My Little Pony: Friendship is MAGIC!

[Iulus Cofield]

It wasn't what I hoped.

[Game_boy]

It wasn't what I hoped.

Are you referencing Episode 26?

[Iulus Cofield]

I was, but I was referring to the newest one.

[Vaniver]

Game_boy:

Spoiler:

They should have played Luna seriously, not inconsistent randomness. Everyone was out of character except Fluttershy.

What struck you as inconsistent about it? As well, Pinkie Pie seemed in character to me, as well as Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, and probably Twilight Sparkle. I mean, Pinkie Pie causing problems is not new, Twilight's familiarity with royalty is not new (and she learned her lesson from Bridle Gossip, apparently), and Rainbow Dash pranking people is not new.

Also, why don't we see Rarity?

Spoiler:

Because her costume was Princess Luna, and she milked it for all the drama it was worth.[/conspiracy]

[Iulus Cofield]

Also, why don't we see Rarity?

Spoiler:

Because her costume was Princess Luna, and she milked it for all the drama it was worth.[/conspiracy]

Spoiler:

Lawl.

[Vaniver]

There apparently is a real explanation. (I still like mine better.)

[Weeks]

Tabitha kind of slipped into Rarity's voice a couple of times, but I did not mind because Rarity is best pony.

[slbub]

i particularly liked derpy's costume

[Eldritch]

I watched the Magic Kindergarten episode with a safety buddy due to heavy trigger warnings (herr derr guy with triggers, MIDDLE SCHOOL WASN'T FUN KIDS) and realized that it was absolutely in no way trigger-worthy. So that was cool.

Also crazy Twilight is chill.

[slbub]

hey did you guys here there is a new ruler of Equestria for the season 2, 5th episode?

[Iulus Cofield]

Origin of Starswirl the Bearded

Someone on Ponygoons came up with this one:

Starswirl the bearded.
father of the amniomorphic spell.
amnio=bowl.
morphic=morph
a bearded wizard that shapes bowls
a hairy potter"

Oh Twilight Sparkle, you so silly.

[Game_boy]

I want to believe that was deliberate. Is there a more obvious explanation? Those word stems were just randomly chosen?

[Partyr101]

I'm not really a Brony, but I've seen an episode. I like Applejack the most (with her Southern Charm) with Rainbow Dash as a close second (Can't beat Rainbow Dash).

[Game_boy]

I'm not really a Brony, but I've seen an episode. I like Applejack the most (with her Southern Charm) with Rainbow Dash as a close second (Can't beat Rainbow Dash).

But Fluttershy is obviously best pony

If you plan to keep watching, just know that there are some great episodes to look forward to. There's also a year worth of superb fan content (art, music, stories).

[Soralin]

They should have played Luna seriously

So, go with this then? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLYibveYbGc

[Vaniver]

Sisterhooves Social thoughts while watching:

Spoiler:

Gee Willikers. Rarity's parents. Her dad's straw hat and voice were just... not expected.

Also: cleaning an artist's workspace. NO.

Applejack + Applebloom: so cute and wholesome. The bit of music at the start of the chore was spot on.

Talking sheep + slammed gate = casually brutal slavery! Marvelous. (I understand cows and sheep, but what's the point of raising pigs unless you plan to eat them?)

Oh Applejack, everything is an apple product with you.

(The Sisterhooves Social is Apple Acres' subtle way of getting free seasonal labor. "Quick, who can do these chores the fastest?")

[Mr. Mack]

Sisterhooves Social thoughts while watching:

Spoiler:

Talking sheep + slammed gate = casually brutal slavery! Marvelous. (I understand cows and sheep, but what's the point of raising pigs unless you plan to eat them?)

The pigs are there to hunt for truffles.

Something I found odd was when Rarity made eggs for breakfast. I'm not 100% on this, but I heard somewhere that equines are herbivores, and that eggs aren't "herbs" in the strictest sense. But I could be wrong, there's precedent for that.

Also, I don't think I'd ever let anyone cook for me if I were a member of a species that had to use its mouth to put things on a plate. I believe that technically qualifies as ew.

[Vaniver]

The pigs are there to hunt for truffles.

I had forgotten all about this: that would be sensible. (The pigs in the contest would probably have been shown hunting rather than looking cute if this were the intention, but it's still plausible.)

[cephalopod9]

Spoiler:

Talking sheep + slammed gate = casually brutal slavery! Marvelous. (I understand cows and sheep, but what's the point of raising pigs unless you plan to eat them?)

On that topic, is anyone else concerned about Twilight and Spike's relationship?
(I realize not everyone enjoys "analyzing" things the way I do, and I didn't watch the first season)

Spoiler:

Is there a dragon society somewhere in this world? Taking a child away from their culture, and raising them in a life of servitude is problematic to say the least.
Even if dragons are rare enough that Spike's alternative to living in Ponyville is growing up in solitude, I have to question Twilight's parenting. Mostly in that she doesn't really act like a parent. She's less than affectionate, and her demands border on abusive and neglectful. He takes a on a lot of responsibility,both in terms of physical labor and as Twilight's emotional support.That's a lot to ask of a child several years younger than her.
In this context, Spike's Halloween costume makes for a disturbing reflection on his understanding of his identity. Even given that Spike is a baby dragon, and his costume could be intended to represent adulthood, Spike has no positive dragon role models. The only two adult dragons seen in Equestria are monstrous and impossible for Spike to communicate with. He's not dressed as a famous dragon, a particular class of dragon, or a dragon occupation, but just "a dragon", a bug eyed caricature with his own color scheme. Did he make this costume himself, or was it given to him as a gift? Both scenarios have troubling implications for the representation of dragons in Ponyville.

[Zarq]

Originally I typed a long response, but I deleted it in favor of this.

Dragons aren't human. They don't necessary have all the same attributes.

Also, dragons aren't ponies. While Spike might be younger than Twilight in actual years, his mental age might exceed the ponies'.

[Weeks]

Sisterhooves Social thoughts while watching:

Spoiler:

Talking sheep + slammed gate = casually brutal slavery! Marvelous.

I laughed, then cringed when I saw that.

[Sartorius]

Sisterhooves Social thoughts while watching:

Spoiler:

(The Sisterhooves Social is Apple Acres' subtle way of getting free seasonal labor. "Quick, who can do these chores the fastest?")

For one, it probably doesn't help them that much (see all the dropped eggs). For two, I don't really see a problem with turning these chore sorts of things into games. That's how things like the rodeo get started, after all.

[cephalopod9]

Originally I typed a long response, but I deleted it in favor of this.

Dragons aren't human. They don't necessary have all the same attributes.

Also, dragons aren't ponies. While Spike might be younger than Twilight in actual years, his mental age might exceed the ponies'.

I do understand the show is unrealistic because it's primary goal is to entertain small children. Much in the way the laws of physics are portrayed in such a way that a full sized pony can accelerate herself fast enough to break the sound barrier using only a pair of bird sized wings without injury or property damage, I understand that psychology and social dynamics are not going to be presented with any amount or realism.
I just want to be clear I take no issue with the show, and realize not everyone enjoys speculating on the consequences of fantastical scenarios and logic. I therefor wish to spare anyone whose fun might be impeded by my way of enjoying a cartoon for toddlers.
That said, if your going to cite

Spoiler:

the differences between dragons and ponies, isn't that more reason to introduce Spike to positive dragon role models and educate him on dragon culture? He needs to be prepared for adulthood not as an honorary pony, but as a dragon.
At what rate of maturity is it acceptable to put an infant into the custody of someone who thinks of him as her assistant? I watched "Owl's Well That Ends Well" specifically to research this topic, and it is alarming how dependent his self worth is on his usefulness to Twilight. Even if Spike is at a level of maturity equivalent to a human in his twenties, that can't be healthy.
Gauging maturity is confused on multiple points, including the apparent longevity of dragons*, and the life stages of ponies**.

There's also the question of how to interpret Spike's attraction to Rarity. Romance isn't touched on often, is interspecies mingling common? We don't see much of the overlap between Equestrian society and other communities. What kind of foreign policy does Equestria employ?

*In "Dragonshy", the Smaug look alike had the potential to 'nap for a hundred years'
**The Cute-ceañera seems analogous to a number of human traditions, however the recipients, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders who feel have already gotten their cutie marks, look and act much younger than even early teens. Twilight Sparkle also applies to a school that seems more similar to college or vocational studies than grade school near that age. There's also Princess Celestia, who's much taller than all the other ponies, and for whom 1000 years is a "time out". It's not entirely clear how exceptional that is.

Sisterhooves Social thoughts while watching:

Spoiler:

(The Sisterhooves Social is Apple Acres' subtle way of getting free seasonal labor. "Quick, who can do these chores the fastest?")

It occurs to me: does Equestria even use currency?

Know what else bothers me? You can hear the sound of hooves when they walk, but you can't see hooves on their legs.

[Iulus Cofield]

They have hooves. Made out of marshmallows. In fact, most of their body is made out of marshmallow and cotton candy, so the leg-hoof transition is fairly hard to see.

Also, money is seen being exchanged on a few occasions, mostly when Applejack sells apples and apple products.

[Game_boy]

They have hooves. Made out of marshmallows. In fact, most of their body is made out of marshmallow and cotton candy, so the leg-hoof transition is fairly hard to see.

This is accepted as true.

I do wonder how flexible real ponies are in their leg joint positions (especially obvious when ponies 'hold' stuff).

[Iulus Cofield]

I am pretty sure there was a very brief moment in this week's episode where Applejack clearly had two joints in one leg, not counting where the leg meets the torso.

As for real life ponies, if I can remember from my childhood when my family had one, their legs are basically the same as horses, only a bit stockier and not as long. That is to say, not particularly flexible. Very good for running, but nothing like the show, as you might expect.

[Vaniver]

It occurs to me: does Equestria even use currency?

Bits!

As for Spike: you might be interested in this fanfic.

[Feddlefew]

Hey, erm, a friend of mine on another forum wanted me to help spread the word:

My friend believes his official TVTropes web show is more popular than ponies. So I made this.

If it gets more views than the actual episode, he will make one of the characters a brony.

Feddlefew out. 9_6

[Kizyr]

On the latest episode...

Spoiler:

Did anyone else catch the pony version of John Goodman's character (Walter) from The Big Lebowski in the bowling alley? It was the second watching through that I caught that one. KF

[Iulus Cofield]

Spoiler:

I had to rewind and do a double take. There were a few Lebowski ponies in that alley.

[Kizyr]

Spoiler:

I had to rewind and do a double take. There were a few Lebowski ponies in that alley.

Spoiler:

I just checked the clip on YouTube to see -- and yep, all three of the team from Big Lebowski are apparently in pony form, including The Dude. Walter just had the more recognizable getup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPvIlknpfP0
Right at 0:04 and 0:09.

This made my morning. KF

[Vaniver]

The Cutie Pox thoughts while watching (delayed by Skyrim):

Spoiler:

Zecora is not interested in your advances, Applebloom! (I love the way they do expressions in this show.)

Cherilee, this is why we need standardized testing.

Spike's heart eyes at Rarity-haired Twilight made me lol. I sense fan material on the horizon.

Got a problem? Big Mac solves it :3

The fleur-de-lis mark made me think of a single pony out there somewhere with that mark, with nopony else to talk to. (Alternatively, the population of Prance is uninteresting because, collectively, their only talent is being able to speak with one another.)

You've seen Chess, you've seen Chess Boxing, now witness Chess Lion Taming!

Couldn't see what mark they associated with the blackboard math, and in pausing it discovered that they left off the chisel from the sculpting cutie mark..

Having a radiation warning cutie mark on the hazmat suit was genius, but why's it upside down?

Overall, decent episode. CMC aren't my favorite, so I suppose an episode about them that doesn't annoy me is a win.

[edit]Also, Big Mac is canon now! (that is, the abridgment of the name, not the pony.)

[Iulus Cofield]

Ha! I didn't even realize the implications of them actually calling Big Mac Big Mac, since I'm so used to calling him that.

[ArgonV]

Spoiler:

I had to rewind and do a double take. There were a few Lebowski ponies in that alley.

Spoiler:

I just checked the clip on YouTube to see -- and yep, all three of the team from Big Lebowski are apparently in pony form, including The Dude. Walter just had the more recognizable getup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPvIlknpfP0
Right at 0:04 and 0:09.

This made my morning. KF

Spoiler:

Jesus is there as well. When they enter the bowling alley, look for a pony in purple with hair nets on his manes and tail

[Shadowfish]

Spoiler:

The fleur-de-lis mark made me think of a single pony out there somewhere with that mark, with nopony else to talk to. (Alternatively, the population of Prance is uninteresting because, collectively, their only talent is being able to speak with one another.)

I think the ponies in Prance speak French and have normal cutie marks, but if one of them is very good at speaking English then they get a Union Jack cutie mark.

[Sartorius]

Spoiler:

"My sister is speaking in Fancy!" was definitely my favorite part of that episode.

I love this show so much. Recently I've been wishing I could just watch it for the rest of my life and never go outside into mean mean real world.

[ConMan]

Was anyone else amused by the cutie marks of the stuck-up fillies?

Spoiler:

Diamond Tiara's is a tiara, and her friend has a silver spoon, and image macros notwithstanding, this basically translates to their special talent being spoiled, stuck-up princesses.

They are the pony Kardashians.

[Shivahn]

Was anyone else amused by the cutie marks of the stuck-up fillies?

Spoiler:

Diamond Tiara's is a tiara, and her friend has a silver spoon, and image macros notwithstanding, this basically translates to their special talent being spoiled, stuck-up princesses.

They are the pony Kardashians.

I noticed that when it first game up, so...

Spoiler:

Yeah, I thought it was funny/frustrating that they of all ponies criticized Apple Bloom for that.

[ConMan]

Was anyone else amused by the cutie marks of the stuck-up fillies?

Spoiler:

Diamond Tiara's is a tiara, and her friend has a silver spoon, and image macros notwithstanding, this basically translates to their special talent being spoiled, stuck-up princesses.

They are the pony Kardashians.

I noticed that when it first game up, so...

Spoiler:

Yeah, I thought it was funny/frustrating that they of all ponies criticized Apple Bloom for that.

I think that was part of the joke. They certainly drop enough extra content for the older viewers that is part of why it's so enjoyable to watch. (Also, be suspicious of any new pony memes being uploaded *as* the episode is airing ...)

[Weeks]

Apparently this has to do with Monty Python?

Also excellent episode, can't wait for the next, yadda yadda