That right there was my face after watching this glorious episode. Seriously, this is butting heads with Lesson Zero as my favorite of the season. Daring-Do is best pony all years.
Lets get some followup going! Everything can be found after the break.
First off, I'm just going to get it out of the way right now...
Rainbow Dash makes me use the word "cute" WAY more than I would have been comfortable with pre-pony. She just... keeps... doing it. She may be a Trixie level narcissist, but those facial expressions and big violet eyes make it impossible to hate her.
She's almost neck-and-neck with Twilight Sparkle for "mares I want to read books with."
Though she does pull off some strange faces sometimes!
But enough about Dash! Lets talk about Daring-Do! It's pretty obvious early on that she is a projection of Rainbow herself. She makes Indiana Jones look like a novice!
Daring-Do also has an excellent color combo. I wish I could hire someone from the studio to paint that OC pony of mine. Guess I'm stuck with those ridiculous yellows and reds for now...
Someone in our Skype channel mentioned how well done the action sequences are in this episode, and I can't agree more. If there's one thing I like more than seeing everypony lose their minds, it's ACTION.
Also, ponies confirmed for having jaws of STEEL. I wish I could do that...
We also met a new villain in this episode. Some of you may be wondering where the hell they came up with a creature like this. Well it looks like they actually do have a place in mythology. Check out this quote from the Wiki entry:
It was described as dog-like, with hands capable of manipulation and an additional hand on its tail. The ahuizotl was feared due to its liking for human flesh, especially nails, eyes, and teeth. It was said to live in or near the water and uses the hand on the end of its tail to snatch its prey.Ahuizotl's confirmed for creepy as hell. Good thing this one didn't seem to like hooves much, because he pulled your classic villain formula and left Daring-Do for the snakes instead!
And we can't forget about the new ponies! The doctor was probably the most prevalent one. Ponyville sure does have a robust healthcare sector. Too bad they boot you the second you're anywhere near recovery!
We also have a new addition to the Screw family. I really hope we get an episode dedicated to her and Screwball in the future! Have a video to celebrate.
Because we, as pony fans, need to dig into absolutely everything, someone brought up that this book in Dash's pile (Daring-Do and the Griffon's Goblet) actually has it's very own cover. Sadly the only image we have of it is here:
I'm sure you crazy vector artists out there can build something out of it! Get on it! (Thanks to Kinrah for that one.)
I said it up above, and I'll say it again. This episode was awesome. It really did have everything.
Hopefully you guys like the new banner up there! When we saw Equestria Prevails bust out that excellent vector, we knew we had to do something with it. Or at least Cereal did. Dude is pretty skilled when motivated by something this epic.
And as is the norm, I leave you with some videos! Enjoy!
The Quest for the Sapphire Stone (Story Only Video)
Reading Rainbow Dash (Yeah, that wasn't inevitable)
AND MORE DASH CUTE. I don't even care if it breaks the side bar!
273 comments:
i have to agree that this is a really great episode but i still love party of one and lesson zero more, but daring do is by far my most favorite new character
ReplyDeleteDerring. Derring Do.
ReplyDeleteThe word is Derring, not Daring.
I was so excited seeing a cryptid in the show! Made me so happy.
ReplyDeleteAlso, those doctors are jerks. They told her to stay off her wing and proceeded to kick her out of the hospital. Just how was she supposed to get back up to her cloud home if she couldn't fly?
I really enjoyed this episode, I probably enjoyed it just as much as Lesson Zero (my favourite thus far). A lot of people have complained about Rainbow Dash's characterisation this season but I think she just gets more adorable with every episode.
ReplyDeleteYet another Dash episode and yet again people complain about Mare Do Well. I just have to say, I do not appreciate people still berating the writer, story and Dash being "out of character". It is fine to hold opinions like those, but people are too intent and eager to put down a certain episode as a black sheep of putting down the writers. Some of y'all are making a damn sport out of it. That said, I enjoyed all Dash episodes so far. Some people just need to give this show some leeway as a Children's cartoon as well. While I loved this episode, I won't parade around the idea of trashing other episodes because of it. This is not a competition you guys.
ReplyDeleteI still wanna know what it was that Daring-Do was ANIMATED to say right after sliding under that door. The groan fits, but there was definitely something scripted that wasn't in the audio!
ReplyDelete@MyBoyJ
ReplyDeleteNot ruling out anything, just not jumping to conclusions. Lots of possibilities for how it happened, even a combination of tech and magic like the SSCS6000 was.
After all, the means of how the X-ray happened is not as important as the fact that it did. The means would tell us more about the world that the show is building.
Fun Fact, Indiana Jones is largely based on a series of adventure books by the author H. Rider Haggard. He invented the character Alan Quartermain. All quite good reads, with some crazy plots to match. Also, all public domain, links here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Rider_Haggard
ReplyDeleteI wonder how often they pull out the Derring-Do-hurt-her-wing bit to keep her from just sailing overe the traps.
ReplyDelete"OW! I hurt my wings! AGAIN!!"
"...and to prove yourself truly worthy Derring Do, your wings will be tied for the duration of this trial!"
did anyone else catch the reference to fireball island with the temple's face?
ReplyDeletecuz i did.
highfives for mid '80s boardgame references!
...anyone?
...no?
ok *sits down again*
@Axle Fox
ReplyDelete"Oh, buck."?
...
And I freaking loved Daring-Do's voice.
I really enjoyed this episode as a whole simply because it teaches on of the most obvious lessons. Usually the letters are something that make you go "Huh, never thought of it like that" while this one was "Well duh!" like i said i enjoyed it a great deal. Now bring on hearts and hooves day!
ReplyDeleteabout time we got a Dash episode where we don't end up hating her.
ReplyDeleteNew fics, new fics, new fics~
ReplyDeleteOkay, now that I'm back home I can give a broader overview of the episode... although I'm not sure what's left to say. I found the episode a bit mediocre to my tastes... I think there will be some great video clips taken from it, and I liked the design of all of the new elements (as usual), but the story was pretty slight. I would have preferred either a stronger adventure or more character interactions. As it was, it was an intentionally thin "B-Movie" adventure story and hardly any character stuff as Dash tried to chase everyone away as fast as possible. It didn't have the comedic punch of the funniest episodes either. All of which doesn't make it a bad episode, by any stretch, but it doesn't shine in any particular area to raise it up my list.
ReplyDeleteI can only guess that they were intentionally repeating the full name "Rainbow Dash" in a nod to cheesy adventure storytelling (as every bit of dialog between the book's Hero and Villain had them using each other's full names as well.) If I'm right, I guess that would somewhat excuse it... but still, that was 22 times someone said her full name "Rainbow Dash" in a 22 minute episode (and keep in mind that about 8 minutes of that was taken up by events from the book, so it comes down to more than 1.5 times per minute set in Ponyville.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on this episode:
ReplyDelete1) Since Dash broke her wing in canon, does that mean "Dash breaks her wing" fics are unbanned?
2) Derring-Do was awesome, and even if she was just Dash's projection of herself onto the character, I really liked her design.
3) Rainbow Dash in that hospital gown and bandaged wing was just plain adorable.
4) Why wasn't Pinkie Pie sleeping at Sugarcube Corner? Was she having a sleepover, or is her living there just fanon?
5) Why isn't this available on iTunes yet? Is it because of the Super Bowl? I hope it isn't being blocked because of that barking pony.
@Maquabra
ReplyDelete"(PS. I sometimes get an impression that most people here would love even an episode based on the 2girls1cup video)"
*eyebrow raise*
Really? You're going to go with that?
*shakes head*
Okay.
Ninja Dashie is epic. Screwy mental patient pony is both awesome and adorable, and an homage to Lesson Zero. And Daring Do like a BAWSS. And SO MANY FACES. My faith in Dashie has been restored. It makes me feel so good knowing it's done the same for many others. She's just too cute when she's nerding out.
ReplyDeleteFantastic episode. I hit Wikipedia and saw that Daring-Do's nemesis is based on an Aztec god spelled as Ahuizotl.
ReplyDeleteDashies little leg movement in GIF is so cute my puppy does that too! if possible I love her even more now!
ReplyDeleteOh Dashie you're so cute when you read too bad you aren't the best theif... Well nopony is perfect I loved this episode and it was very fun to watch it was probably the only thing motivating enough to get me out of bed in the morning. I give this episode to hooves up! .... Sorry for the bad pun their... Hehe
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I saw the mental patient's cutie mark, I said out loud to myself "Haha, Screw Loose." Thinking about it now though, Loose Screw sounds more natural, doesn't make it sound so much like Screwball, AND allows for an easier portmanteau of their names for shipping (Loose Screwball).
ReplyDeleteAs for Barking Mad... I'm not a fan. It just sort of describes what she did in one particular scene. The idea of her character is that she's crazy, not that she barks. Furthermore, almost all pony names somehow relate to their cutie marks. Loose Screw would relate to her cutie mark, but Barking Mad doesn't. Plus, Loose Screw is just all around more whimsical.
Did anyone else notice that daring do said something around the 7 min mark where it sounded like a sigh but it looked like she said something? That has really been bugging me, can someone read her lips or something? I want to know just what she said.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great episode. Although I do not consider it as one of my favorite episodes of the season, I still find it enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteNow we need the "fanfic in a fanfic" where Rainbow Dash starts writing self-insert Derring Do stories. "Derring Do and the Rainbow Pegasus"
ReplyDeletehow has no one noticed the monty python and the holy grail reference with the little cat!
ReplyDeleteLOL @ people making 'lists' of fave episodes after every episode synopsis. Really hoping this fandom does not explode over the hospital patients. I hate to say it, but this fandom is digging its own grave by taking this show hyper seriously. I hope to be proven wrong.
ReplyDelete@Vanishing
ReplyDeleteTo each their own opinion. I find it funny, though, that in Season 2, a season which has some episodes that really throw characters for a loop (Return of Harmony, Sisterhooves, Sweet and Elite, Lesson Zero, Last Roundup, Best Pet), you put it all down as bland next to an episode that has pretty much no story and little character development. It's just a glorified parody.
Not that it was a bad episode, and it thrilled those who love adventure episodes more (I prefer character-driven ones), but it's strange to put down this entire season next to an episode that's just an adventure with someone who's not a main, side, or background character.
@MyBoyJ
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the X-ray was Dash's. Look at the X-ray--you clearly see ribs and femurs or something like that. It doesn't look like a wing. And if Dash had broken a wing, it would take a lot more than two days in bed for it to heal.
The X-ray he is looking at is probably for Dash's roommate--you know, the pony in a full-body cast? Just because he's talking about Rainbow Dash when looking at the X-ray doesn't mean that it's automatically hers.
@EquineNoxX
ReplyDeleteI think that Studio B probably has a sinking-ships game they try to play every few episodes.
"Hm... How can we make it non-canon for these two ponies to be in love?"
This has gotta be best Dash episode so far. She also seems to have the randomest facial expressions. I'd expect Pinkie to have won that category.
ReplyDeleteEach episode has better than the last since "Family Appreciation Day"
ReplyDeleteI agree Cybearg. The thing is, people will gripe and complain no matter what. It us like this fandom gas a huge chip on its shoulder. It is fine if Studio B gives a bone of two with hints if character development or gives us a fun adventure. I think the fanon and hyper eagerness for this show is making IMPOSSIBLE expectations of a cartoon still largely made for little kids in mind. I think some bronies are forgetting we are a large PERIPHERY demographic. Again, I fail to see any fatal mishaps for this season. Sadly, people just seem eager to notch this show down at every new episode. It is pretty sad it you ask me, considering what a heroic effort Studio B had put forth fir the fans.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the episode....loved the action sequences: I especially loved the BGM.
ReplyDeleteThe music was great too, very reminiscent of Star Wars/Indiana Jones.
ReplyDeleteSo Daring-Do = Ditzy-Do? Very similar sounding names of Derpy's alternate name.
Could the Daring-Do books be the secret life of Derpy? I think there would be an awesome future story in that. RD starts idolizing Daring-Do obsessively, but totally thinks Derpy is a total klutz without knowing Daring-Do is really based on Derpy's real life exploits. When RD finds out she's devastated thinking Daring-Do, her idol, was fiction all along based on RD's misunderstanding of Derpy being a klutz. But then later RD is shown Derpy really is as epic as Daring-Do is portrayed in the books, she's just misunderstood all the time. RD learns how to face disappointment when she thinks her idol doesn't live up to her expectation, and she also learns there may be more to people than she initially thinks.
@Cybearg
ReplyDeleteAfter going back and looking at the X-ray, it really is hard to tell what that X-Ray is supposed to be of. I can see it being both an extended wing or ribs like you said.
But as for discounting it for being Rainbow Dash's just because of her short hospital stay, go back and look at how quickly Twilight recovers from her injuries in "Feeling Pinkie Keen".
Both possibilities exist, and unless someone who works on the show says something, we will never know.
My Little Teenage Mutant Ninja Dashie.
ReplyDelete@Hawklaser
ReplyDeleteI find it rather more interesting to speculate about non-magical technology than to write everything off as magic, partly because technology is cooler but also because if too much is done by magic then unicorns would run the world. I see the X-rays as being similar to airships: yes, the airships could be filled with magic voodoo gas, but speculating that they're using hydrogen (or, much less likely, helium) brings a sharper definition to the ponies' world.
@the-matthew
ReplyDeleteFor me it is more of a question of where it falls on a scale of being pure magic, mixed, or pure tech. We have seen examples of pure tech(the light RD flicks off and on), and mixed(SSCS6000). Magic is a little harder to find examples of as most tend to only use it as telekinesis or in relation to their talent. And depending on what category it falls into seems to determine how widespread something is.
As to Unicorns ruling the world, look back to Hearth's Warming Eve and you can see why that likely will not happen, as they had control over the sun and moon at that time and not the Princesses.
WHY ISN'T ANYONE MENTIONING THE DOCTOR'S COLOR SCHEEME?
ReplyDeleteHE LOOKS LIKE CARAMEL'S BROTHER OR SOMETHING.
I HONESTLY THOUGHT HE WAS CARAMEL FOR A SECOND.
OK episode.
ReplyDeleteI'm more excited for this saturday.
If the Daring Do book series becomes a fan-made reality, I'd recommend several writers work on it. Or at least, no one feel like it becomes monopolized once a few people have stories started. Try to work together to keep it consistent.
ReplyDeleteLoved it. Whole things just made of win!
ReplyDeleteI think "Reading Rainbow Dash" just overloaded my win capacitors.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or is Apple taking its own sweet time putting this episode on iTunes?
ReplyDeleteOn the second or third viewing I realized that Daring Do's vice reminded me of Molly from Oban or Shippo from Inuyasha and thought Ms. Bell had voiced them also but it seems that's a different actress.
ReplyDeleteThis episode was worthy of it's own spin off.
I've already seen atleast 4 fics pop out of this with one being an interpration of what the author thought the next book would be like.
@baed9f92-5033-11e1-93a5-000bcdcb2996 Seriously? Rarity's overacting was all that killed "Lesson Zero"? What about the glaringly obvious abysmal attempt to play Twilight's breakdown for laughs? That was what killed it for me. Had they played it for drama, I think it would have worked.
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way, someone has already written a Daring Do fanfic. I don't know if it's any good or not, given I haven't read it yet, but here's the link, anyway: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/9521/Daring-Do-and-the-Legend-of-the-Ruby-Knight
Not a big fan of this episode. I thought it was actually pretty boring and i don't think i will re-watch it. But there were a couple of nice parts here and there and teaching kids to grab a book isn't that bad.
ReplyDelete@Roxor
ReplyDeletePretty much agree with you Roxor. Lesson Zero is the only episode this season I don't care for due to that. It might have worked but in my opinion they went too over the top with it.
Daring-'Do' and Ditzy 'Doo'
ReplyDeleteSo many references:
ReplyDeleteIndiana Jones
007
Mission Impossible
Harry Potter
etc.
That's it this ain't kid show anymore
Sheesh, this season is gettng into some pretty creepy territory with the villains they have been throwing in! First Ponified Wendigoes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendigo) and now this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahuizotl_(creature))
ReplyDeleteThis episode is awesome, and Twilight and Fluttershy's simultaneous "Hi Rainbow Dash!" was almost too cute to survive.
I totally loved that little kitty popping out, mostly because it fit in nicely with my prediction that it would happen :3
ReplyDeleteAdorable
ReplyDeleteFreaking
Episode.
And the action was fun too. I pretty much loved everything about it, even if there were a few moments with the voices being off sync with the animation.
But then I look at that gif of Dash wiggling her hooves - how the hell can I possibly complain further?
@hyreia
ReplyDeleteI agree, we should have a set group of people or so to do a full collaboration on the Daring Do series, starting with Griffon's Goblet. :)
@Roxor Played it for drama? Eh... no thanks. It's a cartoon. I'd rather leave the "drama" to primetime soaps. I thought Lesson Zero was absolutely glorious, one of the very best of the series so far. In fact, one of my non-brony friends started watching the series specifically because of that episode, and they had seen other episodes prior to it, but just weren't impressed.
ReplyDeleteI think people forget too often that the show isn't MEANT to be taken super-seriously, and it's not made specifically for adults. It's just a well made cartoon that we happen to enjoy.
No offense or anything.
HNNGGHHH
ReplyDeleteat 04:32, the bgm reminds me of some of the music in The Goonies...
ReplyDeleteThis video is top of the list for my favourites too! I absolutely LOVE the the whole "Rainbow Daaaasssshhh~" "Wha? Huh? Uhh... Good eve-" "Morning." "Morning! ^.^ *drops blanket*" Though, it seems no one else loves that part quite as much. <_> *le sigh*
ReplyDelete@MyBoyJI believe we also saw it in Dragonshy during the A-Team montage when she puts liquid rainbow on her cheeks.
ReplyDeleteThis is so far my favorite episode this season!
ReplyDeleteNopony noticed?
ReplyDeleteThis is the first (only?) episode to show legible text!
[The cover of the Book]
In Lesson Zero, Twilights' To-Do list is pictograms.
In Family Appreciation Day Cherilee's student list is caricatures.
In Bridle Gossip the cover of Super Naturals was a fern.
The hot sauce bottle label in season 1 episode 1 is fire.
I suppose this is to make it easier for foreign distribution.
@jayessell
ReplyDeleteIn Sisterhooves Social they used some letters on the flyer, they weren't English, but were kinda similar, sharing some letters.
Again for Daring Do, the writing isn't real English, although it's much closer, it almost resembles English with a fat horizontal line through it.
I don't know why they chose to have no writing.
In Lesson Zero Spike's letter is completely illegible.
Daring Do's mane is the 'rainbow of darkness'. ANypony else agree?
ReplyDelete@Sgt Byrd There was that banner that cut off Celestia's name in Swarm of the Century.
ReplyDelete@Daniel G.
ReplyDeleteTotally forgot about that one, it had to be readable though, as Twilight had to berate Carrot Top for screwing up.
That reinforces my confusion at the handling of writing, why not make it all good English?
Cartoon physics perplexes me to no end. Throughout the series, we have seen characters emerge unscathed from situations which, by logic, should have been lethal. If anything, dangerous consequences would only be implied if a scene had a relatively serious undertone to it. With regard to that, I was initially curious about the circumstance in which Dash would receive her injury. Unfortunately, the episode's introduction wasn't as compelling as I had hoped for, and felt like the most predictable excuse to have RD hospitalized. In addition, as others have pointed out, the animation/syncing seemed a bit off at some points.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, with all nit-picking aside, the episode as a whole was excellent. The sheer amount of action, humor, character development and references that the MLP:FiM crew managed to cram into those 22 minutes is nothing short of amazing. With that taken into account, this is definitely going into my ever-expanding list of favorite episodes.
Remember Daring do in the Latin alphabet Jehovah begins with an I
ReplyDelete@jayessell
ReplyDeleteI noticed most of the writing in the earliest episodes was hoof-o-glyphics, then pictures or Spike's scribble lines.
Their language could be like Egyptian - hieroglyphs for sacred spells or ancient works, demotic - Spike's scribbles in court language to the Princess, coptic - almost legible alphabet the masses use. (And yes I understand coptic came from Greek from the Phoenicians from Proto-Sinaitic that came from hieroglyphs)
The book's cover is almost legible.
Loved this episode. Did feel sad the Mane Six barely show up, but at least they had cameos.
ReplyDeleteIf anything it proves they can make a Daring-Do spinoff or have the writers make some novels.
It's inspiring me to actually read some adventure books, mostly H. R. Haggard. But yeah anything Indy-ish.
Also as a person obsessed with hats. Why did it have to be a pith helmet and not a fedora dam it? I don't think there any quality cork helmets out there nowadays only Vietnamese junk.
Now I have to buy a pith helmet. But once again Daring's hat follows AppleJack's hat rules (impossible physics). Since it's egg shaped (Daring's an egg head!), it looks like a 1877 foreign service helmet but the front brim is shorter that the back and they have no ventilation holes. And they never had green ribbon (puggarees). http://www.nyc-techwriters.com/militaria/british_helmets2.htm
At least Twilight's pith helmet is a french style. http://www.nyc-techwriters.com/militaria/french_helmets1.htm
*sigh* My hat collection is about to grow.
Remember Daring Do in the Latin alphabet Jehovah begins with an I
ReplyDelete@Celestia
ReplyDeleteI think that it needs to have a theme but the trajectory was wrong it was floor, wall, glove, throw. Not wall, floor, hoof punch