-Since I heard about this episode, I've been kind of dreading it. I didn't like the decision to make Yearling literally be Do, so I wasn't terribly on-board with the premise here to begin with. Add to that that I haven't much cared for the more meta-themed episodes of the past, and my expectations were low. To my surprise, though, I ended up liking this one quite a bit.
-A lot of my appreciation comes down to Quibble Pants. "True fan parody" was not something I expected to turn out well, and while I couldn't help but feel that I was being mocked for much of the episode (I mean, I don't deny the existence of, say, Twilicorn, but that doesn't mean I didn't prefer her as a unicorn, or feel like they could have handled the ascension a thousand times better). And yet... well, okay, I did feel mocked for significant portions. But hell, I've got a thick skin; I can handle a little ribbing, as long as it's funny. And Quibble's felt more like friendly fun-poking which comes from a place of understanding, rather than mean-spiritedness borne of incomprehension. Big difference, humourousness-wise.
-That said, I wasn't big on the "Quibble can't figure out what's real" running gag. It was fine as a jumping-off point, but I would have been happy with him getting it a lot faster.
-Another minus? No Carrot Top! Oh well, in lieu of best pony, have some best produce.
When the carrot roller-dogs are selling for eight bits a root, you would assume Carrot Top must be making a tidy profit on those sales, right? Wrong! Almost all of that markup goes to the concessionaires and venue; in fact, since those carrots were bought by a wholesaler before being repackaged to the convention center, Carrot Top actually pulls in less than half a bit per pound of roller-dogs sold. Pity the farmer: of all the people who are involved in getting your food from dirt to digestion, they certainly put in the most work, and turn the least profit.
-Those pillows, though. I don't even.
-It's been a while since I saw Daring Don't, but does Daring have the same voice in both episodes? I ask because I really liked her voice acting in this episode, and I was probably too distracted by all the things I disliked about Daring Don't to really notice the voicing then. Anyway, yeah: between her and Patton Oswald (and Dash, of course, whose actual voicing I probably like best of the main six), with an assist from Mr. Ambiguous Accent, this was a really solid episode, auditorially.
-Here's the question I haven't seen asked enough in the last few days: why is there a significant tonal difference between the original Do trilogy and the later installments? It's not just something Quibble made up, or something minuscule enough that nobody but a quibbler would notice: Dash is the one who notes the salient differences between the original trilogy and
-All in all, this was a much better episode than I expected. Maybe it was just a result of low expectations, but this was a very pleasing kick-off to the back nine (fourteen) of the season.
Headcanon accepted.
ReplyDeleteI like that headcanon, because the loss of Twilight's mom as Daring Do author was what I disliked most about Daring Don't's reveal. (Though I'm led to believe that is NOT what others complained about...)
ReplyDeleteI too like the headcanon. For me, that loss was one of the things I didn't like; I also just didn't care for her being a real thing generally (and it probably didn't help that it came during a run starting in the second half of S3 that led to me starting to wonder if it was worth continuing to follow the show at all, or just stick with the fanfic), in part because I tend to prefer the slice of life aspects of FiM itself.
DeleteIt did not help that the episode itself was pretty poorly constructed (e.g., why is anyone but Rainbow and Twilight on this trip in the first place?), placing it in the same category (if less extreme) as "Magical Mystery Cure," in that it introduced a major/world change in something that was, independently, a bad episode.
I do think the voices were the same, it was one of the only good parts of Daring Don't. This episode was pretty funny and really engaged me unlike a lot of this season's offerings.
ReplyDeleteIF there is one thing that I feel the need to point out bout Quibble, he wasn't really directed towards you or anypony. He wa a general type of character that matches any type of fandom. From The people who think that Hiendrich being a girl all of this time was a stupid twist on KND (I liked it, it was hilarious and I did not see it coming) to some thinking that Kim Possible should've ended with So the Drama. He represented the type of fan you would meet and have an argument with.
ReplyDeleteBut the moral was clear...
Have an opinion, but don't be a flank about it!!
It's easy to see yourself in Quibble Pants as a "fuck you" if you're the kind of fan who's gotten fed up with the show at any point. He's most indicative of fans who refuse to acknowledge Twilicorn, but even I got a little salty because I regularly expound on how crappy the show is these days.
DeleteThankfully, the moral reveals that is not what they were going for.
Quibble was a highlight here, and I thought better handled than Fluttershy's brother.
ReplyDeleteAs for the pillows...
The good people at CaptainPudgeMuffin Sciences have an explanation for that!
And look how happy and comfy Rarity looks here.
Let's try again on that second link.
DeleteLoved the episode and I like the headcanon! Of course Twilight Velvet would add more cerebral bits into the stories.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that the writers are fans of The Man Who Knew Too Little, but that's only to the good. Quibble pants is less irritating than Bill Murray, any way.
Another bit of headcanon to crop up because of this episode was when one commenter asked why Daring Do didn't fly over rickety bridges and possible pressure plates. I wish I could remember who suggested it was because Do's wing was badly broken in the first episode and she can't fly well or for long without pain and so has gotten out of the habit for general getting around.
That makes a lot of sense. So what happens when Rainbow Dash finds out her idol is nearly as ground-bound as Scootaloo?
DeleteMight make an interesting story. (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) Dash learning that Do can still be a kick-ass adventurer even if she's not physically perfect might even lead to a show-tone Aesop.
DeleteThere's interesting headcanon all over the place here.
DeleteNah, Twilight Velvet wasn't a ghostwriter: She was the editor. If A.K. Yearling is an analogue to George Lucas, then just like his original trilogies were reigned in by his production crew, Yearling was reigned in by Twilight Velvet, keeping the books more grounded.
ReplyDeleteIt also makes much more sense then that she would have an award for the book series.