S08E01-02: School Daze

Episode, movie, and comic book discussion threads are kept here once they have been released.

Moderators: Wayoshi, Venusy

Wayoshi
User avatar
Paper Fluts
Stare Masters
Posts: 306
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:53 pm
Gender: Male

S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Wayoshi (?) » Tue Mar 20, 2018 4:45 pm

When the Friendship Map grows bigger to reflect the world beyond Equestria, the Mane Six realize they'll need a way to spread the message of friendship far and wide. Luckily Twilight knows just what to do - open a School Of Friendship!
This thread is for discussion of this season premiere. The episodes air at 11:30 Eastern / 8:30 Pacific on Saturday, March 24!

Official preview clips and images are okay to post, as is speculation about the episodes.

The Doctor
User avatar
Turner Of All Things Timey Wimey
Celestia's Champions
Patreon supporter
Posts: 806
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:42 pm
Location: Time & Space

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by The Doctor (?) » Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:20 pm

No "big dumb threat the Equestria" set up for the season?

I'm in!

Aramek
User avatar
Your MRI results have shown total infection to now be approximately one fifth of the full mass of the tissue.

"So you're saying..."

Your brain is about 20% tumor.
Rarity's Roughnecks
Patreon supporter
Posts: 314
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 6:46 am
Gender: Male
Location: Chicagoland

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Aramek (?) » Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:25 pm

No, Doctor. It's the biggest and dumbest threat yet.

The Central Bureaucracy.
Image There was a link here, it's dead now and I'm sad.

The Doctor
User avatar
Turner Of All Things Timey Wimey
Celestia's Champions
Patreon supporter
Posts: 806
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:42 pm
Location: Time & Space

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by The Doctor (?) » Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:58 pm

Aramek wrote:
Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:25 pm
No, Doctor. It's the biggest and dumbest threat yet.

The Central Bureaucracy.

I mean, Twilight has shown herself to be a pretty lousy teacher of friendship, so I imagine Kif will be in the right.

Mechanical Ape
User avatar
Not slim, definitely shady
Posts: 582
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:23 pm
Gender: Male

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Mechanical Ape (?) » Tue Mar 20, 2018 9:27 pm

I was hoping Twilight's solution was "franchise".
Image

PonyHag714
User avatar
Here comes the helmet!
Posts: 317
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:14 pm
Contact:

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by PonyHag714 (?) » Tue Mar 20, 2018 9:36 pm

We're seeing some interesting characters - the diverse group of students and the Chancellor. Should be good.
Image ("Don't try to reform me, Hag, because I'm made of cold stone.")

Adiwan
User avatar
Patreon supporter
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 2:40 am
Gender: Male
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Adiwan (?) » Wed Mar 21, 2018 1:00 am

Oh... It's pony time again? Pony time it is!
"The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." - Douglas Adams

Applepie2017
User avatar
Nostalgia nerd
Posts: 236
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 4:25 am
Location: Land of Fire

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Applepie2017 (?) » Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:03 am

deleted.
Last edited by Applepie2017 on Fri May 04, 2018 12:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
But...
This one's too young

Mechanical Ape
User avatar
Not slim, definitely shady
Posts: 582
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:23 pm
Gender: Male

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Mechanical Ape (?) » Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:44 pm

So is this like a friendship school for adult ponies? Because I would be down with a bunch of Community references.
Image

Madeline
never existed
Semper Pie
Posts: 1003
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2018 3:45 pm

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Madeline (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2018 8:06 pm

Will Twilight wear a mortar board at any point :ponder:

The Doctor
User avatar
Turner Of All Things Timey Wimey
Celestia's Champions
Patreon supporter
Posts: 806
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:42 pm
Location: Time & Space

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by The Doctor (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2018 8:09 pm

Mechanical Ape wrote:
Wed Mar 21, 2018 12:44 pm
So is this like a friendship school for adult ponies? Because I would be down with a bunch of Community references.
Based on the animatics, it looks like the students are going to be "teenagers" (seems like they're older than the CMC, but younger than the adult ponies we see).

Fizzbuzz
User avatar
Stare Masters
Posts: 1048
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:54 pm
Gender: Male
Location: TN
Contact:

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Fizzbuzz (?) » Thu Mar 22, 2018 8:15 pm

Maybe this'll finally be the year the CMC look a little older?
Image

Highbrow Dash
User avatar
But why would you post such a thing?
Rarity's Roughnecks
Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 2:23 am
Gender: Male

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Highbrow Dash (?) » Fri Mar 23, 2018 2:58 am

It's time :ponydrugs: :ponydrugs: :ponydrugs:

Soft Snow
User avatar
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:52 pm

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Soft Snow (?) » Fri Mar 23, 2018 2:45 pm

My happiness has return...
:flutterunsmith:
Image
If I had a bit for every time you made me feel worthless I'd be worth something by now.

Mechanical Ape
User avatar
Not slim, definitely shady
Posts: 582
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:23 pm
Gender: Male

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Mechanical Ape (?) » Fri Mar 23, 2018 3:56 pm

The Doctor wrote:
Thu Mar 22, 2018 8:09 pm
Based on the animatics, it looks like the students are going to be "teenagers" (seems like they're older than the CMC, but younger than the adult ponies we see).
Cool, I hope they end up teaching their own EQG counterparts!
Image

Swift
User avatar
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 6:44 am
Gender: Male

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Swift (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 3:47 am

:ponydrugs:

Excited for the show's return! :allears:

Frith
User avatar
Princesses of Soul
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 1:15 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Helsinki, Finland

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Frith (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 10:08 am

The horsie show is back! :allears: :ponydrugs:

Niels Olof
User avatar
Rarity's Roughnecks
Patreon supporter
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:42 am
Gender: Male
Location: Aarhus, Denmark

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Niels Olof (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 10:21 am

Finally! Great to be back, even the hiatus with movie and plenty of EqG content was much easier to come through than some earlier ones. Here's to a great (if possibly last?) season of pony.
In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libroEverywhere I sought tranquility but found it nowhere save in a corner with a book

Soft Snow
User avatar
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:52 pm

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Soft Snow (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 11:14 am

It has been a while since I was able to watch the show on live TV given my old work schedule.
:memories:
Image
If I had a bit for every time you made me feel worthless I'd be worth something by now.

Adiwan
User avatar
Patreon supporter
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 2:40 am
Gender: Male
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Adiwan (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 11:30 am

It has begun.
"The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." - Douglas Adams

Wayoshi
User avatar
Paper Fluts
Stare Masters
Posts: 306
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:53 pm
Gender: Male

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Wayoshi (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 11:34 am

Hope you watched the movie or you're a bit lost now!

Wayoshi
User avatar
Paper Fluts
Stare Masters
Posts: 306
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:53 pm
Gender: Male

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Wayoshi (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:02 pm

We've joked about it before, but it's real now - a true racist/"speciesist" character.

(or is he more xenophobic?)

Adiwan
User avatar
Patreon supporter
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 2:40 am
Gender: Male
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Adiwan (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:02 pm

Racist barn, racist barn...
Ooops.... wrong episode.
"The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." - Douglas Adams

The Doctor
User avatar
Turner Of All Things Timey Wimey
Celestia's Champions
Patreon supporter
Posts: 806
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:42 pm
Location: Time & Space

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by The Doctor (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:05 pm

The racism thing felt so out of place. They had a conflict going with them learning that Friendship isn't taught like other things.

Then it's just SURPRISE! RACISM!


:ponder: I wonder if this was supposed to only be one episode originally.

Octavia
User avatar
Octavia's Orchestra
Patreon supporter
Posts: 1360
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:59 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Chicago, IL
Contact:

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Octavia (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:12 pm

Maurice LaMarche :awesomedash:

Also I loved Thorax's goat-style falling down.

And Glimmy is always right.
ImageImageImageImageImage

Cthulhu Inc
User avatar
Rarity's Roughnecks
Posts: 57
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:09 am
Gender: Female
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Cthulhu Inc (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:14 pm

Oh god, literally an episode about bureaucracy and international politics.

This is great :-D
A spectre is haunting Europe — the spectre of communism.

Wayoshi
User avatar
Paper Fluts
Stare Masters
Posts: 306
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:53 pm
Gender: Male

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Wayoshi (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:20 pm

As a Stare Master, is it a surprise I'm already attached to Ocellus?

RudeCyrus
User avatar
nightmare eyes
Rainbow Racers
Patreon supporter
Posts: 135
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:01 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Illinois

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by RudeCyrus (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:33 pm

A good season opener.

Applepie2017
User avatar
Nostalgia nerd
Posts: 236
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 4:25 am
Location: Land of Fire

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Applepie2017 (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:35 pm

deleted.
Last edited by Applepie2017 on Fri May 04, 2018 12:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
But...
This one's too young

PonyHag714
User avatar
Here comes the helmet!
Posts: 317
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:14 pm
Contact:

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by PonyHag714 (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:37 pm

This was enjoyable. The message of racism and xenophobia was overt, but I liked how the diverse students came together in the end.

I wanted to like the Chancellor but I didn't care for his obvious xenophobia. No doubt he'll make a return at some point. It was interesting that he didn't change his mind at the end.

I liked how Starlight convinced Twilight to forget about the rules, which is one of her strong points.

Ocellus was my favorite student out of the gate, but I'm sure the rest will grow on me. :-P

I was hoping to see Tempest, but they explained her away in the first few minutes. At least they kept her old name.

Very good Pony, as always. :allears:
Last edited by PonyHag714 on Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image ("Don't try to reform me, Hag, because I'm made of cold stone.")

The Doctor
User avatar
Turner Of All Things Timey Wimey
Celestia's Champions
Patreon supporter
Posts: 806
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:42 pm
Location: Time & Space

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by The Doctor (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:41 pm

I really enjoyed this opening, though some of it felt like padding.

Episode could have needed with 1 episode. Students crash, everyone's mad, but they see the Students are friends, and Twilight learns once again that structured education isn't the best thing for friendship. Episode 2 felt like it wasn't really needed. The racism angle and the whole "WERE GOING TO WAR" thing didn't work for me at all.

But, everything in the 2nd episode with the Mane 6 and the students was enjoyable, so while I didn't think it was needed, it was still fun.

Amazed the introduced 6 new characters and I like them all. :-D

Adiwan
User avatar
Patreon supporter
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 2:40 am
Gender: Male
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Adiwan (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:41 pm

I think it was a pretty average episode stretched a bit longer. Not bad but not spectacular either.
There was a ton of new stuff to introduce, so I don't fault the writers for that, that it fell flat.
It's just that I, at the receiving end, had a lukewarm but not unpleasant impression of this season beginning
"The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." - Douglas Adams

PonyHag714
User avatar
Here comes the helmet!
Posts: 317
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:14 pm
Contact:

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by PonyHag714 (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:47 pm

Image "You're here because I ordered you to be here!" Lots of kids starting school can probably relate.

Too bad Celestia didn't go full on royal with the Chancellor and reminded him that while he runs the school system, she rules Equestria. And then unlocked the school herself.
Last edited by PonyHag714 on Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image ("Don't try to reform me, Hag, because I'm made of cold stone.")

Fizzbuzz
User avatar
Stare Masters
Posts: 1048
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:54 pm
Gender: Male
Location: TN
Contact:

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:48 pm

Good episode. I'm glad this was a lesson more about unity in the face of xenophobia and was using laws and regulations mainly as a plot device, vs. being strictly about when regulations need to be ignored or rewritten. The former lesson is something we all dearly need to remember, particularly with how so much of the world today seems to be declining into fascism.

Judging at least by Sandbar's look vs. other ponies, I guess he and his fellows are supposed to be somewhere between the CMC and adults age-wise. Knowing how kids who first started watching the show in S1 have grown up between then and now, I wonder if those six were designed in hopes that they'd be more relatable to the now-older target audience than Spike and the CMC, who apparently aren't allowed to visually grow up.
Image

The Doctor
User avatar
Turner Of All Things Timey Wimey
Celestia's Champions
Patreon supporter
Posts: 806
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:42 pm
Location: Time & Space

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by The Doctor (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:50 pm

Not too surprising given his exit, but it's confirmed...


PonyHag714 wrote:
Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:47 pm
Too bad Celestia didn't go full on royal with the Chancellor and reminded him that while he runs the school system, she rules Equestria. And then unlocked the school herself.
That would have been nice. She lets the EEA run the school system, but at least show her really pissed off that this guy started an international incident.

Soft Snow
User avatar
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:52 pm

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Soft Snow (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:52 pm

I think I spotted the new villain for the season finale...
:-P

For a second I thought they were going to move the school to the Castle of the Two Sisters and be out of the legal jurisdiction of the EEA...
:modesty:
Image
If I had a bit for every time you made me feel worthless I'd be worth something by now.

SlateSlabrock
User avatar
Celestia's Champions
Patreon platinum
Posts: 485
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:02 am

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by SlateSlabrock (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:52 pm

Adiwan wrote:
Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:41 pm
I think it was a pretty average episode stretched a bit longer. Not bad but not spectacular either.
There was a ton of new stuff to introduce, so I don't fault the writers for that, that it fell flat.
It's just that I, at the receiving end, had a lukewarm but not unpleasant impression of this season beginning
I generally agree.

On one hand, I think they're setting up what I've been arguing for: More characters to do new stories with. I think they stretched the "map sends us on an adventure" format longer than necessary, which led to a lot of the complaints people voiced about later seasons, and having Starlight's B-Team and now a bunch of younger characters to play off of is a good step forward.

On the other hand, as someone who grew up on '80s and '90s cartoons, I'm allergic to "kids in school" shows in general, and now both ponies proper and Equestria Girls are school shows. I hope they take a lot of field trips.

The new characters are pretty decent. Not much to say about what's-his-name the new pony, but the others are pretty fun, comic relief yak excepted.

Some decent gags, not much else to say about this one. Guess we'll see how it plays out over the rest of the season.

Oh and bingo cards are obsolete because of all the leaks but I CALLED IT
Image

Niels Olof
User avatar
Rarity's Roughnecks
Patreon supporter
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:42 am
Gender: Male
Location: Aarhus, Denmark

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Niels Olof (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 1:02 pm

The Doctor wrote:
Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:50 pm
That would have been nice. She lets the EEA run the school system, but at least show her really pissed off that this guy started an international incident.
Presumably Princess Celestia does not want to act beyond the law.

I wonder how xenophobia might have had real roots in a world, where ponies at some past point might well have been prey. After all, griffins were supposed to eat horses...

(I admit to being a little annoyed by the writers, choosing to do a rather pointless joke in the battle scene, when Rarity is known to be strong with telekinesis, and certainly could have done more than apply makeup to an enraged hedgehog).
In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libroEverywhere I sought tranquility but found it nowhere save in a corner with a book

Fizzbuzz
User avatar
Stare Masters
Posts: 1048
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:54 pm
Gender: Male
Location: TN
Contact:

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Fizzbuzz (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 1:54 pm

SlateSlabrock wrote:
Sat Mar 24, 2018 12:52 pm
On the other hand, as someone who grew up on '80s and '90s cartoons, I'm allergic to "kids in school" shows in general, and now both ponies proper and Equestria Girls are school shows. I hope they take a lot of field trips.
I'm not worried that FiM will fall down this hole. EqG started out and still is at the bottom of this hole since it is stuck so hard to the modern-day high school setting, but Twilight's school as we've seen it has put incredibly little emphasis on the school part of it from the students' perspective. I imagine the only times the academic part of it will come up will be times where it serves to kick off some other story, or as a passing background detail.
Image

Niels Olof
User avatar
Rarity's Roughnecks
Patreon supporter
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:42 am
Gender: Male
Location: Aarhus, Denmark

Re: S08E01-02: School Daze

Post by Niels Olof (?) » Sat Mar 24, 2018 1:58 pm

Also,
Image
In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libroEverywhere I sought tranquility but found it nowhere save in a corner with a book

Post Reply