Episode Talk: S4E7, Bats!

Today's post was going to be my next fanfic review.  I had the header all typed up, even.  It was going to say, "I don't have anything to say about the newest episode, because I couldn't think of a single thing I liked about it."

But dangit, I do want to say a few things about it.  Also, I eventually realized there was one thing that I liked about the episode (one thing specific to this episode, that is--any praise which could apply to every episode of MLP I'm taking as a given).  So, click down below the break if you want some slightly after-the-fact Bats!-themed venting.

Fandom Classics Part 27: The Golden Armor

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

Benman wrote a story for me yesterday; a 700-word vignette about Carrot Top being home for the holidays.  Check it out if you need something short and sweet to top off your Christmas week.

If you need something a bit more substantial, though, today's review is of a novel-length tale.  Is Comet Burst's The Golden Armor one to read?  Click down below the break for my thoughts.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Much as I manage to unironically enjoy MLP despite all the attendant baggage which the franchise brings--something many of you can relate to, I'm sure--I truly, sincerely love Christmas.  It's easy to get lost in the maze of commercialism, politicization, and smarm that comes with the season, but what Christmas means to me is being with the people you love, and letting them know just how much you love them.  As corny as it sounds, I know of nothing that feels--that is--better.  Those are things you should do year-round, sure, but they're also easy to lose sight of.  Christmas is my chance to remember.

So I'm taking the holiday off.  This ought to go up on Tuesday, and is taking the place of the regular Monday and Wednesday posts.  I'll be back to my regular schedule come Friday, but I'm going to spend Christmas eating cookies, drinking eggnog, caroling, roasting marshmallows on an open fire (far better than chestnuts), and being with my family and friends.

Merry Christmas, everyone.  And remember: if you love someone, take the time to tell them.  Even if it's corny, even if they already know, even if they "don't need to hear it."  It's always the right thing to say.

For a Change, Let's Talk About Actual Books (Part 11)

A.k.a. "Chris is coming down with a cold, so here's something to keep you off the streets over the weekend while he cuddles up under his electric blanket which, sadly, doesn't go to 11 like it really ought to."  Below the break, as always.

Fandom Classics Part 26: Daring DONE!

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

In my bout of angsty apathy on Monday, I failed to say anything about the newest episode, Flight to the Finish.  Honestly, I didn't care for it.  The song was underwhelming by FiM standards; it leaned far more towards the "teen pop" side of composition than usual (between this and the Babs Seed song in season two, I wonder if the CMC haven't been consciously delegated this role), and the tune outside of the chorus was so unmemorable and un-catchy that I can't actually recall how it goes, even after seeing the episode twice.  Beyond that, there were a few things I enjoyed about the episode (Carrot Top and her boyfriend at the train station remains adorable; Silver Spoon explicitly acknowledging how little the show writers have done with her and Diamond Tiara ("But how do we stop them? We already called them blank flanks!") was great; I do think that making it clear that Scoot can't fly, and that this is, at least, unusual, adds to her character).  But, between the stroke Ms. Harshwhinney was apparently having (there is a point at which goofy faces stop being cute and start being annoying, and this season has already dashed that line to smithereens), Dash's inner monologuing (that felt forced; for goodness' sake, just have her say the lines sotto voce if you need them that bad), and the fact that I've just never gotten on board with the CMC to the degree that the rest of the fandom seems to have, this one wasn't one of my favorites.  Oh well, they can't all be great.

ANYWAY, click on below the break for my review of Aragon's Daring DONE!

A Few Thoughts about The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

...So, if you're interested in some grumping, some self-pitying, a little bit about the newest Hunger Games movie, and my patented brand of semi-coherence, you can find it below the break.