
      Rainbow Dash held loyalty to Fluttershy.
      Twilight was some sort of magical prodigy.
      Fluttershy learned kindness to animals.
      Pinky Pie had to learn how to laugh (though this kinda clashes with her initial story about that during her first musical number)
      And Rarity... well, let's just put it this way. If you found a rock full of cut and sparkling gems, would YOU give them away to become part of a costume for a school play? Generosity, there ya go.

      ReplyDelete
    117. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 2:14 AM

      Twilight is such a freaking nerd in this one. I love it!

      ReplyDelete
    118. AnonyponyApril 16, 2011 at 2:36 AM

      Things floating through my brain after episode (warning: stream of consciousness incoming):

      -We see Big Mac and Granny Smith see off Applejack, no Apple Bloom, so AJ's parents (who we do not see) are presumed alive until at least AB's birth.

      -If we go by size=relative age, AJ seems to be the youngest of the mane cast.

      -AJ's aunt and uncle both have orange related cutie marks, does this mean destined love? Also poses the question, Does the mare take the stallion's name when married? or did both happen to have names ending in orange? This goes for "the Cakes" as well.

      -Manehattan seems to have modern construction, but no presence of media (TV, phone, etc.) is to me reminiscent of the early 1900s.

      -The Oranges seem to be wealthy upper class. Accent, jewelry, party attendees make this pretty apparent. Does this imply other social classes? Are there homeless ponies? Also raises questions about Equestria's economy, Is there a pony Stock Market?

      -Manehattan can't be that far from Ponyville, if it can be seen on the horizon. Fact of the matter, neither can Cloudsdale be too far off if the sonic rainboom is audible in all 3 places. Are they suburbs of Manehattan?

      -The light green earth pony with the orangey hair has the same hourglass cutie mark as Dr. Whoof?

      -AJ's "kid" accent is adorable! :D

      -Fluttershy had never been to the ground 'till she fell down? Is that common for pegasus ponies, or was she just sheltered because of her "weak flying"? Does that mean Cloudsdale is where she was born and raised?

      -When Rainbow Dash came to FS's rescue, was that the 1st time they met or had they been friends before then?

      -Kid FS's hair and general awkwardness is adorable! :D

      -Kid RD's extra squeaky tomboy accent is adorable! :D

      -If that was FS's 1st time seeing the animals on the ground, How'd she know their names while singing about them? Did she learn about them from books? Did those books not have pictures?

      -FS = Dr. Dolittle?

      -I take it Rarity was raised in Ponyville.

      -R's costumes are adorable! :D

      -A unicorn pony's horn can have a mind of it's own. Also magic is mysterious but also purposeful.

      -R's talent is actually prospecting? :p

      ReplyDelete
    119. AnonyponyApril 16, 2011 at 2:37 AM

      ..Continued

      -Was Twilight Sparkle living in Canterlot at the time? Or maybe a suburb of it. How far does that make Canterlot from Manehattan?

      -Did Celestia really raise the sun? It looked to me like she just stood/flew in front of it as it raised up. Sort of brings to mind Apocalypto, where the Mayans used natural phenomenon to influence the public's perception of them.

      -Seems to be implied that TS is an only foal, though we don't know what her parents are currently up to.

      -Do her parents have the surname "Sparkle"? or is there more to her full name?

      -Is it common for the entrance exam into the Gifted Pony School to involve the forced hatching of a dragon egg? What exactly is the relationship between dragon and pony kind?

      -Is that a math or astrology lesson on the chalk board?

      -Grown up Spike is sparkly!

      -Silly TS is adorable! :D

      -So, Pinkie Pie has a family somewhere. Does that mean she left the farm but didn't return; unlike AJ? Are the Cakes just her employers, or are they somehow related?

      -If PP's full name is Pinkamina Dianne Pie, does that mean the family surname is Pie? That would seem out of place from what they do for a living. Or is everypony's closely associated name, cutie mark, & profession merely coincidence up to this point?

      -Does PP have to style her mane and tail each morning to get that look, or is permanently that way now?

      -Why does she refer to her sisters as "the sisters" instead of by their names?

      -PP's behavior regarding her origin reminds me of Joker. :p

      -PP is always adorable! ;D

      -Is Scootaloo related to RD? Or is RD just a legend amongst the Pegasus?

      -The word that comes to mind that best describes this episode is: Foreshadowing. The characters are now pretty well established as having a deep friendship bond, and having been almost pre-destined to meet up. Is this the calm before the storm?

      ReplyDelete
    120. AnonyponyApril 16, 2011 at 2:42 AM

      P.S. I have now put more effort in deconstructing MLP than I have for Lost ._______.'

      ReplyDelete
    121. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 4:41 AM

      I must say that anyone who says that Trixie`s and Twilights father have the same cutie mark should get their eyes examined.

      Trixie`s cutie mark is a magic wand with a star-shaped tip shooting magic dust in a crescent pattern while Twilights dad cutie mark is moon crescent with another, smaller crescent opposite it.

      Also the background ponies can be explained in two ways. The show has a limited budget and making any kind of art assets costs money, so it is easier, and cheaper, to reuse already made models than to make completely new ones(Faust herself said that she would like more diversity in pony models and hairstyles)... or the other explaination is that they are, I dunno, older than the mane cast.

      Loved all of the ponies stories and the ending scene of all of them hugging eachother made me go :D, but then a few second later I went D: knowing the shippers will completely devour this for their stories.

      ReplyDelete
    122. tootalooApril 16, 2011 at 5:01 AM

      HD download: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QTGISYYQ

      ReplyDelete
    123. QuantumFireApril 16, 2011 at 5:19 AM

      Twilight Sparkle dominating the poll atm.

      ReplyDelete
    124. CoffeebeanApril 16, 2011 at 6:22 AM

      @Anonymous

      Silly Anon, everybody knows that Time Lords regenerate into their body, not grow :)

      <3 Coffeebean.

      ReplyDelete
    125. LordOfTheWrongsApril 16, 2011 at 8:55 AM

      @Breakfast
      Actually, it may explain why Pinkie at some point had her grandmother as a parental figure. She must have left the rock farm and gone to live with Grannie Pie in Ponyville proper.

      @Anonypony
      >Apple Bloom implies living parents
      Unless Apple Bloom is in a cradle inside at the moment. Oh god I just made myself sad.

      >Manehattan location
      I think the rainboom was at least a kiloton-scale energy release. Hmmm... I wonder if the colors of the 'boom might give a clue to these cities' relative locations!

      >FS raised in Cloudsdale
      Seems to imply that. RD too, presumably. She was probably sheltered due to her poor flying skills.

      >Horn with a mind of its own
      I took Rarity getting dragged as a metaphor for her following a mental tug. Perhaps the Element of Generosity knew where it needed to be for fate to unfold correctly.

      ReplyDelete
    126. LordOfTheWrongsApril 16, 2011 at 9:24 AM

      @Anonypony

      >Does Celestia really raise the sun?
      If she didn't, NMM's plot would have ended pretty quickly when the sun rose all by itself.

      >Entrance exam & dragons
      Nooo idea. Possibly the entrance exam isn't pass/fail based on whether you hatch the dragon, and even most gifted students can't do much more than a crack or two. Possibly dragons require a charge of magic to hatch healthy, or they gain additional powers (like message breath) from it.

      >Surnames & Pinkie
      I'd assume Pinkie left the farm and never went back. As to names, ponies don't appear to have surnames. Pinkie was probably named in honor of her grandmother "Grannie" Pie. Some families do 'theme naming' (e.g. the Apples), but others clearly don't (Rarity and Sweetie Belle).

      >Scootaloo and Dash
      Dash is by far the most celebrated pegasus in town. It's no shock that Scoots sees her as a hero.

      >Foreshadowing
      Yeah, I'm getting the distinct impression that they were drawn together by fate.

      ReplyDelete
    127. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 10:17 AM

      Episode 23 HD:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__6EqfVkBAk

      ReplyDelete
    128. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 10:58 AM

      twilight magic-gasm, am i right?

      ReplyDelete
    129. 0April 16, 2011 at 11:08 AM

      @Anonymous
      Yes.

      ReplyDelete
    130. AcriaosApril 16, 2011 at 11:14 AM

      720p Version (from Mast3rlinkx on youtube) download:

      https://rapidshare.com/files/457723927/MLP_Episode23.zip

      ReplyDelete
    131. CalicoApril 16, 2011 at 12:48 PM

      @Adrian Brony
      No, I laughed pretty hard at that. I half expected "Also Sprach Zarathustra" to start playing.

      ReplyDelete
    132. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 1:51 PM

      I have learned to take peoples review of the show being God/Celestia tier with a grain of salt. Seems that everyone thinks the newest episode is the greatest one ever.

      Going to watch the episode now, it better be good :)

      ReplyDelete
    133. EscherApril 16, 2011 at 3:46 PM

      So, more thoughts on AJ's family situation based on this episode. I earlier said this is as close as we are likely to get to AJ being confirmed an orphan, since her parents were not around for either leaving the farm or returning. The potential monkey wrench here is her sister. Apple Bloom may not be old enough to have been born when AJ got her mark, which would make it tough for the parents to be dead at that point!

      If we assume that ponies age at about the same rate as humans, AJ is between 16 and 20 (young, but physically indistinguishable from the obviously adult ponies in town), and Bloom is around 8 or 10. AJ in the flashback was probably right about that same age, based on physical similarity and the AJ's statement that she was the last in her class to get her mark, with Bloom in the same situation now.

      So if AJ is around 18 now, and Bloom is 10, and AJ was 10 when she got her mark, then that would make Bloom no more than two years old when AJ came back from Manehattan. Assuming AJ left perhaps a year after her parents' death (not a bad assumption, I think), the timing works, but it's really close. (Sadly, this suggests that Bloom never really knew her parents!)

      The possible age range expands slightly if AJ is older than that or if Bloom is slightly younger (both unlikely in my opinion). If ponies mature faster than humans, it makes the timing trickier in the sense that things had to happen closer together, but it doesn't change the relative order of events.

      ReplyDelete
    134. AlfadorApril 16, 2011 at 5:10 PM

      @Anonymous

      a) "Manifested".

      b) I didn't think of Terra specifically, but now I can definitely see the similarities in visuals. Except instead of Terra flying off to Zozo to get calmed down by Ramuh, Celestia came to Twilight to calm her down right where she was.

      ReplyDelete
    135. Sand JosiephApril 16, 2011 at 5:22 PM

      I will admit that I kinda-sorta squealed when I heard "Pinkie Pie's Polka" again.

      ReplyDelete
    136. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 6:01 PM

      I didn't see this till the 720P video, but stop the video at 11:59 on the currently linked video and zoom in on the ferris wheel...

      A wheel of derp.

      ReplyDelete
    137. Everchosen April 16, 2011 at 6:07 PM

      At the end I had tears!

      ReplyDelete
    138. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 6:33 PM

      Why is everypony saying Raindowdash caused all the other ponies to get their cutie marks? As I recall it was Fluttershy that caused the chain reaction of events to unfold. Without her, none of them would have gotten their cutie marks at the time they did.

      ReplyDelete
    139. invinibleApril 16, 2011 at 7:38 PM

      @Anonymous

      If you are using that logic than they the reason for the main 6 ponies getting their respective cutie marks is because the bully ponies were looking for somebody to bully that day.

      ReplyDelete
    140. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 8:47 PM

      Its the same logic being applied to Rainbowdash only the difference being she did it less subtly then Fluttershy. Besides the bullies are not involved in the friendship circle that the others are, that being the whole reason the coincidence is so special.

      ReplyDelete
    141. Meteor MetalApril 16, 2011 at 10:28 PM

      Im gonna go ahead and say it, I liked the episode,but Scootaloo needs to stop bitching so much. It was very annoying.

      ReplyDelete
    142. LordOfTheWrongsApril 16, 2011 at 11:28 PM

      Hmm. This ep actually suggests that Dash is native to Ponyville -- the first thing she did after the rainboom was fly to Ponyville, presumably to show her new cutie mark to her parents.

      ReplyDelete
    143. AnonymousApril 17, 2011 at 12:45 AM

      Rarity isn't a fashionista. She is a minor. Her true calling, her destiny is to dig the ground to harvest the gems inside it.

      Also, Scootaloo seems to not understand that finding who you really are is the way to get its cutie mark.

      I find Pinkamena Diane Pie story interesting but I am not sure that it is that reliable... Anyway, who buy a large quantity of rock? This farm make as much sense that Pinkie Pie itself.

      ReplyDelete
    144. BlitzWing00April 17, 2011 at 4:47 AM

      @catherine-puce

      > Anyway, who buy a large quantity of rock?

      Maybe a mason or somebody else who builds stuff from rock like roads, walls, and such. Maybe the rock is used to make cement which is used to build the building in Manehattan.

      ReplyDelete
    145. Joe EnglandApril 17, 2011 at 10:20 AM

      Pinkie was absolutely in character. I suppose eventually we'll get a fic wherein every pony in Ponyville explains how they got their marks thanks to that rainboom.
      "I was drinking milk one day when a huge explosion caused me to snort it all up in my head... my eyes went weird and bubbles flew out of my nose! Beautiful bubbles..."
      What really got me was Rainbow's squeaky kid voice. And that mussy hair. D'aww! What a little tomboy.
      I was expecting Fluttershy to be the most adorable kid, but it seems she actually grew cuter as she aged. Crazy! Anyway, this certainly opens the door for future shipping stories. Like there needs to be an excuse.
      I do feel a little bad for all the "Twilight is an orphan" fics that have been rendered moot by this. But that's fan fiction for you. Now we'd best prepare for the massive influx of "Twilight had parents, but they died while she was in magic school" fics.

      ReplyDelete
    146. AnonymousApril 17, 2011 at 11:25 AM

      @Neon Noble

      Maybe she had a unicorn friend with the walk on cloud spell?

      ReplyDelete
    147. AnonymousApril 17, 2011 at 12:58 PM

      Seems obvious to me that RD didn't "cause" the others to get their marks- the entire event should be looked upon as a whole, as their united destiny. RD and her rainboom were the herald of destiny, which seems entirely fitting.

      Also, Pinkie Pie's ridiculous origin story (rock farm!???) somehow reminded me of the Joker's origin story in Dark Knight, the feeling is more important than the facts. Especially when she ended "..and that's how Equestria was made" lol

      ReplyDelete
    148. Frosty BrandApril 17, 2011 at 1:35 PM

      @ alt story line anon
      o_O' please, someone write this, add in Doctor Whoof and Derpy going back in time to that fateful day and... but they dont know rainbow dash snuck aboard the time machine and sort of... messed up her past. that'd explain why this timeline exists and then have DW,Derpy and RD fight Nightmare Moon and evil Twilight[maybe even properly trained by NM?] to get back in time and fix the timeline back to status quo. Say AJ turns to the dark side, Pinkie, Rarity and Big Mac try to help them just so they can regain their lives, with crazy Fluttershy and boring Pinkie pie... OH OH got it! rainbow dash meets up with Doctor Whoof and Derpy and they dont realize she sneaks on his Barn-Dis [whatever they called it XD] when they decide to go for a jaunt to check out something else that happened that day but was of less importance. so RD accidently's the timeline and has to fix her ruined future [meeting her failed self, and everyone else] by finding the doc and derpy who... captured by nightmare moon? Augh, its disorganized, someone sort this mess out and write something please, Like anon above, I can't write a good story at all.

      ReplyDelete
    149. Landon KempApril 17, 2011 at 3:24 PM

      You know, what if all these stories were made up, and the actual stories themselves were entirely different and had nothing to do with Rainbow Dash's Sonic Rainbow? Has anyone ever considered that? They might have kept the real stories of their Cutie Marks a secret and we would've never know that!

      Also, I'm kinda nervous about seeing this episode. Origin episodes make me kinda nervous. (Yeah, I heard about what goes on but I'm nervous about actually watching it. I dunno, I'm just weird.)

      ReplyDelete
    150. VenbrouApril 17, 2011 at 8:06 PM

      Wait... The song playing during Pinkie's first party, I've heard before.... By Celestia, that's the very same song she played in Swarm of the Century!

      ReplyDelete
    151. uberPhoenixApril 17, 2011 at 9:36 PM

      @Frosty Brand

      I've actually started writing it. The ideas in my previous post weren't really serious, so I'm going with a idea that makes a bit more sense.

      ReplyDelete
    152. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 7:01 PM

      @Frosty Brand

      Rainbow Dash goes time hopping and messes with her past? How does that work?

      I know how: Sonic Rainbooms are supposed to be extremely rare right? What if that's because they were ALL done by a time traveling Rainbow Dash?

      ReplyDelete
    153. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 8:01 PM

      @Escher
      wait ajs parents are dead? where did that happen?

      ReplyDelete
    154. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 8:04 PM

      @Coffeebean

      not exactly i seem to recall an episode where the severed hand grew into another copy of himself.

      ReplyDelete
    155. AlfadorApril 18, 2011 at 8:49 PM

      @LordOfTheWrongs
      "Nooo idea. Possibly the entrance exam isn't pass/fail based on whether you hatch the dragon, and even most gifted students can't do much more than a crack or two. Possibly dragons require a charge of magic to hatch healthy, or they gain additional powers (like message breath) from it."

      Oh absolutely. Most likely it isn't so much a test of raw magical power, as it is how one performs under and reacts to pressure. Their expressions of boredom were probably quite calculated, rather than genuine.

      ReplyDelete
    156. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 9:33 PM

      OMG Fluttershy SINGS!!!

      ReplyDelete
    157. DavidApril 18, 2011 at 9:53 PM

      Wait, so if Rainbowdash's Rainbow triggered Twilight's magic that created Spike... does that make them Spike's parents?

      ReplyDelete
    158. vitanyApril 18, 2011 at 10:14 PM

      these is one of my favorites episode, and the one that i most wait for it XD

      ReplyDelete
    159. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 11:04 PM

      Forever testing download link

      ReplyDelete
    160. LordOfTheWrongsApril 19, 2011 at 5:18 AM

      @Anonymous
      The part where they completely failed to show up to either say goodbye or hello to Applejack when she left and then returned to Sweet Apple Acres.

      ReplyDelete
    161. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 7:10 PM

      I LOVE FILLY FLUTTERSHY
      SHE'S SO AWKWARD AND SKINNY
      <3

      ReplyDelete
    162. uberPhoenixApril 20, 2011 at 10:10 PM

      I wrote the first two chapters (4500 words) of the alternate universe fic and sent it to Sethisto.

      I hope everypony likes it.

      ReplyDelete
    163. DoodlebugApril 22, 2011 at 3:58 PM

      Baby Flutter is my new favorite pony! I cannot get over her huge eyes and skinny legs! LOVE!!!

      ReplyDelete
    164. AnonymousApril 25, 2011 at 7:50 AM

      No pains, no gains.

      ReplyDelete
    165. Delc17April 26, 2011 at 8:09 AM

      Still no download for this episode?

      ReplyDelete
    166. AnonymousMay 7, 2011 at 1:35 PM

      No download link?

      ReplyDelete
    167. Landon KempAugust 24, 2011 at 3:58 PM

      I know pretty much no one is around on this page anymore and people probably won't recognize this, but I just have to say this anyways: Am I the only one who hates this episode out of the entire MLP:FiM series so far and thinks it's just awful? To be fair, I haven't seen it, rather I've read and heard about this, and I'm sure it won't be all that bad when I watch it, but I AM NOT ACCEPTING THIS AS CANON AT ALL. Call it blasphemy, but I think the stories and ideas for this were terrible just from what I heard. I'd list all the reasons why this episode drives me insane, but that would be too long and a waste of space if no one responds. But if I do watch it, I honestly hope everything in this episode is forgotten by the second season, so I don't have to see or hear about any of this crap EVER AGAIN! Of course, since you fans will not let this die, I doubt that'll even be possible.

      So yeah, I don't know if anyone's still around to hear it, but I just wanted to say my piece since I feel like this is going to be the most overrated, overhyped episode in the entire series.

      ReplyDelete

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