Voslar: It was drawn well before the episode, I am sure. Previews told us plenty about what was going to happen.
I made the mistake of commenting on EqD that I found this episode really disappointing. Cue 500 rabid bronies who refuse to ever see fault in something they've decided to like, chewing my head off.
Roflcakes: @Voslar: That's what happens to people who are unable to think critically, because apparently that's a bad thing, and something to be frowned upon. *rolls eyes*
fishmonger: @speedy05: Your spoiler is behind the reply popup, I can't see the whole thing. I really don't care one way or the other, but when I see spoiler text, I want to know what it says. I suggested that they should move the popup to the left of the comment so this doesn't happen, but they didn't listen to me, so this shit still happens all the time.
Roflcakes: Overall it wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, but still not awful by any stretch. Maybe about a 7/10.
Most of my problems with it draw from how silly the set-up of the story was. I actually think the episode would have benefited from eschewing an attempt to connect the comic book world with reality altogether, as it wasn't even that important to the plot and the explanation was... so retarded. How much are the writers expecting us to suspend our disbelief here!?.
The "moral" was a bit confusing too... Did anyone else feel like it was just an attempt to justify Spike's position and purpose in the group? The writers even took a jab at themselves for using Spike as the comic relief character, yet the moral of the story was explaining to the viewer that Spike is somehow an important character and that his presence adds to the dynamic of the group... which I can't say I feel that it does.
None of that stuff is really important at all though, as the episode delivered on the one thing everyone was hoping for: Ponies in skin-tight superhero outfits! Damn that shit was hot.
G_Goobington_the_2nd: @Roflcakes:
Yeah, the setup and explanation felt a bit rushed and contrived. I could actually hear Yahtzee going
"That's your lot. That's your story. Now fight supervillains."
That being said, a store that sells magical comics that the reader can be transported inside of is actually kind of a cool concept in and of itself, and I think it makes for interesting world-building. It's just that going
"this is a thing, and it's why what you saw just happened" feels kind of contrived. If they had explained it after they got sucked in, and maybe included a flashback , it might have worked better.
As a side note, I really hope the House of Enchanted Comics doesn't have Sin City.
I think the Mane-iac deserves a ton of points for having one guy whose job is just to periodically apply the Hairspray Ray of Doom to keep the Power Ponies subdued.
CrotchboobAddict: another episode I found kinda mediocre, I guess it was watchable. i've seen way too many super-hero parodies anyway, but I guess they wanted to try something else.
I liked Rarity's powers/costume the best, and her little trot down the 'stairs' :3
Voslar: I hated this one, although it was certainly on par with Merriwether Williams' usual writing.
This episode didn't GO anywhere, and that's what bothers me most of all. Nothing happens to advance the plot, no one grows as a character. A new character is introduced, but she's even more one-dimensional than Sombra, and fictional even in-universe. Additionally, since the entire episode seems to reek of the Big Lipped Alligator Moment concept, I can't see it ever coming up again.
But surely Spike learned something, right? Well... no, I don't think he did. This episodes hints at sidekick insecurities that Spike has been fostering, but really, let's think about this for a moment: Has Spike EVER hinted at being uncomfortable with his role before? And, has he really been useless? Fuck no, he hasn't: He's usually right there alongside the ponies, and has only ever complained about being left out once, in Just For Sidekicks. Even though, he was just mildly annoyed, not really upset. Still, I can't be too surprised; this is Merriwether Williams, the same writer who brought us Spike at Your Service and Mysterious Mare Do-Well. I almost expect this level of characterization from her.
Sure, the fandom may joke about Spike being useless, but the fandom also jokes about Celestia sending people to the moon for kicks or Pinkie being a serial killer. I wouldn't want to see those concepts seriously entertained in the show, and I don't want to see meta commentary on Spike's roll either. It's not the characters' place to analyze themselves, it's the fans'. In this regard it felt a lot like the slower, more painful moments of Daring Don't, with fandom traits being analyzed and discussed by the show's characters. Not only does this make the episode inaccessible to people not heavily involved in the fandom, it just feels awkward and annoying.
We got a new villain, but she's... so flat she makes a piece of cardboard look like Mount Everest, in addition to being fictional even within the context of the show. I don't think I need to elaborate on this point. Moving on.
We paid homage to superhero comics, but... this is MLP, not a superhero comic. Maybe if they'd brought a fresh, exciting new twist to the fore the concept could've been saved, but as it was, the entire episode felt like a joke with no punchline. "Hey, aren't superheroes cool? Do you guys like superheroes? Yeah? We do too. Yup... good times." It's anticlimactic, it doesn't go anywhere, and it's STALE: even the characters they picked are just bland expies. I love MLP because it's so very unique, and builds such a magnificent, involved, wholly original world. This episode offered exactly none of that.
And of course, the ending. We finally get our explanation. So the episode was weird as hell, but... what triggered all this? How exactly did the team get sucked into Spike's comic book? Who would do such an utterly bizarre thing, and why?
Faptacular: Despite all the points you've all already pointed out I've got to say I actually really liked this one.
Not to beat a dead horse but as I've said in the past Spike is rarely written well in an episode that revolves around him. Which is just plain sad. This time however he stayed in-character and pretty consistent with his insecurities throughout the ep.
Of course Rarity/Radiance was my favorite as I've got a fond spot for Lantern Corp type powers (and marshmallowy goodness.) Though I'd say I got my biggest laugh from RAINBOW JENKINS!!! when they got to the Mane-iac's lair.
CrotchboobAddict: @Voslar: now i feel bad pointing it out, but it wasn't Merriwether who wrote it? And if you think she's bad, then the next episode is written by her :P
Voslar: @Mr_Offspring:That is the one thing plotline relevant, yes. But I still can't quite count that, since they... don't discuss it at all. Why the fuck are we fixing up the Everfree castle? Because... it's Friday night and the ponies have nothing else to do? Hell if I know. In Castlemania they had clearly established reasons to be there. Now... why?
@CrotchboobAddict: As for it not being Merriwether Williams, I guess I just got that part wrong. My points still stand, though. Makes me a little worried for next week; Williams has done ONE decent episode, and every single other thing she's written has been pure OOC crap. I'm a little surprised to hear McCarthy was behind this one. She usually blows me away.
As for everybody who liked this episode, I guess that's good. I mean, if you enjoyed yourselves then more power to you. It seems like most people liked it, the responses I've heard from most of my brony friends have been pretty positive. But me personally, I really don't see the appeal.
Anonymous8: I liked the epidode but it seem this season is a lot of one off episodes. no plot advancement in the last few.With this one that could have at least at the end showed the shadow pony silhouette at the end so it looked like it was a at least a trap they escaped from.
Anonymous10: @Voslar: I kinda think there could be some change in dynamic due to Twilight being a princess, but yeah, it is kind of a strange time for Spike to develop issues (Then again, maybe he's becoming a teenager).
But, it can also be hard to tell because sometimes we just don't see all that much of the guy, but he has, indeed, seemed to be pretty at piece with his lot in the past.
I will also say that, while magical comics are a cool idea, I also thought there could have been more to it, like a connection to the mysterious figure from the end of Castle-Mania since they were in the castle.
As for why they were in the castle...Rarity's reason still stands (They were fixing things up), Twilight might be seeking more research and, really, it's a castle full of traps and secret passages, why NOT fix the place up and have fun?
@G_Goobington_the_2nd: That does show some good forethought for a villain, which is always good for a Villains rating.
@Anonymous: Like the episodes before (Plant tentacles, a castle glory hole, and Pinkies Daydreams) didn't already have fodder for this site?
Comments
I made the mistake of commenting on EqD that I found this episode really disappointing. Cue 500 rabid bronies who refuse to ever see fault in something they've decided to like, chewing my head off.
- Reply
Rainbow Dash = Zap
Pinkie Pie = Fili-Second
Rarity = Radiance
Fluttershy = Saddle Rager
Applejack = Mistress Marevelous
Twilight Sparkle = Masked Matter-horn
Spike = Humdrum
Did I mentioned Saddle Rager
- Reply
- Reply
Most of my problems with it draw from how silly the set-up of the story was. I actually think the episode would have benefited from eschewing an attempt to connect the comic book world with reality altogether, as it wasn't even that important to the plot and the explanation was... so retarded. How much are the writers expecting us to suspend our disbelief here!?.
The "moral" was a bit confusing too... Did anyone else feel like it was just an attempt to justify Spike's position and purpose in the group? The writers even took a jab at themselves for using Spike as the comic relief character, yet the moral of the story was explaining to the viewer that Spike is somehow an important character and that his presence adds to the dynamic of the group... which I can't say I feel that it does.
None of that stuff is really important at all though, as the episode delivered on the one thing everyone was hoping for: Ponies in skin-tight superhero outfits! Damn that shit was hot.
- Reply
Yeah, the setup and explanation felt a bit rushed and contrived. I could actually hear Yahtzee going
"That's your lot. That's your story. Now fight supervillains."
That being said, a store that sells magical comics that the reader can be transported inside of is actually kind of a cool concept in and of itself, and I think it makes for interesting world-building. It's just that going
"this is a thing, and it's why what you saw just happened" feels kind of contrived. If they had explained it after they got sucked in, and maybe included a flashback , it might have worked better.
As a side note, I really hope the House of Enchanted Comics doesn't have Sin City.
I think the Mane-iac deserves a ton of points for having one guy whose job is just to periodically apply the Hairspray Ray of Doom to keep the Power Ponies subdued.
I liked Rarity's powers/costume the best, and her little trot down the 'stairs' :3
- Reply
By highlighting them? That's how they're supposed to work.
This episode didn't GO anywhere, and that's what bothers me most of all. Nothing happens to advance the plot, no one grows as a character. A new character is introduced, but she's even more one-dimensional than Sombra, and fictional even in-universe. Additionally, since the entire episode seems to reek of the Big Lipped Alligator Moment concept, I can't see it ever coming up again.
But surely Spike learned something, right? Well... no, I don't think he did. This episodes hints at sidekick insecurities that Spike has been fostering, but really, let's think about this for a moment: Has Spike EVER hinted at being uncomfortable with his role before? And, has he really been useless? Fuck no, he hasn't: He's usually right there alongside the ponies, and has only ever complained about being left out once, in Just For Sidekicks. Even though, he was just mildly annoyed, not really upset. Still, I can't be too surprised; this is Merriwether Williams, the same writer who brought us Spike at Your Service and Mysterious Mare Do-Well. I almost expect this level of characterization from her.
Sure, the fandom may joke about Spike being useless, but the fandom also jokes about Celestia sending people to the moon for kicks or Pinkie being a serial killer. I wouldn't want to see those concepts seriously entertained in the show, and I don't want to see meta commentary on Spike's roll either. It's not the characters' place to analyze themselves, it's the fans'. In this regard it felt a lot like the slower, more painful moments of Daring Don't, with fandom traits being analyzed and discussed by the show's characters. Not only does this make the episode inaccessible to people not heavily involved in the fandom, it just feels awkward and annoying.
We got a new villain, but she's... so flat she makes a piece of cardboard look like Mount Everest, in addition to being fictional even within the context of the show. I don't think I need to elaborate on this point. Moving on.
We paid homage to superhero comics, but... this is MLP, not a superhero comic. Maybe if they'd brought a fresh, exciting new twist to the fore the concept could've been saved, but as it was, the entire episode felt like a joke with no punchline. "Hey, aren't superheroes cool? Do you guys like superheroes? Yeah? We do too. Yup... good times." It's anticlimactic, it doesn't go anywhere, and it's STALE: even the characters they picked are just bland expies. I love MLP because it's so very unique, and builds such a magnificent, involved, wholly original world. This episode offered exactly none of that.
And of course, the ending. We finally get our explanation. So the episode was weird as hell, but... what triggered all this? How exactly did the team get sucked into Spike's comic book? Who would do such an utterly bizarre thing, and why?
... The comic book is magic.
... That's it.
... That's the whole explanation.
- Reply
Not to beat a dead horse but as I've said in the past Spike is rarely written well in an episode that revolves around him. Which is just plain sad. This time however he stayed in-character and pretty consistent with his insecurities throughout the ep.
Of course Rarity/Radiance was my favorite as I've got a fond spot for Lantern Corp type powers (and marshmallowy goodness.) Though I'd say I got my biggest laugh from RAINBOW JENKINS!!! when they got to the Mane-iac's lair.
Meghan McCarthy has been involved in some episodes I really like, but the other two in the opening, I don't recognizance
references +500%
violence +2000%
mediocrity +5000%
(not that references are bad...)
@Voslar: In fact, the episode brought ONE thing that advances the plot: the castle restauration.
@CrotchboobAddict: As for it not being Merriwether Williams, I guess I just got that part wrong. My points still stand, though. Makes me a little worried for next week; Williams has done ONE decent episode, and every single other thing she's written has been pure OOC crap. I'm a little surprised to hear McCarthy was behind this one. She usually blows me away.
As for everybody who liked this episode, I guess that's good. I mean, if you enjoyed yourselves then more power to you. It seems like most people liked it, the responses I've heard from most of my brony friends have been pretty positive. But me personally, I really don't see the appeal.
But, it can also be hard to tell because sometimes we just don't see all that much of the guy, but he has, indeed, seemed to be pretty at piece with his lot in the past.
I will also say that, while magical comics are a cool idea, I also thought there could have been more to it, like a connection to the mysterious figure from the end of Castle-Mania since they were in the castle.
As for why they were in the castle...Rarity's reason still stands (They were fixing things up), Twilight might be seeking more research and, really, it's a castle full of traps and secret passages, why NOT fix the place up and have fun?
@G_Goobington_the_2nd: That does show some good forethought for a villain, which is always good for a Villains rating.
@Anonymous: Like the episodes before (Plant tentacles, a castle glory hole, and Pinkies Daydreams) didn't already have fodder for this site?
- Reply