• Season Two Episode 3: Lesson Zero Discussion

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    It's glorious

    "Dash breaks her wings fics" are now banned!

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    Saturday, October 15, 2011 op
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    1,435 comments:

    1. Pete GordonOctober 17, 2011 at 4:11 PM

      I am quite bothered by this episode. Most importantly, I am bothered that they messed up Twilight's Face!

      When any other pony went insane they were still cute, Twilight actually looked almost repulsive.

      Anyone else bothered by how they messed up Twilight's Face?

      ReplyDelete
    2. Pete GordonOctober 17, 2011 at 4:14 PM

      And to add to what I said.

      Pretty much everything about My Little Pony that is great comes from it's cuteness. Even it's humor is derived from cuteness. I felt like it was an un-MLPish thing to do to make Twilight Actually looked bad. They need to abuse what makes MLP great.

      ReplyDelete
    3. richfilesOctober 17, 2011 at 4:29 PM

      @RainyRag

      Umm... You derped. A magneto is a component of an internal combustion engine that uses a magnet spun by the engine to create very powerful electrical discharges that are used to fire the spark plugs. Few modern engines use them, but small engines like lawn mowers and chain saws, as well as some classic cars use them. In general, they produce a far more powerful spark than an equivalent electronic ignition, but they are less adaptable to spark advance or retardation or alterations to timing, like modern engines feature.

      In. The. Dictionary.

      ReplyDelete
    4. twishOctober 17, 2011 at 4:41 PM

      Twi scares me...

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    5. StyxDOctober 17, 2011 at 5:20 PM

      This episode was... I don't know. It felt haphazard at the beginning, more wacky then Discord ever was, but it got better as it went, ending with possibly the first moral that I felt was appropriate and meshed well with the story. I never thought anyone was OOC, just that maybe they did the gag with Rarity one time too many (it was funny the first two).

      And I just knew some people will call the show ruined and accuse the staff of shameless pandering (which for some reason seems THE. WORST. THING. EVER. for some).

      Yes there are perhaps too many shout outs and proto-memes, but they are never overt unless you specifically look for them. They don't disturb the story, however chaotic it may be. I think they were wrong to air such episode so soon after Discord, but really it's one thing to not like it and another to scream that season 2 is going to be crap for sure now.

      And don't you just know that when the Luna episode airs next, we will have even more people complaining that they stripped Luna of all personality/are pandering to the fans of Progress or whatever Luna fic you (don't) like the most. Can't wait. See you next weekend, guys.

      @Silfir
      Maybe speaking in rhyme is something Zebras are expected to do in their culture, lest they will be considered rude? At least that's my theory, and I call dibs on it, as I'm writing a Zecora fanfic.

      ReplyDelete
    6. J.P.October 17, 2011 at 6:48 PM

      Bonbon sounds deranged... I understand completely, I want a Smartypants now!!!

      ReplyDelete
    7. IllyaOctober 17, 2011 at 7:17 PM

      I liked the episode because it was fun, but yes there were things that bothered me. Twilight doing things to deliberately hurt ponies is way out of character. I feel like she did not adequately apologize to Celestia for that and that Celestia let her off a bit too lightly for it. Yes, she let her OCD get away from her, and some erratic behavior was expected, but casting a spell to inspire hateful jealousy in little children? It removes from me a level of trust I have always placed in Twilight. Here's hoping she learned a very serious lesson.
      And by the way, is spike left-handed or right-handed?

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    8. Digital PhoenixOctober 17, 2011 at 8:25 PM

      You guy's ever noticed that her head and looks like Deadmau5's when she pops out of the bushes?

      ReplyDelete
    9. SmokingsumsoupOctober 17, 2011 at 9:30 PM

      My reaction to this episode:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H81y48jEWE8

      ReplyDelete
    10. RichardOctober 18, 2011 at 5:18 PM

      On the wikia its to be the first to dispense with the E/I and Y rating for a Y7 rating. What does that mean?

      ReplyDelete
    11. Pete GordonOctober 18, 2011 at 11:56 PM

      I think season 2 may mark the end of real MLP.

      Loved it while it lasted. This may be it already. This episode was just terrible. Al the things that make MLP endearing and sweet were totally absent.

      RIP in my mind.

      ReplyDelete
    12. ReplacerOctober 19, 2011 at 4:57 AM

      @Lily the amazing fainting pony

      I disagree that Pinkie Pie's meltdown came from nowhere; she is fairly well established as the village psycho, as well as being a character with very few limits, by the time 'Party of One' comes around. That episode only served to drive the point home that Pinkie acts the way she does all the time because she is *actually* insane.

      Twilight's one falls flat precisely because she is NOT insane, she is just introverted and a little neurotic. I completely buy that it is possible for Twi to freak out over something like her friendship report, but the grotesque way it was executed only served to turn her into a completely different character. A lot of the humour in the second half of the episode was lost on me on first viewing because my brain was too busy trying to make sense of what it was seeing.

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    13. MiColtOctober 19, 2011 at 5:51 AM

      @Replacer & @Lily

      It's not because Pinkie is considered the "psycho" of the group. The Party of One meltdown had to do with a lot of the build up of, and subsequent poking, at Pinkie's paranoia because her friends were suddenly acting differently toward her in less than a 24 hour span.

      Look at how that one played out:

      Friends start avoiding her ---> Pinkie realizes she was fed excuses ---> Overhears Twilight saying she doesn't want Pinkie to know what they're doing ---> Trails Twilight who is clearly trying to remain inconspicuous ---> Overhears Rarity & Fluttershy talking about their excuses from before and how things will be so much better if they can keep her from finding out about it ---> startles Rainbow Dash who then tries her hardest to avoid her ---> Recognizes an obvious lie when Applejack tries to convince her that Rainbow Dash had delivering supplies ---> "Confirms" what she was thinking when interrogating a very frightened Spike leading her to jump to the conclusion that her friendship (something she values very highly) with the rest of the group might be an illusion

      There was a LOT of setup and build up into that meltdown! This is largely why Pinkie's was so much more believable. Quite the contrary to the "psycho" tag everyone labels her with, Pinkie is more a case of sensitivity to her special talent and her relationship with her friends. Thinking your friends are only "tolerating" (or appeasing) you and that you aren't actually making them happy is the equivalent of convincing Pinkie that the talent she got her cutie mark from is absolutely worthless and that nobody actually likes her.

      That would break even the most resilient of personalities, let alone one that places such importance on it.

      ReplyDelete
    14. richfilesOctober 19, 2011 at 10:58 AM

      ✔ 720p rip
      ✔ No ads or onscreen logos
      ✔ color optimized and deblocked
      ✔ MP4 format download in link

      Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!

      Yes.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_8pVvfMD8o

      ReplyDelete
    15. ИльяOctober 19, 2011 at 12:18 PM

      For me, one of the problems with this episode was that the "what you see isn't what you think it is" jokes were predictable. Rainbow destroying the barn - the goggles were a dead giveaway of what was really happening. Fluttershy wrestling a bear - I sure solved this one before it was spelled out. And Rarity making a fuss because of a thing that lays in clear view - that was just not funny (also, second appearance of sofa would be much more funnier without her comment). Maybe this part was okay for junior audience, but not smart enough for me.

      Twilight faces reminded me of mem-faces like Trollface, which I don't like (and don't want to appear in My Little Pony).

      Also, I didn't like everyone ignoring her worries at the picnic. The friends COULD think there really was nothing to worry about, but they clearly saw how distressed Twilight was and haven't lifted a hoof to help her. Maybe I'm just idealising this herd, but I think that's unlike them to behave in such a way - so it wasn't only "Celestia ex machina" at the end, it was "random behaviour ex machina" to move the plot further.

      Oh, and did anyone get Süskind's Perfume ending vibe from the "enchanted doll" scene?

      ReplyDelete
    16. ultrarareOctober 19, 2011 at 2:16 PM

      Man, some of you guys are looking WAY too much into this. Can't you people just watch the episode without picking apart every-little-detail?

      ReplyDelete
    17. Nitsua(Nitz) XepherOctober 19, 2011 at 3:18 PM

      Why are dash breaks her wings fics banned again? breaking her wings is fun :D

      ReplyDelete
    18. AnonymousOctober 19, 2011 at 9:51 PM

      I agree with Ultrarare.

      Sometimes I wonder if we've overhyped the show...

      ReplyDelete
    19. richfilesOctober 19, 2011 at 10:30 PM

      @mycutiemarkisagun

      Uhhh....???? Wait, wat???

      I have no clue what tangent this particular comment is trying to point toward. Not once did I ever say there was no implication of Zecora not being intended to be african? Of course she is intended to be African. She's not meant to be an African-American imitation though, just African. No offense to the idea of going to "other wells" for the "exotic" feel, but of hoofed species, the zebra, camel, and buffalo are the only ones that EASILY, and off the top of mine, or most anyone else's head shout SPECIFIC regions, AND are unique enough to stand out distinctly. The "native american" buffalo are probably second place only to zebra, since they are so physically distinctive. The only remaining hoofed animal I can think of would be the camel. Great for middle eastern regions, but they haven't addressed that so far. Quite frankly, I'm not sure they will, given the manner of things in the middle east right now. Even if they do, that only means picking third out of three. They already took the two most recognizable, hoofed, regionally specific species, and have already used them both. What more do you want?

      You COULD look at other species. Common ones are really out of the question. Pigs and cows already live in equestria, and seem to be depicted as simpler creatures, though at least the cows are fully sentient and linguistically endowed. Throw in an elk... OK, Alaska, northern US, Canada, northern europe, Siberia... I don't even know if that's all the places they can be, or if I'm even right without looking it up. Deer are freaking everywhere. Ponies are the primary species as it stands, but I suppose they could always have a breed of "natural colored" non-pastel ponies, or just do regular sized horses. At this point though, it's just reaching for straws. There really truly are only 3 species in the pool of "exotic" choices that will ALWAYS be recognizable, and 2 are already used. Deal with it! (RD puts her shades on).

      Don't act surprised that they chose buffalo and zebra as the only hoofed foreigners in Equestria. MAYBE they could have used something like gazelles, but that isn't as obvious to smaller kids as zebras. I imagine some people might not make the gazelle connection, but you'd have to live under a rock to not know where zebras come from, or not know that buffalo and native americans are intrinsically tied by history.

      At least they made Zecora an interesting and likable character. So what if she's depicted as an african native. It gives the ponies a chance to learn of a new culture. Would you rather she be assimilated into the pony herd and wipeout all trace of her cultural heritage? It's awful enough crap like that actually happened in the past. It's a kids show, let them have their depiction of a foreign culture. Are you an expert in actual african cultures, or just african-american culture? Of that, I am curious, since it's exceptionally clear to me she was NEVER intended to imitate african-americans!

      As to the "magic negro" thing... Zecora, for all intents and purposes, appears to be nothing more than a well skilled herbalist, who has chosen to live in a forest, full of herbs. OMG!!! If fanfics have skewed the canon view into a shifted view of her that includes her doing magic, then sorry for your skewed view. If anything, the whole point of the episode was that the prejudiced ponies THOUGHT she placed a curse on them, or that she was an evil enchantress... Except, she was none of those things. She's simply a foreign character that provides the cast with an outsider's cultural perspective, and an insight into knowledge that is not local.

      And at least they didn't put discs in her lips and ears! Neck rings are enough! :)|||

      ReplyDelete
    20. richfilesOctober 19, 2011 at 10:41 PM

      And regarding camels....

      At least I haven't seen any fanfics yet where camels hijack flying chariots, strap bombs to them, and use them to blow up buildings in Manehattan and Canterlot. Given how grimdark this fandom can be... I think the writers want to avoid fueling that one...

      ReplyDelete
    21. richfilesOctober 19, 2011 at 10:51 PM

      @Raibys

      100 % agree. Fluttershy is a timid and shy character, but she has an amazing inner strength that comes out when needed. She may think in her timid, self conscious mind that she is weak, but her strength is unique and crucial for the group of friends. Yes, she stood up, first to her own friends, and then soothed the manticore. She did not cower when she faced Nightmare Moon with her friends, She stared down the dragon, and the cockatrice, she has braved the Everfree forest multiple times, she was able to catch up to Rainbow Dash, while towing the balloon, and lets not forget just how disruptive she can be when she looses it! :D

      Twilight saw Fluttershy through biassed eyes. She saw a beatdown, when really, it was a rubdown. A chiropractic massage. Fluttershy has physical strength, just not in flying. She has years of experience caring for animals. A bear is big. you gotta be tougher if you're popping a bears back and neck! LOL!

      The scene was played for laughs, but NEVER was outside of the realm of Fluttershy's capabilities.

      If you want to argue her frustration kick... It's just not in Fluttershy to be violent. Popping a bears back and kicking in frustration are two different things. Fluttershy reserves herself when she's being her shy self. The vase scene was ALSO played for laughs.

      /)O-O(\ Deal with it!

      ReplyDelete
    22. richfilesOctober 19, 2011 at 11:05 PM

      @hollowBrony

      Yeah, I'm gonna say I noticed it too. 4th wall breaking is fine sparingly. Pinkie Pie is expected to do it.

      Spike and Twilight seemed to be laying it down at Pinkie Pie levels in this last episode, and I noticed Twi doing it during her dis-Discording scene, where she regains her color, and makes poor Spike even sicker by swinging him around while staring at the camera instead of her #1 assistant.

      I do hope the 4th wall gets a few repairs soon. It cheapens the power that Pinkie Pies 4th wall breakage carries.

      ReplyDelete
    23. MiColtOctober 20, 2011 at 10:08 AM

      @ultrarare
      &
      @RagingTwilight

      That's the whole point of a DISCUSSION thread... talk about what you think worked and what didn't.

      ReplyDelete
    24. Joe CoolOctober 20, 2011 at 1:05 PM

      Animation:
      I'm not too sure about the new fluidity to it. It feels like traditional animation again which may be good but offers a lot more opportunity to screw up facial gestures n such.
      The train in the opening sequence bouncing around with heart-shaped windows was cut and pasted right out of Care Bears and just really pisses me off.

      Chars:
      Ninja Fluttershy was INCREDIBLE!
      Rarity was more shallow than usual and the couch was ... interesting.
      Big Mac taking the pony doll made me incredibly happy.

      Music:
      The intro music had too many unnecessary fluffy additions IMHO. What was the harp all about? Seriously!

      Plot:
      Tenuous. All the characters care enough when Twi looks all haggard but when she tells them why, suddenly they all become completely insensitive.

      Observations:
      They totally opened it up to have the friendship reports delivered by any of the mane cast. This I see as a very good thing because now they don't have to shoehorn Twilight Sparkle into every episode. (Stare Master anypony?)

      ReplyDelete
    25. pmcollectorboyOctober 20, 2011 at 3:16 PM

      @Pete Gordon
      Get a hold of yourself.

      ReplyDelete
    26. ИльяOctober 20, 2011 at 3:40 PM

      Also, did anyone else notice that they show too much of Twilight's sexy butt?

      ReplyDelete
    27. AnonymousOctober 20, 2011 at 7:13 PM

      @MiColt

      Please do not state the obvious to me. It is an insult to mine and everyone's intelligence here.

      But yes, I stand by what I said. I believe some people's expectations have become unrealistically high.

      ReplyDelete
    28. XurbanOctober 20, 2011 at 8:21 PM

      I don't get what all the fuss is about. I personally loved the episode, and to everyone who didn't, that's too bad. I WOULD respect your opinions, if you didn't jump the gun straight away and say "One disappointing episode? The show is ruined forever." Like, really. Just be thankful the show exists in the first place. It's not like someone was forced to entertain you, or that you're entitled to new episodes, they could quit any time they want, but they don't, because they know people appreciate their work.

      ReplyDelete
    29. AnonymousOctober 20, 2011 at 8:51 PM

      Parasprites... That's the only reason I can think of that people only upload mkv versions. Y U NO GIB .AVI!?

      ReplyDelete
    30. SomeGuyOctober 21, 2011 at 8:32 AM

      This is a little late but I just wanted to say that I liked "Lesson Zero." There were some great visuals and I can identify with Twilight panicking over a bad grade. The one problem I have with the episode was that Twilight did not receive any sort of reprimand or punishment for her actions in town. Although I think it is implied that Princess Celestia gave Twilight a stern talking to during the scene transition, I think it would have been better, especially for the intended audience, to have seen it. To know that there are consequences for wrong doing, no matter the reasoning behind it.

      ReplyDelete
    31. InFamous SpartanOctober 21, 2011 at 8:28 PM

      i would like the episode of this w/o watermarks from the live episode, makes the it more cleaner :3

      ReplyDelete
    32. richfilesOctober 22, 2011 at 3:20 AM

      @InFamous Spartan

      ✔ 720p Rip
      ✔ NO Ads
      ✔ NO Onscreen logos
      ✔ CLEAN closing Credits
      ✔ Color Optimized and Deblocked
      ✔ MP4 Format Download in Description

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_8pVvfMD8o

      Like I mentioned before... This link is full of no-logo, no-ad win, and features an MP4 format download link. I can easily play MP4 format on any of my devices, including my PS3.

      It's 720p because that's what iTunes HD is. We STILL must beg Hasbro for a BluRay disc release. That's the only way we are seeing clean 1080p.

      Bags159SC is best youtube brony, cause he codes clean, color corrected episodes that are second to none!

      Also, so sick of MKV... My computer always derps trying to convert them to MP4, and takes forever to do anything with them. I'm honestly about to scour youtube for all the iTunes rips and download them with clipnabber. I think it'll be EASIER than converting the clean MKV collection I already downloaded!

      ReplyDelete
    33. MarbalPreviewOctober 22, 2011 at 5:16 AM

      You all are entitled to your opinions, but i dislked this episode. Seriously. Every kind of show has this kind of episode. Seriously. When can this stop spreading? At least when I make TV show, THIS KIND OF EPISODE WILL NEVER EXIST IN IT.

      ReplyDelete
    34. ИльяOctober 22, 2011 at 8:01 AM

      And... what kind of episode is this?

      ReplyDelete
    35. anjilaOctober 22, 2011 at 5:26 PM

      Personally, I thought this episode was hilarious. I'm not entirely sure what everyone disliked about it. Definitely one of my favorites. :D

      ReplyDelete

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